ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR

• US 20140133886A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kurokawa, Keiichi, Ogawa, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 9,176,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/167
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/757 Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/186 Axial couplings

Abstract

An electrophotographic photoreceptor is used by being detachably mounted onto an apparatus main body of an electrophotographic application apparatus while being incorporated in a process cartridge. The electrophotographic photoreceptor has a photosensitive drum formed by forming a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive material on an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical conductive substrate; and a flange that is fitted to an open end of the photosensitive drum and transmits a rotational driving force from the apparatus main body to the photosensitive drum. In the flange, on a surface thereof receiving the rotational driving force, a driven-side power transmission portion that is configured by a cylindrical body disposed concentrically with respect to a central shaft of the photosensitive drum, and engaging projections are provided.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, which is used by being detachably mounted onto an apparatus main body of an electrophotographic application apparatus while being incorporated in a process cartridge, the apparatus main body including a drive-side power transmission portion, the electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising:

a photosensitive drum including

a cylindrical conductive substrate having an outer circumferential surface, and

a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive material on the outer circumferential surface; and

a gear flange or a flange that is fitted to an edge of the photosensitive drum, the flange configured to transmits a rotational driving force from the drive-side power transmission portion to the photosensitive drum, the flange including

a driving force receiving portion, and

a driven-side power transmission portion configured to transmit the rotational driving force from the drive-side power transmission portion to the driving force receiving portion, the driven-side power transmission portion including

a cylindrical body, a core of the cylindrical body being a central shaft of the photosensitive drum, the cylindrical body protruding from the driving force receiving portion, and

a plurality of hemispherical engaging projections that are disposed at each trisection points of an outer circumference of the cylindrical body in such a manner so as to protrude in a radially outward direction from the outer circumference, away from the driving force receiving portion, and to be configured to come into engagement with the drive-side power transmission portion.

2. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the drive-side power transmission portion has an engaging hole provided at a central portion thereof, the engaging hole having a triangular cross section,

further wherein the engaging projections engage the engaging hole to rotate the photosensitive drum.

3. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the drive-side power transmission portion has a spiral, engaging hole provided at a central portion thereof, the engaging hole having a triangular cross section,

further wherein the engaging projections engage the engaging hole to rotate the photosensitive drum.

4. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 2, wherein a first engaging projection of the engaging projections is provided in a vicinity of a front edge of the cylindrical body, a second engaging projection of the engaging projections is provided closer a base portion of the cylindrical body relative to the first engaging projection, and a third engaging projection of the engaging projections is provided closer to the base portion of the cylindrical body than the second engaging projection.

5. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 2, wherein the engaging projections are provided in a vicinity of a front edge of the cylindrical body.

6. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 2, wherein the engaging projections have a circular planar shape as viewed in a radially outward direction of the cylindrical body.

11. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 2, wherein the drive-side power transmission portion includes an alignment projection provided in a central portion of the engaging hole,

further wherein an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body is formed into a shape so as to be able to come into engagement with an outer circumferential surface of the alignment projection.

12. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 11, wherein the alignment projection forms a circular, truncated cone, and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body forms a cone shape to engage with the circular, truncated cone.

13. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the flange is a gear flange.

7-10. -10. (canceled)

14. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, which is used by being detachably mounted onto an apparatus main body of an electrophotographic application apparatus while being incorporated in a process cartridge, the apparatus main body including a drive-side power transmission portion, the electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising:

a photosensitive drum including

a cylindrical conductive substrate having an outer circumferential surface, and

a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive material on the outer circumferential surface; and

a flange that is fitted to an edge of the photosensitive drum, the flange configured to transmit a rotational driving force from the drive-side power transmission portion to the photosensitive drum, the flange including

a driving force receiving portion, and

a driven-side power transmission portion configured to transmit the rotational driving force from the drive-side power transmission portion to the driving force receiving portion, the driven-side power transmission portion including

a cylindrical body, a core of the cylindrical body being a central shaft of the photosensitive drum, the cylindrical body protruding from the driving force receiving portion, and

a plurality of engaging projections that are disposed at each trisection point of an outer circumference of the cylindrical body in such a manner so as to protrude in a radially outward direction from the outer circumference, away from the driving force receiving portion, and to be configured to come into engagement with the drive-side power transmission portion,

the engaging projections each having an elliptic, planar shape as viewed in a radially outward direction of the cylindrical body, major axes of the elliptic, planar shapes of the engaging projections extending in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body,

the drive-side power transmission portion having a spiral, engaging hole provided at a central portion thereof, the engaging hole having a triangular cross section,

the engaging projections being configured to engage with the engaging hole to rotate the photosensitive drum.

15. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 14, wherein for each of the engaging projections, an intersection of the major axis and a minor axis of the elliptic shape thereof is located near a front edge of the cylindrical body.

16. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 14, wherein the flange is a gear flange.

17. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, which is used by being detachably mounted onto an apparatus main body of an electrophotographic application apparatus while being incorporated in a process cartridge, the apparatus main body including a drive-side power transmission portion, the electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising:

a photosensitive drum including

a cylindrical conductive substrate having an outer circumferential surface, and

a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive material on the outer circumferential surface; and

a flange that is fitted to an edge of the photosensitive drum, the flange being configured to transmit a rotational driving force from the drive-side power transmission portion to the photosensitive drum, the flange including

a driving force receiving portion, and

a driven-side power transmission portion configured to transmit the rotational driving force from the drive-side power transmission portion to the driving force receiving portion, the driven-side power transmission portion including

a cylindrical body, a core of the cylindrical body being a central shaft of the photosensitive drum, the cylindrical body protruding from the driving force receiving portion, and

a plurality of engaging projections that are disposed at each trisection point of an outer circumference of the cylindrical body in such a manner so as to protrude in a radially outward direction from the outer circumference, away from the driving force receiving portion, and to be configured to come into engagement with the drive-side power transmission portion,

the engaging projections each having elongated, oval, planar shapes as viewed in a radially outward direction of the cylindrical body, longitudinal directions of the elongated, oval, planar shapes of the engaging projections extending in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body,

the drive-side power transmission portion has a spiral, engaging hole provided at a central portion thereof, the engaging hole having a triangular cross section,

the engaging projections being configured to engage with the engaging hole to rotate the photosensitive drum.

18. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 17, wherein the flange is a gear flange.

19. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, which is used by being detachably mounted onto an apparatus main body of an electrophotographic application apparatus while being incorporated in a process cartridge, the apparatus main body including a drive-side power transmission portion, the electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising:

a photosensitive drum including

a cylindrical conductive substrate having an outer circumferential surface, and

a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive material on the outer circumferential surface; and

a flange that is fitted to an edge of the photosensitive drum, the flange being configured to transmit a rotational driving force from the drive-side power transmission portion to the photosensitive drum, the flange including

a driving force receiving portion, and

a driven-side power transmission portion configured to transmit the rotational driving force from the drive-side power transmission portion to the driving force receiving portion, the driven-side power transmission portion including

a cylindrical body, a core of the cylindrical body being a central shaft of the photosensitive drum, the cylindrical body protruding from the driving force receiving portion, and

a plurality of engaging projections that are disposed at each trisection point of an outer circumference of the cylindrical in such a manner so as to protrude in a radially outward direction from the outer circumference, away from the driving force receiving portion, and to be configured to come into engagement with the drive-side power transmission portion,

the engaging projections each having a semicircular, planar shape as viewed in a radially outward direction of the cylindrical body,

the drive-side power transmission portion has a spiral, engaging hole provided at a central portion thereof, the engaging hole having a triangular cross section,

the engaging projections being configured to engage with the engaging hole to rotate the photosensitive drum.

20. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 19, wherein the flange is a gear flange.