CN117687281A - Process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus provided with a force output mechanism including a sleeve, a braking force output member and a driving force output member provided in the sleeve, the driving force output member rotating together with the braking force output member in a rotational direction of the force output mechanism, the driving force output member and the braking force output member being disengageable from each other along a rotational axis L9 of the force output mechanism; the process cartridge includes a housing, a rotating body rotatably provided in the housing, and a coupling at one end of the housing for coupling with a force output mechanism to receive a driving force, the rotating body being driven by the driving force of the coupling; the process cartridge further includes a tension member provided separately from the coupling, and when the coupling receives the driving force, the tension member is combined with the braking force output member, and the design can effectively suppress a possible movement of the process cartridge in a longitudinal direction thereof, ensuring that the process cartridge maintains stable image quality.

Description

Process cartridge

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of electrophotographic image forming, and more particularly, to a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Background

In general, a process cartridge detachably mounted in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (simply referred to as an "image forming apparatus") is required to be provided with at least one rotating body rotatable about a rotation axis, which is used to either agitate a developer in the process cartridge or supply the developer to other members or form an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof and receive the developer to develop the electrostatic latent image, etc., when the process cartridge is in operation, and for this purpose, a coupling capable of continuously receiving a driving force from the image forming apparatus is required to be provided in the process cartridge, and when the coupling receives the driving force, the rotating body can be driven.

For this reason, a force output mechanism for outputting a driving force is provided in the image forming apparatus, and correspondingly, a coupling for coupling with the force output member is provided in the process cartridge, and when the process cartridge needs to be taken out, the coupling is decoupled from the force output mechanism, so that the process cartridge is smoothly installed and taken out in the image forming apparatus, and the length of the process cartridge as a whole will be slightly smaller than the length of the space for accommodating the process cartridge in the image forming apparatus.

The existing image forming apparatus or process cartridge is further provided with a positioning device for positioning the process cartridge at a predetermined position, the positioning device generally uses elastic abutment or clamping and other modes to realize positioning of the process cartridge, but considering the material of the process cartridge and the cooperation of the rotating body and other components of the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge still has a certain activity even after being positioned by the positioning device, particularly, in the process that the force output mechanism outputs driving force to the coupling, the side where the coupling is located will generate larger vibration, thereby causing unacceptable movement of the process cartridge in the length direction thereof, and finally, the image forming quality of the process cartridge is deteriorated.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge in which, when a coupling in the process cartridge receives a driving force from an image forming apparatus, a possible movement of the process cartridge in a length direction thereof is suppressed to ensure that the process cartridge maintains stable image forming quality.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical scheme.

A process cartridge detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus provided with a force output mechanism including a sleeve, a braking force output member and a driving force output member provided in the sleeve, the driving force output member and the braking force output member rotating together in a rotational direction of the force output mechanism, the driving force output member and the braking force output member being disengageable from each other along a rotational axis L9 of the force output mechanism; the process cartridge includes a housing, a rotating body rotatably provided in the housing, and a coupling at one end of the housing for coupling with a force output mechanism to receive a driving force, the rotating body being driven by the driving force of the coupling; the process cartridge further includes a tension member provided separately from the coupling, the tension member being combined with the braking force output member when the coupling receives the driving force, by which the process cartridge is capable of being effectively restrained from being moved in a longitudinal direction thereof, whereby the process cartridge can maintain stable image quality.

In some embodiments, the tightening member is provided separately from the coupling, without force interaction between the two.

In some embodiments, the tightening member is disposed coaxially with the coupling.

In some embodiments, the tension member is in a freely rotatable state prior to engagement of the coupling with the force output mechanism.

In some embodiments, along the rotational axis L9, one end of the braking force output member is provided with a hook portion, with which the tensioning member is coupled when the tensioning member is coupled to the force output mechanism.

In some embodiments, along the rotation axis L9, the hook is closer to the side of the process cartridge where the coupling is not provided than the portion where the coupling abuts the force output mechanism to receive the driving force.

In some embodiments, the driving force output member is provided in plurality, the force output mechanism further includes a connecting member connecting at least two of the driving force output members, and an outer edge is formed radially outward of the connecting member in a rotation direction of the force output mechanism; the outer edge is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the driving force output member in the radial direction of the force output mechanism; after the coupling and the force output mechanism are combined, when the force output mechanism rotates, the coupling abuts against the outer edge to receive the driving force, and therefore the coupling can receive the driving force more stably.

In some embodiments, the coupling is provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, and the driving force receiving portion is located between the braking force output member and the connecting member in a radial direction of the coupling after the coupling is completely coupled with the force output mechanism.

In some embodiments, the coupling is provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, and the driving force receiving portion is sandwiched by the braking force output member and the connecting member in a radial direction of the coupling after the coupling is completely coupled with the force output mechanism.

In some embodiments, the sleeve comprises a sleeve body formed with a sleeve cavity, the driving force output member is provided on the sleeve body, the coupling is provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, and a portion of the driving force receiving portion is deeper into the sleeve cavity than the connecting member along a rotation axis L2 of the coupling after the coupling is coupled with the force output mechanism.

In some embodiments, the brake force output member comprises a first brake force output member and a second brake force output member radially distributed along the force output mechanism, the first brake force output member being located outboard of the second brake force output member, a projection of the first brake force output member along the rotational axis L9 at least partially overlapping a projection of the drive force output member along the rotational axis L9, the outer edge comprising a first outer edge and a second outer edge radially distributed, the first outer edge being closer to the rotational axis L9 than the second outer edge, the second outer edge being closer to the rotational axis L9 than the first brake force output member; the coupling receives the driving force by abutting against the first outer edge.

In some embodiments, the braking force output is forced by the coupling to retract toward the interior of the sleeve during coupling of the coupling to the force output mechanism.

Drawings

Fig. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a process cartridge according to the present invention.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a force output member in an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge according to the present invention is applied.

Fig. 2B is an exploded view of part of the components in the force output member.

Fig. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the force output member taken along the direction BB in fig. 2A.

Fig. 2D is a side view of the force output member as seen in the direction of the rotational axis of the force output member.

Fig. 2E is a cross-sectional view of the force output member taken along the direction AA in fig. 2A.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the coupling and the tension member according to the present invention, respectively, after being coupled to the end caps.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the coupling, tension member and end cap of the present invention shown separated from one another.

Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction AA in fig. 2A after the coupling of the present invention to the force output member is completed.

Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction CC in fig. 5A after the coupling and force output member of the present invention have been coupled.

Fig. 5C is a partial perspective view of the coupling and force output member of the present invention after the coupling and force output member are coupled.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through the rotational axis of another coupling according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[ processing Box ]

Fig. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a process cartridge according to the present invention.

The process cartridge 100 includes a housing 1 and a rotary body 11 rotatably mounted in the housing 1, the rotary body 11 being rotatable about a rotation axis L11 extending in an x-direction upon receipt of a driving force, wherein a +x-direction end of the rotary body 11/the process cartridge 100 is for receiving the driving force, and for this reason, a +x-direction end of the process cartridge 100 is referred to as a driving end C1 and a-x-direction end of the process cartridge 100 is referred to as a non-driving end C2.

The process cartridge 100 may be configured to be detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus in the x direction, or may be configured to be detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus in a direction intersecting the x direction, depending on a structure within the image forming apparatus; depending on the structure of the process cartridge 100, the process cartridge 100 may be provided as only a developer accommodating unit 100a accommodating a developer, only a developing unit 100b accommodating a developer, only an image forming unit 100c forming an electrostatic latent image, or a combination of at least two of the above-described developer accommodating unit 100a, developing unit 100b, and image forming unit 100 c.

A stirring frame for stirring the developer is rotatably provided in the developer accommodating unit 100a, and can be regarded as one of the rotating bodies; in the developing unit 100b, a developing roller for carrying the developer and conveying the developer toward the image forming unit 100c is rotatably provided, or, at the same time, a toner feeding roller for supplying the developer toward the developing roller, which may also be regarded as one of the rotating bodies; a photosensitive drum for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof and receiving a developer supplied from a developing roller so as to develop the electrostatic latent image is rotatably provided in the image forming unit 100c, and may also be regarded as one of rotating bodies.

To rotate the rotating body, the process cartridge 100 further includes at least one coupling provided therein, as shown in fig. 1B, the process cartridge 100 being provided with a first coupling 41 for receiving a driving force from the image forming apparatus to drive at least one of the developing roller, the toner feeding roller, and the agitator frame to rotate, and a second coupling 2 for receiving a driving force from the image forming apparatus to drive the photosensitive drum to rotate, the first coupling 41 and the second coupling 2 being exposed outwardly from a first end cap 40 or a second end cap 30 provided at a longitudinal end of the process cartridge 100, the first end cap 30 and the second end cap 40 being fixedly connected to the casing 1; in some embodiments, the process cartridge 100 is provided with only one coupling, and the rotating bodies are each driven by a driving force received by the coupling from the image forming apparatus. In general, the structure of the first coupling 41 and the structure of the second coupling 2 may be set to be identical, and the second coupling 2 will be described below as an example; in some embodiments, the structure of the first coupling 41 and the structure of the second coupling 2 may also differ according to the structure within the imaging apparatus.

The coupling 2 described below may be directly provided at the end of the rotating body 11, in which case the coupling 2 and the rotating body 11 are coaxial, both of which constitute a part of the rotating member, and the rotating body 11 may be directly driven when the coupling 2 receives the driving force, and the coupling 2 may also be provided at a position not coaxial with the rotating body 11, and the coupling 2 transmits the driving force to the rotating body 11 through the driving force transmitting means when the coupling 2 receives the driving force, so that the rotation axis L2 of the coupling 2 is coaxial or parallel with the rotation axis L11 of the rotating body 11.

In view of the above-described various options for the rotary body 11, the position of the coupling 2 may be selected, and in order to make the coupling 2 clearly shown in the course of the coupling with the force output member in the image forming apparatus, the rotary body 11 is not shown any more, but it is understood that the rotary body 11 will rotate upon receiving the driving force of the coupling 2.

[ force output mechanism ]

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a force output mechanism in an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge according to the present invention is applied; FIG. 2B is an exploded view of some of the components of the force output mechanism; FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the force output mechanism taken along the direction BB in FIG. 2A; FIG. 2D is a side view of the force output mechanism looking in the direction of the rotational axis of the force output mechanism; fig. 2E is a cross-sectional view of the force output mechanism taken along the direction AA in fig. 2A.

In order to reduce interference of the force output mechanism 90 with the process cartridge 100 during mounting and dismounting of the process cartridge, there have been proposals for arranging the force output mechanism 90 to be retractable in the x-direction, for example, the force output mechanism 90 is arranged to be interlocked with a door cover of the image forming apparatus, the force output mechanism 90 is retracted in the-x-direction when the door cover is opened, and the force output mechanism 90 is extended in the +x-direction when the door cover is closed.

In some imaging apparatuses, the force output mechanism 90 may also be provided swingably, and in general, the force output mechanism 90 has a force output position (rotation axis L2 and rotation axis L9 coincide or are parallel) at which force can be output to the coupling 2, a force off position (rotation axis L2 is inclined relative to rotation axis L9) at which force cannot be output to the coupling 2, a specific point in one end of the force output mechanism 90 for coupling with the coupling 2, measured along the rotation axis L9, is selected as a reference, and a distance from the specific point to one end of the force output mechanism 90 not for coupling with the coupling 2 will vary depending on the position of the force output mechanism 90; specifically, whether the force output mechanism 90 is provided to be telescopic or swingable in the x-direction, the distance from the specific point to the engaging end is a first distance along the rotation axis L9 when the force output mechanism 90 is in the force output position, and the distance from the specific point to the engaging end is a second distance along the rotation axis L9 when the output member 90 is in the force off position, the first distance being greater than the second distance.

As shown, the force output mechanism 90 is rotatable about a rotation axis L9 parallel to the x-direction in the direction indicated by r9, the force output mechanism 90 comprises a sleeve 93, a braking force output member 95 disposed in the sleeve 93, and an elastic urging assembly 936, the sleeve 93 comprising a sleeve body 935 formed with a sleeve cavity 930, the elastic urging assembly 936 being at least for urging the braking force output member 95 outwardly (-x-direction) of the sleeve cavity 930, the elastic urging assembly 936 comprising a first elastic urging member 932 and a second elastic urging member 933 coaxially disposed, the braking force output member 95, the first elastic urging member 932 and the second elastic urging member 933 being disposed in the sleeve cavity 930, wherein the first elastic urging member 932 effects urging of the sleeve body 935 by urging an intermediate transmission member 96 described below, and the second elastic urging member 933 effects urging of the braking force output member 95; further, the sleeve 93 is further provided with a plurality of driving force output members 94 and a connecting member 943 connecting at least two driving force output members 94, preferably, the connecting member 943, the plurality of driving force output members 94 are each integrally formed with the sleeve body 935, and in some embodiments, the connecting member 943 is further provided with a positioning protrusion 934 penetrated by the rotation axis L9; the driving force output portion 94 and the braking force output member 95 are rotatable together about the rotation axis L9 in the rotation direction r9, and an exposure port 931 is formed between adjacent two driving force output members 94 in the circumferential direction of the sleeve body 935, and the braking force output member 95 is exposed from the exposure port 931. The driving force output member 94 protrudes radially inward from the inner wall of the sleeve body 935, and the diameter of a circle formed by the radially inner wall of the driving force output member 94 in the radial direction of the sleeve 93 is d1.

The first elastic urging member 932 is configured to apply an urging force in the-x direction to the sleeve body 935, and the second elastic urging member 933 is configured to apply an urging force in the-x direction to the braking force output member 95, but the urging force applied to the sleeve body 935 by the first elastic urging member 932 is different in magnitude from the urging force applied to the braking force output member 95 by the second elastic urging member 933, so that the braking force output member 95 is movable in the x direction relative to the sleeve body 935.

The brake force output member 95 includes a first brake force output member 95a and a second brake force output member 95b coaxially provided, the first brake force output member 95a being provided with a plurality of first brake force output portions 95a1 and at least one coupling portion 95a2 for coupling with the second brake force output member 95b, the second brake force output member 95b being provided with a plurality of second brake force output portions 95b1 and at least one coupled portion 95b2 for coupling with the first brake force output member 95a, the first brake force output portion 95a1 being located outside the second brake force output portion 95b1 in a radial direction of the sleeve 93, i.e., the first brake force output portion 95a1 being farther from the rotation axis L9 than the second brake force output portion 95b1, the first brake force output portion 95a1 being located substantially on the same circumference as the drive force output member 94, the second brake force output portion 95b1 being closer to the rotation axis L9 than the drive force output member 94, i.e., the projection of the first brake force output portion 95a 1/the first brake force output member 95a projection along the rotation axis L9 overlaps at least a portion of the drive force output member 94 along the rotation axis L9.

Further, in the rotation direction r9, the first braking force output portion 95a1 has the first helicoidal surface 95a3 located downstream of the member, as shown, in the radial direction of the force output mechanism 90, the two driving force output portions 94 are arranged diametrically opposite, the two first braking force output portions 95a1 are arranged diametrically opposite, and at least a part of the first braking force output portion 95a1 and at least a part of the second braking force output portion 95b1 overlap in the radial direction, so that, as a whole, one first braking force output portion 95a1 and one second braking force output portion 95b1 which are close to each other in the radial direction are formed as the first braking action portion 951 of the braking force output member 95, the other first braking force output portion 95a1 and the other second braking force output portion 95b1 which are close to each other in the radial direction are formed as the second braking action portion 952 of the braking force output member 95, and the first braking action portion 951 and the second braking action portion 952 of the second braking force output member 95 are arranged diametrically opposite to each other in the radial direction, so that the first braking force output portion 951 and the second braking action portion 952 are arranged radially between the first braking force output member 95 and the second braking force output member 952, namely the first braking action portion 953 and the second braking action portion 952 is the shortest distance between the two radially opposite, 3 d < 3, and d, respectively.

In the rotation direction r9, when one of the driving force output portions 94 is selected, the driving force output portion 94 is located between the first braking action portion 951 and the second braking action portion 952, and as shown in fig. 2D, a first area s1 is formed between the first braking action portion 951 and the driving force output portion 94, and a second area s2 is formed between the driving force output portion 94 and the second braking action portion 952, and in general, the second area s2 is in a closed state, that is, the driving force output portion 94 and the first braking action portion 951/the second braking action portion 952 are in a state of being close to each other, and at this time, the second area s2 may be regarded as not being present.

As further shown in fig. 2B, each first braking force output portion 95a1 includes a first base body 95a11 and a first extension body 95a12 that are connected to each other, a joint portion 95a2 is provided on the first base body 95a11, and two first braking force output portions 95a1 that are arranged radially opposite to each other may be integrally formed or may be formed separately; each of the second braking force output portions 95b1 includes a second base body 95b11 and a second extension body 95b12 that are connected to each other, and a joined portion 95b2 is provided on the second base body 95b11, and the two second braking force output portions 95b1 that are arranged radially opposite to each other may be integrally formed or may be formed separately; preferably, in the rotation direction r9, the two first bases 95a11 are connected to each other such that the first braking force output portion 95a1 is formed as a single body, and the two second bases 95b11 are connected to each other such that the second braking force output portion 95b1 is formed as a single body.

The first braking force output portion 95a1 further includes a first hook portion 95a4 extending from the first extension body 95a12, and the second braking force output portion 95b1 further includes a second hook portion 95b4 extending from the second extension body 95b12, wherein the first hook portion 95a4 extends from the first extension body 95a12 in a downstream direction of the rotational direction r9, the second hook portion 95b4 extends from the second extension body 95b12 at least in a radial direction of the force output mechanism 90, and in some embodiments, the second hook portion 95b4 further extends from the second extension body 95b12 in a downstream direction of the rotational direction r 9; preferably, the first hook portion 95a4 and the second hook portion 95b4 are disposed at free ends of the first extension body 95a12 and the second extension body 95b12, respectively, that is, along the rotation axis L9, the first hook portion 95a4 and the first base body 95a11 are located at both ends of the first extension body 95a12, respectively, and the second hook portion 95b4 and the second base body 95b11 are located at both ends of the second extension body 95b12, respectively.

The combined part 95a2 and the combined part 95b2 can be combined and separated along the rotation axis L9, but along the rotation direction r9, the combined part 95a2 and the combined part 95b2 can not be separated, so that the first braking force output piece 95a and the second braking force output piece 95b can transmit force through the combination of the combined part 95a2 and the combined part 95b2, when the second braking force output piece 95b receives the force along the +x direction, the whole braking force output piece 95 can move along the rotation axis L9 along the +x direction under the drive of the second braking force output piece 95b, namely, the whole braking force output piece 95 moves into the sleeve cavity 930; in some embodiments, the first braking force output member 95a may be provided with a limiting portion 95a5 located in the-x direction of at least a portion of the second braking force output member 95b, and when the first braking force output member 95a receives a force in the +x direction, the braking force output member 95 as a whole moves in the +x direction along the rotation axis L9 under the drive of the first braking force output member 95a, that is, the braking force output member 95 as a whole moves into the sleeve chamber 930.

Further, the force output mechanism 90 further includes an intermediate transmission member 96 provided in the sleeve chamber 930, the first braking force output member 95a and the intermediate transmission member 96 being also formed to be mutually engageable and disengageable in the direction of the rotation axis L9, but not disengageable in the direction of the rotation axis r9, so that when the entirety of the braking force output member 95 moves into the sleeve chamber 930, the braking force output member 95 and the intermediate transmission member 96 will be disengaged, and at this time, the entirety of the braking force output member 95 will be rotatable about the rotation axis L9 relative to the driving force output member 94 along r 9.

As shown in fig. 2D, along the rotational direction r9 of the force output mechanism 90, the radially outer side of the link 943 forms an outer edge 9431, and specifically, the outer edge 9431 forms a radially outer profile of the link 943; as shown in fig. 2E, along the rotation axis L9, the second hook 95b4 is located at the-x direction end of the connecting member 943, or in other words, the second hook 95b4 is located farther from the +x direction end of the force output mechanism 90 than the connecting member 943, and at least a portion of the second hook 95b4 overlaps with the connecting member 943 in the direction of the rotation axis L9, and an insertion space g is formed between the second extension 95b12 and the connecting member 943, or between the second extension 95b12 and the outer edge 9431 of the connecting member 943, along the radial direction of the force output mechanism 90.

[ shaft coupling ]

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coupling and the tension member of the present invention after being respectively coupled to the end caps; FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the coupling, tension member and end cap of the present invention shown separated from one another; FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction AA in FIG. 2A after the coupling and force output member of the present invention have been coupled; FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction CC in FIG. 5A after the coupling of the present invention to the force output member has been completed; fig. 5C is a partial perspective view of the coupling and force output member of the present invention after the coupling and force output member are coupled.

The coupling 2 is rotatable along a rotation direction r2 around a rotation axis L2 extending along the x direction, the coupling 2 comprises a base 2a and a driving force receiving part 2c which are combined with each other, the driving force receiving part 2c is used for receiving driving force from the force output mechanism 90, the base 2a transmits the driving force to the rotating body 11, the driving force receiving part 2c and the base 2a can be directly connected or indirectly connected, as long as the base 2a is driven by the driving force received by the driving force receiving part 2c, and clamping, key slot combination and the like can be adopted between the two; the driving force receiving member 2c may be coupled to the driving force output member 94, the braking force output member 95, or other components of the force output mechanism 90, as long as the driving force receiving member 2c is capable of receiving driving force from the force output mechanism 90, for example, the driving force receiving member 2c is coupled to the connecting member 943 to receive driving force, and thus, the manner in which the driving force receiving member 2c receives driving force is varied and should not be limited, based on the following inventive concept of the present invention.

The process cartridge 100 further comprises a tension member 8 provided separately from the coupling 2, the coupling 2 and the tension member 8 not generating a force interaction therebetween, the coupling 2 and the tension member 8 being coaxially provided in a preferred embodiment, and the coupling 2 and the tension member 8 being not coaxial in other realizable manners based on the inventive concept of the present invention; in particular, the tension member 8 is provided in a freely rotatable state relative to the coupling 2/housing 1/end cap 40, the tension member 8 being rotatably provided on the end cap 40, and in some embodiments the tension member 8 may also be rotatably provided on the housing 1, but the tension member 8 is still exposed through the end cap 40, or at least a portion of the tension member 8 is located in the-x direction of at least a portion of the end cap 40.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the tension member 8 is ring-shaped, has a through hole 80 penetrating in the x-direction, a part of the coupling 2 is exposed through the through hole 80, the tension member 8 is located outside a below-described driving force receiving portion 2c6 in a radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis L2, and further, the process cartridge is further provided with a drop preventing protrusion 45 for preventing the tension member 8 from dropping, and the drop preventing protrusion 45 may be provided on the end cap 40 or on the housing 1 depending on a mounting position of the tension member 8.

The tension member 8 includes a ring-shaped body 81 having a through-hole 80, a protruding portion 82 provided at the ring-shaped body 81, and an action block 83 connected to at least one of the ring-shaped body 81 and the protruding portion 82, the tension member 8 being freely rotatable about the rotation axis L2 before the coupling 2 is coupled/linked with the force output mechanism 90, and as the coupling 2 is coupled/linked with the force output mechanism 90, the tension member 8 is coupled with the braking force output member 95 in the direction of the rotation axis L9/L2, such that the force output mechanism 90 is integrally pulled by the tension member 8 without being uncoupled/linked with the coupling 2, and in turn, the process cartridge 100 is integrally pulled by the force output mechanism 90, so that a possible movement of the process cartridge 100 in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) thereof is suppressed, that is, the force output mechanism 90 and the process cartridge 100 are pulled toward each other in the direction of the rotation axis L9/L2, whereby stable coupling/coupling between the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90 can be realized.

Specifically, the reaction block 83 includes a first reaction surface 831, a second reaction surface 832, and a third reaction surface 833, the first reaction surface 831 being located downstream of the second reaction surface 832 in the rotation direction r2, the third reaction surface 833 being located between the first reaction surface 831 and the second reaction surface 832, wherein the first reaction surface 831 is provided as an inclined surface inclined with respect to the rotation axis L2 and facing in the-x direction, the second reaction surface 832 is provided as a plane parallel with respect to the rotation axis L2, the third reaction surface 833 is provided as an inclined surface inclined with respect to the rotation axis L1 and facing in the +x direction, and preferably, both the first reaction surface 831 and the third reaction surface 833 are provided as helicoids for better coupling with the braking force output 95.

The protruding portion 83 serves to reinforce the strength of the action block 83 on the one hand, and on the other hand, by providing the end surface of the protruding portion 83 remote from the annular body 81 as an inclined surface/spiral surface so as to provide guidance in the process of combining the action block 83 with the braking force output member 95, the action block 83 can be combined with the braking force output member 95 more smoothly.

As shown in the figure, the driving force receiving member 2c includes a support body 2c0, a connecting body 2c10, and a driving force receiving portion 2c6, the support body 2c0 being located between the connecting body 2c10 and the driving force receiving portion 2c6 along the rotation axis L2, or the connecting body 2c10 extending from the support body 2c0 in the-x direction, the driving force receiving portion 2c6 extending from the support body 2c0 in the +x direction, the driving force receiving member 2c being directly or indirectly connected to the base 2a through the connecting body 2c 10; the support body 2c0 is cylindrical in shape as a whole, at least two driving force receiving portions 2c6 are arranged opposite to each other in the radial direction of the support body 2c0, the maximum distance of the two driving force receiving portions 2c6 in the radial direction of the coupling 2 is between d3 and d1, for each driving force receiving portion 2c6, the upstream end of the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is formed into a driving force receiving surface 2c3 in the rotational direction r2, and the driving force receiving portion 2c6 also has an inner surface 2c61 facing the rotational axis L2, and preferably the driving force receiving surface 2c3 is arranged adjacent to the inner surface 2c61 to simplify the structure of the driving force receiving portion 2c 6.

The coupling 2, the tension member 8, and the force output mechanism 90 are combined with each other as described below with reference to fig. 5A, 5B, and 5C. Regarding the manner in which the coupling 2 receives the driving force, the manner in which the driving force receiving member 2c is coupled to at least one of the driving force output member 94 and the braking force output member 95 has been presented, and for this reason, the manner will not be described again, but the driving force receiving member 2c is coupled to a member other than the driving force output member 94 and the braking force output member 95 to receive the driving force, and specifically, the driving force receiving member 2c is described below in conjunction with the connecting member 943.

For the tensioning member 8, during the process of combining the tensioning member 8 with the force outputting mechanism 90, the first surface 831 needs to enter the second area s2, so that at least one of the first hook portion 95a4 and the second hook portion 95b4 is combined with the first surface 831, as shown in fig. 5C, so that the force outputting mechanism 90 is stably combined with the tensioning member 8 along the rotation axis L2/L9 by at least one of the first hook portion 95a4 and the second hook portion 95b4, which ensures that the force outputting mechanism 90 does not move away from the coupling 2 along the rotation axis L9 during the process of outputting force.

When the tension 8 starts to be coupled with the force output mechanism 90, if the second region s2 does not exist, or the driving force output portion 94 and the first braking action portion 951/the second braking action portion 952 are in a state of being close to each other, the driving force output portion 94 and the first braking action portion 951/the second braking action portion 952 are gradually separated from each other in the rotation direction r9 by the guidance of the third surface 833 to form the second region s2; if the protruding portion 82/the acting block 83 abuts against the braking force output member 95, the braking force output member 95 is retracted in the +x direction to become rotatable with respect to the driving force output member 94, or the first surface 831 reaches the second area s2 by the freely rotatable tightening member 8 by means of at least one of the first helicoid 95a3, the second helicoid 95b3, the protruding portion 82 and the third surface 833, and is combined with at least one of the first hook 95a4 and the second hook 95b 4.

For the driving force receiving member 2c, the braking force output member 95 still needs to be urged in the +x direction to become rotatable relative to the driving force output member 94 during the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90 being combined, so as to allow the driving force receiving portion 2c6 to enter the insertion space g, and the distal end 2c62 (+x direction distal end) of the driving force receiving portion 2c6 or the distal end face 2d1 (+x direction distal end) of the support body 2c0 may be used to urge the braking force output member 95 in the +x direction.

As shown in fig. 5A and 5B, when the coupling 2, the tension member 8, and the force output mechanism 90 are completed to be coupled, the rotation axis L2 and the rotation axis L9 are coaxial, the positioning projection 934 is entered into the positioning hole 2d2, the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is entered into the insertion space g, and the inner surface 2c61 is opposed to the outer edge 9431 of the connection member in the radial direction of the coupling 2, preferably in contact with each other; along the rotation axis L2/L9, the second hook 95b4 is located in the-x direction of the support body 2C0, i.e., the second hook 95b4 is closer to the non-drive end C2 of the process cartridge than the support body 2C0, and the risk of the coupling 2 disengaging from the force output mechanism 90 in the-x direction is further reduced; in the radial direction of the coupling 2/force output mechanism 90, the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is located between the connecting member 943 and the braking force output member 95/second braking force output member 95b, and in some embodiments, when the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is sandwiched by the connecting member 943 and the braking force output member 95/second braking force output member 95b, the driving force receiving portion 2c6 can be stably held between the connecting member 943 and the braking force output member 95/second braking force output member 95 b; along the rotation axis L2/L9, a part of the driving force receiving portion 2c6 exceeds the link 934 to reach +x direction/below the link 943, i.e., a part of the driving force receiving portion 2c is deeper into the sleeve cavity 930 than the link 943, and thus the force output mechanism 90 can stably output driving force to the driving force receiving portion 2c 6.

When the process cartridge 100 needs to be taken out from the image forming apparatus, the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is disengaged by itself being slightly deformed toward the rotation axis L2 or by forcing the braking force output member 95 to be slightly deformed away from the rotation axis L9 in the process of pulling the process cartridge 100 by the user to thereby bring the coupling 2 into the-x direction. In some embodiments, the outer edge 9431 of the force output mechanism 90/connector abuts the driving force receiving surface 2c3 to output driving force, and in other embodiments, the outer edge 9431 of the output mechanism 90/connector abuts the inner surface 2c61 to output driving force, and thus, the inner surface 2c61 may also be considered a driving force receiving surface.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through the rotational axis of another coupling according to the present invention.

Based on the inventive concept of the present embodiment, in some embodiments, the driving force receiving member 2c may also be provided to be stretchable (movable in the x-direction) along the rotation axis L2, as shown in fig. 6, an elastic member 2e is provided between the driving force receiving member 2c and the base 2a, specifically, the elastic member 2e is provided in the movable chamber 2a1 formed by the base 2a, and during the coupling of the coupling 2 with the force output mechanism 90, along the rotation axis L2/L9, when the driving force receiving portion 2c6 abuts against the force output mechanism 90 such that the force output mechanism 90 cannot be moved any more, the driving force receiving member 2c moves/retracts in the-x direction by the elastic member 2e so that the driving force receiving member 2c movable in the x-direction will be able to be coupled with the force output mechanism 90 more smoothly.

[ beneficial effects ]

The structure of the embodiment has the following beneficial effects:

1. the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is abutted against the outer edge 9431 of the coupling member to receive the driving force in the insertion space g, and the driving force output member 94 is located in the-x direction of the coupling member 943/outer edge 9431 along the rotation axis L9, or the driving force output member 94 is located farther from the sleeve cavity 930 than the coupling member 943/outer edge 9431, and in fact, the driving force output member 94 is disposed closer to the-x direction end of the force output mechanism 90 than the coupling member 943/outer edge 9431 is, and the structure in which the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is abutted against the outer edge 9431 of the coupling member to receive the driving force can make the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90 more stable in coupling.

2. As shown in fig. 5A, 5B and 5C, when the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90 are completed to be coupled/linked, the driving force receiving portion 2C6 is located between the connecting member 943 and the braking force output member 95/the second braking force output member 95B in the radial direction of the coupling 2/force output mechanism 90, and thus, the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90 can be kept stably coupled/linked; in particular, when the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is simultaneously abutted with the outer edge 9431 of the connecting member and the braking force output member 95/the second braking force output member 95b, possible rattling of the coupling 2/the driving force receiving portion 2c6 can be effectively suppressed, and the coupling/coupling between the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90 will become more stable.

In practice, the insertion space g may be small in size in the radial direction of the force output mechanism 90 due to the overall size of the force output mechanism 90, which may cause the driving force receiving portion 2c6 to be small in size in the radial direction of the force output mechanism 90 and to become easily broken, but in the radial direction of the force output mechanism 90, the driving force receiving portion 2c6 may be limited by the outer edge 9431 of the link and the braking force output member 95/the second braking force output member 95b, respectively, and therefore, even if the size of the driving force receiving portion 2c6 in the radial direction is set small, there is no fear that the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is broken when receiving the driving force.

3. The driving force receiving portion 2c6 is configured to receive the driving force by abutting against the outer edge 9431 of the connector, and then the position where the driving force receiving portion 2c6 abuts against the outer edge 9431 may not be limited as long as the abutment can be achieved, so that the driving force receiving portion 2c6 has a larger design space at the position of the support body 2c0, that is, the driving force receiving portion 2c6 and the support body 2c0 may be fixedly connected or movably connected.

4. In the process of outputting force from the force output mechanism 90 to the coupling 2, the closer to the rotation axis L9, the better the rotational stability of the force output mechanism 9, and the closer to the rotation axis L9 the link 943/outer edge 9431 is to the rotation axis L9 than the driving force output member 94 is, so that the better the stability will be obtained by the driving force receiving portion 2c6 abutting against the driving force output member 94 with respect to the driving force receiving portion 2c6 abutting against the link 943/outer edge 9431.

Especially in the case where the force output mechanism 90 itself is provided movably/swingably, the driving force receiving portion 2c6 in the present embodiment can stably receive the driving force as well.

As shown in fig. 2D, 2E, 5A and 5B, the first outer edge 9432 is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the braking force output member 95 in the radial direction of the force output mechanism 90, and similarly, the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is in contact with the first outer edge 9432 with respect to the contact of the driving force receiving portion 2c6 with the braking force output member 95, and further stability is obtained.

Further, as shown in fig. 2D and 5B, in the radial direction of the force output mechanism 90, the connecting member includes a center portion 943a and a connecting portion 943B that are connected to each other, wherein the center portion 943a is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the connecting portion 943B, the connecting portion 943B is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the driving force output member 94 and the first braking force output member 95a, and a portion of the connecting portion 943B is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the second braking force output member 95B; specifically, the connecting portion 943b connects the central portion 943a and the driving force output member 94, the outer edge 9431 extends at the outer contour of the central portion 943a to form a first outer edge 9432, and extends at the outer contour of the connecting portion 943b to form a second outer edge 9433, the first outer edge 9432 is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the driving force output member 94 and the braking force output member 95, the second outer edge 9433 is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the driving force output member 94 and the first braking force output member 95a, and a part of the second outer edge 9433 is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the second braking force output member 95b, that is, the second outer edge 9433 is located between the first outer edge 9432 and the driving force output member 94 in the radial direction of the force output mechanism 90, the outer edge 9431 is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the driving force output member 94 and a part of the second braking force output member 95b, and the second outer edge 9431 is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the second braking force output member 95b, and the second outer edge 9432 is able to be brought into abutment with the second outer edge 356 c6, based on the concept of the present invention.

5. As described above, at least one of the first hook portion 95a4 and the second hook portion 95b4 of the force output mechanism 90 is engaged with the tension member 8 along the rotation axis L2/L9, so that the tendency of the force output mechanism 90 to move toward the +x direction (the direction in which the sleeve cavity 930 is located) can be restrained, and thus the force output mechanism 90 can remain engaged with the coupling 2.

Even if the force output mechanism 90 is provided so as to be movable/swingable, the movement/swinging of the force output mechanism 90 from the rotation axis L9 can be effectively suppressed under the pulling action of the tension member 8.

6. As shown in fig. 5A, when the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90 are completed, the second hook portion 95b4 is located in the-x direction of the driving force receiving portion 2c 6/the support body 2c0 along the rotation axis L2/L9, that is, the driving force receiving portion 2c 6/the support body 2c0 is located between the second hook portion 95b4 and the link 943, and thus, the tendency of the driving force receiving portion 2c 6/the support body 2c0 to move in the-x direction can also be suppressed, and the force output mechanism 90 and the coupling 2 can be stably coupled.

Even if the force output mechanism 90 is provided so as to be movable/swingable, the movement/swinging of the force output mechanism 90 from the rotation axis L9 can be effectively suppressed under the pulling action of the tension member 8.

7. Along the rotation axis L2/L9, the tension member 8 is coupled with the braking force output member 95, and the tension member 8 is mounted on the end cap 40/housing 1, whereby the movement of the process cartridge 100 in the direction of the rotation axis L2/L9 can be effectively suppressed, and even if a large vibration is generated on the side of the coupling in the process of outputting the driving force from the force output mechanism 90 to the coupling 2, the possible movement of the process cartridge in the longitudinal direction thereof can be suppressed.

8. Compared with the arrangement of the components for combining with the braking force output member 95 on the coupling 2, the tensioning member 8 is arranged separately from the coupling 2, and the tensioning member 8 is rotatably mounted on the end cover 40/housing 1, the pulling force applied to the tensioning member 8 by the braking force output member 95 can be directly applied to the end cover 40/housing 1, not only the transmission efficiency of the pulling force is higher, but also the rotating body does not move toward the braking force output member 95 under the action of the pulling force, and further, the friction between the rotating body and other components can be reduced.

9. As described in fig. 8, the tightening member 8 is provided separately from the coupling 2, the coupling 2 and the tightening member 8 do not affect each other, and thus the rotating body can be driven more smoothly than when the coupling 2 is provided with a member for coupling with the braking force output member 95.

10. The coupling of the tightening member 8 and the braking force output member 95 is described above as being accomplished along with the coupling/coupling of the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90, however, since the coupling 2 and the tightening member 8 are separately provided, the structure of the coupling 2 is simplified, no force interaction is generated therebetween, and the coupling of the tightening member 8 and the braking force output member 95 can be performed either before or after the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90, and thus, the coupling process of the tightening member 8 and the braking force output member 95 and the coupling process of the coupling 2 and the force output mechanism 90 do not have an influence on each other, and the coupling processes can be smoothly performed.

In summary, in the case where the force output mechanism 90 is provided movably/swingably, when the driving force receiving portion 2c6 is provided for receiving the driving force in abutment with the outer edge 9431 of the link, the coupling 2 can more stably receive the driving force, and based on this inventive concept, when a restriction member capable of preventing the force output mechanism 90 from moving in the +x direction is provided at the driving force receiving portion 2c, the tension member 8 becomes unnecessary, for example, by increasing the friction force between the driving force receiving surface and the outer edge 9431, or by increasing the friction force between the positioning hole 2d2 and the positioning protrusion 934, or by providing a member capable of engaging with the +x direction surface of the link 943 at the driving force receiving portion 2c6, or by providing a member capable of abutting in the +x direction of at least one of the first hook portion 95a4 and the second hook portion 95b4 at the driving force receiving portion 2c (i.e., by providing a member having the first surface 831 function at the driving force receiving portion 2 c), or the like, as long as the force output mechanism 90 can be prevented from moving in the +x direction.

Claims (12)

1. A process cartridge detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus provided with a force output mechanism including a sleeve, a braking force output member and a driving force output member provided in the sleeve, the driving force output member and the braking force output member rotating together in a rotational direction of the force output mechanism, the driving force output member and the braking force output member being disengageable from each other along a rotational axis L9 of the force output mechanism;

The process cartridge includes a housing, a rotating body rotatably provided in the housing, and a coupling at one end of the housing for coupling with a force output mechanism to receive a driving force, the rotating body being driven by the driving force of the coupling;

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the process cartridge further includes a tension member provided separately from the coupling, the tension member being combined with the braking force output member when the coupling receives the driving force.

2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the tension member is provided separately from the coupling member without generating a force interaction therebetween.

3. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the tension member is provided coaxially with the coupling.

4. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the tension member is in a freely rotatable state before the coupling is combined with the force output mechanism.

5. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, along the rotation axis L9, one end of the braking force output member is provided with a hook portion, and when the tightening member is completely engaged with the force output mechanism, the tightening member is engaged with the hook portion.

6. A process cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the hooking portion is located closer to a side of the process cartridge where the coupling is not provided than a portion where the coupling abuts the force output mechanism to receive the driving force, along the rotation axis L9.

7. A process cartridge according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the driving force output member is provided in plural, the force output mechanism further comprises a connecting member connecting at least two of the driving force output members, and an outer edge is formed radially outward of the connecting member in a rotation direction of the force output mechanism;

the outer edge is closer to the rotation axis L9 than the driving force output member in the radial direction of the force output mechanism;

after the coupling and the force output mechanism are combined, when the force output mechanism rotates, the coupling abuts against the outer edge to receive driving force.

8. A coupling according to claim 7, wherein the coupling is provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, the driving force receiving portion being located between the braking force output member and the connecting member in a radial direction of the coupling after the coupling is completed with the force output mechanism.

9. A coupling according to claim 7, wherein the coupling is provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, and the driving force receiving portion is sandwiched by the braking force output member and the connecting member in a radial direction of the coupling after the coupling is completed with the force output mechanism.

10. A coupling according to claim 7, wherein the sleeve comprises a sleeve body formed with a sleeve cavity, the driving force output member being provided on the sleeve body, the coupling being provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, a portion of the driving force receiving portion being deeper into the sleeve cavity than the connecting member along a rotational axis L2 of the coupling when the coupling is coupled with the force output mechanism.

11. The coupling of claim 7, wherein the brake force output member comprises a first brake force output member and a second brake force output member radially distributed along the force output mechanism, the first brake force output member being located outboard of the second brake force output member, a projection of the first brake force output member along the rotational axis L9 at least partially overlapping a projection of the drive force output member along the rotational axis L9, the outer edge comprising a first outer edge and a second outer edge radially distributed, the first outer edge being closer to the rotational axis L9 than the second outer edge, the second outer edge being closer to the rotational axis L9 than the first brake force output member;

the coupling receives the driving force by abutting against the first outer edge.

12. The coupling of claim 7, wherein the brake force output member is urged by the coupling to retract toward the interior of the sleeve during engagement of the coupling with the force output mechanism.