Cartridge having movable spacer for restricting movement of a first frame relative to a second frame
A cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a charging member configured to charge the photosensitive member, a first unit including the photosensitive member and the charging member, a developing member configured to deposit toner onto the photosensitive member, and a second unit including the developing member. A holding portion is movably supported by the first unit or the second unit, with the holding portion being configured to restrict a relative position between the first unit and the second unit, the holding portion being movable between a first position for holding the second unit in a spaced position by the first unit and a second position for holding the second unit in a developing position by the first unit. An urging portion including a force receiving portion capable of receiving an external force, with the urging portion being capable of applying, to the second unit, an urging force for urging the second unit toward the developing position while receiving the external force at the force receiving portion.
1 . A cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive drum;
a charging roller configured to charge the photosensitive drum;
a first frame supporting the photosensitive drum and the charging roller;
a developing roller configured to deposit toner onto the photosensitive drum;
a second frame supporting the developing roller, the second frame being movable, relative to the first frame, between a developing position in which the toner is capable of being deposited onto the photosensitive drum from the developing roller and a spaced position in which at least a part of the developing roller is more spaced from the photosensitive drum than when the developing roller is in the developing position;
a pressing unit including a spring and a force receiving portion capable of receiving an external force; and
a spacer supported by the first frame or the second frame and contactable with the first frame and the second frame, the spacer being movable relative to the first frame and the second frame and movable between a first position restricting movement of the second frame, relative to the first frame, from the spaced position to the developing position and a second position allowing the second frame to move from the spaced position to the developing position,
wherein the second frame includes a bearing member rotatably supporting the developing roller, and the spring is held by the bearing member,
wherein the pressing unit further includes a movable member provided with a projection including the force receiving portion and supported by the bearing member so as to be movable relative to the bearing member between a third position and a fourth position,
wherein the spring is provided between the movable member and the bearing member, and
wherein, when the spacer is in the first position and the pressing unit receives the external force at the force receiving portion, the spring applies, to the bearing member, an urging force for urging the second frame toward the developing position by moving the movable member from the third position to the fourth position relative to the bearing member by reception of the external force at the force receiving portion such that the pressing unit applies to the second frame in the spaced position the urging force for urging the second frame toward the developing position.
2 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the force receiving portion is positioned outside the bearing member when the movable member is in the third position.
3 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, as viewed in a direction of a rotational axis of the developing roller, when the second frame is in the spaced position, the spring is at a position more remote from the photosensitive drum than the developing roller in a direction parallel to a line passing through a rotational axis of the developing roller and a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum.
4 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, as viewed in a direction of a rotational axis of the developing roller, when the second frame is in the spaced position, the spring is in an area in which a rotational axis of the developing roller is not present with respect to a line passing through the rotational axis of the developing roller and a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum.
5 . A cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein an entirety of the movable member is in the area.
6 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, as viewed in a direction of a rotational axis of the developing roller, when the second frame is in the spaced position, the spring is in an area in which a rotational axis of the charging roller is present with respect to a line passing through a rotational axis of the developing roller and a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum.
7 . A cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein, as viewed in a direction of a rotational axis of the developing roller, when the second frame is in the spaced position, an entirety of the spring is positioned so as to overlap with the bearing member.
8 . A cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein the movable member is provided with an abutting force receiving portion capable of receiving an abutting force for moving the second frame from the spaced position toward the developing position when the second frame is in the spaced position.
9 . A cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein the movable member is provided with a spacing force receiving portion capable of receiving a spacing force for moving the second frame from the developing position toward the spaced position.
10 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, as viewed in a direction of a rotational axis of the developing roller, when the second frame is in the spaced position, the spring is in an area in which a rotational axis of the charging roller is present with respect to a line that is tangent to a surface of the photosensitive drum at one of intersections between the surface of the photosensitive drum and a line passing through a rotational axis of the charging roller and a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, the one of the intersections being closer to the rotational axis of the charging roller than the other of the intersections.
11 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is a compression spring.
12 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, when the spacer is in the first position and the pressing unit receives the external force at the force receiving portion, the spacer is sandwiched between the first frame and the second frame.
13 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an abutting force receiving portion capable of receiving an external abutting force for moving the spacer from the first position to the second position for moving the second frame from the spaced position to the developing position, and
a spacing force receiving portion capable of receiving an external spacing force for moving the second frame from the developing position to the spaced position.