EP3255508B1 - Kartusche, fotorezeptoreinheit, elektrofotografische bilderzeugungsvorrichtung - Google Patents

Kartusche, fotorezeptoreinheit, elektrofotografische bilderzeugungsvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3255508B1
EP3255508B1 EP16746742.2A EP16746742A EP3255508B1 EP 3255508 B1 EP3255508 B1 EP 3255508B1 EP 16746742 A EP16746742 A EP 16746742A EP 3255508 B1 EP3255508 B1 EP 3255508B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
axis
cartridge
coupling member
main assembly
rotational force
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP16746742.2A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3255508A4 (de
EP3255508A1 (de
Inventor
Shigemi Kamoshida
Takuya Kawakami
Hiroki Ogino
Kazuhiko Kanno
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2016020213A external-priority patent/JP6671997B2/ja
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Priority to EP17189323.3A priority Critical patent/EP3299894A1/de
Priority to EP18179267.2A priority patent/EP3422110A1/de
Publication of EP3255508A1 publication Critical patent/EP3255508A1/de
Publication of EP3255508A4 publication Critical patent/EP3255508A4/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3255508B1 publication Critical patent/EP3255508B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
    • G03G21/1842—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/75—Details relating to xerographic drum, band or plate, e.g. replacing, testing
    • G03G15/757—Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1803—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof
    • G03G21/1817—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement
    • G03G21/1821—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
    • G03G21/1857—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms
    • G03G21/186—Axial couplings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/75—Details relating to xerographic drum, band or plate, e.g. replacing, testing
    • G03G15/751—Details relating to xerographic drum, band or plate, e.g. replacing, testing relating to drum
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1803—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof
    • G03G21/1817—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement
    • G03G21/1825—Pivotable subunit connection
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
    • G03G21/1842—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks
    • G03G21/1853—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
    • G03G21/1857—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
    • G03G21/1857—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms
    • G03G21/1864—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms associated with a positioning function
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1642—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements for connecting the different parts of the apparatus
    • G03G21/1647—Mechanical connection means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1651—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for connecting the different parts
    • G03G2221/1657—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for connecting the different parts transmitting mechanical drive power

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cartridge according to claim 1 and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which said cartridge is dismountably mountable.
  • the process cartridge is a unit which includes an image bearing member (photosensitive member) and at least one of process means actable on the image bearing member which are unified into a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
  • the process means includes developing means, charging means, cleaning means or the like.
  • An example of the process cartridge may be a unit which includes the image bearing member and the charging means as the process means which are unified into a cartridge.
  • Another example may be a unit which includes the image bearing member and the charging means and the cleaning means as the process means which are unified into a cartridge.
  • Further example may be a unit which includes the image bearing member and the developing means, the charging means and the cleaning means as the process means which are unified into a cartridge.
  • the cartridge and the photosensitive member unit can be mounted to and dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus by the user. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus can be carried out in effect by the user without relying on a service person. Thus, the maintenance operation for the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is improved.
  • a conventional main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is not provided with a mechanism for moving a main assembly side engaging portion for transmitting the rotational force to a rotatable member such as the image bearing member in a direction of a rotational axis direction thereof by opening and closing operation of a main assembly cover.
  • a process cartridge is known which is dismountable from the main assembly in a predetermined direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotatable member.
  • a rotational force transmission means engageable with the main assembly side engaging portion to transmit the rotational force to the rotatable member a cartridge side engaging portion (coupling member) provided in the process cartridge is known.
  • the coupling member is made movably in the rotational axis direction thereof, so that upon the mounting and demounting operation of the process cartridge relative to the main assembly, the engagement and disengagement of the coupling member is accomplished.
  • US 2012/243905 A1 shows a generic cartridge according to the preamble of claim 1, which is dismountable from a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a rotatable main assembly side engaging portion, said cartridge comprising: i) a rotatable member capable of carrying a developer and having a rotational axis extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a dismounting direction of said cartridge; ii) a coupling member provided at one end portion of said cartridge with respect to the rotational axis to transmit a rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion to said rotatable member; and iii) a rotational force transmission member for transmitting the rotational force from said coupling member toward said rotatable member, including a hollow portion, wherein said coupling member is movable between a first position in which the rotational axis of said coupling member is substantially parallel with the rotational axis of said rotatable member, and a second position, in which said coupling member is displaced
  • the present invention provides an electrophotographic image forming apparatus from which the cartridge is dismountable.
  • a cartridge which is dismountable (or mountable) from the main assembly without deteriorating usability performance in a predetermined direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotatable member, the main assembly being not provided with the mechanism for moving the main assembly side engaging portion in the rotational axis direction in response to the opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover of the main assembly.
  • the present invention provides an electrophotographic image forming apparatus from which the cartridge is dismountable or to which the cartridge is mountable.
  • a cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described.
  • a laser beam printer is taken, and as the cartridge, a process cartridge for the laser beam printer will be taken.
  • a widthwise direction of the process cartridge is a direction in which the process cartridge is mounted to and dismounted from a process cartridge and is a feeding direction of a recording material.
  • a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge is substantially perpendicular to the mounting and dismounting direction of the process cartridge relative to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, is parallel with the rotational axis of an image bearing member and is crossing with the feeding direction of the recording material.
  • Reference numerals in the following description are to refer to the accompanying drawings and do not limit the present invention.
  • Electrophotographic image forming apparatus (1) Electrophotographic image forming apparatus:
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the main assembly A.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the cartridge B.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a mounting operation of the cartridge B to the main assembly A.
  • a laser beam L modulated in accordance with image information is projected from optical means 1 onto the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 in the form of a drum (photosensitive drum 10) which is an image bearing member (rotatable member).
  • an electrostatic latent image can be formed on the photosensitive drum 10 in accordance with the image information.
  • the electrostatic latent image is and developed by a developing roller 13 which will be described hereinafter, with the developer t. As a result, a developer image is formed on the photosensitive drum 10.
  • a lift-up plate 3b provided at the free end portion of the sheet feeding tray 3a accommodating recording materials 2 is raised to feed the recording material 2 by the sheet feeding roller 3c, a separation pad 3d and a pair of registration rollers 3e or the like.
  • a transfer roller 4 is provided as transferring means.
  • the transfer roller 4 it is supplied with a voltage having the polarity opposite to that of the developer image.
  • the developer image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred onto the recording material 2.
  • the recording material 2 is the material on which the image is formed with the developer, and it may be recording paper, a label sheet, OHP sheet.
  • the recording material 2 having the transferred developer image is fed to fixing means 5 through a feeding guide 3f.
  • the fixing means 5 includes a driving roller 5a and a fixing roller 5c which contains a heater 5b.
  • the fixing means 5 applies heat and pressure to the passing recording material 2 to fix the developer image transferred onto recording material 2, on the recording material 2. By this, the image is formed on the recording material 2.
  • recording material 2 is fed by a pair of discharging rollers 3 g to be discharged onto a discharging portion 8c of a main assembly cover 8.
  • the sheet feeding roller 3c, the separation pad 3d, the registration roller pair 3e, the feeding guide 3f and the discharging roller pair 3 g and so on constitute feeding means for the recording material 2.
  • the main assembly A is provided with a setting portion 7 which is a space for accommodating the cartridge B.
  • a coupling member 180 of the cartridge B is engaged with (connected with) a main assembly side engaging portion 100 of the main assembly A.
  • the rotational force is transmitted from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the photosensitive drum 10 through the coupling member 180 (detailed description will be made hereinafter).
  • the driving side of the main assembly A is provided with the main assembly side engaging portion 100 and a driving side guiding member 120.
  • the driving side guide portion 120 includes a first guide portion 120a and a second guide portion 120b for guiding the cartridge B in the mounting and dismounting operations.
  • the non-driving side of the main assembly A is provided with a non-driving side guiding member 125.
  • the non-driving side guide portion 125 includes a first guide portion 125a and a second guide portion 125b for guiding the cartridge B in the mounting and dismounting operations thereof.
  • the driving side guiding member 120 and the non-driving side guiding member 125 are provided opposed to each other at driving and non-driving sides of the setting portion 7 in the main assembly A.
  • the driving side of the cartridge B is provided with a drum bearing 30 for rotatably supporting a photosensitive drum unit U1.
  • the drum bearing 30 is provided with a driving side supported portion 30b.
  • a cleaning frame 21 is provided with a driving side rotation preventing portion 21e.
  • the cleaning frame 21 is provided with a non-driving side supported portion 21f and a non-driving side guide portion 21g.
  • the main assembly cover 8 capable of opening and closing the main assembly A is opened by rotation in a direction of arrow 8u about the hinge portion 8a and a hinge portion 8b.
  • the setting portion 7 in the main assembly A is uncovered.
  • the cartridge B is moved in the direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10 (arrow X1 direction in Figure 4 ) in the cartridge B so as to be set in the main assembly A (setting portion 7).
  • the setting of the cartridge B in the setting portion 7 is expressed as mounting of the cartridge B to the main assembly A.
  • the dismounting of the cartridge B from the setting portion 7 is expressed as dismounting the cartridge B from the main assembly A.
  • the position of the cartridge B set in the setting portion 7 relative to the main assembly A is called complete mounted position.
  • the cartridge B is inserted by the user as far as the setting portion 7, but this is not limiting to the present invention.
  • the user inserts the cartridge B partway, and then lets the cartridge to fall to the setting portion 7, that is, the final mounting operation may be carried out using another means.
  • a small gap is extended in the longitudinal direction between the cartridge B and the main assembly A of the apparatus. Therefore, when the cartridge B is mounted to or dismounted from the main assembly A of the apparatus, the entirety of the cartridge B may be slightly inclined within the range of the gap.
  • the L4 the directions of the mounting and dismounting may not be perpendicular, strictly speaking.
  • the present invention is effective in such a case, and therefore, "substantially perpendicular" covers such a case.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of the cartridge B.
  • Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a first frame unit 18.
  • Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a second frame unit 19.
  • Figure 8 illustrates combination of the first frame unit 18 and the second frame unit 19.
  • the cartridge B includes the photosensitive drum 10 having a photosensitive layer.
  • a charging roller 11 as charging means (process means) is provided in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the charging roller 11 uniformly charges surface of the photosensitive drum 10 apply the voltage applied from the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • the charging roller 11 is driven by the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the thus charged photosensitive drum 10 is exposed to the laser beam L supplied from the optical means 1 through the exposure opening 12, so that the electrostatic latent image is formed.
  • the electrostatic latent image is developed by developing means which will be described hereinafter.
  • the developer t contained in a developer accommodating container 14 is supplied into a developing container 16 through the opening 14a of the developer accommodating container 14 by a rotatable developer feeding member 17.
  • the developing container 16 includes the developer carrying member (developing roller) 13 as the developing means (process means).
  • the developing roller 13 functions as a rotatable member capable of carrying the developer t.
  • the developing roller 13 contains the magnet roller (fixed magnet) 13c.
  • a developing blade 15 is provided in contact with a peripheral surface of the developing roller 13.
  • the developing blade 15 regulates an amount of the developer t deposited on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 13 and triboelectrically charges the developer t. By this, a developer layer is formed on the surface of the developing roller 13.
  • a blow-out preventing sheet 24 is provided to prevent leakage of the developer t from the developing container 16.
  • the developing roller 13 is urged toward the photosensitive drum 10 by an urging spring 23a and an urging spring 23b ( Figure 8 ) while keeping a predetermined clearance relative to the photosensitive drum 10 by spacer roller 13k ( Figure 6 ) provided at the opposite longitudinal end portions of the developing roller 13, respectively.
  • the developing roller 13 supplied with a voltage is rotated to carry the developer t into a developing zone for the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the developing roller 13 visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10 by transferring the developer t in accordance with the electrostatic latent image into a developer image on the photosensitive drum 10. That is, the photosensitive drum 10 functions as a rotatable member capable of carrying the developer image (developer).
  • the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred onto the recording material 2 by the transfer roller 4.
  • the cleaning frame 21 is provided with a cleaning blade 20 as cleaning means (process means) in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the cleaning blade 20 elastically contacts the photosensitive drum 10 at the free end.
  • the cleaning blade 20 functions to scrape off the developer t remaining on the photosensitive drum 10 after transferring the developer image onto the recording material 2.
  • the developer t scraped off the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 by the cleaning blade 20 is collected into a removed developer accommodating portion 21a.
  • a receptor sheet 22 is provided to prevent leakage of the developer t from the removed developer accommodating portion 21a.
  • the first frame unit 18 comprises the developer accommodating container 14 and the developing container 16.
  • the developer accommodating container 14 is provided with the developer feeding member 17 (unshown) and so on.
  • the developing container 16 is provided with the developing roller 13, the developing blade 15, the developing roller 13, the spacer rollers 13k at the respective end portions, the blow-out preventing sheet 24 and so on.
  • the second frame unit 19 is provided with the cleaning frame 21, the cleaning blade 20, the charging roller 11 and so on.
  • the photosensitive drum unit U1 as a photosensitive member unit including the photosensitive drum 10 is rotatably supported using the drum bearing 30 and a drum shaft 54.
  • a rotation hole 16a and a rotation hole 16b at the opposite end portions of the first frame unit 18 and a fixing hole 21c and a fixing hole 21d at the opposite end portions of the second frame unit 19 are connected by a unit connecting pin 25a and a unit connecting pin 25b.
  • the first frame unit 18 and the second frame unit 19 are rotatably connected with each other.
  • the urging spring 23a and the urging spring 23b provided between the first frame unit 18 and the second frame unit 19 the developing roller 13 is urged toward the photosensitive drum 10 with the predetermined clearance kept therebetween by the spacer rollers 13k ( Figure 6 ).
  • Part (a) of Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of the photosensitive drum unit U1 as seen from the driving side
  • part (b) of Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view thereof as seen from the non-driving side
  • Part (c) of Figure 9 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the photosensitive drum unit U1.
  • Figure 10 is an illustration of a state in which the photosensitive drum unit U1 is being assembled into the second frame unit 19.
  • the photosensitive drum unit U1 as the photosensitive member unit comprises the photosensitive drum 10, a driving side flange unit U2 and a non-driving side flange 50 and so on.
  • the photosensitive drum 10 is an electroconductive member of aluminum or the like coated with the photosensitive layer at the surface.
  • the inside of the photosensitive drum 10 may be hollow or solid.
  • the driving side flange unit U2 is provided at the driving side end portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 10 (rotational axis direction along the rotational axis L1). More particularly, as shown in part (c) of Figure 9 , in the driving side flange unit U2, an engagement supporting portion 150b of the driving side flange (rotational force receiving member (rotational force transmission member)) 150 engages with an opening 10a2 provided at the end portion of the photosensitive drum 10, and is fixed to the photosensitive drum 10 by bonding and/or clamp or the like. When the driving side flange 150 rotates, the photosensitive drum 10 rotates integrally therewith.
  • the driving side flange 150 is fixed to the photosensitive drum 10 such that a rotational axis L151 of the driving side flange 150 and a rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10 are substantially coaxial (on the same line) with each other.
  • the mounting and dismounting direction (mounting direction and dismounting direction) of the cartridge B to the main assembly A of the apparatus is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10 and the rotational axis L151 of the driving side flange 150 and also perpendicular to the rotational axis L101 of the main assembly side engaging portion which will be described hereinafter.
  • substantially coaxial (substantially on the same axis) means completely coaxial (on the same line) case and a slightly deviated case from the completely coaxial case due to the variation or the like of the dimensions of the parts The same applies to the other cases in the following descriptions.
  • the non-driving side flange 50 is provided at the end portion 10a1 in the non-driving side of the photosensitive drum 10, substantially coaxial with the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the non-driving side flange 50 is made of resin material, and as shown in part (c) of Figure 9 , it is fixed to the photosensitive drum 10 at the non-driving side end portion 10a1 of the photosensitive drum 10 by bonding and/or clamp or the like.
  • the non-driving side flange 50 is provided with an electroconductive grounding plate 51 for electrical grounding of the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the grounding plate 51 includes a projection 51a and a projection 51b larger than the inner surface 10b of the photosensitive drum 10. By the proj ection 51a and projection 51b contacting the inner surface 10b of the photosensitive drum 10, the grounding plate 51 is electrically connected with the projection 51b.
  • the photosensitive drum unit U1 is rotatably supported on the second frame unit 19. As shown in Figure 10 , in the driving side of the photosensitive drum unit U1, a supported portion 150d of the driving side flange 150 is rotatably supported by a supporting portion 30a of the drum bearing 30. The drum bearing 30 is fixed to the cleaning frame 21 by a screw 26. On the other hand, in the non-driving side of the photosensitive drum unit U1, the shaft receiving portion 50a of the non-driving side flange 50 (part (b) of Figure 9 ) is rotatably supported by the electroconductive drum shaft 54.
  • the driving side flange 150 is provided with the engagement supporting portion 150b engaging with the inner surface 10b of the photosensitive drum 10, a gear portion 150c, a supporting portion 150d rotatably supported by the drum bearing 30 and so on.
  • the flat surface inner wall portion 150h1 and the flat surface inner wall portion 150h2 have surfaces perpendicular to the axis L152 and are diametrically opposite (180 degrees) from each other axis L151.
  • the cylindrical inner wall portion 150r1 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 150r2 have cylindrical configurations having a central axis which is common with the axis L151, and a disposed at positions diametrically opposite from each other with respect to the axis L151.
  • the recess 150ml and the recess 150m2 are formed with the flat surface inner wall portion 150h1 and the flat surface inner wall portion 150h2, respectively, and are farther from the axis L151 along the axis L152.
  • the recess 150ml and the recess 150m2 have the same configuration and are provided at the positions diametrically opposite with respect to the axis L151, and therefore, the following description will be made with respect to the recess 150ml only.
  • the cylindrical retention pin 191 and the retention pin 192 are inserted into the through hole 160c1 - the through hole 160c4 of the slider 160 such that the central axes are parallel with the axis L152.
  • the retention pin 191 and the retention pin 192 are supported by the slide groove 150s1 and the slide groove 150s4 of the driving side flange 150, so that the slider 160 and the driving side flange 150 are connected with each other.
  • the guide portion 150j1 and the guide portion 150j2 as the inclined portions or the contact portions are contactable to the portion-to-be-guided 180j1 and the portion-to-be-guided 180j2 as the inclined portions or the contact portions (here, it is unnecessary that both of the guide portion 150j1 (150j2) and the portion-to-be-guided 180j1 (180j2) are inclined, but it will suffice if one of them is inclined).
  • the coupling member 180 is prevented from disengaging from the opening 150e of the driving side flange 150.
  • the coupling member 180 is urged toward the driving side such that the portion-to-be-guided 180j1 and the portion-to-be-guided 180j2 contact the guide portion 150j1 and the guide portion 150j2.
  • the driving side flange 150, the coupling member 180 and the slider 160 are made of resin material such as polyacetal, polycarbonate or the like.
  • the retention pin 190 is made of metal such as carbon steel, stainless steel or the like. However, depending on the load torque for rotating the photosensitive drum 10, the materials of the parts may be made of metal four resin material.
  • the coupling member 180 is inserted into the space portion 150f of the driving side flange 150.
  • the phases of the coupling member 180 and the driving side flange 150 are adjusted such that the axis L182 and the axis L152 are parallel with each other.
  • the urging member 170 is mounted. The urging member 170 is limited in the position in the radial direction a shaft portion 180d2 of the coupling member 180 and a shaft portion 160d of the slider 160.
  • the urging member 170 may be mounted beforehand to any one of or both of the shaft portion 180d2 and the shaft portion 160d. At this time, the urging member 170 is press-fitted relative to the shaft portion 180d2 (or shaft portion 160d) such that the urging member 170 does not dislodge, by which the assembling operativity is improved. Thereafter, the slider 160 is inserted into the space portion 150f so that the engaging portion 180h is fitted into the cylindrical portion 160a. As shown in part (c) of Figure 12 and part (d) of Figure 12 , the retention pin 191 and the retention pin 192 are inserted from the slide groove 150s1 through the through hole 160c1 - the through hole 160c4 into the slide groove 150s4.
  • Figure 18 is an illustration of the configuration of the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • Part (a) of Figure 18 and part (b) of Figure 18 are schematic perspective views of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 of the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • Part (c) of Figure 18 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line S6 of part (b) of Figure 18 (plane perpendicular to the axis L102 and including the axis L101).
  • Figure 19 is an illustration of a supporting method for the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • Part (a) of Figure 19 is a side view of the driving side of the main assembly A of the apparatus
  • part (b) of Figure 19 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a supporting structure of the main assembly side engaging portion 100, taken along a line S7 of part (a) of Figure 19 .
  • the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is provided with a cylindrical driving shaft 100j and a drive gear portion 100c. Inside the driving shaft 100j, there are provided a cylindrical inner wall 100b, a rotational force applying portion 100a1 and a rotational force applying portion 100a2. A space in the driving shaft 100j defined by the inner wall 100b, the rotational force applying portion 100a1, the rotational force applying portion 100a2 is called space portion 100f. As shown in part (b) of Figure 18 and part (c) of Figure 18 , the coupling member 180 enters the space portion 100f and receives the rotational force, in the rotational force transmission operation. A cartridge B side end portion of the space portion 100f with respect to the axis L101 is called an opening end portion 100g.
  • the rotational force applying portion 100a1 and the rotational force applying portion 100a2 contact the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 and the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 of the coupling member 180 at the most projected portion 100m1and the most projected portion 100m2 to transmit the rotational force to the coupling member 180.
  • the distance is between the axis L101 and the most projected portion 100m1 and between the axis L101 and the most projected portion 100m2 measured along the axis L103 is called offset V2.
  • the rotational force applying portion 100a1 and the rotational force applying portion 100a2 have a flat surface wall portion 100k1 and the flat surface wall portion 100k2 which are perpendicular to the axis L103. Ridge portions of the flat surface wall portion 100k1 and the flat surface wall portion 100k2 adjacent to the opening end portion 100 g are a retraction force applying portion 100n1 and a retraction force applying portion 100n2, respectively.
  • the rotational force applying portion 100a1 and the rotational force applying portion 100a2 are connected with each other by the inner wall 100b, so that the strength thereof is enhanced.
  • the main assembly side engaging portion 100 can smoothly transmit the rotational force to the coupling member 180.
  • a drive gear portion 100c having a center aligned with the axis L101 is provided in the side opposite from the cartridge B with respect to the direction of the axis L101 of the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • the drive gear portion 100c is integral or non-rotatably fixed with the main assembly side engaging portion 100, and when the drive gear portion 100c rotates about the axis L101, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 also rotates about the axis L101.
  • an inside circumference 103a of the bearing member 103 supports an outer configuration portion 100j1 of the driving shaft 100j of the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • An outer configuration portion 104a of the bearing member 104 supports an inner wall portion 100b of the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • the bearing member 103 and the bearing member 104 are fixed on a side plate 108 and a side plate 109 constituting the casing of the main assembly A of the apparatus such that the axes thereof are coaxial with the axis L101, respectively. Therefore, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is correctly placed at a predetermined position in the main assembly A of the apparatus with respect to the diametrical direction.
  • Part (a) of Figure 22 and part (b) of Figure 22 are enlarged views of the neighborhood of the driving side flange unit U2 and the contact portion 108a as a fixed member shown in part (b1) of Figure 21 and part (b2) of Figure 21 .
  • a first projected portion 180b in an initial state of the mounting which will be described hereinafter is shown by broken lines.
  • Part (b1) of Figure 23 and part (b2) of Figure 23 show sections taken along lines S12 of part (a) of Figure 23 and illustrate a process of mounting of the cartridge B.
  • the coupling member 180 is most projected toward the driving side beyond the opening 150e of the driving side flange 150 by the urging force F170 of the urging member 170.
  • This state is the initial state of the mounting.
  • the coupling member 180 is in the first position (projected position).
  • the rotational axis L181 of the coupling member 180 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More particularly, the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the rotational axis L181 of the coupling member 180 is substantially parallel with the axis L151 of the driving side flange 150. More particularly, the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L151 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the cartridge B is further moved in the direction of the arrow X1.
  • the round body 180c of the coupling is brought into contact to the cylindrical inner wall portion 150r1 of the driving side flange 150, so that the movement of the coupling member 180 relative to the driving side flange 150 in the direction of the arrow X61 is limited.
  • an amount the movement of the coupling member 180 from the initial state of the mounting in the direction of the axis L181 is movement distance N (part (b) of Figure 22 ).
  • the movement distance N is determined by the gap D (part (c) of Figure 11 ) and the angle ⁇ 3 ( Figure 15 ) of the guide portion 150j1 - guide portion 150j4 relative to the axis L181.
  • the coupling member 180 has moved by the movement distance N in the direction of the arrow X8 from the initial state of the mounting. Because the force F1 is directed toward the center of the substantially spherical surface constituting the main assembly contact portion 180b1, the angle ⁇ 7 Between the direction of the force F1 and in the axis L183 is larger than that at the initial state of the mounting. With this, a component force F1a of the force F1 in the direction of the arrow X8 increases the as compared with that of the initial state of the mounting.
  • the coupling member 180 moves further in the direction of the arrow X8 against the urging force F170 of the urging member 170, so that the coupling member 180 can pass by the contact portion 108a of the side plate 108.
  • the cartridge B move in the direction of the arrow X1 while keeping the coupling member 180 in the space portion 150f of the driving side flange 150.
  • the position of the coupling member 180 shown in part (b3) of Figure 21 is a second position (retracted position).
  • the rotational axis L181 of the coupling member 180 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More specifically, there is a gap between the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L1 (the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially out of alignment).
  • the rotational axis L181 of the coupling member 180 is substantially parallel with the axis L151 of the driving side flange 150. More specifically, at this time, there is a gap between the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L151 (the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially out of alignment).
  • the coupling member 180 In the second position (retracted position), the coupling member 180 is displaced (moved/retracted) toward the photosensitive drum 10 (the other end portion side of the photosensitive drum 10 in the longitudinal direction), as compared with that in the first position (projected position).
  • the axis L101 of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 and the axis L151 of the driving side flange 150 are made substantially coaxial with each other by positioning means for determining the position of the cartridge B relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • the coupling member 180 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow X9 by the urging force F170 of the urging member 170.
  • the coupling member 180 is moved along the guide portion 150j1, so that the axis L181 is aligned with the axis L151 of the driving side flange 150.
  • the coupling member 180 enters the space portion 100f of the main assembly side engaging portion 100. At this time, the coupling member 180 is overlapped with the main assembly side engaging portion 100 in the direction of the axis L101. Simultaneously, the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 is opposed to the rotational force applying portion 100a2, so that the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 is opposed to the rotational force applying portion 100a1. In this manner, the coupling member 180 is engaged with the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to enable the rotation of the coupling member 180.
  • the position of the coupling member 180 at this time is substantially the same as the above-described first position (projected position).
  • the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b may be overlapped with the rotational force applying portion 100a1 and the rotational force applying portion 100a2 as seen in the direction of the axis L101, depending on the rotational phase of the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • the coupling member 180 cannot enter the space portion 100f.
  • the main assembly side engaging portion 100 being rotated by a driving source which will be described hereinafter, the first projected portion 180a, the second projected portion 180b and the rotational force applying portion 100a1, the rotational force applying portion 100a2 become not overlapping with each other as seen in the direction of the axis L101.
  • the coupling member 180 becomes capable of entering the space portion 100f by the urging force F170 of the urging member 170. That is, main assembly side engaging portion 100 is capable of engaging, while being rotated by the driving source, with the coupling member 180, which then starts to rotate.
  • the cartridge B is moved in the direction of the arrow X1.
  • the third main assembly contact portion 180b5 contacts and the contact portion 108a.
  • the third main assembly contact portion 180b5 receives a force F2 from the contact portion 108a because of the mounting movement of the cartridge B.
  • the third main assembly contact portion 180b5 is inclined relative to the axis L181 by the angle ⁇ 1 (part (b) of Figure 14 ) as described hereinbefore, and therefore, the forcing F2 is inclined relative to the axis L182 by the angle ⁇ 1, and a component force F2a of the force F2 in the direction of the arrow X8 is produced.
  • the coupling member 180 is moved by the component force F2a In the direction of the arrow X8 against the urging force F170 of the urging member 170 to pass by the contact portion 108a as shown in part (b2) of Figure 23 .
  • the angle ⁇ 1 formed between the third main assembly contact portion 180b5 and the axis L181 is selected such that the coupling member 180 can move in the direction of the arrow X8 by the component force F2a against the urging force F170 of the urging member 170.
  • the cartridge B can be moved to the complete mounted position while keeping the coupling member 180 in the space portion 150f of the driving side flange 150.
  • the coupling member 180 moves in the direction of the arrow X8, similarly, and therefore, the coupling member 180 can pass the contact portion 108a.
  • the coupling member 180 is moved by the force F1 along the guide portion 150j1 - the guide portion 150j4 in the direction indicated by the arrow X8, or by the component force F1a or the component force F2a of the force F1 or the force F2 in the arrow X8 direction.
  • the cartridge B can be mounted to the main assembly A of the apparatus irrespective of the rotational phases of the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 relative to the mounting direction of the cartridge B to the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • the contact portion 108a of the side plate 108 shown in Figure 20 is in the form of an edge, but the contact portion 108a may be beveled or rounded.
  • the coupling member 180 easily moves in the direction of the arrow X8, and therefore, the load in the mounting of the cartridge B to the main assembly A of the apparatus can be reduced.
  • the occurrences of the damage and/or dent attributable to the contact between the main assembly contact portion 180b1 and the contact portion 108a can be reduced.
  • the third main assembly contact portion 180a5 and the third main assembly contact portion 180b5 are inclined relative to the axis L181 by the angle ⁇ 1.
  • the third main assembly contact portion 180a5 and the third main assembly contact portion 180b5 may be provided by a spherical surface into with the main assembly contact portion 180a1 and the main assembly contact portion 180b1.
  • projection amounts Q of the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b from the opening 150e of the driving side flange 150 toward the driving side may be reduced.
  • the leading side surface 180a4 and the leading side surface 180b4 of the coupling member 180 are moved toward the arrow X8 beyond the contact portion 108a to pass the contact portion 108a, only by the movement along the guide portion 150j1 - the guide portion 150j4. Therefore, it is unnecessary to produce the component force F1a of the force F1 in the direction of the arrow X8.
  • the configurations of the main assembly contact portion 180a1 and the main assembly contact portion 180b1 are substantially spherical (that is, the angle ⁇ 7 in Figure 22 is 0°). By doing so, the design latitude for the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b is enhanced.
  • Figure 25 illustrates the complete mounted position of the cartridge B.
  • Part (a) of Figure 25 is a view as seen from the driving side
  • part (b) of Figure 25 is a view as seen from the non-driving side.
  • Figure 26 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the driving structure of the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • Part (a) of Figure 26 is a schematic perspective view of a drive transmission path
  • part (b) of Figure 26 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line S9 of part (a) of Figure 26 .
  • Part (c) of Figure 26 is an enlarged view of the neighborhood of the first projected portion 180a of part (b) of Figure 26 .
  • Part (a) of Figure 27 is a perspective sectional view illustrating a rotational force transmission path.
  • Part (b) of Figure 27 is an enlarged schematic perspective view illustrating the contact between the rotational force applying portion 100a1 and the rotational force receiving portion 180b3, and which parts behind the rotational force applying portion 100a1 are indicated by broken lines.
  • the positioning of the cartridge B in the main assembly A of the apparatus at the time of rotational force transmission will be described.
  • the driving side supported portion 30b is received by a positioning portion 120a1 provided in a downstream side of the first guide portion 120a with respect to the cartridge mounting direction X1.
  • the non-driving side supported portion 21f is received by a positioning portion 125a1 provided in a downstream side of a second guide portion 125a with respect to the cartridge mounting direction X1.
  • a driving side urging spring 121 is provided which urges an urging portion 121a toward the cartridge positioning portion 120a1 (arrow X121 direction).
  • the urging portion 126a of the non-driving side urging spring 126 contacts the urged portion 21f1 of the non-driving side supported portion 21f, and the non-driving side supported portion 21f is urged to contact to the cartridge positioning portion 125a1.
  • a rotation preventing portion 21e is accommodated in a rotational position regulating portion 120b1 provided in the downstream side of the lower guide portion 120b with respect to the mounting direction X1 so as to contact to a rotational position regulation surface 120b2.
  • the non-driving side guide portion 21 g is accommodated in an accommodating portion 125b1 provided in a downstream side of a lower guide portion 125b with respect to the mounting direction X1.
  • the cartridge B is correctly positioned in the cartridge positioning portion 120a1 and the cartridge positioning portion 125a1 of the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • a motor 106 as the driving source of the main assembly A of the apparatus is fixed on the side plate 109 constituting in the casing of the main assembly A of the apparatus and is provided with a coaxial pinion gear 107 integrally rotatable with the motor 106.
  • the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is correctly positioned in the diametrical direction in the main assembly A of the apparatus such that the driving gear portion 100c and the pinion gear 107 are in meshing engagement with each other. Therefore, when the motor 106 rotates, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 rotates through the driving gear portion 100c.
  • the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is positioned such that in the rotational force transmission operation, the most projected portion 100m1 and the most projected portion 100m2 are within the supporting range 103h with respect to the direction of the axis L101.
  • the supporting range 103h is the range in which the bearing member 103 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 contact each other when the bearing member 103 rotatably supports the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • the driving gear portion 100c and the pinion gear 107 are helical gears.
  • the twist angles of the helical gear are selected such that the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is urged in the direction of the arrow X7 which is parallel with the axis L101, by the rotational force provided by the motor 106.
  • the contact between the contact portion 100d of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 and the contact portion 103b of the bearing member 103 the movement of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 in the direction of the arrow X7 is limited.
  • the position of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 in the axis L101 direction relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus is determined.
  • the engagement amount K is a length from the most projected portion 100m1 of the rotational force applying portion 100a2 to the free end corner portion 180a7 of the rotational force receiving portion 180a3, measured in the direction of the axis L181, as shown in part (c) of Figure 26 .
  • the offset VI (part (c) of Figure 18 ) which is the distance between the axis L101 and the most projected portion 100m1 is the same as the offset V2 (part (b) of Figure 14 ) which is the distance between the axis L181 and the rotational force receiving portion 180a3.
  • the rotational force transmitting portion 180g1 and the rotational force transmitting portion 180g2 fit the rotational force receiving portion 150g1 and the rotational force receiving portion 150g2 with almost no gap in the direction of the axis L182 (part (c) of Figure 15 ), and therefore, the substantially parallel state is maintained therebetween.
  • the coupling member 180 can transmit the rotation about the axis L181 the driving side flange 150. Therefore, the rotation of the coupling member 180 is transmitted to the driving side flange 150 through the rotational force transmitting portion 180g1, the rotational force transmitting portion 180g2, the rotational force receiving portion 150g1 and the rotational force receiving portion 150g2.
  • the rotational force is transmitted from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the photosensitive drum 10 through the coupling member 180 and the driving side flange 150, thus rotating the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the main assembly side engaging portion 100 in the rotational force transmitting operation, is placed in a predetermined position in the main assembly A of the apparatus with respect to the radial direction.
  • the driving side flange 150 is also placed in a predetermined position in the main assembly A of the apparatus through the cartridge B with respect to the radial direction.
  • the main assembly side engaging portion 100 in the predetermined position and the driving side flange 150 in the predetermined position are connected with each other by the coupling member 180.
  • the main assembly side engaging portion 100 and the driving side flange 150 are positioned such that the axis L151 and the axis L101 are substantially coaxial with each other, the coupling member 180 rotates with the axis L181 in the axis L101 substantially aligned with each other. Therefore, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is capable of smooth three transmitting the rotational force to the photosensitive drum 10 through the coupling member 180.
  • the axis L151 and the axis L101 may be more or less deviated from the coaxial state due to the variation or the like in the part dimensions.
  • the drive transmission when the axis L151 and the axis L101 are deviated will be described.
  • the direction in which the axis L151 and the axis L101 are deviated from each other is called “axis deviating direction J", and the amount of the deviation is called “shaft deviation amount J1".
  • Part (a1) through part (a3) of Figure 28 shows the state of drive transmission as seen from the driving side.
  • Part (a1) of Figure 28 shows the state in which the axis deviating direction J and the axis L183 are perpendicular to each other
  • part (a2) of Figure 28 shows the state in which the axis deviating direction J and the axis L183 are parallel with each other
  • part (a3) of Figure 28 shows the state in which the axis deviating direction J is inclined relative to the axis L183.
  • Part (b1) - part (b3) of Figure 28 are sectional schematic sectional view taken along a plane SL183 parallel with the axis L183 in the part (a1) - part (a3) of Figure 28 .
  • the coupling member 180 is unable to move in the direction of the axis L182 relative to the driving side flange 150, and therefore, the coupling member 180 moves by the amount of the shaft deviation amount J1 in the direction of the axis L182 relative to the main assembly side engaging portion 100. Then, corresponding to the shaft deviation amount J1, the engagement width H1 between the rotational force applying portion 100a1 and the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 becomes small, and to the contrary, the engagement width H2 between the rotational force applying portion 100a2 and the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 becomes large. That is, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 and the coupling member 180 are brought into the two-point-contact to each other while changing the engagement width H1 and the engagement width H2.
  • the coupling member 180 moves by the amount of the deviation J2 in the axis L182 direction relative to the main assembly side engaging portion 100, and the engagement width H1 and the engagement width H2 change.
  • the coupling member 180 moves by the shaft deviation amount J3 in the axis L183 direction relative to the driving side flange 150, and moves in the direction of the arrow X62 (part (b3) of Figure 28 ).
  • the coupling member 180 can be brought into the two-point-contact.
  • the coupling member 180 is driven, the axis L183 becomes perpendicular, parallel and inclined relative to the axis deviating direction J. Therefore, the coupling member 180 takes one of the states shown in Figure 28 while moving in the direction of the axis L183 relative to the driving side flange 150 and while moving in the direction of the axis L182 relative to the main assembly side engaging portion 100. By this, the coupling member 180 can keep the two-point-contact with the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • the axis L181 and the axis L151 are most distant from each other when the axis deviating direction J and the axis L183 are parallel with each other (part (a2) of Figure 28 ). Therefore, the engagement amount K between the main assembly engaging portion 100 and the coupling member 180 is minimum in the state shown in part (b2) of Figure 28 . Therefore, the engagement amount K is to be enough to assure the engagement amount K larger than 0 even in the state of the part (b2) of Figure 28 .
  • the engagement width H1 and the engagement width H2 change with the movement of the coupling member 180 toward the axis L182.
  • the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 is convergently tapered by the provision of the third main assembly contact surface 180b5 (part (b) of Figure 27 ), and therefore, the engagement width H1 and the engagement width H2 change with the movement of the axis L181 of the coupling member 180. Therefore, the engagement width H1 and the engagement width H2 are required to be determined so that the engagement width H1 and the engagement width H2 are always more than 0 during one full rotation of the coupling member 180.
  • the coupling member 180 is capable of maintaining the two-point-contact with the main assembly side engaging portion 100 by moving in the direction of the axis L183. Therefore, the drive transmission by only one of the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 and the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 does not occur, and therefore, the load applied to the rotational force receiving portion 180a3, the rotational force receiving portion 180b3, the rotational force applying portion 100a1 and the rotational force applying portion 100a2 can be diversified. By this, the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is not subjected to excessive load during the rotation transmission.
  • Part (a) of Figure 29 and part (a) of Figure 33 show the dismounting direction of the cartridge B and S10 section, and S11 section.
  • Parts (b1) - (b4) of Figure 29 and part (a1) -part (a3) of Figure 32 show S section of part (a) of Figure 29 and are schematic sectional views illustrating disengagement of the coupling member 180 from the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • Parts (b1) - (b4) of Figure 33 is a S11 section of part (a) of Figure 33 , and is a schematic sectional view illustrating the state of the coupling member 180 disengaging from the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • Figure 30 is an enlarged view of the neighborhood of the driving side flange unit U2 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 of part (b3) of Figure 29 .
  • the coupling member 180 is not shown in section, and the guide portion 150j1 and the guide portion 150j2 of the driving side flange 150 are depicted by broken lines, for better illustration.
  • the cartridge B is moved in the dismounting direction X12 which is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10 and which is substantially perpendicular to the axis L151 of the driving side flange 150 to be dismounted from the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • the rotational force applying portion 100a1 is in contact with the rotational force receiving portion 180a3, and the rotational force applying portion 100a2 is in contact with the rotational force receiving portion 180b3.
  • the rotational force applying portion 100a2 is in the downstream side of the rotational force receiving portion 180b3.
  • any portions of the coupling member 180 other than the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 and the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 do not contact the main assembly side engaging portion 100. This is the initial state of the dismounting.
  • the position of the coupling member 180 in the state of part (b1) of Figure 29 is the first position (enabled-rotational-force-transmission-position).
  • the first position (enabled-rotational-force-transmission-position) is substantially the same as the above-described first position (projected position).
  • the rotational axis L181 of the coupling member 180 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More particularly, the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L1 are aligned with each other.
  • the rotational axis L181 of the coupling member 180 is substantially parallel with the axis L151 of the driving side flange 150. More particularly, the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L151 are aligned with each other.
  • the cartridge B is moved in the dismounting direction X12. Then, as shown in part (b2) of Figure 29 , the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 in the upstream side of the coupling member 180 with respect to the dismounting direction receives a force F5 from the rotational force applying portion 100a2 with the dismounting of the cartridge B.
  • the force F5 is perpendicular to the rotational force receiving portion 180b3, and therefore, is parallel with the axis L183which is a normal line of the rotational force receiving portion 180b3.
  • the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 (and rotational force receiving portion 180a3) is set such that the coupling member 180 can be moved by the force F5 in the direction of the axis L183.
  • the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 (and rotational force receiving portion 180a3) is the flat surface perpendicular to the axis L183, and therefore, the direction of the force F5 is parallel with the axis L183. Therefore, the user can move the cartridge B in the dismounting direction X12 with a small force, while moving the coupling member 180 in the axis L183 (and axis L181) relative to the driving side flange 150.
  • the setting is such that free end corner portion 180b7 of the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 is in the arrow X8 side of the most projected portion 100m2 of the rotational force applying portion 100a2, that is, the movement distance M is larger than the engagement amount K.
  • a component force F5a of the force F5 in the direction of the arrow X8 is produced, because the force F5 is perpendicular to the cylindrical surface 100e2 of the rotational force applying portion 100a2.
  • the coupling member 180 moves further in the direction of the arrow X8 (toward the photosensitive member (photosensitive drum 10)) against the urging force F170 of the urging member 170, with the movement of the cartridge B in the dismounting direction X12. As shown in part (b4) of Figure 29 , the coupling member 180 is disengaged from the space portion 100f of the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
  • the position of the coupling member 180 in part (b4) of Figure 29 is the second position (disengageable position).
  • the second position (disengageable position) is substantially the same as the above-described second position (retracted position).
  • the rotational axis L181 of the coupling member 180 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More specifically, there is a gap between the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L1 (the rotational axis L181 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially out of alignment).
  • the rotational axis L181 of the coupling member 180 is substantially parallel with the axis L151 of the driving side flange 150.
  • FIG. 38 and 39 the structure of a driving side flange unit U22 used in this embodiment will be described.
  • Part (a) of Figure 38 is a schematic perspective view of a photosensitive drum unit U21 to which the driving side flange unit U22 is mounted, as seen from the driving side.
  • Part (b) of Figure 38 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line S21 in part (a) of Figure 38
  • part (c) of Figure 38 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line S22 in part (a) of Figure 38
  • Figure 39 is an exploded perspective view of the driving side flange unit U22.
  • the coupling unit U23 is not sectioned, and a second guide portion 250j1, a second guide portion 250j2 and a slide groove 250s1 are depicted by broken lines, for better illustration.
  • the mounting direction of the cartridge B to the main assembly A of the apparatus and the dismounting direction of the cartridge B from the main assembly A of the apparatus in this embodiment are similar to those of Embodiment 1, and this applies to the other embodiments, too.
  • the cartridge B comprises a photosensitive drum 310.
  • the photosensitive drum is rotated by a rotational force received from the main assembly A of the apparatus by a coupling mechanism which will be described hereinafter.
  • the cartridge B can be mounted to and dismounted from the main assembly A of the apparatus by the user.
  • the cartridge B comprises a developing roller 313 as developing means.
  • the developing roller 313 is a rotatable member capable of carrying a developer t to supply the developer to a developing area on the photosensitive drum 310.
  • the developing roller 313 develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 310 with the developer t.
  • the developing roller 313 contains the magnet roller (fixed magnet) 313c.
  • a developing blade 315 is contacted to a peripheral surface of the developing roller 313.
  • the developing blade 315 regulates an amount of the developer t deposited on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 313. In addition, it applies triboelectric charge to the developer t.
  • the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 310 is transferred onto a recording material 2 ( Figure 1 ) by a transfer roller 4 ( Figure 1 ).
  • the recording material is a sheet of paper, a label, an OHP sheet, for example.
  • the developing unit 318 comprises a developing device frame 314b which is a part of a cartridge frame B1.
  • the developing unit 318 comprises the developing roller 313, the developing blade 315, the developing chamber 314a, the developer accommodating container 314 and the stirring members 316 and 317.
  • the cartridge B is mounted in a cartridge accommodating portion 330a ( Figure 62 which will be described hereinafter) of the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • a coupling as a rotational force transmitting part of the cartridge B is coupled with a driving shaft main assembly A of the apparatus, in interrelation with the mounting operation of the cartridge B.
  • the photosensitive drum 310 and so on are rotated by a driving force provided by the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • a cartridge guide 340R2 is provided substantially above the cartridge guide 340R1.
  • a cartridge guide 340L2 is provided above the cartridge guide 340L1.
  • Part (a) of Figure 61 is a perspective view of the main assembly A of the apparatus without the cartridge B mounted, in which a side plate of the driving side is partly cut-away.
  • Part (b) of Figure 61 is a perspective view showing only the drum driving structure.
  • Part (c) of Figure 61 is a sectional view taken along a line S7 - S7 of part (b) of Figure 61 .
  • the main assembly driving shaft 300 has a spherical free end portion 300b and is provided with a drive transmission pin 302 as the main assembly side rotation driving force transmitting portion penetrating substantially at the central portion of the cylindrical main part 300a, and the driving force is transmitted to the cartridge B by the drive transmission pin 302.
  • the drum driving gear 301 is rotatably supported on the main assembly A of the apparatus by the bearing members 303 and 304.
  • the driving gear 301 does not move in the direction of the axial direction L1, and therefore, the driving gear 301 and the bearing members 303, 304 can be placed close to each other.
  • the driving gear 301 is directly driven by the motor pinion 307, but this is not limiting to the present invention, and a plurality of gears may be provided therebetween, or a belt or the like may be used for the drive transmission for the conveniences of the position of the motor relative to the main assembly A.
  • the left and right mounting means 330 are provided with guide portions 330R1, 330L1 and 330R2, 330L2 which function as guides and for the mounting of the cartridge B.
  • guide portions 330R1, 330R2, 330L1, 330L2 bosses, which will be described hereinafter, provided projected at respective sides of the cartridge frame are guided.
  • a cartridge door 309 as an opening and closing door capable of opening and closing relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus about a shaft 309a is opened.
  • a dismounting operation is carried out with the cartridge door 309 opened. The dismounting and/or mounting of the cartridge B relative to the main assembly may be assisted by interrelation with the opening operation of the door 30.
  • the photosensitive drum unit U31 comprises the photosensitive drum 310, a driving side flange unit U32 and a non-driving side flange 352.
  • the photosensitive drum 310 comprises an electroconductive cylinder 310a of aluminum or the like and a photosensitive layer coating it. The opposite end portions thereof are provided with openings 310a1 , 310a2 substantially coaxial with the surface of the drum to engage with drum flanges.
  • the non-driving side flange 352 is produced by injection molding of resin material similarly to driving side, and engageable supporting portion 352b and supporting portion 352a are coaxially provided.
  • the non-driving side flange 352 is provided with a drum grounding plate 351.
  • the drum grounding plate 351 is an electroconductive (mainly metal) thin-plate-like member and includes contact portions 351b1, 351b2 contacted to an inner surface of the electroconductive cylinder 310a and a contact portion 351a contacted to the drum shaft 326 ( Figure 60 ).
  • the grounding plate 351 is electrically connected with the main assembly A to electrically ground the photosensitive drum 310.
  • the driving side flange 350 and the non-driving side flange 352 are engaged with the openings 310a1, 310a2 of the cylinder 310a by the supporting portions 350b, 352b, and thereafter, they are fixed to the cylinder 310a by bonding, clamping or the like.
  • the grounding plate 351 is provided on the non-driving side flange 352, but this is not limiting to the present invention.
  • the grounding plate 351 may be provided on the driving side flange 350, or on another part connectable with the ground.
  • Part (a) of Figure 66 is a schematic perspective view of the state in which the driving side flange unit U32 is mounted to the photosensitive drum 310, as seen from the driving side.
  • Part (a) of Figure 66 the photosensitive drum 310 and the parts therein are depicted by broken lines.
  • Part (b) of Figure 66 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line S1 in part (a) of Figure 66
  • part (c) of Figure 66 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line S2 in part (a) of Figure 66 .
  • FIG. 67 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the driving side flange unit U32.
  • Figure 68 is a schematic perspective view of the coupling member 380.
  • Figure 69 is an illustration of the coupling member 380.
  • Part (a) of Figure 70 and part (b) of Figure 70 are schematic perspective views of the driving side flange 350.
  • Part (c) of Figure 70 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line S3 in part (a) of Figure 70 , in which a projection 380b1 of the coupling member 130, a retention pin 391 and a retention pin 392 are shown for illustration.
  • Part (d) of Figure 70 is a schematic perspective view of the coupling member 380 and the driving side flange 350.
  • Part (a) of Figure 71 is an illustration of the driving side flange 350, a slider 360, the retention pin 391 and the retention pin 392, and part (b) of Figure 71 is a sectional view taken along a line SL353 of part (a) of Figure 71 .
  • the photosensitive drum 310 is depicted by chain lines with double dots.
  • the driving side flange unit U32 comprises the driving side flange 350, the coupling member 380, an urging member 370, the slider 360, the retention pin 391 and the retention pin 392, as the rotational force transmission member.
  • L351 is the rotational axis when the driving side flange 350 is rotated, and in the following description, the rotational axis L351 is simply called axis L351.
  • L381 is the rotational axis when the coupling member 380 is rotated, and in the following description, the rotational axis L381 is simply called axis L381.
  • the coupling member 380 is provided inside the driving side flange 350 together with the urging member 370 and the slider 360.
  • the slider 360 does not move in the direction of the axis L351 relative to the driving side flange 350, the retention pin 391 and retention pin 392.
  • the urging member 370 is a spring (compression coil spring) as an elastic member. As shown in part (b) of Figure 66 and part (c) of Figure 66 , one end portion of the 370a of the urging member 370 contacts a spring contact portion 380h1 of the coupling member 380, and the other end portion 370b contacts a spring contact portion 360b of the slider 360. The urging member 370 is compressed between the coupling member 380 and the slider 360 to urge the coupling member 380 toward the driving side (arrow X9) by the urging force F370 thereof.
  • the urging member may be a leaf spring, a torsion spring, rubber, sponge or the like or another that can produce an elastic force.
  • the coupling member 380 is movable in the direction parallel with the axis L351 of the driving side flange 350, and therefore, a kind of the urging member 370 has a certain degree of stroke. Therefore, the coil spring or the like capable of having a stroke is preferable.
  • a fourth portion is an engaging portion 380d as the other end portion supported by the slider 360 such that the coupling member 380 is movable in the direction of the rotational axis L381.
  • the other end portion of the coupling member 380 is an engaging portion 380d, but it may be driving portion 380b.
  • a direction perpendicular to axis L381 is an axis L382, and a direction perpendicular to the axis L381 and to the axis L382 is an axis L383.
  • the driven portion 380a is provided with a driving shaft insertion opening 380m as a recess expanding relative to the rotational axis L381 of the coupling member 380.
  • the opening 380m is provided by a conical driving bearing surface 380f expanding as approaching toward the main assembly driving shaft 300.
  • the outer peripheral surface of the driven portion 380a including two transmission projections 380fl and 380f2 is provided with a substantially spherical main assembly contact portion 380i.
  • the clearance portions are designated by 380k1 and 380k2.
  • driving force receiving surfaces 380e1 and 380e2 In the positions downstream of the transmission projection 380fl and 380f2 with respect to the clockwise direction, there are provided driving force receiving surfaces (rotational force receiving portions) 380e1 and 380e2, to which transmission pin 302 as the rotational force transmitting portion provided on the main assembly driving shaft 300 abuts to transmit the rotational force. That is, driving force receiving surfaces 380e1 and 380e2 cross with the rotational moving direction of the coupling member 380 so that they are rotated about the axis L381 by being pushed by the side surfaces of the drive transmission pin 302 of the main assembly driving shaft 300.
  • the driving force receiving surface 380e1 and 380e2 are disposed on the same circumference extending about the axis L381. By doing so, a drive transmission radius is constant, and therefore, the transmitted torque is stabilized. It is preferable that the position of the coupling member 380 is stabilized as much as possible by the balance of the forces received by the transmission projections 380fl and 380f2. For this purpose, they are disposed diametrically opposite from each other in this embodiment. Then, the forces received by the coupling member 380 form a couple of forces. Therefore, the coupling member 380 can continue the rotational motion by receiving only the couple of forces without controlling the position of the rotational axis of the coupling.
  • the interconnecting portion 380c When the interconnecting portion 380c is sectioned by a plane perpendicular to the axis L381, at least one cross-sections of the interconnecting portion 380c has a maximum rotational radius which is smaller than a distance between the rotational axis L381 of the coupling member 380 and the transmission projections 380f1 and 380f2 (driving force receiving surfaces 3890e1 and 380e2).
  • a predetermined section of the interconnecting portion 380c perpendicular to the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 380 has a maximum rotational radius which is smaller than the distance between the transmission projections 380f1 and 380f2 (driving force receiving surfaces 3890e1 and 380e2) and the rotational axis L2. Further in other words, the interconnecting portion 380c has a diameter which is smaller than the distance between the transmission projection 380f1 (driving force receiving surface 380e1) and the transmission projection 380f2 (driving force receiving surface 380e2).
  • the projections 380b1 and 380b2 project along the axis L382 from the driving portion 380b and a provided diametrically opposite from each other with respect to the axis L381.
  • the projections 380b1 and 380b2 have the same configurations, and therefore, the configuration of the projection 380b1 will be described.
  • the projection 380b1 has a symmetrical configuration with respect to the axis L381 as seen in the direction of the axis L382, more particularly has a pentagonal configuration.
  • the portion of the projection 380b1 having two surfaces inclined by an angle ⁇ 3 relative to the axis L381 as seen in the direction of the axis L382 is called a portion-to-be-guided 380j1 and a portion-to-be-guided 380j2 as an inclined portion or contact portion.
  • the portion connecting the portion-to-be-guided 380j1 and the portion-to-be-guided 380j2 with each other is called round configuration portion 380t1.
  • the surfaces of the projection 380b1 perpendicular to the axis L383 are called a projection end portion 380n1 and a projection end portion 380n2.
  • the surface of the projection 380b1 perpendicular to the axis L182 is called a rotational force transmitting portion 380g1.
  • portions constituting the projection 380b2 are called portion-to-be-guided 380j3, portion-to-be-guided 380j4, a round configuration portion 380t2, projection end portion 380n3, projection end portion 380n4 and rotational force transmitting portion 380g2, respectively.
  • the engaging portion 380d has a cylindrical having a central axis aligned with the axis L381 and is fitted in a cylindrical portion 360a of the slider 360 (part (b) of Figure 66 and part (c) of Figure 66 ) with almost no gap and is supported thereby (the detailed live be described hereinafter).
  • the spring mounting portion 380h is provided on a non-driving side end portion of the engaging portion 380d.
  • the spring mounting portion 380h is provided with a spring contact portion 380h1 contacting one end portion 370a of the urging member 370, and the spring contact portion 380h1 is substantially perpendicular to the axis L381 of the coupling member 380.
  • the driving side flange 350 is provided with the engagement supporting portion 350b engaging with the inner surface 310b of the photosensitive drum 10, a gear portion 350c, a supporting portion 350a rotatably supported by the drum bearing 330 and so on.
  • a direction perpendicular to axis L351 is an axis L352, and a direction perpendicular to the axis L351 and to the axis L352 is an axis L353.
  • the inside of the driving side flange 350 is hollow, and is called hollow portion 350f.
  • the hollow portion 350f includes a flat surface inner wall portion 350h1, a flat surface inner wall portion 350h2, a cylindrical inner wall portion 350r1, a cylindrical inner wall portion 350r2, a recess 350m1 and a recess 350m2.
  • the flat surface inner wall portion 350h1 and the flat surface inner wall portion 350h2 have surfaces perpendicular to the axis L352 and are diametrically opposite from each other axis L351.
  • the cylindrical inner wall portion 350r1 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 350r2 have cylindrical configurations having a central axis which is common with the axis L351, and a disposed at positions diametrically opposite from each other with respect to the axis L351.
  • the recess 350m1 and the recess 350m2 are formed with the flat surface inner wall portion 350h1 and the flat surface inner wall portion 350h2, respectively, and are farther from the axis L351 along the axis L352.
  • the recess 350m1 and the recess 350m2 have the same configuration and are provided at the positions diametrically opposite with respect to the axis L351, and therefore, the following description will be made with respect to the recess 350m1 only.
  • the recess 350m1 has a symmetrical configuration with respect to the axis L351 as seen in the direction of the axis L352.
  • the portion having the surfaces inclined by the angle ⁇ 3 relative to th axis L351 as seen in the direction of the axis L352 is a guide portion 350j1 and a guide portion 350j2, similarly to the portion-to-be-guided 380j1 - the portion-to-be-guided 380j4.
  • the portion connecting the guide portion 350j1 and the guide portion 350j2 is a round configuration portion 350t1.
  • a rotational force receiving portion 350g1 having a flat surface perpendicular to the axis L352 is provided, with a step relative to the flat surface inner wall portion 350h1.
  • the rotational force receiving portion 350g1 is provided with the slide groove 350s1.
  • the slide groove 350s1 includes a through hole supporting the retention pin 391 and the retention pin 392, and has a rectangular-shape with the long side thereof being along the axis L353, as seen in the direction of the axis L352.
  • the parts constituting the recess 350m2 include a rotational force receiving portion 350g2, a guide portion 350j3, a guide portion 350j4, R, a guide portion 350j4, a round configuration portion 350t2, a slide groove 350s4, a recess end portion 350n3 and a recess end portion 350n4.
  • a driving side end portion of the hollow portion 350f is an opening 350e.
  • the coupling member 380 is provided in the hollow portion 350f of the driving side flange 350 such that the axis L382 is parallel with the axis L352.
  • the rotational force transmitting portions 380g1 and 380g2 and rotational force receiving portions 350g1 and 350g2 are engaged with each other, respectively with almost no gap in the direction of the axis L382.
  • a gap D is provided between the driving portion 380b and cylindrical inner wall portions 350r1 and 350r2.
  • gaps E1 are provided between the projection end portion 380n1 and the recess end portion 350n1 and between the projection end portion 380n2 and the recess end portion 350n1, respectively, in the direction of the axis L353.
  • coupling member 380 is movable in the direction of the axis L383 relative to the driving side flange 350.
  • the projection 380b1 and the recess 350m1 are so shaped that the gap E1 is larger than the gap D.
  • the slider 360 is provided with the cylindrical portion 360a, a contact portion 360b contacted by the other end portion 370b of the urging member 370, a through hole 360c1 - a through hole 360c4.
  • the central axis of the cylindrical portion 360a is an axis L361.
  • the cylindrical portion 360a is engaged with the engaging portion 38d of the coupling member 380 with almost no gap to support it.
  • the coupling member 380 is movable in the direction of the axis L381 while keeping the substantial coaxiality between the axis L381 and the axis L361.
  • the outer periphery 325a of the outer end portion of the drum bearing 325 functions as a cartridge guide 340R1
  • the outer periphery 326a of the outer end portion of the drum shaft 326 functions as a cartridge guide 340L1.
  • One end portion side of the (driving side) of the photosensitive drum unit U31 with respect to the longitudinal direction is provided with a cartridge guide 340R2 substantially above the cartridge guide 340R1.
  • At the other end portion side thereof (non-driving side) is provided with a cartridge guide 340L2 above the cartridge guide 340L1.
  • Figure 73 illustrates the mounting process, and is sectional views taken along a line S9 - S9 of Figure 62 .
  • the user opens the cartridge door 309 provided on the main assembly A of the apparatus. Then, the cartridge B is mounted to the cartridge mounting means 330 of the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • the cartridge guides 340R1, 340R2 are aligned with the main assembly guides 330R1, 330R2 in the driving side, as shown in part (b) of Figure 73 .
  • the cartridge guides 340L1, 340L2 ( Figure 60 ) are guided by the main assembly guide 330L1, 330L2 ( Figure 63 ).
  • the cartridge B is inserted in the direction of the arrow X4, by which the cartridge B is received at a predetermined position by engagement of the coupling 380 of the cartridge B with the main assembly driving shaft 300 of the main assembly A. That is, as shown in part (c) of Figure 73 , the cartridge guide 340R1 contacts the positioning portion 330R1a of the main assembly guide 330R1, and the cartridge guide 340R2 contacts the positioning portion 330R2a of the main assembly guide 330R2.
  • the cartridge guide 340L1 contacts the positioning portion 330L1a of the main assembly guide 330L1 ( Figure 63 ), and the cartridge guide 340L2 contacts the positioning portion 330L2a of the main assembly guide 330L2, although not shown in the drawing.
  • the cartridge B is dismountably mounted to the cartridge accommodating portion 330a by the mounting means 330.
  • the cartridge accommodating portion 330a is a chamber to be occupied by the cartridge B mounted to the main assembly A of the apparatus by the mounting means 330, as described hereinbefore.
  • the pressure receiving portion 340R1b ( Figure 59 ) of the cartridge B is pressed by the urging spring 388R shown in Figures 62 , 63 and 73 .
  • the pressure receiving portion 340L1b ( Figure 60 ) of the process cartridge B is pressed by the urging spring 388L.
  • Part (a1) of Figure 74 is an illustration of the state in which the axis L381 of the coupling member 380 and the axis L351 of the driving side flange 350 are aligned with each other, and the guide portion 350j1 - the guide portion 350j4 contact the portion-to-be-guided 380j1 and the portion-to-be-guided 380j4, respectively.
  • Part (a2) of Figure 74 is an illustration of the state in which the coupling member 380 has moved relative to the driving side flange 350 in the direction indicated by an arrow X51, that is, the direction parallel with the axis L383.
  • Part (a3) of Figure 74 is a illustration of the state in which the coupling member 380 has moved along the axis L351 toward the non-driving side (arrow X8 direction) from the state in which the guide portion 350j1 and the guide portion 350j4 and the portion-to-be-guided 380j1 - the portion-to-be-guided 380j4 contact to each other, respectively.
  • Part (b1) of Figure 74 to part (b3) of Figure 74 are schematic sectional views taken along lines SL383 parallel with the axis L383 in part (a1) of Figure 74 and part (a3) of Figure 74 .
  • the guide portion 350j3 and the guide portion 350j4 contact the portion-to-be-guided 380j3 and the portion-to-be-guided 380j4, by the urging force F370 of the urging member 370, so that the axis L381 and the axis L351 are substantially coaxial with each other.
  • the transmission projections 380fl, 380f2 of the coupling member 380 are in the most projected state relative to the driving side flange 350.
  • the coupling member 380 is moved relative to the driving side flange 350 in the direction of the arrow X51 parallel with the axis L383 by a distance p3. Then, as shown in part (b2) of Figure 74 , the coupling member 180 moves along the guide portion 350j4 (arrow X61) against the urging force F370 of the urging member 370 while keeping the contact between the portion-to-be-guided 380j4 and the guide portion 350j4 of the driving side flange 350. At this time, the axis L381 of the coupling member 380 maintains the parallelism with the axis L351.
  • the coupling member 380 is movable in the direction of the arrow X61 until the driving portion 380b abuts to the cylindrical inner wall portion 350r1, that is, until the movement distance p3 of the coupling member 380 in the direction of the axis L383 becomes equal to the gap D.
  • the slider 360 is movable only in the direction of the axis L383 by the function of the retention pin 391 and the retention pin 392. Therefore, the slider 360 moves in the direction of the arrow X51 integrally with the retention pin 391 and the retention pin 392 in interrelation with the movement of the coupling member 380 in the direction of the arrow X61.
  • the coupling member 380 is movable by a predetermined distance from the position in which the coupling member 380 is projected most relative to the driving side flange 350 as shown in part (b1) of Figure 74 to the position in which the coupling member 380 is retracted as shown in part (b3) of Figure 74 .
  • the coupling member 380 is movable relative to the driving side flange 350 in the directions of the axis L381 and the axis L383.
  • the coupling member 180 is movable relative to the driving side flange 350 in the direction of the axis L381 in interrelation with the movement in the direction of the axis L383.
  • the position of the coupling member 380 is the first position (projected position).
  • the rotational axis L381 of the coupling member 380 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More particularly, the rotational axis L381 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the rotational axis L381 of the coupling member 380 is substantially parallel with the axis L351 of the driving side flange 350. More particularly, the rotational axis L381 and the rotational axis L351 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the main assembly contact portion 380i of the coupling member 380 abuts to the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300 provided in the main assembly A of the apparatus.
  • the main assembly contact portion 380i receives the force F1 (retraction force) from the free end portion 300b.
  • the force F1 is directed substantially toward the center of the substantially spherical surface constituting the main assembly contact portion 380i, and therefore, it is inclined by an angle ⁇ 7 which is smaller than a complementary angle ⁇ 31 of the angle ⁇ 3 relative to the axis L383.
  • the cartridge B is further moved in the direction of the arrow X1.
  • the driving portion 380b of the coupling member 380 contacts the cylindrical inner wall portion 350r1 of the driving side flange 350 so that the movement of the coupling member 380 relative to the driving side flange 350 in the direction of the arrow X61 is limited.
  • an amount the movement of the coupling member 380 from the initial state of the mounting in the direction of the axis L381 is movement distance N10 (part (b) of Figure 76 ).
  • the movement distance N10 is determined by the gap D (part (c) of Figure 66 ) and the angle ⁇ 3 ( Figure 70 ) of the guide portion 350j1 - guide portion 350j4 relative to the axis L381.
  • the coupling member 380 moves further in the direction of the arrow X8 against the urging force F370 of the urging member 370.
  • the coupling member 380 is capable of passing by the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300.
  • the position of the coupling member 380 shown in part (b2) of Figure 76 is a second position (retracted position).
  • the rotational axis L381 of the coupling member 380 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the rotational axis L381 of the coupling member 380 is substantially parallel with the axis L351 of the driving side flange 350. More specifically, at this time, there is a gap between the rotational axis L381 and the rotational axis L351 (the rotational axis L381 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially out of alignment).
  • the coupling member 380 In the second position (retracted position), the coupling member 380 is displaced (moved/retracted) toward the photosensitive drum 10 (the other end portion side of the photosensitive drum 10 in the longitudinal direction), as compared with that in the first position (projected position).
  • the rotational force receiving portions 380e1, 380e2 disposed downstream of the transmission projections 380fl, 380f2 with respect to the clockwise direction are opposed to the drive transmission pin 302. That is, the coupling member 380 and the main assembly driving shaft 300 are engaged with each other to enabled rotation of the coupling member 380.
  • the position of the coupling member 380 at this time is substantially the same as the above-described first position (projected position).
  • the transmission projections 380f1, 380f2 and the drive transmission pin 302 may be overlapped with each other as seen in the direction of the axis L301, depending on the phase of the main assembly driving shaft 300 with respect to the rotational moving direction.
  • the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300 is unable to contact the driving bearing surface 380f of the coupling member 380.
  • the transmission projections 380f1, 380f2 become not overlap with the drive transmission pin 302 as seen in the direction of the axis L301.
  • the main assembly driving shaft 300 is capable of engaging with the coupling member 380 while being rotated by the driving source, and therefore, the coupling member 380 starts to rotate.
  • the drive transmission operation at the time of driving the photosensitive drum 310 will be described.
  • the main assembly driving shaft 300 rotates in the direction indicated by X10 in the Figure, together with the drum driving gear 301.
  • the drive transmission pin 302 integral with the main assembly driving shaft 300 contacts to the rotational force receiving portions 380e1, 380e2 of the coupling member 380 to rotate the coupling member 380.
  • the force F2 is directed to the center of the substantially spherical surface constituting the main assembly contact portion 380i, and therefore, it is inclined by the angle ⁇ 1 relative to axis L382, and a component force F2a of the force F2 is produced as a component along the direction of the arrow X8 in the direction of the axis L381. Therefore, when the cartridge B is moved further in the direction of the arrow X1, the coupling member 380 moves in the direction of the arrow X8 against the urging force F370 of the urging member 370, by the component force F2a, as shown in part (b2) of Figure 79 .
  • the coupling member 380 By the movement of the coupling member 380 in the direction of the arrow X8, the coupling member 380 is capable of passing by the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300.
  • the angle ⁇ 1 formed between the main assembly contact portion 380i and the axis L381 is selected such that the coupling member 380 can move in the direction of the arrow X8 by the component force F2a against the urging force F370 of the urging member 370.
  • the cartridge B can be moved to the complete mounted position while keeping the coupling member 380 in the space portion 350f of the driving side flange 350.
  • the coupling member 380 in response to the dismounting operation of the cartridge B, the coupling member 380 can be disengaged in the state that the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300 is in the opening 380m of the coupling member 380. Therefore, the cartridge B can be dismounted in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 310.
  • the coupling member 380 is movable relative to the driving side flange 350 in the direction of the axis L381 and in the direction of the axis L383.
  • the coupling member 380 is movable relative to the driving side flange 350 in the direction of the axis L381 in interrelation with the movement in the axis L383 direction.
  • the coupling member 380 move in the direction of the axis L381 to disengage from the main assembly driving shaft 300. Furthermore, when the cartridge B is dismounted from the main assembly A of the apparatus, it is unnecessary to rotate any of the photosensitive drum 310 and the main assembly driving shaft 300. Therefore, the dismounting load of the cartridge B is reduced, and the usability performance at the time of dismounting the cartridge B from the main assembly A of the apparatus is improved.
  • FIG 85 is a perspective view of the main assembly driving shaft and the drum driving gear.
  • drive transmitting portions 1302c1 and 1302c2 for transmitting the driving force to the cartridge B may be formed into early with the main assembly driving shaft 1300, in which the drive transmission surfaces 1302e1 and 1302e2 are formed on the drive transmitting portions 1302c1 and 1302c2, respectively.
  • the drive transmitting portion can be molded integrally to accomplish the cost reduction.
  • a shaft free end 1300d having a diameter smaller than the main part 1300a may be provided.
  • a certain degree of precision is required for the free end portion 1300b in order to determine the position of the coupling member 380. Therefore, in order to limit a precision required range to the contact portion of the coupling member 380 (driving bearing surface 380f, part (a) of Figure 66 ), only the costly precision required surface may be made smaller, thus reducing the manufacturing cost.
  • the rotational force receiving portion of the coupling member is a flat surface perpendicular to the axis L383, but the present invention is not limited to such an example.
  • Figure 86 a modified example of the rotational force receiving portion will be described.
  • Figure 86 is a perspective view and a top plan view of the coupling member.
  • rotational force receiving portions 1380e1 and 1380e2 of the transmission projections 1380fl and 1380f2 of the coupling member 1380 is inclined by an angle ⁇ 5 relative to rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 310. That is, they are surfaces inclined relative to the axis L383.
  • the rotational force receiving portions 1380e1, 1380e2 of the coupling member 1380 contact the drive transmission pin 302. Then, the coupling member 1380 receives a component force in the direction of the arrow T2.
  • the coupling member 480 will be described in detail.
  • the rotational axis of the coupling member 480 is an axis L481, a direction perpendicular to the axis L481 is an axis L482, and a direction perpendicular to both of the axis L481 and the axis L442 is an axis L483.
  • Part (a) - part (c) of Figure 87 are exploded perspective views of the coupling unit U40.
  • Part (d) - part (e) of Figure 87 illustrate the coupling unit U40
  • part (d) of Figure 87 is a view as seen in the direction of the axis L881
  • part (e) of Figure 87 is a view as seen in the direction of the axis L483.
  • a cylindrical inner wall portion 430r1 and a cylindrical inner wall portion 430r2 (which will be described hereinafter) of the slider 430 are detected by broken lines.
  • the coupling member 480 mainly comprises three portions.
  • a first portion is a driven portion 480a as an end portion (free end portion) engageable with the main assembly driving shaft 400 which will be described hereinafter to receive the rotational force from the drive transmission pin 302 which will be described hereinafter and which is a rotational force transmitting portion (main assembly side rotational force transmitting portion) provided on the main assembly driving shaft 300.
  • a second portion is a driving portion 480b as the other end portion (supported portion) which functions to transmit a rotational driving force to the driving side flange 450 which will be described hereinafter through the intermediate slider 430 and which is supported by a slider 460 such that the coupling member 480 can move in the direction of the rotational axis L481.
  • a driven portion 380a includes a driving shaft insertion opening 480m as the recess expanding from the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480.
  • the opening 480m is provided by a conical driving bearing surface 480f expanding as approaching toward the main assembly driving shaft 300.
  • the clearance portions are designated by 480k1 and 480k2.
  • the round body (interconnecting portion 480c and driving portion 480b) comprises a cylindrical portion 480r1, a cylindrical portion 480r2, a first rotational force transmitting portion 480g1, a first rotational force transmitting portion 280g2 and a through hole 480p.
  • the through holes 480p are cylindrical and are provided in the first rotational force transmitting portion 480g1 and the first rotational force transmitting portion 480g2, and the central axes of the through holes 480p are parallel with the axis L483.
  • the first rotational force transmitting portion 480g1 and the first rotational force transmitting portion 480g2 are flat surfaces perpendicular to the axis L483, and the disposed at positions diametrically opposite from each other with respect to the axis L481, as seen in the direction of the axis L481.
  • the cylindrical portion 480r1 and the cylindrical portion 480r2 are cylindrical, and the central axis thereof is the axis L481, and they are disposed at positions diametrically opposite from each other with respect to the axis L481, as seen in the direction of the axis L481.
  • the intermediate slider 430 mainly comprises a hollow portion 430f, an outer periphery portion 430e and first guide portions 430j1 - 430j4.
  • the hollow portion 430f is provided with a first rotational force receiving portion 430g1 and a first rotational force receiving portion 430g2 having flat surfaces perpendicular to the axis L433, and the cylindrical inner wall portion 430r1 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 430r2 having the cylindrical shape with the central axis thereof aligned with the axis L431.
  • the cylindrical inner wall portion 430r1 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 430r2 are disposed at positions diametrically opposite from each other with respect to the axis L431, as seen in the direction of the axis L431.
  • cylindrical portions 480r1 and 480r2 and first rotational force transmitting portions 480g1 and 480g2 is disposed in the hollow portion 430f such that axis L483 of the coupling member 480 is parallel with the axis L433 of the intermediate slider 430.
  • the first rotational force transmitting portions 480g1, 480g2 and the first rotational force receiving portions 430g1, 430g2 are engaged with each other with almost no gap in the axis L483. By this, the coupling member 480 is prevented from moving relative to the intermediate slider 430 in the direction of the axis L483.
  • the intermediate slider 430 is prevented from rotating relative to the coupling member 480 in the direction of the axis L431. That is, a rotational force is transmitted from the coupling member 280 to the intermediate slider 230 through the engagement between the first rotational force transmitting portion 480g1 and the first rotational force transmitting portion 480g2 and the first rotational force receiving portion 430g1 and the first rotational force receiving portion 430g2.
  • the cylindrical portion 480r1, the cylindrical portion 480r2, the cylindrical inner wall portion 430r1 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 430r2 are provided such that when the axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially coaxial with the axis L431 in the hollow portion 430f, gaps D10 are provided between the cylindrical portion 480r1 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 430r1 and between the cylindrical portion 480r2 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 430r2, respectively.
  • the coupling member 480 is movable relative to the intermediate slider 430 in the direction of the axis L482.
  • the cylindrical guided pin 440 is inserted into a through hole 430p of the coupling member 430.
  • first guide portions 430j 1 - 430j4 contact the guided pin 440.
  • the coupling member 480 is prevented from disengaging from the intermediate slider 430 toward the driving side, and the axis L481 substantially coaxial with the axis L431.
  • FIG. 88 and 89 the structure of a driving side flange unit U42 used in this embodiment will be described.
  • Part (a) of Figure 88 is a schematic perspective view of a photosensitive drum unit U41 as a photosensitive member unit to which the driving side flange unit U42 is mounted, as seen from the driving side.
  • Part (b) of Figure 88 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line S41 in part (a) of Figure 88
  • part (c) of Figure 88 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line S42 in part (a) of Figure 88 .
  • Figure 89 is an exploded perspective view of the driving side flange unit U42.
  • second guide portions 450j1, 450j2 and a slide groove 450s1 are depicted by broken lines for better illustration.
  • the driving side flange unit U42 comprises the driving side flange 450, the coupling unit U40, a retention pins 491 492, the urging member 470 and a slider 460.
  • the driving side flange 450 is provided with an engagement supporting portion 450b, a gear portion 450c and a supporting portion 450d and so on.
  • the inside of the driving side flange 450 is hollow and will be called a hollow portion 450f.
  • the hollow portion 450f is provided with second rotational force receiving portions 450g1 and 450g2 having flat surfaces perpendicular to the axes L452, a cylindrical inner wall portion 450r having a cylindrical shape with a central axis aligned with the L451, and second guide portions 450j1 - 450j4.
  • the second guide portions 450j1, 450j2 are inclined relative to an axis L251 by an angle ⁇ 5 as seen in the direction of the axis L452.
  • the second guide portions 450j1, 450j2 have symmetrical configurations with respect to the axis L451 as seen in the direction of the axis L452.
  • the second guide portions 450j3, 450j4 are provided diametrically opposite from the second guide portions 450j1, 450j2 with respect to the axis L451, respectively.
  • the cylindrical inner wall portion 450r is provided with the slide groove 450s1 and the slide groove 450s4.
  • the slide groove 450s1 and the slide groove 450s4 are through holes for supporting the retention pins 491, 492 and have rectangular-shapes with long sides along the axis L453, as seen in the direction of the axis L452.
  • the coupling unit U40 is disposed in the hollow portion 450f of the driving side flange 450 such that the axis L482 is parallel with the axis L452.
  • the second rotational force transmitting portions 430k1, 430k2 of the intermediate slider 430 and the second rotational force receiving portions 450g1, 450g2 are engaged with each other with almost no gap in the direction of the axis L482.
  • the coupling unit U40 is prevented from moving relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the axis L482 (part (d) of Figure 89 ).
  • the intermediate slider 430 is prevented from rotating relative to the driving side flange 450 about the axis L451.
  • the rotational force is transmitted from the intermediate slider 430 to the flange 450 through engagement between the second rotational force transmitting portion 430k1 and the second rotational force receiving portion 450g1 and between the second rotational force transmitting portion 430k2 and the second rotational force receiving portion 450g2.
  • the round body 430c1, the round body 430c2 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 450r are provided such that when the axis L481 of the coupling unit U40 is substantially coaxial with the axis L451 in the hollow portion 450f, gaps D20 are provided between the round body 430c1 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 450r and between the round body 430c2 and the cylindrical inner wall portion 450r.
  • the coupling unit U40 is movable relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the axis L483.
  • the intermediate slider 430 when the intermediate slider 430 is urged toward the driving side (arrow X9) by the urging member 470 through the coupling member 480, the cylindrical projection 430m1 and the cylindrical projection 430m2 contact the second guide portion 450j1 - the second guide portion 450j4. By this, the intermediate slider 430 is prevented from disengaging from the driving side flange 450 toward the driving side, and the axis L431 is substantially coaxial with the axis L451.
  • the cylindrical portion 460a engages with the cylindrical portion 480r1 and the cylindrical portion 480r2 of the coupling member 480 with almost no gap to support them.
  • the coupling member 480 is movable in the direction of the axis L481 while keeping the axis L481 and the axis L461 coaxial with each other.
  • the cylindrical retention pins 491, 492 are inserted into the through holes 460c1 - 460c4 with almost no gap in the diametrical direction such that the central axes are parallel with the axis L452 of the driving side flange 450.
  • the retention pins 491, 492 supported by the slide grooves 450s1, 450s4 of the driving side flange 450, the slider 460 and the driving side flange 450 are connected with each other.
  • the retention pins 491, 492 are juxtaposed in the direction of the axis L453.
  • the diameters of the retention pins 491, 492 are slightly smaller than a width of the slide groove 450s1, 450s4 measured in the direction of the axis L451.
  • the slider 460 keeps the parallelism between the axis L461 and the axis L451.
  • the slider 460 is prevented from the movement relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the axis L451.
  • the slider 260 is movable in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis L451.
  • the retention pins 491, 492 are prevented from disengaging in the direction of the axis L452 by the opening 310a2 ( Figure 65 ) of the photosensitive drum 310.
  • a length G4 of the retention pins 491, 492 is larger than a diameter ⁇ G5 of the cylindrical inner wall portion 450r. By this, the retention pins 491, 492 are prevented from dislodging from the slide grooves 4250s1, 450s4.
  • gaps E30 larger than the gap D20 is provided (part (c) of Figure 88 ).
  • the gaps similar to the gap E30 are provided.
  • lubricant (unshown) is applied to the through holes 460c1 - 460c4 and the slide grooves 450s1, 450s4.
  • the slider 460 is movable relative to the driving side flange 450 in the directions of the axis L452 and the axis L453 and in a direction provided by sum of vectors of these directions (that is, any direction perpendicular to the axis L451), while keeping the parallelism between the axis L461 and the axis L451.
  • the slider 460 is movable substantially in the direction perpendicular to the axis L451.
  • the slider 460 is prevented from moving relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the axis L451.
  • the one end portion 2470a of the urging member 470 contacts a spring contact portion 460b of the slider 460, and a other end portion 470b contacts a spring contact portion 480d1 of the coupling member 480.
  • the urging member 470 is compressed between the coupling member 480 and the slider 460 to urge the coupling member 480 toward the driving side (arrow X9).
  • the urging member 470 also urges the intermediate slider 430 toward the driving side (arrow X9), through the contact between the guided pin 440 mounted on the coupling member 480 and the first guide portion 430j 1 - first guide portion 430j4.
  • the coupling member 480 keeps the state relative to the driving side flange 450 through the slider 460 such that the axis L481 and the axis L451 are parallel with each other.
  • the intermediate slider 430 does not rotated relative to the coupling member 480 about the axis L432, and does not rotate relative to the driving side flange 450 about the axis L433. Therefore, the intermediate slider 430 keeps relative to the coupling member 480 and the driving side flange 450 such that the axis L431 is parallel with the axis L481 and the axis L451.
  • the coupling member 480 is movable relative to the intermediate slider 430 in the direction of the axis L482.
  • the intermediate slider 430 is movable relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the axis L433.
  • the moving direction of the coupling member 480 relative to the intermediate slider 430 and the moving direction of the intermediate slider 430 relative to the driving side flange 450 are substantially crossing with each other (more particularly, substantially perpendicular to each other).
  • the coupling member 480 is movable relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the axis L482, the direction of the axis L433 and in a direction provided by sum of vectors of these directions (that is, any direction perpendicular to the axis L481).
  • the coupling member 480 is urged by the urging member 470 relative to the driving side flange 450 such that the axis L481 and the axis L451 are substantially coaxial with each other.
  • the coupling member 480 is moved relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the arrow X51 parallel with the axis L483.
  • the coupling unit U40 is moved in the direction on the second guide portion 450j1 (arrow X61) by the contact between the cylindrical projection 430m1 as an inclined portion or contact portion of the intermediate slider 430 and the second guide portion 450j 1 as an inclined portion or contact portion of the driving side flange 450.
  • the coupling unit U40 keeps the state in which the axis L481 is parallel with the axis L451.
  • the coupling unit U40 is movable in the direction of the arrow X61 until the round body 430c1 of the intermediate slider 430 abuts to the cylindrical inner wall portion 450r, that is, until the movement distance p1 thereof in the direction of the axis L483 becomes equal to the gap D20.
  • the slider 460 is prevented from moving in the direction of the axis L451, by the retention pin 491 and 292. Therefore, in interrelation with the movement of the coupling unit U40 in the direction of the arrow X61, the slider 460 moves together with the retention pins 491, 492 along the slide groove 450s1 and the slide groove 450s4, in the direction of the arrow X51.
  • the coupling member 480 is moved relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the arrow X41 parallel with the axis L482. Then, as shown in part (c) of Figure 92 , the coupling member 480 is moved in the direction along the first guide portion 430j4 (arrow X71) by the contact between the guided pin 440 as the inclined portion or contact portion and the first guide portion 430j4 as the inclined portion or contact portion of the intermediate slider 430. At this time, the coupling member 480 is such that the parallelism between the axis L481 and the axis L431.
  • the structure for the movement of the coupling member 480 in the direction of the arrow X8 is similar to that of Embodiment 3, and therefore, the description is omitted.
  • the coupling member 480 is movable relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the axis L481, the direction of the axis L483 and the direction of the axis L482.
  • the coupling member 480 is movable relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the axis L481 in interrelation with the movement in the direction of the axis L483, the direction of the axis L482 and the direction provided by sum of the vectors of these directions, that is, any direction perpendicular to the axis L481.
  • Figures 94 and 96 is a schematic sectional view showing the state in which the coupling member 480 engages with the main assembly side engaging portion 300.
  • Part (a) of Figure 94 and part (a) of Figure 96 show the mounting direction and the lines along which a S43 sectional view and S44 sectional view are taken.
  • Part (b1) of Figure 94 through part (b4) of Figure 94 are schematic sectional views taken along a line S43 - S43 of part (a) of Figure 94 , in which the coupling member 480 moves to engage with the main assembly side engaging portion 300.
  • Part (b1) of Figure 96 and part (b2) of Figure 96 are schematic sectional views taken along a line S44 of part (a) of Figure 96 , in which the coupling member 480 moves to engage with the main assembly side engaging portion 300.
  • Part (a) of Figure 95 and part (b) of Figure 95 are enlarged views of the neighborhood of the driving side flange unit U42 shown in part (b1) of Figure 94 and part (b2) of Figure 94 .
  • the transmission projection 480f2 in the initial state (which will be described hereinafter) of the mounting is depicted by broken lines. In the following, the description will be made as to the completion of the engagement between the main assembly side engaging portion 300 and the coupling member 480.
  • the transmission projections 480f1 and 480f2 of the coupling member 480 is most a projected relative to the driving side flange 450 by the urging force F470 of the urging member 470.
  • This state is the initial state of the mounting.
  • the position of the coupling member 480 in the state shown in part (b1) of Figure 94 this is a first position (projected position).
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the axis L451 of the driving side flange 450. More particularly, the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L451 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the main assembly contact portion 480i of the coupling member 480 contacts to the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300 provided in the main assembly A. Then, the main assembly contact portion 480i receives the force F1 from the free end portion 300b by the mounting movement.
  • the force F1 is directed substantially toward the center of the substantially spherical surface constituting the main assembly contact portion 480i, and therefore, it is inclined by an angle ⁇ 7 which is smaller than a complementary angle ⁇ 31 of the angle ⁇ 3 relative to the axis L483.
  • the cylindrical projection 430m1 of the intermediate slider 430 contacts to the second guide portion 450j1 of the driving side flange 450.
  • the coupling unit U40 moves relative to the driving side flange 450 along the second guide portion 450j1 in the direction of the arrow X61.
  • the round body 430c1 of the intermediate slider 430 contacts a cylindrical inner wall portion 450r1 of the driving side flange 450 to limit the movement of the coupling unit U40 in the direction of the X61.
  • a movement distance of the coupling unit U40 from the initial state of the mounting is N20.
  • the movement distance N20 is determined by the angle ⁇ 5 of the second guide portion 450j1 - the second guide portion 450j4 relative to the axis L451 and the gap D20 (part (c) of Figure 88 ).
  • the coupling member 480 moves further in the direction of the arrow X8 against the urging force F470 of the urging member 470.
  • the coupling member 480 is capable of passing by the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300.
  • the position of the coupling member 480 shown in part (b2) of Figure 94 is a second position (retracted position).
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the axis L451 of the driving side flange 450. More specifically, at this time, there is a gap between the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L451 (the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially out of alignment).
  • the coupling member 480 is displaced (moved/retracted) toward the photosensitive drum 10 (toward the other end portion side of the photosensitive drum 10 in the longitudinal direction) from the position in the first position.
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is aligned with the rotational axis L3 of the main assembly side engaging portion 300.
  • the coupling member 480 receives the force from the main assembly side engaging portion 300, by which the coupling member 480 moves from the first position to the second position, and thereafter, it returns to the first position by the urging force F470 of the urging member 470.
  • the main assembly contact portion 480i of the coupling member 480 contacts to the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300 provided in the main assembly A of the apparatus, similarly to the above-described parallel case.
  • This state is the initial state of the mounting.
  • the position of the coupling member 480 in the state shown in part (b1) of Figure 96 is a first position (projected position).
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More particularly, the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the cylindrical portion 480r1 of the coupling member 980 contacts the cylindrical inner wall portion 430r1 of the intermediate slider 430, so that the movement of the coupling member 480 in the direction of the X71 is prevented.
  • the movement distance of the coupling member 480 from the initial state is N30 (part (b2) of Figure 96 ).
  • the movement distance N30 is determined by the angle ⁇ 4 of the first guide portion 430j1 - first guide portion 430j4 relative to the axis L431 and the gap D10 (part (c) of Figure 87 ).
  • the coupling member 480 is distant from the position in the initial state of the mounting in the direction of the arrow X8 by the movement distance N30. At this time, along the axis L381, a component force F2a of the force F2 is produced in the direction of the arrow X8. With the movement of the cartridge B in the direction of the mounting direction X1, the coupling member 480 further moves in the direction of the arrow X8 by the component force F2a against the urging force F470 of the urging member 470, so that the coupling member 480 can pass by the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300.
  • the position of the coupling member 480 shown in part (b2) of Figure 96 is a second position (retracted position).
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More specifically, there is a gap between the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L1 (the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially out of alignment).
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the axis L451 of the driving side flange 450.
  • the coupling member 480 is displaced (moved/retracted) toward the photosensitive drum 10 (toward the other end portion side of the photosensitive drum 10 in the longitudinal direction) from the position in the first position.
  • Part (a) of Figure 97 and part (a) of Figure 99 shows the dismounting direction of the cartridge B and the lines along which the S45 sectional view and the S46 sectional view are shown.
  • Parts (b1) - (b4) of Figure 97 is a S45 section of part (a) of Figure 97 , and is a schematic sectional view illustrating the state of the coupling member 480 disengaging from the main assembly side engaging portion 300.
  • Parts (b1) - (b4) of Figure 99 is a S46 section of part (a) of Figure 99 , and is a schematic sectional view illustrating the state of the coupling member 480 disengaging from the main assembly side engaging portion 300.
  • Figure 98 is an enlarged view of the neighborhood of the driving side flange unit U42 of the part (b3) of Figure 97 .
  • the coupling unit U40 is not sectioned, for better illustration.
  • the second guide portions 450j1 and 450j2 of the driving side flange 450 are depicted by broken lines.
  • cylindrical inner wall portions 430r1 and 430r2 of the intermediate slider 430 are depicted by broken lines. The description will be made referring to the Figures showing the rotational force receiving portion 480e2 side.
  • the position of the coupling member 480 in the state shown in part (b1) of Figure 97 is the first position (enabled-rotational-force-transmission-position).
  • the first position (enabled-rotational-force-transmission-position) is substantially the same as the first position (projected position).
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More particularly, the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the axis L451 of the driving side flange 450. More particularly, the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L451 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • a rotational force receiving portion 480e2 in the upstream side with respect to the dismounting direction of the coupling member 480 receives the force F5 from the drive transmission pin 302 by the dismounting operation of the cartridge B, as shown in part (b2) of Figure 97
  • the force F5 is perpendicular to the rotational force receiving portion 480e2, and therefore is parallel with the axis L483 which is perpendicular to the rotational force receiving portion 480e2.
  • the cylindrical projection 430m1 of the intermediate slider 430 contact the second guide portion 450j2 of the driving side flange 450.
  • the coupling unit U40 moves relative to the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the arrow X62 along the second guide portion 450j2.
  • the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300 is spaced from the driving bearing surface 480f of the coupling member 480.
  • the coupling member 480 is disengaged from the main assembly side engaging portion 300.
  • the coupling member 480 receives the force from the main assembly side engaging portion 300, so that the coupling member 480 moves from the first position to the second position.
  • the coupling member 280 receives the force from the main assembly side engaging portion 300 and the driving side flange 450 to move from the first position (enabled-rotational-force-transmission-position) to the second position (disengagement enabled position).
  • the drive transmission pin 302 contacts the rotational force receiving portions 480e1 and 480e2.
  • the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300 contacts the driving bearing surface 480f of the coupling member 480.
  • the position of the coupling member 480 shown in part (b1) of Figure 99 is also the first position (enabled-rotational-force-transmission-position).
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the axis L451 of the driving side flange 450. More particularly, the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L451 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the position of the intermediate slider 430 in part (b1) of Figure 99 is a first middle position.
  • a rotational axis L431 of the intermediate slider 430 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More particularly, the rotational axis L431 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • the rotational axis L431 of the intermediate slider 430 is substantially parallel with the axis L451 of the driving side flange 450. More particularly, the rotational axis L431 and the rotational axis L451 are substantially aligned with each other.
  • coupling member 480 moves in the direction of the dismounting direction X12 together with the driving side flange 450 and the intermediate slider 430.
  • the coupling member 480 receives the force F9 from the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300 by the dismounting operation of the cartridge B.
  • the coupling member 480 moves relative to the intermediate slider 430 and the driving side flange 450 in the direction of the arrow X72 along the first guide portion 430j2 while the guided pin 440 keeps contact with the first guide portion 430j1 of the intermediate slider 430.
  • the force F10 is directed toward the center of the spherical surface of the free end portion 300b, and therefore, a component force F10a is produced along the arrow X8 in the direction of the axis L481.
  • the coupling member 480 is further moved in the direction of the arrow X8 by the component force FlOa against the urging force F470 of the urging member 470.
  • the transmission projection 480f2 becomes capable of passing by the drive transmission pin 302.
  • the free end portion 300b of the main assembly driving shaft 300 disengages from the opening 480m of the coupling member 480.
  • the position of the coupling member 480 shown in part (b4) of Figure 99 is also the second position (disengagement enabled position).
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the rotational axis L1 of the photosensitive drum 10. More specifically, there is a gap between the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L1 (the rotational axis L481 and the rotational axis L1 are substantially out of alignment).
  • the rotational axis L481 of the coupling member 480 is substantially parallel with the axis L451 of the driving side flange 450.
  • the coupling member 480 is displaced (moved/retracted) toward the photosensitive drum 10 (toward the other end portion side of the photosensitive drum 10 in the longitudinal direction) from the position in the first position.
  • a driving side flange 1530 as a rotational force transmission member is provided coaxially with the rotational axis of the developing roller 13, as the structure for transmitting the rotational force to a minimum provided in the first frame unit 1518.
  • the driving side flange 1530 is provided with a hollow portion 1530f similar to the above-described embodiments (Embodiments 1 - 4).
  • the driving side flange 1530 transmits the rotational force to the developing roller 13 through the development flange 1520 integrally fixed on the developing roller 13.
  • the present invention is applicable to a process cartridge, a photosensitive drum unit, a developing unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

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Claims (35)

  1. Kartusche (B), die von einer Hauptbaugruppe (A) eines elektrofotographischen Bilderzeugungsgeräts mit einem drehbaren hauptbaugruppenseitigen Eingriffsabschnitt (100) demontierbar ist, wobei die Kartusche (B) Folgendes aufweist:
    i) ein drehbares Bauteil (10), das in der Lage ist, einen Entwickler (t) zu tragen, und das eine Drehachse (L1) hat, die sich in einer Richtung im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu einer Demontagerichtung der Kartusche (B) erstreckt;
    ii) ein Kopplungsbauteil (180), das an einem Endabschnitt der Kartusche (B) in Bezug auf die Drehachse (L) vorgesehen ist, um eine Drehkraft von dem hauptbaugruppenseitigen Eingriffsabschnitt (100) zu dem drehbaren Bauteil (10) zu übertragen; und
    iii) ein Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (150) zum Übertragen der Drehkraft von dem Kopplungsbauteil (180) zu dem drehbaren Bauteil (10) hin, wobei das Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (150) einen hohlen Abschnitt (150f) aufweist,
    wobei das Kopplungsbauteil (180) zwischen einer ersten Position, in der die Drehachse (L181) des Kopplungsbauteils (180) im Wesentlichen parallel zu der Drehachse (L1) des drehbaren Bauteils (10) ist, und einer zweiten Position beweglich ist, in der das Kopplungsbauteil (180) von der ersten Position in einer Richtung der Drehachse (L1) des drehbaren Bauteils (10) zu dem anderen Endabschnitt der Kartusche (B) hin versetzt ist,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    in der zweiten Position die Drehachse (L181) des Kopplungsbauteils (180) im Wesentlichen parallel zu der Drehachse (L1) des drehbaren Bauteils (10) ist und in der zweiten Position das Kopplungsbauteil (180) innerhalb des hohlen Abschnitts (150f) aus Sicht entlang der Achse (L181) des Kopplungsbauteils (180) von der ersten Position in einer Richtung senkrecht zu der Drehachse (L1) des drehbaren Bauteils (10) versetzt ist, und
    eines von dem Kopplungsbauteil (180) und dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (150) mit einem geneigten Abschnitt vorgesehen ist, und das andere von dem Kopplungsbauteil (180) und dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (150) mit einem Kontaktabschnitt vorgesehen ist, der den geneigten Abschnitt berühren kann.
  2. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 1, wobei sich bei einer Bewegung der Drehachse (L1) des Kopplungsbauteils (180) zu der zweiten Position das Kopplungsbauteil (180) zu dem anderen Ende der Kartusche (B) in der Richtung der Drehachse (L1) des drehbaren Bauteils (10) hin bewegt.
  3. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei durch eine Bewegung des Kopplungsbauteils (180) von der ersten Position zu der zweiten Position hin bei einer Demontage der Kartusche (B) das Kopplungsbauteil (180) von dem hauptbaugruppenseitigen Eingriffsabschnitt (100) gelöst wird.
  4. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei bei der Demontage der Kartusche (B) das Kopplungsbauteil (180) eine Kraft von dem hauptbaugruppenseitigen Eingriffsabschnitt (100) erhält, um sich von der ersten Position zu der zweiten Position hinzubewegen.
  5. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei in der ersten Position die Drehachse (L181) des Kopplungsbauteils (180) mit einer Drehachse (L151) des Drehkraftübertragungsbauteils (150) ausgerichtet ist und in der zweiten Position die Drehachse (L181) des Kopplungsbauteils (180) im Wesentlichen parallel zu und versetzt senkrecht von der Drehachse (L181) des Drehkraftübertragungsbauteils (150) ist und das Kopplungsbauteil (180) näher an dem anderen Endabschnitt der Kartusche (B) liegt als in der ersten Position in Bezug auf die Richtung der Drehachse (L181) des Kopplungsbauteils (180).
  6. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei bei der Demontage der Kartusche (B) das Kopplungsbauteil (180) Kräfte von dem hauptbaugruppenseitigen Eingriffsabschnitt (100) und dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (150) erhält, um sich von der ersten Position zu der zweiten Position zu bewegen.
  7. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, wobei sich das Kopplungsbauteil (180) von der ersten Position zu der zweiten Position entlang des geneigten Abschnitts bewegt, während der Kontaktabschnitt mit dem geneigten Abschnitt in Kontakt ist.
  8. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 7, wobei der Kontaktabschnitt auch korrespondierend zu dem geneigten Abschnitt geneigt ist.
  9. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, die des Weiteren ein Zwischenübertragungsbauteil (230) zum Übertragen der Drehkraft von dem Kopplungsbauteil (280) zu dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (250) aufweist, wobei das Zwischenübertragungsbauteil (230) zwischen einer ersten mittleren Position, in der die Drehachse des Zwischenübertragungsbauteils (L231) und der Drehachse (L251) des Drehkraftübertragungsbauteils (250) im Wesentlichen ausgerichtet sind, und einer zweiten mittleren Position beweglich ist, in der die Drehachse (L231) des Zwischenübertragungsbauteils (230) und die Drehachse (L251) des Drehkraftübertragungsbauteils (250) im Wesentlichen parallel zu und versetzt senkrecht voneinander angeordnet sind, und in der das Zwischenübertragungsbauteil (230) von der ersten mittleren Position zu dem anderen Endabschnitt der Kartusche (B) hin in Bezug auf die Drehachse (L251) des Drehkraftübertragungsbauteils (250) entfernt ist.
  10. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 9, wobei eines von dem Zwischenübertragungsbauteil (230) und dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (250) mit einem zusätzlichen geneigten Abschnitt vorgesehen ist, und das andere von dem Zwischenübertragungsbauteil (230) und dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (250) mit einem zusätzlichen Kontaktabschnitt vorgesehen ist, der den zusätzlichen geneigten Abschnitt berühren kann.
  11. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 10, wobei sich das Zwischenübertragungsbauteil (230) von der ersten mittleren Position zu der zweiten mittleren Position entlang des zusätzlichen geneigten Abschnitts bewegt, während der zusätzliche Kontaktabschnitt mit dem zusätzlichen geneigten Abschnitt in Kontakt ist.
  12. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 10 oder 11, wobei der zusätzliche Kontaktabschnitt ferner korrespondierend zu dem zusätzlichen geneigten Abschnitt geneigt ist.
  13. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 12, wobei aus Sicht entlang der Drehachse (L251) das Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (250) eine Bewegungsrichtung des Zwischenübertragungsbauteils (230) relativ zu dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (250) und eine Bewegungsrichtung des Kopplungsbauteils (280) relativ zu dem Zwischenübertragungsbauteil (230) einander schneiden.
  14. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 13, wobei aus Sicht entlang der Drehachse (L251) des Drehkraftübertragungsbauteils (250) die Bewegungsrichtung des Zwischenübertragungsbauteils (230) relativ zu dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (250) und die Bewegungsrichtung des Kopplungsbauteils (280) relativ zu dem Zwischenübertragungsbauteil (230) im Wesentlichen einander schneiden.
  15. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14, die des Weiteren ein Haltebauteil (160, 260), das beweglich an dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (150, 250) vorgesehen ist, zum beweglichen Halten des Kopplungsbauteils (180, 280) aufweist.
  16. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 15, wobei das Kopplungsbauteil (180, 280) relativ zu dem Haltebauteil (160, 260) im Wesentlichen in der Richtung einer Drehachse (L141, L151) des Drehkraftübertragungsbauteils (150, 250) beweglich ist.
  17. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 16, wobei das Haltebauteil (160, 260) relativ zu dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (150, 250) in einer Richtung im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu der Richtung der Drehachse (L151, L251) des Drehkraftübertragungsbauteils (150, 250) beweglich ist.
  18. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 15 bis 17, die des Weiteren ein Drängbauteil (170, 270), das zwischen dem Haltebauteil (160, 260) und dem Kopplungsbauteil (180, 280) vorgesehen ist, zum Drängen des Kopplungsbauteils (180, 280) aufweist.
  19. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 18, wobei das Drängbauteil (170, 270) ein elastisches Bauteil aufweist.
  20. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 19, wobei das elastische Bauteil eine Feder ist.
  21. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 20, wobei das Kopplungsbauteil (180) einen Zurückziehkrafterhaltungsabschnitt (180b2) zum Erhalten einer Zurückziehkraft zum Zurückziehen weg von dem hauptbaugruppenseitigen Eingriffsabschnitt (100) bei einer Demontage der Kartusche (B) aufweist.
  22. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 21, wobei der Zurückziehkrafterhaltungsabschnitt (180b2) an einem freien Endabschnitt des Kopplungsbauteils (180) vorgesehen ist.
  23. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14, die des Weiteren ein Drängbauteil (170, 270) zum Drängen des Kopplungsbauteils (180, 280) zu dem hauptbaugruppenseitigen Eingriffsabschnitt (100) hin aufweist.
  24. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 23, wobei das Drängbauteil (170, 270), ein elastisches Bauteil aufweist.
  25. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 24, wobei das elastische Bauteil eine Feder ist.
  26. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 25, wobei das drehbare Bauteil (10) ein lichtempfindliches Bauteil (10) ist, das in der Lage ist, ein latentes Bild darauf zu erzeugen.
  27. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 26, wobei das Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (150, 250) ein Flansch (150, 250) ist, der an dem lichtempfindlichen Bauteil (10) montiert ist.
  28. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 27, die des Weiteren eine Entwicklungswalze (13) zum Entwickeln des latenten Bilds aufweist, wobei der Flansch (150, 250) mit einem Zahnrad (150c, 250c) zum Übertragen der Drehkraft zu der Entwicklungswalze (13) vorgesehen ist.
  29. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 25, wobei das drehbare Bauteil eine Entwicklungswalze (313) ist.
  30. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 29, wobei das Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (350) mit einem Zahnrad (350c) zum Übertragen der Drehkraft zu der Entwicklungswalze (313) vorgesehen ist.
  31. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 29 oder 30, die des Weiteren ein zusätzliches Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil aufweist, das an der Entwicklungswalze (313) montiert ist, wobei die Drehkraft zu der Entwicklungswalze (313) von dem Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil (350) zu dem zusätzlichen Drehkraftübertragungsbauteil übertragen wird.
  32. Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 31, wobei das Kopplungsbauteil (180, 280) einen Endabschnitt, der mit einem Drehkrafterhaltungsabschnitt (180b2, 280b2) zum Erhalten der Drehkraft von dem hauptbaugruppenseitigen Eingriffsabschnitt (100) vorgesehen ist, einen entgegengesetzten Endabschnitt und einen Verbindungsabschnitt aufweist, der den einen Endabschnitt und den anderen Endabschnitt miteinander verbindet.
  33. Kartusche (B) nach Anspruch 32, wobei ein vorbestimmter Querschnitt des Verbindungsabschnitts entlang einer Ebene senkrecht zu der Drehachse (L181) des Kopplungsbauteils (180, 280) einen maximalen Drehradius hat, der kleiner ist als ein Abstand zwischen dem Drehkrafterhaltungsabschnitt (180b2, 280b2) und der Drehachse (L181) des Kopplungsbauteils (180, 280).
  34. Elektrofotographisches Bilderzeugungsgerät mit einer Kartusche (B) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 33 und der Hauptbaugruppe (A), von der die Kartusche (B) demontierbar ist, wobei die Hauptbaugruppe (A) den hauptbaugruppenseitigen Eingriffsabschnitt (100) aufweist.
  35. Elektrofotographisches Bilderzeugungsgerät nach Anspruch 34, das des Weiteren eine Öffnungs- und Schließtür (309) aufweist, wobei die Kartusche (B) durch Öffnen der Öffnungs- und Schließtür (309) demontierbar wird.
EP16746742.2A 2015-02-05 2016-02-05 Kartusche, fotorezeptoreinheit, elektrofotografische bilderzeugungsvorrichtung Active EP3255508B1 (de)

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EP18179267.2A EP3422110A1 (de) 2015-02-05 2016-02-05 Kartusche, einheit mit lichtempfindlichem element und vorrichtung zur elektrofotografischen bilderzeugung

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JP2015021649 2015-02-05
JP2016020213A JP6671997B2 (ja) 2015-02-05 2016-02-04 カートリッジ、感光体ユニット、電子写真画像形成装置
PCT/JP2016/054209 WO2016125914A1 (ja) 2015-02-05 2016-02-05 カートリッジ、感光体ユニット、電子写真画像形成装置

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EP18179267.2A Division EP3422110A1 (de) 2015-02-05 2016-02-05 Kartusche, einheit mit lichtempfindlichem element und vorrichtung zur elektrofotografischen bilderzeugung
EP17189323.3A Division-Into EP3299894A1 (de) 2015-02-05 2016-02-05 Kartusche, einheit mit lichtempfindlichem element und vorrichtung zur elektrofotografischen bilderzeugung
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