TW201835695A - Drum unit, cartridge, electro-photographic image forming apparatus and coupling member in which the drum is detachably formed on a main body of an electro-photographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a drum unit, which is configured in a manner of being detachably formed on a main body of an electro-photographic image forming apparatus, and includes a photoreceptor drum and a coupling member disposed on the photoreceptor drum. The coupling member has a drive force receiving part and a supporting part for movably supporting the drive force receiving part. The supporting part has a first extension part and a second extension part that extend at least in an axial direction of the photoreceptor drum. In the axial direction, the first extension part and the second extension part extend in mutually different directions.

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 a drum unit, a cassette, a coupling member, and the like.

In the image forming apparatus of the electrophotographic system, an element such as a photoreceptor drum or a developing roller as a rotating body for forming an image is integrated as a cassette, and the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body) can be attached and detached. The system is known. In such a configuration, the configuration in which the driving force is received by the apparatus body in order to rotate the photoreceptor drum in the cassette has been adopted in many apparatuses. In this case, it is also known that the coupling member is engaged with the driving force transmitting portion such as the driving pin on the apparatus main body side to transmit the driving force.

For example, JP-A-2008-233867 discloses a card having a coupling member that is tiltably movable toward a rotation axis of a photoreceptor drum at an end portion of the photoreceptor drum.

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

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

The present invention has led to the development of the aforementioned prior art.

1‧‧‧Photoreceptor drum

2‧‧‧Electric roller

3‧‧‧Scanner unit

4‧‧‧Development card

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 materials

13‧‧‧Light drum card

17‧‧‧Developing roller

14‧‧‧Clean frame

14a‧‧‧Waste Toner Storage Department

14b‧‧‧ openings

28‧‧‧Coupling components

29‧‧‧Non-drive side flange members

30‧‧‧Drum unit

39R‧‧‧Drum unit bearing components

39L‧‧‧Drum unit bearing components

51‧‧‧ drive roller

52‧‧‧Second transfer opposite roller

53‧‧‧ driven roller

71‧‧‧Cylinder

71c‧‧‧Being the bearing department

100‧‧‧Image forming device

101‧‧‧ body drive shaft

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

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

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the developing cartridge 4.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing the imaginary plane cut of the center of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 1 of the photoreceptor drum 13.

Figure 5 is an outline view of the body drive shaft.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis) of the main body drive shaft 101 in a state in which the image forming apparatus body is mounted.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the photoreceptor cassette 13 and the developing cartridge 4.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 28 and the body drive shaft 101 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis by driving the conveying surface 73a.

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

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a forming die of the flange member 70.

18 is a perspective view of the aligning member 33.

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

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

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

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

23 is a view for explaining the rotation of the main body drive shaft 101 in a state in which the phase of the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engagement portion 73 (the drive receiving surface 73a) is not matched, and the coupling member 28 of the main body drive shaft 101 is mounted at the time of phase matching. A section view of the action.

Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the action of the coupling member 28 being pulled out from the body drive shaft 101.

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

Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 128 and the body drive shaft 101 of the second embodiment cut off at a position perpendicular to the rotation axis by the position of the drive receiving surface 73a.

Figure 27 is a view and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 170 relating to Embodiment 2 as seen from the outside in the Z direction.

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

Fig. 29 is an explanatory sectional view showing an assembly procedure of the coupling member 128 of the second embodiment.

Fig. 30 is a view showing an assembly procedure relating to the coupling member 128 of the embodiment 2 as seen from the outer side and the side surface in the Z direction.

Figure 31 is a cross-sectional view showing the flange member 270 according to Embodiment 3 cut at the center of the rotation shaft (center of the rotation axis).

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

Figure 33 is a perspective view of a aligning member 233 relating to Embodiment 3.

Figure 34 is a diagram showing other types of coupling members 228 related to Embodiment 3.

Figure 35 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 328 according to Embodiment 4 cut at the center of the rotation shaft (center of the rotation axis).

Figure 36 is a diagram and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 370 of Example 4 as seen from the outside in the Z direction.

Figure 37 is a perspective view of the inner cylindrical member 340 of the fourth embodiment.

38 is a perspective view of the alignment member 333 related to Embodiment 4.

Fig. 39 is an explanatory view showing the assembly of the coupling member 328 according to the fourth embodiment.

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

Fig. 41 is a view showing another embodiment of the inner cylindrical member 340 relating to the embodiment 4.

Figure 42 is an outline view of the body drive shaft 5101 relating to Embodiment 5.

43 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the main body drive shaft 5101 of the fifth embodiment is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and is cut along a rotation axis (rotational axis) of the main body drive shaft 5101.

Figure 44 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 528 of the fifth embodiment cut off at the rotation axis.

Figure 45 is a cross-sectional view showing the cylinder member 570 of the fifth embodiment cut off at the rotation axis.

46 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 528 and the body drive shaft 5101 according to Embodiment 5 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member 528 by driving the receiving surface 573a.

Figure 47 is a perspective view of a aligning member 533 relating to Embodiment 5.

Figure 48 is a diagram for explaining the assembly of the coupling member 528 relating to Embodiment 5.

Figure 49 is a cross-sectional view showing the developing cartridge 4 of the fifth embodiment cut along the axis of the toner supply roller 20 and the developing roller 17.

Fig. 50 is a perspective view showing the mounting of the image forming apparatus main body 100A with respect to the display cassette 4 of the fifth embodiment.

Figure 51 is a cross-sectional view showing the mounting operation of the image forming apparatus main body 100A with respect to the display cassette 4 of the fifth embodiment.

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

Figure 53 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the cylinder member 570 related to Embodiment 5.

Fig. 54 is a view showing another embodiment of the cylinder member 570 relating to the embodiment 5.

Fig. 55 is a view showing another embodiment of the coupling member 528 related to the embodiment 5.

Fig. 56 is a view showing another embodiment of the cylinder member 570 relating to the embodiment 5.

Fig. 57 is a view showing another embodiment of the coupling member 528 relating to the embodiment 5.

Figure 58 is a perspective view of a aligning member 633 relating to Embodiment 6.

Figure 59 is a cross-sectional view showing the alignment member 633 of the embodiment 6 cut off at the rotation axis.

Fig. 60 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 628 according to the embodiment 6 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis by driving the receiving surface 673a.

Figure 61 is a perspective view of a cylinder member 670 related to Embodiment 6.

Fig. 62 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 628 of the embodiment 6 cut off at the rotation axis.

Figure 63 is a diagram for explaining the assembly of the coupling member 628 relating to Embodiment 6.

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

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

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, a drum cartridge, and a developing cartridge will be described with reference to the drawings. Further, the image forming apparatus is, for example, a person who forms an image on a recording medium by using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, it includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electronic photo printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser printer, etc.), an electronic photo facsimile apparatus, and the like. Further, the cartridge can be attached or detached to the main body of the image forming apparatus (the apparatus main body, the image forming apparatus main body, and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body). In particular, the drum stick is a cassette having a photoreceptor drum. The developing cartridge is a cartridge having a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoreceptor. In this embodiment, the photo drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are respectively detachable from the image forming apparatus body. Further, a person who integrates a photoreceptor drum with a coupling member or the like is referred to as a drum unit. The drum unit is used for the drum kit.

Moreover, in the following embodiments, a full-color image forming apparatus capable of attaching and detaching four photo drum cartridges and four developing cartridges is exemplified. However, the number of the drum cartridges and the developing cartridges attached to the image forming apparatus is not limited thereto. Further, in the embodiment, a configuration in which two types of cassettes are used, such as a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge, is exemplified, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, it may be a cassette of a configuration such as a process cartridge in which the functions of the photo drum cartridge and the development cartridge are integrated. In addition, in the same manner, the respective configurations disclosed in the examples are not limited to the materials, arrangements, dimensions, other numerical values, and the like, unless otherwise specified. Further, when it is not particularly clear, the upper side refers to the upper side of the gravity direction when the image forming apparatus is provided.

 <Example 1>    [Outline of Electronic Photo Image Forming Apparatus]  

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

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 has the first and second images for forming respective images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) as the plurality of image forming portions. The third and fourth image forming units SY, SM, SC, and SK. In the present embodiment, the first to fourth image forming units SY, SM, SC, and SK are arranged in a line in the approximate horizontal direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration and operation of the drum cartridges 13 (13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K) and the developing cartridges 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) are different from the colors of the formed images. , essentially the same. In other words, in the following, when it is not necessary to specifically distinguish between Y, M, C, and K, the description will be collectively described.

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

The charging roller 2 is a charging means (charger, 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 member) that forms an electrostatic image (electrostatic latent image) on the photoreceptor drum 1 by laser irradiation based on the image information. Around the photoreceptor drum 1, a cleaning blade 6 as a developing cartridge 4 and a cleaning means (cleaning means, cleaning member) is disposed.

Further, the four photoreceptor drums 1 are arranged to be transferred in the middle of the intermediate transfer body for transferring the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 1 to the recording material (thin sheet, recording medium) 12. Printing belt 5.

The developing cartridge 4 of the present embodiment uses a non-magnetic single component developer (hereinafter, referred to as carbon powder) as a developer, and develops contact between the developing roller 17 as a developer carrying member and the photoreceptor drum 1 in contact. the way.

In the above configuration, the toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 is transferred onto the sheet (paper) 12, and the toner image transferred to the sheet is fixed. Further, as a processing means for the photoreceptor drum 1, the photocontainer cassette 13 includes a charging roller 2 for charging the photoreceptor drum 1 and toner remaining without being transferred to the photoreceptor drum 1 for cleaning. Cleaning blade 6. The transfer residual toner remaining on the thin plate 12 and remaining on the photoreceptor drum 1 is recovered by the cleaning blade 6. In addition, the transfer residual toner collected by the cleaning blade 6 is housed in the removal developer accommodating portion (hereinafter referred to as waste toner accommodating portion) 14a by the opening 14b (see FIG. 7). The waste toner accommodating portion 14a (see FIG. 7) and the cleaning blade 6 constitute an integrated cleaning unit (photoreceptor unit, image carrier unit) 13.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100A includes a guide (positioning means) such as a guide, a positioning member (not shown), and the like. The developing cartridge 4 and the drum cartridge 13 are guided by the above-described guide members so as to be attachable and detachable to the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

The toner cartridges 4 for the respective colors are respectively accommodated toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

The intermediate transfer belt 5 abuts against the photoreceptor drum 1 provided in each of the process cartridges, and rotates (moves) in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. The intermediate transfer belt 5 is attached to a plurality of support members (the drive roller 51, the secondary transfer counter roller 52, and the driven roller 53). On the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 5, four primary transfer rollers 8 as primary transfer means are arranged side by side so as to face the respective photoreceptor drums 1. In addition, the outer peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 5 is disposed at a position opposite to the secondary transfer counter roller 52, and is disposed as a secondary transfer roller 9 as a secondary transfer means.

When the image is formed, 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 emitted by the scanner unit 3 in response to the image information. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the photoreceptor drum 1. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 is developed as a toner image (developer image) by the developing roller 17 (see FIG. 3) of the developing cartridge 4. The toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 is transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 by the action of the primary transfer roller 8.

For example, in the case of forming a full-color image, the aforementioned processing is sequentially performed on the four drum cartridges 13 (13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K) and the developing cartridges 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K). Then, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 of each of the photocontainer cassettes 13 are sequentially transferred in such a manner as to overlap on the intermediate transfer belt 5. Thereafter, in synchronization with the movement of the intermediate transfer belt 5, the recording material 12 is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion. Next, the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 5 is collectively transferred onto the recording material 12 that is conveyed to the 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 transported to the fixing device 10 as a fixing means. The fixing device 10 fixes the toner image on the recording material 12 by applying heat and pressure to the recording material 12. Further, 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. Further, the secondary transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 5 after the secondary transfer step is removed by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 11.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may use a single or a plurality of (not all) image forming units to form a single-color or multi-color image.

 [summary of treatment means]  

Next, an outline of the photocontainer cassette 13 and the developing cartridge 4 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100A of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 7.

Further, the photo drum cartridge 13Y, the photo drum cartridge 13M, the photo drum cartridge 13C, and the photo drum cartridge 13K have the same configuration. Further, the developing cartridge 4Y storing the yellow toner, the developing cartridge 4M storing the magenta toner, the developing cartridge 4C accommodating the cyan toner, and the developing cartridge 4K accommodating the black toner have the same configuration. That is, in the following description, the respective drum cartridges 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are collectively referred to as the drum cartridges 13, and collectively, the respective developing cartridges 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K are the developing cartridges 4. The components of each of the cassettes are also collectively described.

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

The drum cartridge 13 has a cleaning frame 14 as a casing that supports various elements in the drum cartridge 13. The photoreceptor drum 1 is rotatably supported by the cleaning frame 14.

In addition, the photoreceptor drum 1 is a rotating body (image bearing body) configured to hold an image (a toner image, a developer image) formed of toner (developer) on its surface.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing the imaginary plane cut of the center of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 1 of the photoreceptor drum 13. Further, in the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum 1, the side where the coupling member 28 receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus main body (the side in the Z1 direction) is referred to as the driving side (deep side) of the photoreceptor cassette 13. Further, 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 photo drum cartridge 13.

When the photocontainer cassette 13 is attached to the apparatus main body, the driving side of the photoreceptor cassette 13 is disposed on the downstream side in the cassette mounting direction, and the non-driving side is disposed on the upstream side in the mounting direction. In other words, in a state in which 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.

Further, the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum 1 is a direction in which the photoreceptor drum 1 is parallel to the axis (rotational axis). The axis of the photoreceptor drum 1 is an imaginary straight line extending through the center of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 1, and FIG. 4 corresponds to a broken line passing through the center of the photoreceptor drum 1. At an end portion on the opposite side of the coupling member 28 (the end portion on the non-driving side of the process cartridge), there is an electrode (electrode portion) that is in contact with the inner surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 by the body of the image forming apparatus Contact and play the role of grounding.

A coupling member 28 is attached to one end of the photoreceptor drum 1, and a non-driving side flange member 29 is attached to 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 is interposed with the coupling member 28, and the driving force is obtained by the main body drive shaft 101 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

The coupling member 28 is a flange member (drive side flange member) that is attached to the drive side end portion of the photoreceptor drum 1 . The coupling member 28 is engageable with the body drive shaft 101 as the cassette 7 is attached to the apparatus body 100A. Further, the coupling member 28 is detachable from the body drive shaft 101 as the cassette 7 is removed by the apparatus body 100A.

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

As shown in FIG. 4, the Z1 side of the coupling member 28 has a cylindrical shape (cylindrical portion 71). A portion on the Z1 side of the cylindrical portion 71 is a bearing portion 71c. The bearing unit 71c is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member 39R. In short, the photoreceptor drum unit 30 is rotatable by the bearing portion 71c supported 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 photoreceptor drum unit 30 is rotatably supported by the bearing portion of the drum unit bearing member 39L. The non-driving side flange member 29 has a cylindrical portion (cylindrical portion) that protrudes from the end portion of the photoreceptor drum 1, and the outer peripheral surface 29a of the cylindrical portion is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member. 39L. The outer peripheral surface 29a is a bearing portion that is not driven.

Further, 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 attached to the apparatus main body 100A, as shown in FIG. 4, the drum unit bearing member 39R is in contact with the rear side latch positioning portion 108 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A. Further, the drum unit bearing member 39L is in contact with the front side click 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 where the bearing portion 71c is supported, and the drum unit bearing member 39R is disposed at a position close to the position of the rear side click positioning portion 108. By doing so, when the photo drum cartridge 13 is attached to the apparatus body 100A, the coupling member 28 can be suppressed from tilting.

The bearing member 39R is disposed at a position where the bearing portion 71c is supported, and the bearing member 39R is disposed at a position close to the position of the rear side click positioning portion 108, and the bearing portion 71c is disposed. In short, the bearing portion 71c is disposed on the tip end side (the Z1 direction side) of the outer peripheral surface 71a of the cylindrical portion 71 of the coupling member 28.

Similarly, in the Z direction, the drum unit bearing member 39L is disposed at a position where the non-driving side flange member 29 is rotatably supported, and the drum unit bearing member 39L is disposed close to the position positioned at the front side click positioning portion 110. The location. Thereby, the inclination of the non-driving side flange member 29 is suppressed.

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

Further, the charging roller 2 and the cleaning blade 6 are attached to the cleaning frame 14, and these are disposed in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. Further, 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.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the photoreceptor cassette 13 and the developing cartridge 4.

Here, the charging roller bearing 15 (15R, 15L) is attached so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow C shown in FIG. The rotating shaft 2a of the charging roller 2 is rotatably attached to the charging roller bearing 15 (15R, 15L). Next, the charging roller bearing 15 is pushed toward the photoreceptor drum 1 by the pressurizing spring 16 as a spring 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 carbon powder remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. The cleaning blade 6 is a blade-shaped rubber (elastic member) 6a that abuts against the photoreceptor drum 1 to remove the toner on the photoreceptor drum 1, and is integrated with the supporting plate gold 6b. In the present embodiment, the support plate 6b is fixed to the cleaning frame 14 by screws.

As described above, the cleaning frame 14 has an opening 14b for recovering the transfer residual toner recovered by the cleaning blade 6. The opening 14b is provided with a blow-off preventing plate 26 that is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 1 and sealed between the photoreceptor drum 1 and the opening 14b, and prevents toner leakage in the upper direction of the opening 14b.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the developing cartridge 4.

The developing cartridge 4 has a developing frame 18 that supports various elements. In the developing cartridge 4, a developing roller 17 that is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 1 as a developer carrying member that rotates in the direction of the arrow D (counterclockwise direction) shown in FIG. 7 is provided. The developing roller 17 is a rotating body (developing member) for holding the developer supplied to the photoreceptor drum 1 to the surface thereof. 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 at both end portions in the longitudinal direction (rotational axis direction) via the developing bearing 19 (19R, 19L). Here, the developing bearings 19 (19R, 19L) are attached to both side portions of the developing frame 18, respectively.

Further, the developing cartridge 4 has a developer accommodating chamber (hereinafter referred to as a toner accommodating chamber) 18a and a developing chamber 18b to which the developing roller 17 is disposed, as shown in Fig. 7 .

In the developing chamber 18b, the toner supply roller 20 of the developer supply member that is rotated in the direction of the arrow E in contact with the developing roller 17 and the developer regulating member for the toner regulating layer for the toner layer of the developing roller 17 are disposed. Board 21.

The supply roller (supply member) 20 is also a rotating body that rotates by holding a developer (carbon powder) on its surface, and is a developer carrying body similarly to the supply roller. The toner supported 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 the fixing member 22 or the like.

In addition, the toner accommodating chamber 18a of the developing frame 18 is provided with a stirring member 23 for agitating the stored toner and transporting the toner to the toner supply roller 20.

By adopting such a configuration in which the elements of the photoconductor 13 and the developing cartridge 4 that can be attached and detached to the apparatus main body are formed in an image, the ease of maintenance can be improved. In other words, the user can easily perform maintenance of 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 for maintenance work not only for the service personnel but also for the user.

Further, in the present embodiment, the photo drum cartridge 13 and the developing cartridge 4 are independently attached to the apparatus main body A. However, the photocontainer cassette 13 and the developing cartridge 4 used for forming an image of the same color may be unitized. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the cartridge (processing cartridge) thus unitized is attached to the apparatus body.

 [Composition 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.

Figure 5 is an outline view of the body drive shaft.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the rotation axis (rotational axis) of the main body drive shaft 101 in a state in which the image forming apparatus body is attached.

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

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

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

As shown in FIG. 5, the main body drive shaft 101 has a gear portion 101e, a shaft portion 101f, a thick guide portion 101g, and a bearing portion 101d.

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

The main body drive transmission groove 101a has a shape in which a part of the engaging portion 73 to be described later can enter. Specifically, the main body drive transmission surface 101 b that is in contact with the drive receiving surface (drive receiving portion) 73 a of the coupling member 28 as a surface for transmitting the driving force is provided.

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

Further, on the surface on the Z2 direction side of the main body drive transmission groove 101a, the main body side is provided with the inclined surface 101i. The inclined surface 101i is pulled out from the main body side, and is a gradient (inclined surface, inclined portion) for assisting the engagement portion 73 to be pulled out by the drive transmission groove 101a when the photoconductor cassette 13 is detached from the apparatus main body 100A. See below for details.

Here, when the drive transmission groove 101a is driven to the engagement portion 73, it is preferable that the main body drive transmission surface 101b and the drive receiving surface (drive receiving portion) 73a are reliably abutted. Here, the main body drives the communication groove 101a so that the surface other than the main body drive transmission surface 101b does not contact the engagement portion 73 as the driving force receiving portion, and is used for each pair of cards in the rotation axis direction, the circumferential direction, and the radial direction. The joint portion 73 has a configuration of a gap (G) (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

Further, the main body side of the main body drive transmission groove 101a in the axial direction is provided with an inclined surface 101i as an inclined surface (inclined portion). Further, in the axial direction of the main body drive shaft 101, the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c is disposed within the range in which the main body drives the communication groove 101a (see FIG. 8). In other words, when the center 101h and the main body drive transmission groove 101a are projected on the axis of the main body drive shaft 101, the projection area of the center 101h is disposed inside the projection area of the main body drive transmission groove 101a on the axis.

The coarse 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 on the side of the shaft portion 101f, and the outer diameter D6 of the thick guide portion 101g is smaller than the inner peripheral surface 71b of the cylindrical portion 71 of the coupling member 28 to be described later, as shown in Fig. 8 . The inner diameter D2 is even smaller. Further, the outer diameter D6 of the thick guide portion 101g is larger than the outer diameter D5 of the shaft portion 101f as shown in FIG. Thereby, when the cassette 7 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 100A, the main body drive shaft 101 can be emulated by the coupling member 28 so as to reduce the axis of rotation of the cylindrical portion 71 and the rotation center of the shaft portion 101f. Way to guide. Therefore, the thick guide portion 101g can be referred to as an insertion guide.

After the attachment of the cassette 7 to the image forming apparatus main body 100A is completed, the size relationship is set such that the thick guide portion 101g does not abut against the inner peripheral surface 71b.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bearing portion 101d is disposed on the opposite side of the thick guide portion 101g. Next, the bearing portion 101d is rotatably supported (axially supported) by the bearing member 102 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the main body drive shaft 101 is spring-loaded to the photoconductor cassette 13 by the spring member 103 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A. However, the amount of movement (play) of the main body drive shaft 101 in the Z direction is sufficiently smaller than the width of the drive receiving surface 73a to be described later in the Z direction.

As described above, the main body drive shaft 101 is provided with the main body drive transmission groove 101a, and the coupling member 28 is provided with the engagement portion 73, and the device main body 100A is configured to transmit the drive to the photo drum cartridge 13 (the drum unit 30).

Further, although the details will be described later, the engaging portion 73 is elastically deformably provided at the front end of the support portion 74. 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 main body 100A. Thereby, the insertion portion 73 enters the drive transmission groove 101a as the photo drum cartridge 13 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100A, and the engagement portion 73 can be engaged with the main body drive transmission groove 101a.

 [Configuration of coupling member]  

The configuration of the coupling member 28 will be described with reference to Figs.

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

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

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

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

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 28 and the body drive shaft 101 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis by driving the conveying surface 73a.

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

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a forming die of the flange member 70.

18 is a perspective view of the aligning member 33.

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

The coupling member 28 is composed of a flange member 70 and a aligning member 33 as shown in FIG.

 (About the description of the 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 (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 attached to the photoreceptor drum 1 . As shown in FIG. 11, the mounting portion 72 has a press-fitting portion 72d that is pressed into the inner diameter of the cylinder of the photoreceptor drum 1, a temporary lock groove 72e, and a press-fit provided on the deeper side (the Z2 direction side) than the press-fit portion 72d. Guide portion 72f.

The press-fitting portion 72d as the joint portion is a portion for fixing the coupling member 28 to the photoreceptor drum 1 by being pressed into the photoreceptor drum 1. Specifically, 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. Further, the configuration in which the engagement force is increased by the temporary lock or the case where the inner diameter of the cylinder is fixedly bonded to the press-fitting portion 72d is not limited to the above relationship.

As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the temporary lock groove 72e is a groove shape (concave portion) provided on the photoreceptor drum 1 side of the press-fitting portion 72d in the Z-axis direction. The temporary lock grooves 72e are equally arranged in two places around the rotation axis of the coupling member 28. Further, in the rotation axis direction of the coupling member 28, the temporary lock groove 72e and the flange portion 75 are disposed to overlap each other. In other words, when the temporary lock groove 72e and the flange 75 are vertically projected on the rotation axis of the coupling member 28, the projection area of the temporary lock groove 72e on the axis overlaps with the projection area of the flange portion 75.

In addition, "overlap X and Y in the A direction" 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 on the imaginary line. At least part of the overlap." 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 is placed inside the temporary lock groove 72e, and the photoreceptor drum 1 and the coupling member 28 are firmly fixed. Further, the temporary lock is an operation of plastically joining and joining a part of a plurality of parts. In the present embodiment, the cylinder of the photoreceptor drum 1 is coupled to the coupling member 28 by plastically deforming a part of the cylinder (aluminum) of the photoreceptor drum 1. In the present embodiment, as an example of means for firmly fixing the coupling member 28 to the photoreceptor drum 1, a configuration using the temporary lock groove 72e is adopted, but the inner diameter of the cylinder is pressed between the inner diameter and the press-fit 72d. For fixing, etc., other fixing means may be used. That is, the temporary lock groove 72e is not necessarily constructed.

When the press-fitting guide 72f is attached to the photoreceptor drum 1 to assemble the coupling member 28, the coupling member 28 is easily assembled to the photoreceptor drum 1, and the press-fit portion 72d is pressed into the photoreceptor drum 1 in a stable manner. Specifically, the outer diameter of the press-fitting guide portion 72f is smaller than the outer diameter of the press-fitting portion 72d and the inner diameter of the cylinder of the photoreceptor drum 1, and has a guide inclined surface on the front end side in the mounting direction of the photoreceptor drum 1 72g. The inclined surface 72g is guided so that the coupling member 28 can be easily inserted into the photoreceptor drum 1 and provided on the inclined portion of the coupling member 28.

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

As shown in FIG. 14, the crotch portion 75 has a shape that protrudes outward in the radial direction from the press-fitting portion 72d. When the coupling member 28 is assembled to the photoreceptor drum 1, the end surface 75b of the flange portion 75 is in contact with the end surface of the photoreceptor drum 1, and the position of the photoreceptor drum 1 and the coupling member 28 in the Z direction is determined.

As shown in FIG. 12, the engaging portion 73 protrudes at least inward in the radial direction of the coupling member 28 in order to engage with the main body drive shaft 101. The engaging portions 73 are arranged at three intervals (120° intervals, approximately equally spaced) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the coupling member 28. Similarly, the base portion 74 of the support portion is also disposed at three places at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the flange member 70. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the engaging portion 73 has a driving receiving surface 73a. Further, the base portion 74 has a backup surface 74i and an abutting surface 74h.

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

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

The supported surface 74i is a surface that is in contact with the support surface 33t of the support portion 33j of the aligning member 33 to be described later, and is disposed on the downstream side in the rotational direction (illustrated in FIG. 12) with respect to the drive receiving surface 73a. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the angle J between the supported surface 74i and the driving receiving surface 73a is arranged at an acute angle. In short, the drive receiving surface 73a of the support portion 33j 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 snaps.

The cylinder member 70 constituting the coupling member 28 has a cylindrical shape (hollow shape). In summary, 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 base portion 74a of a fixed end, and the base portion 74a is fixed to the inner surface of the cylinder 70.

At least a portion of the support portion (73, 74) is disposed 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 surface of the hollow portion (cylinder member 70) of the coupling member 28 with the base portion (fixed end) 74a of the base portion 74 as a starting point. Further, the base portion 74 has an elastically deformable portion (elastic deformation portion). Thereby, 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 base side extension portion (fixed end side extension portion) 74t, a folded portion (curved portion, joint portion) 74r, and a free end side extension portion (front end side extension portion) 74s. The supported end surface 74i or the abutting surface 74h is provided in the free end side extending portion 74s.

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

The base side extension portion 74t is disposed on the outer side in the radial direction with respect to the engagement portion 73 or the free end side extension portion 74s.

The folded portion 74r is formed continuously with the base side extension portion 74t, and is also a portion that is continuously connected to the free end extension portion 74s. In short, the folded portion 74s is a curved portion provided between the base side extension portion 74t and the free end side extension portion 74s. Further, the folded portion 74s is a joint portion that connects the free end side extension portion 74s and the base side extension portion 74t. In the present embodiment, the folding angle of the folded portion 74r is larger than 90°. Specifically, the angle is made approximately 180°.

The folded portion 74r and the base side extension portion 74t are elastically deformable elastic portions.

The free end side extension portion 74 extends from the folded portion 74r as a starting point and extends in the Z1 direction (that is, the outer side of the drum unit 30 in the axial direction) approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 70. The free end side extension portion 74s is disposed on the radially inner side with respect to the base side extension portion 74t.

The base portion 74 formed by bending is formed to form a free end extension portion 74s and a base side extension portion 74t. With such a configuration, the support portions (73, 74) can be easily configured.

However, the joint portion, the base side extension portion 74t, and the free end side extension portion 74s are each formed of individual members (different members), and the joint member (joining portion) connects the base side extension portion 74t and the free end side extension portion 74s. It is also possible.

The free end side extension portion 74s is also a portion for supporting the drive receiving surface 73a. In other words, the free end side extending portion 74s has an engaging portion (projecting portion, protruding portion) 73 on which the driving receiving surface 73a is formed.

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

The base side extension portion 74t and the free end side extension portion 74s are configured to overlap at least partially with each other in the axial direction of the drum unit 30. In other words, when the root side extension portion 74t and the free end side extension portion 74s are vertically projected on the axis of the drum unit 30, at least a part of the projection areas of the mutual projection regions are overlapped.

The drive receiving surface 73a provided in the engaging portion 73 is a surface that intersects the rotation direction (circumferential direction) of the coupling member 28. Further, the drive receiving surface 73a is also a surface that extends inward in the radial direction by the free end side extending portion 74s.

Further, in the present embodiment, the base side extension portion 74t and the free end side extension portion 74s are straight portions extending in parallel with the axial direction. However, it is not limited to such a configuration.

That is, each of the extending portions (74t, 74s) may extend at least in the axial direction. In other words, the vector extending in the extending direction of each of the extending portions (74t, 74s) may have a component in the axial direction. As an example, a modification of this embodiment is shown in Figs. 64 and 65. As shown in these figures, the base side extension portion 74g may be inclined in the axial direction and may extend in the Z2 direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 64 and FIG. 65, the free end side extending portion 74s may be inclined in the axial direction and may extend in the Z1 direction. In such a case, the root side extension portion 74t and the free end side extension portion 74s are also considered to extend at least in the axial direction. Further, the base side extension portion 74t and the free end side extension portion 74s are regarded as extending in mutually different directions in the axial direction.

Further, when the base 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 on the Z1 side of the folded portion 74r. Further, the root (fixed end) 74a of the base portion 74 is also disposed on the Z1 side of the folded portion 74r.

The inner side surface of the root side extension portion 74t is disposed to be the same as the diameter of the inner circumferential 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 the returning direction at a position to the natural state.

The base side extension portion 74t is deformed so as to be inclined with the base 74a as a starting point. Further, the folded portion 74r is deformed so as to incline the free end side extending portion 74s. As a result, the engaging portion 73 can be moved in a direction crossing the direction in which the extending portions (74t, 74s) extend.

Specifically, when the engaging portion 73 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main body drive shaft 101, the engaging portion 73 is moved outward in the radial direction along the outer peripheral surface of the main body drive shaft 101 by elastic deformation of the base portion 74. Then, when the engagement portion 73 is at the same position (same phase) as the main body side drive transmission groove 101a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body drive shaft 101, the elastic deformation of the base portion 74 is released. As a result, the engaging portion 73 moves to the radially inner side, and a part of the engaging portion 73 can enter the driving communication groove 101a.

Further, the drive receiving surface 73a of the flange member 70 has a shape that is twisted about the axis of the flange member 70. In the present embodiment, the torsion is the same amount as the body drive transmission surface 101b.

Further, the drive receiving surface 73a may have a phase different in the direction of rotation of the two points that are in contact with the drive shaft 101. In short, the drive receiving surface 73a may have a function equivalent to that of the twisted surface, and does not necessarily have to be a twisted shape.

The outer side (the Z1 direction side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 that drives the receiving surface 73a is the inner side (the Z2 direction side), and may be disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photoreceptor drum unit 1. In other words, the connection portion of the engagement portion 73 of the driving force receiving portion is formed so as to intersect the axis of rotation of the cylinder along the straight line of the cylinder inner end portion and the cylinder outer end portion in the cylinder axis direction. The drive receiving surface 73a is an inclined portion that is inclined to the axis of the coupling member 28.

Thus, when the driving receiving surface 73a is twisted or inclined, when the driving receiving surface 73a is driven, the photosensitive drum unit 30 is pulled into the bearing portion 101d side of the main body driving shaft 101. Force.

As shown in Fig. 14, the engaging portion 73 has an insertion inclined surface 73d as a receiving portion at the time of attachment on the outer side (the Z1 direction side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 in the Z direction. Further, the engaging portion 73 has a pulling-out inclined surface 73e as a strength receiving portion at the time of removal of the inside of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 (in the Z2 direction side) in the Z direction. Thereby, the mountability and detachability of the coupling member 28 to the main body drive shaft 101 can be improved.

At the time of mounting, the insertion inclined surface 73d abuts on the hemispherical shape 101c, and the engaging portion 73 moves toward the radially outer side of the drive shaft. Further, at the time of extraction, the pulling-out inclined surface 73e comes into contact with the main body side pulling-out inclined surface 101i, and the engaging portion 73 moves toward the radially outer side of the main body driving shaft 101.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the distance L1 from the front end surface of the cylindrical portion 71 to the front end surface of the engaging portion 73 in the Z direction is such that the length L2 of the driving receiving surface 73 becomes L1>L2. The configuration engages the portion 73.

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 has a receiving surface 77a and a rib 77e. The support portion 33j of the aligning member 33 to be described later is configured to be inserted between the supported surface 74i and the receiving surface 77a provided in the free end side extending portion 74s. The receiving surface 77a and the driving receiving surface 73 are arranged to be approximately parallel. As shown in FIG. 15, the rib 77e is disposed so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface 72m of the attachment portion 72 substantially perpendicularly to the receiving surface 77a, starting from the inner diameter side end of the receiving surface 77a.

Further, at least a part of the support portions (73, 74) and the drive receiving surface 73a are disposed on the inner side of the bearing portion 71c in the axial direction of the drum unit 30. Therefore, the support portion (73, 74) or the drive receiving 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 on the inner side of the bearing portion 71c in the axial direction of the drum unit 30.

Further, at least a part of the support portions (73, 74) is disposed in the internal space of the photoreceptor drum 1. In short, at least a part of the support portion (73, 74) is located further inside than the end portion of the photoreceptor drum 1 in the axial direction. In other words, when the support portion (73, 74) and the photoreceptor drum 1 are vertically projected onto the axis of the photoreceptor drum 1, the projection area of the support portion (73, 74) and the projection of the photoreceptor drum 1 are Areas, at least partially overlapping each other. Further, at least a part of the support portion (73, 74) is disposed 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 (driving receiving surface 73a) is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum 1. Therefore, when the driving receiving surface 73a and the photoreceptor drum 1 are vertically projected on the axis of the photoreceptor drum 1, the projection area of the driving receiving surface 73a and the projection area of the photoreceptor drum 1 are at least partially overlapped with each other. .

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

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

Further, the root portion 74a of the fixed end of the support portion (73, 74) is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum 1, and has the following effects. The root portion 74a is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum 1 so that the flange member 70 (coupling member 28) is covered by the photoreceptor drum 1 around the root portion 74a, and is fixed to the photoreceptor drum 1. The photoreceptor drum 1 is highly rigid, and the portion of the flange member 70 covered by the photoreceptor drum 1 becomes less deformable.

The support portions (73, 74) are elastically deformable from the base portion 74a as a starting point. However, even if the support portions (73, 74) are elastically deformed, the photoreceptor drum 1 can suppress the deformation from affecting the root portion 74a.

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

Further, the main body drive shaft 101 can be made longer by providing the drive receiving surface 73a inside the photoreceptor drum 1. The main body drive shaft 101 supports its fixed end (by the bearing portion 101d) by the device body, and its free end (shaft portion 101f) is supported by the drum unit. As a result, the longer the distance between the bearing portion 101d and the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft 101, the less likely the drum unit becomes to be largely inclined. In summary, when the cartridge 7 is mounted on the apparatus body, it becomes easy to keep the main body drive shaft 101 and the drum unit parallel.

When the drive receiving surface 73a is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum 1, the shaft portion 101f is inserted into the photoreceptor drum 1, and the shaft portion 101f can be supported inside the photoreceptor drum 1. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the apparatus main body, and it is easy to ensure the length of the main body drive shaft 101 (the distance between the bearing portion 101d and the shaft portion 101f).

 (Note on manufacturing method)  

The flange member 70 of the present embodiment is manufactured by a injection molding (embedded molding) method using a mold.

The configuration of the metal mold used in molding the flange member 70 will be described using FIG.

The flange member 70 has its crotch portion 75 in a shape that protrudes most outward in the radial direction. In the case of forming such a shape, it is preferable to use a metal mold as shown in Fig. 17 .

Specifically, the metal mold has a configuration of two bodies of a mold on the left side (a cylinder side metal mold 60) and a right side mold (a mounting portion side metal mold 61) as shown in the drawing. By closing the left and right molds, a space portion (plastic film voids, hollow portions) having the same shape as the molded article is formed. The material flows into the space portion and solidifies in the metal mold to form the flange member 70. The metal mold is disposed in the vicinity of the space in which the crotch portion 75 is formed, that is, the parting surface 62 (the surface on which the mold is separated and the surface on which the mold is closed) in which the left and right molds are closed. Next, the cylindrical mold 60 has a shape in which a space for forming the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 71 is provided. Similarly, the attachment portion side metal mold 61 has a shape in which a space for molding the attachment portion 72 is provided.

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

As described above, the engaging portion 73 has the insertion slope 73d at one end and the removal slope 73e at the other end. Therefore, it is difficult to arrange the parting surface 62 of the metal mold to which end surface of the engaging portion 73 in the Z direction. This is because when the metal mold divided into two bodies is used, when the parting surface 62 is placed on either of the two end faces of the engaging portion 73, the formed flange member 70 is hardly taken out by the metal mold. In other words, when the engagement portion 73 is molded and the two metal molds are removed by the engagement portion 73, at least one of the metal molds is caught in the engagement portion 73 and cannot move.

The parting surface 62 is made as narrow as possible, and the production of the metal mold is relatively easy. As a result, it is possible to produce the parting surface 62 with high precision. Thereby, if the component mold surface 62 is made as narrow as possible, the possibility of occurrence of resin leakage or 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 driving receiving surface 73a on the deep side (Z2 side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 at least by inserting the inclined surface 73d. In this embodiment, the end of the insertion slope 73d and the end of the drive receiving surface 73a are disposed at the same position in the Z direction.

Further, when the flange member 70 of the present embodiment is formed, the parting surface 62 is disposed as described below. In short, the mounting receiving side 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. Further, the insertion side inclined surface 73d and the surface of the base portion 74 seen from the Z1 direction side are formed by the cylindrical side metal mold 60. As described above, the inner side surface of the base side extension portion 74t is disposed to be the same as the diameter of the inner circumferential surface 71R of the cylindrical portion 71 or to protrude from the inner diameter side. In this way, it is possible to prevent the base side extension portion 74t from being caught by the cylindrical portion side metal mold 60 and obstructing the movement of the cylindrical portion side metal mold 60.

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

 (About the description of the core adjustment member)  

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

In the present embodiment, the aligning member 33 has a concave portion (reverse conical shape 33a) that is narrowed toward the bottom. The reverse conical shape 33a is a low-profile (concave portion) having a substantially conical shape, and is disposed on the axis of the drum unit 30. Further, in the axial direction of the drum unit 30, it is disposed inside the drive receiving surface 73a. The detailed shape of the aligning member 33 will be described below.

As shown in Fig. 18, the aligning member 33 has a reverse conical shape 33a, a fitting portion 33b, a detachment preventing portion 33c, and a support portion 33j.

As shown in FIG. 19, the coupling member 28 is constituted by the alignment member 33 being assembled from the Z2 side of the flange member 70 toward the Z1 side along the rotation axis.

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

The reverse conical shape 33a has a contact portion 33e that abuts on the hemispherical dome shape 101c of the hemispherical shape of the tip end of the main body drive shaft 101 when the photoreceptor drum 1 is rotationally driven. Further, the reverse conical shape 33a is approximately a reverse conical shape (a shape that is approximately conical in a conical shape). As shown in FIG. 10, in the state in which the abutting portion 33e abuts on the hemispherical shape 101c in the Z direction, the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c of the main body drive shaft 101 is in the range of the driving receiving surface 73a. The inner method is attached to the flange member 70.

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

In short, the reverse conical shape 33a can determine the position in the axial direction of the drum unit 30 of the main body drive shaft 101, and the position in the radial direction. In short, the reverse conical shape 33a is a radial positioning portion and is also a shaft extending direction positioning portion.

Further, the radial positioning portion and the longitudinal direction positioning portion are not necessarily tapered like the reverse conical shape 33a. When the radial positioning portion and the longitudinal direction positioning portion are in contact with the main body drive shaft 101, the shape of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 can be determined regardless of the position of the main body drive shaft 101. For example, these are suitable for a low 洼 (recess) that narrows toward the bottom. As such a thing, a pyramid shape which is not a cone such as a pyramid (a quadrangular pyramid) may be used. However, as in the reverse conical shape 33a of the present embodiment, the position of the coupling member 28 (the position of the drum unit 30) can be particularly accurately maintained as long as it is a conical concave portion that is symmetrical with respect to the axis of the coupling member 28. .

Further, the reverse conical shape 33a may be a region for contacting the main body drive shaft 101, and the non-contact region may be any shape. For example, the portion not in contact with the main body drive shaft 101, that is, the bottom of the reverse conical shape 33a may be absent, and the reverse conical shape 33a may be a recess having no bottom.

As shown in FIG. 10, the fitting portion 33b has a fitting portion 72a at a position corresponding to the fitting portion 33b, in a position where the fitting member 33 is attached to the flange member 70. Further, the fitting portion 33b is disposed on the inner side (the Z2 direction side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 than the abutting portion 33e.

As shown in FIG. 18, the stopper-removing portion 33c has a shape that prevents the core-aligning member 33 from coming off the flange member 70 in a jammed shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the flange member 70 has a hole shape 72b at a position corresponding to the detachment preventing portion 33c.

As shown in FIG. 15, the support portion 33j is formed in a gap between the supported surface 74i of the flange member 70 and the receiving surface 77a, and prevents the engaging portion 73 from falling down on the upstream side in the rotational 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 other words, the support portion 33j prevents the engagement portion 73 (the drive receiving surface 73a) from moving toward the circumferential direction of the flange member 70 by coming into contact with the supported surface 74i. Moreover, the aligning member 33 is a support member which has the support part 33j.

Further, the aligning member 33 is also a locating member that determines the relative position of the flange member 70 (the drum unit 30) of the main body drive shaft 101. The concave portion (reverse cone shape 33a) provided in the aligning member 33 is in contact with the front end of the 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 main body drive shaft 101.

In addition, the circle of the ridge line passing through the side of the engaging portion 73 of the support portion 33j is arranged such that the center thereof and the reverse conical shape 33a are the same, 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 formed to be D8≧D5 when the dimensional accuracy is reviewed. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the support portion 33j is disposed so as to overlap the drive receiving surface 73a in the Z direction.

 [Installation of the body of the image forming apparatus by the cassette]  

The attachment and detachment of the optical pickup 13 to the image forming apparatus main body will be described with reference to Figs. 20 and 21 .

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

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

The image forming apparatus main body 100A of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a cassette can be mounted in an approximately horizontal direction. Specifically, the image forming apparatus main body 100A has a space in which a cassette can be mounted. Next, on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 100A (in the direction in which the user stands when in use), there is a cassette door 104 (front door) for inserting the cassette into the space.

As shown in FIG. 20, the card door 104 of the image forming apparatus 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 space, and the cassette upper rail 106 is disposed on the upper surface. The drum cartridge 13 is guided to the mounting position by upper and lower rails (105, 106) provided above and below the space. The drum cartridge 13 is inserted approximately along the axis of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 toward the mounting position.

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

As shown in Fig. 21 (a), the photo drum cartridge 13 is not in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5 at the start of insertion of the drum unit bearing member 39R and the photoreceptor drum 1. In other words, in a state where the end portion on the deep side in the insertion direction of the photoreceptor cassette 13 is supported by the cassette lower rail 105, the photoreceptor drum 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 5 do not contact each other.

Then, as shown in FIG. 21(b), the image forming apparatus main body 100A has a deep side lower guide 107 that protrudes upward in the direction of gravity from the lower jaw rail 105 on the deep side in the insertion direction of the cassette lower rail 105. The deep-side cassette lower guide 107 is provided with an inclined surface 107a on the front side in the insertion direction of the photoreceptor cassette 13. With the insertion, the drum cartridge 13 is guided to the mounting position by riding the inclined surface 107a.

Further, the position or shape of the deep-side cassette lower guide 107 may be such that a part of the cassette does not slide with the image forming region 5A of the intermediate transfer belt 5 when the cassette is inserted into the apparatus main body 100A. Here, the image forming region 5A refers to a region of the intermediate transfer belt 5 on which the toner image transferred to the recording material 12 is carried. Further, in the present embodiment, the unit bearing member 39R provided on the deep side in the insertion direction of the drum click 13 protrudes most in the direction of gravity in the cassette in which the mounting posture is maintained. Therefore, as long as the end portion on the deep side in the most insertion direction of the drum unit bearing member 39R does not interfere with the image forming region 5A at the time of insertion, the arrangement of the elements is appropriately selected. Just shape it.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 21(c), the photoreceptor cassette 13 is further inserted into the deep side of the image forming apparatus main body 100A from the state in which the upper side of the upper side of the image forming apparatus main body 100A. Next, the drum unit bearing member 39R is in contact with the deep-side latch positioning portion 108 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A. At this time, the photoreceptor cassette 13 (photoreceptor drum unit 30) is in a state of being inclined by about 0.5 to 2 degrees from the state in which the image forming apparatus main body 100A is completed (Fig. 21 (d)). In short, in the insertion direction of the photocontainer cassette 13, the downstream side of the photocontainer cassette 13 (photoreceptor drum unit 30) is raised more than the upstream side.

Fig. 21 (d) is a view showing a state of the apparatus body and the cassette in a state where the card door 104 is closed. The image forming apparatus 100A has a front side lower guide 109 on the front side in the insertion direction of the cassette lower rail 105. The front side lower jaw guide 109 is configured to be connected to the upper and lower sides of the card door (front door) 104.

When the user closes the card door 104, the front side click lower guide 109 rises. Next, the drum unit bearing member 39L abuts against the front side click positioning portion 110 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A, and the photo drum cartridge 13 positions the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

By the above operation, the mounting of the photoconductor cassette 13 to the image forming apparatus main body 100A is completed.

Further, the optical drum cassette 13 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100A in the reverse order of the above-described insertion operation.

As described above, since the oblique mounting structure is employed, when the photoconductor cartridge 13 is attached to the apparatus main body 100A, the sliding of the photoreceptor drum and the intermediate transfer belt can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of minute scratches (scratches) on the surface of the photoreceptor drum or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

Further, in the configuration disclosed in the present embodiment, the configuration of the image forming apparatus main body 100A can be simplified as compared with a configuration in which the entire body of the cassette is lifted after the apparatus main body has moved the cassette in the horizontal direction.

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

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

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

23 is a view for explaining the rotation of the main body drive shaft 101 in a state in which the phase of the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engagement portion 73 (the drive receiving surface 73a) is not matched, and the coupling member 28 of the main body drive shaft 101 is mounted at the time of phase matching. A section view of the action.

Fig. 22 (a) is a view showing a state in which the coupling member 28 starts to engage with the body drive shaft 101. Further, Fig. 22 (e) shows a state in which the photoconductor cartridge 13 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100A. In particular, in Fig. 23(e), the state in which the front side click lower guide 109 is raised as the card door 104 is closed, the photo drum cartridge 13 is positioned to the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

Here, FIGS. 22(b) to (d) are diagrams for explaining the mounting process of the coupling member 28 and the body drive shaft 101 between FIG. 22(a) and FIG. 22(e). Further, the main body drive shaft 101 is suspended downward by a slight angle toward the direction of gravity by its own weight.

In addition, Fig. 23(a) is a view for explaining a state in which the phases of the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 73 (driving receiving surface 73a) are out of phase.

As explained using FIG. 21(b), the photo drum cartridge 13 rides on the deep side cassette lower guide 107. In other words, the drum cartridge 13 is gradually increased in inclination until it is in the state of FIG. 21 (a) to FIG. 21 (b), and is inclined to a state of about 0.5 to 2 degrees. Next, the photo drum cartridge 13 rides on the deep side cassette lower guide 107.

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

As shown in Fig. 6, the main body drive shaft 101 supports the bearing portion 101d on one side. Further, the gear portion 101e is engaged with a gear (not shown) that transmits driving to the gear portion 101e. Fig. 22 (a) is a view showing a state in which the main body drive shaft 101 does not abut against the coupling member 28. In this state, the state in which the photoconductor cartridge 13 is positioned to the image forming apparatus main body 100A (as shown in FIG. 22(e)) is determined by the direction of the self-weight and the occlusion direction with the bearing portion 101d as the center of rotation. Θ1 falls down.

As shown in Fig. 22 (b), first, the front end of the inner peripheral surface 71b of the cylindrical portion 71 of the coupling member 28 abuts against the thick guide portion 101g of the main body drive shaft 101. As shown in the figure, it is the main body drive shaft 101, and the one-side support is constituted by the bearing portion 101d. Therefore, the thick guide portion 101g of the body drive shaft 101 is inserted into the body drive shaft 101 in a state of not following the inner peripheral surface 71b of the coupling member 28. As described above, the engagement portion 73 is in the Z direction, and the distance L1 from the front end surface of the cylindrical portion 71 to the front end surface of the engagement portion 73 is such that the length L2 of the drive receiving surface 73 becomes L1>L2. The way the relationship is configured (as shown in Figure 14). Therefore, the hemispherical shape 101c of the front end of the main body drive shaft 101 abuts the rough guide portion 101g of the main body drive shaft 101 along the inner peripheral surface 71b of the coupling member 28 before abutting the engaging portion 73. Thereby, the body drive 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 suppressed, and the engagement portion 73 or the base portion 74 can be prevented from coming into contact with an unexpected place, and the damage can be suppressed.

As shown in Fig. 22(c), the coupling member 28 is further inserted toward the deep side of the main body drive shaft 101 from Fig. 22(b), 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 formed. 101c abuts. The body drive shaft 101 is guided to the approximate center of the three engaging portions 73 by inserting the inclined surface of the inclined surface 73d and the spherical shape of the hemispherical shape 101c.

Further, when the coupling member 28 is inserted into the main body drive shaft 101, the base portion 74 is elastically deformed outward in the radial direction along the hemispherical shape 101c by the engaging portion 73. As a result, as shown in FIG. 23(a), the engaging portion 73 is moved (retracted) to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft 101. By this movement, as shown in FIG. 22(d), the pulling-out inclined surface 73e of the engaging portion 73 is pulled out from the main body side of the main body drive shaft 101 to the deep side in the Z direction, and the coupling member 28 is attached to The body drives the shaft 101. As described above, the base portion 74 has an elastically deformable root side extension portion 74t and a folded portion 74r. When the engaging portion 73 moves outward in the radial direction, the base portion 74 is elastically deformed by the root side extension portion 74t and the folded portion 74r, respectively, so that the force can be made radially smaller than the configuration in which only the base side extension portion 74t is elastically deformed. Outer deformation. Therefore, the mounting force of the photoconductor cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A can be suppressed to be low.

Further, since the base portion 74 has the folded portion 74r, it can be disposed in a limited space in the Z direction.

As described above, the flange member 70 does not have to be enlarged in the Z2 direction, so that the mounting force of the photoreceptor 13 to the image forming apparatus main body 100A can be suppressed to be low.

Thereafter, as described above, the drum cartridge 13 is lifted in such a manner that the drum unit bearing member 39L of the drum cartridge 13 abuts against the front side latch positioning portion 110. By the light drum cassette 13 being lifted up, the photo drum cartridge 13 is in a state in which the image forming apparatus main body 100A is positioned (as shown in Fig. 21 (d)). By the action of the photo drum cartridge 13, as shown in Fig. 22(e), the tilt of the coupling member 28 is released.

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

Further, when the phase of the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engagement portion 73 is matched, the elastic deformation of the base portion 74 is released in the stage of Fig. 22 (d), and the main body drive shaft 101 can be obtained in the state of Fig. 23 (b). The driving force is transmitted to the photoconductor 13 through the coupling member 28.

As described above, as the drum cartridge 13 is attached to the apparatus main body 100A, the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engagement portion 73 are engaged. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the body drive shaft 101 to be engaged with the coupling member 28. In short, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for moving the main body drive shaft 101 in engagement with the coupling member 28 in the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus. The mechanism for engaging the main body drive shaft 101 to the coupling unit 28 after attaching the photoconductor cassette 13 to the image forming apparatus 100A can be omitted from the apparatus main body 100A.

Further, when the drum cartridge 13 is attached to the apparatus main body 100A, the engaging portion 73 of the coupling member 28 is retracted to the radially outer side by contact with the main body drive shaft 101. Then, the engagement portion 73 is moved to the inner side in the radial direction to engage with the groove of the main body drive shaft 101 (the main body drive transmission groove 101a).

Here, a groove for receiving the 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 side of the main body drive shaft 101. However, the image forming apparatus body 100A requires higher durability than the drum cartridge 13. As described in the present embodiment, the movable portion (engagement portion 73) movable in the radial direction is provided on the coupling member 28 side of the photocontainer cassette 13, and the durability of the image forming apparatus main body 100A is improved.

 [According to the drive of the coupling member of the body drive shaft]  

The transmission of the rotational drive by the body drive shaft 101 to the coupling member 28 is illustrated using FIG.

When the driving receiving surface 73a of the coupling member 28 abuts against the body driving transmission surface 101b, the cleaning blade 26, the charging roller 22, and the like supply a load to the photoconductor drum unit 30. In other words, the drive receiving surface 73a receives the 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 angle between the supported surface 74i and the driving receiving surface 73a is an acute angle, and therefore, 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 74i on the opposite side to the drive receiving surface 73a of the engaging portion 73. The engaging portion 73 is supported (backed) by the supporting portion 33j and the rib 77e, so that the engaging portion 73 is hardly deformed on the downstream side in the rotational direction.

Further, 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 main body drive shaft 101, and the engaging portion 73 is supported (backed).

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

In short, the support surface 33t of the support unit 33j or the supported surface 74i is inclined to the drive receiving surface 73a. As a result, when the drive receiving surface 73a receives the force of the drive transmission groove 101a from the main body drive shaft 101, and the supported surface 74i contacts the support surface 33t, the engagement portion 73 moves to the radially inner side along the support surface 33t. In other words, when the support surface 33t or the supported surface 74i is inclined with respect to the drive receiving surface 73a, when the support surface 33t comes into contact with the supported surface 74i, the engaging portion 73 is urged toward the radially inner side.

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

Further, in the radial direction of the coupling member 28, the support surface 33t is inclined such that its inner diameter side is disposed on the downstream side in the rotational direction from the outer diameter side. The same is true for the supported surface 74i.

Further, the driving force receiving surface 73a provided in the engaging portion 73 is an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the moving direction of the engaging portion 73. The engaging portion 73 moves so as to be retractable toward the radially outer side of the coupling member 28, and the driving force receiving surface 73a is inclined in the 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 such 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 engaging portion 73 is not easily retracted from the driving communication groove 101a. In short, the engagement state of the engagement portion 73 and the drive transmission groove 101a is in a stabilized state.

More specifically, the drive receiving surface 73a is disposed on the upstream side (the front end side) of the coupling member 28 on the upstream side of the rotational direction of the coupling member 28 from the outer diameter side (rear end side). In summary, 73a is inclined in such a manner as to face at least the radially outer side of the coupling member 28. In short, the normal vector extending to the side facing the drive receiving surface 73a perpendicular to the driving receiving surface 73a has a component facing outward in the radial direction.

Therefore, when the coupling member 28 (photosensitive drum unit 30) rotates, the force received by the receiving surface 73a is driven to move the engaging portion 73 in the direction in which it engages with the main body driving transmission groove 101a. In short, the engaging portion 73 is pushed toward the inner side in the radial direction by the driving force that the driving receiving surface 73a receives. As a result, the engagement state between the engagement portion 73 and the main body drive transmission groove 101a is stabilized, and the engagement between the engagement portion 73 and the main body drive transmission groove 101a is suppressed.

As a result of the above 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 toward the bearing portion 101d side of the main body driving shaft 101. Further, even if the load F1 fluctuates, the engaging portion 73 is supported as described above, so that the deformation of the engaging portion is suppressed. Therefore, the amount of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 1 hardly changes, and as a result, the quality of the image quality can be maintained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the support portion 33i is provided in the alignment member (positioning member) 33. However, the support portion 33i may be a member different from the alignment member 33.

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

 [The coupling member is pulled out from the body drive shaft]  

The action of the coupling member 28 being pulled out by the body drive shaft 101 will be described using FIG.

Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the action of the coupling member 28 being pulled out from the body drive shaft 101.

As shown in Fig. 24 (a), when the rotational driving of the main body drive shaft 101 is stopped, the drive receiving surface 73 is in contact with the main body drive transmission surface 101b. In this state, a part of the engaging portion 73 enters the body driving communication groove 101a.

When the cassette door 104 is opened, the front side click lower guide 109 is lowered, and the drum unit bearing member 39L is separated from the front side click 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 inclined to about 0.5 to 2 degrees in the end mounting state (Z direction).

When the photoconductor cartridge 13 is detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100A, as shown in Fig. 24(c), the plucking inclined surface 73e of the engaging portion 73 is in contact with the main body side plucking inclined surface 101i. When the inclined surface 73e is pulled out, since the gradient 101i is pulled out against the body side, the base portion 74 starts to be elastically deformed, and the engaging portion 73 is moved outward in the radial direction along the body side with the inclined surface 101i.

Further, when the coupling member 28 is pulled out by the main body drive shaft 101, the base portion 74 is further elastically deformed, and the engaging portion 73 is moved to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft 101. By the engagement portion 73 moving to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101f, as shown in Fig. 24(d), the coupling member 28 can be removed by the 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 the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the flange member 70 in the Z2 direction. Then, the mounting force of the photoconductor cassette 13 to the image forming apparatus main body 100A can be suppressed to be low, and the change in the amount of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 1 can be suppressed, and the image quality can be maintained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the base portion 74 is provided in each of the folded portions 74r. However, as long as it can be disposed in the space of the inner peripheral surface 72m of the coupling member 28, a configuration having the plurality of folded portions 74r is also possible.

For example, it is also conceivable to arrange the following configurations in order from the fixed end of the base portion 74 toward the free end. That is, (1) an extending portion extending in the axial direction on the inner side, (2) a folded portion, (3) an extending portion extending outward in the axial direction, (4) a folded portion, and (5) extending in the axial direction from the inner side. Extension. In this case, the base portion 74 has three extending portions in an S-shape. When the number of the folded portions is one or plural, the base portion 74 has at least the first extending portion and the second extending portion of the upper limb extending in the mutually different directions in the axial direction. In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 14, and the like, one of the base side extension portion 74t and the free end side extension portion 74s extending in the mutually different directions corresponds to the first extension portion and the other portion corresponds to the second extension portion. unit.

For example, when the free end side extension portion 74s of the support portion that is originally disposed on the free end side is the first extension portion, the base side extension portion 74t that is continuous therewith is the second extension portion. In this case, it can also 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) is directed from the fixed end of the support portion toward the first extension portion ( 74s) extended.

 <Example 2>  

The second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 25 to 30.

Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 128 of the present embodiment cut at the center of the rotation shaft (center of the rotation axis).

Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 128 and the body drive shaft 101 of the present embodiment cut off by the position of the drive receiving surface 73a in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

Figure 27 is a view and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 170 relating to the present embodiment as seen from the outside in the Z direction.

Fig. 28 is a view and a side view of the inner cylindrical member 140 relating to the present embodiment as seen from the Z1 side.

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

Fig. 30 is a view showing an assembly procedure relating to the coupling member 128 of the present embodiment as seen from the outer side and the side surface in the Z direction.

The elements of the present embodiment are given the same names as those corresponding to the elements described in the first embodiment. The components, functions, and the like which are different from the elements of the above-described embodiments will be specifically described in detail with respect to these elements, and the description of the same points as those of the above-described elements will be omitted.

The elements that are substantially the same as those of the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and the same reference numerals are used, and the detailed description is omitted.

In the first embodiment, the coupling member 28 is divided into two parts such as the flange member 70 and the aligning member 33. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the coupling member 128 is constituted by the flange member 170 and the inner cylindrical member 140 as shown in Fig. 25 .

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 27, the flange member 170 has a mounting portion 172, a cylindrical portion 171, a flange portion 175, a force receiving portion 177, a core adjusting portion 133a, and a cylindrical member pressing portion 178. As shown in FIG. 28, the inner cylindrical member 140 has a base portion 174, an engaging portion 173, a fitting portion 140a, an anti-drop portion 140b, and a rotation preventing portion 140c.

Similarly to the base portion 74 and the engaging portion 73 of the first embodiment, the base portion 174 and the engaging portion 173 form a support portion for supporting the driving force receiving portion (the driving receiving surface 173a). This support portion (174, 173) is a snap having a U shape. The inner cylindrical member 140 is a driving force receiving member that receives a driving force from the apparatus body by a driving receiving surface 173a (see FIG. 28) provided in the engaging portion 173.

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

 (About the description of the flange member)  

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

Similarly to the mounting portion 72 of the first embodiment, the mounting portion 172 is a portion to be attached to the photoreceptor drum 1. The mounting portion 172 is pressed into the inner circumference of the photoreceptor drum 1 by the inner circumference of the photoreceptor drum 1 .

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

Similarly to the first embodiment, the crotch portion 175 has a shape that determines the position of the photoreceptor drum 1 and the coupling member 128 in the Z direction.

When the coupling member 128 is driven by the main body drive shaft 101, the force receiving portion 177 abuts against the supported surface 174i of the inner cylinder, which will be described later, and prevents the engagement portion 173 from being deformed on the downstream side in the rotational direction. In other words, in the state of the coupling member 128, it is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the engaging portion 173.

The force receiving portion 177 is parallel to the supported surface 174i, and has a receiving surface 177a that is in contact with 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 toward the mounting portion 172. .

The receiving surface 177a is a support portion that suppresses the movement of the engaging portion 173 (the driving receiving surface 173a) in the circumferential direction of the flange member 128. Further, the flange member 170 is a support member having a support portion (the 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. In other words, the driving force received by the driving receiving surface 173a of the engaging portion 173 from the apparatus 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 177a is a conveyance unit for transmitting a driving force from the inner cylindrical member 140.

The reverse conical shape 133a has a shape which is approximately reversed from the cone as in the first embodiment. In the state in which the contact portion 133e is in contact with the hemispherical shape 101c in the Z direction, the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c of the main body drive shaft 101 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 space provided on the deep side (Z2 side) of the force receiving portion 177.

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

 (Note on the inner cylinder)  

As described above, the inner cylinder 140 has the base portion 174 of the support portion, the engagement portion 173 of the support portion, the fitting portion 140a, the fall-off preventing portion 140b, and the rotation preventing portion 140c (as shown in Fig. 28).

Similarly to the first embodiment, the engaging portion 173 has a driving receiving surface 173a.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the base portion 174 has a base side extension portion 174t, a folded portion 174r, and a free end side extension portion 174s. The free end side extension portion 174s has a backup surface 174i and an abutting surface 174h.

In the present embodiment, each of the base side extension portion 174t and the free end side extension portion 174s is opposite to each of the base side extension portion 74t and the free end side extension portion 74s of the first embodiment.

The base side extension portion 174t is extended by the base portion 174a approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 170 toward the Z1 direction (the outer side in the axial direction of the drum unit), and is disposed to the base side extension portion 174s or the engagement portion 173. On the outside of the radial direction.

The folded portion 174r is a curved portion that continuously connects the fixed end side of the base side extension portion 174s and the free end side of the base side extension portion 174t.

The base side extension portion 174s is provided with an engagement portion 173 in almost the entire area. The engaging portion 173 is a protruding portion of the base-side extending portion 174s, and the engaging portion 173 is provided with a driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 173a).

The base portion 174, each of the base side extension portion 174t and the folded portion 174r is elastically deformed. Compared with the configuration in which only the radical side extension portion 174t is elastically deformed, it can be deformed radially outward by 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 extending portion 174s) and the base 174a of the base portion 174 are disposed on the Z2 side of the folded portion 174r.

The fitting portion 140a is disposed deeper than the base portion 174 and the engaging portion 173, and is fitted with the outer peripheral surface of the aligning portion 133a for high-precision alignment of the center of the flange member 170 and the inner cylindrical member 140. The part used.

The fall prevention portion 140b is a portion for preventing the inner cylindrical member 140 from being detached from the flange member 170. More specifically, the inner cylindrical member 140 is prevented from coming off by entering the cylindrical member pressing portion 178 after being incorporated into the flange member 170. As shown in FIG. 29(a), the anti-drop portion 140b is in a state in which the flange member 170 is assembled into the inner cylindrical member 140 (shown in FIG. 29(b)), and has an avoidance and flange on the upstream side in the rotational direction. The clearance portion 140d that the force receiving portion 177 of the member 170 interferes with.

In the rotation preventing portion 140c, after the flange member 170 is assembled into the inner cylindrical member 140, the inner cylindrical member 140 is restricted from rotating in the upstream direction in the rotational direction, and the separation preventing portion 140b is a portion for preventing the detachment by the cylindrical member pressing portion 178. . As shown in Fig. 28(B), it has a snap shape.

 (assembly of coupling members)  

As previously described, the coupling member 128 is comprised of a flange member 170 and an inner cylindrical member 140. The assembly of the coupling member 128 will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30.

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

First, as shown in FIGS. 29(a) and 30(a), the inner cylindrical member 140 is assembled from the Z1 side toward the Z2 side of the flange member 170. At this time, the inner cylindrical member 140 is assembled with the phase on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the coupling member 128 with respect to the assembled end state of FIGS. 29(c) and 30(c). In this phase, the clearance portion 140d of the anti-drop portion 140b is in phase with the force receiving portion 177. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 29(b) and 30(b), in the Z direction, the fall-off preventing portion 140b is assembled to the same space as the cylindrical member pressing portion 178 of the gap provided on the deep side of the force receiving portion 177. position. At this time, the fitting portion 140a of the inner cylindrical member 140 is fitted into the outer circumference of the reverse conical shape 133a of the flange member 170, so that the center of rotation of the flange member 170 and the inner cylindrical member 140 can be fitted with high precision. Further, at this time, the snap-shaped locking portion 140c is in a deflected state.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 29(c) and 30(c), the inner cylindrical member 140 is rotated toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the flange member 170. By this rotation, the supported surface 174i of the engaging portion 173 of the inner cylindrical member 140 is abuttable with the receiving surface 177a of the receiving portion 177 of the flange member 170. Further, at this time, the deflection of the snap-shaped stopper portion 140c is released, and the flange member 170 and the inner cylindrical member 140 are attached.

That is, for the flange member 170, the inner cylindrical member 140 is restricted from moving in the rotational direction. In short, the inner cylindrical member 140 is rotated on the downstream side in the rotational direction, and the supported surface 174i is rotatable in a range that abuts against the receiving surface 177a. On the upstream side in the rotational direction, the inner cylindrical member 140 is rotatable within a range in which the rotation preventing portion 140c abuts against the flange member 170.

 [According to the drive of the coupling member of the body drive shaft]  

The transfer of rotational drive by the body drive shaft 101 to the coupling member 128 is illustrated using FIG.

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

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

As a result, 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 toward the bearing portion 101d side of the main body driving shaft 101. Further, even if the load F1 fluctuates, the engaging portion 73 is hardly deformed as described above, and therefore the amount of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 1 hardly changes, and the image quality can be maintained.

 <Example 3>  

The third embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 31 to 34.

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

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

Figure 33 is a perspective view of the aligning member 233 relating to the present embodiment.

Fig. 34 is a view showing other types of the coupling member 228 related to the present embodiment.

Among the elements of the present embodiment, the same elements as those of the above-described embodiments are given in accordance with the elements described in the above embodiments. In the above, a detailed description of the configuration, operation, and the like which are different from the above-described elements will be omitted in the same manner as the above-described elements.

In the above, the same components as those of the above-described embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the same reference numerals are used, and the detailed description is omitted. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, the base-side extending portion 274 is disposed on the downstream side in the rotational direction, and the base portion (fixed end) 274a faces the Z2 direction (the axial direction of the drum unit 30). The inside is extended. Next, the base side extension 274t is disposed approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of the flange member 270. Further, the folded portion 274r is formed continuously with the base side extension portion 274t, and is also a portion that is continuously connected to the free end extension portion 274s.

The free end side extension portion 274s extends in the axial direction from the folded portion 274r in the Z1 direction (the outer side in the axial direction of the drum unit 30).

An engagement portion (projection portion) 273 is formed in the free end side extension portion 274s.

The folded 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.

Further, in the present embodiment, the free end side extension portion 274s and the base side extension portion 274t are disposed at different positions in the circumferential direction (rotation direction) of the drum unit 30. In other words, the free end side extension portion 274s and the base side extension portion 274t are disposed at positions shifted from each other in the circumferential direction (rotation direction). In other words, the free end side extension portion 274s is disposed on the upstream side of the base side extension portion 274t in the rotation direction (see FIG. 32). This is different from Embodiment 1.

Further, the support portion for movably supporting the driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 273a) is formed by the base portion 274 and the engaging portion 273 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the aligning member 233 has a reverse conical shape 233a, a fitting portion 233b, a detachment preventing portion 233c, and a support portion 233j (shown in FIG. 33). As shown in FIG. 32, the driving force F1 at the time of driving the coupling member 228 of the main body drive shaft 101 is also transmitted in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the engaging portion 273 is transmitted through the support portion 233j and the rib 277e by the mounting portion 272. The configuration of the support is also the same as that of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the aligning member 233 is also a supporting member, and is also a positioning member.

Further, when the cassette 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100, the engaging portion 273 moves radially outward. At this time, the base side extension portion 274t and the folded portion 274r of the base portion 274 are elastically deformed, and the cassette 1 can be attached with a low load as in the first embodiment.

Further, in the present embodiment, for the sake of explanation, the base side extension portion 274t is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the engagement portion 273 or the free end side extension portion 274s. However, the base side extension portion 274t may be disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the engagement portion 273 or the free end side extension portion 274s (see FIG. 34(a)). Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 34 (b), the basic side extension portion 274t may be disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotation direction of the engagement portion 273 or the free end side extension portion 274s. At this time, of course, the folded portion 274r is 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 base side extension portions 274t for supporting the free end side extension portions 274s. In other words, the free end side extension portion 274s passes through the two folded portion 274r and is connected to the two base side extension portions 274t. Such support portions (273, 274) have an M shape (see Fig. 34 (b)).

 <Example 4>  

The fourth embodiment will be described using Figs. 35 to 41.

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

Figure 36 is a view and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 370 associated with the present embodiment as seen from the outside in the Z direction.

Figure 37 is a perspective view of the inner cylindrical member 340 relating to the present embodiment.

38 is a perspective view of the aligning member 333 related to the present embodiment.

Figure 39 is an explanatory view of the assembly of the coupling member 328 relating to the present embodiment.

Figure 40 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 328 and the body drive shaft 101 of the present embodiment cut away from the position of the drive surface 373a in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

Fig. 41 is a view showing another embodiment of the inner cylindrical member 340 relating to the present embodiment.

For the elements corresponding to those described in the foregoing embodiments, the same names as those of the foregoing embodiments are given. In the above, a detailed description of the configuration, operation, and the like which are different from the above-described elements will be omitted in the same manner as the above-described elements.

In the above, the same components as those of the above-described embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the same reference numerals are used, and the detailed description is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the details are different from those of the third embodiment in detail. The free end side extension portion 374s and the fixed end side extension portion 374t of the present embodiment are different from the free end side extension portion 274s and the fixed end side extension portion 274t of the third embodiment in the extending direction.

Further, in the third embodiment, the coupling member 228 is constituted by the flange member 270 and the aligning member 233, and the flange member 270 has a configuration in which the engaging portion 273 and the base portion 274 are provided. Further, the base portion 274 has the folded portion 274r disposed on the deep side (Z2 side) of the pair of engaging portions.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the coupling member 328 is constituted by the flange member 370, the inner cylindrical member 340, and the aligning member 333 as shown in FIG. Similarly to the second embodiment, the inner cylindrical member 340 is a driving force receiving member. Further, the outer core member 333 is a supporting portion as in the second embodiment, and is also a communicating member and a positioning member.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 36, the flange member 370 has 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 has a base portion 374, an engaging portion 373, and a fitting portion 340a. Similarly to the third embodiment, the base portion 374 has a base extending portion 374t and a folded portion 374r.

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

The folded portion 374r is disposed on the Z1 side of the distal end of the free end side extending portion 374s (the free end of the engaging portion 373).

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

The engaging portion 373 is formed in almost the entire area of the free end side extension 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 a reverse conical shape 333a, a aligning member fitting portion 333i, an detachment preventing portion 333j, and an inner cylindrical member fitting portion 333k.

As shown in FIG. 39, the alignment member fitting portion 333i is fitted to the inner circumferential surface 372m (see FIG. 36) of the attachment portion 372 of the flange member 370. As shown in FIG. 38, the fall-preventing portion 333j has a snap shape extending in the Z direction. The flange member 370 has a hole shape 372b at a position corresponding to the stop-off portion 333j as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 39, the inner cylindrical member fitting portion 333k is fitted to the fitting portion 340a of the inner cylindrical member 340.

As shown in Fig. 39, the inner cylindrical member 340 and the aligning member 333 are assembled from the Z2 side to the Z1 side of the flange member 370, and the coupling member 328 is completed. As shown in Fig. 35, in the assembled state of the coupler 328, the inner cylindrical member 340 is restrained from moving in the Z direction by being engaged by the flange member 370 and the aligning member 333. The inner cylindrical member 340 is configured to be rotatably assembled to the flange member 370 in a range in which the engaging portion 373 is in contact with the upstream side and the downstream receiving portion 377 in the rotational direction.

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

Further, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, when the cassette 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100, when the engaging portion 373 is moved radially outward, the base portion 374t and the folded portion 374r of the base portion 374 are elastically deformed. The cassette 1 can be mounted at a low load.

Further, in the present embodiment, for the purpose of explanation, the inner cylindrical member 340 has the base side extension portion 374t and the engagement portion 373 disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction. However, as shown in FIG. 41(a), the inner cylindrical member 340 may be disposed on the upstream side in the rotational direction, or may be disposed on both sides in the rotational direction as shown in FIG. 41(b).

Further, in the fourth embodiment and the first to third embodiments described above, the configuration of the coupling member for driving the photoreceptor drum 1 for driving the photosensitive drum 1 is described.

In short, the aforementioned coupling members (28, 128, 228, 328) can be provided in the developing cartridge 4. In this case, the driving force for driving the respective coupling members (28, 128, 228, 328) to the developing roller 17, the toner supply roller 18, the stirring member 23, and the like, and the developing cartridge 4 is received. An example of the configuration will be described in detail in the following embodiments 5 and 6.

 <Example 5>  

The fifth embodiment will be described using Figs. 42 to 57.

In the present embodiment, a coupling member 528 provided to the developing cartridge 4 for driving the developing roller 17, the toner supply roller 18, and the agitating member 23 of the developing cartridge 4 will be described. Further, a main body drive shaft 5101 provided to the image forming apparatus main body 100A for transmitting a driving force to the coupling member 528 will be described.

In the foregoing first to fourth embodiments, the configuration of the drive coupling portion (the coupling member and the body drive shaft 101) of the apparatus body and the drum cartridge is explained. In the present embodiment and the sixth embodiment to be described later, this configuration is applied to the drive coupling portion (the coupling member 528 and the main body drive shaft 5101) of the apparatus main body and the developing cartridge.

That is, among the elements of the present embodiment, the same elements as those described above are given to the elements corresponding to those described in the above embodiments. In the above, a detailed description of the configuration, operation, and the like which are different from the above-described elements will be omitted in the same manner as the above-described elements.

In the above, the same components as those of the above-described embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the same reference numerals are used, and the detailed description is omitted.

 [Composition of the body drive shaft]  

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

Figure 42 is an outline view of the body drive shaft 5101.

43 is a cross-sectional view taken along the rotation axis (rotation axis) of the main body drive shaft 5101 in a state in which the image forming apparatus body is attached.

As shown in Fig. 42, the main body drive shaft 5101 is composed of a gear member 5101e, an intermediate body 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 main body 100A. The gear member 5101e is rotationally driven by the motor, and the main body drive shaft 5101 is rotated by the intermediate member 5101p, the output member 5101q, and the drive transmission member 5101r in the order of driving.

Further, the gear member 5101e, the intermediate body 5101p, and the output member 5101q have a mechanism of an Oldham coupling, and are movable a certain distance in the X direction and the Y direction. Therefore, the drive transmission member 5101r provided on the cassette side of the main body drive shaft 5101 via the Oldham coupling can be moved by a certain distance in the X direction and the Y direction. Then, the drive transmission member 5101r includes a rotatable shaft portion 5101f, and the rotational driving force received by the motor is transmitted to the developing cassette 4 side through the groove-shaped drive transmission groove 5101a (concave portion, drive transmission portion) provided in the shaft portion 5101f. Further, the shaft portion 5101f has a conical shape 5101c at its tip end.

The main body drive transmission groove 5101a has a shape that can be entered by a part of the engaging portion 573 to be described later. Specifically, the main body drive transmission surface 5101b that is in contact with the drive receiving surface (drive receiving portion) 573a of the coupling member 528 as a surface for transmitting the driving force is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 42, the main body drive transmission surface 5101b is not a flat surface, and is twisted around the rotation axis of the main body drive shaft 5101. The twist direction is the Z1 direction side of the main body drive shaft 5101 in the Z2 direction side, and is disposed in the direction of the upstream side in the rotation direction of the main body drive shaft 5101. In the present embodiment, the amount of twist in the direction of the rotation axis of the cylinder along the engaging portion 573 is about 1° per 1 mm. The reason for taking the shape of the twisting body drive conveying surface 5101b will be described in detail later.

Further, on the surface on the Z2 direction side of the main body drive transmission groove 5101a, the main body side is provided with the inclined surface 5101i. The gradient 5101i is removed from the main body side, and the gradient (inclined surface, inclined portion) for the assist engagement portion 573 to be pulled out by the drive transmission groove 5101a when the developing cartridge 4 is detached from the apparatus main body 100A.

As shown in FIG. 43, the bearing portion 5101d provided in the gear member 5101e is rotatably supported (axially supported) by a bearing member 5102 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A. Next, the output member 5101q is rotatably supported by the coupler holder 5101s. Further, the drive transmission member 5101r is supported by the output member 5101q in the Z direction, and is spring-applied to the development cassette 4 side (Z2 direction) by the spring member 5103. However, the amount of movement (play) in the Z direction of the drive transmission member 5101q is sufficiently smaller than the width of the drive receiving surface 573a to be described later in the Z direction.

Further, the coupler holder 5101s is pushed in the approximate Y2 direction by the action spring 5101t. As will be described later, when the developing cartridge 4 is mounted, the axis of the drive transmitting member 5101r to the gear member 5101e is located at Approximate position shifted 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 engagement portion 573, so that the device main body 100A transmits the drive to the development cassette 4.

Further, the details will be described later, but the engaging portion 573 is elastically deformable at the front end of the base portion 574. Therefore, the engaging portion 573 is configured to be movable radially outward when the developing cartridge 4 is attached to the apparatus main body 100A. Thereby, as the developing cartridge 4 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100A, the engaging portion 573 enters the driving communication groove 5101a, and the engaging portion 573 can be engaged with the main body driving communication groove 5101a.

The engaging portion 573 has a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force from the outside of the developing cartridge 4. The support portion for movably supporting the driving force receiving portion is formed by the base portion 574 and the engaging portion, which is the same as the above-described embodiment.

 [Configuration of coupling member]  

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

Figure 44 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 528 cut off at the axis of rotation.

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

46 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 528 and the body drive shaft 5101 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member 528 by driving the receiving surface 573a.

47 is a perspective view of the aligning member 533.

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

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

As shown in FIG. 44, the coupling member 528 is composed of two individual cylinder members 570 and a core adjusting member 533. However, depending on the choice of the material, the molding method, the configuration, and the like, it is not necessary to be two individual members, or three or more members may be combined.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the cylinder member 570 is a driving force receiving member provided with a driving receiving surface 573a that receives a driving force from the apparatus body. Similarly to the first embodiment, the aligning member 533 is a member to be conveyed that transmits a driving force from the cylinder member 570. Further, the aligning member 533 is also a supporting member that prevents the driving receiving surface 573a from moving toward the support portion in 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 the axial direction (arrow diagram) of the cylinder member 570. Further, by rotating the aligning member 533 in the counterclockwise direction (arrow diagram), the detachment preventing portion 533c is engaged with the hook portion 572, and the aligning member 533 is unitized together with the cylinder member 570.

 (About the description of the flange member)  

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

Similarly to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 46, the engaging portion 573 is disposed at three positions (at intervals of 120°, approximately equally spaced) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the coupling member 528, and has a driving receiving surface 573a. The base portion 574 has a backup surface 574i and an abutting surface 574h.

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

The abutting surface 574h is a surface of the arcing portion 5101f when the coupling member 528 is engaged with the main body driving shaft 5101, and the radius R51 of the arc forming the inner diameter thereof is approximately the same as the radius R52 of the shaft portion 5101f.

When the coupling member 528 is engaged with the main body drive shaft 5101, the support portion 574i is placed on the downstream side of the rotation direction of the drive receiving surface 573a on the surface that is in contact with the receiving surface 577a of the force receiving portion 577 of the aligning member 533 to be described later. (illustrated in Figure 46). Further, as shown in FIG. 46, the angle J between the supported surface 574i and the driving receiving surface 573a is arranged at an acute angle.

Further, the drive receiving surface 573a may be different in phase in the rotational direction of the two points that are in contact with the drive transmission member 5101r. In short, the drive receiving surface 573a is not necessarily a twisted shape as long as it has a function equivalent to that of the twisted surface. When the drive receiving surface 573a has a twisted shape or a slanted shape, when the drive receiving surface 573a is driven, a force that is pulled into the outer side (the Z1 direction side) of the developing cartridge 4 is applied to the coupling member 528.

Further, as shown in FIG. 45, the engaging portion 573 has an insertion inclined surface 573d as a force receiving portion at the time of mounting on the outer side (the Z1 direction side) of the developing cartridge 4 in the Z direction. Further, the engaging portion 573 has a pulling-out inclined surface 573e as a strength receiving portion at the time of removal on the inner side (the Z2 direction side) of the developing cartridge 4 in the Z direction. Thereby, the mountability and detachability of the coupling member 4028 to the main body drive shaft 5101 can be improved.

At the time of mounting, the insertion inclined surface 573d abuts against the conical shape 5101c, and the engagement portion 573 moves toward the radially outer side of the drive shaft. Further, at the time of pulling out, the pulling-out inclined surface 573e comes into contact with the main body side pulling-out inclined surface 5101i, and the engaging portion 573 is moved outward in the radial direction of the main body driving shaft 5101.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the base portion 574 has a base side extension portion 574t, a folded portion 574r, and a free end side extension portion 574s. Similarly to the first embodiment, the base-side extension portion 574t extends from the root portion 574a approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the cylinder member 570 in the Z2 direction (the inner side in the axial direction of the developing roller). The base side extension portion 574t is disposed on the radially outer side of the coupling member with respect to the engagement portion 573 or the free end side extension portion 574s.

The folded portion 574r is formed continuously with the base side extension portion 574t, and is also a portion that is continuously connected to the free end extension portion 574s.

The root side extension portion 574t extends in the Z1 direction (the outer side in the axial direction of the developing roller) by the folded portion 574r approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the cylinder member 570.

The free end of the engaging portion 573 (the leading end of the free end side extending portion 574s) and the base portion 574a of the base portion are disposed on the Z1 side of the folded 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 the first embodiment, the engaging portion 573 can be moved in the radial direction of the coupling member 528 by the elastic deformation of the base portion 574. In other words, the base portion 574 is deformed by an external force, and has a restoring force (elastic force) in the returning direction at a position to the natural state.

Similarly to the first embodiment, when the coupling member 528 is engaged with the main body drive shaft 5101, the base side extension portion 574t is elastically deformed together with the folded portion 574r, and the coupling member 528 can be attached to the main body drive shaft 5101 with a low attachment force.

Further, the drive receiving surface 573a of the coupling member 528 has a shape that is twisted about the axis of the coupling member 528. In the present embodiment, the torsion is the same amount as the body drive transmission surface 5101b.

 (About the description of the core adjustment member)  

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

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

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

As shown in FIG. 48, the drive transmission surface 533m is a surface (transported portion) that is driven by the cylinder member 570 to the alignment member 533. The cylinder member 570 has a corresponding cylinder drive transmission surface (drive transmission portion) 570m. Three places (120° intervals, approximately equally spaced) are disposed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the aligning member 533 and the cylinder member 570, respectively.

Further, the cylinder drive transmission surface 570m and the drive transmission surface 533m are twisted along the axis of the cylinder member 570 and the aligning member 453, respectively, and the amount of twist is about 2 degrees per 1 mm.

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

Therefore, the cylinder member 570 must be pulled in the Z2 direction. Further, at least a part of the cylinder drive transmission surface 570m and the Z-direction engagement portion D of the drive transmission surface 33m are in a positional relationship with the drive receiving surface 573a and the receiving surface 577a of the force receiving portion 577 in the Z direction. Thereby, the amount of deformation of the cylinder member 570 can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the D-shaped hole provided in the aligning member 533, that is, the mounting portion 533d (see FIG. 37) is attached to the shaft of the toner supply roller 20 as shown in FIG. Then, by driving the shaft transmitted from the aligning member 533 to the toner supply roller 20, 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 driven to drive. Finally, the developing roller gear 599 provided on the Z1 direction side of the shaft of the developing roller 17 is driven by the toner supply roller gear 598 to rotate the developing roller 17. The developing roller 17 rotatably supports both ends thereof by developing bearings 519R, 519L, respectively.

 [Installation of the body of the image forming apparatus by the cassette]  

The mounting of the developing cartridge 4 to the image forming apparatus main body 100A will be described with reference to Figs. 50 and 51.

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

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

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

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

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

As shown in Fig. 51 (a), the developing cartridge 4 is supported/guided by the lower jaw rail 5105 on the lower side of the end portion on the deep side in the insertion direction. The developing cartridge 4 is guided by a clicker rail 5106 (not shown) on the side of the end portion 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 bearing 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 the horizontal direction while being supported by the cassette lower rail 5105, and is inserted until it reaches the deep-side latching portion provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A. Until 5108.

Further, at the time of mounting the developing cartridge 4, the drive transmitting member 5101r of the image forming apparatus main body 100A is engaged with the coupling member 528 in a state of being pushed to the approximate Y2 direction as described above.

Fig. 51 (c) is a view showing a state of the image forming apparatus main body 100A and the developing cartridge 4 in a state in which the card door 5104 is closed. The cassette lower rail 5105 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A is configured to be connected to the upper and lower sides of the cassette door (front door) 5104.

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

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

Further, the removal of the developing cartridge 4 from the image forming apparatus main body 100A is the reverse of the above-described insertion operation.

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

Next, the engagement process of the coupling member 528 with the body drive shaft 5101 will be described in detail using FIG.

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

Fig. 52 (a) is a view showing a state before the coupling member 528 starts to engage with the drive transmission member 5101r. Further, Fig. 52 (d) shows a state in which the developing cartridge 4 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100A. In particular, in Fig. 52(d), the state in which the cassette lower guide rail 105 is raised with the cassette door 5104 closed, the developing cassette 4 is positioned to the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

Here, Fig. 52 (b) and (c) are diagrams for explaining the mounting process of the coupling member 528 and the drive transmission member 5101r between Fig. 52 (a) and Fig. 52 (d). Further, the drive transmission member 5101r is pushed to the approximate Y2 direction by the poppet spring 5101t, and the axis of the drive transmission member 5101r is pushed until it is displaced from the axis of the coupling member 528 in the approximately Y2 direction.

As described with reference to FIG. 51, the image forming apparatus main body 100A is inserted in the horizontal direction while being supported by the cassette lower rail 5105.

Fig. 52 (a) is a view showing a state in which 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 communication member 5101r is offset from the axis of the coupling member 528.

As shown in Fig. 52 (b), the coupling member 528 is further inserted toward the deep side of the drive transmission member 5101r from Fig. 52 (a). First, the insertion inclined surface 573d of the coupling member 528 is in contact with the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r. Pick up. 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 is approximately the same as the axis of the drive transmission member 5101r.

As shown in Fig. 52 (c), a state in which the coupling member 528 is further inserted toward the deep side of the drive transmission member 5101r is shown in Fig. 52 (b). The engaging portion 573 is deformed outward in the radial direction of the coupling member 528 so as to be elastically deformed by the base portion 574 with the insertion inclined surface 573d of the engaging portion 573 along the conical shape 5101c. When the coupling member 528 is inserted in the Z1 direction, the pulling-out 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 pulling-out inclined surface 5101i of the driving transmission member 5101r. It is inserted into the drive communication member 5101r. Next, until the positioning portion 533a of the coupling member 528 abuts against the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r, the coupling member 528 is inserted into the drive communication member 5101r.

Thereafter, as described above, the developing cartridge 4 is lifted by the cassette lower rail 5105, and the developing cartridge 4 is in a state in which the image forming apparatus body 100A is positioned (as shown in FIG. 51(c)). . Further, as shown in FIG. 51(d), as the developing cartridge 4 rises, the drive transmission member 5101r also rises. Then, similarly to the first embodiment, when the main body drive shaft 5101 rotates and the engagement portion 573 is engaged with the phase of the drive transmission groove 5101a, the elastic deformation of the base portion 574 is released, and the engagement portion 573 enters the drive transmission groove 5101a.

 [According to the drive of the coupling member of the body drive shaft]  

The transmission of the rotational drive by the body drive shaft 5101 to the coupling member 528 is illustrated using FIG.

The driving receiving surface 573a of the coupler 528 is loaded with the developing roller 17, the developing blade 21 that has passed through the developing roller 17, and the like when it is in contact with the main body driving conveying surface 5101b. In other words, the drive receiving surface 573a receives the load (driving force) F51 and rotates integrally with the drive transmission surface 101b.

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

Further, the removal of the developing cartridge 4 from the image forming apparatus main body 100A is the reverse of the above-described insertion operation.

In the present embodiment, the base side extension portion 574t extends approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the cylinder member 570 toward the deep side (Z2 direction). Next, the base side extension portion 574t is disposed on the radially outer side of the engagement portion 573, and the free end side of the engagement portion 573 is disposed on the Z1 side of the base portion 574a together with the base portion 574r.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 53, the free end side of the engaging portion 573 may be disposed on the Z2 side of the folded portion 574r together with the base portion 574a of the base portion.

As shown in Fig. 54 (a) and Fig. 55, the base-side extending portion 574t may be disposed on the downstream side in the rotational direction, and may extend deeper (in the Z2 direction) than the base portion 274a. As shown in FIG. 54(b), the base-side extension portion 574t may be disposed on the upstream side in the rotational direction, and may extend deeper (in the Z2 direction) than the base portion 274a. As shown in Figure 54 (c). The base side extension portion 574t may be configured to be disposed on both sides in the rotation direction with respect to the engagement portion 573.

As shown in Fig. 56 (a) and Fig. 57, the base side extension portion 574t is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the engagement portion 573 or the free end side extension portion 574s, and extends in the Z1 direction from the base portion 574a. Also. As shown in Fig. 56 (b), the base-side extending portion 574t may be disposed on the upstream side in the rotational direction, and may extend in the Z1 direction from the base portion 574a. As shown in Fig. 56 (c), the base side extension portion 574t may be disposed on both sides in the rotation direction with respect to the engagement portion 573 or the free end side extension portion 574s.

 <Example 6>  

The sixth embodiment will be described using Figs. 58 to 63.

Figure 58 is a perspective view of the aligning member 633 relating to the present embodiment.

Figure 59 is a cross-sectional view showing the alignment member 633 of the present embodiment cut off at the rotation axis.

Fig. 60 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 628 according to the present embodiment cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis by driving the receiving surface 673a.

Figure 61 is a perspective view of a cylinder member 670 related to the present embodiment.

Fig. 62 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling member 628 of the present embodiment cut off at the rotation axis.

Fig. 63 is a view for explaining the assembly of the coupling member 628 relating to the present embodiment.

The same names are given to the elements corresponding to the elements disclosed in the foregoing embodiments. In the above, a detailed description of the configuration, operation, and the like which are different from the above-described elements will be omitted in the same manner as the above-described elements. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same names and the same reference numerals, and the detailed description is omitted. In the present embodiment, the details are different from those of the embodiment 5 in detail.

In the fifth embodiment, the coupling member 528 is configured by the cylinder member 570 and the aligning member 533. The cylinder member 570 has a cylinder driving conveying surface 570m, a base portion 574, and an engaging portion 573. The aligning member 533 has a force receiving portion 577 and drives the transmission. The composition of the face 533m.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the cylinder member 670 is provided with a support portion 670j, and the base member 674, the engaging portion 673, and the force receiving portion 677 are disposed in the alignment member 633.

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

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

Similarly to the fifth embodiment, the engaging portion 673 has a driving receiving surface 673a. In short, the aligning member 633 is a driving force receiving member provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force from the apparatus body.

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

The driving receiving surface 673a and the supported surface 674i are at an angle j, which is an acute angle as in the fifth embodiment.

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

Further, the reverse conical shape 633a is a portion that determines the position of the coupling member 628 and the main body drive shaft 5101 as in the fifth embodiment.

The detachment preventing portion 633c engages the aligning member 633 and the cylinder member 670 with the unitized portion by engaging with the hook portion 672 provided in the cylinder member 670.

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

As shown in FIG. 60, the support portion 670j is formed in a gap between the supported surface 674i of the alignment member 633 and the receiving surface 677a, and prevents the engagement 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, the circle of the ridge line passing through the side of the engaging portion 673 of the support portion 670j is arranged such that the center thereof and the reverse conical shape 633a are the same as viewed in the Z direction. The diameter D68 of the circle is approximately the same as the outer diameter D65 of the shaft portion 5101f of the main body drive shaft 5101, or is formed to be D68≧D65 when the dimensional accuracy is reviewed. Further, as shown in FIG. 62, the support portion 670j is disposed so as to overlap the drive receiving surface 673a in the Z direction.

The cylinder member 670 is assembled by the centering member 633 from the deep side in the Z direction toward the front side (from the Z2 side to the Z1 side) to constitute a coupling member 628 (shown in Fig. 62). At this time, as described above, the fall-preventing 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 main body drive shaft 5101, as shown in FIG. 60, the driving receiving surface 673a of the engaging portion 673 receives the driving force F1. In addition, since the supported surface 674i, the support portion 670j, the receiving surface 670a, and the rib 670e are supported by the force Fv in the direction perpendicular to the supported surface, the engagement portion 673 can be prevented from being deformed on the downstream side in the rotational direction. Further, by resisting the force Fh in the direction 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 the shaft portion 5101f of the main body drive shaft 5101.

Further, in the fifth embodiment, the engagement portion 573 is provided in the cylinder member 570, and the reverse conical shape 533a and other components are disposed across the alignment member 533. Therefore, the cylinder drive transmission surface 570m is provided in the cylinder member 570, and the drive transmission surface 533m is provided in the alignment member 533. By pulling the cylinder member 570 toward the aligning member 533 side (the Z2 direction side), the position of the Z-direction engaging portion 573 and the reverse-conical shape 533a is stabilized.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the engaging portion 673 and the reverse conical shape 633a are provided to the aligning member 633, it is not necessary to pull the cylinder member 670 toward the aligning member 633 side.

As another embodiment, as in Fig. 53 of the fifth embodiment, the root portion 674a of the base side extension portion 674t of the base portion 674 is provided on the Z2 side, and the folded portion 674r is provided on the Z1 side of the base side extension portion 674t ( Not shown). Further, similarly to FIGS. 54 and 56, the base-side extension portion 674t may be disposed on the upstream side, the downstream side, or both sides in the rotation direction of the engagement portion 673. Further, the configurations of the above-described first to sixth embodiments are summarized as follows. According to each configuration described in the present case, the support portion that supports the driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface) has the first extending portion and the second extending portion extending in the mutually different directions, and the support can be ensured even in a narrow space. The department has a certain length. In short, it is possible to ensure that the coupler or the cassette is small, and the support portion can movably support the driving force receiving portion. Further, with the configuration of the support portion, when the cassette is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the driving force receiving portion (engagement portion) can be engaged with the main body drive shaft provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus.

 [Industrial use possibility]  

According to the present invention, a photosensitive drum unit that can be attached to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided.

Claims (1)

 A drum unit configured to be detachably attached to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a drive shaft provided with a concave portion, comprising: (1) a photosensitive drum, and (2) a photoreceptor drum (2-1) The driving force receiving portion configured to receive the driving force for rotating the photoreceptor drum, and (2-2) movably support the conventional concave portion. a coupling member for supporting the support portion of the driving force receiving portion; the support portion having at least a first extending portion and a second extending portion extending in an axial direction of the photoreceptor drum; and the first extending portion and the aforementioned The second extensions extend in mutually different directions.