Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit

• US 9,841,727 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2017
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ueno, Takahito, Miyabe, Shigeo, Morioka, Masanari
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAY, FRANCIS C
• Application Number:
  US15/494,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20170227925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 399110, 399111, 399119, 399167, 399227, 399262, 399279
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/751 relating to drum G03G15/757 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/757 Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears
• 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 21/1817 having a submodular arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1821 means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation G03G21/1825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1842 for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/185 the process cartridge being mounted parallel to the axis of the photosensitive member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1853 the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1857 for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/186 Axial couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1657 transmitting mechanical drive power

Abstract

A process cartridge comprises a guide member positioned at a side of the process cartridge, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2, with the coupling member including at least one projection. A relative positioning of the coupling member and the guide member is changeable between (i) a first relative position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from an end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second relative position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1, with the first distance being greater than the second distance.

Claims

1. A process cartridge comprising:

a guide member positioned at a side of the process cartridge;

developer contained within the process cartridge;

a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, the photosensitive drum being rotatably supported in the process cartridge to permit rotation about the axis L1;

a developing roller having an axis L1′

, the developing roller being configured to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with the developer, and the developing roller being rotatably supported in the process cartridge to permit rotation about the axis L1′

; and

a coupling member having an axis L2, the coupling member including (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the photosensitive drum and the developing roller, (ii) a second end portion including at least one projection, with the at least one projection including a facing portion that faces the axis L2, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion,

wherein, for at least a part of the connecting portion, a maximum distance from the axis L2 along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 to an outermost surface of the connecting portion is shorter than a distance between the facing portion and the axis L2 along a line perpendicular to the axis L2, and

wherein a relative positioning of the coupling member and the guide member is changeable between (i) a first relative position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from an end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second relative position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising:

a flange provided at one end of the photosensitive drum, the flange being coaxial with the axis L1,

wherein the flange has a hollow portion, and at least part of the first end portion of the coupling member is positioned in the hollow portion of the flange.

3. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the part of the connecting portion is adjacent to the second end portion.

4. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member is positioned on the same side of the process cartridge as the guide member.

5. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member and the guide member are positioned on opposite sides of the process cartridge.

6. A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising:

a casing,

wherein the guide member is located at an outermost part of the casing.

7. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the guide member protrudes from the casing.

8. A process cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the guide member and the casing are separated parts connected together.

9. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second end portion includes an opening to a recessed surface, with the recessed surface facing away from the connecting portion.

10. A process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein, in the direction of the axis L2, the at least one projection is farther from the connecting portion than the recessed surface is from the connecting portion.

11. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the at least one projection is farther from the axis L2 in a direction perpendicular to the axis L2 than the recessed surface is from the axis L2 in the direction perpendicular to the axis L2.

12. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion comprises a shaft extending in a direction of the axis L2.

13. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member is inclineable relative to another part of the process cartridge.

14. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a process cartridge according to claim 1;

a driving motor;

a driving shaft engageable with the second end portion of the coupling member of the process cartridge and having a rotational axis L3; and

a guiding portion configured to guide the guide member of the process cartridge to mount the process cartridge into the image forming apparatus along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis L3 of the driving shaft.

15. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the first distance and the second distance is equal to or greater than a length of the at least one projection as measured in a direction of the axis L2.

16. A process cartridge comprising:

a casing;

developer contained in the casing;

a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, the photosensitive drum being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L1;

a developing roller having an axis L1′

, the developing roller being configured to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with the developer, and the developing roller being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L1′

; and

a coupling member having an axis L2, the coupling member including (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the photosensitive drum and the developing roller, (ii) a second end portion including at least one projection, with the at least one projection including a facing portion that faces the axis L2, and with a tip of the at least one projection being positioned adjacent to a first side of the process cartridge, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion,

wherein, for at least a part of the connecting portion, a maximum distance from the axis L2 along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 to an outermost surface of the connecting portion is shorter than a distance between the facing portion and the axis L2 along a line perpendicular to the axis L2,

wherein the process cartridge is changeable between a first configuration and a second configuration, and

wherein a distance in a direction of the axis L1 between a tip of the at least one projection of the coupling member and a farthest extent of the process cartridge on a second side of the process cartridge that is opposite to the first side is greater in the first configuration than in the second configuration.

17. A process cartridge according to claim 16, further comprising:

a flange provided at one end of the photosensitive drum, the flange being coaxial with the axis L1,

wherein the flange has a hollow portion, and at least part of the first end portion of the coupling member is positioned in the hollow portion of the flange.

18. A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the part of the connecting portion is adjacent to the second end portion.

19. A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the second end portion includes an opening to a recessed surface, with the recessed surface facing away from the connecting portion.

20. A process cartridge according to claim 19, wherein, in the direction of the axis L2, the at least one projection is farther from the connecting portion than the recessed surface is from the connecting portion.

21. A process cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the at least one projection is farther from the axis L2 in a direction perpendicular to the axis L2 than the recessed surface is from the axis L2 in the direction perpendicular to the axis L2.

22. A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the connecting portion comprises a shaft extending in a direction of the axis L2.

23. A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the coupling member is inclineable relative to another part of the process cartridge.

24. A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the farthest extent on the second side of the process cartridge is a part of a guide member.

25. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a process cartridge according to claim 24;

a driving motor;

a driving shaft engageable with the second end portion of the coupling member of the process cartridge and having a rotational axis L3; and

a guiding portion configured to guide the guide member of the process cartridge to mount the process cartridge into the image forming apparatus along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis L3 of the driving shaft.

26. A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the difference between the distance in the first configuration and the distance in the second configuration is equal to or greater than a length of the at least one projection as measured in a direction of the axis L2.

27. A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the casing includes an opening and at least one protrusion on an external portion of the casing adjacent to the opening, and

wherein the protrusion is provided adjacent to the coupling member with the part of the connecting portion of the coupling member being uncovered to outside of the casing in a direction perpendicular to the axis L1 away from the developing roller when the axis L2 of the coupling member aligns with the axis L1 of the photosensitive drum.