Process cartridge and image forming apparatus

• Main Author: WATANABE, KAORU
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.01.2014
• Subjects: CINEMATOGRAPHY; ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY; PHOTOGRAPHY; PHYSICS

Abstract A process cartridge (CR) includes an image forming unit (10) including an image carrier (11), a developing unit (13), and a cleaning unit (71), a container attachment unit (73), and a toner receiving unit (72). The image carrier (11) carries a latent image formed by an exposure process and a toner image formed by developing the latent image with toner and transfers the toner image onto a transfer body (P). The developing unit (13) forms the toner image on the image carrier (11) by developing the latent image on the image carrier (11) with the toner. The cleaning unit (71) cleans the image carrier (11) by removing the toner that remains on the image carrier (11) after the toner image is transferred onto the transfer body (P). The container attachment unit (73) is provided at a position separated from the image forming unit (10) and to which a toner container (TC) is detachably attached, the toner container (TC) containing the toner to be supplied to the developing unit (13). The toner receiving unit (72) extends in a space between the image forming unit (10) and the container attachment unit (73) and receives the toner removed from the image carrier (11) by the cleaning unit (71). CR TC73 91 90 72 83 34 A 1'l2 51\ -,'132 131 35 81 74 - - ... R' T 40, 74a B3133) 60 -Il 0 F 0 -- 0-+ 0'B