Electrophotographic Image Forming Apparatus Having a Main Assembly Connector and a Process Cartridge Having a Cartridge Connector Electrically Connectable With the Main Assembly Connector

The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus usable with the process cartridge.

Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, LED printer, laser beam printer), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, an electrophotographic word processor, and the like.

The process cartridge a cartridge having, as a unit, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and charging means, developing means, and cleaning means, which is detachably mountable to the main assembly of an image forming apparatus. It may include as a unit, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one of charging means, developing means, and cleaning means. It may include as a unit, developing means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process is known which is used with the process cartridge. This is advantageous in that the maintenance operation can be, in effect, carried out by the users thereof without expert service persons, and therefore, the operativity can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this type of apparatus is now widely used.

In the process cartridge, improvement in the operativity in mounting and demounting the cartridge relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, is desired.

The above described process cartridge is provided with guide portions, which are located one for one on the lateral walls of the process cartridge, and are guided along the guide grooves provided in the main assembly of an image forming apparatus, so that the process cartridge is smoothly installed into, or removed from, an image forming apparatus.

It has been proposed that a process cartridge should be provided with a memory element for storing the requirement for the cartridge usage, the history of the process cartridge usage, and the like, and a connector, which connects this memory element to the controlling apparatus of the main assembly of an image forming apparatus as the process cartridge is installed into the main assembly of an image forming apparatus, so that a certain portion of the control executed by the controlling apparatus is executed in accordance with the information stored in the memory element.

The present invention is one of the results of further development of the prior technologies described above.

The object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus, which assure that the memory element in the process cartridge makes a desirable electrical connection with the main assembly of the image forming apparatus as the process cartridge is installed in an image forming apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus, which assure that the process cartridge is accurately positioned in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and also, the memory element in the process cartridge makes a desirable electrical connection with the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus, which are provided with a connector which comprises a memory element, and the connecting direction of which is the same as the inserting direction of the process cartridge.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a laser beam printer.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the laser beam printer.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of a process cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the process cartridge as seen from the top side.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the process cartridge as seen from the bottom side.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cleaning unit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a developing unit.

FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of a process cartridge, showing the positioning of a memory means.

FIG. 11 is a vertical section of the memory means.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the space in which a process cartridge is installed.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the space in which a process cartridge is installed.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge installation.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge installation.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge installation.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge installation.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge installation.

FIG. 19 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge installation.

FIG. 20 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge installation.

FIG. 21 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge installation.

FIG. 22 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge removal.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a process cartridge, which depicts one of the stages of cartridge removal.

FIG. 24 is a vertical section of the connector on the side of the main assembly of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 25 is an external view of the connector illustrated in FIG. 24, as seen from the direction of an arrow mark 44 in FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a process cartridge as seen from the right front side.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the interior of the right front corner of the process cartridge, as seen from the direction opposite to the direction in which the process cartridge is viewed in FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of disconnected connectors.

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the "longitudinal direction" means a direction which is perpendicular to the installation or removal direction of a process cartridge, and also is parallel to the surface of a sheet of recording medium, and the "left or right direction" means the left or right direction as seen from above, and from the upstream side relative to the installation direction of a process cartridge.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention given below, a laser beam printer is referred to as an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. In this laser beam printer, a process cartridge is removably installable as will be described later.

First, referring to FIGS. 1-12, the process cartridge and the laser beam printer will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic section of the laser beam printer, and illustrates the general structure of the printer. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view the process cartridge, and illustrates the general structure of the cartridge. FIG. 4 is the left side view of the process cartridge. FIG. 5 is the right side view of the process cartridge. FIGS. 6 and 7 are external perspective views of the process cartridge. FIGS. 8 and 9 are external perspective views of a cleaning unit and a development unit, respectively. FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the process cartridge.

As for the order of the description, the general structures of the laser beam printer and the process cartridge will be described first, and then, the photosensitive drum in the process cartridge, and the adjacencies thereof will be described.

(General Structure)

Referring to FIG. 1, this laser beam printer A comprises an optical means 1, and a photosensitive drum 7 as an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The optical means 1 comprises a laser as a light source, a polygon mirror 1a, a lens 1b, and a deflection mirror 1c. In operation, the light beam modulated with imaging data is projected from the laser, is moved in a scanning manner by the polygon mirror 1a, is passed through the lens 1b, is deflected by the mirror 1c, and scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 to form a toner image.

In synchronism with the formation of a toner image, a recording medium 2, such as a sheet of transfer paper, is delivered from a cassette 3a to the transfer station in the printer by a pickup roller 3b, conveyer roller pairs 3c and 3d, a registration roller 3e, and the like. During the delivery, the recording medium 2 is turned over. At the transfer station, the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming station in a process cartridge B is transferred onto the recording medium 2 by applying voltage to a transfer roller 4 as a transferring means. After the toner image transfer, the recording medium 2 is guided by a guide member 3f to a fixing means 5 constituted of a fixer roller 5b and a driver roller 5c. The fixer roller 5b contains a heater 5a, and the driver roller 5c conveys the recording medium 2 while pressing the recording medium 2 against the fixer roller 5b. As the recording medium 2 is passed through the fixing means, between the fixer roller 5b and the driver roller 5c, the toner image, which has simply been transferred onto, or deposited on, the recording medium 2, is permanently fixed to the recording medium 2. Thereafter, the recording medium 2 is further conveyed by discharge roller pairs 3g, 3h, and 3i, through a sheet turning path 3j, to a discharge station, from which the recording medium 2 is discharged. Regarding the discharging of the recording medium 2 from an image forming apparatus, the switchable flapper 3k may be activated so that the recording medium 2 is directly discharged by a discharge roller pair 3m, without being put through the sheet turning path 3j.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the process cartridge B comprising the aforementioned image forming section, the photosensitive drum 7 with a photosensitive layer is rotated, and the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly charged by applying voltage to a charge roller 8, that is, the charging means. Then, the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is exposed to an optical image projected through an exposure opening 26 from the aforementioned optical means 1, whereby a latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7. This latent image is developed by a developing means 9 constituted of a developing apparatus.

In the developing means 9, the toner within a toner storing chamber 9a is fed by a toner feeding member 9b toward a development roller 9c which contains a stationary magnet, and is being rotated. As the toner is fed toward the development roller 9c, the toner is stirred, being triboelectrically charged further by a stirring member 9c, and then, is coated on the peripheral surface of the development roller 9c by a development blade 9d, forming a toner layer. Then, the toner in the toner layer is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 7, in correspondence to the latent image on the photosensitive drum 7. As a result, the latent image is developed into a toner image.

Next, the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium 2 by applying to the transfer roller 4 voltage with the polarity which is opposite to that of the toner image. Thereafter, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by a cleaning means 10; the toner which is remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 after the toner image transfer is scraped off by a cleaning blade 10a, and collected in a waste toner collector 10b.

The cartridge B comprises a cartridge frame and the various components such as the photosensitive drum 7 are assembled into the cartridge frame. As for the cartridge frame, it is formed by putting together a toner container 11 and a development frame 12, and then joining them with a cleaning frame 13.

(Housing Structure)

The process cartridge B comprises a housing formed by joining the toner container 11, the development frame 12, and the cleaning frame 13 as described above, and the structure of this housing will be described next.

Referring to FIG. 3, the toner container 11 has the toner storing chamber 9a and the toner feeding member 9b. To the development frame 12, the development roller 9c and the development blade 9d are attached. Also to the development frame 12, the stirring member 9e is rotatively attached, adjacent to the development roller 9c, to circulate the toner within the development chamber. The toner container 13. and the development frame 12 are welded together to form a development unit.

To the cleaning frame 13, the photosensitive drum 7, the charge roller 8, and the cleaning means 10 are attached. Also to the cleaning frame 13, a drum shutter assembly 18, which covers the photosensitive drum 7 to protect the photosensitive drum 7 when the process cartridge B is out of the main assembly 14 of an image forming apparatus, is attached. The cleaning frame 13 inclusive of the aforementioned drum, rollers, and means, and the drum shutter assembly 14, constitute a cleaning unit.

The development unit and the cleaning unit are connected with the use of a pivot 20, completing the process cartridge B. More specifically, the development frame 12 is inserted into the opening of the cleaning frame 13, being aligned with each other so that a hole 20b located at the end portion of the arm 22 of the development frame 12, and a hole 20a of the cleaning frame 13, are aligned, and the pivot 20 is extended through these holes 20a and 20b in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B. Between the portion of the cleaning frame 13, which extends over the top surface of the development frame 12, and the top surface of the development frame 12, a compression spring 22a is disposed in a compressed state, so that a spacer ring 9f, which is slightly larger in diameter than the development roller 9c, is pressed against the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 to maintain a development gap of approximately 300 .mu.m between the photosensitive drum 7 and the development roller 9c.

(Guiding Means Structure)

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views of the left and right lateral walls of the process cartridge, respectively.

The external surface of each of the left and right lateral walls of the housing of the aforementioned cartridge frame is provided with a guiding means which plays a role of a guide when the process cartridge B is installed into, or removed from, the main assembly 14 of an image forming apparatus. This guiding means is constituted of a dowel 13a as the first guide member, a long guide 12a as the third guide member, and a short guide 13b as the second guide member.

The dowel 13a is a cylindrical member, and nonrotatively supports a drum shaft 19 which supports the photosensitive drum 7. The dowel 13a is concentric with the drum shaft 19, and is located on the external surface of each of the left and right lateral walls of the cleaning frame 13. The long guide 12a is located on the external surface of the left and right lateral walls of the development frame 12, and extends over the external surface of the cleaning frame 13, which is practically continuous with the external surface of the development frame 12. The short guide 13b is also located on the external surface of each of the left and right lateral walls of the cleaning frame 13, being above the dowel 13a and in alignment with the dowel 13a in the direction indicated by a line 130 which is perpendicular to the direction 131 in which the process cartridge B is installed. The distances between the short guide 13b and the dowel 13a, on the left and right sides, are f and h, respectively. The dowel 13a and the short guide 13b are disposed at approximately equivalent locations in terms of the direction in which the process cartridge B is inserted into, or removed from, the main assembly 14. The dowel 13a and the long guide 12a are aligned in the direction of the cartridge insertion or removal.

The long guide 12a extends in the direction of the cartridge insertion, and is slanted at such an angle that is substantially the same as the angle at which the process cartridge is inserted. The dowel 13a is located on the imaginary line extended in the cartridge insertion direction from the long guide 12a. The short guide 13b is disposed substantially in parallel to the long guide 12a.

(Means for Process Cartridge Installation)

Referring to FIG. 1, as a lid 15 is rotatively opened about a pivot 15a in the counterclockwise direction, a cartridge installation space is exposed as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. Each of the left and right lateral walls of the cartridge installation space, that is, each of the internal surfaces of the left and right lateral walls of the main assembly 14, is provided with a cartridge installation guide 16, which is provided with two pieces of guide portions 16a and 16b which are positioned in correspondence with the dowel 13a, the long guide 12a, and the short guide 13b, which are illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, to guide them. Next, referring to FIGS. 14-20, as the process cartridge B is inserted along the guide portions 16a and 16b, the dowel 13a engages with a positioning portion 16f, and at the same time, a recessed portion 13c (FIG. 6) formed at each of the substantially top front edges between the top surface of the cleaning frame 13 and the left and right lateral walls of the cleaning frame 13 to regulate the rotation of the process cartridge B engages with the rotation regulating portion provided on the main assembly side, below the optical means 1. Then, the lid 15 is closed to finish the installation of the process cartridge B into the correct location in a laser beam printer A.

As the process cartridge B is positioned in the main assembly 14, a drum gear 7b attached to one end of the photosensitive drum 7 by pressing, crimping, or the like means engages with a driving gear 33 (FIG. 13) on the main assembly 14 side, and a gear 7c attached on the other side of the photosensitive drum 7 engages with an unillustrated gear fixed to the axle of the transfer roller 4. The drum gear 7b of the photosensitive drum 7 is also engages with the sleeve gear (helical gear) 9g of the development roller 9c.

Therefore, the rotationally driving force of the driver gear 33 on the main assembly 14 side is transmitted to the drum gear 7b, rotating the photosensitive drum 7, and then is transmitted to the development roller gear 9g through the drum gear 7b, rotating the development roller 9c. The same rotational driving force is transmitted to the gear of the transfer roller 4 through the gear 7c of the photosensitive drum 7, rotating the transfer roller 4.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the process cartridge B is provided with a handhold portion 17 and ribs 23 and 24 so that the process cartridge B can be easily held when the process cartridge B is installed or removed. The process cartridge B is also provided with a drum shutter 18 (FIG. 3), which is opened as he process cartridge B is installed into the image forming apparatus A, and is closed as the process cartridge B is removed from the image forming apparatus A, so that the photosensitive drum 7 is protected when the process cartridge B is out of the image forming apparatus A.

(Memory Means Structure on Process Cartridge Side)

Next, the memory means on the process cartridge side will be described. FIGS. 10 and 26 are drawings that show the location of the memory means 117. FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a part of the interior of the cleaning frame 13, and show how the memory means 117 is attached to the cleaning frame 13. FIG. 28 is a perspective view of disconnected connectors, and shows how the memory means 117 is mounted. More specifically, referring to FIG. 11, the memory means 117 comprises a memory chip such as an RAM or ROM as illustrated in FIG. 11, and is used for such purposes as storing in advance the information necessary for image formation, exchanging information between the process cartridge B and the main assembly 14 to provide the main assembly with the history or condition of the process cartridge B when the process cartridge B is installed into the main assembly 14, or the like purposes. The memory means 117 also comprises a chip mount 117q where the memory chip 117a is mounted, a connector portion 117b, flange portions 117d and 117e by which the memory means 117 is attached to the cleaning frame 13, and the like, in addition to the memory chip 117a such as a RAM or ROM. The opening edge of the square hole of the connector portion 117b, into which an interface connector 39 is plugged, is chamfered.

Referring to FIG. 10 which is drawn to show the positional relationship among the process cartridge components, the memory means 117 is attached to the cleaning frame 13, at a location equivalent to the location of the gear portion of the drum gear 7b in terms of the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B. This positioning of the memory means 117 places the memory means 117 outside the sheet path D in terms of the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B; In other words, this positional arrangement is made to place the memory means 117 in the cleaning means 10 without sacrificing the space for storing the waste toner. Since this location is close to a positional reference 13e in terms of the longitudinal direction, the positional accuracy for the memory means 117 in the longitudinal direction is improved. This reference 13e in the longitudinal direction constitutes the dimensional reference for cartridge production, as well as the reference for the positioning of the process cartridge relative to the main assembly 14 in terms of the longitudinal direction. More specifically, when the process cartridge B is installed into the cartridge space of the main assembly 14, the right or left installation guide member 16 comes in contact with the reference 13e so that the process cartridge B is precisely positioned in the main assembly in terms of the longitudinal direction. The direction in which the connector portion 117b illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 10 is engaged is rendered approximately the same as the direction in which the process cartridge B is inserted as illustrated in FIG. 5, so that the connector portion 117b is not crookedly connected. In other words, the direction in which the connector is engaged is substantially in parallel to the direction of the alignment between the dowel 13a and the long guide 12a, which also is substantially in parallel to the direction of process cartridge insertion. Further, the connector portion 117b is located on the line 130 drawn in FIG. 5, which is perpendicular to the direction 131 in which the process cartridge is inserted, and runs through the center (dowel 13a of the cleaning frame 13) of the process cartridge B. Therefore, the angular oscillation of the process cartridge B after installation can be minimized.

Referring to FIG. 22, when the process cartridge B is removed from the main assembly 14, the dowel 13a comes out of the positioning portion 16f by rotating about the contact point between a removal contact portion 13d and the rotation regulating portion 16g; in other words, the center of the process cartridge B (dowel 13a of the cleaning frame 13) is released from the positioning portion 16f. since this removal contact portion 13d constitutes a fulcrum for cartridge removal, and the connector portion 117b is located between the removal contact portion 13d and the center of the process cartridge 5 (dowel 13a of the cleaning frame 13), the angular oscillation of the connector portion 117b is minimized at the time of removal as well as at the time of installation.

As for the assembly of the memory means 117 into the cleaning frame 13, first, the flange portion 117d is put through the through hole 13f of the cleaning frame 13, and then, the flange portion 117e is fixed to the cleaning frame 13 with the use of a small screw or the like.

Adjacent to the memory means 117, the charge roller 8 and the electrodes of the charge roller 8 are located. and therefore, the memory means 117 is provided with a cap 117c which covers the memory chip 117a as a counter measure for electrical leakage or the like.

Next, the structure and location of the memory means 117 will be described. Referring to FIG. 26, a space 13g in the form of a triangular column which extends in the longitudinal direction is formed at the right front corner of the cleaning frame 13, relative to the direction of process cartridge insertion, and a square through hole 13f, which extends rearward, in parallel to the direction of process cartridge insertion, is cut through the forwardly facing vertical walls of this space 13g, that is, the forwardly facing vertical walls of the cleaning frame 13. The memory means 117 is put through this through hole 13f from inside, and then, fixed to the cleaning frame 13.

Referring to FIG. 28, the memory means 117 is provided with the flange 117d, which extends along the top edge of the connector portion 117b, and is used to attach the memory means 117 to the cleaning frame 13. This flange portion 117d is slanted backward as seen from inside the through hole 13f (as seen from the left side of FIG. 11), and is inserted in the hole 13h cut through the top wall of the through hole 13f to be used to attach the memory means 117 to the cleaning frame 13. The connector portion 117b is also provided with the flange 117e which is also used for attaching the memory means 117 to the cleaning frame 13. Referring to FIGS. 11, 27, and 28, the flange portion 117e is provided with a square hole 117g and a vertically elongated round hole 117h. In the square hole 117g, a dowel 13kl of a memory means mount 13k provided on the cleaning frame 13, more specifically, on the wall 13j which isolates the memory means 117 from the photosensitive drum 7, is fitted, and the elongated round hole 117h is for a small screw 118 which is screwed into unillustrated female threads provided in the memory means mount 13k.

Referring again to FIG. 11, the connector portion 117b has a double wall, that is, the inner and outer walls 117i and 117k as shown in FIG. 11. Between the inner wall 117i and the outer wall 117k, there is a gap in which the wall of a cap 117c fits. The external surface of the bottom wall 117m (rear wall relative to the direction of process cartridge insertion) of the connector portion 117b is provided with a memory chip mount 117q, to which a memory chip 117a is fixed. The memory chip 117a is electrically connected to unillustrated contacts provided on the connector portion 117b. The cap 117c is in the form of a box, the cross section of which is substantially square, and the top front corner 117cl of which is chamfered as illustrated in FIG. 28 so that it does not make contact with the flange 117d. In other words, the top corner 117cl of the cap 117c does not enter the gap between the inner and outer walls of the connector portion 117b. Also referring to FIG. 11, between the bottom wall of the through hole 13f and the outer wall 117k of the connector portion 117b, a gap 13m is provided which is greater than the height of the flange portion 117e.

When mounting the memory means 117, first, the memory means 117 is inserted into the through hole 13f from the inward side of the through hole 13f, so that the contact side, or engaging side, faces forward, and so that the outer wall 117k makes contact with the isolation wall 13j. Then, the flange portion 117d is fitted into the hole 13h by shifting upward the memory means 117, and the flange portion 117e is placed in contact with the memory means mount 13k, with the dowel 13kl of the memory means mount 13k being fitted in the square hole 117g of the flange portion 117e. Thereafter, the small screw 118 is put through the screw hole 117h and is screwed into the unillustrated female threads of the memory mount 13k. As for the removal of the memory means 117, the above described steps for installing the memory means 117 is carried out in reverse.

(Interfacial Structure on Image Forming Apparatus Side)

Next, the interfacial structure between the memory means of the process cartridge B and the main assembly 14, in particular, on the main assembly side, will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 21, a referential FIG. 39 designates a connector on the main assembly side, which is connectable with the connector portion 117b of the process cartridge B. The connector 39 is held by the connector supporting means 40, or the connector supporting wall of the cleaning frame 13, on the main assembly side, affording a predetermined amount of play for the connector 39, whereas the connector supporting means 40 on the main assembly 14 is immobile. In spite of the play, the connector 39 remains at the topmost position since it is held by the upward elastic force by a tensile coil spring 43.

Next, the structure which supports the connector 39 will be described with reference to FIG. 24, which is a sectional view of the connector 39 and the connector supporting wall 40, and FIG. 25, which is a plan view of the connector 39 and the connector supporting wall 40 illustrated in FIG. 24, as seen from the direction indicated in FIG. 24 by an arrow mark 44. The connector 39 remains attached to the connector supporting wall 40 since its foot portions 39a and 39b are shaped to catch the edges of the hole 40a and 40b of the connector supporting wall 40. The distance 39L from the base of the foot portion 39a to the catching point of the foot portion 39a is rendered greater than the thickness 40t of the connector supporting wall 40, and therefore, the connector 39 is pivotable in the direction of an arrow mark J about the contact point P between the L-shaped portion, that is, the catching portion, of the foot portion 39b and the edge of the hole 40b. Further, the dimensions of the holes 40a and 40b of the connector supporting wall 40 are rendered greater than those of the cross sections of the foot portions 39a and 39b of the connector 39 in the vertical direction as well as in the horizontal direction, and therefore, the connector 39 can move in the vertical direction and also in the horizontal direction. Since the difference in dimension between the holes 40a and 40b and the cross sections of the foot portions 39a and 39b is rendered greater in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, and therefore, the amount of the movement allowed for the connector 39 is greater in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. Since the connector 39 is disposed in an inclined position, and is pulled upward by the tensile coil spring 43 stretched in the vertical direction as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 24, it is held at the highest portion to which it is allowed to move, and at the same. time, at the farthest position it is allowed to pivot about the contact point P. In this condition, the connector 39 may not perfectly align with the connector portion 117b of the process cartridge B guided into the main assembly 14 by the guide portions 16a and 16b, being different in angle and/or location, but, it is within a range in which the connector portion 117b of the process cartridge B can be engaged with the connector 39.

The hole 40a in which the foot portion 39a fits is a vertically elongated round hole as illustrated in FIG. 24, and the foot portion 39a is provided with a catch, which gives when the foot portion 39a is put through the hole 40a, and snaps back thereafter.

Referring again to FIG. 24, the connector 39 on the main assembly side integrally comprises a connector portion 39f, a base portion 39h, the foot portions 39a and 39b, and a boss 39d. The connector portion 39f is substantially rectangular, and the edge portion 39g is chamfered.

The foot portions 39a and 39b, and the boss 39d in which lead wires w are placed to be connected to the contacts, are on the opposite side of the base portion 39h, relative to the connector portion 39f. The connector portion 39f which fits in the connector portion 117b on the process cartridge B side extends in the direction from which the process cartridge B is inserted. In FIG. 23, the contacts in the connector portion 39f are not illustrated. As already described, the foot portion 39a of the connector 39 is fitted in the hole 40a of the connector supporting wall 40, being allowed to move within a predetermined range in the direction in which the connector 39 is inserted, or pulled out (substantially the same direction as the direction in which the process cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly 14). The foot portion 39b is bent, and this bent portion 39bl is in contact with the back edge of the hole 40b, relative to the direction in which the process cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly 14, at the contact point P. The boss 39d is loosely fitted in a hole 40c provided in the connector supporting wall 40, between the holes 40a and 40b. One end of the aforementioned tensile coil spring 43 is attached to the base portion 39h, on the side opposite to the foot portion 39b, and the other end is anchored to the main assembly 14.

Referring to FIG. 24, when the process cartridge B is not in the main assembly 14, there is a gap between the base portion and the connector supporting wall 40. This gap is in the shape of a wedge which widens from the foot portion 39b side toward the foot portion 39a. As is evident from the drawing, the holes 40a, 40b and 40c are such that the foot portions 39a, 39b, and boss 39d are allowed to move in the direction indicated by an arrow mark (A), and also in the direction perpendicular thereto; in other words, the connector 39 is allowed to move in all directions.

(Element Damage Preventing Means)

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 21, a reference FIG. 41 designates an element damage preventing means (hereinafter, "ESD shutter"). This ESD shutter is rotatively mounted on the installation guide member 16 with the use of a pivot 45, and prevents the element (memory chip 117a) from being damaged by static electricity. It is constituted of a shutter portion 41a, which covers the adjacencies of the connector 39, and an opening-closing guide portion 41b formed of resin, and is constantly pulled in the direction of an arrow mark 41c by a tensile coil spring 42 disposed on the back side of the installation guide member 16.

The shutter member 41a is provided with a shutter plate 41al which takes two positions: a position at which it squarely faces the connector portion 39f of the connector 39 on the main assembly 14 side, and a position at which it exposes the connector portion 39f. The opening-closing guide portion 41b is provided with a slanted surface 41bl, which extends across the guide portion 16b of the guide member 16, and is pushed by the short guide 13b. It is enabled to rotate about the pivot 45 in the direction of the arrow mark 41c against the force of the tensile spring 42, as illustrated in FIG. 20. When the process cartridge B is not in the main assembly 14, the opening-closing guide portion 41b is at the position at which it extends across the guide portion 16b, being in contact with the installation guide 16 or a stopper portion 46 provided on the frame of the main assembly 14, and therefore, being prevented from rotating. The tensile coil spring 42 is made of metallic material. One end of the tensile coil spring 42 is attached to the shutter member 41, on the side opposite to the shutter plate 41a, and the other end is attached to the frame ground of the main assembly 14, the shutter member 41a is formed of electrically conductive material, for example, a metallic plate.

Referring to FIG. 21, when the process cartridge B is not in the main assembly 14, the force of the tensile coil spring 42 and the self weight keeps the ESD shutter 41 at the position at which the ESD shutter extends across the groove of the guide portion 16b of the installation guide member 16.

(Relationship Between Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus During Cartridge Installation)

Next, the relationship between the installation guide member on the main assembly 14 of an image forming apparatus, and the guide on the process cartridge B side, at the time of process cartridge installation, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 14-20 are schematic drawings which depict the state of the process cartridge B and the adjacencies thereof from the beginning of the installation until the final positioning of the process cartridge B at a predetermined location. In the drawings, the general profile of the process cartridge B is depicted with the use of a two-dot chain line.

First, referring to FIG. 14, as the process cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly 14, the dowel 13a and the long guide 12a of the process cartridge B are guided by the guide portion 16a; they slide on the top surface of the guide portion 16a. During this initial sliding on the guide portion 16a, the dowel 13a is not guided by the guide portion 16b, being apart by a small distance l from the side surface of the bottom side of the guide portion 16b.

As the process cartridge B is inserted as far as the location illustrated in FIG. 15, the dowel 13a reaches a recess 16c of the installation guide member 16. The recess 16c of the installation guide 16 is where the long guide 12a is allowed to settle as the process cartridge B reaches the predetermined destination (FIG. 18). The depth of the recess 16c is rendered greater than the aforementioned distance l (l<m).

Next, as the process cartridge B is inserted to the location illustrated in FIG. 16, the short guide 13b comes in contact with the slanted surface 41bl of the opening-closing guide portion 41b of the ESD shutter 41, and pushes the slant surface 41bl. As the process cartridge B is inserted farther, with the dowel 13a pushing the slant surface 14bl, the ESD shutter rotates clockwise against the force of the tensile coil spring 42 until it completely moves away from the installation path for the process cartridge B as shown in FIG. 17. Meanwhile, the short guide 13b comes in contact with the guide portion 16b before the dowel 13a reaches the bottom of the recess 16c, and therefore, the long guide 12a and the dowel 13a take over the role of guiding the process cartridge B. Therefore, the process cartridge B is inserted in a substantially straight line, while reducing the shock to which the process cartridge B is subjected at where the surface of the guide i16a of the installation guide member 16 drops to a lower level.

As the process cartridge B is farther inserted to the location illustrated in FIG. 18, the connector portion 117b on the process cartridge B side makes contact with the interface connector 39 on the main assembly 14 side since the ESD shutter is completely moved out by the time the process cartridge B has reached this far. As the process cartridge B is farther inserted, the interface connector 39 is rotated against the force of the tensile coil spring 43 by the advancing connector portion 117b of the process cartridge B, becoming aligned with the connecting portion 117b interface connector 39. Then, the connector portion 117b of the process cartridge B and the interface connector 39 begin to fully engage with each other. Meanwhile, the long guide 12a of the process cartridge B comes to the recess 16c of the aforementioned installation guide member 16. From this point, the dowel 13a of the process cartridge B rides on the guide portion 16d, and the dowel 13a and the short guide 13b take over the role of guiding the process cartridge B.

As the process cartridge B is inserted to the position illustrated in FIG. 19, the connector portion 117b of the process cartridge B and the interface connector 39 on the main assembly side are engaged in a straight line since the interface connector 39 on the main assembly 14 side is already aligned with the connector 117b of the process cartridge B side. During this movement of the process cartridge B, the short guide 13b comes to the recess 16e of the installation guide member 16. During the short time it takes for the short guide 13b to slide into the recess 16e, only the dowel 13a rides the guide portion 16d, and settles into the positioning portion 16f, that is, the groove of the installation guide member 16, at the end of the guide portion 16d (FIG. 20). During this last stage of the process cartridge B installation, the dowel 13a slightly rotates clockwise in the positioning portion 16f, in other words, the process cartridge B slightly rotates clockwise about the dowel 13a, since the rear end portion of the process cartridge B relative to the installation direction, that is, the development unit side of the process cartridge B, is heavier than the cleaning unit side. With this rotational movement of the process cartridge B, the connector 39 on the main assembly side is rotated clockwise, following the memory means 117 on the process cartridge B side, by the force of the tensile coil spring 43. Then, the movement of the process cartridge B is stopped, that is, the process cartridge B is precisely positioned in the main assembly 14, as the rotation regulating recessed portion 13c of the cleaning frame 13 is caught by the rotation regulating portion 16g (FIG. 20) on the main assembly 14 side. Also during this final movement of the process cartridge B, the interface connector 39 on the main assembly 14 side slides downward while rotating in synchronism with the movement of the process cartridge B as described above. In this state, the process cartridge B is in contact with the main assembly 14 only at its rotational center (dowel 13a); the other guiding members (long guide 12a and short guide 13b) are not in contact with any part of the installation guide member 16 on the main assembly side.

As for the positional relationship between the rotation regulating recessed portion 13c and the rotation regulating portion 16g, they are oriented to squarely take the moment generated in the process cartridge B as the process cartridge B is driven. The distances between the rotation regulating recessed portion 13c and the center of the dowel 13a, and between the rotation regulating portion 16g and the center of the dowel 13a, are rendered longer than the distances between the long guide 12a and the center of the dowel 13a, and between the short guide 13b and the center of the dowel 13a. Therefore, the process cartridge B remains better stabilized.

In order to remove the process cartridge B from the main assembly 14, the following steps are taken. First, as the process cartridge B in the state illustrated in FIG. 22 is lifted in the direction indicated by an arrow mark in FIG. 23, the removal contact portion 13d comes in contact with the rotation regulating portion 16g, on the top right surface, relative to the direction perpendicular to the process cartridge installation direction, and the dowel 13a comes out of the positioning portion 16f as it is pivoted about the contact point between the removal contact portion 13d and the rotation regulating portion 16g. During this lifting of the process cartridge B, the interface connector 39 is rotated about the contact point P in a manner to be moved away from the connector supporting wall 40 while being shifted in the upper left direction, with the memory means 117 still remaining engaged with the connector portion 39f of the interface connector 39. As the process cartridge B is farther lifted, the dowel 13a and long guide 12a of the process cartridge B are guided upward by the guide portions 16a, respectively, and the opening-closing guide portion 41b is rotated counterclockwise about the pivot 45 by the force of the tensile coil spring 42, causing the shutter plate 41al to cover the connector portion 39g of the interface connector 39. Then, the rotation of the opening-closing guide portion 41b is stopped by the stopper portion 46. Thereafter, the dowel 13a separates from the slant surface 41bl of the opening-closing guide portion 41b, and is guided upward following the guide portion 16b. Thus, the process cartridge B is removed from the main assembly 14 of an image forming apparatus.

The process cartridge mentioned in the preceding description of the embodiments of the present invention is such a process cartridge that comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and at least one processing means. In other words, the present invention is applicable not only to process cartridges such as the process cartridge described above, but also to process cartridges in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member and charging means are integrally disposed, process cartridges in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member and developing means are integrally disposed, process cartridges in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member and cleaning means are integrally disposed, as well as process cartridges in which a combination of an electrophotographic photosensitive member and two or more processing means are integrally disposed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the direction in which a connector with a memory element is inserted, and the direction in which a process cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of an image forming apparatus are rendered substantially the same, and therefore, the connector is desirably connected during the process cartridge insertion. Further, the connector with a memory element is disposed on the straight line which is drawn through the positioning center of the process cartridge, perpendicular to the direction of the process cartridge insertion, and therefore, the angular misalignment which occurs between the connector on the main assembly side of an image forming apparatus, and the connector on the process cartridge side, due to the rotational movement of the process cartridge during the installation, is minimized. Further, the connector is positioned between the positioning center of the process cartridge, and the cartridge removal contact portion, the contact point between which and the process cartridge acts as the fulcrum for the process cartridge at the time of the process cartridge removal. Therefore, whether when inserting or removing the process cartridge, the angular misalignment between the connector on the process cartridge side and the connector on the main assembly side becomes a minimum.

The connector with a memory element is disposed on the same side as the positional reference for the process cartridge in terms of the longitudinal direction of the rotational axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the process cartridge. Therefore, the positional accuracy for the connector with a memory element is improved.

Also in terms of the longitudinal direction of the rotational axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum of the process cartridge, the connector with a memory element is disposed at a location substantially equivalent to the location at which the gear for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is disposed. More specifically, the gear for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive member is on the outward side of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, that is, on the outward side of the waste toner chamber, and the connector with a memory element is disposed within the space which the gear for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive member takes up in terms of the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge. Therefore, it is unnecessary to sacrifice the waste toner chamber and/or the size increase, caused by the connector with a memory element, is minimized.

Further, the connector on the process cartridge side and the connector on the side of the main assembly of an image forming apparatus are connected with each other just before the process cartridge begins to be rotated to be finally locked into the designated position in the main assembly of an image forming apparatus; the connectors are fully engaged before the final positioning of the process cartridge. Therefore, a reliable electrical connection is assured between the memory and the main assembly of an image forming apparatus.

In essence, the present invention assures that a reliable electrical connection is established between a memory element provided in a process cartridge and the main assembly of an image forming apparatus when a process cartridge is installed into the main assembly of an image forming apparatus.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.