Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, driving force transmission part, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum

• US 6,128,454 A
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ito, Yoshihiro, Kawai, Toshiharu, Watanabe, Kazushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Brase, Sandra L
• Application Number:
  US09/258,314
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 399/110, 399/111, 399/116, 399/117, 399/159, 399/167
• US Class Current: 399/116
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/101 without axial retaining means rotating with the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/757 Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1633 using doors or covers G03G21/1638 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/186 Axial couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1654 Locks and means for positioning or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1657 transmitting mechanical drive power
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge

Abstract

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging device for charging the photosensitive drum; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto the recording material; a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording material; a motor; a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor; a twisted hole formed substantially at a center of the gear, the hole having a polygonal cross-section; a twisted prism projection provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through the hole and the projection with the projection being pulled into the hole; and a moving device for imparting relative movement between the hole and the projection in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;

charging means for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;

developing means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum into a toner image;

transfer means for transferring the toner image formed by said developing means from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum onto said recording material;

fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording material by said transfer means on the recording material;

a motor;

a driving rotatable member for transmitting a rotational driving force from said motor;

wherein said driving rotatable member has formed therein a twisted hole at a central portion thereof having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions; and

a twisted projection provided at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said twisted projection being engageable with the twisted hole,

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between the twisted hole and twisted projection, and wherein said twisted projection is urged toward said twisted hole when said driving rotatable member is rotated with said twisted projection being in engagement with the twisted hole.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of said twisted hole is substantially equilaterally triangular, and wherein said twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and the corner portions of said twisted projection ate beveled.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising moving means for providing relative movement between the twisted hole and said twisted projection in a longitudinal direction of said photosensitive drum.

4. A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor;

and a driving rotatable member for transmitting a rotational driving force from said motor and having a twisted hole formed therein at a central portion thereof having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said process cartridge comprising;

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;

process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and

a twisted projection provided at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said twisted projection being engageable with the twisted hole,

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between the twisted hole and said twisted projection, and wherein said twisted projection is urged toward the twisted hole when said driving rotatable member is rotated with said twisted projection being in engagement with the twisted hole when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

6. A process cartridge according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said twisted projection is projected from a shaft which is projected outwardly and coaxially with said photosensitive drum, said shaft being effective to rotatably support said electrophotographic photosensitive drum on a cartridge frame.

7. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein an outer diameter D1 of said photosensitive drum, an outer diameter F of said shaft, and a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted projection, satisfy:

D1>

F≧

C, and

wherein said twisted projection and said shaft are composed of integrally molded resin material.

8. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein an outer diameter F of said shaft, a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted projection, a diameter G of a dedendum circle of a drum gear provided on said photosensitive drum, and an inner diameter D2 of said photosensitive drum, satisfy:

G>

D2, and G>

F≧

C, and

wherein said twisted projection, said shaft and said drum gear are composed of integrally molded resin material.

9. A process cartridge according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the cross-section of the twisted hole is substantially in the shape of an equilateral triangle, and wherein said twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and the corner portions of said twisted projection are beveled.

10. A process cartridge according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said process means includes at least one of charging means, developing means and cleaning means, and wherein said process means and said electrophotographic photosensitive drum are contained in said process cartridge as a unit, which is detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

5. A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor;

a main assembly gear for transmitting a rotational driving force from the motor and having a twisted hole formed therein at a central portion thereof having a substantially triangular cross-section, said process cartridge comprising;

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;

process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and

a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism provided at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said twisted projection being engageable with the twisted hole;

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from the main assembly gear to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between said twisted hole and said twisted projection, and wherein said twisted projection is urged toward said twisted hole when the main assembly gear is rotated with said twisted projection being in engagement with the twisted hole when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

11. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, said said apparatus comprising:

a. a motor;

b. a driving rotatable member for transmitting a rotational driving force from said motor;

c. a twisted hole formed in said driving rotatable member at a central portion thereof and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions;

d. mounting means for detachably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a twisted projection provided at a longitudinal end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, the twisted projection being engageable with said twisted hole; and

e. feeding means for feeding the recording material,

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between said twisted hole and the twisted projection, and wherein the twisted projection is urged toward said twisted hole when said driving rotatable member is rotated with the twisted projection being in engagement with said twisted hole when the process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the cross-section of said twisted hole is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangle, and wherein the twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and wherein corner portions of the twisted projection are beveled.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising moving means for providing relative movement between said twisted hole and the twisted projection in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum.

12. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, said apparatus comprising:

a. a motor;

b. a main assembly gear for transmitting a rotational driving force from said motor;

c. a twisted hole formed in said main assembly gear at a central portion thereof and having a substantially triangular cross-section;

d. mounting means for detachably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism provided at a longitudinal end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the twisted projection being engageable with said twisted hole; and

e. feeding means for feeding the recording material,

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from said main assembly gear to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between said twisted hole and the twisted projection, and wherein the twisted projection is urged toward said twisted hole when said main assembly gear is rotated with the twisted projection being in engagement with said twisted hole when the process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus.

15. A driving force transmitting part for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor, a driving rotatable member for transmitting a driving force from the motor, a twisted hole formed in the driving rotatable member at a central portion thereof and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said driving force transmitting part comprising:

a mounting portion for mounting said driving force transmitting part to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and

a twisted projection extending from said mounting portion and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said twisted projection being engageable with the twisted hole of said driving rotatable member to receive the driving force, for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, from a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted to the main assembly.

16. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 15, further comprising a columnar shaft for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum on a frame, and a drum gear for transmitting to a developing roller the driving force received from said driving rotatable member, wherein said twisted projection is provided at an end of said shaft, and wherein said shaft is provided at a central portion of said drum gear.

17. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 15, wherein said mounting portion is mounted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by being mounted to a flange of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

18. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 15, wherein said mounting portion is mounted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by being mounted to a cylindrical portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

20. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 19 or 16, wherein said twisted projection, said drum gear, and said shaft are composed of integrally molded resin material.

21. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 15, 19, or 16, wherein the cross-section of said twisted hole is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangle, and wherein said twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and corner portions of said twisted projection are beveled.

22. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 19 or 16, wherein an outer diameter F of said shaft, a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted projection, a diameter G of a dedendum circle of said drum gear, and an inner diameter D2 of said photosensitive drum, satisfy:

G>

D2, and G>

F≧

C, and

wherein said twisted projection, said shaft, and said drum gear are composed of integrally molded resin material.

23. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 15 or 19, wherein when the driving force is transmitted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with said twisted projection being in engagement with said twisted hole, said twisted projection is urged toward said twisted hole.

19. A driving force transmitting part for transmitting a driving force to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and to a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, wherein the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are contained in a process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which includes a motor, a main assembly gear for transmitting a driving force from the motor, a twisted hole formed in the main assembly gear at a central portion thereof and having a substantially triangular cross-section, said driving force transmitting part comprising:

a drum gear for transmitting the driving force received from said main assembly to the developing roller when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a shaft provided at a central portion of said drum gear; and

a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism provided at an end of said shaft and which is engageable with the twisted hole of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to receive the driving force from the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

24. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor, a driving rotatable member for transmitting a driving force from the motor, and a twisted hole formed in the driving rotatable member at a central portion thereof and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprising:

a. a cylindrical member having a photosensitive layer on a circumferential surface thereof; and

b. a twisted projection provided at an end of said cylindrical member, said twisted projection being engageable with the twisted hole and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions for receiving the driving force from said driving rotatable member,

wherein when said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, said twisted projection is engaged with the twisted hole to receive the driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

25. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 24, further comprising a columnar shaft for supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum on a frame, and a drum gear for transmitting to a developing roller the driving force received from said driving rotatable member, wherein said twisted projection is provided at an end of said shaft, and wherein said shaft is provided at a central portion of said drum gear.

27. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 26 or 25, wherein an outer diameter D1 of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, an outer diameter F of said shaft, and a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted projection, satisfy:

D1>

F≧

C, and

wherein said twisted projection and said shaft are composed of integrally molded resin material.

28. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 26 or 25, wherein an outer diameter F of said shaft, a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted projection, a diameter G of a dedendum circle of said drum gear and an inner diameter D2 of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, satisfy:

G>

D2, and G>

F≧

C, and

wherein said twisted projection, said shaft, and said drum gear are composed of integrally molded resin material.

29. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 26 or 25, wherein said twisted projection, said drum gear, and said shaft are composed of integrally molded resin material.

30. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 24, 26, or 25, wherein the cross-section of said twisted hole is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangle, and wherein said twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and the corner portions of said twisted projection are beveled.

31. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 24 or 26, wherein when the driving force is transmitted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with said twisted projection being in engagement with said twisted hole, said twisted projection is urged toward said twisted hole.

26. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the main assembly including a motor, a main assembly gear for transmitting a driving force from said motor, and a twisted hole formed in the main assembly gear at a central portion thereof and having a substantially triangular cross-section, said electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprising:

a. a cylindrical member having a photosensitive layer on a circumferential surface thereof; and

b. a driving force transmitting part mounted to an end of said cylindrical member, said transmitting part including;

a drum gear for transmitting the driving force from the main assembly to a developing roller when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a shaft provided at a center of said drum gear; and

a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism provided at an end of said shaft, for engaging with the twisted hole to receive the driving force from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly,

wherein said driving force transmitting part receives the driving force from the main assembly through engagement between the twisted hole and twisted projection and transmits the driving force to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum through said shaft and to the developing roller through said drum gear.

32. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;

charging means for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;

developing means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum into a toner image;

transfer means for transferring the toner image formed by said developing means from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum onto the recording material;

fixed means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording material by said transfer means on the recording material;

a motor;

a driving rotatable member for transmitting a rotational driving force from said motor;

a twisted projection integrally rotatable with said driving rotatable member and provided at a central portion thereof, said twisted projection having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions; and

a twisted hole formed in a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said twisted hole being engageable with said twisted projection,

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between said twisted projection and said twisted hole, and wherein said photosensitive drum is urged toward said twisted projection when said driving rotatable member is rotated with said twisted hole being in engagement with said twisted projection.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the cross-section of said twisted hole is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangle, and wherein said twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and the corner portions of said twisted projection are beveled.

34. An apparatus according to claim 32 or 33, further comprising moving means for providing relative movement between said twisted projection and said twisted hole in a longitudinal direction of said photosensitive drum.

35. A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor, a driving rotatable member for transmitting a rotational driving force from the motor, and a twisted projection integrally rotatable with said driving rotatable member and provided at a central portion thereof, said twisted projection having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said process cartridge comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;

process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and

a twisted hole formed in a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said twisted hole being engageable with the twisted projection,

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from the driving rotatable member to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between the twisted projection and said twisted hole, and wherein said photosensitive drum is urged toward the twisted projection when the driving rotatable member is rotated with said twisted hole being in engagement with the twisted projection when said process cartridge is mounted to said main assembly.

37. A process cartridge according to claim 35 or 36, wherein said twisted hole is formed in a shaft which is projected outwardly and coaxially with said photosensitive drum, wherein said shaft is effective to rotatably support said electrophotographic photosensitive drum on a cartridge frame.

38. A process cartridge according to claim 37, wherein an outer diameter D1 of said photosensitive drum an outer diameter F of said shaft, and a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted hole, satisfy:

D1>

F>

C, and

wherein said twisted hole is formed in said shaft, said shaft composed of resin material.

39. A process cartridge according to claim 37, wherein an outer diameter F of said shaft, a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted hole, a diameter G of a dedendum circle of a drum gear provided on said photosensitive drum, and an inner diameter of said photosensitive drum D2, satisfy:

G>

D2, and G>

F>

C, and

wherein said shaft and said drum gear are composed of integrally molded resin material, and said twisted hole is formed in said shaft.

40. A process cartridge according to claim 35 or 36, wherein the cross-section of said twisted hole is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangle, and wherein said twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and the corner portions of said twisted projection are beveled.

41. A process cartridge according to claim 35 or 36, wherein said process means includes at least one of charging means, developing means, and cleaning means, and wherein said process means and said electrophotographic photosensitive drum are contained in said process cartridge as a unit, which is detachable mountable to the main assembly of said image forming apparatus.

36. A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor, a main assembly gear for transmitting a rotational driving force from the motor, a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism integrally rotatable with the main assembly gear and provided at a central portion thereof, said process cartridge comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;

process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and

a twisted hole formed in a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a substantially triangular cross-section, said twisted hole being engageable with the twisted projection,

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from the main assembly gear to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between the twisted projection and said twisted hole, and wherein said photosensitive drum is urged toward the twisted projection when the main assembly gear is rotated with said twisted hole being in engagement with the twisted projection when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

42. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, said apparatus comprising:

a. a motor;

b. a driving rotatable member for transmitting a rotational driving force from said motor;

c. a twisted projection integrally rotatable with said driving rotatable member and provided at a central portion thereof, said twisted projection having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions;

d. mounting means for detachably mounting the process cartridge to said apparatus, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a twisted hole formed in a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, the twisted hole being engageable with said twisted projection; and

e. feeding means for feeding the recording material,

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between said twisted projection and the twisted hole, and wherein the photosensitive drum is urged toward said twisted projection when said driving rotatable member is rotated with said twisted hole being in engagement with said twisted projection when said process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of said apparatus.

44. An apparatus according to claim 42 or 43, wherein the cross-section of the twisted bole is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangle, and wherein said twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and corner portions of said twisted projection are beveled.

45. An apparatus according to claim 42 or 43, further comprising moving means for providing relative movement between said twisted projection and the twisted hole in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum.

43. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, said apparatus comprising:

a. a motor;

b. a main assembly gear for transmitting a rotational driving force from said motor;

c. a twisted projection integrally rotatable with said main assembly gear and provided at a central portion thereof, said twisted projection being in the form of a substantially triangular prism;

d. mounting means for detachably mounting to said apparatus the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a twisted hole formed in a longitudinal end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a substantially triangular cross-section, the twisted hole being engageable with said twisted projection; and

e. feeding means for feeding the recording material,

wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from said main assembly gear to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between said twisted projection and the twisted hole, and wherein the photosensitive drum is urged toward said twisted projection when said main assembly gear is rotated with the twisted hole being in engagement with said twisted projection when said process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of said apparatus.

46. A driving force transmitting part for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor, a driving rotatable member for transmitting a driving force from the motor, a twisted projection integrally rotatable with the driving rotatable member and provided at a central portion thereof, the twisted projection having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said driving force transmitting part comprising:

a mounting portion for mounting said driving force transmitting part to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and

a twisted hole formed in said driving force transmitting part and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said twisted hole being engageable with the twisted projection of a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to receive the driving force, for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted to the main assembly.

47. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 46, further comprising a columnar shaft for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum on a frame, and a drum gear for transmitting to a developing roller the driving force received from the driving rotatable member, wherein said twisted hole is provided in an end of said shaft, and wherein said shaft is provided at a central portion of said drum gear.

48. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 46, wherein said mounting portion is mounted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by being mounted to a flange of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

49. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 46, wherein said mounting portion is mounted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by being mounted to a cylindrical portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

51. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 50 or 47, wherein said drum gear and said shaft are composed of integrally molded resin material, and said twisted hole is formed in said shaft.

52. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 46, 50, or 47, wherein the cross-section of said twisted hole is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangle, and wherein said twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and corner portions of said twisted projection are beveled.

53. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 50 or 47, wherein an outer diameter F of said shaft, a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted hole, a diameter G of a dedendum circle of a drum gear provided on said photosensitive drum, and an inner diameter D2 of said photosensitive drum, satisfy:

G>

D2, and G>

F>

C, and

wherein said shaft and said drum gear are composed of integrally molded resin material, and said twisted hole is formed in said shaft.

54. A driving force transmitting part according to claim 46 or 50, wherein when the driving force is transmitted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with said twisted hole being in engagement with said twisted projection, said photosensitive drum is urged toward said twisted projection.

50. A driving force transmitting part for transmitting a driving force to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and to a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, wherein the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are contained in a process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a motor, a main assembly gear for transmitting a driving force from the motor;

a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism formed on the main assembly gear at a central portion thereof, said driving force transmitting part comprising;

a drum gear for transmitting the driving force received from the main assembly to the developing roller when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a shaft provided at a central portion of said drum gear; and

a twisted hole formed in an end of said shaft and having a substantially triangular cross-section, the twisted hole being engageable with the twisted projection of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to receive the driving force from the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

55. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor, a driving rotatable member for transmitting a driving force from the motor, and a twisted projection integrally rotatable with the driving rotatable member and provided at a central portion thereof, said twisted projection having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprising:

a. a cylindrical member having a photosensitive layer on a circumferential surface thereof; and

b. a twisted hole formed in an end of said cylindrical member, said twisted hole being engageable with the twisted projection and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions for receiving the driving force from the driving rotatable member,

wherein when the photosensitive drum is mounted to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, said twisted hole is engaged with the twisted projection to receive the driving force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

56. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 55, further comprising a columnar shaft for supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum on a frame, and a drum gear for transmitting to a developing roller the driving force received from the driving rotatable member, wherein said twisted hole is formed in an end of said shaft, and wherein said shaft is provided at central portion of said drum gear.

58. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 57, or 56, wherein an outer diameter F of said shaft, a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted hole, and an outer diameter D1 of said photosensitive drum, satisfy:

D1>

F>

C, and

wherein said shaft and said drum gear are composed of integrally molded resin material, and said twisted hole is formed in said shaft.

59. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 57 or 56, wherein an outer diameter F of said shaft, a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted hole, a diameter G of a dedendum circle of said drum gear, and an inner diameter D2 of said photosensitive drum, satisfy:

G>

D2, and G>

F>

C, and

wherein said shaft and said drum gear are composed of integrally molded resin material, and said twisted hole is formed in said shaft.

60. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 57 or 56, wherein said drum gear and said shaft are composed of integrally molded resin material, and said twisted hole is formed in said shaft.

61. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 55, 57, or 56, wherein the cross-section of said twisted hole is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangle, and wherein said twisted projection is in the form of a substantially equilateral triangular prism, and corner portions of said twisted projection are beveled.

62. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to claim 55, 57, or 56, wherein when the driving force is transmitted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with said twisted hole being in engagement with said twisted projection, said photosensitive drum is urged toward said twisted projection.

57. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the main assembly including a motor, a main assembly gear for transmitting a driving force from the motor, and a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism formed on said the assembly gear at a central portion thereof, said electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprising:

a. a cylindrical member having a photosensitive layer on a circumferential surface thereof; and

b. a driving force transmitting part mounted to an end of said cylindrical member, said transmitting part including;

a drum gear for transmitting the driving force from the main assembly to a developing roller when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;

a shaft provided at a center of said drum gear; and

a twisted hole formed in an end of said cylindrical member, for engaging with the twisted projection to receive the driving force from the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly,

wherein said transmitting part receives the driving force from the main assembly through engagement between the twisted projection and said twisted hole, and wherein said transmitting part transmits the driving force to the photosensitive drum through said shaft and to the developing roller through said drum gear.