TW201807520A - Drum unit, cartridge, electro-photographic image forming apparatus and coupling member comprises photosensitive optical drum and coupling component - Google Patents

Abstract

The light drum unit is composed in a detachable electronic photo image forming device, which comprises a photosensitive optical drum and a coupling component arranged on the photosensitive optical drum. The coupling component comprises a driving force bearing portion and a supporting portion to movably support the driving force bearing portion. The supporting portion comprises a first extension part and a second extension part that extends in the axis direction of the photosensitive optical drum. The first extension part and the second extension part extend in the mutual-different directions in the axis direction.

Description

Drum unit, cassette, electronic photo image forming device, and coupling member

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, using an optical drum unit, a cassette, a coupling member, and the like.

In the electrophotographic image forming device, a photoconductor drum or a developing roller, which is a rotating body related to image formation, is integrated as a cassette, and can be attached to and detached from the image forming device body (hereinafter referred to as the device body). The genus is known. In such a configuration, a configuration in which a driving force is received by the apparatus body in order to rotate the photoreceptor drum in the cassette has been adopted in many apparatuses. At this time, a configuration is known in which a coupling member is engaged with a driving force transmission unit such as a driving pin on the apparatus body side on the cassette side to transmit the driving force.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-233867 discloses a cassette including a coupling member that can be tilted to the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum at an end portion of the photoreceptor drum.

The problem of the present invention is to develop the aforementioned prior art.

A typical configuration is a light drum unit, which can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body having a drive shaft provided with a recessed portion, and has: (1) a photoreceptor drum, and (2) provided in the foregoing The coupling member of the photoreceptor drum is provided with (2-1) a driving force receiving portion configured to receive the driving force for rotating the photoreceptor drum in the conventional recess, and (2-2) A coupling member that movably supports a support portion of the driving force receiving portion; the support portion has at least a first extension portion and a second extension portion extending in an axial direction of the photoreceptor drum; the first The extension portion and the second extension portion extend in mutually different directions.

The present invention develops the foregoing prior art.

1‧‧‧photoconductor drum

2‧‧‧Charging roller

3‧‧‧ Scanner Unit

4‧‧‧Development cassette

5‧‧‧Intermediate transfer belt

6‧‧‧Cleaning Scraper

8‧‧‧ primary transfer roller

9‧‧‧ secondary transfer roller

10‧‧‧ fixed device

11‧‧‧Intermediate transfer belt cleaning device

12‧‧‧Recording material

13‧‧‧Drum cartridge

17‧‧‧Developing roller

14‧‧‧Clean the frame

14a‧‧‧Waste toner storage unit

14b‧‧‧ opening

28‧‧‧Coupling component

29‧‧‧ Non-drive side flange member

30‧‧‧ Drum unit

39R‧‧‧Drum unit bearing member

39L‧‧‧Drum unit bearing member

51‧‧‧Drive roller

52‧‧‧Secondary transfer opposed roller

53‧‧‧ driven roller

71‧‧‧Cylinder

71c‧‧‧Beared by

100‧‧‧Image forming device

101‧‧‧body drive shaft

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the drum cartridge 13.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the developing cartridge 4.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an imaginary plane including the center of rotation of the photoconductor drum 1 of the drum cartridge 13.

Fig. 5 is an external view of a main body drive shaft.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view cut along the center of the rotation axis (center of rotation axis) of the main body drive shaft 101 in a state where the image forming apparatus is installed.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the drum cartridge 13 and the developing cartridge 4.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 cut along a rotation axis (rotation axis).

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler 28 and the body drive shaft 101 cut along the rotation axis.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the flange member 70.

FIG. 12 is a view of the flange member 70 seen from the Z1 side to the Z2 side.

FIG. 13 is a sectional perspective view of the flange member 70.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the flange member 70 cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis so as to pass through the drive transmission surface 73a.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 28 cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a molding die for the flange member 70.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the centering member 33.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a method of assembling the coupling member 28.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view for explaining the mounting of the drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a mounting operation of the drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a mounting operation of the coupling member 28 to the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining the installation of the coupling member 28 to the main body drive shaft 101 when the main body drive shaft 101 is rotated when the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 73 (drive receiving surface 73a) are out of phase. Sectional view for action.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of removing the coupling member 28 from the main body drive shaft 101.

25 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 128 according to the second embodiment cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 128 and the main body drive shaft 101 according to the second embodiment, which is cut at a position perpendicular to the rotation axis through the drive receiving surface 73a.

FIG. 27 is a diagram and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 170 according to the second embodiment, as viewed from the outside in the Z direction.

Fig. 28 is related to the embodiment as seen from the Z1 side when viewed from the Z2 side 2 and a side view of the inner cylindrical member 140.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory sectional view showing an assembling procedure of the coupling member 128 related to the second embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an assembly procedure of the coupling member 128 according to the second embodiment, which is seen from the outside and the side in the Z direction.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the flange member 270 according to the third embodiment, which is cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

32 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 228 and the main body drive shaft 101 according to the third embodiment, which is cut through the support portion 74 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a centering member 233 related to Embodiment 3. FIG.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing another form of the coupling member 228 according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 328 according to the fourth embodiment cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

36 is a view and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 370 according to the fourth embodiment, as viewed from the outside in the Z direction.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the inner cylindrical member 340 related to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a centering member 333 related to Embodiment 4. FIG.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram related to the assembly of the coupling member 328 of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 328 and the main body drive shaft 101 according to the fourth embodiment, which is cut at a position perpendicular to the rotation axis through the drive transmission surface 373a.

41 is a view showing another embodiment of the inner cylindrical member 340 according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 42 is an external view of a main body drive shaft 5101 related to Embodiment 5. FIG.

43 is a cross-sectional view of a state where the main body drive shaft 5101 of the fifth embodiment is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, and is cut along a rotation axis (rotation axis) of the main body drive shaft 5101.

FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 528 according to the fifth embodiment cut along the rotation axis.

45 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinder member 570 according to the fifth embodiment, which is cut along the rotation axis.

FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 528 and the main body drive shaft 5101 according to the fifth embodiment, which are cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the coupling member 528 so as to pass through the drive receiving surface 573a.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a centering member 533 related to Embodiment 5. FIG.

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating the assembly of the coupling member 528 according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge 4 related to Embodiment 5 cut along the axes of the toner supply roller 20 and the developing roller 17.

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating a phase toward the image forming apparatus main body 100A. A perspective view of the mounting of the display cassette 4 in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the mounting operation of the display cassette 4 according to the fifth embodiment to the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

FIG. 52 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a mounting operation of the coupling member 528 to the main body drive shaft 5101 according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the cylinder member 570 according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the cylinder member 570 according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 55 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the coupling member 528 related to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the cylinder member 570 according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the coupling member 528 related to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 58 is a perspective view of a centering member 633 related to Embodiment 6. FIG.

FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view of the aligning member 633 according to the sixth embodiment cut along the rotation axis.

FIG. 60 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 628 according to the sixth embodiment, which is cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis to pass the drive receiving surface 673a.

FIG. 61 is a perspective view of a cylinder member 670 according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 62 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 628 according to the sixth embodiment cut along the rotation axis.

FIG. 63 is a diagram illustrating the assembly of the coupling member 628 according to the sixth embodiment.

Fig. 64 is a diagram showing a modification of the first embodiment.

Fig. 65 is a diagram showing a modification of the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus, the drum cartridge, and the developing cartridge of this embodiment will be described using drawings. The image forming apparatus is, for example, a person who forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, it includes an electronic photo copying machine, an electronic photo printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser printer, etc.), an electronic photo facsimile device, and the like. In addition, the so-called cassette is a person who can attach or detach the main body of the image forming apparatus (the main body of the image forming apparatus, the main body of the image forming apparatus, or the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus). In particular, the drum cartridge is a cartridge having a photoreceptor drum. The developing cartridge is a cartridge having a developing means or the like for developing a latent image formed on a photoreceptor. In this embodiment, the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are respectively attachable and detachable to the main body of the image forming apparatus. In addition, a person who integrates a photoconductor drum with a coupling member and the like is called a drum unit. The drum unit is used in the drum cartridge.

In the following embodiments, a full-color image forming apparatus capable of attaching and detaching four drum cartridges and four developing cartridges is exemplified. However, the number of drum cartridges and developing cartridges installed in the image forming apparatus is not the same. limited. In addition, in the embodiment, a configuration using two types of cartridges such as a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and the like is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it may be a cassette having a configuration in which the functions of the drum cassette and the developing cassette are integrated. In addition, similarly, the materials disclosed in the examples are not limited to materials, arrangements, sizes, other numerical values, and the like, unless specifically described. In addition, when there is no particular description, the term "upward" means upward in the direction of gravity when the image forming apparatus is installed.

<Example 1> [Outline of Electrophotographic Image Forming Apparatus]

First, the overall configuration of an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus) according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes, as a plurality of image forming sections, first, second, and second colors for forming yellow, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images. The third and fourth image forming sections SY, SM, SC, and SK. In this embodiment, the first to fourth image forming sections SY, SM, SC, and SK are arranged in a line in a substantially horizontal direction.

In addition, in this embodiment, the structure and operation of the drum cartridge 13 (13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K) and the developing cartridge 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) are different from each other except that the color of the formed image is different ,substance On the same. That is, in the following, if there is no need to specifically distinguish, Y, M, C, and K are omitted and the description will be made collectively.

In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 has, as a plurality of image supporting members, four cylinders (hereinafter, referred to as photoreceptor drums) having a photosensitive layer, which are arranged side by side in a direction slightly inclined to the vertical direction. 1 . A scanner unit (exposure device) 3 is arranged below the gravity direction of the drum cartridge 13. Further, around the photoreceptor drum 1, a charging roller 2 and the like, which are written as a processing means (processing device, processing member) acting on the photosensitive layer, are arranged.

The charging roller 2 is a charging means (charging device, charging member) for uniformly charging the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. Next, the scanner unit (exposure device) 3 is an exposure means (exposure device, exposure means) for forming an electrostatic image (electrostatic latent image) on the photoreceptor drum 1 by irradiating laser light based on image information. A developing blade 4 and a cleaning blade 6 as a cleaning means (cleaning device, cleaning member) are arranged around the photoreceptor drum 1.

Furthermore, the four intermediate photoconductor drums 1 are arranged so that the toner image on the photoconductor drum 1 is transferred to the intermediate transfer body for the recording material (sheet, recording medium) 12.印 带 5。 Printing belt 5.

In the developing cartridge 4 of this embodiment, a non-magnetic single-component developer (hereinafter referred to as a toner) is used as a developer, and contact development is performed by contacting the developing roller 17 as a developer supporting member with the photosensitive drum 1 the way.

According to the aforementioned configuration, the photoconductor drum 1 is formed. The toner image is transferred onto the sheet (paper) 12 so that the toner image transferred to the sheet is fixed. In addition, as a processing means acting on the photoreceptor drum 1, the drum cartridge 13 is provided with a charging roller 2 for charging the photoreceptor drum 1 and cleaning toner remaining without being transferred to the photoreceptor drum 1.之 cleaning squeegee 6. The transfer residual toner that has not been transferred to the thin plate 12 and remains on the photoreceptor drum 1 is recovered by the cleaning blade 6. In addition, the transfer residual toner recovered by the cleaning blade 6 is stored in the developer removing storage section (hereinafter referred to as a waste toner storage section) 14a through the opening 14b (see FIG. 7). The waste toner storage portion 14 a (see FIG. 7) and the cleaning blade 6 constitute a cleaning unit (photoreceptor unit, image bearing unit) 13 that is integrated.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 100A includes a guide (positioning means) such as a mounting guide and a positioning member (not shown) in the main body casing. The developing cartridge 4 and the drum cartridge 13 are guided by the aforementioned guides, and are configured to be attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

The developing cartridges 4 for each color contain toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively.

The intermediate transfer belt 5 abuts the photoreceptor drum 1 provided in each process cartridge, and rotates (moves) in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1. The intermediate transfer belt 5 is stretched on a plurality of support members (a driving roller 51, a secondary transfer facing roller 52, and a driven roller 53). On the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 5, four primary transfer rollers 8 serving as primary transfer means are arranged side by side so as to face each photoreceptor drum 1. Further, a secondary transfer roller 9 as a secondary transfer means is arranged on the outer peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 5 at a position facing the secondary transfer facing roller 52.

When forming an image, first, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 2. Next, the surface of the charged photoreceptor drum 1 is scanned and exposed by the laser light corresponding to the image information emitted by the scanner unit 3. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the photoconductor drum 1. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 is developed as a toner image (developer image) by a developing roller 17 (see FIG. 3) of the developing cartridge 4. The toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 is transferred (primary transfer) to the intermediate transfer belt 5 by the action of the primary transfer roller 8.

For example, when forming a full-color image, the foregoing processing is sequentially performed on the four drum cartridges 13 (13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K) and the developing cartridge 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K). Next, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 of each of the drum cartridges 13 are sequentially transferred in order so as to be superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5. Thereafter, in synchronization with the movement of the intermediate transfer belt 5, the recording material 12 is transported to the secondary transfer section. Next, the four-color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 5 are collectively transferred to the recording material 12 that is transported to a secondary transfer portion formed by the intermediate transfer belt 5 and the secondary transfer roller 9.

The recording material 12 to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 10 as a fixing means. The holding device 10 fixes a toner image on the recording material 12 by applying heat and pressure to the recording material 12. In addition, the primary transfer residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 1 after the primary transfer step is removed by the cleaning blade 6 and recovered as waste toner. In addition, the secondary transfer residual carbon remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 5 after the secondary transfer step The powder is removed by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 11.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 may form a single-color or multi-color image by using a desired single or several (not all) image forming sections.

[Summary of treatment methods]

Next, the outline of the drum cartridge 13 and the development cartridge 4 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 100A of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 7.

The drum cartridge 13Y, the drum cartridge 13M, the drum cartridge 13C, and the drum cartridge 13K have the same configuration. In addition, the developing cartridge 4Y containing yellow toner, the developing cartridge 4M containing magenta toner, the developing cartridge 4C containing cyan toner, and the developing cartridge 4K containing black toner have the same configuration. That is, in the following description, the drum cartridges 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are collectively referred to as the drum cartridge 13, and the development cartridges 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K are collectively referred to as the development cartridge 4. Each cassette constituent member is also collectively described.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the drum cartridge 13. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the rotation axis direction of the photoreceptor drum 1 is taken as the Z direction (arrow Z1, arrow Z2), and the horizontal direction shown in FIG. 1 is taken as the X direction (arrow X1, arrow X2). The vertical direction is taken as the Y direction (arrow Y1, arrow Y2).

The drum cartridge 13 includes a cleaning frame 14 as a frame that supports various elements in the drum cartridge 13. Photoreceptor drum 1 is rotatable Supported in this cleaning frame 14.

The photoreceptor drum 1 is a rotating body (image supporting body) configured to support an image (a toner image, a developer image) formed of toner (developer) on its surface.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an imaginary plane including the center of rotation of the photoconductor drum 1 of the drum cartridge 13. In the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum 1, the side (the side in the Z1 direction) where the coupling member 28 receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus body is referred to as the drive side (deep side) of the drum cartridge 13. In the axial direction, the side opposite to the driving side (the side in the Z2 direction) is referred to as the non-driving side (front side) of the drum cartridge 13.

When the drum cartridge 13 is mounted on the apparatus body, the driving side of the drum cartridge 13 is arranged on the downstream side in the cassette mounting direction, and the non-driving side is arranged on the upstream side in the mounting direction. In other words, in a state where the drum cartridge 13 is disposed inside the apparatus body, the driving side of the drum cartridge 13 is disposed on the deep side of the printer, and the non-driving side of the drum cartridge 13 is disposed on The front side of the printer.

The axis direction of the photoreceptor drum 1 is a direction parallel to the axis (rotation axis) of the photoreceptor drum 1. The axis of the photoreceptor drum 1 is an imaginary straight line extending so as to pass the rotation center of the photoreceptor drum 1, and corresponds to a dotted line passing through the center of the photoreceptor drum 1 in FIG. 4. An electrode (electrode portion) in contact with the inner surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is provided at an end portion (the end portion on the non-driving side of the process cartridge) opposite to the coupling member 28, and this electrode is connected to the image forming apparatus body The contact acts as a ground.

A coupling member 28 is mounted on one end of the photoreceptor drum 1 and a non-driving side flange member 29 is mounted on the other end of the photoreceptor drum 1 to form a photoreceptor drum unit (also simply referred to as a drum unit) 30. The photoreceptor drum unit 30 receives a driving force from a main body drive shaft 101 provided in the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus via a coupling member 28.

The coupling member 28 is a flange member (drive-side flange member) attached to a driving-side end portion of the photoreceptor drum 1. The coupling member 28 can be engaged with the main body drive shaft 101 as the cassette 7 is attached to the apparatus main body 100A. In addition, the coupling member 28 can be detached from the body drive shaft 101 with the cassette 7 being removed from the apparatus body 100A.

The photoreceptor drum 1, the coupling member 28, and the non-drive side flange member 29 provided in the drum unit 30 are arranged coaxially. These rotation axes (axis lines) coincide with the rotation axis of the drum unit 30. Therefore, the axis or axis direction of the drum unit 30 is the same as the axis or axis direction of each of the photoreceptor drum 1, the coupling member 28, and the non-driving side flange member 29.

As shown in FIG. 4, the Z1 side of the coupling member 28 is cylindrical (cylindrical portion 71). The portion on the Z1 side of the cylindrical portion 71 is the supported portion 71c. The supported portion 71c is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member 39R. In short, the photoreceptor drum unit 30 is rotatable by being supported by the bearing portion 71c by the bearing portion of the drum unit bearing member 39R.

Similarly, the non-driving side flange member 29 provided on the non-driving side of the photoconductor drum unit 30 is rotatably supported by a bearing portion of the drum unit bearing member 39L. Non-driving side flange member 29 The cylindrical portion (cylindrical portion) of which the end of the photoconductor drum 1 protrudes, and the outer peripheral surface 29a of this cylindrical portion is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member 39L. The outer peripheral surface 29a is a bearing portion on the non-driving side.

The drum unit bearing member 39R is disposed on the driving side of the drum cartridge 13, and the drum unit bearing member 39L is disposed on the non-driving side of the drum cartridge 13.

When the drum cartridge 13 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100A, as shown in FIG. 4, the drum unit bearing member 39R abuts on the cassette positioning portion 108 provided on the rear side of the image forming apparatus main body 100A. In addition, the drum unit bearing member 39L abuts on the front cassette positioning portion 110 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A. Thereby, the cassette 7 is positioned in the image forming apparatus 100A.

In the Z direction of the present embodiment, the drum unit bearing member 39R is disposed at a position supporting the supported portion 71c, and the drum unit bearing member 39R is disposed at a position close to the position positioned at the rear cassette positioning portion 108. By doing so, when the drum cartridge 13 is mounted on the apparatus body 100A, it is possible to suppress the coupling member 28 from tilting.

The bearing member portion 71c is arranged such that the bearing member 39R is arranged at a position supporting the bearing portion 71c, and the bearing member 39R is arranged near a position positioned at the rear cassette positioning portion 108. In short, the bearing portion 71c is disposed on the leading end side (Z1 direction side) of the outer peripheral surface 71a of the cylindrical portion 71 provided in the coupling member 28.

Similarly, in the Z direction, the drum unit bearing member 39L is disposed in a place that rotatably supports the non-driving side flange member 29, The drum unit bearing member 39L is disposed at a position close to the position positioned at the front cassette positioning portion 110. This prevents the non-driving side flange member 29 from being inclined.

The drum unit bearing members 39R and 39L are respectively mounted on both sides of the cleaning frame 14 and respectively support the photoreceptor drum unit 30. Thereby, the photoreceptor drum unit 30 is rotatably supported by the cleaning frame 14.

A charging roller 2 and a cleaning blade 6 are attached to the cleaning frame 14, and these are arranged so as to be in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. A charging roller bearing 15 (15R, 15L) is attached to the cleaning frame 14 (see FIG. 7). The charging roller bearing 15 is a bearing for supporting the shaft of the charging roller 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the drum cartridge 13 and the developing cartridge 4.

Here, the charging roller bearing 15 (15R, 15L) is mounted so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow C shown in FIG. 7. The rotation shaft 2a of the charging roller 2 is rotatably mounted on the charging roller bearing 15 (15R, 15L). Next, the charging roller bearing 15 is pushed toward the photoreceptor drum 1 by a pressure spring 16 as a pushing means. Thereby, the charging roller 2 abuts on the photoreceptor drum 1 and rotates with the photoreceptor drum 1.

The cleaning frame 14 is provided with a cleaning blade 6 as a cleaning means for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. The cleaning blade 6 is a blade-shaped rubber (elastic member) 6a which is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 1 to remove toner on the photoreceptor drum 1 and is integrated with a supporting sheet metal 6b supporting the same. In this embodiment, the supporting sheet metal 6b is fixed to the cleaning frame 14 by screws.

As described above, the cleaning frame 14 has an opening 14 b for recovering the transfer residual toner recovered by the cleaning blade 6. A blowout prevention plate 26 is provided in the opening 14b to abut the photoreceptor drum 1 and is sealed between the photoreceptor drum 1 and the opening 14b to prevent toner leakage in the upper direction of the opening 14b.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the developing cartridge 4.

The development cassette 4 includes a development frame 18 that supports various elements. The developing cartridge 4 is provided with a developing roller 17 that is in contact with the photoconductor drum 1 and is a developer supporting member that rotates in a direction of an arrow D (counterclockwise) shown in FIG. 7. The developing roller 17 is a rotating body (developing member) for supporting the developer supplied to the photoreceptor drum 1 on its surface. The latent image of the photoreceptor drum 1 is developed by the toner supplied from the developing roller 17 to the photoreceptor drum 1.

The developing roller 17 is rotatably supported by the developing frame 18 via a developing bearing 19 (19R, 19L) at both ends in the longitudinal direction (direction of the rotation axis). Here, the developing bearings 19 (19R, 19L) are attached to both side portions of the developing frame 18, respectively.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the development cartridge 4 includes a developer storage chamber (hereinafter referred to as a toner storage chamber) 18 a and a development chamber 18 b in which a development roller 17 is arranged.

In the developing chamber 18b, a toner supply roller 20 of a developer supply member that is in contact with the developing roller 17 and rotates in the direction of the arrow E and a developer restricting member for restricting the toner layer of the developing roller 17 are arranged. Plate 21.

The supply roller (supply member) 20 is also a rotating body that rotates while supporting a developer (carbon powder) on its surface, and is a developer supporting body like the supply roller. The toner carried on the surface of the supply roller 20 is supplied to the developing roller 17.

The developing blade 21 is fixed and integrated by welding or the like to the fixing member 22.

In addition, a toner storage chamber 18 a of the developing housing 18 is provided with a stirring member 23 for stirring the stored toner while conveying the toner to the toner supply roller 20.

By adopting a structure in which elements related to image formation, such as the drum cartridge 13 and the development cartridge 4 which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body, are used, the ease of maintenance is improved. In other words, the user can easily perform maintenance on the device by attaching and detaching the drum cartridge 13 and the developing cartridge 4 to the apparatus body 100A. Therefore, it is possible to provide a device which can be easily performed not only by a service person but also by a user.

In the present embodiment, the drum cartridge 13 and the developing cartridge 4 are each independently mounted on the apparatus body A. However, the drum cartridge 13 and the development cartridge 4 for forming images of the same color may be integrated into one unit. It may be configured by attaching and detaching the unitized cassette (processing cassette) to the apparatus body.

[Construction of the body drive shaft]

The configuration of the main body drive shaft 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.

Fig. 5 is an external view of a main body drive shaft.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view cut along the rotation axis (rotation axis) of the main body drive shaft 101 in a state where the image forming apparatus is installed.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 cut along a rotation axis (rotation axis).

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler 28 and the body drive shaft 101 cut along the rotation axis.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main body drive shaft 101 includes a gear portion 101 e, a shaft portion 101 f, a rough guide portion 101 g, and a supported portion 101 d.

A motor (not shown) as a drive source is provided in the image forming apparatus body 100A. The gear portion 101e is rotationally driven by the motor and the body drive shaft 101 is rotated. In addition, the main body drive shaft 101 includes a rotatable protrusion-shaped shaft portion 101f that protrudes toward the cassette side more than the gear portion 101e along the rotation axis. Next, the rotational driving force received by the motor passes through the groove-shaped drive transmission groove 101 a (concave portion, drive transmission portion) provided in the shaft portion 101 f through the coupling member 28 and is transmitted to the photoreceptor drum 1 of the drum cartridge 13. The shaft portion 101f has a hemispherical shape 101c at its tip.

This main body drive communication groove 101a has a shape which allows a part of the engaging portion 73 described later to enter. Specifically, the body driving transmission surface 101 b is provided as a surface that contacts the driving receiving surface (driving receiving portion) 73 a of the coupling member 28 and transmits the driving force.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the main body drive transmission surface 101 b is not a flat surface, and has a twisted shape around the rotation axis of the main body drive shaft 101. The twisting direction is the direction in which the Z1 direction side of the main body drive shaft 101 is opposite to the Z2 direction side, and is arranged in the direction upstream of the main body drive shaft 101 in the rotation direction. In this embodiment, the twist amount along the rotation axis direction of the cylinder of the engaging portion 73 is about 1 ° per 1 mm. The reason for adopting the shape of the twisted body drive transmission surface 101b will be described in detail later.

In addition, a body-side pull-out inclined surface 101i is provided on the surface on the Z2 direction side of the body drive transmission groove 101a. When the inclined surface 101i is pulled out on the body side, the gradient (inclined surface, inclined portion) for assisting the extraction of the engaging portion 73 from the drive transmission groove 101a when the drum cartridge 13 is removed from the apparatus body 100A. See below for details.

Here, when the driving transmission groove 101a transmits the driving to the engagement portion 73, it is preferable that the main body driving transmission surface 101b and the driving receiving surface (driving receiving portion) 73a abut against each other. Here, the body drive transmission groove 101a is adopted for each pair of cards in the rotation axis direction, the circumferential direction, and the radial direction so that surfaces other than the body drive transmission surface 101b do not contact the engaging portion 73 as the driving force receiving portion. The joint portion 73 has a configuration of a gap (G) (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

Further, the inclined side 101i is pulled out from the main body side having the inclined surface (inclined portion) at the front end side in the axial direction of the body drive transmission groove 101a. Further, the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c in the axial direction of the body drive shaft 101 is disposed within the range of the body drive transmission groove 101a (see FIG. 8). In other words, on the axis of the body drive shaft 101, When the center 101h and the main body driving communication groove 101a are projected, the projection area of the center 101h is arranged on the axis inside the projection area of the main body driving communication groove 101a.

The rough guide portion 101g is provided between the shaft portion 101f and the gear portion 101e in the axial direction (see FIG. 6). The rough guide portion 101g has an inclined surface shape at the tip end of the shaft portion 101f side. As shown in FIG. 8, the outer diameter D6 of the rough guide portion 101g is smaller than the inner peripheral surface 71b of the cylindrical portion 71 of the coupling member 28 described later. The inner diameter D2 is even smaller. The outer diameter D6 of the rough guide portion 101g is larger than the outer diameter D5 of the shaft portion 101f as shown in FIG. 5. Thereby, when the cassette 7 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 100A, the main body driving shaft 101 can imitate the coupling member 28 in such a manner as to reduce the axis deviation of the rotation center of the cylindrical portion 71 from the rotation center of the shaft portion 101f. Way to guide. Therefore, the coarse guide portion 101g may be renamed the insertion guide.

After the mounting of the cassette 7 to the image forming apparatus main body 100A is completed, the dimensional relationship is set so that the rough guide portion 101g does not contact the inner peripheral surface 71b.

As shown in FIG. 6, the supported portion 101 d is arranged on the opposite side of the coarse guide portion 101 g with the gear portion 101 e held therebetween. Next, the supported portion 101d is rotatably supported (axially supported) by a bearing member 102 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the main body drive shaft 101 is pushed toward the drum cartridge 13 by the spring member 103 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A. However, the movable amount (clearance) in the Z direction of the main body drive shaft 101 is approximately 1 mm smaller than the Z direction of the drive receiving surface 73a described later. The width should be sufficiently small.

As described above, the main body drive shaft 101 is provided with a main body drive transmission groove 101a, and the coupling member 28 is provided with an engagement portion 73, so that the apparatus main body 100A transmits the drive to the drum cartridge 13 (the drum unit 30).

The details will be described later, but the engaging portion 73 is provided at the front end of the support portion 74 so as to be elastically deformable. Therefore, the engaging portion 73 is configured to be movable outward in the radial direction when the drum cartridge 13 is attached to the apparatus body 100A. Thereby, as the drum cartridge 13 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100A, the engagement portion 73 enters the drive transmission groove 101a, and the engagement portion 73 and the body drive transmission groove 101a can be engaged.

[Composition of Coupling Member]

The structure of the coupling member 28 is demonstrated using FIGS. 11-19.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the flange member 70.

FIG. 12 is a view of the flange member 70 seen from the Z1 side to the Z2 side.

FIG. 13 is a sectional perspective view of the flange member 70.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the flange member 70 cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis so as to pass through the drive transmission surface 73a.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 28 cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a molding die for the flange member 70.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the centering member 33.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a method of assembling the coupling member 28.

As shown in FIG. 16, the coupling member 28 includes a flange member 70 and a centering member 33.

(Explanation on flange member)

The configuration of the flange member 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17.

As shown in FIG. 13, the flange member 70 includes a mounting portion (to-be-fixed portion) 72, a cylindrical portion 71, a flange portion 75, an engaging portion 73, a support portion 74, and a force receiving portion 77.

The mounting portion 72 is a portion to be mounted on the photoreceptor drum 1. As shown in FIG. 11, the mounting portion 72 includes a press-fit portion 72 d, which is pressed into the cylinder inner diameter of the photoconductor drum 1, a temporary lock groove 72 e, and a press-fit provided on a deeper side (Z2 direction side) than the press-fit portion 72 d. Guide portion 72f.

The press-fitting portion 72 d as the coupling portion is a portion where the coupling member 28 is fixed to the photoreceptor drum 1 by being pressed into the photoreceptor drum 1. Specifically, a size is adopted in which the inner diameter of the cylinder of the photoreceptor drum 1 and the outer shape of the press-fitting portion 72d are in a locking relationship. In addition, the configuration in which the binding force is increased by the temporary lock, or the case where the cylinder inner diameter and the press-fit portion 72d are fixed by adhesion is not limited to the aforementioned relationship.

The temporary lock groove 72e, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, is on the Z axis side. A groove shape (concave portion) toward the photoreceptor drum 1 side provided in the press-in portion 72d. The temporary lock grooves 72e are evenly arranged in two places around the rotation axis of the coupling member 28. Further, in the direction of the rotation axis of the coupling member 28, the temporary lock groove 72e and the crotch portion 75 are arranged so as to overlap each other. In other words, when the temporary locking groove 72e and the crotch 75 are projected perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the coupling member 28, the projection area of the temporary locking groove 72e on the axis and the projection area of the crotch 75 overlap.

The term "overlap in the A direction X and Y" means "when X and Y are projected on an imaginary line parallel to the A direction, at least a part of the projection area of X and the projection area of Y are projected on the imaginary line. At least part of it overlaps. " The photoreceptor drum 1 is plastically deformed by temporarily locking a part of the side end of the coupling member 28 of the photoreceptor drum 1. Thereby, a part of the photoreceptor enters the inside of the temporary lock groove 72e, and the photoreceptor drum 1 and the coupling member 28 are firmly fixed. The term "temporary lock" refers to an operation of plastically processing and joining a part of a plurality of parts. In this embodiment, a part of the cylinder (aluminum) of the photoreceptor drum 1 is plastically deformed, so that the cylinder of the photoreceptor drum 1 is coupled to the coupling member 28. In this embodiment, as an example of a means for firmly fixing the coupling member 28 to the photoconductor drum 1, a configuration using a temporary lock groove 72e is adopted, but the inner diameter of the cylinder and the press-fit 72d are bonded to each other. For fixing, etc., other fixing means may be used. That is, the temporary lock groove 72e is not necessarily configured.

When the guide member 72f is pressed in to assemble the coupling member 28 to the photoreceptor drum 1, it is easy to assemble the coupling member 28 to the photoreceptor drum 1. The shape of the press-in part 72d to press the photoreceptor drum 1 is fixed. Specifically, the outer diameter of the press-fit guide portion 72f is smaller than the outer diameter of the press-fit portion 72d and the cylinder inner diameter of the photoreceptor drum 1. It has a guide inclined surface at the front end side in the mounting direction of the photoreceptor drum 1. 72g. The guide inclined surface 72 g is provided on the inclined portion of the coupling member 28 so that the coupling member 28 can be easily inserted into the photoconductor drum 1.

The cylindrical portion 71 includes the supported portion 71c (shown in Figs. 4 and 11) as described above. The supported portion 71c is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member 39R. As shown in FIG. 13, the inner diameter D2 of the inner peripheral surface 71 b of the cylindrical portion 71 is smaller than the inner diameter D9 of the inner peripheral surface 72 m of the mounting portion 72. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the inner peripheral surface 71 b of the cylindrical portion 71 has an inclined surface shape at the leading end of the front side (Z1 direction). This inclined surface shape is an inclined portion (inclined surface) for guiding the main body drive shaft 101 inserted into the cylindrical portion 71. Thereby, when the drum cartridge 13 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 100A, the main body driving shaft 101 can imitate the coupling member so as to reduce the axis deviation of the rotation center of the cylindrical portion 71 from the rotation center of the shaft portion 101f. 28 ways to guide. As shown in FIG. 8, the inner diameter D2 of the inner peripheral surface 71 b is larger than the outer diameter D6 of the shaft portion 101 f of the main body driving shaft 101. Therefore, after the installation of the drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A is completed, the inner peripheral surface 71b does not abut the rough guide portion 101g.

As shown in FIG. 14, the crotch portion 75 is formed in a shape that projects more outward in the radial direction than the press-fit portion 72 d. When the coupling member 28 is assembled to the photoreceptor drum 1, the end surface 75 b of the crotch portion 75 resists the photoreceptor light. The end face of the drum 1 determines the shape of the positions of the photoreceptor drum 1 and the coupling member 28 in the Z direction.

As shown in FIG. 12, the engaging portion 73 protrudes at least radially inward of the coupling member 28 in order to engage with the body drive shaft 101. The engaging portions 73 are arranged at three positions (120 ° intervals, approximately equal intervals) at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the coupling member 28. Similarly, the base portion 74 of the support portion is also arranged at three places at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the flange member 70. As shown in FIG. 12, the engaging portion 73 includes a driving receiving surface 73 a. In addition, the base portion 74 has a backup surface 74i and a contact surface 74h.

The driving receiving surface 73a is a driving force receiving portion that receives a driving force from the main body driving shaft 101 by coming into contact with the driving groove 101a. The flange member 70 is a driving force receiving member that receives a driving force through the driving receiving surface 73a.

The abutment surface 74h provided on the base portion 74 of the support portion is a curved surface that abuts on the shaft portion 101f when the coupling member 28 is engaged with the body drive shaft 101, and is an arc along the circumferential direction (direction of rotation) of the coupling member 28 surface. As shown in FIG. 9, the radius R1 of the arc constituting the abutting surface 74h is approximately the same as the radius R2 of the shaft portion 101f.

The supported surface 74i is a surface that abuts on the support surface 33t of the support portion 33j of the aligning member 33 described later, and the drive receiving surface 73a is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction (illustrated in FIG. 12). Moreover, as shown in FIG. 15, it arrange | positions so that the angle J between the supported surface 74i and the drive receiving surface 73a may become an acute angle. In short, as for the support surface 33t of the support portion 33j, the drive receiving surface 73a is inclined.

The driving receiving surface (driving force receiving portion) 73a is movably supported by the supporting portions (73, 74). The support portions (73, 74) are U-shaped buckles.

The cylinder member 70 constituting the coupling member 28 is cylindrical (hollow). In short, the cylinder member 70 is a hollow portion (a portion having a cavity inside) of the coupling member 28. The base portion 74 of the support portion (73, 74) has a fixed end portion 74a, and the root portion 74a is fixed to the inner surface of the cylinder 70.

At least a part of the support portions (73, 74) is arranged inside the cylinder member 70. In the present embodiment, the entire support portion (73, 74) is disposed inside the cylinder member 70.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the base portion 74 extends from the inner portion of the hollow portion (cylinder member 70) of the coupling member 28, starting from the base portion (fixed end) 74 a of the base portion 74. In addition, the base portion 74 has an elastically deformable portion (elastically deformed portion). Accordingly, the base portion 74 movably supports the engaging portion 73 provided at the front end (free end) thereof.

More specifically, the base portion 74 has a radical-side extension (fixed-end-side extension) 74t, a folded-back portion (curved portion, connection portion) 74r, and a free-end-side extension (front-end-side extension) 74s. The free end side extension 74s is provided with a supported surface 74i or an abutting surface 74h.

The radical-side extension portion 74t is an extension portion extending from the fundamental portion (fixed end) 74a, approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 70, in the Z2 direction (that is, the inside of the drum unit 30 in the axial direction). In short, the radical-side extending portion 74t extends toward Z2 toward the folded-back portion 74r. direction.

The radical-side extending portion 74t is disposed radially outward of the engaging portion 73 or the free-end-side extending portion 74s.

The folded-back portion 74r is formed continuously with the radical-side extension 74t, and is also a portion continuously connected with the free-end extension 74s. In short, the folded-back portion 74s is a bent portion provided between the radical-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s. In addition, the folded-back portion 74s is a connection portion that connects the free-end-side extension portion 74s and the radical-side extension portion 74t. In this embodiment, the bending angle of the folded-back portion 74r is larger than 90 °. Specifically, the angle is made about 180 °.

The folded-back portion 74r and the fundamental-side extension portion 74t are elastic portions that can be elastically deformed.

The free-end-side extension portion 74 is an extension portion extending in the Z1 direction (that is, outside of the drum unit 30 in the axial direction) approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 70 with the turning portion 74r as a starting point. The free-end-side extension 74s and the radical-side extension 74t are arranged radially inward.

The base portion 74 that is formed integrally by bending forms a free end extension portion 74s and a radical side extension portion 74t. With such a configuration, the supporting portions (73, 74) can be simply configured.

However, the splicing portion, the radical-side extending portion 74t, and the free-end-side extending portion 74s are each formed as an individual (different member), and the splicing member (the splicing portion) connects the radical-side extending portion 74t and the free-end-side extending portion 74s. It is also possible.

74s of free end side extension is also the bearing surface for supporting and driving Part 73a. That is, the free-end-side extension portion 74s includes an engaging portion (a protruding portion, a protruding portion) 73 formed with the drive receiving surface 73a.

The engaging portion 73 is a protruding portion provided at the front end of the free-end-side extending portion 74s and protrudes radially inward. In short, the direction (axis direction) in which the free-end-side extending portion 74s extends intersects with the direction (radial direction) in which the engaging portion 73 protrudes. The engaging portion 73 enters the main body drive communication groove 101a and is a portion that engages with the main body drive communication groove 101a.

The radical-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s are configured so that the axial direction of the drum unit 30 is at least partially overlapped with each other. That is, when the fundamental side extension 74t and the free end side extension 74s are vertically projected on the axis of the drum unit 30, at least a part of the mutual projection area is overlapped.

The drive receiving surface 73 a provided in the engaging portion 73 is a surface that intersects with the rotation direction (the circumferential direction) of the coupling member 28. The drive receiving surface 73a is also a surface extending radially inward from the free-end-side extending portion 74s.

In this embodiment, the radical-side extending portion 74t and the free-end-side extending portion 74s are linear portions extending parallel to the axial direction. However, it is not limited to such a structure.

In other words, each extension portion (74t, 74s) may extend at least in the axial direction. In other words, a vector extending in the extension direction of each extension portion (74t, 74s) may have a component in the axial direction. As an example, a modified example of this embodiment is shown in FIGS. 64 and 65. As shown in these figures, the fundamental side extension 74g is inclined to the axial direction while extending in the Z2 direction. Stretching is also available. In addition, as shown in FIG. 64 and FIG. 65, the free end side extending portion 74s may be inclined to the axial direction while extending in the Z1 direction. In such a case, the radical-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s are considered to extend at least in the axial direction. The radical-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s are regarded as extending in the axial direction to mutually different directions.

In addition, if the radical-side extension portion 74t and the free-end-side extension portion 74s extend at least in the axial direction, these may not extend linearly.

The free end of the engaging portion 73 (that is, the front end of the free-end-side extending portion 74s) is disposed closer to the Z1 side than the folded-back portion 74r. The base (fixed end) 74a of the base portion 74 is also disposed closer to the Z1 side than the folded-back portion 74r.

The inner side surface of the radical-side extending portion 74t is arranged so as to have the same diameter as the inner peripheral surface 71b of the cylindrical portion 71 or to protrude from the inner diameter side.

The engaging portion 73 is supported by the elastically deformable base portion 74, and the engaging portion 73 is movable in the radial direction of the coupling member 28 by the deformation of the base portion 74. In other words, the base portion 74 is deformed by an external force, and a restoring force (elastic force) is generated in a return direction at a position toward a natural state.

The radical-side extension 74t is deformed so as to be inclined with the radical 74a as a starting point. In addition, the folded-back portion 74r is deformed so that the free end-side extension portion 74s is inclined. As a result, the engagement portion 73 can be moved in a direction crossing the direction in which each of the extension portions (74t, 74s) extends.

Specifically, when the engaging portion 73 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main body drive shaft 101, the base portion 74 is elastically deformed to make the engaging portion 73 along the main body. The outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 101 moves radially outward. After that, when the engaging portion 73 becomes the same position (same phase) as the body-side drive transmission groove 101 a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the body drive shaft 101, the engagement portion 73 moves in a direction in which the elastic deformation of the base portion 74 is eliminated. In this way, the engagement portion 73 moves radially inward, and a part of the engagement portion 73 can enter the drive transmission groove 101a.

In addition, the drive receiving surface 73a of the flange member 70 has a shape twisted about the axis of the flange member 70 as the center, and in this embodiment, the twisted vehicle has the same amount as the body drive transmission surface 101b.

In addition, the driving receiving surface 73 a may be different in phase in the rotation direction at two points that are in contact with the driving shaft 101. In short, the drive receiving surface 73a is not limited to a twisted shape as long as it has a structure equivalent to that of a twisted surface.

li4ru2 is a shape in which the outside (Z1 direction side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 on the drive receiving surface 73a is the inside (Z2 direction side), and it may be a shape arranged on the upstream side of the photosensitive drum 1 in the rotation direction. In other words, the straight line connecting the cylinder inner end portion and the cylinder outer end portion along the cylinder axis direction of the engagement portion 73 as the driving force receiving portion is configured so as to intersect the rotation axis of the cylinder. The drive receiving surface 73 a is an inclined portion that is inclined to the axis of the coupling member 28.

When the driving receiving surface 73a is twisted or inclined as described above, when the driving receiving surface 73a is driven, the photoreceptor drum unit 30 is pulled into the main bearing shaft 101 side of the supported portion 101d. Of force.

As shown in FIG. 14, the engaging portion 73 is positioned on the photoreceptor in the Z direction. The drum unit 30 has an insertion inclined surface 73d on the outer side (the Z1 direction side) as a force receiving portion during mounting. In addition, the engaging portion 73 has a pull-out inclined surface 73e as a force receiving portion at the time of detachment inside the photoreceptor drum unit 30 (Z2 direction side) in the Z direction. This makes it possible to improve the attachability and detachability of the coupling member 28 to the main body drive shaft 101.

At the time of mounting, the insertion inclined surface 73d comes into contact with the hemispherical shape 101c, and the engaging portion 73 moves radially outward of the drive shaft. In addition, at the time of extraction, the removal inclined surface 73e comes into contact with the body-side removal inclined surface 101i, and the engaging portion 73 moves toward the radial outer side of the body drive shaft 101.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the Z direction, the distance L1 from the front end surface of the cylindrical portion 71 to the front end surface of the engaging portion 73 is set such that the length L2 of the drive receiving surface 73 is in a relationship of L1> L2. The arrangement engaging portion 73 is performed in the manner described above.

As shown in FIG. 15, the force receiving portion 77 is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the engaging portion 73 and includes a receiving surface 77 a and a rib 77 e. The supporting part 33j of the centering member 33 mentioned later is inserted in the structure provided between the supported surface 74i and the receiving surface 77a of the free end side extension 74s. The receiving surface 77a and the driving receiving surface 73 are arranged approximately parallel. As shown in FIG. 15, the fin 77 e is arranged at the inner diameter side end of the receiving surface 77 a as a starting point, and is almost perpendicular to the receiving surface 77 a so as to abut the inner peripheral surface 72 m of the mounting portion 72.

In addition, at least a part of the support portions (73, 74) and the drive receiving surface 73a is arranged in the axial direction of the drum unit 30, and is disposed more inward than the supported portion 71c. Therefore, the support (73, 74) or drive bearing The surface 73a can be protected by the bearing portion 71c or the bearing member 19R. In particular, in the present embodiment, the entire support portion (73, 74) and the drive receiving surface 73a are disposed inwardly of the drum unit 30 in the axial direction of the drum unit 30.

Furthermore, at least a part of the support portions (73, 74) is arranged in the internal space of the photoreceptor drum 1. In short, at least a part of the support portions (73, 74) is located more inward than the end portion of the photoreceptor drum 1 in the axial direction. In other words, if the support portions (73, 74) and the photoreceptor drum 1 are projected perpendicularly to the axis of the photoreceptor drum 1, the projection area of the support (73, 74) and the photoreceptor drum 1 are projected. The regions overlap each other at least in part. In addition, at least a part of the support portions (73, 74) is arranged in the radial direction of the drum unit, and is also disposed inside the photoreceptor drum 1.

Similarly, at least a part of the driving force receiving portion (the driving receiving surface 73 a) is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum 1. Therefore, if the drive receiving surface 73a and the photoreceptor drum 1 are projected perpendicularly to the axis of the photoreceptor drum 1, the projection area of the drive receiving surface 73a and the photoreceptor drum 1 overlap each other at least partially. .

If at least a part of the supporting portion (73, 74) or at least a part of the driving receiving surface 73a is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum 1, the supporting portion (73, 74) or the driving receiving surface can be protected by the photoreceptor drum 1. 73a.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the entire (73, 74) and the entire drive receiving surface 73a are disposed inside the photoreceptor drum 1.

In addition, the base of the fixed end of the support (73, 74) The 74 a is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1 and has the following effects. The root portion 74 a is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum 1 so that the flange member 70 (coupling member 28) is covered with the photoreceptor drum 1 around the base portion 74 a and is fixed to the photoreceptor drum 1. The photoreceptor drum 1 has high rigidity, and the portion of the flange member 70 covered by the photoreceptor drum 1 becomes difficult to deform.

The support portions (73, 74) can be elastically deformed with the base portion 74a as a starting point, but even if the support portions (73, 74) are elastically deformed, the photoconductor drum 1 can suppress the deformation from affecting the base portion 74a.

When the deformation of the flange member 70 is suppressed, the supported portion 71c of the flange member 70 can be stably supported by the bearing member 39R. In addition, the support portions (73, 74) are supported by the portions of the flange member 70 that are not easily deformed. As a result, the driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 73a) provided in the supporting portions (73, 74) can stably receive the driving force from the body driving shaft 101.

In addition, by providing the drive receiving surface 73a inside the photoconductor drum 1, the main body drive shaft 101 can be made longer. The main body drive shaft 101 supports its fixed end (the supported portion 101d) by the device body and its free end (the shaft portion 101f) by the drum unit. In this way, the longer the distance between the supported portion 101d and the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft 101, the less likely it is that the drum unit will tilt significantly. In short, when the cassette 7 is mounted on the apparatus body, it becomes easy to keep the main body drive shaft 101 parallel to the drum unit.

Here, the drive receiving surface 73a is arranged on the photoreceptor drum 1. If it is inside, the shaft portion 101f is inserted into the photoreceptor drum 1, and the shaft portion 101f can be supported inside the photoreceptor drum 1. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the device body, and it is easy to secure the length of the body drive shaft 101 (the distance between the supported portion 101d and the shaft portion 101f).

(Explanation on the manufacturing method)

The flange member 70 of this embodiment is manufactured using a mold by an injection molding (insert molding) method.

The structure of the metal mold | die used at the time of shaping the flange member 70 is demonstrated using FIG.

The flange member 70 has a flange portion 75 in a shape protruding outward in the radial direction. When forming such a shape, it is preferable to use a metal mold as shown in FIG. 17.

Specifically, as shown in the figure, the metal mold has a two-body configuration of a mold on the left (the cylindrical mold 60) and a mold on the right (the mold 61 on the mounting portion side). By closing the left and right molds, a space portion (plastic film hole, cavity portion) having the same shape as the molded product is formed. The material flows into this space portion and solidifies in a metal mold to form a flange member 70. In the metal mold, a parting surface 62 (a surface for separating the mold and a surface for closing the mold) is arranged in the vicinity of the space forming the crotch 75, that is, a space for closing the left and right molds. Next, the cylindrical metal mold 60 has a shape including a space for forming the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 71. Similarly, the mounting part-side mold 61 has a shape including a space for forming the mounting part 72.

When the flange member 70 is formed using such a mold, it is preferable to use a thermoplastic resin from the viewpoint of mass productivity. Specifically, materials such as POM and PPS are appropriate. However, in order to meet the requirements such as strength, other materials may be appropriately selected. Specifically, the use of a thermosetting resin, a metal material, or the like is also considered.

As described above, the engaging portion 73 has an insertion inclined surface 73d at one end in the Z direction and a removal inclined surface 73e at the other end. Therefore, it is difficult to select which of the end faces in the Z direction of the engaging portion 73 is to arrange the parting surface 62 of the metal mold. This is because when a two-piece metal mold is used, when the parting surface 62 is arranged on either of the two end faces of the engaging portion 73, it becomes difficult to remove the formed flange member 70 from the metal mold. In short, when the two metal molds are removed from the engaging portion 73 after the engaging portion 73 is formed, at least one of the metal molds is caught in the engaging portion 73 and cannot be moved.

The parting surface 62 is made as narrow as possible, and the production of a metal mold is relatively easy. As a result, it becomes possible to produce the parting surface 62 with high accuracy. Thereby, if the component mold surface 62 is made as narrow as possible, the possibility of resin leakage and the like can be reduced.

In order to make the parting surface 62 of the engaging portion 73 narrower, it is necessary to arrange the drive receiving surface 73a on the deep side (Z2 side) of the photoconductor drum unit 30 by inserting at least the inclined surface 73d. Here, in this embodiment, the end of the insertion inclined surface 73d and the end of the driving receiving surface 73a are arranged at the same position in the Z direction.

In addition, when forming the flange member 70 of this embodiment, The separating surface 62 is arranged as described below. In short, the drive receiving surface 73a and the surface of the base portion 74 seen from the Z2 direction side are formed by the mounting portion-side metal mold 61. In addition, the cylindrical side mold 60 is used to form the surface of the insertion slope 73 d and the base portion 74 seen from the Z1 direction side. As described above, the inner side surface of the radical-side extending portion 74t is arranged so as to have the same diameter as the inner peripheral surface 71R of the cylindrical portion 71 or project from the inner diameter side. In this way, it is possible to prevent the radical-side extension portion 74t from being caught by the cylindrical-portion-side mold 60 and preventing the movement of the cylindrical-portion-side mold 60.

In addition, when the flange member 70 is viewed from the Z direction (when the flange member 70 is viewed along the axial direction), as shown in FIG. 12, it is necessary that the force receiving portion 77 does not overlap with the engaging portion 73 and the base portion 74. Way configuration. In short, when the flange member 70 is viewed along the axial direction, it is necessary for the force receiving portion 77 to be arranged with a gap between the engaging portion 73 or the base portion 74. In consideration of the thickness of the metal mold, it is preferable that the force receiving portion 77 be disposed with a gap of approximately 1 mm between the engaging portion 73 and the base portion 74.

(Explanation on the alignment component)

The configuration of the centering member (positioning member) 33 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 15, 16, 18, and 19.

In this embodiment, the aligning member 33 has a recessed portion (inverse conical shape 33a) that narrows toward the bottom. The inverse conical shape 33 a is a low-lying (concave portion) having an almost conical shape, and is arranged on the axis of the drum unit 30. Moreover, it is arrange | positioned in the axial direction of the drum unit 30 rather than the drive receiving surface 73a. The detailed shape of the aligning member 33 will be described below. shape.

As shown in FIG. 18, the aligning member 33 has an inverse conical shape 33a, a fitting portion 33b, a separation preventing portion 33c, and a support portion 33j.

As shown in FIG. 19, the coupling member 28 is configured by assembling the centering member 33 from the Z2 side to the Z1 side of the flange member 70 along the rotation axis.

As shown in FIG. 10, the inverse-conical shape 33 a is disposed on the inner side (Z2 direction side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 than the engaging portion 73. In addition, when the aligning member 33 is viewed along the Z direction, the flange member 70 and the aligning member 33 are attached so that the center of the inverse-conical shape 33 a coincides with the center of the photoconductor drum 1.

The inverse conical shape 33 a has a contact portion 33 e that abuts a hemispherical shape 101 c of a hemispherical shape at the front end of the main body drive shaft 101 during the rotational driving of the photoconductor drum 1. The inverse-conical shape 33a is an approximately inverse-conical shape (a shape that is lowered approximately in a conical shape). As shown in FIG. 10, the centering member 33 has a center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c of the main body drive shaft 101 in a state in which the abutting portion 33e is in contact with the hemispherical shape 101c in the Z direction so as to be within the range of the driving receiving surface 73a The internal method is attached to the flange member 70.

The abutting portion 33e provided in the inverse conical shape 33a positions the drum unit 30 with respect to the main body driving shaft 101 by contacting the hemispherical shape 101c of the main body driving shaft 101.

In short, the inverse conical shape 33a can determine the axial position and radial position of the drum unit 30 with respect to the main body drive shaft 101 Home. In short, the inverse conical shape 33a is a radial positioning portion and also a positioning portion in the axial extension direction.

In addition, the radial positioning portion and the long-side positioning portion need not be low-lying in a conical shape like the inverse conical shape 33a. When the radial positioning portion and the long-side positioning portion are in contact with the main body driving shaft 101, the shape of the photoconductor drum unit 30 may be determined as long as the position of the photoconductor drum unit 30 can be determined for the main body driving shaft 101. For example, these are suitable as low depressions (recesses) that narrow as they go toward the bottom. As such a thing, a pyramid shape other than a cone, such as a pyramid (a quadrangular pyramid), may be used. However, as with the inverse conical shape 33a of this embodiment, as long as it is a conical recess that is symmetrical with respect to the axis of the coupling member 28, the position of the coupling member 28 (the position of the drum unit 30) can be maintained with particularly high accuracy. .

In addition, the inverse conical shape 33a may be any area as long as it is in contact with the main body drive shaft 101, and any area not in contact may be used. For example, the portion that is not in contact with the body drive shaft 101, that is, the bottom of the inverse conical shape 33a may not be provided, and the inverse conical shape 33a may be a recessed portion having no bottom.

The fitting portion 33b is provided in a place where the aligning member 33 is attached to the flange member 70. As shown in FIG. 10, the flange member 70 has a fitted portion 72a in a place corresponding to the fitting portion 33b. In addition, the fitting portion 33b is disposed on the inner side (the Z2 direction side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 than the contact portion 33e.

As shown in FIG. 18, the detachment preventing portion 33 c is a shape for preventing the centering member 33 from falling out of the flange member 70. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the flange member 70 has a hole shape 72 b in a place corresponding to the detachment prevention portion 33 c.

As shown in FIG. 15, the support portion 33 j is assembled in the gap between the supported surface 74 i and the receiving surface 77 a of the flange member 70 to prevent the engagement portion 73 from falling down on the upstream side in the rotation direction. Therefore, the thickness of the support portion 33j is approximately the same as the gap between the supported surface 74i and the receiving surface 77a.

In short, the support portion 33j is a portion that prevents the engagement portion 73 (the drive receiving surface 73a) from moving in the circumferential direction of the flange member 70 by coming into contact with the supported surface 74i. The alignment member 33 is a support member having a support portion 33j.

The centering member 33 is also a positioning member that determines the relative position of the flange member 70 (the drum unit 30) to the body drive shaft 101. A recessed portion (inverse conical shape 33a) provided in the aligning member 33 contacts the front end of the main body drive shaft 101 as a positioning portion. Thereby, the relative position of the flange member 70 in the axial direction and the relative position in the radial direction are collectively determined for the body drive shaft 101.

In addition, when viewed from the Z direction, the circle passing through the ridge line on the side of the engaging portion 73 of the support portion 33j is arranged so that the center thereof is the same as the inverse conical shape 33a, and the diameter of the circle is D8. The diameter D8 is approximately the same as the outer diameter D5 of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft 101, or is prepared so that D8 ≧ D5 when reviewing the respective dimensional accuracy. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 16, the support part 33j is arrange | positioned so that it may overlap the drive receiving surface 73a in a Z direction.

[Mounting of cassette to image forming apparatus body]

The attachment and detachment of the drum cartridge 13 to the main body of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view for explaining the mounting of the drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a mounting operation of the drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A.

The image forming apparatus main body 100A of this embodiment adopts a structure in which a cassette can be mounted in a substantially horizontal direction. Specifically, the image forming apparatus main body 100A includes a space in which a cassette can be installed. Next, a cassette door 104 (front door) for inserting a cassette into the aforementioned space is provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 100A (the direction in which the user stands in use).

As shown in FIG. 20, the cassette door 104 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A is provided to be openable and closable. When the cassette door 104 is opened, the cassette lower rail 105 of the drum cartridge 13 is disposed on the bottom surface of the aforementioned space, and the cassette upper rail 106 is disposed on the upper surface. The drum cartridge 13 is guided to the installation position by the upper and lower guide rails (105, 106) provided above and below the space. The drum cartridge 13 is inserted approximately along the axis of the photoconductor drum unit 30 toward the installation position.

Hereinafter, the attaching and detaching operation of the cassette to the image forming apparatus main body 100A will be described using FIG. 21.

As shown in FIG. 21 (a), when the drum cartridge 13 is inserted, the drum unit bearing member 39R and the photoconductor drum 1 are not rotated in the middle. The print belt 5 is in contact. In other words, in a state where the end portion on the deep side in the insertion direction of the drum cartridge 13 is supported by the cassette lower rail 105, it becomes a dimensional relationship in which the photoreceptor drum 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 5 do not contact.

Next, as shown in FIG. 21 (b), the image forming apparatus main body 100A includes a deep-side cassette lower guide 107 that protrudes upward in the direction of gravity than the cassette lower guide 105 on the deep side of the cassette lower guide 105 in the insertion direction. This deep-side cassette lower guide 107 includes an inclined surface 107 a on the front side in the insertion direction of the drum cartridge 13. With the insertion, the drum cartridge 13 rides on the inclined surface 107a and is guided to the installation position.

In addition, the position or shape of the lower cassette lower guide 107 may be set so that when the cassette is inserted into the apparatus main body 100A, a part of the cassette does not rub against the image forming area 5A of the intermediate transfer belt 5. Here, the image forming area 5A refers to an area of the intermediate transfer belt 5 that carries a toner image transferred to the recording material 12. In addition, in the present embodiment, among the cassettes that maintain the installation posture, the unit bearing member 39R provided on the deep side in the insertion direction of the drum cartridge 13 protrudes most upward in the direction of gravity. Therefore, as long as the trajectory (hereinafter referred to as the insertion trajectory) drawn during the insertion of the end of the drum unit bearing member 39R deepest in the insertion direction does not interfere with the image formation region 5A, the arrangement of the elements is appropriately selected. With shape.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 21 (c), the drum cartridge 13 is further inserted into the deep side of the image forming apparatus main body 100A from the state of the upper and lower side cassette lower guide 107 thereof. Next, the drum unit bearing member 39R abuts on the deep side cassette positioning portion 108 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A. this At this time, the drum cartridge 13 (the photoconductor drum unit 30) is inclined to a state of about 0.5 to 2 ° from the state in which it is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100A (FIG. 21 (d)). In short, in the insertion direction of the drum cartridge 13, the downstream side of the drum cartridge 13 (photoreceptor drum unit 30) is lifted more than the upstream side.

FIG. 21 (d) is a diagram showing the device body and the state of the cassette when the cassette door 104 is closed. The image forming apparatus 100A has a front cassette lower guide 109 on the front side in the insertion direction of the cassette lower guide 105. The front-side cassette lower guide 109 is configured to move up and down in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cassette door (front door) 104.

When the user closes the cassette door 104, the front cassette lower guide 109 rises. Next, the drum unit bearing member 39L comes into contact with the front cassette positioning portion 110 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A, and the drum cassette 13 positions the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

With the above operation, the installation of the drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A is completed.

In addition, the drum cartridge 13 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100A in a reverse order to the aforementioned insertion operation.

As described above, since the oblique mounting structure is adopted, when the drum cartridge 13 is mounted on the apparatus body 100A, it is possible to suppress the friction between the photoconductor drum and the intermediate transfer belt. Therefore, it is possible to suppress generation of minute scratches (scratches) on the surface of the photoreceptor drum or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

In addition, the configuration disclosed in this embodiment is similar to the configuration in which the entire cartridge is lifted after the cartridge is moved to the horizontal direction and installed in the device body. In comparison, the configuration of the image forming apparatus body 100A can be simplified.

[The engagement process of the coupling member to the main body drive shaft]

Next, the engagement process between the coupling member 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 will be described in detail using FIGS. 22 and 23.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a mounting operation of the coupling member 28 to the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining the installation of the coupling member 28 to the main body drive shaft 101 when the main body drive shaft 101 is rotated when the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 73 (drive receiving surface 73a) are out of phase. Sectional view for action.

FIG. 22 (a) is a diagram showing a state where the coupling member 28 starts to engage with the body drive shaft 101. 22 (e) shows a state where the drum cartridge 13 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 100A. In particular, FIG. 23 (e) shows that with the cassette door 104 closed and the front cassette lower guide 109 raised, the drum cartridge 13 is positioned to the image forming apparatus body 100A.

Here, FIGS. 22 (b) to (d) are diagrams for explaining the installation process of the coupling member 28 and the body drive shaft 101 between FIGS. 22 (a) and 22 (e). In addition, the main body driving shaft 101 hangs down toward the direction of gravity only at a slight angle due to its own weight.

In addition, FIG. 23 (a) is a diagram for explaining a state where the phase of the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engagement portion 73 (the drive receiving surface 73a) are not in phase. Used figure.

As described using FIG. 21 (b), the drum cartridge 13 rides on the deep side cartridge lower guide 107. That is, until the drum cartridge 13 reaches the state shown in FIGS. 21 (a) to 21 (b), the inclination is gradually increased while the state is about 0.5 to 2 °. Next, the drum cartridge 13 rides on the deep side cartridge lower guide 107.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 22 (a), the coupling member 28 is tilted about 0.5 to about the state where the drum cartridge 13 is positioned on the image forming apparatus body 100A (as shown in FIG. 22 (e)). A state of about 2 ° is inserted into the body drive shaft 101.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body drive shaft 101 supports the supported portion 101 d on one side. In addition, the gear portion 101e meshes with a gear (not shown) that transmits driving to the gear portion 101e. FIG. 22 (a) is a view showing a state where the body drive shaft 101 is not in contact with the coupling member 28. In this state, the state in which the drum cartridge 13 is positioned to the image forming apparatus body 100A (as shown in FIG. 22 (e)) is centered on the bearing portion 101d, and the direction is determined by the self-weight and the biting direction. θ 1 falls down.

As shown in FIG. 22 (b), first, the front end of the inner peripheral surface 71 b of the cylindrical portion 71 of the coupling member 28 abuts on the rough guide portion 101 g of the main body drive shaft 101. As shown in the figure, the main body drive shaft 101 is configured to support the supported portion 101d on one side. Therefore, the rough guide portion 101g of the main body drive shaft 101 is inserted into the main body drive shaft 101 in a state that it follows the inner peripheral surface 71b of the coupling member 28 inseparably. As described above, the engaging portion 73 is located in the Z direction, and extends from the front end surface of the cylindrical portion 71 to the front end surface of the engaging portion 73. The distance L1 is set so that the length L2 of the drive receiving surface 73 becomes a relationship of L1> L2 (as shown in FIG. 14). Therefore, before the hemispherical shape 101 c of the front end of the main body drive shaft 101 abuts the engaging portion 73, the rough guide portion 101 g of the main body drive shaft 101 is along the inner peripheral surface 71 b of the coupling member 28. Thereby, the body driving shaft 101 is guided to the coupling member 28. Thereby, the hemispherical shape 101c of the front end of the main body drive shaft 101 can be prevented from colliding with the engaging portion 73 or the base portion 74 in an unexpected place, and these damages can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 22 (c), from FIG. 22 (b), the coupling member 28 is further inserted toward the deep side of the main body drive shaft 101, and the insertion inclined surface 73d of the engaging portion 73 and the hemispherical shape of the front end of the main body drive shaft 101 are inserted. 101c abuts. By inserting the inclined surface of the inclined surface 73d and the spherical shape of the hemispherical shape 101c, the main body drive shaft 101 is guided at approximately the center of the three engagement portions 73.

Furthermore, when the coupling member 28 is inserted into the main body drive shaft 101, the base portion 74 is elastically deformed radially outward so that the engaging portion 73 follows the hemispherical shape 101c. As a result, as shown in FIG. 23 (a), the engaging portion 73 moves (retracts) to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101 f of the body drive shaft 101. By this movement, as shown in FIG. 22 (d), the inclined surface 73e of the engaging portion 73 is pulled out of the inclined surface 101i from the body side of the body drive shaft 101 to the deep side in the Z direction, and the coupling member 28 is attached to Body drive shaft 101. As described above, the base portion 74 includes a base-side extension portion 74t and a folded-back portion 74r that are elastically deformable. When the engaging portion 73 is moved outward in the radial direction, the base-side extension portion 74t of the base portion 74 and the folded-back portion 74r are elastically deformed. Compared with the structure in which the fundamental side extension 74t is elastically deformed, it can deform radially outward with less force. Therefore, the mounting force of the drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A can be suppressed to be low.

In addition, since the base portion 74 has a folded-back portion 74r, it can be arranged in a limited space in the Z direction.

From the above, the flange member 70 does not need to be enlarged in the Z2 direction, and the mounting force of the drum cartridge 13 toward the image forming apparatus body 100A can be suppressed to be low.

Thereafter, as described above, the drum cartridge 13 is lifted such that the drum unit bearing member 39L of the drum cartridge 13 abuts against the front-side cassette positioning portion 110. When the drum cartridge 13 is lifted, the drum cartridge 13 is positioned in the image forming apparatus body 100A (as shown in FIG. 21 (d)). By this operation of the drum cartridge 13, as shown in FIG. 22 (e), the inclination of the coupling member 28 is canceled.

Next, when the main body drive shaft 101 rotates, as shown in FIG. 23 (b), the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 73 are in phase. Thereby, at least a part of the elastic deformation of the base portion 74 is eliminated, a part of the engaging portion 73 enters the body drive transmission groove 101 a, and the coupling member 28 is engaged with the body drive shaft 101.

When the phase of the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engagement portion 73 is well matched, the elastic deformation of the base portion 74 is released at the stage of FIG. 22 (d), and the state of FIG. The driving force is transmitted to the drum cartridge 13 through the coupling member 28.

The above, as already explained, is accompanied by the drum cartridge 13 It is attached to the apparatus main body 100A, and the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging part 73 are engageable. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the body drive shaft 101 to engage the coupling member 28. In short, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for moving the body drive shaft 101 to engage with the coupling member 28 in the apparatus body 100A of the image forming apparatus. A mechanism for engaging the main body drive shaft 101 with the coupling unit 28 after the drum cartridge 13 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 100A can be omitted from the apparatus main body 100A.

In addition, when the drum cartridge 13 is mounted on the apparatus body 100A, the engagement portion 73 of the coupling member 28 is configured to be retracted to the outside in the radial direction by contacting the body drive shaft 101. Next, the groove (body drive transmission groove 101a) of the main body drive shaft 101 is engaged by moving the engaging portion 73 radially inward.

Here, a groove for receiving a drive may be provided in the coupling member, or a movable portion that can be engaged with the groove by moving in the radial direction may be provided on the body drive shaft 101 side. However, the image forming apparatus main body 100A requires higher durability than the drum cartridge 13. The arrangement of the movable portion (engaging portion 73) that can move in the diameter direction on the coupling member 28 side of the drum cartridge 13 as in this embodiment is preferable because the durability of the image forming apparatus body 100A is improved.

[Driven by the coupling member of the drive shaft of the body]

The transmission of the rotational drive from the body drive shaft 101 to the coupling member 28 will be described using FIG. 15.

The driving receiving surface 73a of the coupling member 28 abuts the When the body drive transmission surface 101b, the cleaning blade 26, the charging roller 22, and the like apply a load to the photoconductor drum unit 30. That is, the drive receiving surface 73a receives a load (driving force) F1 and rotates integrally with the drive transmission surface 101b.

When the driving receiving surface 73a receives the driving force F1, the included angle between the supported surface 74i and the driving receiving surface 73a is an acute angle, so it can be decomposed into a component Fv perpendicular to the supported surface 74i and a component Fh parallel to the supported surface 74i. As shown in FIG. 15, the component Fv in the vertical direction is transmitted to the supported surface 74 i on the side opposite to the drive receiving surface 73 a of the engagement portion 73. The engagement portion 73 is supported (backed up) by the attachment portion 72 through the support portion 33j and the rib 77e. Therefore, the engagement portion 73 is hardly deformed on the downstream side in the rotation direction.

In addition, when the engaging portion 73 receives the component Fv in the parallel direction, the abutting surface 74h abuts against the shaft portion 101f of the body drive shaft 101, and the engaging portion 73 is supported (backed up).

In addition, by the component Fv of the force parallel to the supported surface 74i, the engaging portion 73 (drive receiving surface 73a) is pushed toward the inside of the drive transmission groove 101a and pushed radially inward.

In short, the support surface 33t or the supported surface 74i of the support unit 33j is inclined to the drive receiving surface 73a. As a result, the drive receiving surface 73a receives the force of the drive transmission groove 101a from the main body drive shaft 101, and when the supported surface 74i contacts the support surface 33t, the engaging portion 73 moves radially inward along the support surface 33t. In short, the support surface 33t or the supported surface 74i is inclined to the driving receiving surface 73a, and the support surface 33t is connected to the supported surface 74i. When touched, a force is generated to push the engaging portion 73 toward the radially inner side.

In the cross section shown in FIG. 15, a straight line extending along the driving receiving surface 73 a and a straight line extending along the supporting surface 33 t intersect with each other in the radial direction of the coupling member outside the driving force receiving surface 73 a.

Further, in the radial direction of the coupling member 28, the support surface 33t is inclined so that the inner diameter side thereof is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction than the outer diameter side thereof. The same applies to the supported surface 74i.

The driving force receiving surface 73 a provided on the engaging portion 73 is an inclined portion that is inclined to the moving direction of the engaging portion 73. The engaging portion 73 moves so as to retreat toward the radially outer side of the coupling member 28, and the driving force receiving surface 73a is inclined in this direction.

In other words, in a state where the driving force receiving surface 73a is in contact with the driving transmission groove 101a, the driving receiving surface 73a is inclined so that the driving receiving surface 73a bites into the driving transmission groove 101a. Therefore, in a state where the driving receiving surface 73a receives the driving force from the driving transmission groove 101a, the engagement portion 73 cannot easily retreat from the driving transmission groove 101a. In short, the engagement state between the engagement portion 73 and the drive transmission groove 101a is stabilized.

More specifically, the driving receiving surface 73 a is such that the inner diameter side (front end side) of the coupling member 28 is disposed closer to the upstream side than the outer diameter side (rear end side) in the rotation direction of the coupling member 28. In short, 73a is inclined so as to face at least the radially outer side of the coupling member 28. In short, the normal vector extending to the facing side of the driving receiving surface 73a perpendicular to the driving receiving surface 73a has a component facing outward in the radial direction.

Therefore, the coupling member 28 (the photoreceptor drum unit 30) When rotating, the force received by the drive receiving surface 73a causes the engaging portion 73 to move in a direction to engage with the body drive transmission groove 101a. In short, the engaging portion 73 is elastically pushed inward in the radial direction by the driving force received by the driving receiving surface 73a. As a result, the engagement state between the engaging portion 73 and the body drive transmission groove 101a is stable, and the disengagement of the engagement portion 73 from the body drive transmission groove 101a is suppressed.

As a result of the foregoing configuration, the driving receiving surface 73a can be stabilized and abutted against the main body driving receiving surface 101a, and the photoreceptor drum unit 30 can be pulled in toward the bearing portion 101d side of the main body driving shaft 101. In addition, even if the load F1 fluctuates, the engaging portion 73 is supported as described above, so that deformation of the engaging portion is suppressed. Therefore, the amount of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 1 is also hardly changed, and as a result, the image quality can be maintained.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the support part 33i is provided in the centering member (positioning member) 33. However, the support portion 33i may be a different member from the centering member 33.

In short, the support portion 33i may be a member different from the positioning portion (inverse conical shape 33a) for positioning the drum unit 30 of the main body drive shaft 101.

[Removal of the coupling member from the drive shaft of the main body]

The operation of removing the coupling member 28 from the main body drive shaft 101 will be described using FIG. 24.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of removing the coupling member 28 from the main body drive shaft 101.

As shown in FIG. 24 (a), at the time point when the rotation driving of the main body driving shaft 101 is stopped, the driving receiving surface 73 and the main body driving transmission surface 101 b are in contact with each other. In this state, a part of the engagement portion 73 enters the body drive transmission groove 101a.

When the cassette door 104 is opened, the front cassette lower guide 109 is lowered, and the drum unit bearing member 39L is separated from the front cassette positioning portion 110 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A. At this time, as shown in FIG. 24 (b), the coupling member 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 are in a state of being tilted about 0.5 to 2 ° toward the end of the mounting state (Z direction).

When the drum cartridge 13 is started to be removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100A, as shown in FIG. 24 (c), the removal inclined surface 73e of the engaging portion 73 is in contact with the body-side removal inclined surface 101i. Since the inclined surface 73e is pulled out, the base portion 74 starts to elastically deform because it is in contact with the gradient 101i on the body side, so that the engaging portion 73 moves along the body side and the inclined surface 101i is moved outward in the radial direction.

Furthermore, when the coupling member 28 is pulled out from the main body drive shaft 101, the base portion 74 is further elastically deformed, so that the engaging portion 73 is moved to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft 101. As the engagement portion 73 moves to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101f, as shown in FIG. 24 (d), the coupling member 28 can be removed from the main body drive shaft 101.

Further, when the coupling member 28 is removed from the main body drive shaft 101, as shown in FIG. 24 (e), the elastic deformation of the base portion 74 is released, and the position of the engaging portion 73 also returns to the position before the elastic deformation.

As described above, by using the coupling member of this embodiment, the flange can be suppressed. The size of the member 70 in the Z2 direction is increased. Next, the mounting force of the drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A can be suppressed to be low, the change in the rotation amount of the photoreceptor drum 1 can be suppressed, and the image quality can be maintained.

In addition, in this embodiment, the base portion 74 and the folded-back portion 74r are provided at one place, but a configuration having a plurality of folded-back portions 74r is also possible as long as the base portion 74 can be disposed on a space of 72 m on the inner peripheral surface of the coupling member 28.

For example, it is also conceivable to arrange the following structures sequentially from the fixed end toward the free end of the base 74. That is, (1) an extension portion extending to the inside in the axial direction, (2) a folded-back portion, (3) an extension portion extended to the outside in the axial direction, (4) a folded-back portion, and (5) extending to the inside in the axial direction Extension. In this case, the base portion 74 has an S-shape with three extending portions. When there are one or more folded-back portions, the base portion 74 has at least a first limb extension portion and a second extension portion that extend in mutually different directions in the axial direction. In this embodiment shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 14, etc., one of the fundamental side extension 74t and the free end side extension 74s extending in mutually different directions corresponds to the first extension and the other corresponds to the second extension. unit.

For example, if the free-end-side extension 74s originally arranged on the free-end side is the first extension, the radical-side extension 74t connected to the free-end-side extension 74s is the second extension. In this case, it can be said that the first extension portion (74s) extends from the second extension portion (74t) toward the free end of the support portion, and the second extension portion (74t) extends from the fixed end of the support portion toward the first extension portion ( 74s) extended.

<Example 2>

A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 30.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 128 according to the present embodiment cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 128 and the main body drive shaft 101 according to the present embodiment, which is cut at a position perpendicular to the rotation axis through the drive receiving surface 73a.

FIG. 27 is a diagram and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 170 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the outside in the Z direction.

FIG. 28 is a diagram and a side view of the inner cylindrical member 140 related to the present embodiment, as viewed from the Z1 side and the Z2 side.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory sectional view showing an assembling procedure of the coupling member 128 related to the present embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an assembling procedure of the coupling member 128 according to the present embodiment, as seen from the outside and the side in the Z direction.

When the elements of this embodiment correspond to those described in the first embodiment, the same names are given. These elements will be specifically described in detail with respect to structures or functions different from those of the above-mentioned embodiment, and descriptions of the same points as the above-mentioned elements may be omitted.

In addition, elements that are substantially the same as those in the aforementioned embodiment are given the same name and the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

In the first embodiment, the coupling member 28 is divided into two parts such as a flange member 70 and a centering member 33. In contrast, in this embodiment, the coupling As shown in FIG. 25, the coupling member 128 is composed of a flange member 170 and an inner cylindrical member 140.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 27, the flange member 170 includes a mounting portion 172, a cylindrical portion 171, a flange portion 175, a force receiving portion 177, a centering portion 133 a, and a cylindrical member pressing portion 178. As shown in FIG. 28, the inner cylindrical member 140 includes a base portion 174, an engagement portion 173, a fitting portion 140 a, a drop-off prevention portion 140 b, and a rotation prevention portion 140 c.

The base portion 174 and the engaging portion 173 form a supporting portion for supporting the driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 173a) in the same manner as the base portion 74 and the engaging portion 73 of the first embodiment. The support portions (174, 173) are U-shaped buckles. The inner cylindrical member 140 is a driving force receiving member that receives a driving force from the device body via a driving receiving surface 173 a (see FIG. 28) provided in the engaging portion 173.

The flange member 170 is a member to be transmitted that transmits a driving force from the inner cylindrical member 140.

(Explanation on flange member)

As described above, as shown in FIG. 27, the flange member 170 includes a mounting portion 172, a cylindrical portion 171, a flange portion 175, a force receiving portion 177, an inverse conical shape 133 a, and a cylindrical member pressing portion 178.

The mounting portion 172 is a portion to be mounted on the photoconductor drum 1 similarly to the mounting portion 72 of the first embodiment. The mounting portion 172 is pressed into the inner periphery of the photoreceptor drum 1 by being attached to the inner periphery of the photoreceptor drum 1.

The cylindrical portion 171 is equivalent to the supported portion 71c of the first embodiment. The supported portion rotatably supports the drum unit bearing member 39R by the supported portion.

The crotch portion 175 is the shape that determines the positions of the photoreceptor drum 1 and the coupling member 128 in the Z direction, as in the first embodiment.

The force receiving portion 177 is a shape for preventing the engaging portion 173 from being deformed on the downstream side in the rotation direction when the coupling member 128 is driven by the main body drive shaft 101 and abuts with a supported surface 174i of an inner cylinder described later. That is, in the state of the coupling member 128, it is arrange | positioned on the downstream side of the rotation direction of the engagement part 173.

The force receiving portion 177 is parallel to the supported surface 174i, has a receiving surface 177a that abuts the supported surface 174i, and a rib 177e that is disposed perpendicular to the receiving surface 177a and extends from the inner diameter end of the receiving surface to the mounting portion 172. .

The receiving surface 177 a is a support portion that suppresses the engagement portion 173 (the driving receiving surface 173 a) from moving in the circumferential direction of the flange member 128. The flange member 170 is a supporting member having a supporting portion (a receiving surface 177a).

Further, the receiving surface 177a is in contact with the supported surface 174i, and the driving force is transmitted by the inner cylindrical member 140. That is, the driving force received by the driving receiving surface 173a of the engaging portion 173 from the device body is transmitted from the inner cylindrical member 140 to the cylinder member 170 through the supported surface 174i and the receiving surface 177a. The receiving surface 177 a is a conveyed portion for transmitting a driving force from the inner cylindrical member 140.

The inverse-cone shape 133a is the shape of an approximately inverse cone, as in Example 1. In the Z direction, the center of the hemispherical shape 101c of the main body drive shaft 101 in a state where the abutting portion 133e is in contact with the hemispherical shape 101c. 101h is disposed in the flange member 170 so as to be within the range of the drive receiving surface 173a.

The cylindrical member pressing portion 178 is a gap provided on the deep side (Z2 side) of the force receiving portion 177.

As shown in FIG. 25, the radius R19 of the space corresponding to the engaging portion 173 in the radial direction within the inner peripheral surface 172m of the mounting portion 172 is larger than the radius R12 of the inner peripheral surface 171b of the cylindrical portion 171.

(About the inner cylinder)

As described above, the inner cylinder 140 includes a base portion 174 of the support portion, an engagement portion 173 of the support portion, a fitting portion 140a, a drop-off prevention portion 140b, and a rotation prevention portion 140c (as shown in FIG. 28).

The engaging portion 173 has a driving receiving surface 173a similarly to the first embodiment.

The base portion 174 has a radical-side extending portion 174t, a folded-back portion 174r, and a free-end-side extending portion 174s as in the first embodiment. The free end side extension 174s has a backup surface 174i and a contact surface 174h.

In this embodiment, each of the radical-side extension 174t and the free-end-side extension 174s is opposite to each of the radical-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s of Embodiment 1.

The radical-side extending portion 174t is formed by the radical portion 174a, approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 170, and extends in the Z1 direction (outside of the drum unit axis direction). The radical-side extending portion 174s or the engaging portion 173 is arranged. On the radial outer side.

The folded-back portion 174r is a bent portion that continuously connects the fixed-end side of the radical-side extending portion 174s and the free-end side of the radical-side extending portion 174t.

An engaging portion 173 is provided on the radically extending portion 174s in almost the entire area. The engaging portion 173 is a protruding portion of the fundamental side extending portion 174s, and a driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 173a) is provided in the engaging portion 173.

Each of the base portion 174, the radical extension portion 174t, and the folded-back portion 174r is elastically deformed. Compared with a structure in which only the fundamental side extension 174t is elastically deformed, it can deform radially outward with a small force. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

The free end side of the engaging portion 173 (the front end side of the free end extension portion 174s) and the base portion 174a of the base portion 174 are disposed on the Z2 side than the folded-back portion 174r.

The fitting portion 140a is disposed deeper than the base portion 174 and the engaging portion 173, and is fitted into the outer peripheral surface of the centering portion 133a to align the center of the flange member 170 and the inner cylindrical member 140 with high accuracy. Used part.

The fall-off prevention portion 140 b is a portion for preventing the inner cylindrical member 140 from falling off from the flange member 170. More specifically, after the inner cylindrical member 140 is assembled into the flange member 170, the inner cylindrical member 140 is prevented from falling off by entering the cylindrical member pressing portion 178. As shown in FIG. 29 (a), the anti-falling portion 140b is in a state in which the flange member 170 is incorporated into the inner cylindrical member 140 (shown in FIG. 29 (b)). Construct The clearance portion 140d of the force receiving portion 177 of the member 170 interferes.

After the flange member 170 is incorporated into the inner cylindrical member 140, the inner rotation preventing member 140c restricts rotation to the upstream side in the rotation direction, and the anti-dropout portion 140b is a portion for preventing the detachment by the cylindrical member pressing portion 178. . As shown in FIG. 28 (B), it is a snap shape.

(Assembly of coupling member)

As described above, the coupling member 128 includes the flange member 170 and the inner cylindrical member 140. The assembly of the coupling member 128 will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30.

Fig. 29 (c) and Fig. 30 (c) respectively show the assembled state of the coupling member 128.

First, as shown in FIGS. 29 (a) and 30 (a), the flange member 170 is assembled with the inner cylindrical member 140 from the Z1 side toward the Z2 side. At this time, the inner cylindrical member 140 is assembled at the phase on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the coupling member 128 in the assembled completion state of FIGS. 29 (c) and 30 (c). In this phase, the clearance portion 140d of the anti-falling portion 140b coincides with the phase of the force receiving portion 177. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 29 (b) and FIG. 30 (b), in the Z direction, the drop-off prevention portion 140b is assembled into the gap provided on the deep side of the force receiving portion 177, which is the same as the cylindrical member pressing portion 178. position. At this time, the fitting portion 140a of the inner cylindrical member 140 fits into the outer periphery of the inverse-conical shape 133a of the flange member 170, and the rotation centers of the flange member 170 and the inner cylindrical member 140 can be fitted with high accuracy. In addition, at this time, the buckle-shaped rotation stop portion 140c is in a flexed state.

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 29 (c) and 30 (c), the inner cylindrical member 140 is rotated toward the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the flange member 170. By this rotation, the supported surface 174i of the engaging portion 173 of the inner cylindrical member 140 and the receiving surface 177a of the force receiving portion 177 of the flange member 170 can come into contact with each other. In addition, at this time, the deflection of the snap-shaped stopper portion 140c is relieved, and the flange member 170 and the inner cylindrical member 140 are completed.

That is, with respect to the flange member 170, the inner cylindrical member 140 is restricted from moving in the rotation direction. In short, the inner cylindrical member 140 can be rotated on the downstream side in the rotation direction, and the supported surface 174i can be rotated within a range of contact with the receiving surface 177a. On the upstream side in the rotation direction, the inner cylindrical member 140 can rotate within a range until the rotation preventing portion 140 c abuts the flange member 170.

[Driven by the coupling member of the drive shaft of the body]

The transmission of the rotational drive from the body drive shaft 101 to the coupling member 128 will be described using FIG. 26.

When the driving receiving surface 173a of the coupling member 128 is in contact with the main body driving transmitting surface 101b, the driving receiving surface 173a receives the load (driving force) F1 and rotates integrally with the driving transmitting surface 101b as in the first embodiment.

When the driving receiving surface 173a receives this driving force F1, the angle between the supported surface 174i and the driving receiving surface 173a is an acute angle, so it can be decomposed into a component Fv perpendicular to the supported surface 174i and a horizontal component Fv. Ingredient Fh. As shown in FIG. 15, the component Fv in the vertical direction is transmitted to the supported surface 174 i on the side opposite to the drive receiving surface 173 a of the engaging portion 173. Since the engaging portion 173 is supported (backed up) by the mounting portion 172 through the rib 177e, the engaging portion 173 is hardly deformed on the downstream side in the rotation direction. In addition, when the engaging portion 173 receives the component Fh in the vertical direction, the abutting surface 174h abuts against the shaft portion 101f of the body drive shaft 101, and the engaging portion 173 is supported (backed up).

As a result, the driving receiving surface 73a can be stabilized and abutted against the main body driving receiving surface 101a, and the photoconductor drum unit 30 can be pulled in toward the bearing portion 101d side of the main body driving shaft 101. In addition, even if the load F1 fluctuates, the engaging portion 73 is supported as described above and is hardly deformed, so the amount of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 1 is hardly changed, and the image quality can be maintained.

<Example 3>

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 31 to 34.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the flange member 270 according to the present embodiment cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 228 and the main body drive shaft 101 related to the present embodiment, which is cut at a position passing through the base 274 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a centering member 233 related to this embodiment.

FIG. 34 shows a coupling member 228 related to this embodiment. Figures of other types.

Among the elements of this embodiment, those corresponding to the elements described in the foregoing embodiment are given the same names as those of the foregoing embodiment. These components are specifically described in detail in terms of different configurations or functions from the aforementioned elements, and the same points as the aforementioned elements may be omitted.

In addition, among the elements of this embodiment, the elements that are substantially equivalent to the elements of the aforementioned embodiment are given the same name and the same symbols, and detailed descriptions are omitted. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, the fundamental side extending portion 274 and the engaging portion 273 are arranged on the downstream side in the rotation direction, and the fundamental portion (fixed end) 274a is oriented toward the Z2 direction (the axis direction of the drum unit 30). (Inside). Next, the radical-side extending portion 274 t is arranged approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 270. In addition, the folded-back portion 274r is formed continuously with the radical extension portion 274t, and is also a portion continuously connected with the free-end extension portion 274s.

The free-end-side extension portion 274s extends in the Z1 direction (outside of the axial direction of the drum unit 30) from the folded-back portion 274r, and extends along the axial direction.

An engaging portion (protrusion) 273 is formed on the free end side extension portion 274s.

The folded-back portion 274r is disposed on the deep side (Z2 side) of the drum unit 30 in the axial direction with respect to the engaging portion 273.

In the present embodiment, the free-end-side extension portion 274s and the fundamental-side extension portion 274t are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction (rotation direction) of the drum unit 30. In other words, the free end side extension 274s and the fundamental side extension 274t are arrange | positioned at mutually offset positions in the circumferential direction (rotation direction). In other words, the free-end-side extension 274s is disposed closer to the upstream side than the radical-side extension 274t in the rotation direction (see FIG. 32). This point is different from the first embodiment.

The supporting portion for movably supporting the driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 273a) is the same as that of the first embodiment in that the supporting portion is formed by the base portion 274 and the engaging portion 273.

The aligning member 233 has an inverse conical shape 233a, a fitting portion 233b, a separation preventing portion 233c, and a supporting portion 233j (as shown in FIG. 33), as in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 32, the transmission of the driving force F1 according to the driving of the coupling member 228 of the main body drive shaft 101 is also the same as in the first embodiment. The engaging portion 273 passes through the supporting portion 233j and the rib 277e, and the mounting portion 272 The support structure is also the same as that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the aligning member 233 is also a supporting member and also a positioning member.

In addition, when the cassette 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 100, the engaging portion 273 moves radially outward. At this time, since the fundamental side extending portion 274t and the folded-back portion 274r of the base portion 274 are elastically deformed, the cassette 1 can be mounted at a low load as in the first embodiment.

In addition, in the present embodiment, for the sake of explanation, the radical-side extending portion 274t, the engaging portion 273 or the free-end-side extending portion 274s is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction. However, it is also possible to arrange the radical-side extension portion 274t on the upstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the engaging portion 273 or the free-end-side extension portion 274s (see FIG. 34 (a)). Or, as shown in Figure 34 (b), The present-side extension portion 274t may have a configuration in which the engagement portion 273 or the free-end-side extension portion 274s is disposed on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotation direction. At this time, although it is a matter of course, the folded-back portion 274r is also disposed on both sides of the engaging portion 273 or the free-end-side extending portion 274s.

In short, in the configuration shown in FIG. 34 (b), the support portions (273, 274) have two radical-side extensions 274t for supporting the free-end-side extensions 274s. In other words, the free end-side extension 274s is continuous with the two fundamental side extensions 274t through the two folded-back portions 274r. Such support portions (273, 274) are M-shaped (see FIG. 34 (b)).

<Example 4>

A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 35 to 41.

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 328 related to the present embodiment cut along the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

FIG. 36 is a diagram and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 370 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the outside in the Z direction.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the inner cylindrical member 340 related to this embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a centering member 333 related to this embodiment.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram related to the assembly of the coupling member 328 in this embodiment.

Figure 40 shows the drive transmission in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The position cut of the reach surface 373a is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 328 and the body drive shaft 101 in this embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the inner cylindrical member 340 according to this embodiment.

Those corresponding to the elements described in the foregoing embodiments are given the same names as in the foregoing embodiments. These components are specifically described in detail in terms of different configurations or functions from the aforementioned elements, and the same points as the aforementioned elements may be omitted.

In addition, among the elements of this embodiment, the elements that are substantially equivalent to the elements of the aforementioned embodiment are given the same name and the same symbols, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

In this embodiment, the differences from the third embodiment will be described in detail. Each of the free-end-side extension 374s and the fixed-end-side extension 374t in this embodiment is different from the free-end-side extension 274s and the fixed-end-side extension 274t in the third embodiment.

In addition, in the third embodiment, the coupling member 228 is composed of a flange member 270 and a centering member 233, and the flange member 270 has a configuration including an engaging portion 273 and a base portion 274. In addition, the base portion 274 is provided with the turn-back portion 274r on the deep side (Z2 side) of the engaging portion.

In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 35, the coupling member 328 is configured by a flange member 370, an inner cylindrical member 340, and a centering member 333. The inner cylindrical member 340 is a driving force receiving member similarly to the second embodiment, and the centering member 333 is a supporting portion similar to the second embodiment, and is a conveyed member and a positioning member.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 36, the flange member 370 includes a mounting portion 372, a cylindrical portion 371, a flange portion 375, and a force receiving portion 377.

Further, as shown in FIG. 37, the inner cylindrical member 340 includes a base portion 374, an engagement portion 373, and a fitting portion 340 a. The base portion 374 has a basic portion extending portion 374t and a folded-back portion 374r as in the third embodiment.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 37, the radical-side extending portion 374 t is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the engaging portion 373 or the free-end-side extending portion 374 s. The radical-side extending portion 374t extends from the radical portion 374a in the Z1 direction (outside of the axial direction of the drum unit 30), and is arranged approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 370. Further, the folded-back portion 374r is formed continuously with the radical extension portion 374t, and is continuously connected with the free-end extension portion 374s.

The folded-back portion 374r is disposed on the Z1 side with respect to the front end of the free-end-side extension portion 374s (the free end of the engaging portion 373).

The free-end-side extending portion 374s extends from the folded-back portion 374r in the Z2 direction (inside of the axial direction of the drum unit 30), and is arranged approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 370.

An engaging portion 373 is formed on almost the entire area of the free end-side extending portion 374s. The engaging portion 373 is provided with a driving force receiving portion, that is, a driving receiving surface 373a.

As shown in FIG. 38, the aligning member 333 has an inverse conical shape 333a, a aligning member fitting portion 333i, a fall-off prevention portion 333j, and an inner cylindrical member to-be-fitted portion 333k.

As shown in FIG. 39, the aligning member fitting portion 333i is fitted to the inner peripheral surface 372m (see FIG. 36) of the mounting portion 372 of the flange member 370. As shown in FIG. 38, the fall-off prevention part 333j is a snap shape extended in the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 39, the flange member 370 has a hole shape 372b in a place corresponding to the separation preventing portion 333j. The inner cylindrical member fitting portion 333k is fitted into the fitting portion 340a of the inner cylindrical member 340 as shown in FIG. 39.

As shown in FIG. 39, for the flange member 370, the inner cylindrical member 340 and the centering member 333 are assembled from the Z2 side to the Z1 side to complete the coupling member 328. As shown in FIG. 35, in the assembled state of the coupler 328, the inner cylindrical member 340 is restricted by the flange member 370 and the centering member 333 to move in the Z direction. The inner cylindrical member 340 is configured to be rotatably assembled to the flange member 370 within a range where the engaging portion 373 and the force receiving portion 377 on the upstream and downstream sides in the rotation direction are in contact with each other.

When the coupling member 328 is driven by the body drive shaft 101, as in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 40, the supported surface 374i of the engaging portion 373 is supported by the mounting portion 372 through the rib 377e of the force receiving portion 377. . Therefore, the engagement portion 373 is hardly deformed on the downstream side in the rotation direction.

In addition, as in the first embodiment, when the cassette 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus body 100, when the engaging portion 373 is moved outward in the radial direction, the base portion 374 is elastically deformed by the base-side extension portion 374t and the folded-back portion 374r. The cassette 1 can be installed at a low load.

In addition, in this embodiment, for the sake of explanation, the inner cylindrical structure In the tool 340, the fundamental-side extension portion 374t is disposed on the downstream side of the engaging portion 373 in the rotation direction. However, as shown in FIG. 41 (a), the inner cylindrical member 340 may be arranged on the upstream side in the rotation direction, or as shown in FIG. 41 (b), it may be arranged on both sides in the rotation direction.

In addition, in the fourth embodiment and the aforementioned first to third embodiments, the configuration of the coupling member that receives the driving force for driving the photoreceptor drum 1 of the drum cartridge 13 has been described.

In short, each of the aforementioned coupling members (28, 128, 228, 328) can be provided in the developing cartridge 4. In this case, it becomes a driving force for receiving elements for developing the coupling cartridges (28, 128, 228, 328) provided on the developing roller 17, the toner supplying roller 18, the stirring member 23, and the like, and the developing cartridge 4. Examples of such a configuration will be described in detail in Examples 5 and 6 below.

<Example 5>

A fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 42 to 57.

In this embodiment, a description is given of a coupling member 528 provided on the developing cartridge 4 to drive the developing roller 17, the toner supply roller 18, and the stirring member 23 of the developing cartridge 4. The main body drive shaft 5101 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A to transmit a driving force to the coupling member 528 will be described.

In the foregoing embodiments 1 to 4, the configuration of the drive connection portion (the coupling member and the body drive shaft 101) of the device body and the drum cartridge was explained. This embodiment and the sixth embodiment described later apply this configuration to The structure of the drive connection portion (the coupling member 528 and the body drive shaft 5101) of the device body and the developing cartridge.

That is, among the elements of this embodiment, those corresponding to the elements described in the foregoing embodiments are given the same names as the aforementioned elements. These components are specifically described in detail in terms of different configurations or functions from the aforementioned elements, and the same points as the aforementioned elements may be omitted.

In addition, among the elements of this embodiment, the same elements as those of the aforementioned embodiment are given the same names and the same symbols are used, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[Construction of the body drive shaft]

The configuration of the main body drive shaft 5101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 42 and 43.

Fig. 42 is an external view of the main body drive shaft 5101.

43 is a cross-sectional view cut along the rotation axis (rotation axis) of the main body drive shaft 5101 in a state where the image forming apparatus is mounted on the main body.

As shown in FIG. 42, the main body drive shaft 5101 is composed of a gear member 5101e, an intermediate member 5101p, an output member 5101q, and a drive transmission member 5101r.

A motor (not shown) as a drive source is provided in the image forming apparatus body 100A. The gear member 5101e is rotationally driven by the motor, and transmits the drive in the order of the intermediate body 5101p, the output member 5101q, and the drive transmission member 5101r, and the body drive shaft 5101 rotates.

In addition, the gear member 5101e, the intermediate body 5101p, and the output member 5101q have an Oldham coupling mechanism, and can move a certain distance in the X direction and the Y direction. Therefore, the drive transmission member 5101r provided through the Oldham coupling on the cassette side of the main body drive shaft 5101 can also move a certain distance in the X and Y directions. Next, the drive transmission member 5101r is provided with a rotatable shaft portion 5101f, and the rotational driving force received by the motor is transmitted to the developing cartridge 4 side through the groove-shaped drive transmission groove 5101a (recess, drive transmission portion) provided in the shaft portion 5101f. The shaft portion 5101f has a conical shape 5101c at its tip.

This main body driving communication groove 5101a has a shape which allows a part of the engaging portion 573 described later to enter. Specifically, it includes a body drive transmission surface 5101b that is in contact with a drive receiving surface (drive receiving portion) 573a of the coupling member 528 and serves as a surface for transmitting a driving force.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 42, the main body driving transmission surface 5101 b is not a flat surface, and has a twisted shape around the rotation axis of the main body driving shaft 5101. The twisting direction is the direction in which the Z1 direction side of the main body drive shaft 5101 is opposite to the Z2 direction side, and is arranged on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the main body drive shaft 5101. In this embodiment, the amount of twist along the rotation axis direction of the cylinder of the engaging portion 573 is about 1 ° per 1 mm. The reason for adopting the shape of the twisted body drive transmission surface 5101b will be described in detail later.

In addition, a body-side pull-out inclined surface 5101i is provided on the surface on the Z2 direction side of the body drive transmission groove 5101a. The gradient 5101i is pulled out from the main body side. It is used to assist the developer when removing the developing cartridge 4 from the main body 100A. Gradient (inclined surface, inclined portion) for the auxiliary engagement portion 573 to be pulled out by the drive transmission groove 5101a.

As shown in FIG. 43, the supported portion 5101d provided in the gear member 5101e is rotatably supported (spinned) by a bearing member 5102 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A. Next, the output member 5101q is rotatably supported by a coupler holder 5101s. In addition, the drive transmission member 5101r is supported by the output member 5101q so as to be movable in the Z direction, and is urged to the developing cartridge 4 side (Z2 direction) by the spring member 5103. However, the movement amount (clearance) in the Z direction of the drive transmission member 5101q is approximately 1 mm, which is sufficiently smaller than the width in the Z direction of the drive receiving surface 573a described later.

Further, the coupler holder 5101s is elastically pushed in the direction of approximately Y2 by the acting spring 5101t. As described later, when the developing cartridge 4 is installed, the drive transmission member 5101r is positioned on the axis of the gear member 5101e at the axis of the gear member 5101e. Offset in the Y2 direction.

As described above, the drive transmission member 5101r is provided with the main body drive transmission groove 5101a, and the coupling member 528 is provided with the engaging portion 573, so that the drive is transmitted from the apparatus body 100A to the developing cartridge 4.

The details will be described later, but the engaging portion 573 is elastically deformably provided at the front end of the base portion 574. Therefore, the engaging portion 573 is configured to be movable outward in the radial direction when the developing cartridge 4 is attached to the apparatus body 100A. Thereby, as the developing cartridge 4 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100A, the engagement portion 573 enters the drive transmission groove 5101a, and the engagement portion 573 and the body drive transmission groove 5101a can be engaged.

The engaging portion 573 includes a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force from the outside of the developing cartridge 4. The base portion 574 and the engaging portion form a support portion for movably supporting the driving force receiving portion, which is the same as the previous embodiment.

[Composition of Coupling Member]

Next, the coupling member 528 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49.

FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 528 cut along the rotation axis.

45 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinder member 570 cut along the rotation axis.

46 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 528 and the main body drive shaft 5101 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the coupling member 528 so as to pass through the drive receiving surface 573a.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a centering member 533.

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating the assembly of the coupling member 528.

FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge 4 cut along the axes of the toner supply roller 20 and the developing roller 17.

As shown in FIG. 44, the coupling member 528 is a combination of a cylinder member 570 and a centering member 533 in two units. However, depending on the choice of material, molding method, and structure, it is not necessary to use two members, and it is also possible to combine three or more members.

The cylinder member 570 is a driving force receiving member in which a driving receiving surface 573a for receiving a driving force from the apparatus body is provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The aligning member 533 transmits the driving from the cylinder member 570 as in the first embodiment. The transmitted component of force. In addition, the aligning member 533 is also a supporting member provided with a supporting portion that suppresses the movement of the drive receiving surface 573 a toward the circumferential direction of the cylinder member 570.

As shown in FIG. 48, the aligning member 533 is assembled to the cylinder member 570 in an axial direction (illustrated by an arrow) of the cylinder member 570. Further, by rotating the aligning member 533 in the counterclockwise direction (illustrated by an arrow), the drop-out preventing portion 533c is engaged with the hook portion 573, and the aligning member 533 and the cylinder member 570 are unitized.

(Explanation on flange member)

As shown in FIG. 45, the cylinder member 570 includes an engaging portion 573 and a base portion 574 as in the first embodiment. The engaging portion 573 and the base portion 574 are support portions for movably supporting the driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 573a) as in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 46, the engaging portions 573 are arranged at three positions (120 ° intervals, approximately equal intervals) at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the coupling member 528 as shown in FIG. 46, and have a driving receiving surface 573 a. The base 574 has a backup surface 574i and a contact surface 574h.

The drive receiving surface 573a is a surface that abuts the main body drive transmission surface 5101b of the main body drive shaft 5101 and transmits the driving force of the main body drive shaft 5101 to the coupling member 528.

The abutting surface 574h is a surface that abuts against the shaft portion 5101f when the coupling member 528 is engaged with the main body drive shaft 5101. The radius R51 of the arc constituting the inner diameter is approximately the same as the radius R52 of the shaft portion 5101f.

The supported portion 574i is a surface that abuts against the receiving surface 577a of the force receiving portion 577 of the aligning member 533 described later when the coupling member 528 is engaged with the main body drive shaft 5101, and the driving receiving surface 573a is disposed downstream in the rotation direction. (Illustrated in Figure 46). Moreover, as shown in FIG. 46, it arrange | positions so that the angle J between the supported surface 574i and the drive receiving surface 573a may become an acute angle.

In addition, the drive receiving surface 573a only needs to have different phases in the rotation directions at two points in contact with the drive transmission member 5101r. In short, the drive receiving surface 573a is not limited to a twisted shape as long as it has a structure equivalent to that of a twisted surface. When the driving receiving surface 573a is twisted or inclined, when the driving receiving surface 573a is driven, a force is applied to the coupling member 528 to be pulled into the outer side (Z1 direction side) of the developing cartridge 4.

Further, as shown in FIG. 45, the engaging portion 573 has an insertion inclined surface 573 d as a force receiving portion at the time of mounting in the Z direction on the outside (the Z1 direction side) of the developing cartridge 4. In addition, the engaging portion 573 has a pull-out inclined surface 573e as a force receiving portion at the time of detachment inside the developing cartridge 4 (Z2 direction side) in the Z direction. Thereby, it is possible to improve the attachability and detachability of the coupling member 4028 to the main body drive shaft 5101.

At the time of installation, the insertion inclined surface 573d comes into contact with the conical shape 5101c, and the engaging portion 573 moves radially outward of the drive shaft. In addition, when pulling out, the pull-out inclined surface 573e comes into contact with the body-side pull-out inclined surface 5101i, and the engaging portion 573 moves toward the radial outer side of the body drive shaft 5101.

The base portion 574 has a radical extension as in the first embodiment. The portion 574t, the folded-back portion 574r, and the free-end-side extension portion 574s. As in Example 1, the fundamental side extension 574t extends from the fundamental portion 574a approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the cylinder member 570 in the Z2 direction (inside the axial direction of the developing roller). The radical-side extending portion 574t is disposed radially outward of the coupling member with respect to the engaging portion 573 or the free-end-side extending portion 574s.

The folded-back portion 574r is formed continuously with the radical extension portion 574t, and is also a portion continuously connected with the free-end extension portion 574s.

The radical-side extending portion 574t extends from the folded-back portion 574r approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the cylinder member 570 in the Z1 direction (outside of the axial direction of the developing roller).

The free end (the front end of the free end side extending portion 574s) of the engaging portion 573 and the base portion 574a are disposed on the Z1 side than the folded-back portion 574r.

The engaging portion 573 is a protruding portion provided on the free end side extending portion 574s, and has a driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 573a).

As in Embodiment 1, the elastic deformation of the base portion 574 allows the engaging portion 573 to move in the radial direction of the coupling member 528. In other words, the base portion 574 is deformed by an external force and has a restoring force (elastic force) in a returning direction at a position toward a natural state.

As in the first embodiment, when the coupling member 528 is engaged with the main body drive shaft 5101, the fundamental side extension portion 574t and the folded-back portion 574r are elastically deformed together, and the coupling member 528 can be mounted on the main body drive shaft 5101 with a low mounting force.

In addition, the driving receiving surface 573a of the coupling member 528 is The shape twisted around the axis of the coupling member 528 is the same as that of the main body drive transmission surface 5101b in this embodiment.

(Explanation on the alignment component)

Next, as shown in FIG. 47, the aligning member 533 has an inverse conical shape 533a, a force receiving portion 577, a fall-off prevention portion 533c, and a aligning member drive transmission surface (hereinafter referred to as a drive transmission surface).

The inverse conical shape 533a is a portion for determining the axial position and the radial position of the main body drive shaft 5101. The inverse conical shape of the inverse conical shape 533a contacts the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r, and the drive transmission member 5101r is restricted from moving in the axial direction and the diameter direction of the body drive shaft 5101.

The force receiving surface 577, in the assembled state of the coupler 528, is the bearing surface 577a (see FIG. 46) that is in contact with the supported surface 574i provided in the engaging portion 573, and is perpendicular to the bearing surface 577a. The rib 577e (see FIG. 46) is configured. The receiving surface 577a is a supporting portion similar to the first embodiment, and is also a transmitted portion for receiving a driving force by the cylinder member 570.

As shown in FIG. 48, the drive transmission surface 533m is a surface (portion-transmitted part) which transmits driving to the aligning member 533 by the cylinder member 570. The cylinder member 570 has a corresponding cylinder drive transmission surface (drive transmission portion) 570 m. Three aligning members 533 and the cylinder member 570 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at three locations (120 ° interval, approximately equally spaced).

In addition, the cylinder drive transmission surface 570m and the drive transmission surface 533m, respectively, is twisted along the axis of the cylinder member 570 and the centering member 453, and the twist amount is about 2 ° per 1mm.

As this twist amount, the following relationship is established. The cylinder member 570 receives, on the drive receiving surface 573a, a force Fz1 that is pulled into the outside (the Z1 direction side) of the developing cartridge 4. In addition, the cylinder member 570 receives a force Fz2 that is pulled into the inside (the Z2 direction side) of the developing cartridge 4 on the flange drive receiving surface 570m. In this case, it must be Fz2> Fz1.

Therefore, the cylinder member 570 must be pulled in the Z2 direction. In addition, at least a part of the engagement portion D in the Z direction of the cylinder drive transmission surface 570m and the drive transmission surface 33m in the Z direction is in a positional relationship that overlaps the drive receiving surface 573a and the receiving surface 577a of the force receiving portion 577. This can suppress the amount of deformation of the cylinder member 570.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 49, the mounting portion 533 d (see FIG. 37), which is a D-shaped hole provided in the aligning member 533, is mounted on the shaft of the toner supply roller 20. Then, the shaft that is transmitted from the aligning member 533 to the toner supply roller 20 is driven, so that the toner supply roller 20 is rotatable. Next, the toner supply roller gear 598 provided on the Z1 direction side of the shaft of the toner supply roller 20 is transmitted and driven. Finally, the developing roller gear 599 provided on the Z1 direction side of the shaft of the developing roller 17 is transmitted from the toner supply roller gear 598 so that the developing roller 17 can rotate. The developing roller 17 is rotatably supported at both ends by developing bearings 519R and 519L, respectively.

[Mounting of cassette to image forming apparatus body]

The forward image of the developing cartridge 4 will be described using FIG. 50 and FIG. 51. The attachment and detachment of the apparatus main body 100A is formed.

FIG. 50 is a perspective view for explaining the mounting of the developing cartridge 4 to the image forming apparatus body 100A.

FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the mounting operation of the developing cartridge 4 to the image forming apparatus body 100A.

The image forming apparatus main body 100A of this embodiment has a configuration in which the developing cartridge 4 can be mounted in a horizontal direction. Specifically, the image forming apparatus main body 100A includes a space in which the developing cartridge 4 can be installed. Next, a cassette door 5104 (front door) for inserting the developing cassette 4 into the aforementioned space is provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 100A (the direction in which the user stands in use).

As shown in FIG. 50, the cassette door 5104 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A is provided to be openable and closable. When the cassette door 5104 is opened, the lower cassette guide 5105 guiding the developing cassette 4 is arranged on the bottom surface of the space, and the upper cassette guide 5106 is arranged on the upper surface. The developing cartridge 4 is guided to the installation position by upper and lower guide rails (5105, 5106) provided above and below the space. The developing cartridge 4 is inserted along the axis of the developing roller 20 toward the installation position.

Hereinafter, the attaching and detaching operation of the developing cartridge 4 to the image forming apparatus main body 100A will be described using FIG. 51.

As shown in FIG. 51 (a), the developing cassette 4 is supported / guided by the cassette lower rail 5105 with the lower end of the end portion on the deep side in the insertion direction. The developing cartridge 4 is guided by the cartridge shang4 guide 5106 (not shown) with the end shang4 on the deep side in the insertion direction. In this state, the developing cartridge 4 is inserted into the apparatus body. At this time, the developing frame 18 and the developing shaft The bearings 19 (19L, 19R) have a dimensional relationship in which the intermediate transfer belt 5 does not contact.

Next, as shown in FIG. 51 (b), the developing cartridge 4 is inserted in a horizontal direction in a state supported by the cartridge lower guide 5105, and is inserted until it abuts against a deep-side cartridge positioning portion provided in the image forming apparatus body 100A Up to 5108.

In addition, when the developing cartridge 4 is mounted, the drive transmission member 5101r of the image forming apparatus main body 100A is engaged with the coupling member 528 in a state of being pushed in the direction of approximately Y2 as described above.

FIG. 51 (c) is a diagram showing a state of the image forming apparatus body 100A and the developing cassette 4 in a state where the cassette door 5104 is closed. The cassette lower rail 5105 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A is configured to move up and down in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cassette door (front door) 5104.

When the user closes the cassette door 5104, the cassette lower rail 5105 rises. Next, both ends of the developing cassette 4 abut against the cassette positioning portion (5108 · 5110) of the image forming apparatus main body 100A, and the developing cassette 4 positions the image forming apparatus main body 100A. In addition, the drive transmission member 5101r of the image forming apparatus main body 100A also follows the developing cartridge 4 and rises.

With the above operation, the mounting of the developing cartridge 4 to the image forming apparatus body 100A is completed.

It is to be noted that the developing cartridge 4 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100A in a reverse order to the aforementioned insertion operation.

[The engagement process of the coupling member to the main body drive shaft]

Next, the engaging process between the coupling member 528 and the main body drive shaft 5101 will be described in detail using FIG. 52.

FIG. 52 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a mounting operation of the coupling member 528 to the main body drive shaft 5101.

FIG. 52 (a) is a diagram showing a state before the coupling member 528 starts to engage with the drive transmission member 5101r. In addition, FIG. 52 (d) shows a state where the developing cartridge 4 is mounted on the image forming apparatus body 100A. In particular, FIG. 52 (d) shows that with the cassette door 5104 being closed and the cassette lower rail 105 raised, the developing cassette 4 is positioned to the image forming apparatus body 100A.

Here, FIG. 52 (b) (c) is a diagram for explaining the installation process of the coupling member 528 and the drive transmission member 5101r between FIGS. 52 (a) and 52 (d). In addition, the drive transmission member 5101r is urged to the direction of approximately Y2 by the urging spring 5101t, and the axis of the drive transmission member 5101r is urged to a position offset from the axis of the coupling member 528 in the direction of approximately Y2.

As described with reference to FIG. 51, the developing cartridge 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 100A in a horizontal direction while being supported by the cartridge lower guide 5105.

FIG. 52 (a) is a diagram showing a state where the drive transmission member 5101r is not in contact with the coupling member 528. As described above, in this state, the axis of the drive transmitting member 5101r is deviated from the axis of the coupling member 528.

As shown in Fig. 52 (b), the coupling is further extended from Fig. 52 (a). The member 528 is inserted toward the deep side of the drive transmission member 5101r. First, the insertion inclined surface 573d of the coupling member 528 abuts on the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r. At the insertion inclined surface 573d of the coupling member 528, the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r is guided, and the axis of the coupling member 528 and the axis of the drive transmission member 5101r become approximately the same.

As shown in FIG. 52 (c), FIG. 52 (c) shows a state where the coupling member 528 is further inserted toward the deep side of the drive transmission member 5101r from FIG. 52 (b). As the base portion 574 is elastically deformed, the insertion portion 573 of the engagement portion 573 is deformed toward the outer side in the radial direction of the coupling member 528 so as to follow the conical shape 5101c. When the coupling member 528 is inserted in the Z1 direction, the unplugging inclined surface 573e of the engaging portion 573 of the coupling member 528 is closer to the Z-direction deep side (Z1 side) than the main body side of the drive transmission member 5101r. Inserted into the drive transmission member 5101r. Next, until the positioning portion 533a of the coupling member 528 abuts the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r, the coupling member 528 is inserted into the drive transmission member 5101r.

Thereafter, as described above, the development cassette 4 is lifted up by the cassette lower guide 5105, and the development cassette 4 is positioned to the image forming apparatus body 100A (as shown in FIG. 51 (c)). . Moreover, as shown in FIG. 51 (d), as the developing cartridge 4 rises, the drive transmission member 5101r also rises. Thereafter, as in Embodiment 1, when the main body drive shaft 5101 rotates and the phase of the engagement portion 573 and the drive transmission groove 5101a is matched, the elastic deformation of the base portion 574 is released, and the engagement portion 573 invades the drive transmission. Dagou 5101a.

[Driven by the coupling member of the drive shaft of the body]

The transmission of the rotational drive from the body drive shaft 5101 to the coupling member 528 will be described using FIG. 46.

When the drive receiving surface 573a of the coupler 528 abuts the main body drive transmission surface 5101b, the developing roller 17, the developing blade 21 passing through the developing roller 17, and the like are provided with a load. That is, the drive receiving surface 573a receives a load (driving force) F51 and rotates integrally with the drive transmission surface 101b.

When the driving receiving surface 753a receives this driving force F51, the included angle between the supported surface 574i and the driving receiving surface 573a is an acute angle, so it can be decomposed into a component Fv perpendicular to the supported surface 574i and a horizontal component Fh. As shown in FIG. 46, the component Fv in the vertical direction is transmitted to the supported surface 574 i on the side opposite to the drive receiving surface 573 a of the engaging portion 573. The supported surface 574i abuts against the force receiving surface 577a, or is supported by the rib 577e in a direction perpendicular to the force receiving surface 577a. As a result, even if the load F51 changes, the engaging portion 573 is supported as described above and is hardly deformed. Therefore, the rotation amounts of the toner supply roller 20 and the developing roller 17 are hardly changed. As a result, the image quality can be maintained. quality.

It is to be noted that the developing cartridge 4 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100A in a reverse order to the aforementioned insertion operation.

In this embodiment, the radical-side extension 574t is approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the cylinder member 570 and extends toward the deep side (Z2 direction). Stretch. Next, the radical-side extending portion 574t is disposed radially outward of the engaging portion 573, and the free end side of the engaging portion 573 is disposed closer to the Z1 side than the folded-back portion 574r together with the base portion 574a.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 53, the free end side of the engaging portion 573 may be arranged on the Z2 side with respect to the base portion 574 a of the return portion 574 r.

As shown in FIGS. 54 (a) and 55, a configuration in which the basal side extension portion 574 t is disposed downstream of the rotation direction with respect to the engaging portion 573 and may be configured to extend deeper (Z2 direction) than the basal portion 274 a. As shown in FIG. 54 (b), the basic-side extending portion 574t may be arranged on the upstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the engaging portion 573, and may extend to the deeper side (Z2 direction) than the basic portion 274a. This is shown in Fig. 54 (c). A configuration in which the base-side extension portion 574t and the engagement portion 573 are arranged on both sides in the rotation direction may be used.

As shown in FIG. 56 (a) and FIG. 57, the basic side extending portion 574t is arranged downstream of the rotation direction to the engaging portion 573 or the free end side extending portion 574s and extends in the Z1 direction than the basic portion 574a. Yes. As shown in FIG. 56 (b), the radical-side extending portion 574t may be arranged on the upstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the engaging portion 573 or the free-end-side extending portion 574s, and may extend in the Z1 direction than the radical portion 574a. As shown in FIG. 56 (c), a configuration in which the basal side extension 574t is disposed on both sides in the rotation direction with respect to the engaging portion 573 or the free end side extension 574s may be used.

<Example 6>

A sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 58 to 63.

FIG. 58 is a perspective view of a centering member 633 related to this embodiment.

FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view of the aligning member 633 according to the present embodiment cut along the rotation axis.

FIG. 60 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 628 related to the present embodiment cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and passing through the drive receiving surface 673a.

FIG. 61 is a perspective view of a cylinder member 670 related to this embodiment.

FIG. 62 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 628 related to the present embodiment cut along the rotation axis.

FIG. 63 is a diagram illustrating the assembly of the coupling member 628 related to the present embodiment.

Elements corresponding to those disclosed in the foregoing embodiments are given the same names. These components are specifically described in detail in terms of different configurations or functions from the aforementioned elements, and the same points as the aforementioned elements may be omitted. In addition, the same names and symbols are assigned to those that are substantially equivalent to the aforementioned elements, and detailed descriptions are omitted. In this embodiment, the differences from the fifth embodiment are described in detail.

In Embodiment 5, the coupling member 528 is constituted by a cylinder member 570 and a centering member 533. The cylinder member 570 has a cylinder driving transmission surface 570m, a base portion 574, and an engaging portion 573. The centering member 533 includes a force receiving portion 577 and a driving transmission. The structure of 533m.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the cylinder member 670 is provided with a support portion 670j, and the centering member 633 is provided with a base portion 674, an engaging portion 673, and a force receiving portion 677.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 58, the centering member 633 includes a base portion 674, an engaging portion 673, a force receiving portion 677, an inverse conical shape 633a, and a detachment preventing portion 633c.

As shown in FIG. 59, the base portion 674 has a root portion 674a on the Z1 side, a root portion extension 674t extending in the axial direction of the coupling member 628, a free end side extension portion 674s, a root side extension portion 674t, and a turn-back portion 674r. .

The engaging portion 673 has a driving receiving surface 673a similarly to the fifth embodiment. In short, the aligning member 633 is a driving force receiving member provided at a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force from the device body.

In addition, the free-end-side extension portion 674s has a backup surface 674i and an abutting surface 674h.

The angle j between the drive receiving surface 673a and the supported surface 674i is an acute angle similar to that of the fifth embodiment.

The force receiving portion 677 is, as shown in FIG. 60, disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the engaging portion 673, and has a receiving surface 677 a and a rib 677 e. The receiving surface 677a is a surface for inserting a supporting portion 670j of a cylinder member 670 described later into a supported portion 674i of the base portion 674. The receiving surface 677a and the supported surface 674i are arranged approximately parallel. As shown in FIG. 60, the rib 677e is arranged almost perpendicularly to the receiving surface 677a, starting from the inner diameter side end of the receiving surface 677a.

In addition, the inverse conical shape 633a is a portion that determines the position of the coupling member 628 and the main body drive shaft 5101 similarly to the fifth embodiment.

The detachment preventing portion 633c engages with the hook portion 672 provided in the cylinder member 670, thereby uniting the aligning member 633 and the cylinder member 670 with each other.

As shown in FIG. 61, the cylinder member 670 includes a support portion 670 j and a hook portion 672. In short, the cylinder member 670 is a supporting member having a supporting portion.

As shown in FIG. 60, the supporting portion 670j is assembled in a gap between the supported surface 674i and the receiving surface 677a of the centering member 633, and has a shape that prevents the engaging portion 673 from falling down on the upstream side in the rotation direction. Therefore, the thickness of the support portion 670j is approximately the same as the gap between the supported surface 674i and the receiving surface 677a. In addition, when viewed from the Z direction, a circle passing through the ridge line on the side of the engaging portion 673 of the support portion 670j is arranged so that its center becomes the same as the inverse conical shape 633a. The diameter D68 of this circle is approximately the same as the outer diameter D65 of the shaft portion 5101f of the main body drive shaft 5101, or it is made such that D68 ≧ D65 when reviewing the respective dimensional accuracy. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 62, the support part 670j is arrange | positioned so that it may overlap the drive receiving surface 673a in a Z direction.

For the cylinder member 670, the aligning member 633 is assembled from the deep side in the Z direction to the front side (from the Z2 side to the Z1 side) to form a coupling member 628 (as shown in FIG. 62). At this time, as described above, the fall-off prevention portion 633c of the aligning member 633 is engaged with the hook portion 672 provided in the cylinder member 670.

When the coupling member 628 is driven by the body driving shaft 5101, as shown in FIG. 60, the driving receiving surface 673a of the engaging portion 673 receives the driving force F1. Among them, the force Fv in the direction perpendicular to the supported surface is supported by the supported surface 674i, the supporting portion 670j, the receiving surface 670a, and the rib 670e, so that the engagement portion 673 can be prevented from being deformed downstream in the rotation direction. In addition, by resisting a force Fh parallel to the supported surface 674i, the abutting surface 674h of the base portion 674 can prevent the engaging portion 673 from being deformed in the radial direction by abutting against the shaft portion 5101f of the main body drive shaft 5101.

In addition, in Embodiment 5, an engaging portion 573 is provided on the cylinder member 570, and an inverse conical shape 533a and other components are disposed across the aligning member 533. Therefore, a cylinder drive transmission surface 570m is provided in the cylinder member 570, and a drive transmission surface 533m is provided in the aligning member 533. Thereby, by pulling the cylinder member 570 toward the aligning member 533 side (Z2 direction side), the positions of the engaging portion 573 in the Z direction and the inverse conical shape 533a are stabilized.

In this regard, in this embodiment, the engaging portion 673 and the inverse conical shape 633a are provided for the aligning member 633, so it is not necessary to pull the cylinder member 670 toward the aligning member 633 side.

As another embodiment, similar to FIG. 53 in Embodiment 5, the base portion 674a of the base-side extension portion 674t may be provided on the Z2 side, and the folded-back portion 674r may be provided on the Z1 side of the base-side extension portion 674t. (Not shown). In addition, as in FIGS. 54 and 56, the radical-side extension portion 674 t may be disposed on the upstream side, the downstream side, or both sides in the rotation direction of the engaging portion 673. The configurations of the above-mentioned embodiments 1 to 6 are as follows. According to each configuration described in this case, the driving force receiving portion (drive The supporting portion) includes a first extending portion and a second extending portion extending in mutually different directions, and can ensure a certain length of the supporting portion even in a narrow space. In short, it is possible to ensure that the coupler or the cassette is small in size, and the supporting portion can movably support the driving force receiving portion. In addition, with the configuration of such a support portion, when the cassette is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the driving force receiving portion (engaging portion) can be engaged with a main body drive shaft provided on the image forming apparatus main body.

[Industrial use possibility]

According to the present invention, a photosensitive drum unit configured to be attachable to and detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus body is provided.

70‧‧‧ flange member

71‧‧‧Cylinder

71b‧‧‧Inner peripheral surface

71R‧‧‧Inner peripheral surface

72‧‧‧Mounting Department

72d‧‧‧Press-in section

72f‧‧‧Press-in guide

72g‧‧‧Guide slope

72m‧‧‧Inner peripheral surface

73‧‧‧ Engagement Department

73a‧‧‧Drive bearing surface

74‧‧‧ support

74a‧‧‧Fundamental

74h‧‧‧ abutment

74i‧‧‧ support surface

74r‧‧‧Return Department

74s‧‧‧free end extension

74t‧‧‧ radical extension

75‧‧‧ Tobe

77‧‧‧ Force Department

D2, D9‧‧‧ inside diameter

Z1, Z2‧‧‧ arrows

Claims (196)

A photoconductor unit is characterized in that it can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body provided with a drive shaft provided with a recessed portion. And a coupling member having (2-1) a driving force receiving portion configured to receive the driving force for rotating the photoreceptor drum, and (2-2) movably supported A coupling member of a support portion of the driving force receiving portion; the support portion has at least a first extension portion and a second extension portion extending in an axial direction of the photoreceptor drum; the first extension portion and the foregoing extension portion in the axial direction; The second extensions extend in mutually different directions. For example, the drum unit according to the first patent application range, wherein the driving force receiving portion is supported by the first extension portion. For example, the drum unit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first extension portion has a protruding portion provided with the driving force receiving portion. For example, the drum unit of claim 3, wherein the protruding portion protrudes toward a radially inner side of the drum unit. For example, the light drum unit according to item 3 or 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein the protruding portion protrudes in a direction crossing the direction in which the first extending portion extends. For example, the optical drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the driving force receiving part extends in a radial direction of the optical drum unit. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first extension portion extends toward the free end of the support portion, and the second extension portion extends toward the first extension portion. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fixed end of the support portion is provided on the second extension portion. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the coupling member has a hollow portion, and a fixed end of the support portion is fixed to an inner surface of the hollow portion. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the coupling member has a hollow portion, and at least a part of the support portion is arranged inside the hollow portion. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first extension portion extends toward an outer side of the axis direction, and the second extension portion extends toward an inner side of the axis direction. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first extension portion extends toward an inner side of the axis direction, and the second extension portion extends toward an outer side of the axis direction. If you apply for a drum kit for any one of the items 1 to 12 Unit, wherein the supporting portion is movable at least radially to support the driving force receiving portion of the drum unit. For example, the drum unit of any one of the items 1 to 13 of the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned support portion can be elastically deformed. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first extension portion extends along the axis direction. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the second extension portion extends along the axis direction. For example, the drum unit of any one of the items 1 to 14, 16 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first extension portion extends in a manner inclined to the axis direction. For example, the drum unit of any one of the items 1 to 15, 17 of the scope of patent application, wherein the second extension portion extends in a manner inclined to the axis direction. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the support portion has a connection portion that is connected to the first extension portion and the second extension portion. For example, the drum unit of the scope of application for patent No. 19, wherein the aforementioned continuation part is a curved part. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the first extension portion is disposed more inward than the second extension portion in a radial direction of the light drum unit. For example, the optical drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the first extending portion and the second extending portion are offset from each other and arranged in a circumferential direction of the optical drum unit. For example, the drum unit of claim 22 in the patent application scope, wherein the first extension portion is disposed on the upstream side of the drum unit in the rotation direction of the drum portion. For example, the drum unit of claim 22, wherein the first extension portion is disposed further downstream than the second extension portion in the rotation direction of the drum unit. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the supporting portion has a plurality of the second extending portions. For example, in the light drum unit in the scope of application for patent No. 25, one of the first extensions is connected to the plurality of second extensions. For example, the drum unit of any one of the items 1 to 26 of the patent application scope, in which The support portion has an M shape. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the aforementioned coupling member has a plurality of the aforementioned driving force receiving portions and the aforementioned supporting portions, respectively. For example, the drum unit of the 28th area of the application for a patent, wherein the plurality of driving force receiving portions are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the drum unit. For example, the drum unit according to the 28th or 29th of the patent application scope, wherein the aforementioned coupling member has three aforementioned driving force receiving portions and the aforementioned supporting portions, respectively. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the coupling member includes a driving force receiving member having the support portion and the driving force receiving portion, and the driving force receiving member receives the foregoing The driving force is transmitted by the component. For example, the drum unit of claim 31, wherein the conveyed member has a conveyed portion that receives the driving force by contacting the support portion. For example, the drum unit of claim 32, wherein the conveyed member is configured so that the driving force receiving portion springs at least toward a radially inner side of the coupling member. For example, the drum unit of any one of the 31st to 33th patent scope, where The conveyed member is fixed to the photoreceptor drum. For example, the optical drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the coupling member has a support portion that restricts the driving force receiving portion from moving in a circumferential direction of the coupling member. For example, the drum unit of claim 35, wherein the supporting portion is configured to restrict the movement of the driving force receiving portion by contact with the supporting portion. For example, the drum unit of claim 35 or 36, wherein the supporting portion is configured to spring the driving force receiving portion toward at least the radially inner side of the coupling member. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein at least a part of the support portion is disposed inside the photoreceptor light drum. For example, the optical drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein at least a part of the driving force receiving portion is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum. For example, the drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 39, wherein the driving force receiving portion has an inclined portion inclined to a moving direction of the driving force receiving portion. For example, the drum unit of the scope of application for patent No. 40, in which The inclined portion of the driving force receiving portion is inclined so that the driving force receiving portion is elastically pushed toward the radially inner side of the drum unit by the driving force. For example, the optical drum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 41, wherein the coupling member has a positioning portion for determining the position of the optical drum unit with respect to the driving shaft; the positioning portion is provided in the optical drum unit. The axis direction is arranged inside the driving force receiving portion. For example, the drum unit of claim 42 in which the aforementioned positioning portion is a recessed portion that becomes narrower toward the inside in the axial direction. For example, the drum unit of any one of the items 1 to 43 of the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned support portion is a snap-fit. For example, the optical drum unit according to any one of the claims 1 to 44 in which the driving force is received from the recessed portion of the driving shaft through the driving force receiving portion to generate the recessed portion of the driving shaft and the driving force. The manner in which the receiving portions attract forces to each other constitutes the aforementioned driving force receiving portion. A light drum unit is characterized in that it can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus body, and includes: (1) a photoreceptor drum, (2) a coupling member provided on the photoreceptor drum, and ( 2-1) a driving force receiving portion configured to receive a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum, and (2- 2) a coupling member that movably supports a support portion of the driving force receiving portion; the support portion has at least a first extension portion and a second extension portion extending in the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum; The first extension portion and the second extension portion extend in mutually different directions. For example, the drum unit of claim 46 in which the aforementioned driving force receiving portion is supported by the aforementioned first extension portion. For example, the drum unit of claim 46 or 47, wherein the first extension portion has a protruding portion provided with the driving force receiving portion. For example, the drum unit of claim 48, wherein the protruding portion protrudes toward a radially inner side of the drum unit. For example, the drum unit of the 48th or 49th in the scope of application for a patent, wherein the protruding portion protrudes in a direction crossing the direction in which the first extending portion extends. For example, the drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 50th scope of the patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion extends in a radial direction of the drum unit. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 46 to 51, wherein the first extension portion extends toward the free end of the support portion, and the second extension portion extends toward the first extension portion. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 52th scope of the patent application, wherein the fixed end of the support portion is provided on the second extension portion. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 53th aspects of the patent application, wherein the coupling member has a hollow portion, and at least a part of the support portion is arranged inside the hollow portion. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 54th claims, wherein the coupling member has a hollow portion, and the fixed end of the support portion is fixed to the inner surface of the hollow portion. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 46 to 55, wherein the first extension portion extends toward an outer side of the axis direction, and the second extension portion extends toward an inner side of the axis direction. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 46 to 55, wherein the first extension portion extends toward an inner side of the axis direction, and the second extension portion extends toward an outer side of the axis direction. For example, the optical drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 57th aspects of the patent application, wherein the supporting portion is movable at least radially to support the driving force receiving portion. For example, the drum unit of any one of the 46th to 58th of the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned support portion can be elastically deformed. If you apply for a drum kit for any of the 46 to 59 patents Element, wherein the first extension portion extends along the axis direction. For example, the drum unit of any one of the 46th to 60th of the scope of patent application, wherein the second extension portion extends along the axis direction. For example, the drum unit of any one of the 46th to 59th and 61st patent applications, wherein the first extension portion extends in a manner inclined to the axis direction. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 60th and 62th patent scopes, wherein the second extension portion extends in a manner inclined to the axis direction. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 63th scope of the patent application, wherein the support portion has a connection portion that is connected to the first extension portion and the second extension portion. For example, the drum unit of the 64th in the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned continuation portion is a curved portion. For example, the optical drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 65th scope of the patent application, wherein the first extension portion is disposed inwardly of the second extension portion in a radial direction of the optical drum unit. If you apply for a drum kit for any of the 46 to 66 patents The first extension portion and the second extension portion are offset from each other and arranged in a circumferential direction of the drum unit. For example, the drum unit of claim 67, wherein the first extension portion is disposed on the upstream side of the drum unit in the rotation direction of the drum unit. For example, the drum unit of claim 67, wherein the first extension portion is disposed further downstream than the second extension portion in the rotation direction of the drum unit. For example, the drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 69th scope of the patent application, wherein the support portion has a plurality of the second extension portions. For example, in the light drum unit in the scope of patent application No. 70, one of the first extensions is connected to the plurality of second extensions. For example, the drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 71th scope of the patent application, wherein the aforementioned support portion has an M shape. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 72th scope of the patent application, wherein the aforementioned coupling member has a plurality of the aforementioned driving force receiving portions and the aforementioned supporting portions, respectively. For example, the drum unit of the 73rd aspect of the patent application, in which the aforementioned plurality of driving force receiving portions are located on the circumference of the drum unit. To be configured equally. For example, the drum unit of the 73rd or 74th of the patent application scope, wherein the aforementioned coupling member has three aforementioned driving force receiving portions and the aforementioned supporting portions, respectively. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 46 to 75, wherein the coupling member includes a driving force receiving member having the support portion and the driving force receiving portion, and the driving force receiving member receives the foregoing The driving force is transmitted by the component. For example, the drum unit of the 76th aspect of the patent application, wherein the conveyed member has a conveyed portion that receives the driving force by contacting the support portion. For example, the drum unit of claim 76 or 77, wherein the conveyed member is configured so that the driving force receiving portion is pushed at least radially inward of the coupling member. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of claims 76 to 78, wherein the conveyed member is fixed to the photoreceptor light drum. For example, the drum unit of any one of the 46th to 79th scope of the patent application, wherein the coupling member has a support portion that restricts the driving force receiving portion from moving in a circumferential direction of the coupling member. For example, the drum unit of the scope of application for the patent No. 80, wherein the aforementioned support section restricts the aforementioned drive by contacting the aforementioned support section. The power receiving unit is configured to move. For example, the drum unit of the 80th or 81st scope of the patent application, wherein the supporting portion is configured to spring the driving force receiving portion toward at least the radially inner side of the coupling member. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 82th patent scope, wherein at least a part of the support portion is disposed inside the photoreceptor light drum. For example, the light drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 83th scope of the patent application, wherein at least a part of the driving force receiving portion is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum. For example, the drum unit according to any one of the 46th to 84th scope of the patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion has an inclined portion inclined to a moving direction of the driving force receiving portion. For example, the drum unit according to the 85th aspect of the patent application, wherein the inclined portion is inclined so as to face at least the radially outer side of the drum unit. For example, the drum unit according to the 85th or 86th patent application range, wherein the inclined portion of the driving force receiving portion is pushed in such a manner that the driving force receiving portion is pushed toward the radially inner side of the drum unit by the driving force. tilt. If you apply for a drum kit for any of the 46 to 87 patents In the above-mentioned coupling member, the coupling member has a recessed portion that is disposed inward of the driving force receiving portion in an axial direction of the drum unit, and is a recessed portion that narrows toward an inner side of the axial direction. For example, the drum unit of any one of the 46th to 88th scope of the patent application, wherein the aforementioned support portion is a snap-fit. For example, the drum unit according to any one of claims 46 to 89, wherein the driving force receiving portion is disposed on the upstream side of the coupling member in the rotation direction of the drum unit toward the outside in the axial direction of the drum unit. A cassette includes a drum unit described in any one of claims 1 to 90, and a frame rotatably supporting the drum unit. A cassette is characterized in that it can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body including a drive shaft provided with a recess, and has: (1) a rotating body configured to rotate while supporting a developer on its surface; (2) a coupling member having (2-1) a driving force receiving portion configured to receive a driving force for rotating the rotating body by entering the recessed portion, and (2-2) may A coupling member that supports the support portion of the driving force receiving portion movably; the support portion has at least a first extension portion and a second extension portion extending in the axial direction of the rotating body; the first extension portion and The second extending portions extend in mutually different directions. For example, in the case of the patent application No. 92, the driving force receiving portion is supported by the first extension portion. For example, the cassette of claim 92 or 93, wherein the first extension portion has a protruding portion provided with the driving force receiving portion. For example, the cassette of claim 94, wherein the protruding portion protrudes toward a radially inner side of the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of claim 94 or 95, the protruding portion protrudes in a direction crossing the direction in which the first extending portion extends. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents 92 to 96, wherein the driving force receiving portion extends at least in a radial direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette according to any one of the 92nd to 97th patent applications, wherein the first extension portion extends toward the free end of the support portion, and the second extension portion extends toward the first extension portion. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of applications for patents 92 to 98, wherein the fixed end of the support portion is provided on the second extension portion. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents 92 to 99, wherein the aforementioned coupling member has a hollow portion, and the fixed end of the aforementioned supporting portion is fixed It is determined on the inner surface of the aforementioned hollow portion. For example, the cassette according to any one of the 92nd to the 100th patent scope, wherein the first extension portion extends toward the outer side of the axis direction, and the second extension portion extends toward the inner side of the axis direction. For example, the cassette according to any one of the 92nd to the 100th patent scope, wherein the first extension portion extends toward the inner side of the axis direction, and the second extension portion extends toward the outer side of the axis direction. For example, the cassette according to any one of the 92nd to 102nd patent application scopes, wherein the support portion supports the driving force receiving portion at least in a radial direction of the coupling member. For example, in the case of any one of the patent applications ranging from 92 to 103, the aforementioned supporting portion can be elastically deformed. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of applications for patents 92 to 104, wherein the first extension portion extends along the axis direction. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of applications for patents 92 to 105, wherein the second extension portion extends along the axis direction. If you apply for a cassette in any one of the scope of patents 92 to 104, 106, of which The first extension portion extends so as to be inclined with respect to the axial direction. For example, the cassette according to any one of the patent application scopes 92 to 105 and 107, wherein the second extension portion extends in a manner inclined to the axis direction. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of applications for patents 92 to 108, wherein the support portion has a connection portion that is connected to the first extension portion and the second extension portion. For example, the cassette of the scope of patent application No. 109, wherein the aforementioned continuation part is a curved part. For example, in the cassette according to any one of the 92nd to 110th scope of the patent application, the first extension portion is disposed inward of the coupling member in a radial direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents Nos. 92 to 111, wherein the first extension portion and the second extension portion are offset from each other in a circumferential direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette of claim 112, wherein the first extension portion is disposed on the upstream side of the coupling member in the rotation direction of the second extension portion. If you apply for a cassette of the scope of patent No. 112, of which The first extension portion is disposed further downstream than the second extension portion in a rotation direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette according to any one of the 92nd to 114th patent applications, wherein the support portion has a plurality of the second extension portions. For example, in the case of the 115th patent application, one of the first extensions is connected to the plurality of second extensions. For example, the cassette according to any one of the patent application scopes 92 to 116, wherein the aforementioned support portion has an M shape. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents 92 to 117, wherein the aforementioned coupling member has a plurality of the aforementioned driving force receiving portions and the aforementioned supporting portions, respectively. For example, in the case of the patent application No. 118, the plurality of driving force receiving portions are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette of the scope of application for patent No. 118 or 119, wherein the aforementioned coupling member has three aforementioned driving force receiving portions and the aforementioned supporting portions, respectively. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of patent applications Nos. 92 to 120, wherein the aforementioned coupling member has: the aforementioned supporting portion and the aforementioned driving force A driving force receiving member of the receiving portion, and a transmitted member that receives the driving force by the driving force receiving member. For example, the cassette of claim 121, wherein the conveyed member has a conveyed portion that receives the driving force by contacting the support portion. For example, the cassette of claim 121 or 122, wherein the conveyed member is configured so that the driving force receiving portion springs at least toward a radially inner side of the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of any one of the 121st to 123rd patent applications, the conveyed member is fixed to the rotating body. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents Nos. 92 to 124, wherein the coupling member has a support portion that restricts the driving force receiving portion from moving in a circumferential direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette of the scope of application for a patent No. 125, wherein the supporting portion is configured to restrict the movement of the driving force receiving portion by contact with the supporting portion. For example, in the cassette according to any one of the 125th or 126th of the scope of patent application, the supporting portion is configured to spring the driving force receiving portion toward at least the radially inner side of the coupling member. If you apply for a cassette in any one of the patent scope 92 to 127, of which At least a part of the support portion is disposed inside the rotating body. For example, in the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents Nos. 92 to 128, at least a part of the driving force receiving portion is disposed inside the rotating body. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of patent applications Nos. 92 to 1229, wherein the coupling member has a hollow portion, and at least a part of the support portion is arranged inside the hollow portion. For example, in the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents Nos. 92 to 130, the driving force receiving portion has an inclined portion inclined to a moving direction of the driving force receiving portion. For example, in the cassette of claim 131, the inclined portion of the driving force receiving portion is inclined in such a manner that the driving force receiving portion is elastically pushed toward the radially inner side of the coupling member by the driving force. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents 92 to 132, wherein the coupling member has a positioning portion for determining the position of the coupling member with respect to the driving shaft; the positioning portion is in the axial direction of the rotating body It is arrange | positioned inside more than the said driving force receiving part. For example, the cassette of the scope of patent application No. 133, of which The positioning portion is a recessed portion that narrows toward the inside in the axial direction. For example, the cassette of any one of the scope of patent application items 92 to 134, wherein the aforementioned support portion is a snap-fit. For example, in the cassette according to any one of the scope of applications for patents 92 to 135, wherein the driving force is received from the recessed part of the driving shaft through the driving force receiving part, the recessed part of the driving shaft and the driving force are generated. The manner in which the portions are attracted to each other constitutes the aforementioned driving force receiving portion. For example, in the case of any one of the patent applications ranging from 92 to 136, the aforementioned rotating body is a photosensitive drum. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of patent applications Nos. 92 to 136, wherein the aforementioned rotating body is a developing roller. For example, the cartridge of claim 138, wherein the cartridge has a supply roller for supplying a developer to the developing roller. For example, the cassette according to the scope of patent application No. 139, wherein the supply roller is configured to rotate by a driving force received by the driving force receiving portion. If you apply for a cassette in any one of the patent scope 92 to 138, of which The rotating body is a supply roller for supplying a developer to the developing roller. For example, the cassette of any one of the 92nd to 141th patent applications, wherein the rotating body has a shaft, and the coupling member is mounted on the shaft. A cassette is characterized in that it can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus body, and includes: (1) a rotating body configured to rotate while supporting a developer on its surface; and (2) a coupling member; and A coupling member having (2-1) a driving force receiving portion configured to receive a driving force for rotating the rotating body, and (2-2) a supporting portion movably supporting the driving force receiving portion The support portion includes at least a first extension portion and a second extension portion extending in the axis direction of the rotating body; the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend in mutually different directions in the axis direction. For example, in the case of the patent application No. 143, the driving force receiving portion is supported by the first extension portion. For example, in the cassette of the scope of patent application No. 143 or 144, the first extension portion has a protruding portion provided with the driving force receiving portion. For example, the cassette according to the scope of patent application No. 145, wherein the protruding portion protrudes toward a radially inner side of the coupling member. For example, the cassette of the scope of application for patent No. 145 or 146, wherein the aforementioned protruding portion protrudes in a direction crossing the direction in which the aforementioned first extending portion extends. If you apply for any one of the patent scope 143 to 147 card The cassette, wherein the driving force receiving portion extends at least in a radial direction of the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 148, the first extension portion extends toward the free end of the support portion, and the second extension portion extends toward the first extension portion. For example, the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 149, wherein the fixed end of the aforementioned support portion is provided on the aforementioned second extension portion. For example, the cassette of any one of the 143 to 150 patent application scopes, wherein the coupling member has a hollow portion, and the fixed end of the support portion is fixed to the inner surface of the hollow portion. For example, in the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 151, the first extension portion extends toward the outer side of the axis direction, and the second extension portion extends toward the inner side of the axis direction. For example, in the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 151, the first extension portion extends toward the inner side of the axis direction, and the second extension portion extends toward the outer side of the axis direction. If you apply for a cassette in any one of the scope of patents 143 to 153, of which The support portion supports the driving force receiving portion so as to be movable at least in a radial direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette of any one of the 143 to 154 patent application scopes, wherein the aforementioned support portion can be elastically deformed. For example, the cassette according to any one of the 143 to 155 patent application scopes, wherein the first extension portion extends along the axis direction. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 156, wherein the second extension portion extends along the axis direction. For example, the cassette of any one of the 143 to 155, 157 patent application scopes, wherein the first extension portion extends in a manner inclined to the axis direction. For example, the cassette of any one of the 143 to 156, 158 patent application scopes, wherein the second extension portion extends in a manner inclined to the axis direction. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 159, wherein the support portion has a connection portion that is connected to the first extension portion and the second extension portion. If you apply for a cassette in the scope of patent 160, of which The connection portion is a curved portion. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 161, wherein the first extension portion is disposed more inward than the second extension portion in the radial direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette according to any one of the 143 to 162 patent application scopes, wherein the first extension portion and the second extension portion are offset from each other in a circumferential direction of the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of claim 163, the first extension portion is disposed on the upstream side than the second extension portion in the rotation direction of the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of claim 163, the first extension portion is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the coupling member than the second extension portion. For example, the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 165, wherein the aforementioned support portion has a plurality of the aforementioned second extension portions. For example, in the case of the patent application No. 166, one of the first extensions is connected to the plurality of second extensions. For example, the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 167, wherein the aforementioned support portion has an M shape. For example, in the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 168, the aforementioned coupling member has a plurality of the aforementioned driving force receiving portions and the aforementioned supporting portions, respectively. For example, in the cartridge of the scope of application for patent No. 169, the plurality of driving force receiving portions are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the coupling member. For example, for a cassette with a scope of patent application No. 169 or 170, the aforementioned coupling member has three aforementioned driving force receiving portions and the aforementioned supporting portions, respectively. For example, the cassette according to any one of the claims 143 to 171, wherein the coupling member includes a driving force receiving member having the supporting portion and the driving force receiving portion, and the driving force receiving member receives the driving. The force is communicated as a component. For example, the cassette according to the scope of patent application No. 172, wherein the conveyed member has a conveyed portion that receives the driving force by contacting the support portion. For example, in the cassette of the scope of patent application No. 172 or 173, wherein the conveyed member is configured such that the driving force receiving portion springs at least toward a radially inner side of the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of any one of the claims 172 to 174, the conveyed member is fixed to the rotating body. For example, the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents Nos. 143 to 175, wherein the coupling member has a support portion that restricts the driving force receiving portion from moving in a circumferential direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette of the scope of application for patent No. 176, wherein the supporting portion is configured to restrict the movement of the driving force receiving portion by contact with the supporting portion. For example, in the cassette of the scope of application for patent No. 176 or 177, the aforesaid supporting portion is constituted so that the driving force receiving portion springs at least toward the radially inner side of the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 178, at least a part of the supporting portion is disposed inside the rotating body. For example, in the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 179, at least a part of the driving force receiving part is disposed inside the rotating body. For example, in the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 181, the coupling member has a hollow portion, and at least a part of the support portion is arranged inside the hollow portion. If you apply for a cassette in any one of the patent scope 143 to 181, of which The driving force receiving portion includes an inclined portion that is inclined to a moving direction of the driving force receiving portion. For example, in the cartridge of claim 182, the inclined portion is inclined so as to face at least the radially outer side of the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of claim 182 or 183, the inclined portion of the driving force receiving portion is inclined in such a manner that the driving force receiving portion is pushed toward the radially inner side of the coupling member by the driving force. For example, the cassette according to any one of the claims 143 to 184, wherein the coupling member has a recessed portion disposed inward of the driving force receiving portion in the axial direction of the rotating body, and is directed toward the The recessed portion narrowed inward in the axial direction. For example, the cassette of any one of the 143 to 185 patent application scopes, wherein the aforementioned support portion is a snap-fit. For example, in the cassette according to any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 186, the driving force receiving portion is disposed on the upstream side of the coupling member in the rotation direction of the rotating body as it goes outward. For example, in the case of any one of the 143 to 187 patent applications, the aforementioned rotating body is a photoreceptor drum. For example, the cassette according to any one of the claims 143 to 186, wherein the aforementioned rotating body is a developing roller. For example, the cassette according to the scope of patent application No. 189, wherein the cassette has a supply roller for supplying a developer to the developing roller. For example, the cassette of the scope of application for patent No. 190, wherein the supply roller is configured to rotate by a driving force received by the driving force receiving portion. For example, the cassette according to any one of the claims 143 to 186, wherein the rotating body is a supply roller for supplying a developer to the developing roller. For example, in the cassette of any one of the scope of application for patents 143 to 192, the rotating body has a shaft, and the coupling member is mounted on the shaft. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is characterized by having a cassette in any one of the scope of applications for patents 91 to 193, and the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus for allowing the cassette to be detachable. A coupling member is characterized in that it can be engaged with and disengaged from a drive shaft provided in a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and has a mechanism for receiving rotation of a rotating body supporting a developer on its surface by entering the recess A driving force receiving portion configured to receive a driving force, and (2-2) movably supporting the foregoing A coupling member of a support portion of the driving force receiving portion; the support portion has at least a first extension portion and a second extension portion extending in the axis direction of the rotating body; the first extension portion and the second extension portion in the axis direction The parts extend in mutually different directions. A coupling member is characterized in that it can be engaged with and disengaged from a drive shaft provided in a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and has a method of receiving a driving force for rotating a rotating body supporting a developer on its surface. The driving force receiving part and (2-2) a coupling member that movably supports the supporting part of the driving force receiving part; the supporting part has at least a first extension part and a first extension part extending in the axial direction of the rotating body; Two extension portions; the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend in mutually different directions in the axis direction.