Process cartridge and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit
First Claim
1. A process cartridge comprising:
- i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface;
ii) process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
iii) a coupling member for receiving an external force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said coupling member is capable of taking a first angular position for transmitting the external force to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second angular position inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the first angular position andiv) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of said coupling member such that a downward inclination angle of said coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of said coupling member when said coupling member is at the second angular position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process cartridge usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface; ii) process means actable on the drum; iii) a coupling member for receiving an external force for rotating the drum, wherein the coupling member is capable of taking a first angular position for transmitting the external force to the drum, a second angular position inclined away from the axis of the drum from the first angular position, and a third angular position away from the axis of the drum from the first angle position; and iv) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of the coupling member such that downward inclination angle of the coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of the coupling member when the coupling member is at the second angular position.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A process cartridge comprising:
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i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface; ii) process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; iii) a coupling member for receiving an external force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said coupling member is capable of taking a first angular position for transmitting the external force to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second angular position inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the first angular position and iv) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of said coupling member such that a downward inclination angle of said coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of said coupling member when said coupling member is at the second angular position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A process cartridge comprising:
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i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface; ii) process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; iii) a coupling member for receiving an external force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said coupling member is capable of taking a first angular position for transmitting the external force to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second angular position inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the first angular position, wherein said coupling member has a recess in which a rotational axis of said coupling member extends, wherein said recess includes an expanding portion expanding toward a free end thereof, and wherein said coupling member has a plurality of rotational force receiving portions that are provided at regular intervals along a rotational direction of said coupling member; and iv) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of said coupling member such that a downward inclination angle of said coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of said coupling member when said coupling member is at the second angular position, wherein said regulating portion surrounds said coupling member in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and said regulating portion is provided with (i) a first arcuate portion and (ii) a projected portion projecting in the perpendicular direction continuing from the first arcuate portion, and wherein said first arcuate portion regulates the downward inclination of said coupling member, and said projected portion regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member in the second angular position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit comprising:
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i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface; ii) a coupling member for receiving an external force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said coupling member is capable of taking a first angular position for transmitting the external force to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second angular position inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the first angular position; and iii) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of said coupling member such that a downward inclination angle of said coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of said coupling member when said coupling member is at the second angular position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit comprising:
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i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface; ii) a coupling member for receiving an external force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said coupling member is capable of taking a first angular position for transmitting the external force to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second angular position inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the first angular position, wherein said coupling member has a recess in which a rotational axis of said coupling member extends, wherein said recess includes an expanding portion expanding toward a free end thereof, and wherein said coupling member has a plurality of rotational force receiving portions that are provided at regular intervals along a rotational direction of said coupling member; iii) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of said coupling member such that a downward inclination angle of said coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of said coupling member when said coupling member is at the second angular position, wherein said regulating portion surrounds said coupling member in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and said regulating portion is provided with (i) a first arcuate portion and (ii) a projected portion projecting in the perpendicular direction continuing from the first arcuate portion, and wherein said first arcuate portion regulates the downward inclination of said coupling member, and said projected portion regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member in the second angular position; and v) a gear provided adjacent to said coupling member with respect to a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification