Photo-sensitive drum formed from extruded or drawn blank and image recording apparatus having same

• US 5,740,501 A
• Filed: 05/17/1996
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Fuke, Kenji, Tonomoto, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAINGER, QUANA MASHELL
• Application Number:
  US08/649,483
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 355/211, 355/212, 399/159, 399/116, 399/117, 430/56, 430/69, 430/135, 430/53, 29/895.2, 29/895.21
• US Class Current: 399/116
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/751 relating to drum G03G15/757 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/10 Bases for charge-receiving or other layers

Abstract

To provide a photo-sensitive drum having excellent properties which are not at all inferior to those of the prior art photo-sensitive drums assembled with a larger number of parts, capable of being easily manufactured at a reduced production cost. A blank tube 23d consisting of a cylinder section 23a, a center axis section 23b arranged within the cylinder section 23a concentrically therewith and a plurality of rib sections 23c for rigidly connecting the cylinder section 23a with the center axis section 23b is integrally formed through extrusion or draw-forming.

Claims

1. A photo-sensitive drum characterized by a blank tube comprising:

a hollow cylinder section;

a center axis section arranged within the hollow cylinder section concentrically therewith; and

a plurality of radially extending rib sections extending substantially parallel to said hollow cylinder section and said center axis section rigidly interconnecting the cylinder section and the center axis section;

at least said center axis section having a length which is not substantially less than the length of said cylinder section; and

wherein said cylinder section, said center axis section and said rib sections forming said blank tube are all integrally formed through extrusion or draw-forming.

2. A photo-sensitive drum, as defined by claim 1, in which said blank tube is mainly composed of aluminum.

3. A photo-sensitive drum, as defined by claim 1, including a pair of stud members used as a supporting shaft for the photo-sensitive drum attached to opposite ends of the center axis section of the blank tube.

4. An image recording apparatus comprising a photo-sensitive drum formed of a blank tube comprising a hollow cylinder section, a center axis section arranged within the cylinder section concentrically therewith, and a plurality of rib sections for rigidly interconnecting the cylinder section and the axis section, said center axis section having a length which is not substantially less than the length of said hollow cylinder section;

and wherein the cylinder section, the center axis section and the rib sections forming the blank tube are integrally formed through extrusion or draw-forming.