CARTRIDGE, ASSEMBLING METHOD FOR CARTRIDGE, AND DISASSEMBLYING METHOD FOR CARTRIDGE

• US 20090317134A1
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ueno, Takahito, Miyabe, Shigeo, Takasaka, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/119
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/08 using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0806 on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller complete developer unit G03G15/0896
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1814 Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing G03G21/1835 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/186 Axial couplings

Abstract

A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion; a cartridge frame extended in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller; a bearing member, provided at one longitudinal end portion of the cartridge frame, for supporting a developing roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of the developing roller; a rotational force receiving member for receiving, from the main assembly, a rotational force for rotating the developing roller, in a state in which the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; a side cover provided outside the bearing member with respect to a longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame; a first fastening member fastening the bearing member to the cartridge frame to mount the bearing member to the cartridge frame; and a second fastening member fastening the side cover to the cartridge frame to mount the side cover to the cartridge frame.

Claims

1. A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge comprising:

a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer;

a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion;

a cartridge frame extended in a longitudinal direction of said developing roller;

a bearing member, provided at one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame, for supporting a developing roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developing roller;

a rotational force receiving member for receiving, from the main assembly, a rotational force for rotating said developing roller, in a state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a side cover provided outside said bearing member with respect to a longitudinal direction of said cartridge frame;

a first fastening member fastening said bearing member to said cartridge frame to mount said bearing member to said cartridge frame; and

a second fastening member fastening said side cover to said cartridge frame to mount said side cover to said cartridge frame.

2. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said first fastening member is a first screw, wherein said first screw extends through a hole provided in said side cover and through a through-hole provided in said bearing member to a fastening portion provided in said cartridge frame, and wherein said first screw is fastened to said frame by a tool entering through the hole of said side cover.

3. A cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said rotational force receiving member is a coupling member, and includes a cylindrical member movably supporting one end portion of said coupling member at an inside of said cylindrical member, said cylindrical member including a cylindrical member side force receiving portion, provided inside said cylindrical member, for receiving a rotational force received from the main assembly by said coupling member, and a first gear, provided on an outer periphery of said cylindrical member, for transmitting the rotational force received by said cylindrical member side force receiving portion to said developing roller, wherein said rotational force receiving member further includes a second gear, provided on said developing roller shaft portion, for transmitting the rotational force received from the main assembly by said coupling member to said developing roller, and wherein in the state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the rotational force from a main assembly driving shaft provided in the main assembly is transmitted through said coupling member, said cylindrical member, said first gear and said second gear to said developing roller to rotate said developing roller.

4. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said side cover is provided with an elastic member and an inclination regulating portion for regulating an inclination of said coupling member as said rotational force receiving member, and said coupling member is inclinable by an elastic force of said elastic member, wherein when said side cover is mounted to said cartridge frame by a second screw as said second fastening member, said coupling member is mounted to said cartridge frame integrally with said side cover.

5. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said side cover is provided with an elastic member and an inclination regulating portion for regulating an inclination of said coupling member, and said coupling member is inclinable by an elastic force of said elastic member, wherein when said side cover is mounted to said cartridge frame by a second screw as said second fastening member, said coupling member is mounted to said cartridge frame integrally with said side cover.

6. A cartridge according to claim 2 or 4, further comprising a third fastening member fastening said side cover to said cartridge frame together with said bearing member to mount said side cover to said cartridge frame.

7. A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge comprising:

a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer;

a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion;

a developer supplying roller for supplying the developer to said developing roller;

a coupling member for receiving a rotational force for rotating said developing roller from the main assembly, in a state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a cartridge frame extended in a longitudinal direction of said developing roller;

a first bearing member provided at one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and supporting a developing roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developing roller and supporting a developer supplying roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developer supplying roller;

a second bearing member provided at the other longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and supporting a developing roller shaft portion at the other longitudinal end portion of said developing roller and supporting a developer supplying roller shaft portion at the other longitudinal end portion of said developer supplying roller;

a side cover provided at said one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and covering a gear for transmitting the rotational force received from the main assembly by said coupling member to said developing roller between said first bearing member and said side cover;

a first screw fastening said first bearing member to said cartridge frame to mount said first bearing member to said cartridge frame, said first screw extends from an outside the side cover with respect to the longitudinal direction of said cartridge frame through a hole provided in said side cover;

a second screw fastening said side cover to said cartridge frame to mount said side cover to said cartridge frame;

a third screw fastening said side cover to said cartridge frame together with said first bearing member to mount said side cover to said cartridge frame;

a fourth screw fastening said second bearing member to said cartridge frame to mount said second bearing member to said cartridge frame; and

a fifth screw fastening said second bearing member to said cartridge frame to mount said second bearing member to said cartridge frame.

8. A cartridge according to claim 7, further comprising a cylindrical member movably supporting one end portion of said coupling member at an inside of said cylindrical member, said cylindrical member including a cylindrical member side force receiving portion, provided inside said cylindrical member, for receiving a rotational force received from the main assembly by said coupling member, and a first gear, provided on an outer periphery of said cylindrical member, for transmitting the rotational force received by said cylindrical member side force receiving portion to said developing roller, and further comprising a second gear as said rotational force transmission member, provided on said developing roller shaft portion, wherein in the state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the rotational force from a main assembly driving shaft provided in the main assembly is transmitted through said coupling member, said cylindrical member, said first gear and said second gear to said developing roller to rotate said developing roller.

9. A cartridge according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said side cover is provided with an elastic member and an inclination regulating portion for regulating an inclination of said coupling member, and said coupling member is inclinable by an elastic force of said elastic member, wherein when said side cover is mounted to said cartridge frame by a second screw and a third screw, said coupling member is mounted to said cartridge frame integrally with said side cover.

10. An assemblying method for assemblying a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge including,

a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer;

a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion;

a coupling member for receiving a rotational force for rotating said developing roller from the main assembly, in a state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a cartridge frame extended in a longitudinal direction of said developing roller;

a bearing member, provided at one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame, for supporting a developing roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developing roller;

a side cover provided at said one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and covering a gear for transmitting the rotational force received from the main assembly by said coupling member to said developing roller between said first bearing member and said side cover, said method comprising;

a step of fastening said bearing member to said cartridge frame from an outside of said side cover with respect to the longitudinal direction of said cartridge frame by a first screw to mount said bearing member to said cartridge frame;

a step of fastening said side cover to said cartridge frame by a second screw to mount said side cover to said cartridge frame; and

a step of fastening said side cover to said cartridge frame together with said bearing member by a third screw to mount said side cover to said cartridge frame.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said side cover is provided with an elastic member and an inclination regulating portion for regulating an inclination of said coupling member, and said coupling member is inclinable by an elastic force of said elastic member, wherein when said side cover is mounted to said cartridge frame by a second screw and a third screw, said coupling member is mounted to said cartridge frame integrally with said side cover.

12. An assemblying method for assembling a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge including,

a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer;

a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion;

a developer supplying roller for supplying the developer to said developing roller;

a coupling member for receiving a rotational force for rotating said developing roller from the main assembly, in a state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a cartridge frame extended in a longitudinal direction of said developing roller;

a first bearing member provided at one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and supporting a developing roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developing roller and supporting a developer supplying roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developer supplying roller;

a second bearing member provided at the other longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and supporting a developing roller shaft portion at the other longitudinal end portion of said developing roller and supporting a developer supplying roller shaft portion at the other longitudinal end portion of said developer supplying roller;

a side cover provided at said one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and covering a gear for transmitting the rotational force received from the main assembly by said coupling member to said developing roller between said first bearing member and said side cover, said method comprising;

a step of fastening said first bearing member to said cartridge frame from an outside of said side cover with respect to the longitudinal direction of said cartridge frame by a first screw through a hole provided in said side cover to mount said bearing member to said cartridge frame;

a step of fastening said side cover to said cartridge frame by a second screw to mount said side cover to said cartridge frame;

a step of fastening said side cover to said cartridge frame together with said first bearing member to mount said side cover to said cartridge frame;

a step of fastening said second bearing member to said cartridge frame by a fourth screw to mount said second bearing member to said cartridge frame; and

a step of fastening said second bearing member to said cartridge frame by a fifth screw to mount said second bearing member to said cartridge frame.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said side cover is provided with an elastic member and an inclination regulating portion for regulating an inclination of said coupling member, and said coupling member is inclinable by an elastic force of said elastic member, wherein when said side cover is mounted to said cartridge frame by a second screw and a third screw, said coupling member is mounted to said cartridge frame integrally with said side cover.

14. A disassembling method for disassembling a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge including,

a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer;

a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion;

a coupling member for receiving a rotational force for rotating said developing roller from the main assembly, in a state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a cartridge frame extended in a longitudinal direction of said developing roller;

a bearing member, provided at one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame, for supporting a developing roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developing roller;

a side cover provided at said one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and covering a gear for transmitting the rotational force received from the main assembly by said coupling member to said developing roller between said bearing member and said side cover, said method comprising;

a step of removing a second screw to dismount said side cover from said cartridge frame;

a step of removing a first screw from an outside of said side cover with respect to the longitudinal direction of said cartridge frame to dismount said bearing member from said cartridge frame; and

a step of removing a third screw to dismount said side cover and said bearing member from said cartridge frame.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said side cover is provided with an elastic member and an inclination regulating portion for regulating an inclination of said coupling member, and said coupling member is inclinable by an elastic force of said elastic member, wherein when said side cover is dismounted from said cartridge frame by removing the second screw and the third screw, said coupling member is dismounted from said cartridge frame integrally with said side cover.

16. A disassembling method for disassembling a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge including,

a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer;

a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion;

a developer supplying roller for supplying the developer to said developing roller;

a coupling member for receiving a rotational force for rotating said developing roller from the main assembly, in a state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a cartridge frame extended in a longitudinal direction of said developing roller;

a first bearing member provided at one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and supporting a developing roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developing roller and supporting a developer supplying roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developer supplying roller;

a second bearing member provided at the other longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and supporting a developing roller shaft portion at the other longitudinal end portion of said developing roller and supporting a developer supplying roller shaft portion at the other longitudinal end portion of said developer supplying roller;

a first bearing member provided at one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and supporting a developing roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developing roller and supporting a developer supplying roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of said developer supplying roller;

a side cover provided at said one longitudinal end portion of said cartridge frame and covering a gear for transmitting the rotational force received from the main assembly by said coupling member to said developing roller between said first bearing member and said side cover, said method comprising;

a step of removing a second screw to dismount said side cover from said cartridge frame;

a step of removing a first screw from an outside of said side cover with respect to the longitudinal direction of said cartridge frame through a hole provided in said side cover to dismount said first bearing member from said cartridge frame;

a step of removing a third screw to dismount said side cover and said first bearing member from said cartridge frame;

a step of removing a fourth screw to dismount said second bearing member from said cartridge frame; and

a step of removing a fifth screw to dismount said second bearing member from said cartridge frame, thus removing said first bearing member, said second bearing member and said side cover from said cartridge frame.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said side cover is provided with an elastic member and an inclination regulating portion for regulating an inclination of said coupling member, and said coupling member is inclinable by an elastic force of said elastic member, wherein when said side cover is dismounted from said cartridge frame by removing the second screw and the third screw, said coupling member is dismounted from said cartridge frame integrally with said side cover.