JP2019139051A - cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cartridge that can stably form an engagement state which can transmit driving force.SOLUTION: In a rotating shaft line L3 direction of a rotating shaft part 14a of a driving member 14 that is provided on an apparatus main body A of an image forming apparatus, and that rotates by driving force of a power source 352, lengths (Z12) from end surfaces 86k1, 86k2 of a driving force receiving member 86 which is provided in a rotatable manner on a cartridge B and in which its rotating shaft line is provided in a tilt-able manner on a rotating shaft line L1 of a rotor 62 to tips 86e1a, 86e2a of torque receiving parts 86e1, 86e2 are shorter than length (Z10) from a tip of the rotating shaft part 14a to a torque giving part 14b (Z12<Z10).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a cartridge is configured to be detachable from an apparatus main body, the following configuration is adopted in which a rotational driving force for rotating a developing roller or an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the cartridge is received from the apparatus main body. Such a configuration is known (Patent Document 1). The apparatus main body side includes a rotating body for transmitting a driving force of a motor that is a power source, and a plurality of pins protruding in the radial direction of the rotating body in the vicinity of the tip of the rotating body. The cartridge side includes a power receiving member that receives a driving force from the apparatus main body side, and is a mortar-shaped driving force receiving member (hereinafter referred to as a “coupling member”) that can be inclined in the cartridge mounting direction. Since the coupling member is inclined, the coupling member can be mounted without interfering with the pins on the apparatus main body in the locus of mounting the cartridge on the apparatus main body. When the cartridge is completely attached to the apparatus main body, the coupling member in which the rotating body of the apparatus main body is inclined is substantially upright. The substantially upright coupling member is engaged so that the rotational force receiving surface provided on the coupling member is drawn into the drive pin on the apparatus main body side, so that drive transmission can be performed from the apparatus main body side.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-99366

  However, in the conventional configuration described in Patent Document 1, the coupling member can be sufficiently inclined, and the coupling member and the rotating body on the apparatus main body side do not interfere with each other in the direction orthogonal to the rotating body axis (that is, the main cross-sectional direction). It is assumed that. On the other hand, as the cartridge size is reduced, the angle at which the coupling member can be tilted may decrease. Thus, when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the coupling member and the rotating body on the apparatus main body may interfere with each other. For example, in the configuration in which the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body in the posture shown in FIG. 25 (b4) of Patent Document 1, if the inclination angle of the coupling member is reduced with the conventional configuration, the protrusion 286d1 and the rotational force applying portion There is a possibility of interference with 214b1. If the apparatus main body is driven in this interfered state, the drive cannot be transmitted to the cartridge, which may lead to various problems such as broken couplings and defective images.

  The objective of this invention is providing the cartridge which can form stably the engagement state which can transmit a driving force.

In order to achieve the above object, the cartridge of the present invention comprises:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a power source; and a driving member having a rotating shaft and a rotating force applying portion that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the rotating axis of the rotating shaft from the rear end side of the rotating shaft. A cartridge that can be attached to the main body of the apparatus,
A rotating body,
A driving force receiving member that engages with the driving member in a state in which the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body and receives a driving force for rotating the rotating body;
With
The driving force receiving member is rotatable with respect to the cartridge and its rotation axis is tiltable with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating body, and the tip of the rotation shaft portion enters when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. And a rotational force receiving portion projecting from an end surface around the opening edge of the concave portion,
When the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the opening direction of the recess of the driving force receiving member is on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the cartridge to the apparatus main body, which is orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotation shaft section. Take a leaning posture,
In the engaged state where the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body and the rotational force applying portion and the rotational force receiving portion are opposed to each other in the circumferential direction around the rotational axis of the rotational shaft portion, the driving force is applied from the driving member to the device body. Transmitted to the rotating body via a driving force receiving member,
At least one of the driving member and the driving force receiving member is movable in the rotation axis direction of the rotation shaft portion,
The length from the end surface of the driving force receiving member in the rotational axis direction to the tip of the rotational force receiving portion is from the tip of the rotational shaft portion to the rotational force applying portion in the rotational axis direction of the rotational shaft portion. It is characterized by being shorter than the length.

  According to the present invention, an engagement state capable of transmitting a driving force can be stably formed.

Illustration of drive transmission configuration Sectional view of image forming apparatus main body and cartridge of electrophotographic image forming apparatus Cross section of cartridge The perspective view explaining the structure of a process cartridge A perspective view illustrating the configuration of the developing unit The perspective view explaining the structure of a cleaning unit Explanatory drawing of coupling member An exploded perspective view of the drive flange unit Illustration of the configuration of the drive flange unit The perspective view of the drive part of the apparatus main body A The exploded perspective view of the drive part of apparatus main part A Partial enlarged view of the drive unit of the apparatus body A Explanatory drawing of a state where the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A Explanatory drawing of a state where the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A Explanatory drawing of a state where the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A Detailed explanatory view of the vicinity of the coupling member 86 when the cartridge B is completely installed Detailed explanatory diagram of the operation until the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A Detailed explanatory diagram of the engaging operation of the coupling member 86 and the main body side driving member 14

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. That is, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the following embodiments.

[Example]
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, the image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material (recording medium) such as paper or sheet by using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (such as an LED printer and a laser beam printer), a facsimile machine, and a word processor. The cartridge refers to a cartridge that has at least one of a developer, a developing roller, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as “apparatus main body”). Here, the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by the user himself. Therefore, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself / herself without depending on the service person. This improves the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus.

  Here, the direction of the rotation axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 62 is defined as a longitudinal direction C, and a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction C is defined as a cross-sectional direction E (see FIG. 4). In the longitudinal direction C, the side on which the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 62 as an image carrier from the image forming apparatus main body A receives driving force is defined as a driving side (coupling member 86 side in FIG. 4), and the opposite side is not driven. Let it be the side.

  The overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment and the image forming process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the apparatus main body A and the cartridge B of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cartridge B according to the present embodiment. Here, the apparatus main body A of the image forming apparatus is a part excluding the cartridge B from the constituent parts of the image forming apparatus.

(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
In FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer using an electrophotographic technique in which a cartridge B is detachable from the apparatus main body A. When the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A, the exposure device 3 (laser scanner unit) is disposed above the cartridge B. In addition, a sheet tray 4 that accommodates a sheet material P as a recording material to be image-formed is disposed below the cartridge B. Further, the apparatus main body A includes a pickup roller 5a, a feeding roller pair 5b, a conveyance roller pair 5c, a transfer guide 6, a transfer roller 7, a conveyance guide 8, a fixing device 9, along the conveyance direction D of the sheet material P. A pair of discharge rollers 10, a discharge tray 11, and the like are sequentially arranged. The fixing device 9 includes a heating roller 9a and a pressure roller 9b.

(Image formation process)
Based on the print start signal, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 62 (hereinafter referred to as drum 62) is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R with a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed). The charging roller 66 to which the bias voltage is applied contacts the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62 and uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62. The exposure device 3 outputs a laser beam L corresponding to the image information. The laser beam L passes through the exposure window 74 on the upper surface of the cartridge B and scans and exposes the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the developing unit 20 as a developing device, the toner T in the toner chamber 29 is agitated and conveyed by the rotation of the conveying member 43, and sent to the toner supply chamber 28. The toner T is carried on the surface of the developing roller 32 as a developer carrying member by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 34 (fixed magnet). The layer thickness of the toner T on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 32 is regulated while being frictionally charged by a developing blade 42 as a developer regulating member. The toner T is transferred to the drum 62 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image, and is visualized as a toner image (developer image).

As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet material P stored in the lower part of the apparatus main body A is removed from the sheet tray 4 by the pickup roller 5a, the feeding roller pair 5b, and the conveying roller pair 5c in accordance with the output timing of the laser beam L. Be fed. Then, the sheet material P is supplied to the transfer position between the drum 62 and the transfer roller 7 via the transfer guide 6. At this transfer position,
The toner image is transferred from the drum 62 to the sheet material P. The sheet material P to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the drum 62 and conveyed to the fixing device 9 along the conveyance guide 8. The sheet material P passes through the nip portion between the heating roller 9a and the pressure roller 9b constituting the fixing device 9. A pressure / heat fixing process is performed in the nip portion, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet material P. The sheet material P that has undergone the toner image fixing process is conveyed to the discharge roller pair 10 and discharged to the discharge tray 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drum 62 after transfer is used again in the image forming process after the residual toner on the outer peripheral surface is removed by the cleaning blade 77. The toner removed from the drum 62 is stored in the waste toner chamber 71 b of the cleaning unit 60.
In the above description, the charging roller 66, the developing roller 32, and the cleaning blade 77 are process means that act on the drum 62.

(Configuration of the entire cartridge B)
The overall configuration of the cartridge B will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the cartridge B. FIG. The cartridge B is configured by combining the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20. The cleaning unit 60 includes a cleaning frame 71 as a first frame, a drum 62, a charging roller 66, a cleaning blade 77, and the like. The developing unit 20 includes a bottom member 22, a developing container 23 as a second frame, a first side member 26L, a second side member 26R, a developing blade 42, a developing roller 32, a magnet roller 34, a conveying member 43, a toner T. The developing unit urging member 46 and the like. The cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are coupled to each other by a coupling member 75 so as to be rotatable. Thus, the cartridge B is configured.

  Specifically, the developing roller 32 is provided at the ends of the arm portions 26aL and 26aR formed on the first side member 26L and the second side member 26R at both ends in the longitudinal direction C (the axial direction of the developing roller 32) of the developing unit 20. Are provided in parallel with the rotation holes 26bL and 26bR. Further, at both longitudinal ends of the cleaning frame 71, there are shown insertion holes 71a for inserting the coupling members 75 (only the insertion holes 71b at the front end are shown, but the same insertion holes at the rear side (FIG. 6). Reference) is provided). Then, by aligning the arm portions 26aL and 26aR with predetermined positions of the cleaning frame 71 and inserting the coupling member 75 into the rotation holes 26bL and 26bR and the fitting holes 71a, the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are coupled to each other. It is coupled so as to be rotatable around 75.

  A developing unit urging member (spring) 46 attached to the base of each of the arms 26aL and 26aR hits the cleaning frame 71, and urges the developing unit 20 toward the cleaning unit 60 with the coupling member 75 as a rotation center. As a result, the developing roller 32 is reliably pressed in the direction of the drum 62. The developing roller 32 is held from the drum 62 at a predetermined interval by a gap holding member 38 (see FIG. 5) attached to both ends of the developing roller 32.

(Configuration of development unit 20)
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the developing unit 20. The developing frame consisting of the developing container 23 and the bottom member 22 forms a toner chamber 29 (FIG. 3) for storing the toner T and a toner supply chamber 28 (FIG. 3). The bottom member 22 and the developing container 23 are integrally coupled by means such as welding. The transport member 43 is supported by the developing container 23 on the non-driving side, and supported by the transport gear 50 attached to the developing container 23 on the driving side. As a result, the conveying member 43 rotates in the toner chamber 29 according to the conveying gear 50. The developing blade 42 includes a conductive support member 42a as a conductive base portion made of, for example, sheet metal, and a development elastic member 42b as a flexible portion made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber. The developing blade 42 is fixed at a predetermined position with respect to the developing container 23 by screws 93 at both ends of the conductive support member 42 a together with the cleaning member 47. The developing elastic member 42b is in contact with the developing roller 32, defines the amount of toner on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 32, and applies a triboelectric charge. The cleaning member 47 is in contact with the end surface of the developing roller 32 and cleans deposits such as toner.

  The developing roller unit 31 includes a developing roller 32, a magnet roller 34, a developing roller flange 35, a spacing member 38, a bearing member 37, a developing roller gear 39, and the like. A magnet roller 34 is inserted from the non-driving side end of the developing roller 32, and a developing roller flange 35 is press-fitted and fixed to the end. A conductive electrode member (not shown) is incorporated in the developing roller flange 35, and the electrode member (not shown) is in contact with the developing roller 32 and the developing electrode member 27. The conductive developing electrode member 27 is fixed to the first side member 26L. The developing electrode member 27 is in contact with a power supply unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body A, and supplies power to the developing roller 32 using the developing electrode member 27 and the electrode member (not shown) as a power supply path. The developing electrode member 27 also forms a power feeding path in the conductive support member 42a constituting the developing blade 42 so that the developing roller 32 and the developing blade 42 have the same potential.

  The spacing member 38 is attached to both ends of the developing roller 32. A developing roller bearing member 37 is disposed on the outer side, and a developing roller gear 39 is incorporated on the outer side on the driving side. The developing roller 32 is rotatably supported by the developing roller bearing members 37 disposed at both ends. The first gear 48 and the second gear 49, which are drive transmission members, are rotatably attached to the developing device frame. As a result, the driving force received from the apparatus main body A is developed by sequentially engaging and rotating the flange gear portion 87c (FIG. 6), the developing roller gear 39, the first gear 48, the second gear 49, and the conveying gear 50. It is transmitted to the roller 32 and the conveying member 43.

  The first side member 26L and the second side member 26R are fixed to the developing device frame using screws 92 at both ends in the longitudinal direction C. At that time, the developing roller bearing member 37 of the developing roller unit 31 is held by the first side member 26L and the second side member 26R. The toner seal member 45 is thermally welded to the developing container 23 and partitions the toner chamber 29 and the toner supply chamber 28. This prevents toner from leaking out of the toner chamber 29 during transportation of the cartridge B. When the user opens the toner seal member 45, the toner T is supplied to the toner supply chamber 28.

  The first developing seal member 55, the second developing seal member 56, and the third developing seal member 57 are provided at predetermined positions of the developing container 23. The fourth developing seal member 58 is provided at a predetermined position of the bottom member 22 after the developing container 23 and the bottom member 22 are coupled. Further, the fifth developing seal member 59 is disposed in the developing container 23. These seal members prevent the toner T from leaking from the developing unit 20.

(Configuration of the cleaning unit 60)
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the cleaning unit 60. The cleaning blade 77 includes a support member 77a made of sheet metal and a cleaning elastic member 77b made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber. The both ends of the support member 77a are fixed with screws 91, so that the cleaning frame 77 has a predetermined shape. Placed in position. The cleaning elastic member 77 b comes into contact with the drum 62 and removes residual toner from the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62. The removed toner is stored in a waste toner chamber 71b (FIG. 3) of the cleaning unit 60.

The first seal member 82, the second seal member 83, the third seal member 84, and the fourth seal member 85 are provided at predetermined positions on the cleaning frame 71. The first seal member 82 is provided in the longitudinal direction C and prevents waste toner from leaking from the gap between the support member 77 a of the cleaning blade 77 and the cleaning frame 71. The second seal member 83 prevents waste toner from leaking from the longitudinal ends of the cleaning elastic member 77b of the cleaning blade 77. The third seal member 84 wipes off deposits such as toner on the drum 62 while preventing waste toner from leaking from both ends of the cleaning elastic member 77b of the cleaning blade 77. The fourth seal member 85 is provided in contact with the drum 62 in the longitudinal direction C, and prevents waste toner from leaking from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the drum 62 with respect to the cleaning blade 77.

  The charging electrode member 81, the charging roller urging member (spring) 68, and the charging roller bearings 67 </ b> L and 67 </ b> R are attached to the cleaning frame 71. The shaft portion 66a of the charging roller 66 is fitted into the charging roller bearings 67L and 67R. The charging roller 66 is urged against the drum 62 by a charging roller urging member 68 and is rotatably supported by charging roller bearings 67L and 67R. Then, driven rotation is performed as the drum 62 rotates. The charging electrode member 81, the charging roller urging member 68, the charging roller bearings 67L and 67R, and the shaft portion 66a are conductive. The charging electrode member 81 is in contact with a power feeding unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body A. Power is supplied to the charging roller 66 using these as power supply paths.

  The drum 62 is integrally coupled to the non-driving side flange 64 and the driving side flange 87 to form a drum unit 61 as an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit. This bonding method uses caulking, adhesion, welding, or the like. A ground contact or the like (not shown) is coupled to the non-drive side flange 64. The drive side flange 87 includes a coupling member 86 as a drive force receiving member that receives a drive force from the apparatus main body A and a flange gear portion 87 c that transmits the drive to the developing roller 32. The drum unit bearing member 76 is integrally fixed to the drive side of the cleaning frame 71 by screws 90, and the drum shaft 78 is press-fitted and fixed to the non-drive side of the cleaning frame 71. The drum unit bearing member 76 is fitted with the drive side flange 87, and the drum shaft 78 is fitted with the hole 64 a of the non-drive side flange 64. Thereby, the drum unit 61 is rotatably supported by the cleaning frame 71.

  The protection member 79 is rotatably supported by the cleaning frame 71 so that the drum 62 can be protected (light-shielded) and exposed. The protective urging member (torsion spring) 80 is attached to the protective member shaft portion 79aR on the drive side of the protective member 79, and urges the protective member 79 in a direction to protect the drum 62. The protection member shaft portion 79aL on the non-driving side of the protection member 79 is on the protection member bearing portion 71cL of the cleaning frame 71, and the protection member shaft portion 79aR on the driving side is on the protection member bearing portion 71cR of the cleaning frame 71. Mated.

(Description of coupling member 86)
The coupling member 86 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7A is a side view of the coupling member 86, and FIG. 7B is an explanation in addition to the cross-sectional view of the coupling member 86 taken along the S1-S1 cutting line of FIG. Therefore, the main body side engaging portion 14 is displayed without being cut. Further, the hatched portion represents a cut surface, and this is the same in the following cross-sectional views. FIG. 7C shows a state in which the coupling member 86 and the main body side engaging portion 14 can be engaged with each other, as viewed from the driving side outside (in the direction of arrow V1 in FIG. 7A). It is a figure. FIG. 7D is a perspective explanatory view of the coupling member 86. FIG. 7E is an explanatory view of the vicinity of the free end portion 86a (described later), and is a side view as viewed in the direction along the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 (the V2 direction in FIG. 7C). 1A is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 86 taken along the line S2-S2 in FIG. 7C, and FIG. 1B shows the main body side engaging portion 14 as a rotational force applying portion 14b. It is the figure seen from the axial direction of (in the V3 direction of FIG.7 (c)).

As shown in FIG. 7, the coupling member 86 has mainly three parts. The first portion is a free end portion 86a for engaging with the main body side engaging portion 14 as a driving member and receiving a rotational force from the main body side engaging portion 14. The second portion is a coupling portion 86c having a substantially spherical shape. The coupling portion 86c is coupled (coupled) to a drive-side flange 87 (see FIG. 6) that is a rotational force receiving member. The third portion is a connecting portion 86g that connects the free end portion 86a and the coupling portion 86c.
On the other hand, the main body side engaging portion 14 includes a drive shaft 14a as a rotation shaft portion, and both side surfaces of the drive shaft 14a in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drive shaft 14a from the rear end side with respect to the front end surface 14a1 of the drive shaft 14a. And a rotational force imparting portion 14b that is a pair of projecting portions projecting from.
The drive transmission mechanism according to the present embodiment includes a drive configuration on the cartridge B side including the coupling member 86 and a drive configuration on the apparatus main body A side including the main body side engaging portion 14.

  The free end 86a has an opening 86m. As shown in FIG. 7B, the opening 86m is an expanded portion (expanded portion) that expands toward the main body side engaging portion 14 in a state where the coupling member 86 is attached to the apparatus main body A. A conical receiving surface 86f. The receiving surface 86f constitutes a recess 86z that means the inside of a conical shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (c), two rotational force receivers are provided on the end surfaces 86k1 and 86k2 of the free end portion 86a on the circumferential surface around the driving force receiving member axis L2. The portions 86e1 and 86e2 are arranged at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the driving force receiving member axis L2. Here, in the radial direction of the coupling member 86, the recess 86z is positioned inside the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2.

  The rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 include contact surfaces 86e1b and 86e2b. In a state where the coupling member 86 and the main body side engaging portion 14 are engaged and the main body side engaging portion 14 is rotating, the rotational force applying portion 14b of the main body side engaging portion 14 is the rotational force receiving portion 86e1, It contacts the contact surfaces 86e1b and 86e2b of 86e2. Thereby, the rotational force is transmitted from the main body side engaging portion 14 to the coupling member 86. At the time of such steady drive transmission, the front end 14a1 of the main body side engaging portion 14 is located in the recess 86z. The position of the tip 14a1 in the direction of the driving force receiving member axis L2 in the coupling member 86 at this time is defined as an aerial surface 86d.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the length in the driving force receiving member axis L2 direction from the end faces 86k1 and 86k2 of the coupling member 86 to the rotational force receiving portion tips 86e1a and 86e2a is defined as Z12. The length in the direction of the driving force receiving member axis L2 from the aerial surface 86d to the rotational force receiving portion tips 86e1a and 86e2a is defined as Z13. Furthermore, the length in the direction of the driving force receiving member axis L2 from the aerial surface 86d to the end surfaces 86k1, 86k2 is defined as Z14. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the length in the direction of the rotational axis L3 from the tip 14a1 of the drive shaft 14a of the main body side engaging portion 14 to the outer peripheral surface of the rotational force applying portion 14b is defined as Z10. Furthermore, the length in the direction of the rotation axis L3 from the tip 14a1 of the drive shaft 14a to the axis of the rotational force applying portion 14b is defined as Z11.

  The following inequalities hold for the dimensions from Z10 to Z13. That is, Z12 <Z10, Z13> Z11 holds. By satisfying this inequality, even when the coupling member 86 and the main body side engaging portion 14 interfere when the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A, the drive is correctly transmitted from the apparatus main body A to the cartridge B. (Details will be described later).

Further, as shown in FIG. 7C, relief portions 86n1 and 86n2 are provided at the roots of the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2, which are recessed toward the coupling portion 86c from the end surfaces 86k1 and 86k2. The relief portions 86n1 and 86n2 cause interference between the end surfaces 86k1 and 86k2 and the rotational force applying portion 14b when the coupling member 86 is inclined while the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are in contact with the rotational force applying portion 14b. Provided to avoid. As shown in FIG. 7C, in order to stabilize the rotational torque transmitted to the coupling member 86 as much as possible, the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are point-symmetric about the driving force receiving member axis L2. It is desirable to arrange it at a position. Thereby, the rotational force transmission radius becomes constant, and the coupling member 8
The rotational torque transmitted to 6 is stabilized.

  Further, in order to stabilize the position of the coupling member 86 that receives the rotational force as much as possible, it is desirable to arrange the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 at positions that face each other by 180 °. That is, the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 as a pair of projecting portions are arranged symmetrically about the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 86 on the end surface around the opening edge of the recess 86z.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7 (e), in order to stabilize the position of the coupling member 86 that receives the rotational force, the contact surface that is an engagement surface with the rotational force applying portion 14b of the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2. It is desirable that 86e1b and 86e2b be inclined. Specifically, the contact surfaces 86e1b and 86e2b are arranged with respect to the driving force receiving member axis L2 such that the distal end side (the end surface side of the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2) approaches the driving force receiving member axis L2. It is desirable to incline at a predetermined angle θ3. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the coupling member 86 is drawn toward the main body side engaging portion 14 side by the rotational torque transmitted to the coupling member 86 (such a component force is brought into contact with the contact surface 86e1b. 86e2b and the main body side engaging portion 14). As a result, the conical receiving surface 86f and the spherical surface portion 14c of the main body side engaging portion 14 come into contact with each other, and the position of the coupling member 86 is more stable.

  Furthermore, the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 may be disposed on the radially inner side of the receiving surface 86f. In other words, the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 and the receiving surface 86f may partially overlap when projected in the direction of the axis L2. Alternatively, the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 may be disposed at locations protruding radially outward from the receiving surface 86f in the direction of the driving force receiving member axis L2. That is, the arrangement may be such that the rotational force receiving portions 86e1, 86e2 and the receiving surface 86f do not overlap when projected in the direction of the axis L2. The inner diameter φZ4 of the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 is larger than the maximum rotational diameter φZ2 of the connecting portion 86g.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the coupling portion 86c is substantially composed of a spherical shape 86c1, a circular arc surface portion 86q1, 86q2, and a hole portion 86b centering on a center C1 as a tilt center on the driving force receiving member axis L2. .

  The maximum rotation diameter φZ3 of the coupling portion 86c is configured to be larger than the maximum rotation diameter φZ1 of the free end portion 86a. The arc surface portions 86q1 and 86q2 are arc surfaces obtained by extending an arc shape having the same diameter as that of the connecting portion 86g along the driving force receiving member axis L2. The hole 86b, which is a through hole, passes through in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the driving force receiving member axis L2. The hole 86b includes first inclination regulating portions 86p1 and 86p2 orthogonal to the driving force receiving member axis L2, and rotational force transmitting portions 86b1 and 86b2 parallel to the driving force receiving member axis L2.

  Here, the first inclination restricting portions 86p1 and 86p2 have a planar shape that is equidistant from the center C1 of the spherical shape 86c1 (Z9 = Z9). Further, the rotational force transmitting portions 86b1 and 86b2 are also planar shapes that are equidistant from the center C1 of the spherical shape 86c1 (Z8 = Z8). Moreover, the edge part of the direction orthogonal to the driving force receiving member axis L2 among the hole parts 86b of the 1st inclination control parts 86p1 and 86p2 has reached | attained circular arc surface parts 86q1 and 86q2. Of the rotational force transmitting portions 86b1 and 86b2, the end portion of the hole portion 86b in the direction orthogonal to the driving force receiving member axis L2 reaches the outer edge of the spherical shape 86c1.

  The connecting portion 86g has a cylindrical shape that connects the free end portion 86a and the coupling portion 86c, and is a cylindrical portion (or cylindrical shape) substantially along the driving force receiving member axis L2.

  The material of the coupling member 86 of this embodiment is a metal such as SUS or zinc. However, depending on the load torque, a resin such as polyacetal, polycarbonate, PPS, or liquid crystal polymer, or a material in which glass fiber, carbon fiber, or the like is blended in the resin or a metal is inserted may be used.

  Further, the free end portion 86a, the coupling portion 86c, and the connecting portion 86g may be integrally formed, or those formed separately may be integrally coupled.

(Description of drive side flange unit U2)
The configuration of the drive side flange unit U2 (FIG. 6) will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the drive side flange unit U2. FIG. 8A is a view from the drive side, and FIG. 8B is a view from the non-drive side. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the drive side flange unit U2, FIG. 9 (a) is a perspective view of the drive side flange unit U2, and FIG. 9 (b) is a cross section cut along the S2 plane of FIG. 9 (a). FIG. 9 and FIG. 9C are cross-sectional views taken along the plane S3 in FIG. FIG. 9 is also an explanatory diagram of an assembling method of the drive side flange unit U2.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the drive side flange unit U <b> 2 includes a coupling member 86, a pin 88 that is a shaft portion, a drive side flange 87, and a regulating member 89. Here, the coupling member 86 is engaged with the main body side engaging portion 14 and receives a rotational force. The pin 88 is substantially columnar (or cylindrical) and extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis L1. Here, the pin 88 receives a rotational force from the coupling member 86 and transmits the rotational force to the drive side flange 87. The drive-side flange 87 receives a rotational force from the pin 88 and transmits the rotational force to the drum 62. The restricting member 89 restricts the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 from dropping off from the drive side flange 87. The coupling member 86 is rotatable with respect to the drive side flange 87 (cartridge B) and has an angle of approximately 20 to 60 degrees with respect to the rotation axis of the drum 62 as a rotating body, that is, 20 degrees or more and 60 degrees. It is provided so as to be tiltable within a range of less than or equal to degrees. The angle range in which the coupling member 86 can be tilted is merely an example. In other words, a range in which an operation of avoiding interference (being stuck and not moving) between the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 in which the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 get over the rotational force applying portion 14b, which will be described later, can be realized. Thus, it is appropriately set according to the device configuration.

Each component will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, the coupling member 86 is provided with the free end portion 86a and the coupling portion 86c. The coupling portion 86c is provided with a hole portion 86b as a through hole. And in this hole part 86b (inner side (inner wall)), the rotational force transmission parts 86b1 and 86b2 for transmitting rotational force to the pin 88, and the first contact with the pin 88 to regulate the amount of inclination of the coupling member 86. One inclination regulating portion 86p1, 86p2 is provided.

The drive side flange 87 includes a fixed portion 87b, a gear portion (a helical gear or a spur gear) 87c, and a supported portion 87d. Here, the fixed portion 87 b is a portion fixed to the drum 62. The drive-side flange 87 has a hollow shape and has a storage portion 87i inside. Here, the accommodating portion 87i is a portion that accommodates the coupling portion 86c of the coupling member 86 therein. Further, a conical portion 87k is provided on the drive side of the storage portion 87i as a drop-off preventing portion that abuts on the coupling portion 86c and prevents the coupling member 86 from dropping to the drive side. In this embodiment, the conical portion 87k has a conical shape with the axis L1 as the central axis, but may be a spherical surface or a plane that intersects the axis L1, for example. On the drive side of the conical portion 87k, an opening 87m for projecting the free end 86a of the coupling member 86 is provided so that its diameter (φZ10) is larger than the maximum rotation diameter φZ1 of the free end 86a. It has been. The diameter (φZ10) of the opening 87m is provided to be smaller than the maximum rotation diameter φZ3 of the coupling portion 86c in order to prevent the coupling member 86 from falling off to the drive side. On the further drive side of the opening 87m, a second inclination restricting portion 87n is provided that contacts the connecting portion 86g of the coupling member 86 when the coupling member 86 is inclined (tilted). The gear portion 87 c is a portion that transmits a rotational force to the developing roller 32. Further, the supported portion 87d is a portion supported by the bearing member 76, and is provided on the thick back side of the gear portion 87c. These are arranged coaxially with the rotation axis L1 of the drum 62.

  The storage portion 87i has a pair of groove portions 87e disposed in parallel with the axis L1 at positions shifted from each other by 180 ° around the axis L1. The drive side flange 87 has a retaining portion 87f that is an orthogonal surface orthogonal to the axis L1. Further, the drive side flange 87 has a pair of rotational force transmitted portions 87g that are located on the non-drive side of the retaining portion 87f and receive rotational force from a pin 88 described later.

  In this embodiment, the drive side flange 87 is made of resin formed by injection molding, and the material thereof is polyacetal, polycarbonate, or the like. However, the drive-side flange 87 may be made of metal according to the load torque for rotating the drum 62.

  In this embodiment, the drive side flange 87 has a gear portion 87 c that transmits a rotational force to the developing roller 32. However, the rotation of the developing roller 32 does not have to be via the drive side flange 87 in particular. In that case, the gear part 87c can be eliminated. When the gear portion 87 c is disposed on the drive side flange 87 as in this embodiment, the gear portion 87 c can be integrally formed with the drive side flange 87.

  The restricting member 89 has a conical base 89a, a hole 89c provided in the base 89a, and a pair of projecting portions 89b that protrude substantially parallel to the axis L1 from the base 89a and are shifted by about 180 ° around the axis of the base. Is provided. The protruding portion 89b has a longitudinal restriction portion 89b1 at the tip in the axis L1 direction.

The support method and connection method of each component will be described with reference to FIG.
The position of the pin 88 in the longitudinal direction (axis line L1) of the drum 62 is regulated by the retaining portion 87f and the longitudinal regulating portion 89b1, and the rotational direction (R direction) of the drum 62 is regulated by the rotational force transmitted portion 87g (see FIG. 8). The position of is regulated. The pin 88 passes through the hole 86 b of the coupling member 86. The play between the hole 86b and the pin 88 is set to allow the tilting of the coupling member 86. With this configuration, the coupling member 86 can be tilted (tilted or turned) in any direction with respect to the drive-side flange 87.

  The coupling member 86 is restricted from moving in the radial direction of the drive side flange 87 when the coupling portion 86c abuts against the storage portion 87i, and from the drive side when the coupling portion 86c abuts against the base portion 89a of the regulation member 89. Movement to the non-driving side is restricted. Further, the coupling member 86 is restricted from moving from the non-driving side to the driving side of the coupling member 86 by the spherical shape 86c1 and the conical portion 87k of the driving side flange 87 contacting each other. Then, when the rotational force transmitting portions 86b1 and 86b2 and the pin 88 come into contact with each other, the movement of the coupling member 86 in the rotational direction (R direction) is restricted. Thereby, the coupling member 86 is connected to the drive side flange 87 and the pin 88.

  Further, as described above, the position of the coupling portion 86c is regulated by the storage portion 87i, the conical portion 87k, and the base portion 89a. Therefore, when the coupling member 86 is inclined (tilted), the intersection of the axis L1 and the driving force receiving member axis L2 substantially coincides with the center C1. In other words, the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted) about the center C1.

(Description of the drive shaft 14a of the apparatus main body A)
The configuration of the cartridge B drive unit of the apparatus main body A will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the drive unit of the apparatus main body A, and is a view of the apparatus main body A as viewed from the upstream side in the mounting direction (X2 direction) of the cartridge B. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the drive unit, FIG. 12A is a partially enlarged view of the drive unit, and FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane S6 shown in FIG.

  The cartridge B driving unit includes the main body side engaging portion 14, the side plate 350, the holder 300, the driving gear 355, and the like. As shown in FIG. 12B, the drive shaft 14 a of the main body side engaging portion 14 is fixed to the drive gear 355 so as not to rotate by means not shown. Therefore, when the drive gear 355 rotates, the main body side engaging portion 14 also rotates. Further, both ends of the drive shaft 14a are rotatably supported by a support portion 300a (see FIG. 11) of the holder 300 and a bearing 354. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12B, the motor 352 is attached to the second side plate 351, and a pinion gear 353 is provided on the rotation shaft thereof. The pinion gear 353 meshes with the drive gear 355. Therefore, when the motor 352 rotates, the drive gear 355 rotates and the main body side engaging portion 14 also rotates. The second side plate 351 and the holder 300 are fixed to the side plate 350, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the guide member 12 includes a first guide portion 12 a and a second guide portion 12 b that guide the mounting of the cartridge B. In addition, a mounting end portion 12c orthogonal to the X2 direction is provided at the end of the first guide portion 12a in the cartridge B mounting direction (X2 direction). This guide member 12 is also fixed to the side plate 350.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the holder 300 includes a support portion 300 a that rotatably supports the drive shaft 14 a of the main body side engaging portion 14, and a coupling guide 300 b. The coupling guide 300b is located on the downstream side in the mounting direction (X2 direction) of the cartridge B with respect to the support portion 300a, and includes a connecting portion 300b1 and a guide portion 300b2. Here, the connecting portion 300b1 has an arc shape with a diameter φZ5 centered on the rotation axis L3, and the diameter φZ5 is set to be larger than the maximum rotation diameter φZ1 of the free end portion 86a of the coupling member 86. Further, the distal end of the guide part 300b2 has an arc shape with a diameter φZ6 centered on the rotation axis L3. The diameter φZ6 is provided so as to have a predetermined gap s (see FIG. 16) with respect to the connecting portion 86g of the coupling member 86. Here, the predetermined gap s is a gap for preventing the connecting portion 86g and the guide portion 300b2 from interfering with each other due to component tolerances when the cartridge B is driven to rotate (details will be described later).

  The drive shaft urging member (spring) 358 is contracted between the bearing 354 and the drive gear 355, and the drive gear 355 and the drive shaft 14a are directed from the drive side to the non-drive side in a direction parallel to the rotation axis L3. (In the direction of arrow X3 in FIG. 11). Accordingly, the drive shaft 14a is movable in the direction of the rotation axis L3, whereby the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 are configured to be movable relative to each other in the direction of the rotation axis of the drive shaft 14a. Yes. The amount of movement of the drive shaft 14a is determined by the gap amount g between the bearing 354 and the drive gear 355 (see FIG. 12B). In particular, in this embodiment, it is desirable that the movement amount g be equal to or greater than the distance (Z14 in FIG. 1A) from the aerial surface 86d to the end surfaces 86k1 and 86k2 (details will be described later). In this embodiment, the drive shaft 14a can be moved in the direction of the rotation axis L3. However, the same effect can be obtained when the coupling member 86 is movable in the direction of the rotation axis L3 instead of the drive shaft 14a. Is obtained. That is, it is only necessary that at least one of the drive shaft 14a and the coupling member 86 is configured to be movable in the direction of the rotation axis L3. Also in this case, the amount of movement is desirably equal to or greater than the distance from the aerial surface 86d to the end surfaces 86k1 and 86k2 (Z14 in FIG. 1A).

(Explanation of mounting operation and positioning of cartridge B to apparatus main body A)
The mounting of the cartridge B to the apparatus main body A will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, to make the explanation easier to understand. In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, only parts necessary for positioning are illustrated and described. 13, 14, and 15 (a) are views of the apparatus main body A as viewed from the outside on the driving side, and sequentially show how the cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A. FIG. 15B is a perspective explanatory view of the vicinity of the coupling in the state of FIG. FIG. 16 is a detailed explanatory view of the vicinity of the coupling member 86 when the cartridge B is completely attached to the apparatus main body A. In FIG. 16, the apparatus main body A shows the main body side engaging portion 14, the coupling guide 300 b of the holder 300, and the guide member 12, and the others show the parts of the cartridge B. FIG. 16A1 shows a state in which the cartridge B is in the mounting completion position and the coupling member 86 is inclined (tilted). FIG. 16A2 shows a state in which the cartridge B is in the mounting completion position, and the axis L2 of the coupling member 86 is substantially coincident with the rotation axis L3 of the main body side engaging portion 14. FIG. 16A3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship with the coupling guide 300b when the coupling member 86 is inclined (tilted). FIGS. 16B1 to 16B3 are views cut along the S7-S7 cutting lines in FIGS. 16A1 to 16A3, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the guide member 12 of the apparatus main body A is provided with a retraction spring 356 as an urging member (elastic member). The retraction spring 356 is rotatably supported on the rotation shaft 12g of the guide member 12, and the position is fixed by stoppers 12d and 12e. At this time, the action portion 356a of the retraction spring 356 is urged in the direction of arrow J in the drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A, the cylindrical portion 76d of the bearing member 76 of the cartridge B is provided in the first guide portion 12a, and the cleaning frame 71 of the cartridge B is provided in the second guide portion 12b. The rotation stop boss 71c is inserted so as to be along. At this time, the coupling member 86 is inclined in the mounting direction (X2 direction) by a torsion spring 91 as an urging member (elastic member). Accordingly, when the cartridge B is mounted, the coupling member 86 is engaged with the main body side engaging portion 14 in such a posture that the opening direction of the opening 86m (recessed portion 86z) is inclined toward the downstream side in the mounting direction of the cartridge B. Move to the matching position. Here, the coupling member 86 is covered with the cylindrical portion 76 d of the bearing member 76. As a result, the coupling member 86 can continue to insert the cartridge B to the vicinity of the mounting completion position without interfering with any part of the apparatus main body A in the insertion path of the cartridge B.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the cartridge B is further inserted in the direction of the arrow X2 in the figure, the spring receiving portion 76e of the cartridge B and the action portion 356a of the retraction spring 356 come into contact with each other. Thereby, the retracting spring 356 is elastically deformed so that the action part 356a moves in the direction of arrow H in the drawing. Thereafter, the cartridge B is mounted at a predetermined position (mounting completion position) (see FIG. 15). At this time, the cylindrical portion 76 d of the bearing member 76 of the cartridge B contacts the first guide portion 12 a of the guide member 12, and the mounting tip portion 76 f of the bearing member 76 contacts the mounting end portion 12 c of the guide member 12. Similarly, the rotation stop boss 71 c of the cleaning frame 71 of the cartridge B contacts the positioning surface 12 h of the guide member 12. In this way, the position of the cartridge B with respect to the apparatus main body A is determined. At this time, the action portion 356a of the retraction spring 356 presses the spring receiving portion 76e of the bearing member 76 of the cartridge B in the direction of the arrow J in the drawing, and the cylindrical portion 76d and the first guide portion 12a are brought into contact with and attached. The abutment between the front end portion 76f and the mounting end portion 12c is ensured. Thus, the position of the cartridge B is accurately determined with respect to the apparatus main body A. When the cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A, as described above, the coupling member 86 and the main body side engaging portion 14 are engaged (see FIG. 6), and the main body A of the cartridge B is attached. Installation to is completed.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 16A1 and 16B1, even when the mounting of the cartridge B is completed, the coupling member 86 continues to be tilted (tilted) in the mounting direction (X2 direction) by the torsion spring 91. Try to. At this time, the connecting portion 86g contacts the guide portion 300b2 of the coupling guide 300b, and the inclination (tilt) of the coupling member 86 is restricted. When a rotational force is transmitted from the main body side engaging portion 14 to the coupling member 86 in this state, the state shown in FIGS. 16A2 and 16B2 is obtained. That is, the couple of force f1 (see FIG. 18B) acting on the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 from the rotational force applying portion 14b and the contact between the spherical portion 14c and the conical portion 86f cause the main body side engaging portion 14 to move. The rotation axis L3 and the axis L2 of the coupling member 86 substantially coincide. And the above-mentioned clearance gap S arises between the connection part 86g and the guide part 300b2, and the coupling member 86 can rotate stably.

  In this embodiment, the coupling member 86 restricts the inclination (tilting) of the torsion spring 91 by the coupling guide 300b. However, as described above, the inclination (tilting) of the coupling member 86 is not limited to that by the torsion spring 91. For example, when the coupling member 86 is inclined by its own weight, the coupling guide 300b may be provided on the lower side in the gravity direction. In this manner, the coupling guide 300b may be provided at a position that restricts the inclination (tilting) of the coupling member 86 when the cartridge B is mounted.

(Description of operation when the coupling member 86 main body side drive unit 14 interferes)
The manner in which the coupling member 86 engages with the main body side engaging portion 14 under the conditions where the effects of the present invention are most likely to be described will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. This condition is a phase in which the rotational force applying portion 14b protrudes from the drive shaft 14a in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction X2, and the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 of the coupling member 86 face the rotational force applying portion 14b. This is a case where the phase is reached (see FIG. 17A).

  When the cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A, the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 are engaged with each other in relative positions, specifically, the phase of the rotational force applying portion 14b and the rotational force receiving portion. It changes depending on the relative relationship with the phase of the portions 86e1 and 86e2. Specifically, after the cartridge B is mounted, the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 can be engaged in two types before the drive transmission from the motor 352 as a power source is started.

  One is an engaged state (first engaged state) as shown in FIGS. 16 (a1) and 16 (b1). As shown in FIGS. 16 (a3) and 16 (b3), the relative position between the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 in this engaged state is given rotational force in the relative arrangement before both engagement. The portion 14b and the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are relative positions that are in a torsional positional relationship. That is, the arrangement direction of the pair of protrusions that respectively protrude in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis from both side surfaces of the drive shaft 14a that is the rotational force applying portion 14b and the arrangement direction of the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are non-parallel. Arrangement (first relative position). In this case, when the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 come into contact with each other by further insertion of the cartridge B toward the mounting completion position of the apparatus main body A, the coupling member 86 and the main body with relative movement that cancels the torsional relationship. A relative movement of the side engaging portion 14 occurs. By this relative movement, the rotational force applying portion 14b and the rotational force receiving portions 86e1, 86e2 are brought into an engaged state (first engaged state) facing each other in the circumferential direction around the rotational axis (FIG. 16 (a1)). , (B1)). In this relative movement, the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 cause the rotational force applying portion 14b to draw a force that pulls the rotational force applying portion 14b in contact with the circumferentially facing position around the opening edge of the recess 86z. Act against. In obtaining such an effect, the dimensional relationship of Z13> Z11 described above is particularly important.

The second is an engagement state (second engagement state) described below with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. The relative positions of the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 in this engaged state are the relative positions shown in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (e). That is, it is a relative position (second relative position) where the arrangement directions of the rotational force applying portion 14b and the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are substantially parallel to each other before the engagement. In this case, when the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 come into contact with each other by further insertion of the cartridge B toward the mounting completion position of the apparatus main body A, the pair of rotational force applying portions 14b and the pair of rotational force receiving portions 86e1, 86e2 abuts substantially simultaneously. In the first relative position, both may contact at the same time. However, at the second relative position, the first side position is caused by contact between the main body side engaging portion 14 and the other part of the coupling member 86. The contact is made at a shallower position in the rotational axis direction than in the case of the relative position. Specifically, the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 are rotated with respect to each other by the contact between the tip end of the drive shaft 14a of the main body side engaging portion 14 and the opening edge of the recess 86z of the coupling member 86. When the relative movements that are separated from each other in the direction occur, contact is made at the shallow position. By further relative movement of the main body side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 from this contact state, the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are moved from the position facing the rotational force applying portion 14b in the circumferential direction. It is formed so as to apply a force to push it to the position where it comes off. In obtaining such an effect, the dimensional relationship of Z12 <Z10 described above is particularly important. As a result, the coupling state between the coupling member 86 and the main body side engagement portion 14 is the second engagement state in which the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 and the rotational force applying portion 14b do not face each other in the circumferential direction. . In addition, when it will be in a 2nd engagement state, after that, the main body side engaging part 14 rotates with the driving force of the motor 352, and an engagement state changes from a 2nd engagement state to a 1st engagement state. To change. Details will be described below.

  17A to 17D show a state of a series of operations for mounting the cartridge B to the apparatus main body A as viewed from the driving side in the direction of the rotation axis L3 (see FIG. 11). FIGS. 17E to 17H are cross-sectional views of FIGS. 17A to 17D taken along the line FF. Similarly, in FIGS. 18A to 18D, the main assembly side engaging portion 14 rotates from the state where the cartridge B is completely attached to the apparatus main assembly A, and the main assembly side engaging portion 14 and the coupling member 86 are rotated. The state of a series of operation | movement until is engaged is shown. However, for the sake of explanation, the coupling member 86 and the main body side engaging portion 14 are shown without being cut, and the receiving surface 86f, the concave portion 86z, and the drive shaft 14a entering the concave portion 86z are indicated by solid lines.

  As shown in FIG. 17E, at the initial stage of mounting, the inclined coupling member 86 enters without contacting the drive shaft 14a of the main body side engaging portion 14, and a part of the drive shaft tip 14a1 is moved. It enters the recess 86z. When the coupling member 86 further enters, the rotational force applying portion 14b and the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 come into contact (FIG. 17 (f)). Thereafter, when the rotational force applying portion 14b pushes the coupling member 86 back in the direction of the arrow X4, the end faces 86k1, 86k2 and the drive shaft tip 14a1 come into contact (FIG. 17 (g)). Then, the entire main body side engaging portion 14 is gradually pushed down in the direction of the rotation axis L3 toward the driving side (in the direction of the arrow X5) by the end faces 86k1 and 86k2 (FIG. 17G). At this time, the rotational force applying portion 14b and the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 also remain in contact. When the cartridge B is completely attached to the apparatus main body A, the rotation axis L3 and the driving force receiving member axis L2 approach parallel (FIG. 17 (h)). Then, since Z12 <Z10 (see FIG. 1), the main body side engaging portion 14 maintains a state in which both the end faces 86k1 and 86k2 of the coupling member 86 and the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are in contact with each other simultaneously. Is impossible. As a result, as shown in FIG. 17 (h), the main body side engaging portion 14 and the end faces 86k1, 86k2 are separated from each other, and the rotational force receiving portion tips 86e1, 86e2 ride on the rotational force applying portion 14b. By the way, the main body side engaging portion 14 is movable by a moving amount g in the direction of the rotation axis L3. In order to prevent the main body side engaging portion 14 from interfering with another component and stretching in the apparatus main body A, the movement amount g is desirably Z14 or more. That is, the main body side engaging portion 14 is most depressed when the end surfaces 86k1 and 86k2 ride on the main body side engaging portion 14 (the end surface of the drive shaft tip 14a1). The amount of movement at this time is equal to the length (Z14) from the aerial surface 86d (see FIG. 1A) representing the normal position to the end surfaces 86k1 and 86k2. However, when the coupling member 86, the main body side engaging portion 14, and the like have play in the direction of the rotation axis L3, the movement amount g can be reduced by this play.

  The image printing operation may start from the state where the rotational force receiving portion tips 86e1a and 86e2a get on the rotational force applying portion 14b as shown in FIG. In this case, when the main body side engaging portion 14 rotates, the state where the rotational force receiving portion tips 86e1a and 86e2a ride on the rotational force applying portion 14b is canceled, and at the same time, the spherical surface portion 14c and the receiving surface 86f abut (see FIG. 18 (a)). Finally, when the contact surfaces 86e1b and 86e2b of the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 and the rotational force applying portion 14b come into contact with each other and the couple f1 is generated, the coupling member 86 is stably rotated as described above (FIG. 18B). )).

  The number of installed rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 is two in this embodiment, but can be appropriately changed as long as the rotational force applying portion 14b can be positioned on the end surfaces 86k1 and 86k2 as described above. However, since it is necessary for the rotational force applying portion 14b to enter the end faces 86k1 and 86k2, increasing the number of the rotational force receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 increases the width of the rotational force receiving portion itself (circumference in FIG. 7C). It may be necessary to reduce the width in the direction. In such a case, it is preferable to use two protrusions as in this embodiment.

<Other examples>
In this embodiment, the drum B, the developing roller 32, and the toner chamber 29 are all integrated, and the cartridge B that is driven from the apparatus main body A by the coupling member 86 provided at the end of the drum 62 has been described. However, the apparatus configuration to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to a cartridge B including one or two elements of the drum 62, the developing roller 32, or the toner chamber 29.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Main body side engaging part (drive member), 14a ... Drive shaft (rotation shaft part), 14a1 ... Tip, 14b ... Rotation force provision part, 63 ... Photosensitive drum (rotary body), 86 ... Coupling member (drive force) Receiving member), 86a ... free end, 86b ... hole, 86b1, 86b2 ... rotational force transmitting part, 86c ... coupling part, 86c1 ... spherical shape, 86d ... aerial surface, 86e1a, 86e2a ... tip of rotational force receiving part, 86e1a , 86e2a ... tip of rotational force receiving portion, 86e1b, 86e2b ... contact surface, 86e1, 86e2 ... rotational force receiving portion, 86f ... receiving surface, 86g ... connecting portion, 86k1, 86k2 ... end face, 86m ... opening, 86n1, 86n2 ... Relief part, 86p1, 86p2 ... first inclination regulating part, 86q1, 86q2 ... circular arc surface part, 86z ... concave part, 352 ... motor, A ... apparatus main body, B ... cartridge

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus comprising: a power source; and a driving member having a rotating shaft and a rotating force applying portion that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the rotating axis of the rotating shaft from the rear end side of the rotating shaft. A cartridge that can be attached to the main body of the apparatus,
A rotating body,
A driving force receiving member that engages with the driving member in a state in which the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body and receives a driving force for rotating the rotating body;
With
The driving force receiving member is rotatable with respect to the cartridge and its rotation axis is tiltable with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating body, and the tip of the rotation shaft portion enters when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. And a rotational force receiving portion projecting from an end surface around the opening edge of the concave portion,
When the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the opening direction of the recess of the driving force receiving member is on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the cartridge to the apparatus main body, which is orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotation shaft section. Take a leaning posture,
In the engaged state where the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body and the rotational force applying portion and the rotational force receiving portion are opposed to each other in the circumferential direction around the rotational axis of the rotational shaft portion, the driving force is applied from the driving member to the device body. Transmitted to the rotating body via a driving force receiving member,
At least one of the driving member and the driving force receiving member is movable in the rotation axis direction of the rotation shaft portion,
The length from the end surface of the driving force receiving member in the rotational axis direction to the tip of the rotational force receiving portion is from the tip of the rotational shaft portion to the rotational force applying portion in the rotational axis direction of the rotational shaft portion. A cartridge characterized by being shorter than the length. The rotational force applying portion is a protruding portion having a circumferential surface,
In the rotation axis direction of the rotation shaft portion, the length from the tip of the rotation shaft portion to the tip of the rotation force receiving portion is longer than the length from the position of the tip of the rotation shaft portion that has entered the recess in the engaged state. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a length of the rotational force applying portion to the central axis of the circumferential surface is shorter. In the state where the engagement state is the first engagement state, the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and the driving force is not transmitted from the power source to the driving member, the rotating body and the rotating shaft portion And the driving force receiving member are parallel to each other, and the driving member and the driving force receiving member are separated from each other in the direction of the rotating axis than in the first engagement state. 3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the force applying portion and the rotational force receiving portion are configured to be in a second engagement state in which the force applying portion and the rotational force receiving portion do not face each other in the circumferential direction.   4. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the drive member changes from the second engagement state to the first engagement state by rotating with the driving force of the power source. 5.   When the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the first engagement state immediately follows the second engagement according to the relative positions of the rotational force receiving portion and the rotational force applying portion. 5. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein there is a case where the first engagement state is reached via a state. The rotational force applying portion is a pair of projecting portions that project from both side surfaces of the rotating shaft portion in a direction orthogonal to the rotating axis of the rotating shaft portion, respectively.
The rotational force receiving portion is a pair of projecting portions that are symmetrically disposed about the rotational axis of the driving force receiving member on the end surface around the opening edge of the recess,
When the cartridge is attached to the apparatus body,
The relative positions of the rotational force receiving portion and the rotational force applying portion are such that the arrangement direction of the pair of rotational force applying portions and the arrangement direction of the pair of rotational force receiving portions are in a non-parallel twisted relationship. The relative position of the drive member and the driving force receiving member thereafter, the first engagement state,
The relative position between the rotational force receiving portion and the rotational force applying portion is a second relative position where the arrangement direction of the pair of rotational force applying portions and the arrangement direction of the pair of rotational force receiving portions are substantially parallel to each other. In this case, the second engagement state is configured by the relative movement of the driving member and the driving force receiving member thereafter. Cartridge.   In the case of the second relative position, the driving member and the driving force receiving member rotate the rotating shaft portion by contact between the tip end portion of the rotating shaft portion and the opening edge of the concave portion of the driving force receiving member. Relative movement is performed so as to be separated from each other in the axial direction, and the rotational force receiving portion rides on the rotational force applying portion in the rotational axis direction of the rotational shaft portion to be in the second engagement state. The cartridge according to claim 6.   When the rotational force receiving portion is in the first relative position, the rotational force applying portion that is in contact is drawn into a position facing the circumferential direction around the opening edge of the recess, and the second relative position In this case, the rotational force applying part is configured to exert a force on the rotational force applying part so as to push the rotational force applying part in contact with the position away from the circumferentially opposed position. The cartridge according to claim 6 or 7.   The drive force receiving member is provided so as to be able to tilt its rotation axis at an angle of approximately 20 to 60 degrees with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating body. Cartridge.   The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is an image carrier for carrying a developer image transferred to a recording material.

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