AU2013202177C1 - Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit - Google Patents

Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2013202177C1
AU2013202177C1 AU2013202177A AU2013202177A AU2013202177C1 AU 2013202177 C1 AU2013202177 C1 AU 2013202177C1 AU 2013202177 A AU2013202177 A AU 2013202177A AU 2013202177 A AU2013202177 A AU 2013202177A AU 2013202177 C1 AU2013202177 C1 AU 2013202177C1
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Australia
Prior art keywords
coupling member
rotational force
axis
cartridge
angular position
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AU2013202177A
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AU2013202177A1 (en
AU2013202177B2 (en
Inventor
Naoya Asanuma
Masato Hisano
Masanari Morioka
Ryosuke Nakazawa
Teruhiko Sasaki
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Canon Inc
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Canon Inc
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Priority claimed from AU2009261109A external-priority patent/AU2009261109A1/en
Priority to AU2013202177A priority Critical patent/AU2013202177C1/en
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of AU2013202177A1 publication Critical patent/AU2013202177A1/en
Priority to AU2014277817A priority patent/AU2014277817B2/en
Publication of AU2013202177B2 publication Critical patent/AU2013202177B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU2013202177C1 publication Critical patent/AU2013202177C1/en
Priority to AU2017210609A priority patent/AU2017210609B2/en
Priority to AU2019210524A priority patent/AU2019210524B2/en
Priority to AU2021202841A priority patent/AU2021202841B2/en
Priority to AU2023202766A priority patent/AU2023202766A1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
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Abstract

A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic 5 image forming apparatus including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion by moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft, includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable 10 about an axis; ii) process means actable on the drum; iii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the drum, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting 15 angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the drum to the drum, a pre-engagement angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis from the rotational force transmitting angular position and a disengaging 20 angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis from the rotational force transmitting angular position; and iv) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of the coupling member such that downward inclination angle 25 of the coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of the coupling member when the coupling member is at the pre-engagement angular position, wherein in 7274655vl mounting the cartridge to the main assembly by moving the cartridge in the direction, the coupling member moves from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position to 5 oppose the driving shaft, and in dismounting the cartridge from the main assembly by moving the cartridge in the direction, the coupling member moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position to 10 disengage from the driving shaft. 7274655vl

Description

WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 1 DESCRIPTION PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS 5 AND ELECTROGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT [TECHNICAL FIELD] The present invention relates to a process 10 cartridge, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge is detachably mountable, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus 15 includes an electrophotographic copying machine and an electrophotographic printer (laser beam printer, LED printer, and so on). The process cartridge contains, as a unit, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process 20 means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. For example, the process cartridge contains an electrophotographic photosensitive member 25 and at least one of developing means, charging means and cleaning means which are the process means, as a unit. Therefore, an example of the process cartridge WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 2 comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive member and developing means, charging means and cleaning means which are the process means, as a unit. Another example of the process cartridge comprises an 5 electrophotographic photosensitive member and charging means as the process means, as a unit. A further example of the process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive member and charging means and cleaning means as the process means, as a 10 unit. An even further example of the process cartridges comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive member and developing means as the process means, as a unit. The apparatus main assembly of the 15 electrophotographic image forming apparatus is parts of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus except the process cartridge. The process cartridge can be mounted to and dismounted from the main assembly of the apparatus. 20 Therefore, the maintenance operation of the apparatus can be carried out in effect by the user without relying on the service person- This improves the maintenance operativity of the image forming apparatus. 25 [BACKGROUND ART] In the field of the process cartridge, in order to receive the rotational driving force for rotating WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 3 the drum -shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (drum) from the main assembly, following structure is known. The main assembly of the apparatus includes a 5 rotatable member for transmitting a driving force of a motor and includes a twisted hole which is provided at a center of said rotatable member and which has a non circular cross-section having a plurality of corner portions. The process cartridge includes a twisted 10 projection which has a non-circular cross-section having a plurality of corner portions and which is provided on one longitudinal end of the drum, the twisted projection being engageable with the twisted hole of the rotatable member. After the process 15 cartridge is mounted to the main assembly when the rotatable member rotates in the state that the projection is in engagement with the hole, the rotational force is transmitted from the rotatable member to the drum, while the projection receives the 20 retracting force in the direction toward the hole. By this, the rotational force for rotating the drum is transmitted from the main assembly to the photosensitive drum (Japanese Patent No. 2875203). In another known system, a gear fixed to the 25 drum of the process cartridge is engaged with a driving gear of the main assembly to rotate the drum (Japanese Patent 1604488).
4 The present invention further develops the prior art described above. SUMMARY It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more disadvantages of existing arrangements. It is desired to provide a process cartridge which is mountable to the main assembly which is not provided with the mechanism for moving the main assembly side coupling member for transmitting the rotational force to the drum, by the opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover in the axial direction, the process cartridge being capable of rotating the drum smoothly. Disclosed is an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable with the process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus relative to which the process cartridge is mountable and dismountable. Also disclosed is a process cartridge which is dismountable in a direction perpendicular to an axis of a driving shaft from the main assembly provided with the driving shaft. Also disclosed is an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable with such the process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is detachably mountable. Also disclosed is a process cartridge mounted to the main assembly provided with a driving shaft in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft. Also disclosed is an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable with the process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is detachably mountable.
5 Also disclosed is a process cartridge mountable and dismountable in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft relative to the main assembly provided with the driving shaft. Also disclosed is an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable with such the process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is detachably mountable. Also disclosed is a process cartridge in which the rotational accuracy of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is improved as compared with the in the case where the engagement between gears is used for the transmission of a rotational force to the process cartridge from a main assembly. Also disclosed is an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable with the process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus on which the process cartridge is detachably mountable. Also disclosed is a process cartridge which has a regulating portion for regulating the inclination angle of the coupling member so that the angle at which the coupling member inclines by the weight is smaller than the angle in the case where the coupling member is in the pre-engagement angular position. Also disclosed is an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable with the process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus on which the process cartridge is detachably mountable. Also disclosed is a process cartridge in which before mounting the cartridge to a main assembly, the coupling is prevented from inclining greatly in the unnecessary direction, by which the cartridge can be smoothly mounted to the main assembly. Also disclosed is an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable for such a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is detachably mountable.
6 Also disclosed is a process cartridge which is mounted and dismounted in the direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft provided in a main assembly, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided therein is rotated smoothly. Also disclosed is the electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable for such a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is detachably mountable. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion by moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of said driving shaft, said 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 engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a pre engagement angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from said rotational force transmitting angular position and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from said rotational force transmitting angular position; and iv) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of said coupling member such that downward inclination angle of said coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of said coupling member when said coupling member is at the pre engagement angular position, wherein in mounting said process cartridge to the main assembly of the apparatus by moving said process cartridge in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said coupling member moves from the pre-engagement- angular position to the rotational 7 force transmitting angular position to oppose the driving shaft, and in dismounting said process cartridge from the main assembly of the apparatus by moving said process cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said coupling member moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position to disengage from the driving shaft. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, said electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: i) a driving shaft having a rotating force applying portion; and ii) a process cartridge including, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface; process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a pre engagement angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from said rotational force transmitting angular position and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from said rotational force transmitting angular position; and a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of said coupling member such that downward inclination angle of said coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of said coupling member when said coupling member is at the pre engagement angular position; wherein in mounting said process cartridge to the main assembly of the apparatus by moving said process cartridge in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said coupling member moves from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular 8 position to oppose the driving shaft, and in dismounting said process cartridge from the main assembly of the apparatus by moving said process cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said coupling member moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position to disengage from the driving shaft. According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion by moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of said driving shaft, said process cartridge comprising: i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface; ii) a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a pre engagement angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from said rotational force transmitting angular position and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from said rotational force transmitting angular position; iii) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of said coupling member such that downward inclination angle of said coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of said coupling member when said coupling member is at the pre engagement angular position; wherein in mounting said process cartridge to the main assembly of the apparatus by moving said process cartridge in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said coupling member moves from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position to oppose the driving shaft, and in dismounting said process cartridge from the main assembly of the apparatus by moving said process cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, 9 said coupling member moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position to disengage from the driving shaft. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion, by moving in a mounting direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of said driving shaft, said process cartridge comprising: i) a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis thereof; ii) a coupling member provided at an axial end portion of said photosensitive drum and rotatable about a coupling axis thereof so as to transmit a driving force from the driving shaft to said photosensitive drum, said coupling member being capable of inclining relative to said photosensitive drum so that the coupling axis inclines relative to the drum axis; and iii) a regulating portion surrounding said coupling member to confine a range of the inclination of said coupling member, wherein said regulating portion is provided with a recess that is recessed in the mounting direction away from said drum axis, and wherein an angle between the coupling axis and the drum axis is larger when at least a part of said coupling member is in said recess that is recessed in a direction away from said drum axis than when said coupling member contacts another portion of said regulating portion. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] Figure 1 is a sectional view of a main assembly of an image forming apparatus and a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the cartridge.
10 Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a frame of the cartridge. Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the main assembly of the apparatus. Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a driving shaft of the main assembly of the apparatus. Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the coupling member. Figure 7 is an illustration showing the state in which the coupling member and the driving shaft are engaged with each other. Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the state The specification continues on page 14 WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 14 in which the coupling member and the driving shaft are engaged with each other. Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the coupling member. 5 Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating a spherical member. Figure 11 is a sectional view illustrating the coupling member and a connecting part. Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating 10 the coupling member and the connecting parts. Figure 13 is an illustration of a drum flange. Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along a line S2 - S2 in Figure 13. Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along a 15 line 51 - Sl in Figure 13, illustrating a process of mounting the coupling member to the drum flange. Figure 16 is a sectional view taken along a line Sl - Sl in Figure 13, illustrating a process of fixing the coupling member to the drum flange. 20 Figure 17 is a schematic perspective view of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit as seen from a driving side. Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit as 25 seen from a non-driving side. Figure 19 is a perspective view of a cartridge set portion of the main assembly of the apparatus.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 15 Figure 20 is a perspective view of a cartridge set portion of the main assembly of the apparatus. Figure 21 is a sectional view illustrating a process of mounting the cartridge to the main assembly 5 of the apparatus. Figure 22 is a sectional view of a drum bearing. Figure 23 is a perspective view illustrating a driving side of a main assembly guide. Figure 24 is a side view illustrating a 10 relation between the main assembly guide and the coupling member. Figure 25 is a perspective view illustrating a relation between the main assembly guide and the coupling. 15 Figure 26 is a side view illustrating a relation between the cartridge and the main assembly guide. Figure 27 is a perspective view illustrating a relation between the main assembly guide and the 20 coupling. Figure 28 is a side view illustrating a relation between the main assembly guide and the coupling. Figure 29 is a perspective view illustrating a 25 relation between the main assembly guide and the coupling. Figure 30 is a side view illustrating a WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 16 relation between the main assembly guide and the coupling. Figure 31 is a perspective view illustrating a process of engagement between the driving shaft and 5 the coupling member. Figure 32 is a perspective view illustrating a process of the coupling caught by the driving shaft. Figure 33 is exploded perspective views of a driving shaft, a driving gear, a coupling and a drum 10 shaft. Figure 34 is an illustration of a coupling operation in the process of taking the cartridge out of the main assembly of the apparatus. Figure 35 is an illustration of an end 15 configuration of the driving shaft. [BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION] Embodiments (General arrangement) 20 Referring to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. Figure 1 is a sectional views of a main assembly 1 (main assembly) and a process cartridge 2 25 (cartridge) of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cartridge WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 17 2. Referring to Figs. 1 - 2, a general arrangement and an image formation process of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. 5 The present invention is applied to the process cartridge itself shown in Figure 2, for example. In addition, the present invention is applied to the photosensitive drum unit 21 itself shown in Figure 17 (a), for example. In addition, the present invention 10 is applied to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus itself shown in Figure 1, for example. This image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic laser beam printer with which the cartridge 2 is detachably mountable to the main 15 assembly 1. When the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1, there is an exposure device (laser scanner unit) 3 above the cartridge 2. A sheet tray 4 which contains a recording material (sheet material) P which is an image formation object is provided, below 20 of the cartridge 2. In addition, in the main assembly 1, along the feeding direction of the sheet material P, there are provided a pickup roller 5a, a feeding roller 5b, a feeding roller pair 5c, a transfer guide 6, a transfer charging roller 2, a conveyance guide 8, 25 a fixing device 9, a discharging roller pair 10, a discharging tray 11, and so on. Designated by 2a is a drum shutter, and when WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 18 the cartridge 2 is taken out of the main assembly 1, it protects a photosensitive drum 20. The shutter 2a is in an open position in Figure 1 and Figure 2. (Image formation process) 5 The outline of the image formation process will be described. The electrophotographic photosensitive drum (drum) 20 is rotated in a direction indicated by the arrow Rl at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) on the basis of the print start signal. 10 The drum 20 is rotatable about the axis (drum axis) Li, and has a photosensitive layer as the outermost layer. A charging roller (charging means) 12 which is supplied with a bias voltage contacts to an outer surface of the drum 20, and the outer surface of the 15 drum 20 is uniformly charged by this charging roller 12. A laser beam L modulated correspondingly to a serial electrical digital pixel signal of the image information is outputted from the exposure device 3. 20 The laser beam L enters an inside of the cartridge 2 through an exposure window 53 of the upper portion of the cartridge 2 to expose the outer surface of the drum 20 scanningly to the laser beam. By this, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image 25 information is formed on the outer surface of the drum 20. The electrostatic latent image is visualized into a toner image with the developer T (toner) in the WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 19 developing device unit 40. The charging roller 12 is contacted to the drum 20 and charges the drum 20 electrically. The charging roller 12 is rotated by the drum 20. The developing 5 device unit 40 supplies the toner to the developing area of the drum 20 to develop the latent image formed on the drum 20. The developing device unit 40 feeds the toner T out of a toner chamber 45 into a toner feed chamber 44 10 by the rotation of a stirring member 43. While it rotates a developing roller 41 which is a developer carrying member which contains a magnet roller (stationary magnet) 4la, it forms a layer of the toner triboelectrically charged by a developing blade 42 on 15 the surface of the developing roller (developing means) 41. It forms the toner image by transferring the toner to the drum 20 in accordance with the latent image to visualize the latent image. While the developing blade 42 regulates the toner amount on the 20 peripheral surface of the developing roller 41, it triboelectrically charges the toner. On the other hand, the sheet material P contained in a lower part of the main assembly 1 is fed from the sheet tray 4 by the pickup roller 5a, the 25 feeding roller 5b, and feeding rollerkt 5c in timed relation with the output of the laser beam L. The sheet material P is supplied via the transfer guide 6, WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 20 in the timed relation, to a transfer position formed between the drum 20 and the charging roller for the transferring 7. In the transfer position, the toner image is transferred onto the sheet material P 5 sequentially from the drum 20. The sheet material P onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the drum 20, and is fed to a fixing device 9 along a conveyance guide 8. The sheet material P passes a nip formed 10 between a fixing roller 9a and a pressing roller 9b which constitute the fixing device 9. It is subjected to the pressing and heat-fixing process in the nip, so that the toner image is fixed on the sheet material P. The sheet material P which has the fixed toner image 15 is fed to a discharging roller pair 10, and is discharged to the discharging tray 11. On the other hand, as for the drum 20 after the image transfer, the residual toner on the outer surface thereof is removed by a cleaning blade 20 (cleaning means) 52, and it is used for the image formation operation which starts with the charging. The residual toner removed from the drum 20 is stored in the waste toner chamber 52a of the photosensitive member unit 50. 25 In the above described example, the charging roller 12, the developing roller 41, the cleaning blade 52, and so on are the process means actable on WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 21 the drum 20. (Frame structure of the process cartridge) Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a frame structure of the cartridge 2. Referring to 5 Figure 2 and Figure 3, the frame structure of the cartridge 2 will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the drum 20, the charging roller 12, and the cleaning blade 52 are mounted to a drum frame 51 to constitute an integral photosensitive 10 member unit 50. On the other hand, a developing device unit 40 is constituted by a toner chamber 45 which contains the toner, and a toner accommodating chamber 40a and cover 40b which forms a toner feed chamber 44. The 15 toner accommodating chamber 40a and cover 40b are connected integrally with each other by the means such as welding. The photosensitive member unit 50 and the developing device unit 40 are rotatably connected 20 relative to each other by a connection member 54 of the round pin. That is, on a free end of an arm portion 55a formed on a side cover 55 provided at each end with respect to the longitudinal direction (an axial 25 direction of the developing roller 41) of developing device unit 40 a round rotation hole 55b is provided in parallel with the developing roller 41. The arm WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 22 portion 55a is inserted into the predetermined position of the drum frame 51. The drum frame 51 is provided with an engaging hole 51a (in (a) of Figure 3, left-hand side is unshown of Figure 3) for receiving a 5 connection member 54 co-axial with rotation hole 55b. The connection member 54 penetrates the rotation hole 55b and the engaging hole Sla, by which, the photosensitive member unit 50 and the developing device unit 40 are connected with each other rotatably 10 about the connection member 54. At this time, the compression coil spring 46 mounted to the base portion of the arm portion 55a abuts to the drum frame 51 to urge the developing device unit 40 downwardly. By this, the developing roller 41 (Figure 2) is assuredly 15 forced toward the drum 20 direction. A spacing member (unshown) is mounted to each end of the developing roller 41 to hold the developing roller 41 with a predetermined interval from the drum 20. (Method for rotational force transmission process 20 cartridge) Figure 4 is a perspective view of the main assembly 1 with the open cartridge door (main assembly cover) 109. The cartridge 2 is not mounted. Referring to Figure 4, a rotational force transmission method to 25 the cartridge 2 will be described. The main assembly 1 is provided with a guiding rail 130 for the cartridge mounting and demounting, WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 23 and the cartridge 2 is mounted to the inside of the main assembly 1 along the guiding rail 130. In this case, a driving shaft 100 of the main assembly 1 and a coupling member 150 (Figure 3, coupling) as a 5 rotational force transmitting portion of the cartridge 2 are coupled with each other in interrelation with the mounting operation of the cartridge 2. By this, the drum 20 receives the rotational force from the main assembly 1 to rotate. 10 The coupling member 150 is, as will be described hereinafter, provided to the end of the drum 20, and it is pivotable in substantially all directions relative to the axis Li of the drum. And, the coupling member 150 of this drum 20 can take a 15 rotational force transmitting angular position (first angular position) for transmitting a rotational force to the drum 20. In addition, it can take a pre engagement angular position (second angular position) inclined in the direction away from the axis LI of the 20 drum 20 from the rotational force transmitting angular position. In addition, it can take a disengaging angular position (third angular position) inclined in the direction away from the axis LI of the drum from the rotational force transmitting angular position. 25 This will be described hereinafter. 1) The driving shaft 100 Figure 5 is a perspective view of the driving shaft 100 provided in WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 24 the main assembly 1. The driving shaft 100 is coupled with drive transmission means, such as the unshown gear train provided in the main assembly 1, and with the motor. A free end portion 100a of the driving 5 shaft 100 has a substantially semispherical surface, and has a rotational force transmitting pins 100b as the rotational force applying portion. These configurations will be described hereinafter. 2) Coupling member 150 Figure 6 is a 10 perspective view of the coupling member 150. The material of the coupling member 150 is polyacetal, polycarbonate, and PPS or the like resin material. In order to enhance the rigidity of the coupling member 150, glass fibers, carbon fibers, and so on may be 15 mixed in the resin material correspondingly to the load torque. When these materials are mixed, the rigidity of the coupling member 150 can be enhanced. In addition, in order to further raise the rigidity, the metal may be inserted in the resin material, and 20 the whole coupling may be made with the metal and so on The free end of the coupling member 150 is provided with a plurality of drive receiving projections 150d (150d1-150d4). The drive receiving 25 projection 150d (150dl-l5Od4) is provided with a rotational force receiving portion 150e (150e1-150e4), and this is provided inclinedly relative to the axis WO 2009/1n4312 PCT/JP2009/061673 25 L2 of the coupling member 150. Furthermore, the inside of drive receiving projections 150dl - 150d4 provides a funnel-like driving shaft receiving surface (recess) 150f. The driving shaft receiving surface 150f is in 5 the form of a recess. More particularly, , the rotational force receiving portions 150e of the coupling member 150 are opposed to each other and disposed interposing the center on a phantom circle C(Figure 9) which has 10 Center 0 on the rotation axis of the coupling member 150 (axis L2). In the present embodiment, four rotational force receiving portions 150el - 150e4 are provided. The driving shaft receiving surface 150f crosses with the rotation axis of the coupling member 15 150, and has an expanded part which expanded toward the free end. The rotational force receiving portions 150e (150el-150e4) are disposed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the rotation of the coupling member 150 at the free end portion of the 20 expanded part. 3) Connection between driving shaft 100 and the coupling member 150 Figure 7 illustrates the state that the coupling member 150 and the driving shaft 100 connect with each other. Figure 8 is the sectional 25 view illustrating the state that the coupling member 150 and the driving shaft 100 connect with each other. Referring to Figure 7 and Figure 8, the coupling of WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 26 the driving shaft 100 and the coupling member 150 will be described. The rotational force transmitting pins 100b of the driving shaft 100 are in engagement with the 5 rotational force receiving portions 150e (150el-150e4). Although it is not shown in Figure 7, the rotational force transmitting pin 100b on the back side also is in engagement with the rotational force receiving portion 150e. In addition, the free end portion 100a 10 of the driving shaft 100 is in contact with the driving shaft receiving surface 150f of the coupling member 150. By the rotation of the driving shaft 100, the rotational force is transmitted to the rotational force receiving portion 150e from the rotational force 15 transmitting pin 100b. In addition, rotational force receiving portion 150e is inclined relative to the axis L2 of the coupling member 150 so that the coupling member 150 and the driving shaft 100 attract each other, and the assured contact is stabilized 20 between free end portion 100a and driving shaft receiving surface 150f to establish the assured rotational force transmission. Two rotational force transmitting pins 100b as the rotational force applying portions of the driving 25 shaft 100 are projected in the opposite directions relative to each other with respect to the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the driving WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 27 shaft, and projects. Any one of the rotational force receiving portions 150e (150e1-150e4) engages with one of the rotational force transmitting pins 100b. In addition, the other one of the rotational force 5 receiving portions engages with the other one of rotational force transmitting pins 100b. By this, the coupling member 150 receives the rotational force from the driving shaft 100 to rotate. The expanded part of driving shaft receiving 10 surface 150f of the coupling member 150 has a conical shape, as shown in Figure 8. This conical shape has an apex a on the rotation axis of the coupling member 150. Figure 8 shows the state that the coupling member 150 is at the rotational force transmitting angular i5 position. In this state, the rotation axis L150 of the coupling member 150 is coaxial substantially with the axis of the drum 20. And, an apex a of the conical shape of the driving shaft receiving surface 150f opposes to the free end of the driving shaft 100, and 20 the coupling member 150 covers the free end of the driving shaft 100 to transmit the rotational force to the coupling member 150. The rotational force receiving portions 150e (150el-150e4) are disposed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of 25 the rotation of the coupling member 150. 4) Coupling and connection parts Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the coupling member 150.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 28 Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating a spherical member 160. Figure 11 is a sectional view illustrating the coupling member 150 and a connection part. Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating the 5 coupling member 150 and the connection parts. A through-hole 150r is provided adjacent to the end 150s of the opposite side of the coupling member 150 from the rotational force receiving portion 150e. A spherical member 160 for connecting with the 10 coupling member 150 has a substantially spherical shape, and a hole for inserting the coupling member 150, and a pin 155 as will be described hereinafter are provided. A hole 160a closed at one end is a portion into which the end 150s of the coupling member 15 150 is inserted. In addition, through-hole 160b is a portion into which the pin 155 is inserted as will be described hereinafter, and it penetrates one-end closed hole 160a. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the end 150s of 20 the coupling member 150 is inserted into hole 160a of the spherical member 160, and the pin 155 is inserted in the state that the through-hole 150r and the through-hole 160b are aligned with each other. In the present embodiment, the coupling member 150 and the 25 hole 160a are engaged with a loose-fit, the pin 155 and the through-hole 150r are engaged with a loose-fit, and the pin 155 and the through-hole 160b are engaged WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 29 with a tight-fit. Accordingly, the pin 155 and the spherical member 160 are connected integrally. This combined structure constitutes a coupling assembly 156. When the coupling member 150 receives the 5 rotational force from the driving shaft 100, it rotates about the axis L150 and the edge of through hole 1S0r abuts to the pin 155. In other words, the rotational force from the main assembly 1 is converted to the force for rotating the pin 155 about the 10 rotation axis L150 through the coupling member 150. 5) Rotational force transmission to drum 20 from coupling assembly 156 Figure 13 is an illustration of drum flange 151 (flange) . Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along a line S2-52 in Figure 13. 15 Figure 15 is a sectional view illustrating a process of attaching the coupling member 150 to the flange 151 with a view taken along a line Si-S1 of Figure. 13. Figure 16 is a sectional view illustrating a process fixing the coupling member 150 to the flange 151 with 20 a view taken along a line S1-S1 of Figure 13. Figure 17 is a perspective view of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit 21, as seen from a driving side (coupling member 150). Figure 18 is a perspective view of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 25 unit 21, as seen from a non-driving side (opposite end portion). Referring to Figure 13 and Figure 14, an WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 30 example of a flange 151 for mounting the coupling member 150 will be described. Figure 13 shows the flange 151, as seen from the driving shaft 100 side. The opening 151g (151gl-151g4) shown in Figure 13 is a 5 groove extended in the rotation axis direction of the flange 151. When the coupling member 150 is mounted to the flange 151, the pin 155 is received by any two of this openings 151gl - 151g4. Furthermore, the clockwisely upstream parts of the openings 151gl 10 151g4 is provided with rotational force transmitting surfaces (rotational force receiving portion) 151h (151hl-151h4). When the rotational force is transmitted to the flange 151 from the pin 155, the pin 155 and rotational force transmitting surface 151h 15 contact to each other. In addition, a space (recess 151f) is provided adjacent the center axis L151 of the flange 151. The flange 151 has a gear 151m (Figure 15, Figure 16, Figure 17, and Figure 18). The gear 151m transmits the rotational force received from the 20 coupling member 150 driving shaft 100 to the developing roller 41. The recess 151f is a space surrounded by a cylinder surface 151j (151j4-151j4), a retaining portion 151i (151il-151i4), and an opening 151k 25 (151kl-151k4) . The cylinder surface 151j (151j4-151j4) is a substantial cylinder surface which is adjacent to the opening 151g and which has a center on the axis WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 31 L151, and it is a portion of the cylinder surface which has a diameter D151a. The retaining portion 151i (151il-151i4) has a substantially semispherical surface which is smoothly continuous with the 5 cylindrical surface 151j, and it has a radius SR151. The opening 151k (151kl-151k4) is disposed on the driving shaft 100 side of retaining portion 151i, and it is an opening which has a diameter D151b. A relation between them and the outside 10 dimension D160 of the spherical member 160 is as follows (Figure 14, Figure 15). D151b < D160 < D151a # 2xSR151The spherical member 160 can be inserted into recess 151f with a gap, but it is prevented from moving toward the opening 15 151k in the direction of the axis L151. A spherical member 160 (coupling assembly 156) does not separate from the flange 151 (process cartridge 2) under the normal condition by this prevention. The coupling member 150 has a gap between the 20 rotational force transmitting pin 155 (rotational force transmitting portion) and the rotational. force transmitting surface (rotational force receiving portion) 151h so that it is pivotable substantially in all directions relative to the axis Li of the drum 20. 25 The pin 155 is movable relative to the rotational force transmitting surface 151h. In this manner, the coupling member 150 is mounted to the end of the drum WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 32 20 so that the pin 155 and rotational force transmitting surface 151h contact with each other in the rotational direction of the coupling member 150. Referring to Figures 15 and 16, the process for 5 mounting and fixing the coupling member 150 to the flange 151 will be described. The end 150s is inserted in the direction of the arrow Xl into the flange 151. Then, the spherical member 160 is placed in the arrow X2 direction. Furthermore, the through-hole 160b of 10 the spherical member 160 and the through-hole 150r of end 150s are co-axially aligned, and the pin 155 is inserted in the direction of the arrow X3 after that. The pin 155 penetrates the through-hole 160b and the through-hole 150r. Since the inner diameters of 15 through-hole 160b and through-hole 150r are smaller than a diameter of the pin 155, the frictional force occurs between the pin 155 and through-hole 160b and between the pin and through-hole 150r. The interference is about 50 micrometers in the present 20 embodiment. By this, at the time of the ordinary use, the pin 155 is retained assuredly, and the coupling assembly 156 is maintained integral. The coupling assembly 156 is moved in an X4 25 direction, and the spherical member 160 is contacted or approached to the retaining portion 151i. Then, the retention member 157 is inserted in WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 33 the arrow X4 direction to fix to the flange 151. Since the play (gap) is provided relative to the spherical member 160, the coupling member 150 can change the orientation. 5 Referring to Figure 17 and Figure 18, the structure of electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit 21 (photosensitive drum unit) will be described. The flange 151 which is provided with the coupling assembly 156 is fixed to the end side of the drum 20 10 so that drive receiving projection 150d is exposed. Non-driving side drum flange 152 is fixed to the other end side of the drum 20. The fixing method may be crimping, bonding, welding or the like. The photosensitive drum unit 21 is supported rotatably by 15 the drum frame 51 in the state that the driving side is supported by the bearing member 15, and the non driving side is supported by the photosensitive drum unit supporting pin 202. The non-driving side is supported rotatably in hole 152a of drum flange 152 by 20 the pin 202. In the present embodiment, the coupling member 150 is mounted to the end of the drum 20 through the flange 151, and is pivotable and revolvable in all directions substantially, relative to the axis Li of 25 the drum 20. As has been described hereinbefore, the. rotational force from the motor (unshown) of the main WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 34 assembly 1 rotates the driving shaft 100 through the drive transmitting means (unshown), such as the gear of the main assembly 1. The rotational force thereof is transmitted to the cartridge 2 through this the 5 coupling member 150. Furthermore, the rotational force is transmitted through the pin 155 from the coupling member 150 to the flange 151, and it is transmitted to the drum 20 integrally fixed to the flange 151. Designated by 151c is a gear, and the rotational force 10 received by the coupling member 150 from the driving shaft 100 is transmitted to the developing roller 41 (Figure 2). The gear 151c is integrally molded with the flange 151. (Mounting and demounting structure of the cartridge 15 2) The mounting guide for mounting the cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1 will be described. The mounting means 130 of the present embodiment includes the main assembly guides 130R1, 130R2, 130L1, 130L2 provided in 20 the main assembly 1. They are provided on the right and left internal surfaces of the cartridge mounting space (cartridge set portion 130a) provided in the main assembly 1. (Figure 19 shows the driving side and Figure 20 shows the non-driving side). Correspondingly 25 to the driving side of the cartridge 2, the main assembly guide 130Ri, 130R2 extends along the mounting direction of the cartridge 2. On the other hand, WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 35 correspondingly to the non-driving side of the cartridge 2, the main assembly guides 130L1, 130L2 extend along the mounting direction of the cartridge 2. The main assembly guides 130R1, 130R2 and the main 5 assembly guides 130L1, 130L2 are opposed to each other. In mounting the cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1, the cartridge guides as will be described hereinafter are guided by the guides 130R1,130R2,130L1,130L2 in order to mount the cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1, 10 the cartridge door 109 which is openable and closable relative to the main assembly 1 is opened. The mounting relative to the main assembly 1 of the cartridge 2 is completed by closing the door 109. Also, in taking the cartridge 2 out of the main assembly 1, 15 the door 109 is opened. These operations are carried out by the user. The mounting guides of the cartridge 2 and the positioning portion relative to the main assembly 1 will be described. In the present embodiment, the 20 outer periphery 158a of the outside end of the bearing member 158 functions also as a cartridge guide 140R1. The cylindrical portion 51a of the drum frame functions also as the cartridge guide 140L1. Designated by 158h is a bearing, and supports the drum 25 20 rotatably (Figure 22 (C), Figure 26). The bearing 158h is provided in a bearing member 158. One longitudinal end portion (driving side) of WO 2009/14312 PCT/JP2009/061673 36 the drum frame 51 is provided with a cartridge guide 14OR2 substantially above the cartridge guide 140R1. The other longitudinal end portion (non-driving side) is provided with a cartridge guide 140L2 substantially 5 above the cartridge guide 140L1. The one longitudinal end portion of the drum 20 is provided with the cartridge side guides 140R1, 140R2 outwardly projected from the drum frame 51. The other longitudinal end portion is provided with the 10 cartridge side guides 140L1, 140L2 which outwardly projects from the drum frame 51. The guides 140R1, 140R2, 140L1, 140L2 outwardly project along the longitudinal direction. The guides 140R1, 140R2, 140L1, 140L2 project from the drum frame 51 along the axis Li 15 of the drum 20. When the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1, and when the cartridge 2 is demounted from the main assembly 1, the guide 140R1 is guided by the guide 130R1, and the guide 140R2 is guided by the guide 130R2. When the cartridge 2 is mounted to the 20 main assembly 1, and when the cartridge 2 is demounted from the main assembly 1, the guide 140L1 is guided by the guide 130L1, and the guide 140L2 is guided by the guide 130L2. Thus, the cartridge 2 is moved in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axial 25 direction L3 of the driving shaft 100 and is mounted to the main assembly 1, and it is moved and demounted from the main assembly 1 in the direction. The WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 37 cartridge guides 140R1, 140R2 are molded integrally with the second frame 118 in the present embodiment. However, separate members may be used as the cartridge guides 140Ri, 140R2. 5 The mounting operation of the process cartridge will be described. Referring to Figure 21 , the mounting operation of the cartridge 2 relative to the main assembly 1 will be described. Figure 21 shows the mounting process. Figure 21 is the sectional view 10 taken along a line S9-S9 in Figure 19. As shown in (a) of Figure.21, the user opens the door 109, and mounts the cartridge 2 removably relative to the cartridge mounting means 130 (set portion 130a) provided in the main assembly 1. 15 As shown in (b) of Figure 21, when the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1, the cartridge guides 140R1,140R2 are guided by the main assembly guides 130R1,13QR2 in the driving side. The cartridge guides 140L1, 140L2 ((b) of Figure 3) are 20 guided along the main assembly guide 130L1, 130L2 (Figure 20) also in the non-driving side. Referring to (a), (b) and (c) of Figure 22, the detailed description will be made as to the state until the cartridge 2 is inserted to the main assembly 25 guide (130R1), and as to the configuration of the drum bearing member 158 as the regulating portion for regulating the coupling member 150.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 38 As described above, the coupling member 150 is pivotable in photosensitive drum unit 21. Therefore, when the cartridge 2 is outside main assembly 1, it normally inclines downward by the gravity. 5 In Figure 22, (a) is a perspective view in the neighborhood of the drum bearing member of the cartridge 2, and the coupling is omitted for better understanding. (b) of Figure 22 is a side view of the cartridge 2. (c) of Figure 22 is a sectional view of 10 the cartridge 2 taken along a line S10 of (b) of Figure 22, wherein the orientations of the axis Li of photosensitive drum unit 21 (drum 20), and the inclined axis L2 of the coupling member 150 are shown. The configuration of the drum bearing member 15 158 will be described using (a) of Figure 22. The drum bearing member 158 is provided with a regulating portion 170 for regulating the motion of the coupling member 150 around the hole 158f penetrated by the coupling member 150. More particularly, the bearing 20 member 158 is provided with the regulating portion 170. This regulating portion 170 regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 so that the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 relative to the axis Li of the drum 20 in the pre-engagement 25 angular position is the larger than the inclination angle in other angular position (rotational force transmitting angular position, pre-engagement angular WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 39 position). More particularly, the regulating portion 170 regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 so that the angle of the inclination of the coupling member 150 by the weight is smaller then the 5 angle when the coupling member 150 takes the pre engagement angular position (second angular position). Here the rotational force transmitting angular position is a first angular position. The pre engagement angular position is a second angular 10 position. The disengaging angular position is a third angular position. The drum bearing member 158 is provided with a hole 150f. The coupling member 150 is pivotable in the range surrounded in hole 150f. Along with the outer 15 periphery of hole 150f, a first arc part 170a which has an inclination regulating portion 170g is provided. The coupling member 150 penetrates this hole 150f at the time of the assemblying operation. In the state that the cartridge 2 is outside the main assembly 1, 20 an inclination regulating portion 170g is provided below the hole 150f. The inclination regulating portion 17Og regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 in the state that the cartridge 2 is outside main assembly 1. A projection regulating 25 portion 1 7 0c projected outside in the axis Ll direction from a part of edge of hole 158f is provided with a second arc part 170d and a flat surface portion WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 40 170e connected with the second arc part 170d. The projection regulating portion 170c constitutes an inclination regulating portion 140Rla as will be described hereinafter. The inclination regulating 5 portion 140Rla regulates the inclining direction of the coupling member 150 between the left side from the upper surface. Therefore, the coupling member 150 can be freely inclined only in the mounting direction (X4) substantially. The inclination regulating portion 10 140Rla will be described hereinafter referring to Figure 24 and Figure 30. As shown in (c) of Figure 22, in the state that the cartridge 2 is outside main assembly 1, the axis L2 of the coupling member 150 is inclined to the 15 position where the coupling member 150 is held by inclination regulating portion 170g of the regulating portion 170. More particularly, , an intermediate part 150c of the coupling member 150 contacts to inclination regulating portion 170g to be .regulated in 20 the inclination angle (Figure 22 (C)). The inclination regulating portion 170g holds the intermediate part 150c of the coupling member 150 until the coupling member 150 is guided by the main assembly guide 130R1, after the cartridge 2 is inserted into the main 25 assembly 1. In other words, it regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 150. Therefore, the inclination regulating portion 170g is WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 41 not extended over the entire area in the circumferential direction of the hole 150f. The a part of the neighborhood of hole 150f is provided with a projection 170b for making larger the inclination 5 angle of the coupling member 150 than the inclination angle in the other neighborhood of hole 150f. The projection 170b projects in the radial direction (radial direction) of hole 150f from the circumference of hole 150f. The projection 170b regulates the 10 inclination angle of the coupling member 150 at the position remoter than the projection the regulating portion 170c and the inclination the regulating portion 170g with respect to the radial direction from the axis LI of the drum 20 (Figure 29 (a)). Figure 29 15 (a) shows the state that the coupling member 150 is regulated by the projection 170b in the inclination angle. In Figure 22 (c), the driven portion 150a of the coupling member 150 is illustrated by the broken lines. The inclination angle of the coupling member 20 150 is regulated by the inclination regulating portion 170g at the inclination angle alpha 8. By this, in mounting the cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1, the coupling member 150 is transferred to the inserting portion 130R2 with a small impact, without interfering 25 with the inserting portion 130R2 of the main assembly guide 130. The coupling member 150 is elastically urged by a slider 131 until it is positioned to the WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 42 main assembly 1. The coupling member 150 is guided to the projection 170b, while abutting to the second arc part 170d and the flat surface portion 1 7 0e of the projection regulating portion 170c. Before contacting 5 the coupling member 150 to the driving shaft 100, it takes the pre-engagement angular position. Therefore, the coupling member 150 can be engaged assuredly and smoothly with the driving shaft 100. The coupling member 150 receives an external force (second external 10 force) from the slider 131. When the cartridge 2 is further inserted in the arrow X4 direction, the driving shaft 100 and the coupling member 150 engage with each other, and subsequently the cartridge 2 is mounted to the 15 predetermined position (set portion 130a) (setting). In other words, the cartridge guide 140R1 contacts to positioning portion 130RIa of the main assembly guide 130R1, and the cartridge guide 140R2 contacts to positioning portion 13OR2a of the main assembly guide 20 130R2. In addition, the cartridge guide 140Ll contacts to the positioning portion 13OLla (Figure 20) of the main assembly guide 130L1, and, the cartridge guide 140L2 contacts to the positioning portion 130L2a of the main assembly guide 130L2. Since the situation is 25 substantially symmetrical, the illustration is omitted for simplicity. In this manner, the cartridge 2 is removably mounted to set portion 130a by the mounting WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 43 means 130. In other words, the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 in place. And, in the state that the cartridge 2 is set to the set portion 130a, the engagement between the driving shaft 100 and the 5 coupling member 150 is established. More particularly, the coupling member 150 takes the rotational force transmitting angular position as will be described hereinafter. When the cartridge 2 is mounted to the set portion 130a, the image forming operation is 10 enabled. When the cartridge 2 is set to the predetermined position as described above, the pressing receptor portion 140Rlb ((a) of Figure 3) of the cartridge 2 receives an urging force from the urging spring 188R (Figure 19). The pressing receptor 15 portion 140LIb ((b) of Figure 3) of the cartridge 2 receives the urging force by the urging spring 188L (Figure 20). By this, the cartridge 2 (drum 20) is accurately positioned relative to the transfer roller, the optical means, and so on of the main assembly 1. 20 In this manner, the cartridge 2 is provided with the cartridge guides 140R1, 140R2, 140L1, 140L2 guided in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis Li of the drum 20. By this, the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1, while moving in 25 the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis L3 of the driving shaft 100. The cartridge 2 is demounted from the main assembly 1 in the same WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 44 direction. As described above, the regulating portion 170 is provided around the coupling member 150 in the orthogonality direction substantially perpendicular to 5 the axis Li of the drum 20. More particularly, in the regulating portion 170, a portion of the intermediate part 150c of the coupling member 150 is surrounded with a gap so that the coupling member 150 can be revolved. As has been described hereinbefore, the 10 regulating portion 170 is provided with a first arc part 170a and the projection 170b which projects in the orthogonality direction continuing with the first arc part 170a. The inclination angle of the coupling member 150 inclined by the weight is regulated by the 15 first arc part 158a, and the projection 158b regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 in the pre-engagement angular position. In this manner, when the coupling member 150 inclines by the weight thereof, the inclination angle 20 of the coupling member 150 is regulated by the inclination regulating portion 1 7 0g of the first arc part 158a contacting to the intermediate part 150c. The projection 170b regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 in the pre-engagement angular 25 position. In the present embodiment, the inclination angle in the pre-engagement angular position is about WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 45 30 degrees, and the inclination angle regulated by first arc part 158a is about 20 degrees (in Figure 22 (c) alpha 8). However, the present invention is not limited to this angle, but another inclination angle 5 may be selected properly by one skilled in the art. The inclination angle of the coupling member 150 is regulated by the first arc part 120a. In other words, in the case where the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 is regulated, the inclination 10 angle of the coupling member 150 is regulated so that it is smaller than the inclination angle when the coupling member 150 is at the pre-engagement angular position (second angular position). More specifically, in the radial direction from the axis L1, the position 15 where the projection 170b regulates the inclination angle of this the coupling member 150 is set at a remote position from the position where the first arc part 158a regulates the inclination angle of this the coupling member 150. 20 Here, the angle when the coupling member 150 inclines by the weight is the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 when the user holds a gripper T (Figure 3) and carries the cartridge 2. More particularly, it is the inclination angle until the 25 coupling member 150 is guided by the main assembly guide 130R1. In this case, the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 is regulated by first arc part WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 46 170a (inclination regulating portion 170g). The predetermined part of the first arc part 170a for regulating the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 which inclines by the weight, and 5 the projection regulating portion 170c are opposed to each other interposing the center 0. The first arc part 170a is provided with a projection regulating portion 170c which projects in the axial direction from the first arc part. The 10 regulating portion 170 has a second arc part 170d which has the radius the same as the first arc part 170a, and a flat surface portion 158e extended continuing with the second arc part toward the side which has the projection 170a. When the coupling 15 member 150 receives the external force (second external force) from the main assembly 1, the coupling member 150 is guided by the external force to the projection 170b along the second arc part 158d and the flat surface portion 158. By this, the coupling member 20 150 takes the pre-engagement angular position. The external force (second external force) is the urging force applied to the coupling member 150 by the slider 131. As has been described hereinbefore, before the 25 mounting to the main assembly 1, the regulating portion 170 prevents the coupling member 150 from inclining in unnecessary directions. By this, the size WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 47 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main assembly 1 is reducible. When the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1, the cartridge 2 can be smoothly mounted to the main assembly 1. Here, the 5 unnecessary directions are the directions other than the pre-engagement angular position. Here, the process cartridge 2 using the present embodiment has the following structures (i) - (iv). i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 10 20 rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface. ii) process means (charging roller 12, developing roller 41, cleaning blade 52) actable on the drum 20. 15 iii) a coupling member 150 engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive an external force (first external force) for rotating the drum 20, the coupling member 150 being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular 20 position (first angular position) for transmitting the external force (first external force) for rotating the drum 20 to the drum 20, a pre-engagemenL angular position (second angular position) in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis Ll of 25 the drum 20 from the rotational force transmitting angular position (first angular position) and a disengaging angular position (third angular position) WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 48 in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis Li of the drum 20 from the rotational force transmitting angular position (first angular position). Here, the external force (first external force) 5 is a rotational force which is received by the coupling member 150 from the driving shaft 100. iv) a regulating portion 170 for regulating an inclination angle of the coupling member such that downward inclination (by the gravity) angle of the 10 coupling member 150 is smaller than an inclination angle of the coupling member when the coupling member is at the pre-engagement angular position (second angular position). The regulating portion 170 surrounds the 15 coupling member 150 in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axis LI of the drum 20, and the regulating portion is provided with a first arcuate portion 170a and a projected portion 170b projecting in the perpendicular direction continuing from the 20 first arcuate portion 170a, and wherein the first arcuate portion 170a (inclination regulating portion 170g) regulates the downward inclination of the coupling member 150, and the projected portion 170b regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 25 in the pre-engagement angular position (second angular position). With such structures, in the present embodiment, WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 49 when the cartridge 2 is inserted into the main assembly 1, the cartridge 2 can be smoothly inserted into the main assembly 1, without the coupling member 150 interfering with the other structure in the main 5 assembly 1. More particularly, the insertion to the main assembly 1 of the cartridge 2 is smooth. The first arc part 170a is provided with the projection regulating portion 170c which projects in the axial direction from the first arc part 170a. The 10 projection regulating portion 170c has the second arc part 170d which has the radius the same as the first arc part 170a, and the flat surface portion 170e extended toward the projection 170b continuing with the second arc part 170d. When the coupling member 150 15 receives a second external force different from the external force (first external force), the coupling member 150 is elastically urged by the second external force. to move along the second arc part 170d and flat surface portion 170e. The coupling member 150 is 20 guided to projection 170a. By this, the coupling member 150 takes the pre-engagement angular position (second angular position). With such a structure, in the present embodiment, when the coupling member 150 engages with 25 the driving shaft 100 the engagement is assuredly established between the coupling member 150 and the driving shaft 100. The coupling between the cartridge WO 21109/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 50 2 and the main assembly 1 is smoothly establishable. The coupling member 150 is provided with the driving shaft receiving surface (recess) 150f co-axial with the axis L2 of the coupling member 150. The 5 recess has the expanded part which expands toward the free end thereof. With such a structure, the coupling member 150 can engage and disengage smoothly relative to the driving shaft 100. The coupling member 150 can stably receive the rotational force from the driving 10 shaft 100. The rotational force receiving portions 150e of the coupling member 150 is disposed at equal intervals along the rotational direction of the coupling member 150 at the free end side of the expanded part. The 15 rotational force receiving portion 150e is on the phantom circle C which has the center 0 on the axis L2 (Figure 9), interposing the center 0. With such a structure, the coupling member 150 can receive the rotational force with proper balance from the driving 20 shaft 100. The expanded part has a conical shape. The conical shape has the apex thereof on the axis L2. With such a structure, the exact positioning between the coupling member 150 and the driving shaft 25 100 is accomplished. .The coupling member 150 is provided to the end of the drum 20 substantially revolvably around the WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 51 axis Li. More particularly, it is movable (pivotable) substantially in all directions relative to the axis LI. With such a structure, the coupling member 150 5 is engageable and disengageable relative to the driving shaft 100 irrespective of the phase of the driving shaft 100. Even when the axis L2 is somewhat deviated from the axis L3 of the driving shaft 100, the coupling 10 member 150 can receive the rotational force smoothly. The cartridge 2 has the guide portion (cartridge guides 140R1, 140R2, 140L1, 140L2) guided in the direction perpendicular to the axis Li direction of the drum 20. By this, the cartridge 2 is 15 mountable and demountable relative to the main assembly 1 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis L3 of the driving shaft 100. Here, the photosensitive drum unit 21, as will be described hereinafter, is the structure except for 20 the process means of the structure described above in ii). Between the cartridge 2 and the apparatus main assembly 1, in order to mount and demount the cartridge 2 smoothly, small gaps are provided. More 25 specifically, the small gaps are provided $ between the guide 140R1 and the guide 130R1 with respect to the longitudinal direction, between the guide 140R2 WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 52 and the guide 130R2 with respect to the longitudinal direction, between the guide 140L1 and the guide 130L1 with respect to the longitudinal direction, and between the guide 140L2 and the guide 130L2 with 5 respect to the longitudinal direction. Therefore, at the time of the mounting and demounting of the cartridge 2 relative to the apparatus main assembly 1, the whole cartridge 2 can slightly incline within the limits of the gaps. For this reason, the 10 perpendicularity is not meant strictly. However, even in such a case, the present invention is accomplished with the effects thereof. Therefore, the term "perpendicular substantially" covers the case where the cartridge slightly inclines. 15 Standing-by portions 150k are provided between the projections 150d. The intervals between the adjacent projection 150d are larger than the outer diameter of pin 100b so that they can accept the rotational force transmitting pins (rotational force 20 applying portion) 100b of the driving shaft 100 provided in the main assembly 1. The portions between the adjacent projections provide standing-by portions 150k. When the rotational force is transmitted from the driving shaft 100 to the coupling member 150, 25 transmission pin 100b is positioned in any of standing-by portions 150k (Figure 24). Designated by 150a is a coupling side driven WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 53 portion for receiving the rotational force from pin 100b. Designated by150b is a coupling side driving portion for engaging with the rotational force transmitting portion 155 and for transmitting the 5 rotational force to the drum shaft. Designated by 150c is the intermediate part 150c which connects driven portion 150a and driving portion 150b relative to each other (Figure 32 (a)). Another means for inclining the axis L2 of the 10 coupling member 150 relative to the drum axis LI will be described. Figure 23 is a perspective view illustrating the driving side of the main assembly 1. Referring to Figure 23, the main assembly guide and the coupling urging means will be described. According 15 to this embodiment, even if the frictional force is increased by rubbing of the intermediate part 150c or the main assembly guide, the coupling member 150 inclines assuredly to the pre-engagement angular position. The main assembly guide 13OR1 has a guide 20 surface 13ORlb for guiding the cartridge 2 through the cartridge guide 140R1 (Figure 3), a guide rib 130Rlc for guiding the coupling member 150, and a cartridge positioning part 130Rla. The guide rib 13ORlc is provided on the mounting locus of the cartridge 2. The 25 guide rib 130Rlc is extended to the front side of the driving shaft 100 with respect to the cartridge mounting direction. The rib 13QRld provided adjacent WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 54 the driving shaft 100 has such a height as is free of interference when the coupling member 150 engages. A part of rib 130RIc is cut away. The main assembly guide slider 131 is mounted on rib 130Rlc 5 slidably in the direction of arrow W. The slider 131 is pressed by the elastic force of the urging spring 132 (Figure 24). In this state, the slider 131 projects beyond the guide rib 130Rlc. The slider 131 applies an urging force as the 10 external force (second external force) to the coupling member 150. More particularly, the slider 131 applies the urging force to the coupling member 150 as the external force (second external force). The main assembly guide 130R2 has a guide 15 portion 130R2b and a cartridge positioning part 130R2a for guiding a part of drum frames 51, and determining the orientation at the time of the mounting of the cartridge 2. Referring to Figures 24 - 26, the relation 20 among the main assembly guides 130R1, 130R2, the slider 131, and the cartridge 2 during the mounting operation of the cartridge 2 will be described. Figure 24 is a side view as seen from the driving shaft 100 (Figure 19) side of the main assembly, and Figure 25 25 is a perspective view thereof. Figure 25 is a Z-Z sectional view of Figure 24. In the driving side, the cartridge 2 moves in WO 21009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 55 the state that the cartridge guide 140R1 contacts the guiding surface 130Rb. At this time, the intermediate part 150c is spaced by nl from guide rib 130Ric. Therefore, a force is not applied to the coupling 5 member 150. The coupling member 150 is regulated by regulating portion 140Rla over the upper surface and the left side. Therefore, the coupling member 150 can incline freely substantially only toward the mounting direction (X4). 10 Referring to Figures 27 - 30, movement of the slider 131 to the retracted position from the urging position in the contacted state of the coupling member 150 to the slider 131, will be described. Figure 27 Figure 28 show the state that the coupling member 150 15 contacts the apex 131b of the slider 131, that is, the state that the slider 131 has moved to the retracted position. By the entrance of the coupling member 150 pivotable only to the mounting direction (X4), the intermediate part 150c, and the inclined surface 131a 20 of the projection of the slider 131 (Figure 29) contact with each other. By this, the slider 131 is depressed to the retracted position. Referring to Figures 29 - 30, the operation after the coupling member 150 rides over the apex 131b 25 of the slider 131 will be described. Figures 29 - 30 show the state after the coupling member 150 rides over the apex 131b of the slider 131.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 56 When the coupling member 150 rides over the apex 131b, the slider 131 tends to return from the retracted position to the urging position by the elastic force of the urging spring 132. In this case, 5 a part of the intermediate part 150c of the coupling member 150 receives a force F from the inclined surface 131c of the slider 131. More particularly, the inclined surface 131c functions as a force applying portion, and a part of a intermediate part 150c 10 functions as the force receiving portion 150p. The force receiving portion 150p is provided in the upstream side with respect to the cartridge mounting direction of intermediate part 150c. Therefore, the coupling member 150 can be inclined smoothly. The 15 force F is divided into component forces El and E2. The upper surface of the coupling member 150 is confined by the regulating portion 140Rla. A part of regulating portion 140Rla is formed as a flat surface portion 158e ((a) of Figure 22), and the flat surface 20 portion 158e is substantially parallel with or slightly inclined relative to the mounting direction X4. Therefore, the coupling member 150 is inclined toward the mounting direction (X4) by the component force F2. In other words, the coupling member 150 25 inclines toward the pre-engagement angular position. By this, the coupling member 150 becomes engageable with the driving shaft 100.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 57 As described above, the main assembly 1 is provided with a slider 131 which functions as the urging member which is movable between the urging position and the retracted positions retracted from 5 the urging position and which is effective to apply the external force. When the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1, the slider 131 contacts the entering cartridge 2, is once retracted from the urging position to the retracted position, and 10 thereafter, returns to the urging position. The coupling member 150 is urged by the elastic force of the slider 131. By this, it is moved along the second arc part 158d and flat surface portion 158e, and is guided to the projection, so that the coupling member 15 150 takes the pre-engagement angular position. the coupling member 150 has a rotational force receiving portion 150e and a rotational force transmitting portion 155 for transmitting a rotational force to the drum 20, and has an intermediate part 20 (connecting portion) 150c of a cylindrical shape between rotational force receiving portion 150e and the rotational force transmitting portion 155. When the cartridge 2 is moved in the direction substantially perpendicular to the driving shaft 100, 25 the intermediate part 150c contacts the fixed portion (main assembly guide 130Rl) provided in the main assembly to take the pre-engagement angular position.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 58 The driving shaft 100 transmits a rotational force as the external force (first external force) to the coupling member 150. The driving shaft 100 applies the rotational force as the external force (first 5 external force) to the coupling member 150. In the foregoing embodiments, the intermediate part 150c receives the force to incline the coupling member 150. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, a portion other 10 than the intermediate part 150c may contact with the slider 131, if it is pivotable when the coupling member 150 receives the force from the slider 131 of the main assembly 1, (Operation of the coupling member) 15 The coupling engaging operation and the drive transmission will be described. The coupling member 150 and the driving shaft 100 engage with each other immediately before or simultaneously when the coupling 2 is set to the predetermined position or immediately 20 before the cartridge 2 is positioned to the predetermined position of the main assembly 1. The engaging operation of this the coupling member 150 will be described referring to Figure 31 and Figure 32. Figure 31 is a perspective view illustrating the major 25 parts of the driving shaft 100 and the driving side of the cartridge 2. Figure 32 is a longitudinal sectional view, as seen from the bottom of the main assembly.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 59 [Embodiment] As shown in Figure 32, in the mounting process of the cartridge 2, the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 in a direction (direction indicated by 5 the arrow X4) substantially perpendicular to an axis L3 of a driving shaft 100. As for the coupling member 150, the axis L2 thereof inclines toward the downstream side with respect to the mounting direction relative to the drum axis Li beforehand as the pre 10 engagement angular position ((a) of Figure 31, (a) of Figure 32). By this inclination of the coupling member 150, the free end position 15OAl is nearer to the drum axial direction L1 than the free end 100c3 of a driving shaft to the body of the drum 20 with respect. 15 In addition, the free end position 150A2 is nearer to the pin 100b than the free end 100c3 of the driving shaft (Figure 32 (a)). First, the free end position 150A1 passes by the free end 1OOc3 of the driving shaft. Thereafter, 20 the conical driving shaft receiving surface 150f or the driven projection 150d contacts to the free end portion 180b of the driving shaft 100, or the rotational force drive transmission pin 100b. Here, the driving shaft receiving surface 150f and/or the 25 projection 150d is the cartridge side contact portion. In addition, the free end portion 100c3 and/or the pin 100b is the main assembly side engaging portion. In WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 60 response to the movement of the cartridge 2, the coupling member 150 inclines (Figure 32 (c)) so that the axis L2 substantially co-axial with the axis Li. Finally, when the position of the cartridge 2 is 5 determined relative to the main assembly 1, the driving shaft 100 and the drum 20 are substantially co-axial with each other. More particularly, in the state that this cartridge side contact portion of the coupling member 150 is in contact with the main 10 assembly side engaging portion, the cartridge 2 is inserted into the main assembly 1. By this insertion, the coupling member 150 is pivoted to the rotational force transmitting angular position from the pre engagement angular position so that the axis L2 15 substantially co-axial with the axis Ll. In this manner, the coupling member 150 and the driving shaft 100 are engaged with each other (Figure 31 (b), Figure 32 (d)). More particularly, in the state that the 20 coupling member 150 is at the rotational force transmitting angular position, the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 150 is substantially co-axial with the axis Ll of the drum 20. In addition, in the state that the coupling member 150 is in the pre-engagement 25 angular position, it inclines relative to the axis Ll of the drum 20 so that the downstream side in the mounting direction for mounting the cartridge 2 to the WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 61 main assembly 1 can pass by the free end of the driving shaft 100. As described above, at the time of mounting the cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1, while moving it in 5 the direction perpendicular to the axis Li of the drum 20, the coupling member 150 moves to the rotational force transmitting angular position from the pre engagement angular position. By this, the coupling member 150 is opposed to the driving shaft 100. 10 More particularly, the coupling member 150 has the driving shaft receiving surface 150f on the rotation axis. When mounting the cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1, the cartridge 2 is moved in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis Li 15 of the drum 20. In response to this movement, the coupling member 150 pivots to the rotational force transmitting angular position from the pre-engagement angular position so that a part of the coupling member positioned at the downstream side as seen in the 20 direction of mounting the cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1 is permitted to circumvent the driving shaft 100. And, in the state that the coupling member 150 is in the rotational force transmitting angular position, the driving shaft receiving surface 150f 25 covers the free end of the driving shaft 100. In this state, the rotational force receiving portion 150e of the coupling member 150 engages with the rotational WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 62 force applying portion 100b which projects in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis L3 of the driving shaft 100 in the free end portion of the driving shaft 100 in the rotational direction of 5 the coupling member 150. By this, the coupling member 150 receives the rotational force from the driving shaft 100 to rotate. As has been described hereinbefore, the coupling member 150 is mounted for inclining motion 10 relative to the axis L1. And, in response to the mounting operation of the cartridge 2, by the pivoting of the coupling member 150, it can be engaged with the driving shaft 100. Similarly to embodiment 1, the engaging 15 operation of the coupling member 150 described above is possible regardless of the phases of the driving shaft 100 and the coupling member 150. In this manner, in this embodiment, the coupling member 150 is mounted to the end of the drum 20 substantially revolvably and swingably about the axis Li. The motion of the coupling shown in Figure 32 may include the revolution. In this embodiment, the revolution of the coupling member 150 is not a rotation of the coupling 25 per se around the axis of the coupling L2 but the rotation of the inclined axis L2 around the axis of the drum 20 LI. However, within the limits of the play WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 63 or the gap provided positively, the rotation of the coupling per se around the axis L2 is not excluded. The coupling member is provided to an end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 and is 5 capable of tilting relative to the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 substantially in all directions. By doing so, the coupling member 150 can pivot smoothly between the pre-engagement angular position and the rotational 10 force transmitting angular position and between the rotational force transmitting angular position and the disengaging angular position. Substantially all directions is intended to mean that coupling can pivot to the rotational force 15 transmitting angular position irrespective of the phase at which the rotating force applying portion stops. In addition, the coupling can pivot to the disengaging angular position irrespective of the phase 20 at which the rotating force applying portion stops. A gap is provided between the pin 155 (rotating force transmitting portion) and the rotating force receiving member (Figure 13) 155h so that the coupling member is capable of tilting relative to the axis L1 25 of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 substantially in all directions. The coupling member 150 is provided at an end of the electrophotographic WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 64 photosensitive drum 20. The coupling is mounted to the end of the drum in this manner. The coupling is capable of inclination substantially in all directions relative to the axis Li. 5 Referring to Figure 33, the description will be made about the rotational force transmitting operation at the time of rotating the drum 20. The driving shaft 100 rotates with the drum driving gear 181 in the direction of X8 in the Figure by the rotational force 10 received from the motor (unshown) . The gear 181 is the helical gear and the diameter thereof in the present embodiment is approx. 80mm. The pin 100b integral with the driving shaft 100 contacts to any two of the four receiving surfaces 150e (rotational force receiving 15 portions) of the coupling member 150. The coupling member 150 rotates by the pin 100b pushing the receiving surfaces 150e. In addition, the rotational force transmitting pin 155 (in Figure 11, the coupling side engaging portion, the rotational force 20 transmitting portion) contacts the coupling member 150 to the rotational force transmitting surface (in Figure 13, rotational force receiving portion) 151h (1511h, 151h2). By this, the coupling member 150 is coupled with the drum 20 so that the rotational force 25 can be transmitted. Therefore, the drum 20 rotates through the flange 151 by the rotation of the coupling member 150.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 65 In addition, in the case where the axis Li and the axis L2 are somewhat deviated from concentric state, the coupling member 150 inclines to a slight degree. By this, the coupling member 150 can rotate 5 without applying the large load to the drum 20 and the driving shaft 100. For this reason, no highly precise adjustment is required in the assembly operations of the driving shaft 100 and the drum 20. Therefore, the cost is reduced. 10 The operation of the coupling member 150 at the time of taking the cartridge 2 out of the main assembly 1 will be described. Figure 34 is a longitudinal sectional view, as seen from below the main assembly. 15 In (a) of Figure 34, the axis L2 is substantially co-axial with the axis L1 as the rotational force transmitting angular position of the coupling member 150 in the state in which the drive of the drum 20 is at rest. 20 In (b) of Figure 34, while the cartridge 2 moves to the front side (take-out direction X6) of the main assembly 1, the drum 20 moves to the front side. In response to this movement, the driving shaft receiving surface 150f or the projection 150d of the 25 coupling member 150 contacts to the free end of the shaft of the driving shaft 100 100c3 at least, so that the axis L2 starts the inclination toward the upstream WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 66 side of the take-out direction X6. This inclining direction is the same as the direction in which the coupling member 150 inclines at the time of the mounting of the cartridge 2. 5 In (c) of Figure 34, when the cartridge 2 is further moved to the direction X6, the position of the upstream free end with respect to the direction X6 150 A3 inclines until it reaches the free end 100c3 of the shaft. The angle of the coupling member in this case 10 150 is the disengaging angular position which inclines in the direction away from the axis Li of the drum 20 from the rotational force transmitting angular position. In (d) of Figure 34, in this state, while 15 contacting to the free end 100c3 of the shaft, the coupling member 150 advances. Although the angle between the axis Li and the axis L2 differs from the angle at the time of the mounting, the free end position 150 A3 which is a part of coupling member 150 20 circumvents the free end 100c3 of the shaft similarly to the case of the mounting. In the state that the coupling member 150 is in the disengaging angular position, it inclines relative to the axis Li of the drum 20 so that the upstream 25 side thereof with respect to the removing direction of dismounting the cartridge 2 from the main assembly 1 can pass by the free end of the driving shaft 100.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 67 More particularly, when dismounting the cartridge 2 from the main assembly 1, the cartridge is moved in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the drum 20 Li. In response to this movement, as 5 seen in the direction opposite from the removing direction for dismounting the cartridge 2 from the main assembly 1,, the coupling member 150 pivots to the disengaging angular position from the rotational force transmitting angular position so that a part of 10 the coupling member positioned behind the driving shaft 100 is permitted to circumvent the driving shaft. Thus, by the coupling member 150 pivoting, the coupling member 150 disengages from the driving shaft 100. 15 Accordingly, in the case where the cartridge is taken out, it is also expressed as a part of coupling circumventing the driving shaft. Thereafter, the cartridge. 2 is taken out from the main assembly 1. 20 Referring to Figure 35, the description will be made in more detail about the tip shape of the driving shaft 100. As an example of the simple configuration of the driving shaft 100, there is a combination of the semispherical surface 100f and the cylindrical 25 surface 100d shown in (a) of Figure 35. By the semispherical surface 100f abutting to the funnel-like driving shaft receiving surface (conic surface) 150f WO 2009/1n4312 PCT/JP2009/061673 68 of the coupling member 150, the relative position between the driving shaft 100 and the coupling member 150 is determined. For this reason, it is desirable to position the center (center of the sphere) of the 5 semispherical surface 100f on the centerline of the drive transmission pin 100b. As shown in b) of Figure 35, even if the coupling member 150 inclines during the rotation, a distance Ra between the rotational force receiving portion 150e and the drive 10 transmission pin 100b does not change. In addition, a distance Rb between the driving shaft receiving surface 150f and the drive transmission pin 100b does not change, and therefore, the stabilized rotation can be continued. 15 The present embodiment employs the configuration in which the longitudinal size of the driving shaft 100 is reducible. The radius of the semispherical surface 100f which is the first positioning portion is small in the configuration 20 shown in (b) of Figure 34. As shown in the description, the center of the semispherical surface 100f is on the centerline of the drive transmission pin 100b which is rotational force applying portion. Correspondingly to the reduction of the radius semi-spherical shape, the 25 drive transmission pin 100b approaches to the coupling member 150. The portion between the semispherical surface WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 69 100f and the cylindrical surface 100d is a conic surface 100g as the guiding portion. As has been described with Figure 32, by the time the coupling member 150 engages completely with the driving shaft 5 100, it inclines from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position. In this embodiment, in order to carry out. this operation smoothly, the conic surface 100g is formed without a step. 10 1 The diameter of the cylindrical surface 100d determines the amount of the play relative to the coupling member 150. Immediately after the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1, the funnel-like driving shaft receiving surface (conic surface) 150f 15 of the coupling member 150 and the semispherical surface of the driving shaft 100 100f may be separated from each other by the gap, with respect to the longitudinal direction, determined in consideration of dimensional tolerance and so on. At this time, the 20 positioning function of the semispherical surface (first positioning portion) 100f does not work. In this embodiment, the play with respect to the radial direction between the cylindrical surface (second positioning portion) 100d and the coupling member 150 25 is small, so that the cylindrical surface 100d work(s) as the second positioning portion to position the coupling member 150 temporarily.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 70 As has been described hereinbefore, the driving shaft 100 has the semispherical surface 100f (first positioning portion) and the cylindrical surface 100d (second positioning portion) which are the positioning 5 portions relative to the coupling member 150. During the rotational force transmission, the coupling member 150 contacts with the semispherical surface 100f, and is spaced from the cylindrical surface 100d. The semispherical surface 100f of the driving 10 shaft. 100 has the substantial spherical shape. The cylindrical surface 100d has the cylindrical shape. In addition, the driving shaft 100 has the conic surface (guiding portion) 100g which connects between the semispherical surface 100f and the 15 cylindrical surface 100d. (1) A process cartridge 2 is detachably mountable to a main assembly 1 of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a driving shaft 100 having 20 a rotational force applying portion 100b by moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft 100. The process cartridge 2 comprises: i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 25 20 rotatable about an axis Li and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface. ii) process means 12, 41, 52 actable on the WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 71 electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20. iii) a coupling member 150 is engageable with the rotational force applying portion 100b to receive a rotational force for rotating the 5 electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20. The coupling member 150 is capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 to the 10 electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, a pre engagement angular position in which the coupling member 150 is inclined away from the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 from the rotational force transmitting angular position and a 15 disengaging angular position in which the coupling member 150 is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 from the rotational force transmitting angular position. iv) a regulating portion 170 for regulating an 20 inclination angle of the coupling member 150 such that downward inclination angle of the coupling member 150 is smaller than an inclination angle of the coupling member 150 when the coupling member 150 is at the pre engagement angular position. 25 In mounting the process cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1 of the apparatus by moving the process cartridge 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 72 to the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, the coupling member 150 moves from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position to 5 oppose the driving shaft 100, and in dismounting the process cartridge 2 from the main assembly 1 of the apparatus by moving the process cartridge 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, the 10 coupling member 150 moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position to disengage from the driving shaft 100. The disengagement is enabled by movement of the coupling member 150 to the disengagement angular 15 position. With such structures, the cartridge 2 can be mounted and dismounted relative to the main assembly 1 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis L3. 20 (2) The regulating portion 170 surrounds the coupling member 150 in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 , and the regulating portion 170 is provided with a first 25 arcuate portion 170a and a- projected portion 170b projecting in the perpendicular direction continuing from the first arcuate portion 170a , and wherein the WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 73 first arcuate portion 170a regulates the downward inclination (by the gravity) of the coupling member 150 , and the projected portion 170b regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 in the 5 pre-engagement angular position. (3) The first arcuate portion 170a is provided with a regulating projection 170c projecting in the axial direction from the first arcuate portion 170a. The regulating projection 170c is provided with a 10 second arcuate portion 170d having the same radius of arc as that of the first arcuate portion 170a, and a flat surface portion 170e extending from the second arcuate portion 170d toward the projected portion 170b. When the coupling member 150 receives an external 15 force from the main assembly 1 of the apparatus, the coupling member 150 is moved by the external force along the second arcuate portion 170d and the flat surface portion 170e to the projected portion 170b. By this, the coupling member 150 is positioned at the 20 pre-engagement angular position. With such structures, the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 due to the gravity can be regulated, and therefore, the cartridge 2 B can be smoothly mounted to the main assembly 1. 25 (4) The main assembly 1 of the apparatus includes a slider (urging member) 131, movable between an urging position and a retracted position retracted WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 74 from the urging position, for applying the external force. The coupling member 150 is urged by an elastic force of the slider 131 which when the process cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 of the 5 apparatus, contacts the process cartridge 2 to retracts temporarily from the urging position to the retracted position and then restore to the urging position so as to move along the second arcuate portion 170d and the flat surface portion 170e to the 10 projected portion 170b. By this, the coupling member 150 is positioned at the pre-engagement angular position. With such a structure, the engagement between the coupling member 150 and the driving shaft 100 is 15 assuredly established. (5) The coupling member 150 has a recess (driving shaft receiving surface) 150f in which a rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 150 extends, wherein when the process cartridge 2 is mounted to the 20 main assembly 1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge 2 pivots from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position so that downstream a part of the coupling member 150, with respect to the 25 mounting direction in which the process cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 75 circumvents the driving shaft 100. The recess 150f is over a free end of the driving shaft 100 in the state in which the coupling member 150 is positioned at the rotational force transmitting angular position. The 5 coupling member 150 is rotated by a rotational force through engagement, in a rotational direction of the coupling member 150, to the rotational force applying portion 100b which is projected in a direction substantially perpendicular. to an axis L3 of the 10 driving shaft 100 adjacent to the free end of the driving shaft 100. When the process cartridge 2 is dismounted from the main assembly 1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the coupling member 150 is disengaged from the driving 15 shaft 100 by moving (pivoting) from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position so that part of the coupling member 150 circumvents the driving shaft 100 in response to movement of the process cartridge 2 in the direction 20 substantially perpendicular to the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20. By this, the coupling member disengages from the driving shaft 100. (6) A plurality of such rotational force 25 receiving portions 150e are provided on a phantom circle C having a center on the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 150 at positions substantially WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 76 diametrically opposite to each other. (7) The recess includes an expanding portion expanding toward a free end thereof. A plurality of the rotational force receiving portions 150e are 5 provided at regular intervals along a rotational direction of the coupling member 150. The rotational force applying portion 100b is provided at each of two positions which are diametrically opposite to each other with respect to the axis L3 of the driving shaft 10 100. The coupling member 150 receives a rotational force from the driving shaft 100 to rotate by one of the rotational force receiving portions 150e engaging to one of the rotational force applying portion 100b and by the other of rotational force receiving 15 portions 150e engaging to the other of the rotational force applying portions 100b. One of the rotational force receiving portions 150e is opposed to the other of the rotational force receiving portions 150e, and one of the rotational force applying portions 100b is 20 opposed to the other of the rotational force applying portions 100b. With such structure, the coupling can rotate smoothly. (8) The expanding portion has a conical shape 25 having an apex "a" (center 0) on the rotational axis of the coupling member 150. In the state in which coupling member 150 is positioned at the rotational WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 77 force transmitting angular position, the apex is opposed to the free end of the driving shaft 100, and the coupling member 150 is over the free end of the driving shaft 100 when the rotational force is 5 transmitted to the coupling member 150. The rotational force receiving portions 150e are provided at regular intervals in a rotational direction of the coupling member 150. (9) In the state in which coupling member 150 10 is positioned at the rotational force transmitting angular position, the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 150 is substantially coaxial with the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, wherein in the state in which coupling member 150 15 is positioned at the pre-engagement angular position, the coupling member 150 is inclined relative to the axis L1 of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 so that downstream a part thereof with respect to the mounting direction in which the process cartridge 20 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 of the apparatus passes by the free end of the driving shaft, wherein in the state in which coupling member 150 is positioned at the disengaging angular position, the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 150 is 25 inclined relative to the axis Ll of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 so as to permit an upstream portion of the coupling member 150 WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 78 passes by the free end of the driving shaft 100 in a removing direction in which the process cartridge 2 is dismounted from the main assembly 1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 5 (10) The coupling member 150 is provided to an end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 and is capable of revolvable relative to the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 substantially in all directions. 10 With such structures, the coupling member 150 is capable of engaging and disengaging relative to the driving shaft 100 irrespective of the phase of the driving shaft 100. (11) A gap is provided between the rotating 15 force transmitting portion 155 and the rotating force receiving member 151h so that coupling member 150 is capable of tilting relative to the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 substantially in all directions. The rotating force 20 transmitting portion 155 is provided at an end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 and is movable relative to the rotating force receiving member 151h. The rotating force transmitting portion 155 and the rotating force receiving member 15lh are 25 engageable to each other in a rotational direction of the coupling member 150. (12) The coupling member 150 is provided with WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 79 a rotating force transmitting portion 155 for transmitting the rotating force to be transmitted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, the rotating force transmitting portion 155 being arranged 5 in line with the rotating force receiving portion in the rotational axis L2 direction of the coupling member 150 , the coupling member 150 is further provided with an intermediary portion 150c between the rotating force. receiving portion and the rotating 10 force transmitting portion 155 , and wherein when the process cartridge 2 is moved in the direction substantially perpendicular to the driving shaft 100 the intermediary portion 150c is contacted by a fixed portion (main assembly guide 130R1) of the main 15 assembly 1 of the apparatus so that coupling member 150 takes the pre-engagement angular position. With such structures, the coupling member 150 can assuredly engage with the coupling member 150. The structures of the electrophotographic image 20 forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiments are summarized as follows. (13) The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main assembly to which a process cartridge 2 is detachably mountable. The 25 electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises: i) a driving shaft 100 having a rotating force applying portion 100b.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 80 ii) a process cartridge 2 including. an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 rotatable about an axis Li and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface, 5 process means (12, 41, 52) actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, a coupling member 150 engageable with the rotational force applying portion 100b to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic 10 photosensitive drum 20, wherein the coupling member 150 is capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 to the electrophotographic is photosensitive drum 20, a pre-engagement angular position in which the coupling member 150 is inclined away from the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 from the rotational force transmitting angular position and a disengaging 20 angular position in which the coupling member 150 is inclined away from the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 from the rotational force transmitting angular position, a regulating portion 170 for regulating an 25 inclination angle of the coupling member 150 such that downward inclination angle of the coupling member 150 is smaller than an inclination angle of the coupling WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 81 member 150 when the coupling member 150 is at the pre engagement angular position, wherein in mounting the process cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1 of the apparatus by moving the 5 process cartridge 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, the coupling member 150 moves from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting 10 angular position to oppose the driving shaft 100, and in dismounting the process cartridge 2 from the main assembly 1 of the apparatus by moving the process cartridge 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive 15 drum 20, the coupling member 150 moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position to disengage from the driving shaft 100. (14) The regulating portion 170 surrounds the 20 coupling member 150 in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 , and the regulating portion 170 is provided with a first arcuate portion 170a and a projected portion 170b 25 projecting in the perpendicular direction continuing from the first arcuate portion 170a , and wherein the first arcuate portion 170a regulates the downward WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 82 inclination (by the gravity) of the coupling member 150 , and the projected portion 170b regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 in the pre-engagement angular position. 5 (15) The first arcuate portion 170a is provided with a regulating projection 170c projecting in the axial direction from the first arcuate portion 170a. The regulating projection 170c is provided with a second arcuate portion 170d having the same radius 10 of arc as that of the first arcuate portion 170a, and a flat surface portion 170e extending from the second arcuate portion 170d toward the projected portion 170b. When the coupling member 150 receives an external force from the main assembly 1 of the apparatus, the 15 coupling member 150 is moved by the external force along the second arcuate portion 170d and the flat surface portion 170e to the projected portion 170b. By this, the coupling member 150 is positioned at the pre-engagement angular position. 20 With such structures, the inclination angle of the coupling member 15' due to the gravity can be regulated, and therefore, the cartridge 2 B can be smoothly mounted to the main assembly 1. (16) The main assembly 1 of the apparatus 25 includes a slider (urging member) 131, movable between an urging position and a retracted position retracted from the urging position, for applying the external WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 83 force. The coupling member 150 is urged by an elastic force of the slider 131 which when the process cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 of the apparatus, contacts the process cartridge 2 to 5 retracts temporarily from the urging position to the retracted position and then restore to the urging position so as to move along the second arcuate portion 170d and the flat surface portion 170e to the projected portion 170b. By this, the coupling member 10 150 is positioned at the pre-engagement angular position. (17) The coupling member 150 has a recess (driving shaft receiving surface) 150f in which a rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 150 extends, 15 wherein when the process cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge 2 pivots from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position so that downstream 20 a part of the coupling member 150, with respect to the mounting direction in which the process cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus circumvents the driving shaft 100. The recess 150f is 25 over a free end of the driving shaft 100 in the state in which the coupling member 150 is positioned at the rotational force transmitting angular position. The WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 84 coupling member 150 is rotated by a rotational force through engagement, in a rotational direction of the coupling member 150, to the rotational force applying portion 100b which is projected in a direction 5 substantially perpendicular to an axis L3 of the driving shaft 100 adjacent to the free end of the driving shaft 100. When the process cartridge 2 is dismounted from the main assembly 1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the 10 coupling member 150 is disengaged from the driving shaft 100 by moving (pivoting) from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position so that part of the coupling member 150 circumvents the driving shaft 100 in response to 15 movement of the process cartridge 2 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20. By this, the coupling member disengages from the driving shaft 100. 20 (18) In the state in which coupling member 150 is positioned at the rotational force transmitting angular position, the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 150 is substantially coaxial with the axis L1 of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 25 20, wherein in the state in which coupling member 150 is positioned at the pre-engagement angular position, the coupling member 150 is inclined relative to the WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 85 axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 so that downstream a part thereof with respect to the mounting direction in which the process cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 of the apparatus 5 passes by the free end of the driving shaft, wherein in the state in which coupling member 150 is positioned at the disengaging angular position, the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 150 is inclined relative to the axis Li of the 10 electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 so as to permit an upstream portion of the coupling member 150 passes by the free end of the driving shaft 100 in a removing direction in which the process cartridge 2 is dismounted from the main assembly 1 of the 15 electrophotographic image forming apparatus. (19) The coupling member 150 is provided with a rotating force transmitting portion 155 for transmitting the rotating force to be transmitted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, the 20 rotating force transmitting portion 155 being arranged in line with the rotating force receiving portion in the rotational axis L2 direction of the coupling member 150 , the coupling member 150 is further provided with an intermediary portion 150c between the 25 rotating force receiving portion and the rotating force transmitting portion 155 , and wherein when the process cartridge 2 is moved in the direction WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 86 substantially perpendicular to the driving shaft 100 the intermediary portion 150c is contacted by a fixed portion (main assembly guide 13OR1) of the main assembly 1 of the apparatus so that coupling member 5 150 takes the pre-engagement angular position. As shown in (d) of Figure 34, in the rotational force transmitting angular position of the coupling member 150, the angle relative to the axis Li of the coupling member 150 is such that in the state where 10 the cartridge (B) is mounted to the apparatus main assembly (A), the coupling member 150 receives the transmission of the rotational force from the driving shaft 180, and it rotates. In the rotational force transmitting angular position of the coupling member 15 150, the rotational force for rotating the photosensitive drum is transmitted to the drum. As shown in (d) of Figure 34, in the pre engagement angular position of the coupling member 150, the angular position relative to the axis Li of the 20 coupling member 150 is such that it is in the state immediately before the coupling member 150 engages with the driving shaft 100 in the mounting operation to the apparatus main assembly 1 of the cartridge 2. More particularly, it is the angular position relative 25 to the axis Li which the downstream free end portion 15CA1 of the coupling 150 can pass by the driving shaft 100 with respect to the mounting direction of WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 87 the cartridge 2. As shown in (d) of Figure 34, the disengaging angular position of the coupling member 150 is the angular position relative to the axis L1 of the 5 coupling member 150 at the time of taking out the cartridge 2 from the apparatus main assembly 1, in the case that the coupling 150 disengages from the driving shaft 180. More particularly, as shown in (d) of Figure 34, it is the angular position relative to the 10 axis Li with which the free end portion 150 A3 of the coupling 150 can pass by the driving shaft 180 with respect to the removing direction (X6) of the cartridge (B). In the pre-engagement angular position or the 15 disengaging angular position, the angle theta 2 which the axis L2 makes with the axis Li is larger than the angle theta 1 which the axis L2 makes with the axis L1 in the rotational force transmitting angular position. As for the angle theta 1, 0 degree is preferable. 20 However, in this embodiment, if the angle theta 1 is less than about 15 degrees, the smooth transmission of the rotational force is accomplished. This is also one of the effects of this embodiment. As for the angle theta 2, the range of about 20 - 60 degrees is 25 preferable. (20) The driving shaft 100 is provided with a first positioning portion 100f and a second WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 88 positioning portion 100d relative to the coupling member 150. During rotating force transmission , the coupling member 150 contacts the first positioning portion , and is spaced from the second positioning 5 portion. The structures of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to -the above-described embodiments are summarized as follows. (21) The electrophotographic photosensitive 10 drum unit 21 is detachably mountable to a main assembly 1 of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes a driving shaft 100 having a rotational force applying portion 100b by moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to 15 an axis of the driving shaft 100, the drum unit 21 comprises: i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 rotatable about an axis Li and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface. 20 ii) a coupling member 150 is engageable with the rotational force applying portion 100b to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20. The coupling member 150 is capable of taking a rotational 25 force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 to the WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 89 electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, a pre engagement angular position in which the coupling member 150 is inclined away from the axis Li of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 from the 5 rotational force transmitting angular position and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member 150 is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 from the rotational force transmitting angular position. 10 iii) a regulating portion 170 for regulating an inclination angle of the coupling member 150 such that downward inclination angle of the coupling member 150 is smaller than an inclination angle of the coupling member 150 when the coupling member 150 is at the pre 15 engagement angular position. In mounting the process cartridge 2 to the main assembly 1 of the apparatus by moving the process cartridge 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis Ll of the electrophotographic 20 photosensitive drum 20, the coupling member 150 moves from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position to oppose the driving shaft 100, and in dismounting the process cartridge 2 from the main assembly 1 of the 25 apparatus by moving the process cartridge 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20, the WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 90 coupling member 150 moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position to disengage from the driving shaft 100. The disengagement is enabled by movement of the 5 coupling member 150 to the disengagement angular position. (22) The regulating portion 170 surrounds the coupling member 150 in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axis L1 of the 10 electrophotographic photosensitive drum 20 , and the regulating portion 170 is provided with a first arcuate portion 170a and a projected portion 170b projecting in the perpendicular direction continuing from the first arcuate portion 170a , and wherein the 15 first arcuate portion 170a regulates the downward inclination (by the gravity) of the coupling member 150 , and the projected portion 170b regulates the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 in the pre-engagement angular position. 20 (23) The first arcuate portion 170a is provided with a regulating projection 170c projecting in the axial direction from the first arcuate portion 170a. The regulating projection 170c is provided with a second arcuate portion 170d having the same radius 25 of arc as that of the first arcuate portion 170a, and a flat surface portion 170e extending from the second arcuate portion 170d toward the projected portion 170b.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 91 When the coupling member 150 receives an external force from the main assembly 1 of the apparatus, the coupling member 150 is moved by the external force along the second arcuate portion 170d and the flat 5 surface portion 170e to the projected portion 170b. By this, the coupling member 150 is positioned at the pre-engagement angular position. With such structures, the inclination angle of the coupling member 150 due to the gravity can be 10 regulated, and therefore, the cartridge 2 can be smoothly mounted to the main assembly 1. (24) The main assembly 1 of the apparatus includes a slider (urging member) 131, movable between an urging position and a retracted position retracted 15 from the urging position, for applying the external force. The coupling member 150 is urged by an elastic force of the slider 131 which when the process cartridge 2 is mounted to the main assembly 1 of the apparatus, contacts the process cartridge 2 to 20 retracts temporarily from the urging position to the retracted position and then restore to the urging position so as to move along the second arcuate portion 170d and the flat surface portion 170e to the projected portion 170b. By this, the coupling member 25 150 is positioned at the pre-engagement angular position. (25) A plurality of such rotational force WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 92 receiving portions 150e are provided on a phantom circle C having a center on the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 150 at positions substantially diametrically opposite to each other. 5 (26) The coupling member 150 is provided with a recess including an expanding portion expanding toward a free end thereof. A plurality of the rotational force receiving portions 150e are provided at regular intervals along a rotational direction of 10 the coupling member 150. The rotational force applying portion 100b is provided at each of two positions which are diametrically opposite to each other with respect to the axis L3 of the driving shaft 100. The coupling member 150 receives a rotational force from 15 the driving shaft 100 to rotate by one of the rotational force receiving portions 150e engaging to one of the rotational force applying portion 100b and by the other of rotational force receiving portions 150e engaging to the other of the rotational force 20 applying portions 100bo. One of the rotational force receiving portions 150e is opposed to the other of the rotational force receiving portions 150e, and one of the rotational force applying portions 100b is opposed to the other of the rotational force applying portions 25 100b. With such structure, the coupling can rotate smoothly and stably.
WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 93 The expanding portion has a conical shape having an apex "a" (center 0) on the rotational axis of the coupling member 150. In the state in which coupling member 150 is positioned at the rotational 5 force transmitting angular position, the apex is opposed to the free end of the driving shaft 100, and the coupling member 150 is over the free end of the driving shaft 100 when the rotational force is transmitted to the coupling member 150. The rotational 10 force receiving portions 150e are provided at regular intervals in a rotational direction of the coupling member 150. With such a structure, the coupling member 150 can receive a smooth and stabilized rotating force. 15 According to the embodiments of the present invention, a process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus having a driving shaft, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the driving 20 shaft. Also, there are provided an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable with such a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is detachably mountable. 25 According to the embodiments of the present invention, the rotation accuracy of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum can be WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 94 improved as compared with the case that engaging gears are used to transmit the rotational force from the main assembly to the process cartridge. According to the embodiments of the present 5 invention, before the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the coupling member is prevented from inclining in an unnecessary direction to a great extend, and therefore, the process cartridge can be smoothly mounted to the main assembly. In addition, 10 there are provided an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable with such a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is detachably mountable. 15 [INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a process cartridge which is mountable to the main assembly which is not provided 20 with the mechanism for moving the main assembly side coupling member for transmitting the rotational force to the drum, by the opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover in the axial direction. The process cartridge is capable of rotating the drum 25 smoothly. The present invention can also provide an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit usable WO 2009/154312 PCT/JP2009/061673 95 with the process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus relative to which the process cartridge is mountable and dismountable. While the invention has been described with 5 reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details. set forth, and this application is intended to cover such modification or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

Claims (7)

1. A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion, by moving in a mounting direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of said driving shaft, said process cartridge comprising: i) a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis thereof; ii) a coupling member provided at an axial end portion of said photosensitive drum and rotatable about a coupling axis thereof so as to transmit a driving force from the driving shaft to said photosensitive drum, said coupling member being capable of inclining relative to said photosensitive drum so that the coupling axis inclines relative to the drum axis; and iii) a regulating portion surrounding said coupling member to confine a range of the inclination of said coupling member, wherein said regulating portion is provided with a recess that is recessed in the mounting direction away from said drum axis, and wherein an angle between the coupling axis and the drum axis is larger when at least a part of said coupling member is in said recess that is recessed in a direction away from said drum axis than when said coupling member contacts another portion of said regulating portion.
2. A process cartridge according to Claim 1, wherein said coupling member includes a connection end portion inclinably connected with said photosensitive drum, a free end portion capable of receiving the rotational force from the rotational force applying portion, and a connecting portion connecting said connection end portion and said free end portion with each other, and wherein at least a part of said connecting portion is capable of entering said recess.
3. A process cartridge according to Claim 2, wherein said connecting portion is in the form of a shaft extending along the coupling axis.
4. A process cartridge according to Claim 2, wherein said regulating portion includes a guide portion that guides said coupling member into said recess when said 97 coupling member receives an external force toward said guide portion at a side opposite said guide portion.
5. A process cartridge according to Claim 4, wherein said guide portion extends outwardly along a direction of the drum axis of said photosensitive drum.
6. A process cartridge according to Claim 4, wherein said guide portion guides said coupling member into said recess by contacting said free end portion of said coupling member.
7. A process cartridge according to Claim 1, further comprising a rotatable developing roller configured to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, wherein said recess is recessed away from said developing roller. Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON
AU2013202177A 2008-06-20 2013-03-28 Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit Active AU2013202177C1 (en)

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AU2013202177A AU2013202177C1 (en) 2008-06-20 2013-03-28 Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit
AU2014277817A AU2014277817B2 (en) 2008-06-20 2014-12-19 Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit
AU2017210609A AU2017210609B2 (en) 2008-06-20 2017-08-04 Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit
AU2019210524A AU2019210524B2 (en) 2008-06-20 2019-07-30 Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit
AU2021202841A AU2021202841B2 (en) 2008-06-20 2021-05-05 Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit
AU2023202766A AU2023202766A1 (en) 2008-06-20 2023-05-03 Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit

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JP2008-161530 2008-06-20
AU2009261109A AU2009261109A1 (en) 2008-06-20 2009-06-19 Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit
AU2013202177A AU2013202177C1 (en) 2008-06-20 2013-03-28 Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit

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Citations (1)

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WO2008078836A1 (en) * 2006-12-22 2008-07-03 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008078836A1 (en) * 2006-12-22 2008-07-03 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit

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