JP2021179626A - Cartridge used for electrophotographic image forming apparatus and drum unit - Google Patents

Abstract

To develop a technology related to a cartridge including a coupling that is tiltable with respect to the axis of rotation of a photoconductor drum.SOLUTION: A cartridge comprises an entry target part into which a coupling member is entered due to inclination toward the downstream side in an attachment direction, the entry target part into which a coupling guide is entered in place of the coupling member in association with engagement of the coupling member with an engaging part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

The present invention relates to a cartridge and a drum unit used in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method such as a laser beam printer.

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it is known that elements such as a photosensitive drum and a developing roller as a rotating body involved in image forming are integrated as a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body). There is. Here, in order to rotate the photosensitive drum in the cartridge, it is desirable to transmit the driving force from the main body of the apparatus. At that time, a configuration is known in which a coupling member on the cartridge side is engaged with a driving force transmitting portion such as a driving pin on the device main body side to transmit the driving force.

Here, depending on the image forming apparatus, there is known a configuration relating to a cartridge that can be removed in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum. Further, there is known a device body that does not have a mechanism for moving a drive pin of the device body in the direction of the rotation axis by opening and closing the cover of the device body. Specifically, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the coupling member provided at the end of the photosensitive drum can be tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum. As a result, a configuration is known in which a coupling member provided on the cartridge is engaged with a drive pin provided on the main body of the apparatus, and a driving force is transmitted from the main body of the apparatus to the cartridge.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-233867

It is a development of the above-mentioned conventional technology.

Therefore, in a cartridge provided with a tiltable coupling member, a rotatable engaging portion for engaging with the coupling member and a rotation axis of the engaging portion on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the cartridge. A coupling guide for guiding the coupling member so as to be parallel to the rotation axis of the engagement portion by abutting against the coupling member which is located and tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the engagement portion. A rotating body that can be rotated by carrying a frame and a developer in a cartridge that can be mounted by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the engaging portion on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A rotatable transferred member to which the rotational force to be transmitted to the rotating body is transmitted, a free end portion having a receiving portion for receiving the rotational force from the engaging portion, and a rotational force received by the receiving portion. The coupling member is provided with a coupling portion having a transmission portion for transmitting the free end portion to the transmission member, and the frame body includes a hole portion for exposing the free end portion to the outside of the frame body. An approached portion provided on the downstream side of the hole portion in the mounting direction and into which the coupling member enters due to an inclination toward the downstream side in the mounting direction, and the coupling member engages with the engaging portion. Provided is an approached portion into which the coupling guide enters instead of the coupling member, and a cartridge characterized by having the coupling member.

Further, the rotatable engaging portion provided on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can be moved in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis and can be removed from the main body of the device, and the rotational force can be obtained from the engaging portion. A rotatable coupling member having a free end portion having a receiving portion, a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion, and a through hole provided in the joint portion. A drum unit to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of a shaft passing through the through hole, and a cylinder having a photosensitive layer and a coupling portion can be housed inside the cylinder to hold the coupling member in a tiltable manner. A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, comprising a storage portion, an annular groove portion provided on the radial outer side of the cylinder of the storage portion, and a holding portion for holding both ends of a shaft passing through a through hole. The drum unit is provided, wherein the groove portion and the holding portion overlap with each other along the rotation axis direction of the cylinder.

The above-mentioned conventional technology could be developed.

It is sectional drawing of the image forming apparatus main body and a cartridge which concerns on Example. It is sectional drawing of the cartridge which concerns on Example. It is a perspective view which disassembled the cartridge which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the state of attaching and detaching a cartridge to the apparatus main body which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the state which the cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body while accompanied by the operation which the coupling member which concerns on embodiment tilts. It is explanatory drawing of the coupling member which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the relief part of the coupling member which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the drum unit which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the state of incorporating the drum unit which concerns on an Example into a cleaning unit. It is an exploded view of the drive side flange unit which concerns on Example. It is a perspective view and sectional drawing of the drive side flange unit which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the assembly method of the drive side flange unit which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the bearing member which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the bearing member which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the state that the coupling member which concerns on embodiment tilts with respect to the axis L1. It is a perspective view of the drive part of the apparatus main body which concerns on embodiment. It is an exploded view of the drive part of the apparatus main body which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the drive part of the apparatus main body which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing in the process of attaching the cartridge to the apparatus main body which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing in the process of attaching the cartridge to the apparatus main body which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing when the attachment to the apparatus main body of the cartridge which concerns on an Example is completed. It is explanatory drawing about the coupling guide which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the state which the cartridge which concerns on embodiment is detached from the apparatus main body. It is explanatory drawing of the state which the cartridge which concerns on embodiment is detached from the apparatus main body. It is explanatory drawing in the process of attaching the cartridge to the apparatus main body which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the coupling member and the main body side engaging part which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the disengagement operation of the coupling member and the body side engaging part when the cartridge which concerns on an Example is taken out from the apparatus main body. It is explanatory drawing of the coupling guide which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the coupling member and the drive pin which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the cartridge and the coupling guide which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the bearing member which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the bearing member which concerns on Example. It is explanatory drawing of the bearing member which concerns on Example.

Hereinafter, examples to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

Here, an image forming apparatus adopting an electrophotographic method is referred to as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The electrophotographic method refers to a method of developing an electrostatic image formed on a photoconductor with toner. Here, the development method is not related to a development method such as a one-component development method, a two-component development method, or a dry development method. Further, the electrophotographic photosensitive member drum refers to a configuration in which a photoconductor is provided on the surface layer of a drum-shaped cylinder used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Here, a charging roller, a developing roller, or the like involved in image formation acting on the photosensitive drum is referred to as a process means. Further, a cartridge provided with a photoconductor or process means (cleaning blade, developing roller, etc.) involved in image formation is called a process cartridge. In the embodiment, a process cartridge in which a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a developing roller, and a cleaning blade are integrated will be described as an example.

In the embodiment, a laser beam printer will be described as an example among electrophotographic methods used in a wide range of applications such as multifunction devices, fax machines, and printers. The reference numerals in the examples are for reference to the drawings, and do not limit the configuration. Further, the dimensions and the like in the examples are for clearly explaining the relationship, and do not limit the configuration.

The longitudinal direction of the process cartridge in the embodiment is a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction in which the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The longitudinal direction of the process cartridge is parallel to the rotation axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive member drum (direction intersecting the sheet transport direction). In the longitudinal direction, the side where the photosensitive drum receives the rotational force from the image forming apparatus main body of the process cartridge is the driven side (driven side), and the opposite side is the non-driven side. In addition, when it is described as upper (upper side) without any special specification, the upper side in the gravity direction when the image forming apparatus is installed is regarded as the upper side, and the opposite direction (reverse direction) is the lower side (lower side) in the gravity direction. ).

Hereinafter, the laser beam printer in this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The cartridge in this embodiment is a process cartridge in which a photosensitive drum as a photosensitive member (image carrier / rotating body), a developing roller as a process means, a charging roller, and a cleaning blade are integrated. This cartridge is removable (detachable) from the device body. Here, the rotating body / rotating member that rotates by receiving the rotational force from the apparatus main body is provided in the cartridge (gear, photosensitive drum, flange, developing roller), and in particular, the member that carries and conveys the toner image is called a carrier. ..

Hereinafter, the configuration of the laser beam printer as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and the image forming process will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Subsequently, the detailed configuration of the process cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

§1 (Explanation of laser beam printer and image formation process)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a laser beam printer device main body A (hereinafter referred to as device main body A) and a process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as cartridge B), which are electrophotographic image forming devices. Further, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge B.

Hereinafter, the apparatus main body A refers to a portion of the laser beam printer, which is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, excluding the removable process cartridge B.

First, the configuration of a laser beam printer, which is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, will be described with reference to FIG.

The electrophotographic image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a laser beam printer using electrophotographic technology in which the process cartridge B is detachable (attachable and detachable) to the apparatus main body A. When the process cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A, the process cartridge B is arranged below the laser scanner unit 3 as an exposure means (exposure apparatus) in the direction of gravity.

Further, a sheet tray 4 accommodating a sheet sheet P as a recording medium (sheet material) which is an object (objective) for an image forming apparatus to form an image is arranged below the process cartridge B in the direction of gravity.

Further, in the apparatus main body A, the pickup roller 5a, the feeding roller pair 5b, the transport roller pair 5c, the transfer guide 6, the transfer roller 7, the transport guide 8, and the fixing are in this order from the upstream side along the transport direction X1 of the sheet P. The device 9, the discharge roller pair 10, and the discharge tray 11 are arranged. The fixing device 9 as the fixing means is composed of a heating roller 9a and a pressure roller 9b.

Next, the outline of the image formation process will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Based on the print start signal, the photosensitive drum 62 (hereinafter referred to as drum 62), which is a rotating body (photoreceptor) that carries a developer and can rotate, has a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) in the arrow R direction. It is driven to rotate.

The charging roller 66 to which the bias voltage is applied comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62 and uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62.

The laser scanner unit 3 as the exposure means outputs the laser beam L according to the image information input to the laser printer. The laser beam L passes through the exposure window portion 74 on the upper surface of the process cartridge B, and scans and exposes the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62. As a result, a part of the charged photoconductor is static-free, and an electrostatic image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, in the developing unit 20 as a developing device, the developer (hereinafter referred to as “toner T”) in the toner chamber 29 is stirred and conveyed by the rotation of the conveying screw 43 as a conveying member. And sent out to the toner supply chamber 28.

The toner T as a developing agent is supported on the surface of the developing roller 32 as a developing means (process means / rotating body) by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 34 (fixed magnet). The developing roller 32 functions as a rotating body that carries and conveys the developer to the developing region in order to develop the electrostatic image formed on the photoconductor. The layer thickness of the peripheral surface of the developing blade 42 and the developing roller 32 is restricted for the toner T conveyed to the developing region. The toner T is triboelectrically charged between the developing roller 32 and the developing blade 42.

The electrostatic image formed on the drum 62 is developed (visualized) by the toner T, which is carried on the surface of the developing roller as a rotating body that carries and conveys the toner on the surface. That is, the drum 66 carries the developed toner (toner image) on its surface and rotates in the direction of the arrow R.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the sheet P housed in the lower part of the apparatus main body A by the pickup roller 5a, the feeding roller pair 5b, and the transport roller pair 5c together with the output timing of the laser beam L is the seat tray 4. Will be sent from.

Then, the sheet P is supplied to the transfer position (transfer nip) between the drum 62 and the transfer roller 7 via the transfer guide 6. At this transfer position, the toner image is sequentially transferred from the drum 62 as the image carrier to the sheet P as the recording medium.

The sheet P to which the toner image is transferred is separated from the drum 62 as an image carrier and conveyed to the fixing device 9 along the conveying guide 8. Then, the sheet P passes through the fixing nip portion of the heating roller 9a and the pressure roller 9b constituting the fixing device 9. In this fixing nip portion, the unfixed toner image on the sheet P is pressed and heated to be fixed to the sheet P. After that, the sheet P on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 10 and discharged to the discharge tray 11.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer residual toner that remains on the drum surface without being transferred to the sheet adheres to the surface of the drum 62 after the toner T is transferred to the sheet. The transfer residual toner is removed by the cleaning blade 77 corresponding to the peripheral surface of the drum 62. As a result, the toner remaining on the drum 62 is cleaned, and the cleaned drum 62 is recharged and used in the image forming process. The toner (transfer residual toner) removed from the drum 62 is stored in the waste toner chamber 71b of the cleaning unit 60.

In the above, the charging roller 66, the developing roller 32, and the cleaning blade 77 all function as process means acting on the drum 62. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment adopts a method of removing the transfer residual toner with a cleaning blade, but even if a method of collecting the transfer residual toner whose charge is adjusted at the same time as development by the developing device (cleanerless method) is adopted. good. In the cleanerless system, an auxiliary charging member (auxiliary charging brush or the like) for adjusting the charge of the transfer residual toner also functions as a process means.

§2 (Process cartridge configuration description)
Next, the detailed configuration of the process cartridge B will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge B as a cartridge. The frame of the process cartridge can be disassembled into multiple units. In the process cartridge B of this embodiment, two units, a cleaning unit 60 and a developing unit 20, are integrated. In this embodiment, the developing unit 20 for holding the drum 62 and the cleaning unit 60 will be described using a configuration in which the two units are connected by two connecting pins 75 as connecting members, but the two units are divided into three or more. Is also good. As a matter of course, a plurality of units may not be connected by a connecting member such as a pin, and only a part of the units may be replaceable.

The cleaning unit 60 includes a cleaning frame body 71, a drum 62, a charging roller 66, a cleaning blade 77, and the like. The drum (cylinder) 62 as a rotating body is provided with a coupling member 86 (coupling) as a driving force transmission component at the end on the driving side. A driving force is transmitted from the main body of the apparatus to the drum 62 as a rotating body via a coupling member 86 (coupling). Therefore, it can be said that the coupling member 86 (coupling) as the drive transmission component is provided at the end portion (driven side end portion) on the side where the drum 62 is driven by the apparatus main body A.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drum 62 (photosensitive drum) as a rotating body can rotate about a rotation axis L1 (hereinafter, referred to as an axis L1) as a drum axis (rotation axis of the drum 62). Further, the coupling member 86 as the driving force transmission member can rotate around the rotation axis L2 (hereinafter, referred to as the axis L2) as the coupling axis (rotation axis of the coupling). Here, the coupling member 86 as the drive transmission member (driving force transmission component) is configured to be tilted (tilted) with respect to the drum 62. In other words, the axis L2 can be inclined with respect to the axis L1 (details will be described later).

On the other hand, the developing unit 20 includes a toner storage container 21, a lid 22, a developing container 23, a first side member 26L (driving side), a second side member 26R (non-driving side), a developing blade 42, a developing roller 32, and a magnet roller. It consists of 34. Here, the toner storage container 21 has a transport screw 43 (stirring sheet) as a transport member for transporting toner, and a toner T as a developer. Further, the developing unit 20 uses a spring (in this embodiment, a coil spring) as an urging member that applies an urging force to regulate the posture of the unit between the developing unit 20 and the cleaning unit 60. ). Further, the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are rotatably connected to each other by a connecting pin 75 (coupling pin / pin) as a connecting member to form the process cartridge B.

Specifically, rotating holes 23bL and 23bR are provided at the tips of the arm portions 23aL and 23aR formed in the developing containers 23 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 20 (the axial direction of the developing roller 32). The rotating holes 23bL and 23bR are provided in parallel with the axis of the developing roller 32.

Further, fitting holes 71a for fitting the connecting pin 75 are formed in each of the longitudinal both ends of the cleaning frame 71, which is the frame (casing) on the cleaning unit side. Then, the arm portions 23aL and 23aR are aligned with the predetermined positions of the cleaning frame body 71, and the connecting pin 75 is inserted into the rotation holes 23bL and 23bR and the fitting hole 71a. As a result, the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are rotatably coupled around the connecting pin 75 as a connecting member.

At this time, the coil spring 46 (coil spring) as an urging member attached to the bases of the arm portions 23aL and 23aR hits the cleaning frame body 71, and the developing unit 20 is transferred to the cleaning unit 60 with the connecting pin 75 as the center of rotation. I'm urging.

As a result, the developing roller 32 as a process means is reliably pressed toward the drum 62 as a rotating body. As a result, the developing roller 32 is kept at a predetermined distance from the drum 62 by spacers (not shown) as ring-shaped spacing members attached to both ends of the developing roller 32.

§3 (Explanation of attachment / detachment of process cartridge)
In the above configuration, the operation of attaching and detaching the process cartridge B to and from the apparatus main body A will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of how the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body A. FIG. 4A is a perspective view seen from the non-driving side, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view seen from the driving side. The drive side refers to the end portion in the longitudinal direction provided with the coupling member 86 of the process cartridge B.

An opening / closing door 13 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body A. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a device main body in a state where the opening / closing door 13 is opened.

Inside the device main body A, a drive head 14 as a main body side engaging portion and a guide member 12 as a guide mechanism are provided. Here, the drive head 14 is a drive transmission mechanism on the main body side for driving force to a cartridge provided on the device main body A side and mounted on the device, and engages with the coupling member 86 of the cartridge provided on the main body side. Rotational force can be transmitted to the cartridge by rotating the drive head 14 after engagement. The drive head 14 can be regarded as a coupling on the main body side in that it engages with the coupling provided in the process cartridge B and transmits the drive. Here, the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion is rotatably supported by the device main body A. Further, the drive head 14 includes a drive shaft 14a as a shaft portion and a drive pin 14b as an imparting portion for applying a rotational force (see FIG. 5 (b3)). Although described as the drive pin 14b in this embodiment, the drive shaft 14a is provided with a protrusion (convex portion) protruding radially outward from the rotation axis, and the driving force is transmitted from the surface of the protrusion to the cartridge side. It may be a configuration. Further, the drive pin 14a may be press-fitted into a hole provided in the drive shaft 14a and then welded. The hatched portion (shaded portion) of FIGS. 5 (b1) to 5 (b4) represents a cut surface. Similarly, in FIGS. 5 and 5 onward, hatching (shading processing) is performed on the cross-sectional view.

Further, the guide member 12 as a guide mechanism is a main body side guide member that guides the process cartridge B into the apparatus main body A. The guide member 12 may be a plate-shaped member provided with a groove for guiding, or may be a member provided so as to guide the process cartridge B while supporting it from the lower surface.

Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 5, a state in which the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body A while the coupling member 86 as a driving force transmission component is tilted (tilted, rocked, swiveled) will be described. ..

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of how the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body A while the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted, rocked, swiveled). 5 (a1) to 5 (a4) are enlarged views of the vicinity of the coupling member 86 when viewed from the drive side to the non-drive side. Further, FIG. 5 (b1) is a cross-sectional view (S1 cross-sectional view) cut along the S1-S1 cutting line shown in FIG. 5 (a1). Similarly, FIG. 5 (b2) shows FIG. 5 (a2), FIG. 5 (b3) shows FIG. 5 (a3), and FIG. 5 (b4) shows FIG. 5 (a4), which is the same as FIG. 5 (a1). It is sectional drawing (S1 sectional drawing) cut by the S1 cutting line.

It should be noted that the process cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A in the order of FIGS. 5 (a1) to 5 (a4), and FIG. 5 (a4) shows that the process cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A. It shows the state of being done. Further, in FIG. 5, two parts, a guide member 12 and a drive head 14, are drawn as parts of the apparatus main body A, and the other parts are parts of the process cartridge B.

Here, the directions indicated by the arrows X2 and X3 in FIG. 5 are substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis L3 of the drive head 14. Hereinafter, the direction indicated by the arrow X2 is referred to as an X2 direction, and the direction indicated by the arrow X3 is referred to as an X3 direction. Similarly, the X2 direction and the X3 direction are substantially orthogonal to the axis L1 of the drum 62 of the process cartridge. In FIG. 5, the direction indicated by the arrow X2 is the direction in which the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A (downstream in the cartridge mounting direction). Further, the direction indicated by the arrow X3 is the direction in which the process cartridge B is separated from the main body of the apparatus (upstream side in the cartridge mounting direction). Further, the direction indicated by the arrow X2 and the direction indicated by the arrow X3 can be regarded as the attachment / detachment direction. It can also be considered that attachment and detachment have a meaning of direction. In this case, the description may be made using expressions such as upstream in the mounting direction, downstream in the mounting direction, upstream in the detaching direction, and downstream in the detaching direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the process cartridge B has a spring as an urging member (elastic member). In this embodiment, a torsion spring 91 (also known as a torsion spring, a torsion coil spring, or a kick spring) is used as this spring. The torsion spring 91 urges the free end portion 86a of the coupling member so as to fall toward the drive head 14. In other words, in the process of mounting the process cartridge B, the torsion spring 91 urges the coupling member 86 so that the free end portion 86a faces the downstream side in the mounting direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the drive head 14. The process cartridge B is inserted into the apparatus main body A while the free end portion 86a of the coupling member 86 is kept in a posture (state) facing the drive head 14 (details will be described later).

Here, the rotation axis of the drum 62 is the axis L1, the rotation axis of the coupling member 86 is the axis L2, and the rotation axis of the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion is the axis L3. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5 (b1) to 5 (b3), the axis L2 is in a state of being inclined with respect to the axis L1 and the axis L3. The rotation axis of the drive head 14 is substantially the same as the rotation axis of the drive shaft 14a. Further, since the drive-side flange 87 is provided at the end of the drum 62 and rotates integrally, the rotation axis of the drive-side flange 87 is substantially the same as the rotation axis of the drum 62.

When the process cartridge B is inserted to the extent shown in FIGS. 5 (a3) and 5 (b3), the coupling member 86 comes into contact with the drive head 14. FIG. 5 (b3) shows an example in which the drive pin 14b as the imparting portion for applying the rotational force is in contact with the standby portion 86k1 of the coupling member. This contact regulates the position (tilt) of the coupling member 86, and the amount of tilt (tilt) of the axis L2 with respect to the axis L1 (axis L3) gradually decreases.

In this embodiment, an example in which the drive pin 14b as the imparting portion is in contact with the standby portion 86k1 of the coupling member has been described. However, the portion where the coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 come into contact with each other changes depending on the phase state of the coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 in the rotational direction. Therefore, it is not limited to the contact position of this embodiment. Any part of the free end portion 86a (details will be described later) of the coupling member may come into contact with any part of the drive head 14.

When the process cartridge B is inserted to the mounting complete position, the axis L2 is substantially aligned with the axis L1 (axis L3) as shown in FIGS. 5 (a4) and 5 (b4). In other words, the rotation axes of the coupling member 86, the drive head 14, and the drive side flange 87 are substantially aligned.

In this way, by engaging the coupling member 86 provided in the process cartridge B with the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion, the rotational force can be transmitted from the device main body to the cartridge. Then, when the process cartridge B is removed from the apparatus main body A, the state of FIGS. 5 (a4) and 5 (b4) is changed to the state of FIGS. 5 (a1) and 5 (b1). When the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted) with respect to the axis L1 in the same manner as the mounting operation, the coupling member 86 is separated from the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion. That is, the process cartridge B moves in the X3 direction (which is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis L3 of the drive head 14) opposite to the X2 direction, and the coupling member 86 is separated from the drive head 14.

The process cartridge B may move in the X2 direction or the X3 direction only in the vicinity of the mounting completion position. The process cartridge B may move in any direction except in the vicinity of the mounting completion position. That is, the locus of movement of the cartridge immediately before the coupling member 86 engages in or disengages from the drive head 14 may move in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis L3 of the drive head 14.

§4 (Explanation of coupling members)
Subsequently, the coupling member 86 will be described with reference to FIG. The direction of rotation is expressed as clockwise (Clockwise), counterclockwise (Counterclockwise), clockwise, or counterclockwise with respect to the hand movement direction of the clock. The rotation direction R in FIG. 6 is counterclockwise when the non-driving side is viewed from the driving side of the cartridge.

Further, in order to explain the configuration of each element described in the drawings, a line drawn on a plane for explanation is called a virtual line, and a surface drawn on a perspective view for explanation is called a virtual surface. When it is necessary to explain using a large number of virtual lines, expressions such as a first virtual line, a second virtual line, and a third virtual line are used. Similarly, when it is necessary to explain using a large number of virtual surfaces, expressions such as a first virtual surface, a second virtual surface, and a third virtual surface are used. Unless otherwise specified, when expressed as the inside of the cartridge (inside the cartridge) or the outside of the cartridge (outside the cartridge), the inside is regarded as the inside (inside direction) and the outside is regarded as the outside (outside direction) with respect to the frame. ..

FIG. 6A is a side view of the coupling member 86. Further, FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S2 of FIG. 6A in which the coupling member 86 is cut along the S2-S2 cutting line of FIG. 6A. In FIG. 6B, the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion is displayed in a state where it is not cut.

FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 are engaged with each other. Specifically, it is the figure which looked at the coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 in the direction of the arrow V1 of FIG. 6A from the end portion (end surface) of the drive side of a cartridge and the outside of a drive head 14. Further, FIG. 6D is a perspective view of the coupling member 86. FIG. 6E is an explanatory view in the vicinity of the free end portion 86a (described later), and is a side view seen in a direction along the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 receiving the rotational force (V2 direction in FIG. 6C).

As shown in FIG. 6, the coupling member 86 has three main parts. Simply put, it consists of two ends and an intermediate part between them.

The first portion is a free end portion 86a for engaging with the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion and receiving a rotational force from the drive head 14. Further, the free end portion 86a has an opening portion 86m widened to the drive side.

The second portion is a coupling portion 86c (accommodated portion) that is substantially spherical. The coupling portion 86c is held (coupled / connected) tiltably by a drive-side flange 87 which is a transmitted member. Of the end of the drum (cylinder end), the drive side flange 87 is attached to one end side of the drum, and the non-drive side flange 64 is attached to the other end side.

The first portion can be regarded as including one end side of the coupling member, and the second portion can be regarded as including the other end side of the coupling member. Further, the second portion can be regarded as including the rotation center when the coupling member rotates (tilts) when it is held by the drive side flange 87.

The third portion is a connecting portion 86g that connects the free end portion 86a and the connecting portion 86c.

Here, the maximum rotation diameter φZ2 of the connecting portion 86g is smaller than the maximum rotation diameter φZ3 of the coupling portion 86c (φZ2 <φZ3), and is smaller than the maximum rotation diameter φZ1 of the free end portion 86a (φZ2 <φZ1). In other terms, the diameter of at least a portion of the joint 86g is smaller than the largest of the diameters of the junction. Further, the diameter of at least a part of the connecting portion 86g is smaller than the maximum diameter of the free end portion 86a. This diameter is the maximum rotation diameter around the rotation axis of the coupling member, and refers to the largest diameter part of the virtual circle drawn by each cross section of the coupling member on the virtual plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the coupling member. ing.

Further, the maximum rotation diameter φZ3 of the coupling portion 86c is larger than the maximum rotation diameter Z1 of the free end portion 86a (φZ3> φZ1). As a result, when the coupling member 86 is passed through a hole having a diameter of φZ1 or more and φZ3 or less from the free end portion 86a side, the coupling member 86 is caught in the hole and does not pass through. Therefore, when assembling the coupling member 86, or after assembling, it becomes easy to prevent the coupling member from falling off from the assembled unit. In this embodiment, the maximum rotation diameter φZ1 of the free end portion 86a is larger than the maximum rotation diameter φZ2 of the connecting portion 86g and smaller than the maximum rotation diameter φZ3 of the coupling portion 86c (φZ3> φZ1> φZ2).

The maximum rotation diameters φZ1, φZ2, and φZ3, respectively, can be measured as shown in FIG. 6A. Specifically, the diameter in the radial direction of each part of the coupling member is measured on the cross section including the rotation axis of the coupling member, and the diameter is the largest for each part. It should be noted that the three-dimensional figure formed by the coupling member rotating about the rotation axis may be considered as a basis. Specifically, the point located at the position farthest in the radial direction from the rotation axis is specified among the parts constituting the coupling member. Then, the locus drawn when the specified point rotates around the rotation axis of the coupling member may be treated as a virtual circle, and the diameter of the virtual circle may be expressed as the maximum rotation diameter.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the opening 86m has a conical shape as an expansion portion (expansion portion) that expands toward the drive head 14 side with the coupling member 86 mounted on the apparatus main body A. Has a receiving surface 86f. Further, the receiving surface 86f is an outer peripheral surface of the free end portion, and the receiving surface 86f projects outward to form a recess 86z inside the free end portion. The recess 86z has an opening 86m (opening) on the side opposite to the side (cylinder side) where the drum 62 is provided in the axis L2 direction.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, two claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 are pointed with respect to the axis L2 on the tip side of the free end portion 86a and on the circumference centered on the axis L2. It is placed in a symmetrical position. Further, standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 are provided between the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2. Here, although the configuration including a pair of protrusions has been described, one protrusion may be used to transmit the driving force. In this case, the space between the clockwise downstream surface and the upstream surface of the protrusion can be regarded as the standby portion. Here, the standby unit is a space required when the drive pin 14b of the drive head 14 provided in the apparatus main body A stands by without contacting the claw portion 86d. This space is larger than the diameter of the drive pin 14b as the imparting portion for applying the rotational force.

This space functions as a play when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body A. Further, in the radial direction of the coupling member 86, the recess 86z is configured to be located inside the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2. The radial width of the claw portion 86d is substantially the same as the width of the standby portion.

As shown in FIG. 6 (c), when waiting for the rotational force to be transmitted from the drive head 14 to the coupling member 86, the drive pins 14b that apply the rotational force to the standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 are provided. Positioned (preparation position / standby position). Further, in FIG. 6D, receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 (see FIG. 6A) that receive a rotational force intersecting the R direction are located on the upstream side of the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 when they are rotated in the R direction. Each is provided. The R direction in the figure is a direction in which the device rotates by receiving a driving force from the drive head 14 of the main body of the apparatus at the time of image formation.

Here, the drive head 14 and the drive pin 14b for transmitting the drive to the process cartridge B constitute a drive transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive. Of course, depending on the shape of the drive head, it is conceivable that one member will carry out multiple functions. In that case, the surface of the member that actually contacts the other member and transmits the drive is regarded as a part that fulfills the function.

The coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 are engaged with each other, and the surface of the drive pin 14b on the main body side comes into contact with the side surfaces of the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 of the coupling member 86 while the drive head 14 is rotating. As a result, the rotational force is transmitted from the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion to the coupling member 86 as the drive transmission component.

Further, at the roots of the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2, relief portions 86n1 and 86n2 recessed on the coupling portion 86c side with respect to the standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 are provided. The relief portions 86n1 and 86n2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7. 7 (b) is an S3 cross section of FIG. 7 (a).

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the coupling member 86 is tilted along the drive pin 14b to which the rotational force is applied from the state where the drive pin 14b and the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are in contact with each other. As shown in FIG. 7, when the coupling member 86 is tilted while the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are in contact with the drive pin 14b, in order to avoid interference between the standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 and the drive pin 14b, Relief portions 86n1 and 86n2 are provided. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the entire standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 when the entire standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 are scraped to the coupling portion 86c side or the drive pin 14b is shortened. However, in this embodiment, when the standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 are cut toward the coupling portion 86c, the rigidity of the coupling member 86 may decrease. Therefore, the relief portions 86n1 and 86n2 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 6C, in order to stabilize the rotational torque transmitted to the coupling member 86 as much as possible, it is desirable that the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are arranged at point-symmetrical positions about the axis L2. .. As a result, the rotational force transmission radius becomes constant, and the rotational torque transmitted to the coupling member 86 becomes stable. Further, in order to stabilize the position of the coupling member 86 that has received the rotational force as much as possible, it is desirable to arrange the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 at positions facing each other by 180 °. In particular, in the configuration where there is no protrusion (flange) that surrounds the receiving portion and the outer peripheral portion of the standby portion like a collar on the outer peripheral portion near the receiving portion of the free end portion as in this embodiment, the number of receiving portions is large. The number is preferably two. If the outer peripheral portion of the receiving portion is provided with an annular flange, the receiving portion is not exposed when viewed from the outside in the radial direction along the rotation axis. Therefore, regardless of the posture of the coupling member, the receiving portion is relatively easy to protect when the cartridge is transported. However, in a configuration in which the receiving portion cannot be seen by the collar when viewed from the outside along the rotation axis of the coupling member, the collar tends to interfere with the engaging portion.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 (d) and 6 (e), in order to stabilize the position of the coupling member 86 that has received the rotational force, the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 are placed so that the tip side approaches the axis L2. It is desirable to incline the axis L2 with an angle θ3. This is because, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the coupling member 86 is attracted to the drive head 14 side as the main body side engaging portion by the rotational torque transmitted to the coupling member 86. As a result, the conical receiving surface 86f and the spherical portion 14c of the drive head 14 come into contact with each other, and the position of the coupling member 86 becomes more stable.

Further, the number of claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 installed is two in this embodiment, but it can be appropriately changed as long as the drive pin 14b can enter the standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 as described above. However, since it is necessary for the drive pin 14b to enter the standby portion, it may be necessary to reduce the width of the claw portion itself (the width in the circumferential direction in FIG. 6C) by increasing the number of claw portions to be installed. There is. In such a case, it is preferable to have two protrusions (one pair) as in this embodiment.

Further, the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 may be arranged radially inside the receiving surface 86f. Alternatively, the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 may be arranged at locations protruding outward in the radial direction from the receiving surface 86f in the axis L2 direction. However, in this embodiment, as described above, the driving force is received from the drive head 14 on the side surfaces of the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 protruding from the receiving surface 86f in the direction away from the drum 62 along the rotation axis. Therefore, the protrusions themselves of the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 of the free end portions 86a that receive the driving force from the apparatus main body are exposed. This is because if an annular collar that surrounds the protrusion (claw) is provided, when the coupling member 86 is tilted, it interferes with surrounding parts and limits the tiltable angle of the coupling member 86. .. Another reason is that if the annular collar is provided, the surrounding parts are escaped and arranged, and the cartridge B becomes large in size.

Therefore, the cartridge B (and the apparatus main body A) can be downsized by not providing a shape other than the portions receiving the driving force from the apparatus main body (claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 in this embodiment). On the other hand, since the collar surrounding the protrusion is not provided, there is an increased risk of contact with other parts during transportation. However, by urging the coupling member 86 with a spring as described later, the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 can be accommodated in the outermost portion of the bearing member 76. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 are damaged during transportation.

Here, in this embodiment, the protrusion amount Z15 of the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 from the standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 is set to 4 mm. This is an amount suitable for the standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 not to interfere with the drive pin 14b even in consideration of component tolerances and for surely engaging the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 with the drive pin 14b. It can be changed depending on the parts accuracy. However, if the standby portions 86k1 and 86k2 are released from the drive pin 14b more than necessary, there is a risk of increasing the deformation when the drive is transmitted to the coupling member 86. On the other hand, if the protruding amount of the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 is increased, the size of the cartridge B and the apparatus main body A becomes large. Therefore, the protrusion amount Z15 is preferably in the range of 3 mm or more and 5 mm or less.

In this embodiment, the length of the free end portion 86a in the axis L1 direction is about 6 mm. Therefore, the length of the base portion (the portion other than the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2) of the free end portion 86a is about 2 mm, and as a result, the length of the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 in the axis L1 direction is the length of the base portion (claw portion). It is longer than the length of (parts other than 86d1 and 86d2).

The inner diameter φZ4 of the receiving portions 86e1 and 86e2 is provided to be larger than the maximum rotation diameter φZ2 of the connecting portion 86g. In this embodiment, φZ4 is 2 mm larger than φZ2.

As shown in FIG. 6, the coupling portion 86c is composed of a substantially spherical shape 86c1, an arcuate surface portion 86q1, 86q2, and a hole portion 86b having a center C as a tilting center substantially on the 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. In this embodiment, φZ3 is 1 mm larger than φZ1. It should be noted that the substantial diameters of the spherical portions may be compared, and the diameters of the virtual spheres may be compared when the shape is partially lightened for convenience of molding. Further, the arcuate surface portions 86q1 and 86q2 are arcuate surfaces in which an arc shape having the same diameter as the connecting portion 86g is extended along the axis L2. The hole portion 86b, which is a through hole, penetrates in a direction orthogonal to the axis L2. The hole portion 86b, which is a through hole, is composed of first inclined regulated portions 86p1 and 86p2 orthogonal to the axis L2 and transmission portions 86b1 and 86b2 parallel to the axis L2.

Here, the first inclined regulated portions 86p1 and 86p2 have a planar shape that is equidistant from the center C of the spherical shape 86c1 (Z9 = Z9). Further, the transmission portions 86b1 and 86b2 also have a planar shape equidistant from the center C of the spherical shape 86c1 (Z8 = Z8). The diameter of the pin 88 that passes through the hole 86b and supports the coupling member 86 so as to be tiltable is 2 mm. Therefore, if Z9 exceeds 1 mm, the coupling member 86 can be tilted. Further, when the Z8 is 1 mm, the pin 88 can pass through the hole portion, and when the Z8 exceeds 1 mm, the coupling member 86 has a degree of freedom so that it can rotate a certain amount around the axis L1.

Further, the end portion of the hole portion 86b of the first inclined regulated portions 86p1 and 86p2 in the direction orthogonal to the axis L2 reaches the outer edge of the arcuate surface portions 86q1 and 86q2. Further, of the transmission portions 86b1 and 86b2, the end portion of the hole portion 86b in the direction orthogonal to the axis L2 reaches the outer edge of the spherical shape 86c1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the connecting portion 86g has a cylindrical shape connecting the free end portion 86a and the connecting portion 86c, and is substantially a cylindrical (or cylindrical) shaft portion along the axis L2. be.

As the material of the coupling member 86 of this embodiment, a resin such as polyacetal, polycarbonate, PPS, or a liquid crystal polymer may be used. Further, the rigidity may be increased by blending glass fiber, carbon fiber or the like with these resins, or by inserting a metal into the resin. Further, the entire coupling member 86 may be made of metal or the like. In this example, the best metal for miniaturizing the coupling was adopted. Specifically, a zinc die-cast alloy was adopted. The spherical portion on the free end side 86a of the joint portion 86c is configured so as to cut a part of the spherical surface on the side close to the joint portion 86g. In addition, by devising the shape of the coupling member, the total length including the first part to the third part is set to be about 21 mm or less. Further, the length in the longitudinal direction from the tilt center C to the end of the free end that engages with the main body drive pin is 15 mm or less. The shorter the distance from the center where the coupling member tilts, the smaller the distance retracted from the drive pin when the coupling tilts at the same angle. In other words, in order to reduce the size of the cartridge, it is necessary to take measures such as increasing the tiltable angle (tilt angle) required to avoid the drive pin by shortening the coupling member. Further, the free end portion 86a, the connecting portion 86c, and the connecting portion 86g may be integrally molded, or may be integrally formed of separate bodies. When the photosensitive drum and the flange to which the coupling member is attached are taken out from the cartridge, the coupling member is attached so as to be tiltable (inclinable) in any tilting direction.

§5 (Explanation of drum unit configuration)
The configuration of the photosensitive drum unit U1 (hereinafter referred to as the drum unit U1) will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

8A and 8B are explanatory views of the configuration of the drum unit U1, FIG. 8A is a perspective view seen from the driving side, FIG. 8B is a perspective view seen from the non-driving side, and FIG. 8C is an exploded view. It is a perspective view. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of how the drum unit U1 is incorporated into the cleaning unit 60.

As shown in FIG. 8, the drum unit U1 is composed of a drum 62, a drive-side flange unit U2 to which rotational force is transmitted from a coupling member, a non-drive-side flange 64, and a ground plate 65. The drum 62 as a rotating body is a conductive member such as aluminum whose surface is coated with a photosensitive layer. The inside of the drum 62 may be hollow or the inside may be solid.

The drive-side flange unit U2 as a transmitted member to which the rotational force is transmitted from the coupling member is arranged at the end of the drive-side of the drum 62. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8C, in the drive-side flange unit U2, the fixed portion 87b of the drive-side flange 87, which is a transmitted member, is fitted into the opening 62a1 at the end of the drum 62. , Is fixed to the drum 62 by adhesion, caulking, or the like. Then, when the drive side flange 87 rotates, the drum 62 rotates integrally. Here, the rotation axis of the drive-side flange 87 as the flange axis is fixed to the drum 62 so that the axis L1 of the drum 62 is substantially coaxial (on the same straight line).

It should be noted that "substantially coaxial (on the same straight line)" means not only the case of a completely coincident coaxial (on the same straight line) but also the case of a slight deviation from the coaxial (on the same straight line) due to variations in component dimensions and the like. include. The same applies to the following description.

Similarly, the non-driving side flange 64 is located at the non-driving side end of the drum 62, substantially coaxial with the drum 62. In this embodiment, the non-driving side flange 64 is made of resin. Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, the non-driving side flange 64 is fixed to the opening 62a2 at the longitudinal end of the drum 62 to the drum 62 by adhesion, caulking, or the like. Further, a conductive (mainly metal) ground plate 65 is arranged on the non-driving side flange 64. The ground plate 65 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the drum 62 and is electrically connected to the apparatus main body A.

As shown in FIG. 9, the drum unit U1 is supported by the cleaning unit 60.

On the non-driving side of the drum unit U1, the bearing portion 64a (see FIG. 8B) of the non-driving side flange 64 is rotatably supported by the drum shaft 78. The drum shaft 78 is press-fitted and fixed to a support portion 71b provided on the non-driving side of the cleaning frame body 71.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, on the drive side of the drum unit U1, a bearing member 76 that contacts and supports the flange unit U2 is provided. The wall surface (plate-shaped portion) 76h as the base portion (fixed portion) of the bearing member 76 is fixed to the cleaning frame 71 by screws 90. Specifically, the bearing member 76 is screwed to the cleaning frame 71. The drive-side flange 87 is supported by the cleaning frame 71 via the bearing member 76 (details of the bearing member 76 will be described later). When the plate-shaped portion 76h of the bearing member 76 is used as a reference surface, the support member has protrusions inside and outside the cartridge, respectively. Since the bearing member 76, which is a support member, is the frame body of the cartridge, the protrusion protruding from the bearing member 76 can be regarded as the frame body protrusion (convex portion). Similarly, regarding the protrusion (first protrusion) that receives the urging force from the device body and the protrusion (second protrusion) for attaching the spring, the bearing member 76 is attached to the cartridge frame body, so that the protrusion extends from the frame. Can be regarded as. The bearing member 76 and the frame of the cartridge may be provided with ribs, grooves, and lightening in places other than those specified in this embodiment in order to secure shrinkage and strength during resin molding.

In this embodiment, the bearing member 76 is fixed to the cleaning frame 71 with screws 90, but it may be fixed by adhesion or joined by molten resin. Further, the cleaning frame body 71 and the bearing member 76 may be integrated.

§6 (Explanation of drive side flange unit)
The configuration of the drive-side flange unit U2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the drive side flange unit U2, FIG. 10 (a) is a view from the drive side, and FIG. 10 (b) is a view from the non-drive side. 11A and 11B are explanatory views of the configuration of the drive-side flange unit U2, FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the drive-side flange unit U2, and FIG. 11B is cut at the S4-S4 cut surface of FIG. 11A. 11 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the S5-S5 cut surface of FIG. 11 (a). FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an assembly method of the drive side flange unit U2.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the drive-side flange unit U2 has a coupling member 86, a pin 88 which is a shaft portion (shaft), a drive-side flange 87, and a lid member 89 as a regulation member. Here, the coupling member 86 engages with the drive head 14 and receives a rotational force. The pin 88 has a substantially cylindrical shape (or cylindrical shape) 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. At this time, the pin 88 as the shaft portion abuts on the through hole of the coupling member to transmit the rotational force, so that the pin 88 abuts on a part of the through hole to regulate the rotation of the coupling member in the rotational direction. To prepare for. Further, in order to regulate the tilt of the pin 88 coupling member 86 as the shaft portion, a tilt regulating portion that comes into contact with the portion of the through shaft to regulate the tilt of the coupling member is provided.

Further, the drive side flange 87 receives a rotational force from the pin 88 and transmits the rotational force to the drum 62. The lid member 89 as a regulating member regulates the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 from falling off from the drive side flange 87. As a result, the coupling member 86 can take various postures with respect to the drive side flange 87. In other words, the coupling member 86 is held in a tiltable manner with the rotation center as a fulcrum, such as the first posture and the second posture different from the first posture. If attention is paid to the free end portion of the coupling member, various positions (first position, second position different from the first position) can be taken.

As described above, the drive-side flange unit U2 is composed of a plurality of members, and serves as a flange by integrating the drive-side flange 87 as the first member and the lid member 89 as the second member. The drive-side flange 87 functions both as a portion receiving drive from the pin 88 and as transmitting the drive to the drum 62. On the contrary, the lid member 89 holds the pin 88 together with the drive side flange 87 without substantially contacting the inside of the drum.

Subsequently, each component will be described with reference to FIG.

As described above, the coupling member 86 is provided with a free end portion 86a and a coupling portion 86c (accommodated portion). The joint portion 86c is provided with a hole portion 86b as a through hole. Inside (inner wall) of the hole 86b, there are transmission portions 86b1 and 86b2 for transmitting a rotational force to the pin 88. Further, inside (inner wall) of the hole 86b, there are first inclined regulated portions 86p1 and 86p2 as inclined regulated portions that come into contact with the pin 88 in order to regulate the inclined amount of the coupling member 86 (FIG. 15 (FIG. 15). See also b2)). Here, a part of the peripheral surface of the pin 88 as the shaft portion functions as an inclination restricting portion (first inclination regulating portion).

The drive-side flange 87 has a fixed portion 87b, a first cylindrical portion 87j, an annular groove portion 87p, and a second cylindrical portion 87h. Here, the fixed portion 87b is a portion that comes into contact with the inner surface of the cylinder of the drum 62 and is fixed to the drum 62 in order to transmit a driving force. Further, the second cylindrical portion 87h is provided inside the first cylindrical portion 87j in the radial direction, and the annular groove portion 87p is provided between the first cylindrical portion 87j and the second cylindrical portion 87h. The first cylindrical portion 87j has a gear portion (shoulder gear) 87c on the outer side in the radial direction and a supported portion 87d on the inner side in the radial direction (on the side of the annular groove portion 87p). As the tooth shape of the gear portion (gear) 87c, a tooth gear is particularly desirable from the viewpoint of drive transmission, but a gear such as a spur tooth gear may be used. Further, the second cylindrical portion 87h of the drive side flange 87 has a hollow shape, and has a storage portion (hollow portion) 87i inside. Here, the storage portion (cavity portion) 87i is a portion for storing the coupling portion 86c of the coupling member 86 inside. Further, as a dropout prevention section (overhang section / dropout control section) that abuts on the drive side of the storage section 87i with the coupling section 86c to prevent (regulate) the coupling member 86 from falling off to the drive side. A conical portion 87k is provided. Specifically, the conical portion 87k comes into contact with the outer periphery of the coupling portion 86c of the coupling member 86 to restrict the coupling member from falling off. More specifically, the conical portion 87k abuts on the substantially spherical portion of the coupling portion 86c to restrict the coupling member 86 from falling off. That is, the minimum inner diameter of the conical portion 87k is smaller than the inner diameter of the storage portion 87i. That is, the conical portion 87k protrudes (protrudes and overhangs) from the inner surface of the storage portion 87i toward the center of the axis of the coupling member (the cavity side), and abuts on the peripheral surface of the coupling portion 86c to regulate the dropout. be able to.

In this embodiment, the conical portion 87k has a conical shape with the axis L1 as the central axis, but may be, for example, a spherical surface or a plane intersecting the axis L1. On the drive side of the conical portion 87k, an opening 87m for projecting the free end portion 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 portion 86a. Has been done. Further on the drive side of the opening 87m, a second inclination restricting portion 87n is provided as another inclination regulating portion that comes into contact with the outer periphery of the coupling member 86 when the coupling member 86 is inclined (tilted). Specifically, the second inclination restricting portion 87n comes into contact with the connecting portion 86g as the second inclination regulated portion when the coupling member 86 is inclined. Further, the gear portion 87c is a portion that transmits a rotational force to the developing roller 32. Further, the supported portion 87d is a portion supported by the support portion 76a of the bearing member 76 (support member), and is provided on the back side of the wall thickness of the gear 87c. These are arranged on a coaxial line with the axis L1 of the drum 62.

Here, when the coupling member 86 abuts on the first inclination restricting portion, the inclination angle is configured to be smaller than when the coupling member 86 abuts on the second inclination regulating portion (details will be described later).

Further, the storage portion 87i provided inside the second cylindrical portion 87h has a pair of groove portions 87e (recesses) arranged in parallel with the axis L1 at positions shifted by 180 ° from each other with respect to the axis L1. .. The groove portion 87e opens toward the fixed portion 87b side in the axis L1 direction of the drive side flange 87, and is connected to the cavity portion 87i in the radial direction. Further, the bottom portion of the groove portion 87e has a retaining portion 87f which is an orthogonal plane orthogonal to the axis L1. Further, the recess 87e has a pair of transmitted portions 87g that receive a rotational force from the pin 88 described later. Here, the groove portion 87e (at least a part of the groove portion) and the annular groove portion 87p (at least a part of the groove portion) overlap each other in the axis L1 direction (see FIG. 12B). Therefore, the size of the drive side flange 87 can be reduced.

Further, the lid member 89 as a regulating member protrudes substantially in parallel with the axis L1 from the conical base portion 89a, the hole portion 89c provided in the base portion 89a, and the base portion 89a, and has a phase shift of about 180 ° around the axis of the base. A pair of protruding portions 89b are provided. The protruding portion 89b has a longitudinal restricting portion 89b1 at the tip in the L1 direction of the axis.

In this embodiment, the drive side flange 87 is made of a resin molded 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. Further, in this embodiment, the drive side flange 87 has a gear portion 87c that transmits a rotational force to the developing roller 32. However, the rotation of the developing roller 32 does not have to be particularly via the drive side flange 87. In that case, the gear portion 87c can be eliminated. However, when the gear portion 87c is arranged on the drive side flange 87 as in the present embodiment, it is preferable to integrally mold the gear portion 87c with the drive side flange 87.

Next, the bearing member 76 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing only the periphery of the bearing member 76 in the cleaning unit U1. FIG. 13A is a side view seen from the drive side. 13 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the S61-S61 cutting line of FIG. 13 (a), and FIGS. 13 (c) and 13 (d) are perspective views. Further, FIG. 13 (e) is a cross-sectional view taken along the S62-S62 cutting line of FIG. 13 (a). 14A and 14B are perspective views of the bearing member 76, FIG. 14A is a view seen from the drive side, FIG. 14B is a view seen from the non-drive side, and a drive side flange 87 is added for explanation. ing. 14 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the S71 plane of FIG. 14 (b).

As shown in FIG. 14, the bearing member 76 mainly protrudes from the plate-shaped portion 76h, the plate-shaped portion 76h to one (driving side), the first protruding portion 76j, and the plate-shaped portion 76h to the other (non-driving side). It is composed of a support portion 76a as a second protruding portion. Further, the bearing member 76 has a notch portion 76k as a retracting portion (entered portion) recessed from the plate-shaped portion 76h in the projecting direction (non-driving side) of the support portion 76a. The cutout portion 76k as the retracted portion (entered portion) is a recess when viewed from the reference surface of the bearing member 76, and in this embodiment, it is a groove portion wide toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. This recess is preferably groove-shaped in order to secure the rigidity of the bearing member 76, but is not limited to this shape. Here, the recess from the reference surface is called a retracting part because it is a space where the coupling member can be tilted and retracted in order to prevent the coupling and the drive pin on the main body side from interfering with each other at the time of mounting. Is. From a different point of view, the dent from the reference plane can be called the invaded part. This is because the inclining coupling member enters the recessed portion. In addition, the coupling guide on the main body side, which will be described later, can also enter this recess. It is sufficient that at least a part of the coupling member and the coupling guide penetrates into the above-mentioned recess, and it is not necessary that all of them penetrate completely. Therefore, the recess provided in the frame of the cartridge frame is a retracting space for coupling depending on the viewpoint, and can be called an invaded portion into which the coupling member or the like enters.

Specifically, it suffices if the coupling member tilts downward in the cartridge mounting direction so that the tilt angle can be tilted (retracted) more than in other directions, and the width expands radially. It may be in shape. The shape of the retracted portion (entry portion) is not limited to the groove, and may be a recess that faces the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction from the rotation axis of the flange, and is not limited to the groove shape. The first protruding portion 76j has a cavity portion 76i accommodating the coupling member 86 on the inner side in the radial direction, and the cavity portion 76i is notched via a notch portion 76j1 provided in a part of the first protruding portion 76j. It is spatially connected to the portion 76k. Further, the notch portion 76k as the retracting portion is provided on the mounting direction (X2) side of the process cartridge B when viewed from the cavity portion 76i. As a result, the coupling member 86 is configured to be tilted (tilted) toward the mounting direction (X2) (see FIG. 13). As a result, the coupling member 86 can be retracted (largely tiltable) into the cuttable portion 76k as the retracting portion when the cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus.

In addition, in the bearing member 76, the cylindrical support portion 76a enters the annular groove portion 87p of the drive-side flange 87 and rotatably supports the supported portion 87d.

Further, the first protruding portion 76j has a cylindrical portion 76d that functions as a guided portion and a first positioned portion when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A, and a spring receiving portion 76e. Further, a mounting tip portion 76f that functions as a second positioned portion is provided on the tip side of the notch portion 76k in the mounting direction (X2) direction. Here, the cylindrical portion 76d and the mounting tip portion 76f are provided at different positions in the axis L1 direction with the plate-shaped portion 76h and the notch portion 76k interposed therebetween, and are concentric with each other and have different diameters.

In this embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 87j, the annular groove portion 87p, the second cylindrical portion 87h, and the groove portion 87e overlap in the axis L1 direction. Therefore, the support portion 76a and the pin 88 of the bearing member 76 entering the annular groove portion 87p, the spherical shape 86c1 of the coupling member 86, and the gear portion 87c are arranged at overlapping positions in the axis L1 direction. Further, as described above, the bearing member 76 is provided with a notch portion 76k recessed on the non-driving side of the plate-shaped portion 76h, and when the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted), the coupling member 86 is provided with a notch portion 76k. A part of it is accommodated in the notch 76k. By configuring the parts around the coupling member 86 in this way, the coupling member 86 is tilted while reducing the amount of the bearing member 76 and the coupling member 86 protruding toward the drive side with respect to the position of the gear portion 87c. A large amount of (tilt) can be secured. It should be noted that when each part on the cross-sectional view obtained by cutting a predetermined solid is orthographically projected onto a virtual straight line, it is considered that they overlap when at least a part of each part overlaps with each other. In other words, a reference virtual plane is determined, and if overlap occurs when each member is projected onto the same plane, it is treated as overlapping on the virtual plane.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13E, when the coupling member 86 is inclined toward the notch portion 76k, the outermost shape of the first protrusion 76j in the axis L1 direction is the coupling member 86 (of the coupling member 86). It is configured to be located outside the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2). As a result, the risk that the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 of the coupling member 86 unexpectedly collide with an obstacle during transportation or the like is reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, as described above, the developing roller 32 pushes the drum 62 in the direction of the arrow X7. That is, the drum unit U1 is pressed toward the notch portion 76k. Of the support portions 76a that support the drum unit U1 (driving side flange 87), the notch portion side support portion 76aR has a notch portion 76k. Therefore, the opposite side support portion 76aL having no notch portion 76k has a structure having a relatively higher rigidity than the notch portion side support portion 76aR. Therefore, in this embodiment, the supported portion 87d is provided on the back side of the wall thickness of the gear portion 87c to receive the drive side flange 87 on the inner circumference. As a result, it is the opposite side support portion 76aL that substantially supports the drum unit U1. As a result, the support portion 76aR on the notch portion side, which is inferior in rigidity, is less likely to be loaded, and the support portion 76a is less likely to be deformed.

As shown in FIG. 13, the torsion spring 91 as the urging means (urging member) is on the detaching side in the attachment / detachment direction of the coupling member 86 and on the lower side in the gravity direction (vertical direction) than the axis L1 of the drive side flange 87. It is provided in. The torsion spring 91 includes a cylindrical coil portion 91c, a first arm 91a extending from the coil portion 91c, and a second arm 91b (first end portion, second end portion). Then, the coil portion 91c is attached to the bearing member 76 by being pivotally supported (locked) to the spring hooking portion 76g. The height (length) of the cylindrical portion of the spring hooking portion 76g is higher than that of the coil portion 91c, and the torsion spring 91 is prevented from falling off from the spring hooking portion 76g. The spring-loaded portion 76 g has a substantially D-shape having a straight portion having a straight portion in a part of a circle in cross section, and the torsion spring 91 is attached to the cartridge by passing the protrusion through the coil portion 91c. With the torsion spring 91 attached, the diameter of the coil portion 91 is larger than the diameter of the spring hooking portion 76g. The spring-loaded portion 76g and B project from the same surface of the longitudinal end of the cartridge frame in the direction toward the outside of the cartridge along the rotation axis direction of the drive-side flange.

In the torsion spring 91, the first arm 91a is in contact with the spring receiving portion 76n of the bearing member 76, and the second arm 91b is in contact with the connecting 86g of the coupling member 86 or the spring receiving portion 86h. As a result, the torsion spring 91 urges the coupling member 86 by the urging force F1 so that the free end portion 86a faces the notch portion 76k side. Further, since the width Z11 of the notch portion 76k is wider than the diameter φZ1 of the tip portion 86a of the coupling member 86, the tip portion 86a has a degree of freedom to move up and down with respect to the mounting direction X2. .. Since the coil portion 91c of the torsion spring 91 is provided below the axis L1, the coupling member 86 is urged so that the tip portion 86a is lowered downward by the urging force F1 or gravity. As a result, the axis L2 of the coupling member 86 is inclined toward the notch portion 76k with respect to the axis L1 and the tip portion 86a is inclined so as to abut on the lower surface 76k1. In this embodiment, the free end 86a is configured to be located below the axis L1 by the urging force F1 of the torsion spring 91. However, this is because, as will be described later in FIG. 23, the coupling member 86 is tilted so that the free end portion 86a is located below the axis L1.

As described above, the torsion spring 91 is configured so that the free end portion 86a of the coupling member 86 faces in the direction approaching the drive head 14. However, depending on conditions such as the mounting direction X2, the gravity direction, and the weight of the coupling member 86, the free end portion 86a of the coupling member 86 faces the X2 direction due to the weight of the coupling member 86. In this case, the coupling member 86 may be directed in a desired direction by utilizing gravity without providing the torsion spring 91 as the urging means (urging member). The coupling member 86 of this embodiment is urged by a torsion spring 91 and abuts on the lower side surface of the groove-shaped notch 76k in the gravity direction. As a result, the coupling member is sandwiched between the torsion spring and the lower side surface of the groove, and the posture of the coupling member is stabilized. Of course, by devising the arrangement of the torsion spring 91 and the like, the coupling member can be brought into contact with the side surface of the groove-shaped notch 76k above the gravity direction. However, it is more stable to stabilize the coupling posture without resisting gravity than to stabilize the coupling posture by the urging force of the spring against gravity.

A method of supporting each component and a method of connecting the components will be described with reference to FIG.

In the pin 88, the position of the drum 62 in the longitudinal direction (axis L1) is regulated by the retaining portion 87f and the longitudinal restricting portion 89b1, and the position of the drum 62 in the rotation direction (R direction) is regulated by the transmitted portion 87g. Then, the pin 88 penetrates the hole portion 86b as a through hole of the coupling member 86. The play between the hole portion 86b and the pin 88 is set to such an extent that the coupling member 86 can be tilted. With this configuration, the coupling member 86 can be tilted (tilted, swung, swiveled) in any direction with respect to the drive side flange 87.

In the coupling member 86, the movement of the drive side flange 87 in the radial direction is restricted by the coupling portion 86c coming into contact with the storage portion 87i. Further, the joint portion 86c comes into contact with the base portion 89a of the lid member 89, so that the movement from the drive side to the non-drive side is restricted. Further, the spherical shape 86c1 and the conical portion 87k of the drive side flange 87 are in contact with each other, so that the movement of the coupling member 86 from the non-drive side to the drive side is restricted. Then, the movement of the coupling member 86 in the rotation direction (R direction) is restricted by the contact between the transmission portions 86b1 and 86b2 and the pin 88. As a result, the coupling member 86 is connected to the drive side flange 87 and the pin 88.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 11D, the width Z12 of the hole portion 86b is provided to be larger than the diameter φZ13 of the pin 88. As a result, the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 are connected with play in the rotation direction (R direction) of the drum 62, so that the coupling member 86 can rotate a certain amount around the axis L2. ..

Further, as described above, the coupling member 86 abuts on the base 89a or the conical portion 87k and the position in the axis L1 direction is restricted, but the coupling member 86 can move a small amount in the axis L1 direction due to the component tolerance. It is configured to be.

A method of assembling the drive side flange unit U2 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 12A, the pin 88 is inserted into the hole portion 86b, which is a through hole of the coupling member 86.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12A, the pin 88 and the pair of groove portions 87e of the drive side flange 87 are inserted into the storage portion 87i together with the coupling member 86 (along the axis L1) so as to be in phase with each other. ..

Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, a pair of protruding portions 89b of the lid member 89 as a regulating member is inserted into the pair of groove portions 87e, and the lid member 89 is welded to the drive side flange 87 in this state. It is fixed by adhesion.

In this embodiment, the diameter φZ1 of the free end portion 86a of the coupling member 86 is provided smaller than the diameter φZ10 of the opening 87m. As a result, the coupling member 86, the pin 88, and the lid member 89 can all be assembled from the storage portion 87i side of the drive side flange 87, and the assembly can be facilitated. Further, since the diameter φZ3 of the connecting portion 86c is provided smaller than the diameter of the opening 87m, the spherical portion 86c1 and the conical portion 87k can be brought into contact with each other. As a result, it is possible to prevent the coupling member 86 from falling off to the drive side and to hold the coupling member 86 with high accuracy. Therefore, by setting the diameter φZ1 (<diameter φZ10) <diameter φZ3, the drive side flange unit U2 can be easily assembled and the position of the coupling member 86 can be held with high accuracy.

§7 (Explanation of tilting operation of coupling member)
The tilting operation of the coupling member 86 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of how the coupling member 86 (including the axis L2) is inclined (tilted) with respect to the axis L1. 15 (a1) and 15 (a2) are perspective views of the process cartridge B in a state where the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted). Further, FIG. 15 (b1) is a cross-sectional view taken along the S7-S7 cutting line of FIG. 15 (a1). Further, FIG. 15 (b2) is a cross-sectional view taken along the S8-S8 cutting line of FIG. 15 (a2).

A state in which the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted) about the center of the sphere of the coupling portion 86c will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 15 (a1) and 15 (b1), the coupling member 86 can be inclined with respect to the axis L1 around the axis of the pin 88 about the center of the sphere of the coupling portion 86c. Specifically, the coupling member 86 can be tilted (tilted) until the second tilt regulating portion 87n of the drive side flange 87 and the second tilt regulated portion (a part of the connecting portion 86g) come into contact with each other. Here, the inclination (tilt) angle with respect to the axis L1 at this time is defined as the second inclination angle θ2 (second inclination amount, second angle). When the coupling member 86 is tilted around the axis of the pin 88, with the hole 86b so that either the claw portion 86d1 or the claw portion 86d2 is positioned forward in the direction in which the coupling member 86 is tilted (arrow X7 direction). The phase relationship between the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 was set. Specifically, the hole portion so as to satisfy the condition that the tip 86d11 of the claw portion 86d1 satisfies the condition of 59 ° or more and 77 ° or less (θ6 and θ7 in FIG. 11E) with respect to the virtual line penetrating the center of the hole portion 86b. The 86b and the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 were arranged. Note that θ6 and θ7 are not limited to the above range, and are preferably within a range of about 55 ° or more and about 125 ° or less. With this configuration, when either the claw portions 86d1 or 86d2 is located in front of the tilting direction of the coupling member 86, the pin 88 has a large angle (a large angle) with respect to the tilting direction of the coupling member 86. It will take about 55 ° or more and about 125 ° or less). Then, the coupling member 86 at this time can be tilted by a second tilt amount or an amount close to this, and can be tilted more than the first tilt amount (described later). As a result, the tip 86d11 can be largely retracted in the axis L1 direction.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 15 (a2) and 15 (b2), the coupling member 86 has a first inclined cover with respect to the axis L1 around an axis orthogonal to the axis of the pin 88 about the center of the sphere of the coupling portion 86c. It can be tilted (tilted) until the restricting portions 86p1 and 86p2 come into contact with the pin 88. According to the phase relationship between the hole portion 86b (pin 88) and the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 described above, the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted) about orthogonal to the axis of the pin 88. At this time, the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 are located at positions facing each other across the direction in which the coupling member 86 is inclined (arrow X8 direction). Here, the inclination (inclination) angle with respect to the axis L1 at this time is defined as the first inclination angle θ1 (first inclination amount, first angle). In this embodiment, the coupling member 86, the drive side flange 87, and the pin 88 are configured so that the first inclination angle θ1 <the second inclination angle θ2 (the reason will be described later with reference to FIG. 25). ..

Further, by synthesizing the inclination (tilt) around the axis of the pin 88 and the inclination (tilt) around the axis orthogonal to the axis of the pin 88, the coupling member can be used in a direction different from the inclination (tilt) direction described above. The 86 can be tilted (tilted). Here, since the inclination (tilt) in all directions is represented by the composition of the above-mentioned inclination (tilt), the inclination (tilt) angle in any direction is equal to or larger than the first inclination angle θ1 and the second inclination angle θ2. It becomes as follows. In other words, it can be said that tilting is possible at least the first tilt angle θ1 (first tilt angle) and the second tilt angle (second tilt angle).

As described above, the coupling member 86 can be tilted (tilted) in substantially all directions with respect to the axis L1. That is, the coupling member 86 can be tilted (tilted) in any direction with respect to the axis L1. Further, the coupling member 86 can swing in any direction with respect to the axis L1. Furthermore, the coupling member 86 can swivel in substantially all directions with respect to the axis L1. Here, the turning of the coupling member 86 means that the inclined (tilted) axis L2 rotates around the axis L1.

Further, as described above, the arcuate surface portions 86q1 and 86q2 are surfaces that define the first inclination angle θ1, and the connecting portion 86g is one of the dimensions that determine the second inclination angle θ2. Therefore, in this embodiment, the connecting portion 86g and the arc surface portions 86q1 and 86q2 have an arc shape having the same diameter, but they may be changed as necessary.

§8 (Explanation of the drive unit of the main body of the device)
The configuration of the cartridge drive unit of the apparatus main body A will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the drive unit of the apparatus main body A (near the drive head 14 of FIG. 4A), and is a view of the apparatus main body A inside and from the upstream side in the mounting direction (X2 direction) of the process cartridge B. be. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the drive unit, FIG. 18 (a) is a partially enlarged view of the drive unit, and FIG. 18 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the S9-S9 cut surface shown in FIG. 18 (a).

The cartridge drive unit includes a drive head 14, a first side plate 350, a holder 300, a drive gear 355, and the like as an engaging portion on the main body side.

As shown in FIG. 18B, the drive shaft 14a of the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion is non-rotatably fixed to the drive gear 355 by means (not shown). Therefore, when the drive gear 355 rotates, the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion also rotates. Further, both ends of the drive shaft 14a are rotatably supported by the support portion 300a of the holder 300 and the bearing 354.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 (b), the motor 352 as a drive source is attached to the second side plate 351 and a pinion gear 353 is provided on the rotating 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 drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion also rotates. The second side plate 351 and the holder 300 are fixed to the first side plate 350, respectively.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the guide member 12 as the guide mechanism includes a first guide member 12a and a second guide member 12b that guide the mounting of the process cartridge B. Further, a mounting end portion 12c orthogonal to the X2 direction is provided at the end of the first guide member 12a in the cartridge mounting direction (X2 direction). The guide member 12 is also fixed to the first side plate 350.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the holder 300 includes a support portion 300a that rotatably supports the drive shaft 14a of the drive head 14 as a main body side engaging portion, and a coupling guide 300b. The coupling guide 300b is located on the downstream side (inner side of the main body of the apparatus) in the mounting direction (X2 direction) of the process cartridge B from the support portion 300a, and is composed of the connecting portion 300b1 and the guide portion 300b2. Here, the connecting portion 300b1 has an arc shape having a diameter of φZ5 centered on the axis L3, and the diameter φZ5 is set to be larger than the maximum rotation diameter φZ2 of the free end portion 86a of the coupling member 86. Further, the tip of the guide portion 300b2 has an arc shape with a diameter of φZ6 centered on the axis L3. The diameter φZ6 is provided so as to have a predetermined gap S with respect to the connecting portion 86 g 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 or the like when the process cartridge B is rotationally driven (see FIG. 22 for details later).

§9 (Explanation of mounting the process cartridge on the main body of the device)
The mounting of the process cartridge B on the apparatus main body A will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 22. In FIGS. 19 and 20, parts other than the parts for explaining the mounting operation are omitted.

19, FIGS. 20, and 21 (a) are views of the apparatus main body A viewed from the outside of the drive side, and show how the process cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A in order. 21 (b) is a perspective view of the state of FIG. 21 (a). FIG. 22 is a detailed explanatory view of the vicinity of the coupling member 86 when the process cartridge B is completely mounted on the apparatus main body A. In FIG. 22, the apparatus main body A shows the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion, the coupling guide 300b of the holder 300, and the guide member 12, and the others show the parts of the process cartridge B.

FIG. 22A1 shows that the process cartridge B is in the mounting complete position and the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted). FIG. 22A2 shows that the process cartridge B is in the mounting complete position, and the axis L2 of the coupling member 86 substantially coincides with the axis L3 of the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion. .. FIG. 22 (a3) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship with the coupling guide 300b when the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted). 22 (b1) to (b3) are cross-sectional views taken along the S10-S10 cutting line of FIGS. 22 (a1) to 22 (a3), respectively.

As shown in FIG. 19, the guide member 12 as the guide mechanism of the apparatus main body A is provided with a pull-in spring 356 as an urging member (elastic member). The pull-in spring 356 is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 320c of the guide member 12, and its position is restricted by the stoppers 12d and 12e. At this time, the acting portion 356a of the pull-in spring 356 is urged in the direction of the arrow J in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A, the first arc portion 76d of the process cartridge B is attached to the first guide member 12a, and the rotation stop boss of the process cartridge B is attached to the second guide member 12b. Insert 71c so that it fits along. That is, the process cartridge first arc portion 76d abuts on the guide groove on the main body side, and at this time, the coupling member 86 is inclined in the mounting direction (X2 direction) by the torsion spring 91 as the urging member (elastic member). doing. Here, the coupling member 86 is in a state of being covered with the first arc portion 76d of the bearing member 76. As a result, the coupling member 86 can continue to insert the process cartridge B to near the mounting completion position in this state without interfering with any component of the device main body A in the insertion path of the process cartridge B.

Further, when the process cartridge B is inserted in the direction of the arrow X2 in the drawing, as shown in FIG. 20, the spring receiving portion 76e of the process cartridge B and the acting portion 356a of the pull-in spring 356 come into contact with each other. As a result, the acting portion 356a is elastically deformed in the direction of arrow H in the figure.

After that, the process cartridge B is mounted at a predetermined position (mounting complete position) (see FIG. 21). At this time, the first arc portion 76d of the process cartridge B abuts on the first guide member 12a of the guide member 12, and the mounting tip portion 76f abuts on the mounting end portion 12c. Similarly, the rotation stop boss 71c of the process cartridge B comes into contact with the positioning surface 12h of the guide member 12 as the guide mechanism. In this way, the position of the process cartridge B is determined with respect to the apparatus main body A.

At this time, the acting portion 356a of the pull-in spring 356 presses the spring receiving portion 76e of the process cartridge B in the direction of the arrow J in the drawing, and the first arc portion 76d and the first guide member 12a come into contact with each other and the mounting tip. The contact between the portion 76f and the mounting end portion 12c is surely performed. As a result, the process cartridge B is accurately positioned with respect to the apparatus main body A.

Further, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A, as described above, the coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion are engaged (see FIG. 5), and the process The mounting of the cartridge B on the mounting body A is completed.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 22 (a1) and 22 (b1), even after the mounting of the process 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. In other words, even when the mounting is completed, the torsion spring 91 continues to apply an urging force (in a direction substantially coincident with the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction) to the coupling member 86. At this time, the connecting portion 86g comes into contact with the guide portion 300b2 of the coupling guide 300b, and the inclination (tilt) of the coupling member 86 is restricted. By restricting the amount of inclination of the coupling member 86 in this way, the pair of claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 and the drive pin 14b of the drive head 14 come into contact with each other at the same time. More specifically, the pair of claws are arranged so as to be substantially point-symmetrical with respect to the center of rotation of the coupling member. When the rotational force is transmitted to the coupling member 86 in this state, as shown in FIGS. 22 (a2) and 22 (b2), the drive head 14 is subjected to the couple and the contact between the spherical portion 14c and the conical portion 86f. The axis L3 and the axis L2 of the coupling member 86 substantially coincide with each other. Then, the above-mentioned gap S is formed between the connecting portion 86g and the guide portion 300b2, and the coupling member 86 can rotate stably.

Here, if the inclination (tilt) of the coupling member 86 is not regulated, any one of the pair of claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 may not come into contact with the drive pin 14b. In this case, the couple L2 of the coupling member 86 and the axis L3 of the drive head 14 cannot be matched without the couple described above.
The coupling guide 300b1 does not interfere with the coupling member 86 even when the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted) in the process of attaching / detaching the process cartridge B. Therefore, the coupling guide 300b is located on the non-driving side with respect to the free end portion 86a (see FIGS. 22 (a3) and 22 (b3)). Further, the notched portion 76k of the bearing member 76 has a shape recessed further to the non-driving side than the guide portion 300b2 so as not to interfere with the guide portion 300b2. In addition, the width Z11 of the notch 76k of the bearing member 76 in the direction orthogonal to the S10-S10 cross-sectional line is wider than the width Z14 of the coupling guide 300b. As a result, the size of the cartridge can be reduced while suppressing the interference between the coupling guide and the cartridge.

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

§10 (Explanation of coupling disengagement operation when the process cartridge is disengaged)
Subsequently, using FIG. 24, the process cartridge B is disengaged from the apparatus main body A while disengaging the coupling member 86 from the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion from the mounting completion position of the process cartridge B. Explain how to leave.

In this embodiment, as an example, as shown in FIG. 24, a state in which the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 of the coupling member 86 are located on the upstream side and the downstream side in the detachment direction (X3 direction) will be described. In this embodiment, in this state, the phase relationship between the hole portion 86b through which the pin 88 penetrates and the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 are determined so that the axis of the pin 88 is substantially orthogonal to the detachment direction (X3 direction) as described above. Has been done. FIG. 24 (a1) is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the coupling member 86 and the apparatus main body A are disengaged when the process cartridge B is detached from the apparatus main body A. 24 (a1) to (a4) are side views seen from the outside of the drive side, and FIGS. 24 (b1) to (b4) are cross sections cut along the S12-S12 cutting lines of FIGS. 24 (a1) to (a4), respectively. It is a figure. 24 ing.

First, the process cartridge B is moved in the detaching direction (X3 direction) from the state shown in FIGS. 24 (a1) and 24 (b1) (the state in which the coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 are engaged). Then, as shown in FIGS. 24 (a2) and 24 (b2), the coupling member 86 (axis L2) is inclined (tilted) with respect to the axis L1 and the axis L3, and the process cartridge B is displaced (X3 direction). ). The amount of inclination (tilt) of the coupling member 86 at this time is determined by the free end portion 86a coming into contact with each portion of the drive head 14 (drive shaft 14a, drive pin 14b, spherical portion 14c, tip portion 14d). ..

When the process cartridge B is further moved in the disengagement direction (X3 direction), as shown in FIGS. 24 (a3) and 24 (b3), the coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion come into contact with each other. It will be released. Then, the coupling member 86 is further tilted (tilted) by being urged by the torsion spring 91 as the urging means (urging member). Here, the inclination angle of the coupling member 86 urged by the torsion spring as the urging member is larger than the inclination angle when the coupling member 86 is inclined in a direction other than the urged direction.

Then, the inclination (tilt) of the coupling member 86 is restricted by the contact between the second inclination restricting portion 87n and the connecting portion 86g. At this time, the maximum rotation diameter φZ2 of the connecting portion 86g is such that the coupling member 86 can be tilted (tilted) until the claw portion 86d1 on the upstream side in the detachment direction is located on the non-driving side of the tip portion 14d of the drive head 14. And the second tilt angle θ2 are determined. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 24 (a4) and 24 (b4), the coupling member 86 is disengaged from the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion, and the process cartridge B is separated from the device main body A. can do.

Similarly, even when the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 are in a phase other than those described above, the coupling member 86 is tilted (tilted), the above-mentioned turning motion, or a combination thereof, thereby causing the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion. Avoid each part. By doing so, the engagement between the coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion can be released. As shown in FIGS. 23 (a1) and 23 (b1), when the axial direction of the drive pin 14b and the detachment direction (X3 direction) are substantially orthogonal to each other, the free end portion 86b faces the side opposite to the detachment direction (X2 direction). The claw portion 86d1 avoids the drive pin 14b in the non-drive side direction. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 23 (a2) and 23 (b2), when the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 are at positions facing each other across the detachment direction (X3 direction), the free end portion 86a is the axis of the drive pin 14b. It tilts (tilts) so as to move along a direction parallel to the direction (X6 direction). As a result, the claw portion 86d1 can also move the drive pin 14b in the direction of the arrow X6. In such a case, since the free end portion 86a needs to move below the axis L3 and the axis L1, the position of the lower surface 76k1 of the bearing member 76 is set and the torsion spring 91 is set as described above. The direction of the urging force is set so that the free end portion 86a can easily face downward. The lower side represented here is not necessarily limited to the direction of gravity. That is, the free end portion 86a may be movable in the direction necessary for the claw portion 86d1 on the downstream side (upstream side in the extraction / removal direction) with respect to the mounting direction to move in order to avoid the drive pin 14b. .. Therefore, when the rotation direction R of the drum 62 is opposite to that of the present embodiment, the claw portion on the downstream side in the mounting direction is located on the upper side, so that the direction in which the free end portion 86a should move is also on the upper side. Become. Therefore, when the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 are positioned above and below the mounting direction X2 of the coupling member 86, the free end is on the claw portion side where the direction of the rotational force received from the drive pin 14b is the same as the mounting direction. It is preferable that the portion 86a is movable. In the case of the two examples as shown in FIG. 23, the inclination (tilt) angle required for disengagement between the coupling member 86 and the drive head 14 as the main body side engaging portion is the second tilt angle shown in FIG. 24. It may be smaller than the inclination angle θ2. In this embodiment, the phases of the hole portion 86b and the claw portions 86d1 and 86d2 of the coupling member 86 are such that the tilt (tilt) angle is the first tilt angle θ1 in the cases shown in FIGS. 23 (a2) and 23 (b2). I have decided on a relationship. Note that FIG. 23 (b1) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S11 of FIG. 23 (a1). Further, FIG. 23 (b2) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S11 of FIG. 23 (a2).

Subsequently, the dimensions of each part of this embodiment will be illustrated.

As shown in FIG. 6, the diameter of the free end portion 86a is φZ1, the diameter of the connecting portion 86g is φZ2, the sphere diameter of the substantially spherical joint portion 86c is φZ3, and the rotation diameters of the claw portions 86d1 and d2 are φZ4. Further, the diameter of the spherical shape at the tip of the drive head 14 as the engaging portion on the main body side is SφZ7, and the length of the drive pin 14b is Z5. Further, as shown in FIGS. 15 (b1) and 15 (b2), the amount (second tilt angle) of the coupling member 86 that can be tilted (tilted) around the axis of the pin 88 is θ2, and the axis orthogonal to the axis of the pin 88. Let θ1 be the amount of tilt (tilt) possible (first tilt angle) around. Then, as shown in FIG. 22 (b2), the gap between the connecting portion 86g and the guide portion 300b2 when the axis L2 and the axis L3 substantially coincide with each other is defined as S.

At this time, in this embodiment, φZ1 = 10 mm, φZ2 = 5 mm, φZ3 = 11 mm, φZ4 = 7 mm, Z5 = 8.6 mm, SφZ7 = 6 mm, θ1 = 30 ° θ2 = 40 °, S = 0.15 mm. ..

The above dimensions are an example, and the same operation can be performed with other dimensions, and the above dimensions are not limited to the above dimensions. Specifically, both θ1 and θ2 can be tilted by about 20 ° or more, and may be between about 20 ° and about 60 ° or less. More preferably, both are preferably 25 ° or more and 45 ° or less. Further, while satisfying θ1 <θ2, it is preferable that θ1 is about 20 ° or more and about 35 ° or less, and θ2 is about 30 ° or more and about 60 ° or less. Further, the difference between θ1 and θ2 may be in the range of about 3 ° or more and about 20 ° or less, and preferably in the range of about 5 ° or more and about 15 ° or less. As shown in FIG. 25, when the cartridge B is mounted, the mounting tip (described later) is located on the non-driving side of the tip 14d of the drive head 14 and on the driving side of the guide portion 300b2. It is conceivable to design θ1 and θ2 so as to do so. By designing in this way, the coupling 86 can be normally engaged with the drive head 14. Here, the mounting tip portion is the tip portion 86d11 of the claw portion 86d1 when the inclination of the coupling member 86 is the second inclination angle θ2, and is the standby portion 86k1 when the inclination of the coupling member 86 is the first inclination angle θ1. Since the standby portion 86k1 is located closer to the rotation center C than the tip portion 86d11, by setting the first tilt angle θ1 <second tilt angle θ2, the axis of the mounting tip portion when the coupling member 86 is tilted. The position in the L1 direction can be the same position. As a result, it is not necessary to widen the gap between the drive head 14 and the guide portion 300b2 more than necessary, which can contribute to the miniaturization of the apparatus main body A and the cartridge B.

Further, by setting φZ1 <φZ3, assembly can be easily performed as in this embodiment. Further, by setting φZ1 <φZ10 <φZ3 including the minimum diameter φZ10 of the conical portion 87k as the dropout prevention portion (overhang portion / dropout regulation portion), the position of the coupling member 86 in the drive side flange unit U2. Can be determined with high accuracy.

According to this embodiment, it was possible to develop a conventional cartridge that can be removed from the outside of the main body of the apparatus after moving in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the engagement portion on the main body side.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the configurations other than the free end portion 286a, the drive head 214, and the coupling guide 400b of the coupling member 286 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted by adding the same reference numerals. Even when the same reference numerals are given, the same reference numerals may be given even when a part of the reference numerals is changed in accordance with the configuration of the present embodiment.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory view of the coupling member 286 and the drive head 214 as the main body side engaging portion. 26 (a) is a side view, FIG. 26 (b) is a perspective view, and FIG. 26 (c) is a cross-sectional view cut along the S21-S21 cutting line in FIG. 26 (a). Further, FIG. 26D is a cross-sectional view taken along the S22-S22 cutting line in FIG. 26A, and the S22-S22 cutting line passes through the center of the drive pin 214b as the imparting portion and is orthogonal to the receiving portion 286e1. It is a line to do.

As shown in FIG. 26, in this embodiment, the shapes of the claw portions 286d1 and 286d2 of the coupling member 286 are different from those in the first embodiment. The claw portions 286d1 and 286d2 are provided with inner wall surfaces 286s1 and 286s2 facing the axis L2 in a planar shape, and the receiving portions 286e1 and 286e2 are provided so that the radial width Z21 is wider than that of the first embodiment. .. That is, the claw portions 286d1 and 286d2 are provided so that the width in the radial direction is larger than that of the first embodiment. If the diameter of the inscribed circle of the inner wall surfaces 286s1 and 286s2 centered on the axis L2 is φZ22, φZ22 is provided so as to be larger than the diameter φZ7 of the drive shaft 214a of the drive head 214. Here, the amount of overlap of the drive pins 214b1 and 214b2 and the receiving portions 286e1 and 286e2 in the axial direction (direction orthogonal to the axis L2 (L3)) of the drive pins 214b1 and 214b2 in FIG. The engagement amount is Z23.

On the other hand, the drive head 214 is provided with a spherical surface portion 214c and a recess 214e recessed from the drive shaft 214a at the base of the drive pin 214b on the downstream side in the rotation direction (R direction) with respect to the drive pin 214b.

Next, with reference to FIG. 27, the disengagement operation between the coupling member 286 and the drive head 214 when the process cartridge B is detached from the apparatus main body A will be described in detail. Here, a case showing a characteristic operation in this embodiment will be described. The case of showing a characteristic operation is a case where the drive pins 214b1 and 214b2 are out of phase by a predetermined amount θ4 with respect to the detachment direction (X3 direction) of the cartridge B, and as an example, θ4 = 60 °. Will be explained.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the coupling member 286 when the cartridge B is detached from the apparatus main body A. 27 (a1) to 27 (a4) are views showing how the process cartridge B is sequentially detached from the apparatus main body A from the outside of the drive side of the apparatus main body A. 27 (b1) to 27 (b4) are cross-sectional views (cross-sectional views taken along the S23-S23 cutting line) of FIGS. 27 (a1) to 27 (a4) viewed from the lower surface in the separation direction. For the sake of explanation, the coupling member 286, the drive head 214, and the pin 88 are shown in a state where they are not cut.

As shown in FIG. 27 (a1), when the process cartridge B is detached from the apparatus main body A, the cartridge B is in the mounting complete position of the apparatus main body A, and the coupling member 286 and the drive head 214 are engaged with each other. There is. Further, in many cases, the process cartridge B is detached from the apparatus main body A when a series of image forming operations have been completed. At this time, the receiving portions 286e1 and 286e2 of the coupling member and the drive pins 214b1 and 214b2 are in contact with each other.

From here, as shown in FIGS. 27 (a2) and 27 (b2), the cartridge B is moved in the detachment direction (X3 direction). Then, the cartridge B moves in the detaching direction (X3 direction) while the axis L2 of the coupling member 286 is inclined (tilted) with respect to the axis L1 of the drive side flange 87 and the axis L3 of the drive head 214. At this time, the claw portion 286d1 (receiving portion 286e1) located downstream of the drive pin 214b1 in the detachment direction (X3 direction) remains in contact with the drive pin 214b1.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 27 (a3) and 27 (b3), the cartridge B is further moved in the detachment direction (X3 direction). Then, the axis L2 is further inclined (tilted), and as in the first embodiment, the first inclined regulated portion 286p1 and 286p2 (not shown) and the pin 88 as the first inclined regulating portion or the second inclined regulating portion are used. 87n and the connecting portion 286 g as the second inclined regulated portion come into contact with each other. As a result, the inclination (tilt) of the coupling member 286 is regulated. Even in this state, in the phase (θ = 60 °) of the drive pin 214b and the claw portion 286d1 and 286d2 as shown in FIG. 27, the claw portion 286d1 (reception portion 286e1) is moved to the non-drive side of the drive pin 214b. However, it may remain in contact. This is because the amount of movement of the claw portions 286d1 and 286d2 to the non-driving side due to the inclination (tilt) of the axis L2 becomes small.

At this time, since the drive head 214 is provided with the notch portion 214e, the coupling member 286 is inclined in the direction of the arrow X5 so that the claw portions 286d1 and 286d2 move along the drive pins 214b and 214b2. Tilt).

Then, as shown in FIGS. 27 (a4) and 27 (b4), the coupling member 286 is further tilted (tilted) in the direction of the arrow X5 so that the claw portion 286d2 enters the notch portion 214e. When the coupling member 286 is tilted (tilted), the contact between the claw portion 286d1 and the drive pin 214b1 is released in the direction of the arrow X5. As a result, the process cartridge B can be detached from the apparatus main body A.

In this embodiment, the width Z21 in the radial direction of the receiving portions 286e1 and 286e2 is provided to be wider than that of the first embodiment. Specifically, the width of the root is set to be about 1.5 mm. As a result, in the axial direction of the drive pin 214b, the engagement amount Z23 (see FIG. 26 (d)) between the drive pins 214b1 and 214b2 and the receiving portions 286e1 and 286e2 is larger than that in the first embodiment. As a result, regardless of variations in component accuracy or the like, the pair of imparting portions and receiving portions can be reliably engaged and stable transmission can be performed. Here, regarding the width of the base of the receiving portion, if it is wide, a stable driving force can be transmitted, but if it is too wide, it interferes with the driving head and affects it. Therefore, in a virtual plane including a receiving portion that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the coupling member and receives a driving force from the engaging portion, the angle formed by the two straight lines connecting both ends of the protrusion from the rotation is about 10 ° or more and about 30 °. The following is preferable. Since it is a part that receives a drive, it can be said that the width of the root should be 1.0 mm or more in consideration of the rigidity.

Further, the notch portion 214e disengages the coupling member 286 from the drive head 214 even when the engagement amount Z23 is larger than the gap between the inner diameter φZ24 of the claw portion and the diameter φZ27 of the body portion of the drive head 214. sea bream. Therefore, the coupling member 86 is provided so as to be able to have a large inclination (tilt) in the direction of the arrow X5. Here, the large inclination means that the claw portions 286d1 and 286d2 can move in the direction of the drive pins 214b1 and 214b2 by the engagement amount Z23 or more.

Subsequently, the configuration of the coupling guide 400b in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 28. The configuration of the coupling guide 400b is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the gap S2 set between the coupling member 286 and the connecting portion 286g is different from that of the first embodiment.

28 is an explanatory view of the coupling guide 400b, and FIGS. 28 (a1) and 28 (b1) show a state in which the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A and the axis L2 of the coupling member 286 remains tilted (tilted). Represents. Further, FIGS. 28 (a2) and 28 (b2) show a state in which the axis L2 coincides with the axis L1 and the axis L3. Note that FIG. 28 (b1) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S24 of FIG. 28 (a1). 28 (b2) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S24 of FIG. 28 (a2).

As shown in FIGS. 28 (a1) and 28 (b1), the coupling guide 400b is a cup so that the engagement between the drive pin 214b and the claw portion 286d1 is not disengaged even if the coupling member 286 is tilted (tilted). The inclination (tilt) of the ring member 286 can be regulated. In this embodiment, as described above, the engagement amount Z23 is larger than that in the first embodiment. Here, in this embodiment, the gap S2 in FIG. 28 (b2) is larger than the gap S in Example 1 (see FIG. 22 (b2)). Even under such conditions, even if the amount of inclination (tilt) of the coupling member 86 increases, the engagement between the drive pin 214b1 and the receiving portion 286e1 is not disengaged, and rotation can be transmitted normally. In this way, since the gap S2 can be made larger than that of the first embodiment, the dimensional accuracy of the connecting portion 286g and the guide portion 400b2 can be loosened.

As described above, the engagement amount Z23 between the drive pins 214b1 and 214b2 and the claw portions 286d1 and 286d2 is increased, and the drive head 214 is provided with the notch portion 214e. As a result, when the cartridge B is detached from the apparatus main body A, the engagement between the coupling member 286 and the drive head 214 can be disengaged. In addition, by adopting the configuration of this embodiment, the gap S2 between the coupling guide 400b and the connecting portion 286g can be increased as compared with the first embodiment, and the component accuracy can be relaxed.

Subsequently, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 29 is an explanatory view of the coupling member 386 and the drive head 314 as the main body side engaging portion. FIG. 30 is an explanatory view of the R-shaped portion 386 g1 and shows a state in which the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A. FIG. 31 is an explanatory view of the bearing member 387 and the coupling member 386, showing a perspective view and a cross-sectional view.

The coupling member 386 is provided with a lightening 386c2 to a lightening 386c9 at the joint portion 386c as compared with the first and second embodiments. Further, the diameter of the connecting portion 386g is reduced, and the wall thickness formed by the spring receiving portion 386h and the receiving surface 386f is thinly formed. As a result of these, the material can be reduced.

Here, when providing the lightening 386c2 to 386c9, as shown in FIG. 29 (d), it is preferable to provide the spherical shape 386c1 so as to remain evenly in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the joint portion 386c is configured so that the portion where the spherical shape 386c1 is interrupted by the lightening 386c2 to 386c9 and the hole portion 386b does not continuously become 90 ° or more. Although it is described as a spherical shape, it may be expressed as a substantially spherical shape in consideration of lightening, manufacturing variation, and the like. If the coupling portion 386c is configured as described above, the position of the coupling member 86 in the drive-side flange unit U32 can be stabilized. In particular, the position of the coupling member can be stabilized at the position of the S14-S14 cutting line supported by the storage portion 87i and the position facing the conical portion 87k and the base portion 89a as shown in FIG. 29 (c). can.

Further, the arc surface portion 386q1 and the arc surface portion 386q2 have different diameters.

Further, as shown in FIG. 30, an R-shaped 386g1 is provided between the connecting portion 386g and the spring receiving portion 386h. As described above, the drive side flange unit U32 is provided with play so that the coupling member 386 moves in a small amount in the axis L1 direction. When the coupling member 386a is moved toward the non-drive side in this play, the amount of engagement Z38 between the drive pin 314b and the claw portions 386d1 and 386d2 in the axis L1 direction is reduced. Here, the hooking amount Z38 is the distance between the center point of the arc shape of the drive pin 314b and the tip of the claw portion 386d1 in the axis L3 direction. In addition, when the coupling member 386 is tilted until the connecting portion 386g and the guide portion 330b2 of the coupling guide 330b come into contact with each other, the amount of engagement Z38 between the drive pin 314b and the claw portions 386d1 and 386d2 is reduced, and the driving force is transmitted. May affect. On the other hand, by providing the R-shaped portion 386g1, when the coupling member 386 approaches the non-driving side, the tip of the guide portion 330b2 of the coupling guide 330b and the R-shaped portion 386g1 are close to each other. As a result, the inclination of the coupling member 386 can be made smaller than when the guide portion 300b2 and the connecting portion 86g are in contact with each other as in the first embodiment. Therefore, by providing the R-shaped portion 386g1, it is possible to prevent the reduction of the engagement amount Z38 due to the coupling member 386 moving toward the non-drive side and the decrease of the engagement amount Z38 due to the inclination of the coupling member 386 at the same time. be able to. The R-shaped portion 386g1 is not limited to the arc shape, and the same effect can be obtained even if the R-shaped portion has a conical surface shape, for example.

Further, as shown in FIG. 29, in the present embodiment, the claw portions 386d1 and 386d2 have their tips formed on a flat surface to increase the thickness in the circumferential direction, thereby reducing the deformation of the claw portions 386d1 and 386d2 during drive transmission. doing. In addition, a spring receiving groove 386h1 is provided in the spring receiving portion 386h in order to define a portion pressed from the torsion spring 91 (see also FIG. 30D). If a portion of the spring 91 that comes into contact with the second arm 91b is defined and a lubricant is applied to this portion, grease is always present in the sliding between the second arm 91b and the coupling member 386, and both are scraped and slid. It is possible to reduce the generated sound and the like. The coupling member 386 is made of metal, and the torsion spring 91 is also made of metal. Even in a state where the coupling member 386 rotates by receiving a driving force from the main body side engaging portion 314, the torsion spring 91 continues to apply an urging force to the coupling member. Therefore, the metals continue to rub against each other during image formation, and it is desirable to insert a lubricant at least between the coupling member 386 and the torsion spring 91 in order to reduce the influence thereof.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 29B, the drive pin 314b of the main body side engaging portion 314 does not have to have a cylindrical shape. Further, since the diameter sφZ36 of the spherical surface portion 314c is a spherical surface that abuts on the receiving surface 386f that is thinner than that of the first embodiment, the diameter sφZ6 of the spherical surface portion 14c and the diameter φZ37 of the drive shaft 314a in the first embodiment are used. Is also getting bigger. Further, in order to smoothly engage (and disengage) with the coupling member 386, a taper 314e1 is provided at a stepped portion between the notch portion 314e and the drive shaft 314a.

The diameter of the tip of the guide portion 330b2 of the coupling guide 330b shown in FIG. 30 is smaller than that of the first embodiment in accordance with the connecting portion 386g having a smaller diameter than that of the first embodiment.

Subsequently, the bearing member 376 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 31. As shown in FIG. 31, the width Z32 of the notch portion 376k of the bearing member 376 is wider than the diameter φZ31 of the tip portion 386a as in the first embodiment, and the tip portion 386a is located in the mounting direction X2 and the axis L1. On the other hand, it faces downward. On the other hand, the plate-shaped portion 376h is configured to be located closer to the drive side than in the first embodiment. Therefore, when the coupling member 386 is tilted, the outermost diameter portion (φZ31 portion) of the tip portion 386a comes into contact with the lower surface 376k1 of the notch portion 376k. As a result, the downward inclination of the coupling member 386 is defined regardless of the inclination angle of the coupling member 386, and the coupling member 386 can be more stably engaged with the main body side engaging portion 314b. (In Example 1, since the conical spring receiving portion 87h is in contact with the lower surface 76k1, the amount of the coupling member 86 hanging downward differs depending on the inclination angle of the coupling member 86.)

Further, the spring hooking portion 376 g is composed of a retaining portion 376 g1, an insertion port portion 376 g2, and a support portion 376 g3. Here, the insertion port portion 376g2 and the support portion 376g3 are smoothly connected by a tapered portion 376g4 so that the spring 91 can be smoothly inserted when the spring 91 is inserted in the direction of the arrow X10. The outermost diameter Z33 of the retaining portion 376g1 and the insertion port portion 376g2 and the outermost diameter Z34 of the support portion 376g3 are smaller than the inner diameter φZ35 of the coil portion 91c of the spring 91. By configuring the spring hooking portion 376g as described above, the coil portion 91c can be easily inserted into the spring hooking portion 376g, and the support portion 376g3 suppresses the coil portion 91c from moving in the direction of disengagement from the retaining portion 376g1. can do. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the spring 91 will come out of the spring hooking portion 376 g. Further, the spring hooking portion 376g is configured so as not to protrude to the outside (drive side) from the first protruding portion 376j, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to the spring hooking portion 376g during distribution or the like.

In this embodiment, it is preferable that the retaining portion 376g1 is provided on the side opposite to the coupling member 386 (lower left side in FIG. 31A) when viewed from the spring hooking portion 376g.

Briefly, the reaction force F91 (the resultant force of the force F91a received by the first arm 91a and the force F91b received by the second arm 91b) received by the torsion spring 91 is on the coupling member 386 side (upper right side in FIG. 31A). ). As a result, the coil portion 91c moves closer to the coupling member 386 side. Therefore, by setting the position of the retaining portion 376g to the position disclosed in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the torsion spring 91 from coming off while ensuring the mountability of the torsion spring 91. Further, in this embodiment, when the coupling member 386 is tilted until it approaches the coil portion 91c side as shown in FIG. 31 (c), the first arm 91a and the second arm 91b are substantially parallel to each other. As a result, the force F91a and the force F91b cancel each other out, so that the reaction force F91 received by the torsion spring 91 becomes smaller. By preventing the force F91 from facing the retaining portion 376g1 side in this way, the possibility that the torsion spring 91 will fall off from the spring hooking portion 376g is reduced.

In addition, the bearing member 376 is provided with a contact prevention rib 376j5 and a contact prevention surface 376j2 so as to prevent the coupling member 386 from contacting the coil portion 91c. As a result, even when the coupling member 386 is inclined in a direction close to the coil portion 91c, the coupling member 386 comes into contact with the contact prevention rib 376j5 and the contact prevention surface 376j2, so that the tip portion 386a is in contact with the coil portion 91c. It is prevented from coming into contact with. This makes it possible to suppress the possibility that the coil portion 91c will come off from the retaining portion 376g1.

Further, a space 376j4 for moving the second arm 91b of the spring 91 is provided inside the first protrusion 376j in the radial direction. Here, it is preferable that the second arm 91b has a length so that the arm portion 91b1 of the second arm 91b can always be in contact with the spring receiving portion 386h (see FIG. 29) of the coupling member 386. This makes it possible to prevent the tip 91b2 of the second arm 91b from coming into contact with the spring receiving portion 386h.

In this embodiment, the torsion spring 91 is prevented from coming off by the shape of the spring hooking portion 376 g, but silicon bond or hot melt may be applied to prevent the torsion spring 91 from coming off. Further, it may be prevented from coming off by another resin member.

In this embodiment, another configuration of the drive side flange unit and the bearing member that pivotally supports the drive side flange unit will be described with reference to FIG. 32. In this embodiment, the parts other than the drive side flange unit and the bearing member are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted by assigning the same reference numerals. Even when the same reference numerals are given, the same reference numerals may be given even when a part of the reference numerals is changed in accordance with the configuration of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 32, in this embodiment, the first protruding portion 476j of the bearing member 476 is divided into upper and lower parts. As a result, the surrounding structure is reduced when the torsion spring 91 is inserted into the spring hooking portion 476 g, so that the assemblability when the torsion spring 91 is inserted into the spring hook portion 476 g by a tool or an assembling device is improved. Further, in the first embodiment, the support portion 76a is used as the second protruding portion so as to protrude from the plate-shaped portion 76h to the non-driving side. However, as shown in FIGS. 32 (c) and 32 (d), the support portion 476a May be provided inside the cavity 476i. In this case, the supported portion 487d provided on the drive side flange 487 is preferably provided on the second cylindrical portion 487h as long as the inclination (tilt) of the coupling member 86 is not hindered. In this case, since there is no second protrusion (support portion 76a) that has entered the annular groove portion 87p, it is not necessary to provide the annular groove portion 487p on the drive side flange 487. Alternatively, even if the annular groove portion 487p is provided for the convenience of resin molding, when the first cylindrical portion 487j and the second cylindrical portion 487h are connected by rib shapes 487p1 to 487p4 and the drive is transmitted to the drive side flange 487. It is also possible to suppress the deformation of.

In this embodiment, another configuration of the drive side flange unit and the bearing member that pivotally supports the drive side flange unit will be described with reference to FIG. 33. In this embodiment, the parts other than the drive side flange unit and the bearing member are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted by assigning the same reference numerals. Even when the same reference numerals are given, the same reference numerals may be given even when a part of the reference numerals is changed in accordance with the configuration of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 33, in this embodiment, the notch portion 576k of the bearing member 576 is different from that of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the notch portion 76k has a groove-like shape that is recessed from the plate-shaped portion 76h to the non-driving side and is parallel to the mounting direction X2. The notch 576k of the bearing member 576 is the same as that of the first embodiment in that it is recessed from the plate-shaped portion 576h to the non-driving side, but it does not have to have a groove-shaped shape. It suffices if the coupling member 86 can be provided with a space for tilting by being recessed from the plate-shaped portion 576h, and the vertical position of the coupling member 86 (free end portion 86a) can be defined by the lower surface 576k1.

Further, in the first embodiment, the supported portion 87d is provided on the inner circumference of the first cylindrical portion 87j of the drive side flange 87, but in this embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 587h is the supported portion 587d. In one bearing member 576, a support portion 576a as a second protrusion enters the groove portion 587p and pivotally supports the supported portion 587d. Since the second cylindrical portion 587h can be projected to the drive side more than the first cylindrical portion 587j, by providing the supported portion 587d on the second cylindrical portion 587, the supported portion is provided on the first cylindrical portion 587j. It is possible to lengthen the shaft support length in the axis L1 direction rather than providing.

(Other examples)
In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the coupling member is housed in the flange unit of the photosensitive drum has been described as an example, but the cartridge may be configured to be driven via the coupling member. Specifically, the development roller may be rotationally driven via the coupling member. Of course, in a developing cartridge not provided with a photosensitive drum, a developing cartridge that transmits a rotational force from an engaging portion on the main body side to a developing roller can also be suitably applied. In this case, the coupling member 86 transmits the rotational force to the developing roller 32 as a rotating body instead of the photosensitive drum.

Of course, even a configuration in which the driving force is transmitted only to the photosensitive drum can be suitably applied. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drive-side flange 87 as the transmitted member is fixed to the longitudinal end portion of the drum 62 which is a rotating body, but may be an independent member without being fixed. For example, it may be a gear member that transmits a rotational force to the drum 62 and the developing roller 32 through the gear coupling.

Further, the cartridge B in the above embodiment was for forming a monochromatic image. However, this is not the case. Each configuration and idea disclosed in the above-described embodiment can be suitably applied to a cartridge in which a plurality of developing means are provided to form a multi-color image (for example, a two-color image, a three-color image, a full-color image, etc.). ..

Further, as the attachment / detachment path of the cartridge B with respect to the apparatus main body A, regardless of whether the attachment / detachment path is a straight line, the attachment / detachment path is a combination of straight lines, or there is a curved path, each configuration disclosed in the above-described embodiment is applied. be able to.

Each configuration disclosed in the above-described embodiment can be applied to a cartridge used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a drive transmission device used therein.

3 Laser scanner unit (exposure means, exposure device)
7 Transfer roller 9 Fixing device (fixing means)
12 Guide member (guidance mechanism)
12a First guide member 12b Second guide member 13 Open / close door 14 Drive head (engagement part: main body side)
14a Drive shaft (shaft)
14b Drive pin (giving part)
20 Development unit 21 Toner storage container 22 Lid 23 Development container 32 Development roller (development means, process means, rotating body)
60 Cleaning unit 62 Photosensitive drum (photoreceptor, rotating body)
64 Non-drive side flange 66 Charging roller (charging means, process means)
71 Cleaning frame 74 Exposed window 75 Coupling member 76 Bearing member (support member)
76b Guide part 76d First arc part 76f Second arc part 77 Cleaning blade (removal means, process means)
78 Drum shaft 86 Coupling member 86a Free end (engagement part: cartridge side)
86b1 Transmission part 86p1, 86p2 First tilt (tilt) Restricted part 86c Coupling part (accommodated part)
86d1, 86d2 Protrusions 86e1, 86e2 Receiving part 86f Receiving surface 86g Connecting part 86h Spring receiving part 86k1, 86k2 Standby part 86m Opening 86z Recessed portion 87 Drive side flange (transmitted member)
87b Fixed part 87d Supported part 87e Hole part 87f Retaining part 87g Transmitted part 87k Conical part 87m Opening part 87n Second inclination regulation part 87i Storage part 88 pin (shaft part / shaft)
89 Closure member (regulatory member)
90 screws (fastening means, fixing means)
A Electrophotographic image forming device main body (device main body)
B Process cartridge (cartridge)
T toner (developer)
P sheet (sheet material / recording medium)
R Rotation direction S Gap U1 Photosensitive drum unit (drum unit)
U2 drive side flange unit (flange unit)
L1 Rotation axis of electrophotographic photosensitive member L2 Rotation axis of coupling member L3 Rotation axis of engaging part on the main body side θ1 Tilt angle (first angle)
θ2 tilt angle (second angle)

Therefore, the cartridge provided with the photoconductor is located on the downstream side of the rotatable drive shaft and the rotation axis of the drive shaft in the mounting direction of the cartridge, and protrudes toward the photoconductor in the direction of the rotation axis. In a cartridge that can be mounted by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the engaging portion on the device main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the main body side protrusion, the frame body and the developer. The frame is provided with a photoconductor that is capable of supporting and rotating the photoconductor, and a member that is attached to an end portion of the photoconductor and is transmitted with a rotational force to be transmitted to the photoconductor. Regarding the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor, the reference surface provided at the first end of the frame and the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor provided on the downstream side of the rotation axis of the photoconductor in the mounting direction. A groove-shaped groove that is recessed from the reference surface toward the second end opposite to the first end of the frame and extends parallel to the mounting direction toward the rotation axis of the photoconductor. Provided is a cartridge characterized in that, when the cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, the protruding portion on the main body side enters the groove portion.

Claims (188)

A cartridge provided with a tiltable coupling member, which is located downstream of the rotatable engaging portion for engaging with the coupling member and the rotation axis of the engaging portion in the mounting direction of the cartridge. An electron provided with a coupling guide for abutting the coupling member tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the engagement portion and guiding the coupling member so as to be parallel to the rotation axis of the engagement portion. In a cartridge that can be mounted on the main body of the photographic image forming device by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the engaging portion.
With the frame
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A rotatable transmitted member to which a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body is transmitted, and
A free end portion having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion, and the coupling member having a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion to the transmitted member. , Equipped with
The frame is
A hole for exposing the free end to the outside of the frame, and
An approached portion provided on the downstream side of the hole portion in the mounting direction and into which the coupling member enters due to an inclination toward the downstream side in the mounting direction, and the coupling member engages with the engaging portion. As a result, the approached portion into which the coupling guide enters instead of the coupling member and
A cartridge characterized by having. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the approached portion is a groove portion provided in the frame body, and the groove portion extends from the hole portion to the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the approached portion is a groove portion provided in the frame body, and the side surface of the groove portion does not come into contact with the entering coupling guide. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the approached portion is a groove portion provided in the frame body, and the coupling member enters the groove portion by tilting the coupling member. The approached portion is a groove portion provided in the frame body, and the width of the groove portion in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction is larger than the diameter of the free end portion of the coupling member. Cartridge described in. Any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the angle at which the coupling member can be tilted toward the approached portion is larger than the angle at which the coupling member can be tilted in a direction different from the approached portion. The cartridge described in item 1. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the coupling member does not come into contact with the coupling guide in a state where the coupling member receives a rotational force from the engaging portion. .. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the hole portion and the coupling guide overlap each other when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising an urging member for urging the coupling member so that the free end portion is inclined toward the approached portion. The approached portion is a groove portion provided in the frame body, and is a groove portion.
A urging member for urging the coupling member so that the free end portion is inclined toward the approached portion is provided.
The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member urged by the urging member abuts on the side surface of the groove portion to regulate its posture. 6. Cartridge. The cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the protrusion receives a urging force from the device main body when the cartridge is attached to the device main body. The coupling member has a through hole penetrating the joint and has a through hole.
The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the through hole is penetrated, a rotational force is received from the transmission portion, and both ends thereof have a shaft portion supported by the transmission member. cartridge. The free end portion has two protrusions having the receiving portion, and these protrusions are arranged so that the receiving portion is substantially point-symmetrical about the rotation axis of the coupling member.
When the cartridge is moved with respect to the apparatus main body in the mounting direction, the angle at which the coupling member can tilt in the mounting direction while the virtual line connecting the two protrusions and the mounting direction are orthogonal to each other is the angle. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the coupling member is smaller than an angle at which the coupling member can be tilted in the mounting direction in a state where the virtual line and the mounting direction are parallel to each other. The free end portion has a protrusion having a receiving portion, and the receiving portion is provided so as to be exposed when viewed from the outside in the radial direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the coupling member. The cartridge according to any one of 14 to 14. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the coupling member can be tilted to a downstream side in the mounting direction by about 20 ° or more. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be removed from the main body of the device by moving it in a removal direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A coupling member having a free end portion having a protrusion, which is rotatable and whose rotation axis can be tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating body.
Of the protrusions, the number of protrusions having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion is two, and these protrusions are substantially point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis of the coupling member. Placed,
When the cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body is moved in the removal direction, the coupling member can be tilted to the opposite side of the removal direction in a state where the virtual line connecting the two protrusions and the removal direction are orthogonal to each other. The cartridge is characterized in that the first angle is smaller than the second angle at which the coupling member can be tilted to the side opposite to the removal direction in a state where the virtual line and the removal direction are parallel to each other. The cartridge according to claim 18, wherein both the first angle and the second angle are about 20 ° or more. The cartridge according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the difference between the first angle and the second angle is about 3 ° or more and about 20 ° or less. It has a storage portion inside, and is provided with a rotatable transmitted member to which a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body is transmitted.
The coupling member has a coupling portion having a transmission portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion to the transmitted member.
The cartridge according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein at least a part of the joint portion is housed in the accommodating portion. The joint has a through hole that penetrates the joint.
21. The cartridge according to claim 21, further comprising a shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and can receive a rotational force from the transmission portion. 22. The cartridge according to claim 22, wherein the angle formed by the shaft portion and the virtual line is about 55 ° or more and about 125 ° or less. The cartridge according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the cartridge includes an urging member that urges the coupling member so that the free end portion faces the opposite side in the removal direction. In the virtual surface including the receiving portion that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the coupling member and receives the driving force from the engaging portion, the angle formed by the two straight lines connecting the center of rotation and both ends of the protrusion is about 10 ° or more and about 30 °. The cartridge according to any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein the cartridge is as follows. The cartridge according to any one of claims 18 to 25, wherein the number of protrusions is only two. 18. The free end portion has a protrusion having a receiving portion, and the receiving portion is provided so as to be exposed when viewed from the outside in the radial direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the coupling member. The cartridge according to any one of 26 to 26. It is located downstream of the rotation axis of the engaging portion in the cartridge mounting direction, and abuts on the coupling member tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the engaging portion to move the coupling member in the rotation axis direction of the engaging portion. It can be attached to an image forming device equipped with a coupling guide that guides them in parallel.
Claims 18 to 27, wherein the tilted coupling member has an approachable portion to be entered, and when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, the coupling guide enters the approached portion. The cartridge according to any one of the above. The cartridge according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be mounted on the device body by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A coupling member having a free end portion having a protrusion, which is rotatable and whose rotation axis can be tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating body.
Of the protrusions, the number of protrusions having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion is two, and these protrusions are substantially point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis of the coupling member. Placed,
The first angle at which the coupling member can tilt to the downstream side of the mounting direction when the virtual line connecting the two protrusions and the mounting direction are orthogonal to each other is such that the virtual line and the mounting direction are parallel to each other. A cartridge characterized in that the coupling member is smaller than a second angle capable of tilting downstream in the mounting direction. 30. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein both the first angle and the second angle are about 20 ° or more. The cartridge according to claim 30 or 31, wherein the difference between the first angle and the second angle is about 3 ° or more and about 20 ° or less. It has a storage portion inside, and is provided with a rotatable transmitted member to which a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body is transmitted.
The coupling member has a coupling portion having a transmission portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion to the transmitted member.
The cartridge according to any one of claims 30 to 32, wherein at least a part of the joint portion is housed in the accommodating portion. A through hole penetrating the joint and
33. The cartridge according to claim 33, further comprising a shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and can receive a rotational force from the transmission portion. The cartridge according to claim 34, wherein the angle formed by the shaft portion and the virtual line is about 55 ° or more and about 125 ° or less. The cartridge according to any one of claims 30 to 35, further comprising an urging member that urges the coupling member so that the free end portion faces downstream in the mounting direction. In a virtual plane including a receiving portion that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the coupling member and receives a driving force from the engaging portion, the angle formed by two straight lines connecting both ends of the protrusion from the rotation axis is about 10 ° or more. The cartridge according to any one of claims 30 to 36, wherein the temperature is 30 ° or less. The cartridge according to any one of claims 30 to 37, wherein the number of protrusions is only two. The cartridge according to any one of claims 30 to 38, wherein the protrusion is provided so that the receiving portion is exposed without being protected. The apparatus main body is located downstream of the rotation axis of the engaging portion in the mounting direction, and abuts on the coupling member tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the engaging portion to bring the coupling member into contact with the coupling member. Equipped with a coupling guide that guides the engaging part so that it is parallel to the rotation axis direction.
The coupling guide has an approachable portion through which the tilted coupling member can enter, and the coupling guide retracts from the approached portion and engages with the engaging portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 30 to 39, characterized in that it is configured to enter into. The cartridge according to claim 40, wherein the coupling member and the coupling guide are configured so as not to come into contact with each other in a state where the coupling member receives a rotational force from the engaging portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 30 to 41, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be mounted on the device body by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A rotatable transmitted member having a storage portion inside the rotating body and transmitting a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body.
A free end portion having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion, and a joint portion in which at least a part thereof is housed in the accommodating portion and provided with a through hole are provided on the rotation axis of the transmitted member. With a coupling member that can be tilted,
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and transmits a rotational force from the coupling member to the transmitted member is provided.
When the mounting direction and the axis of the shaft portion are parallel, the tilt of the coupling member that inclines toward the downstream side in the mounting direction is restricted by the contact between the through hole and the shaft portion.
When the mounting direction and the axis of the shaft portion are orthogonal to each other, the coupling member that inclines toward the downstream side in the mounting direction is restricted from tilting by the contact between the transmitted member and the coupling member. A cartridge characterized by being configured in. When the inclination of the coupling member is restricted by the contact between the through hole and the shaft portion, the inclination angle of the coupling member with respect to the rotation axis of the transmitted member is the inclination angle between the transmitted member and the coupling member. 43. The cartridge according to claim 43, wherein the angle of inclination of the coupling member with respect to the rotation axis of the transmitted member is smaller than the angle of inclination of the coupling member when the inclination of the coupling member is restricted by the contact with the cartridge. Has a frame,
The frame body is invaded by a hole portion for exposing the free end portion to the outside of the frame body and a tilting coupling member provided on the downstream side in the mounting direction from the hole portion. The cartridge according to claim 43 or 44, characterized in that it has a portion and a portion. When the coupling member tilts toward the approached portion, the tilt angle is maximum when the tilting of the coupling member is restricted by the contact between the coupling member and the transmitted member. 45. The cartridge according to claim 45. The cartridge according to claim 45 or 46, further comprising an urging member that urges the coupling member toward the approached portion. 47. The cartridge according to claim 47, wherein the urging member is a torsion spring, and the torsion spring is detachably engaged with the support member. The angle at which the coupling member and a part of the transmitted member abut and the inclination of the coupling member is restricted is such that the through hole and the shaft portion abut and the inclination of the coupling member is restricted. The cartridge according to any one of claims 43 to 48, wherein the cartridge is larger than the angle at the time of The free end portion is provided with protrusions extending in the direction of the rotation axis of the coupling member, and the number of protrusions having receiving portions that receive rotational force from the engaging portion is two among the protrusions, and these protrusions are the receiving portions. The portions are arranged so as to be substantially point-symmetrical about the rotation axis of the coupling member.
43 to the present invention, wherein the coupling member is restricted from tilting by abutting with a part of the transmitted member when the virtual straight line connecting the two protrusions and the mounting direction are parallel to each other. The cartridge according to any one of 49. The free end portion is provided with protrusions extending in the direction of the rotation axis of the coupling member, and the number of protrusions having receiving portions that receive rotational force from the engaging portion is two among the protrusions, and these protrusions are the receiving portions. The portions are arranged so as to be substantially point-symmetrical about the rotation axis of the coupling member.
43 to 49, wherein when the virtual straight line connecting the two protrusions and the mounting direction are orthogonal to each other, the inclination of the coupling member is restricted by the contact between the through hole and the shaft portion. The cartridge according to any one of the above. In a virtual plane including a receiving portion that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the coupling member and receives a driving force from the engaging portion, the angle formed by two straight lines connecting both ends of the protrusion from the rotation axis is about 10 ° or more and about 30. The cartridge according to any one of claims 43 to 51, wherein the temperature is not more than or equal to. The cartridge according to any one of claims 43 to 52, wherein the transmitted member has a dropout regulating portion that regulates the dropping of the coupling member by abutting on the outer periphery of the coupling portion. .. The cartridge according to any one of claims 43 to 53, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 43 to 54, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be mounted on the device body by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
With the frame
With a rotatable photoconductor,
A coupling member that is rotatable and whose rotation axis can be tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the photoconductor.
An urging member that comes into contact with the coupling member and urges the free end portion toward the downstream side in the mounting direction.
A first protrusion provided on the frame body and receiving an urging force from the device main body in a state where the cartridge is attached to the device main body.
A second protrusion for attaching the urging member, which protrudes outward from the same surface as the first protrusion of the frame body along the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor, is provided.
A cartridge characterized in that the first protrusion protrudes outside the cartridge from the second protrusion in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor. The frame has a hole for exposing the free end to the outside of the frame.
The cartridge according to claim 56, wherein the first protrusion is provided above the hole in the direction of gravity when the cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus. The frame has a hole for exposing the free end to the outside of the frame.
The cartridge according to claim 56, wherein the second protrusion is provided below the hole in the gravity direction in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus. The cartridge according to any one of claims 56 to 58, wherein the urging member is a torsion spring, and the coil portion of the torsion spring is locked to the second projection. The cartridge according to claim 59, wherein the cross section of the portion of the second protrusion holding the coil portion is D-shaped, and the side far from the rotation center of the coupling member is a D-shaped straight portion. .. The frame has a hole for exposing the free end to the outside of the frame.
The cartridge according to claim 56, wherein the cartridge is provided on the downstream side in the mounting direction from the hole portion and has an approachable portion into which the tilted coupling member can enter. Of the protrusions of the free end, the number of protrusions having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion is two.
The claim is characterized in that, in a state where the rotation axis of the coupling member and the rotation axis of the photoconductor are parallel to each other, the protrusion of the free end portion protrudes to the outside of the frame body rather than the first protrusion. The cartridge according to any one of 56 to 61. Of the protrusions of the free end, the number of protrusions having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion is two.
In a state where the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the photoconductor by being urged by the urging member, the first projection is the mounting direction of the two projections of the free end portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 56 to 61, wherein the cartridge protrudes to the outside of the frame body from the protrusion on the downstream side of the frame. Among the protrusions of the free end portion, the number of protrusions having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion is two, and these protrusions are approximately points where the receiving portion is centered on the rotation axis of the coupling member. Arranged to be symmetrical,
The cup is in a state where the first angle at which the coupling member can tilt to the downstream side of the mounting direction is parallel to the virtual line in a state where the mounting direction is orthogonal to the virtual line connecting the two protrusions. The cartridge according to any one of claims 56 to 61, wherein the ring member is smaller than a second angle capable of tilting downstream in the mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 56 to 64, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. A cartridge that can be removed from the main body of the device by moving it in a removal direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A rotatable transmitted member having a storage portion inside the rotating body and transmitting a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body.
A rotatable coupling member having a free end portion having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion and a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion to the transmitted member. In the coupling portion, the rotation axis of the coupling member rotates the transmitted member so that the receiving portion disengages from the engaging portion as the coupling member moves in the removal direction of the cartridge. A coupling member having at least a part thereof stored in the storage portion so as to be tiltable with respect to the axis and a through hole penetrating the joint portion.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and can receive a rotational force from the transmission portion is provided.
Both ends of the shaft portion are supported by the transmitted member, and the maximum rotation diameter around the rotation axis of the coupling member at the coupling portion is the maximum rotation diameter around the rotation axis of the coupling member at the free end portion. A cartridge characterized by being larger. The shaft portion is provided with an inclination restricting portion that regulates the inclination of the coupling member by abutting with the through hole when the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the transmitted member. The cartridge according to claim 66. The cartridge according to claim 66 or 67, wherein the transmitted member has a dropout regulating portion that regulates the dropping of the coupling member by abutting on the outer periphery of the coupling portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 66 to 68, wherein the coupling portion has a substantially spherical shape centered on the tilting center of the coupling member. The cartridge according to claim 69, wherein the dropout control portion regulates the outer circumference of the substantially spherical shape of the joint portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 66 to 70, wherein the cartridge has an urging member that comes into contact with the coupling member and urges the free end portion toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. When the inclination of the coupling member is restricted by the contact between the through hole and the shaft portion, the inclination angle of the coupling member with respect to the rotation axis of the transmitted member is the inclination angle between the transmitted member and the coupling member. One of claims 66 to 71, which is smaller than the inclination angle of the coupling member with respect to the rotation axis of the transmitted member when the inclination of the coupling member is restricted by the contact with the coupling member. Cartridge described in. The coupling member has a joint portion provided between the free end portion and the joint portion, and the diameter of the joint portion is smaller than the diameter of the free end portion and the joint portion. Item 6. The cartridge according to any one of Items 66 to 72. The cartridge according to any one of claims 66 to 73, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 66 to 74, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be mounted on the device body by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
With the frame
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A coupling member having a free end portion having a protrusion, which is rotatable and whose rotation axis can be tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating body, and which is a receiving portion of the protrusion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion. The number of protrusions is two, and these protrusions are a coupling member arranged so that the receiving portion is substantially point-symmetrical about the rotation axis of the coupling member.
A first protrusion provided on the frame body and receiving an urging force from the device main body in a state where the cartridge is attached to the device main body.
It has an urging member that comes into contact with the coupling member and urges the free end portion toward the downstream side in the mounting direction.
When the rotation axis of the coupling member and the rotation axis of the rotating body are parallel to each other, at least a part of each of the two protrusions at the free end portion is the rotation axis of the rotating body rather than the first protrusion. Located on the outside of the frame
It is characterized in that at least one of the protrusions of the coupling member whose coupling member is urged and tilted by the urging member is located inside the frame body on the rotation axis of the rotating body rather than the first protrusion. Cartridge to do. It is provided with a second protrusion for mounting the urging member, which protrudes from the same surface as the first protrusion of the frame body, and the first protrusion is more than the second protrusion in the rotation axis direction of the rotating body. The cartridge according to claim 76, wherein the cartridge is projected to the outside of the frame. The cartridge according to claim 77, wherein the urging member is a torsion spring, and the coil portion of the torsion spring is locked to the second projection. It has a storage portion inside, and is provided with a rotatable transmitted member to which a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body is transmitted.
The coupling member includes a coupling portion having a transmission portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion to the transmitted member.
The cartridge according to any one of claims 76 to 78, wherein at least a part of the joint portion is housed in the accommodating portion. The joint has a through hole that penetrates the joint.
The cartridge according to claim 79, comprising: a shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and can receive a rotational force from the transmission portion. When the virtual line connecting the two protrusions having the receiving portion of the free end portion is orthogonal to the mounting direction, the two protrusions of the coupling member inclined to the downstream side in the mounting direction are both of the frame body. The cartridge according to any one of claims 76 to 80, which is located inside. The apparatus main body is located downstream of the rotation axis of the engaging portion in the mounting direction, and abuts on the coupling member tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the engaging portion to bring the coupling member into contact with the coupling member. Equipped with a coupling guide that guides the engaging part so that it is parallel to the rotation axis direction.
It has an invaded portion for the tilted coupling member to enter, and as the coupling member engages with the engaging portion, the coupling member retracts from the invaded portion and the cup The cartridge according to any one of claims 76 to 81, wherein the ring guide enters the approached portion. The claim is characterized in that the frame body has a hole portion for exposing the free end portion to the outside of the frame body, and the approached portion is provided on the downstream side in the mounting direction with respect to the hole portion. Item 82. The free end portion has a protrusion having a receiving portion, and the receiving portion is provided so as to be exposed when viewed from the radial outside orthogonal to the rotation direction of the coupling member. The cartridge according to any one of Items to 83. The cartridge according to any one of claims 76 to 84, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 76 to 85, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. Used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body provided with a rotatable engaging portion and a coupling guide provided behind the rotating axis of the engaging portion, with respect to the rotating axis of the engaging portion. A cartridge that can be mounted on the main body of the device by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to each other.
With the frame
With a rotatable rotating body,
A coupling member having a free end portion having a protrusion, which is rotatable and whose rotation axis can be tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating body, and the coupling when the cartridge is completely mounted on the apparatus main body. A coupling member whose inclination can be regulated by the coupling guide, and
The frame body is provided with a hole portion for exposing the free end portion to the outside of the frame body and a downstream side in the mounting direction from the hole portion, and the coupling member is located on the downstream side in the mounting direction. When the free end portion is inclined to, the free end portion enters, and as the coupling member engages with the engaging portion, the coupling guide enters instead of the free end portion, and the rotation. It is provided with a restricting portion that protrudes outward from the approached portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the body.
An urging member that urges the coupling member to the restricting portion so that the free end portion enters the approached portion.
A cartridge characterized by having. The coupling guide is located downstream of the rotation axis of the engaging portion in the mounting direction, and abuts on the coupling member tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the engaging portion to bring the coupling member into contact with the coupling member. Guided so that it is parallel to the rotation axis direction of the engaging portion,
The coupling member inclined so as to enter the approached portion by the urging member is characterized in that when the cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, it comes into contact with a coupling guide that enters the approached portion. The cartridge according to claim 87. The approached portion is a groove portion provided in the frame body, and is a groove portion.
The cartridge according to claim 87 or 88, wherein the groove portion extends downstream from the hole portion in the mounting direction. One of claims 87 to 89, wherein the angle at which the coupling member can be tilted toward the retractable portion is larger than the angle at which the coupling member can be tilted in a direction different from the retractable portion. The cartridge described in the section. The cartridge according to claim 88, wherein the approached portion is a groove portion provided in the frame body, and the side surface of the groove portion does not come into contact with the entering coupling guide. The approached portion is a groove portion provided in the frame body, and is a groove portion.
The cartridge according to claim 87, wherein the coupling member is urged by the urging member to abut on the side surface of the groove portion on the lower side in the gravity direction to regulate the tilt angle. A claim characterized in that, in a state where the coupling member receives a rotational force from the engaging portion, the coupling member and the urging member are in contact with each other, and the coupling member is not in contact with the coupling guide. Item 88 or 91. The free end portion has two protrusions having the receiving portion, and the receiving portions are arranged so that the receiving portion is substantially point-symmetrical about the rotation axis of the coupling member, and the cartridge is the device. When moving in the mounting direction with respect to the main body, the angle at which the coupling member can tilt to the opposite side of the mounting direction while the virtual line connecting the two protrusions and the mounting direction are orthogonal to each other is the virtual line. The cartridge according to any one of claims 87 to 93, wherein the coupling member is smaller than an angle at which the coupling member can be tilted to a side opposite to the mounting direction in a state where the mounting directions are parallel to each other. The cartridge according to any one of claims 87 to 94, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 87 to 95, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be removed from the main body of the device by moving it in a removal direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A rotatable member to be transmitted, which has a storage portion inside and a gear portion on the outside thereof, and a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body is transmitted.
A rotatable coupling member having a free end portion having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion and a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion to the transmitted member. In the coupling portion, the rotation axis of the coupling member rotates the transmitted member so that the receiving portion disengages from the engaging portion as the coupling member moves in the removal direction of the cartridge. When at least a part thereof is stored in the storage portion so as to be tiltable with respect to the axis line, a coupling member having a through hole penetrating the joint portion and a coupling member penetrating the through hole from the transmission portion. A shaft that can receive rotational force and
A support member having a support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member, and the like.
Both ends of the shaft portion are supported by the transmitted member, and among the virtual planes perpendicular to the rotation axis of the transmitted member, the surface on which the shaft portion, the support portion, and the gear portion are on the same plane is A cartridge characterized by being. The support member has a first protrusion that receives an urging force when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and includes the shaft portion, the support portion, and the gear portion perpendicular to the rotation axis of the transmitted member. The cartridge according to claim 97, wherein the first protrusion is not included on the virtual plane. A urging member for urging the coupling member to the downstream side in the mounting direction is provided.
The support member has a second protrusion for attaching the urging member, and is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the transmitted member and is on a virtual plane including the shaft portion, the support portion, and the gear portion. The cartridge according to claim 97 or 98, wherein the cartridge is free of protrusions. The support member includes a hole portion for exposing the free end portion to the outside of the cartridge, and an approaching portion provided on the downstream side of the hole portion in the mounting direction and into which the tilting coupling member can enter. The cartridge according to any one of claims 97 to 99. The cartridge according to claim 100, wherein the approached portion is a groove portion provided in the support member. A urging member for urging the coupling member downstream in the cartridge mounting direction is provided.
The cartridge according to claim 101, wherein the coupling member is urged by the urging member so as to abut on the side surface of the groove portion on the lower side in the gravity direction to regulate the tilt angle. A torsion spring that urges the coupling member downstream in the cartridge mounting direction is provided.
The support member includes a second protrusion that engages the coil portion of the torsion spring.
The claim is characterized in that the arm extending from the outside of the cartridge of the coil portion of the torsion spring is locked to the support member, and the arm extending from the inside of the cartridge of the coil portion of the torsion spring comes into contact with the coupling member. The cartridge according to 97. A torsion spring for urging the coupling member to the downstream side in the mounting direction is provided.
The support member includes a first protrusion provided on the frame body and receiving an urging force from the device main body in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the device main body.
The support member includes a second protrusion that engages the coil portion of the torsion spring.
The cartridge according to claim 97, wherein the first protrusion protrudes outside the cartridge on the rotation axis of the rotating body from the second protrusion in the rotation axis direction of the rotating body. The cartridge according to any one of claims 97 to 104, wherein the transmitted member has a dropout regulating portion that regulates the dropping of the coupling member by abutting on the outer periphery of the coupling portion. .. The cartridge according to claim 105, wherein the coupling portion has a substantially spherical shape centered on a tilting center of the coupling member. The cartridge according to claim 106, wherein the dropout control portion regulates the outer circumference of the substantially spherical shape of the joint portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 97 to 107, wherein the transmitted member is provided with an annular groove portion between the storage portion and the gear portion on the outer surface of the cartridge. The cartridge according to any one of claims 97 to 108, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 97 to 109, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be removed from the main body of the device by moving it in a removal direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A rotatable transmitted member having a storage portion inside the rotating body and transmitting a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body.
It has a free end portion having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion, and a coupling portion in which at least a part thereof is housed in the storage portion, and can be tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the transmitted member. Coupling member and
A support member having a support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member, and the like.
The transmitted member is provided with an annular groove on the outer surface of the cartridge and has an annular groove.
The support portion of the support member abuts on the radial outer side surface of the transmitted member of the groove to rotatably support the transmitted member, and the joint portion is radially inside the transmitted member of the groove. The cartridge to be located. The coupling member has a through hole penetrating the joint and has a through hole.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole, receives a rotational force from the transmission portion, and both ends thereof are supported by the transmitted member, respectively.
The cartridge according to claim 111, wherein the shaft portion and the side surface of the groove overlap each other. The coupling member has a through hole penetrating the joint and has a through hole.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole, receives a rotational force from the transmission portion, and both ends thereof are supported by the transmitted member, respectively.
The cartridge according to claim 111, wherein the shaft portion and the support portion overlap each other. The cartridge according to any one of claims 111 to 113, wherein the transmitted member has a gear portion, and the gear portion is radially outside the transmitted member with respect to the groove portion. The cartridge according to claim 114, wherein the center of tilt of the coupling member when tilted with respect to the transmitted member overlaps with the gear portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 111 to 115, wherein the transmitted member has a dropout regulating portion that regulates the dropping of the coupling member by abutting on the outer periphery of the coupling portion. .. The transmitted member has a hole for exposing the free end portion to the outside of the cartridge, and an approached portion provided on the downstream side in the mounting direction from the hole portion and into which the tilted coupling member can enter. The cartridge according to any one of claims 111 to 116. A torsion spring for urging the coupling member to the downstream side in the mounting direction is provided.
The support member includes a second protrusion that engages the coil portion of the torsion spring.
The claim is characterized in that the arm extending from the outside of the cartridge of the coil portion of the torsion spring is locked to the support member, and the arm extending from the inside of the cartridge of the coil portion of the torsion spring comes into contact with the coupling member. The cartridge according to any one of 111 to 117. A torsion spring for urging the coupling member to the downstream side in the mounting direction is provided.
The support member is provided on the frame body, and in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the device main body, a first protrusion that receives an urging force from the device main body and the like.
The support member includes a second protrusion that engages the coil portion of the torsion spring.
17. cartridge. The cartridge according to any one of claims 111 to 119, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 111 to 120, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be mounted on the device body by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A rotatable transmitted member having a storage portion inside the rotating body and transmitting a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body.
It has a free end portion having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion, and a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion to the transmitted member, with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating body. With a tiltable coupling member,
A support member having a support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member,
A urging member that comes into contact with the coupling member and urges the free end portion of the coupling member toward the downstream side in the mounting direction is provided.
The support member is a cartridge including a retracting portion that maximizes the angle at which the coupling member can be tilted in the direction in which the coupling member is urged by the urging member. The cartridge according to claim 122, wherein the width of the retracted portion in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction is larger than the diameter of the free end portion. The coupling member has a joint portion having a smaller diameter than each of the free end portion and the joint portion, and the width of the retracted portion in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction is the width of the joint portion of the coupling member. The cartridge according to claim 122 or 123, characterized in that it is larger in diameter. The cartridge according to any one of claims 122 to 124, wherein the retracting portion is located downstream of the engaging portion in the cartridge mounting direction with the cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body. It has a through hole that penetrates the joint portion and a shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and can receive a rotational force from the transmission portion.
When the coupling member is tilted toward the retracted portion by the urging member, if the axis of the shaft portion is orthogonal to the tilting direction of the coupling member, the coupling member is one of the transmitted members. The cartridge according to any one of claims 122 to 125, wherein the inclination is regulated by contacting the portion. It has a through hole that penetrates the joint portion and a shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and can receive a rotational force from the transmission portion.
When the coupling member is tilted toward the retracted portion by the urging member, if the axis of the shaft portion is parallel to the tilting direction of the coupling, the coupling member has the through hole and the shaft portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 122 to 125, wherein the inclination is regulated by the contact with the cartridge. It has a through hole that penetrates the joint portion and a shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and can receive a rotational force from the transmission portion.
The angle at which the coupling member abuts on a part of the transmitted member to regulate the inclination of the coupling member is when the through hole and the shaft portion abut and regulate the inclination of the coupling member. The cartridge according to any one of claims 122 to 125, wherein the cartridge is larger than the angle of. The cartridge according to any one of claims 122 to 128, wherein the transmitted member has a dropout restricting portion that regulates the disconnection of the coupling member by abutting on the outer periphery of the coupling portion. .. The cartridge according to any one of claims 122 to 129, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 122 to 130, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be mounted on the device body by moving it in a mounting direction that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A rotatable transmitted member having a storage portion inside the rotating body and transmitting a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body.
A rotatable coupling member having a free end portion having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion and a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion to the transmitted member. At least a part of the coupling portion is housed in the storage portion so that the rotation axis of the coupling member can be tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the transmitted member, and the coupling portion penetrates the coupling portion. With a hole, and with a coupling member,
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and can receive a rotational force from the transmission portion is provided.
Both ends of the shaft portion are supported by the transmitted member, and an urging member that comes into contact with the coupling member and urges the free end portion of the coupling member toward the downstream side in the mounting direction. A cartridge characterized by having. The cartridge according to claim 132, further comprising a support member having a support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member and a first protrusion that receives an urging force when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. .. The urging member is a torsion spring.
The cartridge according to claim 132, further comprising a support member having a support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member and a second protrusion that engages the coil portion of the torsion spring. The claim is characterized in that the arm extending from the outside of the cartridge of the coil portion of the torsion spring is locked to the support member, and the arm extending from the inside of the cartridge of the coil portion of the torsion spring comes into contact with the coupling member. The cartridge according to 134. A support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member, a hole portion for exposing the free end portion to the outside of the cartridge, and a tilting coupling member provided on the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction from the hole portion. The cartridge according to claim 132, wherein the cartridge comprises a retractable portion and a support member having the retractable portion. A support member having a support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member is provided.
The transmitted member has an annular groove on the outer surface of the cartridge and has an annular groove.
The cartridge according to claim 132, wherein the support portion of the support member abuts on the radial outer side surface of the transmitted member of the groove to rotatably support the transmitted member. The cartridge according to any one of claims 132 to 137, wherein the transmitted member has a dropout regulating portion that regulates the dropping of the coupling member by abutting on the outer periphery of the coupling portion. .. The free end portion is provided with protrusions extending in the direction of the rotation axis of the coupling member, and the number of protrusions having receiving portions that receive rotational force from the engaging portion is two among the protrusions, and these protrusions are the receiving portions. The cartridge according to any one of claims 132 to 138, wherein the portions are arranged so as to be substantially point-symmetrical about the rotation axis of the coupling member. 139. Claim 139, wherein when the virtual straight line connecting the two protrusions and the mounting direction are parallel to each other, the coupling member abuts on a part of the transmitted member to regulate its inclination. The listed cartridge. The cartridge according to any one of claims 132 to 140, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 132 to 141, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. A cartridge that can be removed from the main body of the device by moving it in a removal direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A rotating body that carries a developer and can rotate,
A rotatable transmitted member having a storage portion inside the rotating body and transmitting a rotational force for transmitting to the rotating body.
A rotatable coupling member having a free end portion having a receiving portion that receives a rotational force from the engaging portion and a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion to the transmitted member. At least a part of the coupling portion is housed in the storage portion so that the rotation axis of the coupling member can be tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the transmitted member, and the coupling portion penetrates the coupling portion. With a hole, and with a coupling member,
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and can receive a rotational force from the transmission portion is provided.
Both ends of the shaft portion are supported by the transmitted member, and the transmitted member has a dropout restricting portion that regulates the disconnection of the coupling member by abutting on the outer periphery of the coupling portion. cartridge. 143. Claim 143, wherein the support member includes a support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member, and a first protrusion that receives an urging force when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. Cartridge. The coupling member is provided with a torsion spring that urges the coupling member to the upstream side in the removal direction.
143. The cartridge according to claim 143, further comprising a support member having a support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member and a second protrusion that engages the coil portion of the torsion spring. The claim is characterized in that the arm extending from the outside of the cartridge of the coil portion of the torsion spring is locked to the support member, and the arm extending from the inside of the cartridge of the coil portion of the torsion spring comes into contact with the coupling member. 145. Cartridge. A support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member, a hole portion for exposing the free end portion to the outside of the cartridge, and a tilting cup provided upstream of the hole portion in the removal direction. 143. The cartridge according to claim 143, wherein the ring member includes a retractable portion and a support member having the retractable portion. A support member having a support portion that rotatably supports the transmitted member is provided.
The transmitted member has an annular groove on the outer surface of the cartridge and has an annular groove.
143. The cartridge according to claim 143, wherein the support portion of the support member abuts on the radial outer side surface of the transmitted member of the groove to rotatably support the transmitted member. The cartridge according to any one of claims 143 to 148, wherein the coupling member can be tilted by about 20 ° or more toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 143 to 149, wherein the rotating body is a photoconductor. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member that can rotate around a rotation axis, and the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the rotation member and the rotation axis of the coupling member rotate the rotation member. A coupling member that can move between a second position that is tilted with respect to the axis, and
The coupling member is provided with an urging member for urging the coupling member toward the second position.
The frame is characterized by providing a retracting portion so that the coupling member can be tilted at a larger angle in a direction in which the coupling member is urged by the urging member than in a direction other than the urging direction. Cartridge. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member having a first part provided with a through hole and a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis of the coupling member. A coupling member that can move between a first position that coincides with the axis of the rotating member and a second position where the axis of rotation of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole, and both ends thereof are supported by the rotating member.
A cartridge characterized by comprising an urging member for urging the coupling member toward a second position. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member having a first part provided with a through hole and a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis of the coupling member. A coupling member that can move between a first position that coincides with the axis of the rotating member and a second position where the axis of rotation of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole, and both ends thereof are supported by the rotating member.
A cartridge characterized in that the rotating member includes a dropout regulating portion that regulates the dropout of the coupling member by coming into contact with the first portion. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member having a first part provided with a through hole and a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis of the coupling member. A coupling member that can move between a first position that coincides with the axis of the rotating member and a second position where the axis of rotation of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and has both ends of the shaft portion that are supported by the rotating member.
When the rotation axis of the coupling member is tilted with respect to the axis of the shaft portion, the shaft portion abuts on the through hole to regulate the tilt of the coupling member.
When the rotation axis of the coupling member is tilted in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the shaft portion, the frame may come into contact with the coupling to regulate the tilt of the coupling member. Characterized cartridge. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member having a first part provided with a through hole and a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis of the coupling member. A coupling member that can move between a first position that coincides with the axis of the rotating member and a second position where the axis of rotation of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and has both ends of the shaft portion that are supported by the rotating member.
The angle between the rotation axis of the coupling member and the rotation axis of the rotation member when the inclination of the coupling member is restricted by the contact between the frame and the coupling member is determined.
It is configured to be larger than the angle between the rotation axis of the coupling member and the rotation axis of the rotation member when the shaft portion and the through hole are in contact with each other to regulate the inclination of the coupling member. A cartridge that features that. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member having a first part provided with a through hole and a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis of the coupling member. A coupling member that can move between a first position that coincides with the axis of the rotating member and a second position where the axis of rotation of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and has both ends of the shaft portion that are supported by the rotating member.
The rotating member has a gear portion on the outer periphery thereof, and at least a part of the gear portion overlaps with a portion where the frame body rotatably supports the rotating member along the rotation axis direction of the rotating member. A cartridge that features that. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member having a first part provided with a through hole and a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis of the coupling member. A coupling member that can move between a first position that coincides with the axis of the rotating member and a second position where the axis of rotation of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole, and both ends thereof are supported by the rotating member.
The shaft portion includes an inclination restricting portion that abuts on the through hole and regulates the inclination of the coupling member when the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rotation member, and the coupling. A rotation regulating portion that abuts on the through hole and regulates the rotation of the coupling member when the member rotates around the rotation axis is provided.
The angle at which the coupling member can rotate on the first virtual surface including the rotation axis of the rotating member and the axis of the shaft portion is such that the coupling member rotates on the second virtual surface orthogonal to the first virtual surface. A cartridge characterized by being configured to be larger than the movable angle. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member having a first part provided with a through hole and a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis of the coupling member. A coupling member that can move between a first position that coincides with the axis of the rotating member and a second position where the axis of rotation of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and has both ends of the shaft portion that are supported by the rotating member.
The rotating member comprises a first member having a dropout restricting portion for restricting the coupling member from moving away from the carrier and falling off, and a second member coupled to the first member. A cartridge characterized in that both ends of the shaft portion are supported by the first member and the second member, respectively. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotary member that has a gear portion on its outer circumference, is rotatably supported by the frame body, and can rotate.
A coupling member that can rotate around a rotation axis, and the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the rotation member and the rotation axis of the coupling member rotate the rotation member. A second position tilted with respect to the axis and a coupling member that can move between them.
The rotating member includes a storage portion for accommodating a part of the coupling member and a storage portion.
The rotating member is a cartridge including an annular groove portion between the accommodating portion and the gear portion on the outer surface of the cartridge in the rotation axis direction of the rotating member. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member having a first part having a through hole, a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part, and a protrusion protruding from the second part, and rotatable about a rotation axis. Between the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the rotation member and the second position where the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rotation member. With a movable coupling member,
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole, and both ends thereof are supported by the rotating member.
A frame body protrusion that protrudes from the end surface of the frame body on the side where the coupling member is provided toward the outside of the frame body is provided.
The protrusion of the coupling member is in a state where the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rotation member and the inclination of the coupling member is restricted by the contact between the shaft portion and the through hole. A cartridge characterized in that it is located inward of the cartridge in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body from the frame projection. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member having a first part having a through hole, a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part, and a protrusion protruding from the second part, and rotatable about a rotation axis. Between the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the rotation member and the second position where the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rotation member. With a movable coupling member,
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole, and both ends thereof are supported by the rotating member.
A frame body protrusion that protrudes from the end surface of the frame body on the side where the coupling member is provided toward the outside of the frame body is provided.
A cartridge characterized in that, in a state where the coupling member is in the first position, the protrusion of the coupling member is located outside the cartridge in the rotation axis direction of the rotating member from the frame protrusion. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A rotation axis having a first part having a through hole, a second part farther from the rotating member than the first part, and a third part having a protrusion farther from the rotating member than the second part. A coupling member that can rotate around the center of the coupling member, the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the rotation member, and the rotation axis of the coupling member is the rotation axis of the rotation member. A coupling member that can move between the second position that is tilted with respect to it,
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole and has both ends of the shaft portion that are supported by the rotating member.
A cartridge characterized in that the maximum rotation diameter around the rotation axis of the coupling member in the first part is larger than the maximum rotation diameter around the rotation axis of the coupling member in the third part. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
A rotatable carrier that carries a developer and
A rotatable member that is rotatably supported and rotatably supported by the frame body,
A coupling member that can rotate around a rotation axis, and the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the rotation member and the rotation axis of the coupling member rotate the rotation member. A coupling member that can move between a second position that is tilted with respect to the axis, and
An urging member that urges the coupling member toward the second position,
A frame protrusion protruding from the end surface of the frame on the side where the coupling member is provided toward the outside of the frame, and a mounting protrusion for mounting the urging member on the same surface as the frame protrusion. With a support member,
A cartridge characterized in that the frame protrusion protrudes from the mounting protrusion toward the outside of the cartridge in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating member. It ’s a cartridge,
With the frame
With a photosensitive drum,
A developing roller that develops a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, and
With the flange attached to the end of the photosensitive drum,
A coupling member, which is held tiltably on the flange, is provided.
The frame body is connected to the hole portion for exposing the coupling member to the outside of the cartridge and the surface provided with the hole portion of the frame body in the direction opposite to the rotation center of the developing roller. A cartridge characterized by having a groove towards. It can be removed from the device body by moving it in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and receives rotational force from the engaging portion. The penetration of a rotatable coupling member having a free end having a receiving portion, a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion, and a through hole provided in the joint portion. A cartridge to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of the shaft passing through the hole.
With the frame
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, and a flange attached to the end of the cylinder, provided with a storage portion inside which the joint portion can be stored and the coupling member can be tiltably held.
It has a bearing member that is attached to the frame body and has a support portion that rotatably supports the flange.
The flange is a cartridge characterized by having a holding portion for holding both ends of a shaft passing through the through hole, and a drop-off restricting portion for restricting the dropping of the coupling member by abutting on the outer periphery of the coupling portion. It can be removed from the device body by moving it in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and receives rotational force from the engaging portion. A cartridge to which a rotatable coupling member can be attached, comprising a free end portion having a receiving portion and a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion.
With the frame
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, and a flange attached to the end of the cylinder, provided with a storage portion inside which the joint portion can be stored and the coupling member can be tiltably held.
It has a bearing member that is attached to the frame body and has a support portion that rotatably supports the flange.
The flange is provided with an annular groove portion on the radial outer side of the flange of the storage portion, and the support portion abuts on the radial outer side surface of the flange portion of the groove portion to rotatably support the flange. Characterized cartridge. It can be removed from the device body by moving it in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and receives rotational force from the engaging portion. The penetration of a rotatable coupling member having a free end having a receiving portion, a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion, and a through hole provided in the joint portion. A cartridge to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of the shaft passing through the hole.
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder comprising a storage portion capable of accommodating a coupling portion inside the coupling portion and holding the coupling member in a tiltable manner, and a holding portion for holding both ends of a shaft passing through a through hole. , Equipped with
When the coupling member held by the holding portion is inclined in the axial direction, the coupling member is provided so that the inclination is restricted by the contact between the through hole and the shaft portion.
The flange is a cartridge characterized by comprising a regulating portion that abuts on the coupling member and regulates the inclination of the coupling member when the coupling member is inclined in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. It can be removed from the device body by moving it in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and receives rotational force from the engaging portion. The penetration of a rotatable coupling member having a free end having a receiving portion, a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion, and a through hole provided in the joint portion. A cartridge to which a coupling member and a torsion spring can be attached by holding both ends of the shaft passing through the hole.
With the frame
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, and a flange attached to the end of the cylinder, provided with a storage portion inside which the joint portion can be stored and the coupling member can be tiltably held.
It has a bearing member that is attached to the frame body and has a support portion that rotatably supports the flange.
The bearing member includes a first protrusion that receives urging force from the device body when the cartridge is mounted on the device body.
A second protrusion for attaching a coil portion of a torsion spring, which protrudes outward from the same surface as the first protrusion of the frame body along the rotation axis direction of the cylinder, is provided.
A cartridge characterized in that the first protrusion protrudes outside the cartridge from the second protrusion in the direction of the rotation axis of the cylinder. It can be removed from the device body by moving it in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and receives rotational force from the engaging portion. The penetration of a rotatable coupling member having a free end having a receiving portion, a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion, and a through hole provided in the joint portion. A cartridge to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of the shaft passing through the hole.
With the frame
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, and a flange attached to the end of the cylinder, provided with a storage portion inside which the joint portion can be stored and the coupling member can be tiltably held.
It has a bearing member that is attached to the frame body and has a support portion that rotatably supports the flange.
The flange has a holding portion for holding both ends of the shaft passing through the through hole and a gear portion for transmitting a driving force, and the holding portion, the support portion, and the gear portion are provided along the rotation axis of the flange. Is a cartridge characterized by overlapping. Used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body provided with a rotatable engaging portion and a coupling guide provided behind the rotating axis of the engaging portion, with respect to the rotating axis of the engaging portion. A cartridge to which a coupling member that can be mounted on the main body of the device can be mounted by moving the cartridge in substantially orthogonal mounting directions.
With the frame
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, and a flange attached to the end of the cylinder, provided with a storage portion inside which the joint portion can be stored and the coupling member can be tiltably held.
It has a bearing member that is attached to the frame body and has a support portion that rotatably supports the flange.
The bearing member is a cartridge characterized by having a hole portion for exposing a free end portion to the outside and a groove portion continuous from the hole portion toward the downstream side in the cartridge mounting direction. It can be removed from the device body by moving it in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and receives rotational force from the engaging portion. The penetration of a rotatable coupling member having a free end having a receiving portion, a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion, and a through hole provided in the joint portion. A drum unit to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of the shaft passing through the hole.
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A storage portion that can store the coupling portion inside and hold the coupling member tiltably, an annular groove portion provided on the radial outer side of the cylinder of the storage portion, and both ends of the shaft passing through the through hole. A holding portion for holding the cylinder, and a flange attached to the end of the cylinder.
A drum unit characterized in that the groove portion and the holding portion overlap with each other along the rotation axis direction of the cylinder. It can be removed from the device body by moving it in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and receives rotational force from the engaging portion. The penetration of a rotatable coupling member having a free end having a receiving portion, a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion, and a through hole provided in the joint portion. A drum unit to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of the shaft passing through the hole.
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder comprising a storage portion capable of accommodating a coupling portion inside the coupling portion and holding the coupling member in a tiltable manner, and a holding portion for holding both ends of a shaft passing through a through hole. , Equipped with
When the coupling member held by the holding portion is inclined in the axial direction, the coupling member is provided so that the inclination is restricted by the contact between the through hole and the shaft portion.
The flange is a drum unit including a regulating portion that comes into contact with the coupling member and regulates the inclination of the coupling member when the coupling member is inclined in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. It can be removed from the device body by moving it in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotatable engaging portion provided on the device body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and receives rotational force from the engaging portion. The penetration of a rotatable coupling member having a free end having a receiving portion, a coupling portion having a transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the receiving portion, and a through hole provided in the joint portion. A drum unit to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of the shaft passing through the hole.
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
Coupling by contacting a storage part that can store the coupling part inside and hold the coupling member tiltably, a holding part that holds both ends of the shaft passing through the through hole, and the coupling part of the coupling member. A drum unit comprising: a drop-off restricting portion that regulates the drop-off of a member, and a flange attached to an end portion of the cylinder. A drum unit to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of a shaft passing through a through hole of a coupling member having a coupling portion having a through hole.
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A storage portion that can store the coupling portion inside and hold the coupling member tiltably, an annular groove portion provided on the radial outer side of the cylinder of the storage portion, and both ends of the shaft passing through the through hole. A holding portion for holding the cylinder, and a flange attached to the end of the cylinder.
A drum unit characterized in that the groove portion and the holding portion overlap with each other along the rotation axis direction of the cylinder. A drum unit to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of a shaft passing through a through hole of a coupling member having a coupling portion having a through hole.
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, comprising a storage portion capable of accommodating the coupling portion inside and holding the coupling member tiltably, and a holding portion for holding both ends of the shaft passing through the through hole. Equipped with
When the rotation axis of the coupling member held in the storage portion is inclined toward the axis direction of the shaft held in the holding portion, the shaft abuts on the through hole to regulate the inclination of the coupling member. The flange comes into contact with the coupling member and regulates the inclination of the coupling member when the coupling member held by the holding portion is inclined in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the axis held by the holding portion. A drum unit characterized by having a regulating part. A drum unit to which a coupling member can be attached by holding both ends of a shaft passing through a through hole of a coupling member having a coupling portion having a through hole.
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
Coupling by contacting a storage part that can store the coupling part inside and hold the coupling member tiltably, a holding part that holds both ends of the shaft passing through the through hole, and the coupling part of the coupling member. A drum unit comprising: a drop-off restricting portion that regulates the drop-off of a member, and a flange attached to an end portion of the cylinder. It ’s a drum unit,
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, which has a storage portion inside and transmits a rotational force to be transmitted to the cylinder.
A coupling member that has a first part having a through hole and at least a part of which is stored in the storage part, and a second part that is farther from the cylinder than the first part and can rotate around a rotation axis. It moves between the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the flange and the second position where the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the flange. With possible coupling members,
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole is provided.
The flange is a drum unit including a holding portion for holding both ends of the shaft portion and a dropout regulating portion for restricting the dropping of the coupling member by abutting with the first portion. It ’s a drum unit,
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, which has a storage portion inside and transmits a rotational force to be transmitted to the cylinder.
A coupling member that has a first part having a through hole and at least a part of which is stored in the storage part, and a second part that is farther from the cylinder than the first part and can rotate around a rotation axis. It moves between the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the flange and the second position where the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the flange. With possible coupling members,
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole is provided.
When the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined toward the axis direction of the shaft portion, the shaft portion abuts on the through hole to regulate the inclination of the coupling member.
The flange comes into contact with the holding portion that holds both ends of the shaft portion and the coupling when the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the shaft portion. A drum unit characterized by having a regulating portion that regulates the inclination of a member. It ’s a drum unit,
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, which has a storage portion inside and transmits a rotational force to be transmitted to the cylinder.
A coupling member that has a first part having a through hole and at least a part of which is stored in the storage part, and a second part that is farther from the cylinder than the first part and can rotate around a rotation axis. It moves between the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the flange and the second position where the rotation axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the flange. With possible coupling members,
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole is provided.
The flange comprises a first member having a dropout restricting portion for restricting the coupling member from moving away from the cylinder and falling off, and a second member coupled to the first member. The shaft portion is a drum unit characterized in that both ends thereof are supported by the first member and the second member, respectively. It ’s a drum unit,
A cylinder with a photosensitive layer and
A flange attached to the end of the cylinder, which has a storage portion inside and transmits a rotational force to be transmitted to the cylinder.
A first part having a through hole and at least a part of which is stored in the storage part, a second part farther from the cylinder than the first part, and a second part farther from the cylinder than the second part and having protrusions. A coupling member having three parts and rotatable about a rotation axis, the first position where the rotation axis of the coupling member coincides with the axis of the flange, and the rotation axis of the coupling member. A coupling member that can move between the second position inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the flange, and the coupling member.
A shaft portion that penetrates the through hole is provided.
The flange includes a holding portion that holds both ends of the shaft portion, and the maximum rotation diameter around the rotation axis of the coupling member in the first part of the coupling member is the rotation axis of the coupling member in the third portion. A drum unit characterized by being larger than the maximum rotation diameter around it. A transmitted member attached to the end of the cylinder of a photosensitive drum.
The first cylindrical part provided on the outer side in the radial direction and
A second cylindrical portion provided radially inside the first cylindrical portion,
The second cylindrical portion has a cavity portion inside in the radial direction and a recess that is radially connected to the cavity portion and opens to the cylinder side of the photosensitive drum along the rotation axis of the transmitted member. A cylindrical portion, an annular groove portion provided between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion in the radial direction, and an annular groove portion.
Have,
The transmitted member, characterized in that the first cylindrical portion, the annular groove portion, and the concave portion overlap in the rotation axis direction of the transmitted member. The transmitted member according to claim 181. The first cylindrical portion is a gear along the transmitted member. The transmitted member according to claim 182, wherein the gear is a helical gear along the transmitted member. The transmitted member according to claim 181. The second cylindrical portion has an overhang portion that protrudes toward the hollow portion side along the transmitted member. The transmitted member according to claim 181, wherein the second cylindrical portion has a convex portion protruding outward in the radial direction along the transmitted member. A flange unit attached to the end of the cylinder of a photosensitive drum.
Shaft and
It is a transmitted member
The first cylindrical part provided on the outer side in the radial direction and
A second cylindrical portion provided radially inward with respect to the first cylindrical portion, and a cavity portion radially inward, a recess connected to the cavity portion in the radial direction and accommodating the shaft portion, and the like. The second cylindrical part with
An annular groove portion provided between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion in the radial direction, and an annular groove portion.
Have,
A flange unit characterized in that the first cylindrical portion, the annular groove portion, and the concave portion overlap in the direction of the rotation axis of the transmitted member. A flange unit attached to the end of the cylinder of a photosensitive drum.
Shaft and
It is a transmitted member
The first cylindrical part provided on the outer side in the radial direction and
A second cylindrical portion provided on the inner side in the radial direction with respect to the first cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portion having a cavity portion on the inner side in the radial direction and a concave portion connecting the hollow portion in the radial direction. ,
An annular groove portion provided between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion in the radial direction, and an annular groove portion.
Regulatory members with regulatory parts and
Have,
A flange unit characterized in that the shaft portion is held by the recess and the regulation portion, and overlaps the first cylindrical portion and the annular groove portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the transmitted member. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the coupling member abuts on the lower side surface of the groove in the direction of gravity to regulate its posture.

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