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(11) | EP 0 905 585 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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(54) | A process cartridge having a shutter to cover the surface of a photoconductor and image forming apparatus using the same cartridge |
(57) A process cartridge (8) for an image forming apparatus, which includes a cartridge
main body (24) having at least one of a developing device (25) for developing with
toner a latent image on a photoconductor (14) and a cleaner (26) for salvaging the
toner remaining on a surface of the photoconductor and detachably mounted to a main
body of the image forming apparatus, and a shutter (49) which covers a covering area
including an area beneath a lower part of the circumferential surface of the photoconductor
(14) and an area beneath a lower part of at least one of a boundary between the photoconductor
(14) and the developing device (25) and a boundary between the photoconductor (14)
and the cleaner (26). The shutter (49) moves in a substantially horizontal posture
between the covering area and a siding area beneath the developing device or the cleaner.
Therefore, toner received by the shutter is prevented from falling from the shutter
when the shutter is moved. |