TWI685727B - Cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical drum unit configured to be attachable to and detachable from the body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a coupling member provided with a photosensitive drum and a photosensitive drum. The coupling member has a driving force receiving portion and a supporting portion that movably supports the driving force receiving portion. The support portion has a first extension portion and a second extension portion that extend at least in the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum. The first extension portion and the second extension portion extend in mutually different directions in the axial direction.

Description

Cassette and electronic photo image forming device

The present invention relates to an electronic photo image forming apparatus using an electronic photo system, which uses an optical drum unit, a cassette, a coupling member, and the like.

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

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-233867 discloses that a cassette equipped with a coupling member that can tiltly move the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum is provided at the end of the photoreceptor drum.

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

A typical configuration is an optical drum unit that can be attached to and detached from the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus provided with a drive shaft provided with a recessed portion, and includes: (1) a photoreceptor drum and (2) provided on the aforementioned A coupling member of a photoreceptor drum, and having (2-1) a driving force receiving portion configured in such a manner that the aforementioned recessed portion enters and receives the 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 extension portion and a second extension portion that extend in the axis direction of the photoreceptor drum; and the first in the axis direction The extension portion and the aforementioned second extension portion extend in mutually different directions.

The present invention develops the aforementioned prior art.

1‧‧‧Photoreceptor drum

2‧‧‧ charged roller

3‧‧‧Scanner unit

4‧‧‧Developing cartridge

5‧‧‧Intermediate transfer belt

6‧‧‧Clean scraper

8‧‧‧primary transfer roller

9‧‧‧Secondary transfer roller

10‧‧‧ fixed device

11‧‧‧Intermediate transfer belt cleaning device

12‧‧‧Record material

13‧‧‧Drum cartridge

17‧‧‧Developing roller

14‧‧‧Clean frame

14a‧‧‧ Waste Toner Containment Department

14b‧‧‧ opening

28‧‧‧Coupling member

29‧‧‧Non-driven flange member

30‧‧‧Drum unit

39R‧‧‧Drum unit bearing member

39L‧‧‧Drum unit bearing member

51‧‧‧Drive roller

52‧‧‧Second transfer counter roller

53‧‧‧ driven roller

71‧‧‧Cylinder

71c‧‧‧Beared

100‧‧‧Image forming device

101‧‧‧Body drive shaft

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the appearance of the optical drum cartridge 13.

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

4 is a cross-sectional view of a virtual plane of the optical drum cartridge 13 including the rotation center of the photoreceptor optical drum 1.

Figure 5 is the external view of the main body drive shaft.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the forming die of the flange member 70. FIG.

18 is a perspective view of the alignment member 33.

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

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

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

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

FIG. 23 illustrates the installation of the coupling member 28 to the body drive shaft 101 when the body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 73 (drive receiving surface 73a) are out of phase with each other and the rotation of the body drive shaft 101 is started. Cross-sectional view for action.

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

25 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 128 according to Embodiment 2 cut at the center of the rotation axis (the center of the rotation axis).

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

FIG. 27 is a diagram and cross-sectional view of the flange member 170 related to Embodiment 2 seen from the outside in the Z direction.

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

29 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing an assembly procedure related to the coupling member 128 of Embodiment 2. FIG.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an assembly procedure related to the coupling member 128 of Embodiment 2 seen from the outside and the side in the Z direction.

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

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

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

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

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

36 is a diagram and cross-sectional view of the flange member 370 related to Embodiment 4 seen from the outside in the Z direction.

37 is a perspective view of the inner cylindrical member 340 related to Embodiment 4. FIG.

38 is a perspective view of the core adjustment member 333 related to Embodiment 4. FIG.

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

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

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

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

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view taken along the rotation axis (rotation axis) of the body drive shaft 5101 in a state where the body drive shaft 5101 according to Embodiment 5 is attached to the body of the image forming apparatus.

44 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 528 according to Embodiment 5 cut along the rotation axis.

45 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinder member 570 according to Embodiment 5 cut along the rotation axis.

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

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

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

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

Fig. 50 is a perspective view illustrating the installation of the display cartridge 4 of the fifth embodiment to the phase of the image forming apparatus body 100A.

FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the mounting operation of the image forming apparatus body 100A related to the display cartridge 4 of Embodiment 5. FIG.

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

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing other embodiments related to the cylinder member 570 of Embodiment 5. FIG.

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing other embodiments related to the cylinder member 570 of Embodiment 5. FIG.

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

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing other embodiments related to the cylinder member 570 of Embodiment 5. FIG.

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing other embodiments related to the coupling member 528 of Embodiment 5. FIG.

FIG. 58 is a perspective view of the core adjustment member 633 of Embodiment 6. FIG.

FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view of the alignment member 633 according to Embodiment 6 cut along the rotation axis.

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

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

62 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 628 according to Embodiment 6 cut along the rotation axis.

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

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

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

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus, the drum cartridge, and the developing cartridge of this embodiment will be described using drawings. In addition, the image forming apparatus is, for example, a person who forms an image on a recording medium using an electronic photo image forming process. Examples include electronic photo copiers, electronic photo printers (eg, LED printers, laser printers, etc.), electronic photo facsimile devices, and the like. In addition, the so-called cassette is a body that can attach and detach the body of the image forming apparatus (device body, image forming apparatus body, electronic photo image forming apparatus body). Especially the drum cartridge is a cartridge with a photoreceptor drum. The so-called developing cartridge is a cartridge having developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoreceptor. In this embodiment, the optical drum cartridge and the developing cartridge can be separately attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. In addition, the photoreceptor drum is integrated with a coupling member, etc., and is called a drum unit. The drum unit is used in the drum cartridge.

In the following embodiments, a full-color image forming apparatus capable of attaching and detaching 4 drum cartridges and 4 developing cartridges is exemplified. However, the number of drum cartridges and developing cartridges installed in the image forming apparatus is not limited to this. In addition, in the embodiment, a configuration in which two types of cartridges are used, such as an optical drum cartridge and a developing cartridge, is exemplified, but it is not limited thereto. For example, it may be a cartridge having a configuration such as a processing cartridge that integrates the functions of the photoconductor cartridge and the developing cartridge. In addition, similarly, for each of the configurations disclosed in the embodiments, the material, arrangement, size, other numerical values, and the like are not limited unless the description is particularly limited. In addition, when there is no special mention, the so-called upward refers to the upward direction in the direction of gravity when the image forming apparatus is installed.

<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) related to this embodiment will be described using FIG. 1.

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

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

In addition, in this embodiment, the composition and operation of the drum cartridge 13 (13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K) and the developing cartridge 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K), except that the color of the formed image is different , Essentially the same. That is to say, in the following, when it is not necessary to specifically distinguish them, Y, M, C, and K will be omitted and the description will be made collectively.

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

The charging roller 2 is a charging means (charging device, charging member) that uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. Next, the scanner unit (exposure device) 3 is an exposure means (exposure device, exposure member) that irradiates a laser on the photoreceptor drum 1 to form an electrostatic image (electrostatic latent image) based on image information. Around the photoreceptor drum 1, a cleaning blade 6 as a developing cartridge 4 and cleaning means (cleaning device, cleaning member) is arranged.

Furthermore, for the four photoreceptor drums 1, the intermediate transfer body is arranged to transfer the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 1 to a recording material (thin plate, recording medium) 12. Printed belt 5.

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

With the aforementioned configuration, the toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 is transferred to the thin plate (paper) 12 to fix the toner image transferred to the thin plate. In addition, as a processing means that acts on the photoreceptor drum 1, the drum cartridge 13 includes a charging roller 2 that charges the photoreceptor drum 1 and cleaning toner that is not transferred to the photoreceptor drum 1 and remains之保护擦板6。 Cleaning blade 6. The transfer residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 1 without being transferred onto the thin plate 12 is recovered by the cleaning blade 6. In addition, the transfer residual toner recovered by the cleaning blade 6 is stored in the developer removal storage portion (hereinafter referred to as a waste toner storage portion) 14a through an opening 14b (see FIG. 7). The waste toner storage portion 14a (see FIG. 7) and the cleaning blade 6 constitute an integrated cleaning unit (photoreceptor unit, image support unit) 13.

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

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

The intermediate transfer belt 5 abuts on the photoreceptor drum 1 included in each process cartridge, and rotates (moves) in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1. The intermediate transfer belt 5 is stretched on a plurality of support members (driving roller 51, secondary transfer counter roller 52, 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 provided side by side so as to face each photoreceptor drum 1. In addition, a secondary transfer roller 9 as a secondary transfer means is arranged on the outer peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 5 at a position opposed to the secondary transfer counter roller 52.

When forming an image, first, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 2. Next, the surface of the charged photoreceptor drum 1 is scanned and exposed by the laser light emitted by the scanner unit 3 according to the image information. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to 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) to the intermediate transfer belt 5 by the action of the primary transfer roller 8.

For example, when forming a full-color image, the aforementioned processing is performed sequentially on the four drum cartridges 13 (13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K) and the developing cartridge 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K). Next, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptor drums 1 of the respective drum cartridges 13 are sequentially transferred first so 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 transported to the secondary transfer section. Next, the four-color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 5 are collectively transferred to the recording material 12 that is transported to 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 a 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. In addition, the primary transfer residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 1 after the primary transfer step is removed by the cleaning blade 6 and recovered as waste toner. In addition, the secondary transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 5 after the secondary transfer step is removed by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 11.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 may use a desired single or several (not all) image forming units to form a single-color or multi-color image.

[Summary of processing methods]

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

The drum cartridge 13Y, the drum cartridge 13M, the drum cartridge 13C, and the drum cartridge 13K have the same structure. In addition, the developing cartridge 4Y containing yellow toner, the developing cartridge 4M containing magenta toner, the developing cartridge 4C containing cyan toner, and the developing cartridge 4K containing black toner have the same configuration. That is, in the following description, each of the drum cartridges 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K is collectively referred to as the drum cartridge 13, and each of the developing cartridges 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K is collectively referred to as the developing cartridge 4. Each cassette component will also be described generically.

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

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

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

4 is a cross-sectional view of a virtual plane of the optical drum cartridge 13 including the rotation center of the photoreceptor optical drum 1. In addition, 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 body (the Z1 direction side) is referred to as the driving side (deep side) of the drum cartridge 13. In addition, in the axial direction, the side opposite to the driving side (the side in the Z2 direction) is referred to as the non-driving side (front side) of the drum cartridge 13.

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

The axis direction of the photoreceptor drum 1 is a direction parallel to the axis (rotation axis) of the photoreceptor drum 1. The axis of the photoreceptor drum 1 is an imaginary straight line extending so as to pass through the rotation center of the photoreceptor drum 1, and corresponds to the broken line passing through the center of the photoreceptor drum 1 in FIG. 4. At the end opposite to the coupling member 28 (the end 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, and this electrode is connected to the body of the image forming apparatus Contact to 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 photoconductor drum unit 30 receives the driving force from the main body drive shaft 101 provided in the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus via the coupling member 28.

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

In addition, 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 rotation axis (axis) of these coincides with the rotation axis of the optical drum unit 30. Therefore, the axis or axis direction of the drum unit 30 is the same as the axis or axis direction of each of the photoreceptor drum 1, the coupling member 28, and the non-driving side flange member 29.

As shown in FIG. 4, the Z1 side of the coupling member 28 has a cylindrical shape (cylindrical portion 71). The portion of the cylindrical portion 71 on the Z1 side is the bearing portion 71c. The supported portion 71c is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member 39R. In short, the photoreceptor drum unit 30 is rotatably supported by the bearing portion 71c through 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) protruding from the end of the photoreceptor drum 1, and the outer peripheral surface 29a of this cylindrical portion is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member 39L. The outer peripheral surface 29a is a bearing portion on the non-driving side.

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

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

In the Z direction of this embodiment, the drum unit bearing member 39R is arranged at a position supporting the bearing portion 71c, and the drum unit bearing member 39R is arranged at a position close to the position positioned at the rear cassette positioning portion 108. By doing so, when the drum cartridge 13 is mounted on the device body 100A, the coupling member 28 can be suppressed from tilting.

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

Similarly, in the Z direction, the drum unit bearing member 39L is arranged in a place rotatably supporting the non-driving side flange member 29, and the drum unit bearing member 39L is arranged close to the position positioned on the front cassette positioning portion 110 The location. This prevents the non-driving side flange member 29 from tilting.

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

In addition, a charging roller 2 and a cleaning blade 6 are attached to the cleaning frame 14, and these are arranged so as to contact the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. In addition, 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.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the drum cartridge 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 arrow C shown in FIG. 7. 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 urged toward the photoreceptor drum 1 by the pressurizing spring 16 as a urging means. As a result, 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 toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. The cleaning blade 6 is a blade-shaped rubber (elastic member) 6a that comes into contact with the photoreceptor drum 1 to remove the toner on the photoreceptor drum 1, and a support plate 6b that supports each other is integrated. In this embodiment, the support plate gold 6b is fixedly mounted on the cleaning frame 14 with screws.

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

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

The developing cartridge 4 has a developing housing 18 that supports various elements. The developing cartridge 4 is provided with a developing roller 17 which is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 1 and rotates as a developer supporting body rotating in the direction of arrow D (counterclockwise direction) shown in FIG. 7. The developing roller 17 is a rotating body (developing member) for supporting the developer supplied to the photoreceptor drum 1 on its surface. With the toner supplied from the developing roller 17 to the photoreceptor drum 1, the latent image of the photoreceptor drum 1 is developed.

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

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

In the developing chamber 18b, the toner supply roller 20 of the developer supply member rotating in the direction of arrow E in contact with the developing roller 17 and the developer restricting member of the developer roller 17 for restricting the toner layer are disposed板21.

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

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

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

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

Moreover, in this embodiment, the drum cartridge 13 and the developing cartridge 4 are each independently attached to the device body A. However, the drum cartridge 13 and the developing cartridge 4 for forming images of the same color may be integrated into one unit. It may be configured such that the unitized cassette (processing cassette) is attached to and detached from the device body.

[Structure of main body drive shaft]

The structure of the body drive shaft 101 will be described using FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.

Figure 5 is the external view of the main body drive shaft.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The main body driving communication groove 101a has a shape in which a part of the engaging portion 73 described later can enter. Specifically, it is provided with a 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 and serves as a surface for transmitting a driving force.

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

In addition, on the surface of the main body drive transmission groove 101a on the Z2 direction side, the main body side inclined surface 101i is provided. The removal of the inclined surface 101i on the body side is a gradient (inclined surface, inclined portion) for assisting the extraction of the engaging portion 73 from the drive transmission groove 101a when the drum cartridge 13 is detached from the device body 100A. See below for details.

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

Moreover, the inclined surface 101i is pulled out on the main body side as an inclined surface (inclined portion) on the front end side in the axial direction of the main body drive transmission groove 101a. In addition, in the axial direction of the body drive shaft 101, the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c is arranged within the range of the body drive transmission groove 101a (see FIG. 8). In other words, when the center 101h and the body drive transmission groove 101a are projected on the axis of the body drive shaft 101, the projection area of the center 101h is arranged on the axis within the projection area of the body drive transmission groove 101a.

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

In addition, after the installation of the cassette 7 to the image forming apparatus body 100A is completed, the dimensional relationship is set so that the thick guide portion 101g does not contact the inner peripheral surface 71b.

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

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

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 engaging portion 73, so that the apparatus body 100A transmits the drive to the optical drum cartridge 13 (optical drum unit 30).

Although the details will be described later, the engaging portion 73 is elastically deformable at the front end of the supporting 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 device body 100A. As a result, as the optical drum cartridge 13 is inserted into the device body 100A, the engaging portion 73 enters the drive transmission groove 101a, and the engaging portion 73 can engage with the body drive transmission groove 101a.

[Structure of coupling member]

The configuration of the coupling member 28 will be described using FIGS. 11 to 19.

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the forming die of the flange member 70. FIG.

18 is a perspective view of the alignment member 33.

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

As shown in FIG. 16, the coupling member 28 is composed of a flange member 70 and an alignment member 33.

(Explanation on flange member)

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

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

The mounting portion 72 is a portion for mounting on the photoreceptor drum 1. As shown in FIG. 11, the attachment portion 72 has a press-in portion 72d pressed into the cylinder inner diameter of the photoreceptor drum 1, a temporary lock groove 72e, and a press-in portion provided on the deeper side (Z2 direction side) than the press-in portion 72d Guide part 72f.

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

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

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

When the press-fitting guide 72f assembles the coupling member 28 to the photoreceptor drum 1, the coupling member 28 is easily assembled to the photoreceptor drum 1, and the press-fitting portion 72d is pressed into the photoreceptor drum 1 stably. Specifically, the outer diameter of the press-in guide portion 72f is smaller than the outer diameter of the press-in portion 72d and the inner diameter of the cylinder of the photoreceptor drum 1, and has a guide inclined surface at the front end side in the mounting direction of the photoreceptor drum 1 72g. The guide inclined surface 72g is provided in the inclined portion of the coupling member 28 in order to facilitate the insertion of the coupling member 28 into the photoreceptor drum 1.

As described above, the cylindrical portion 71 has the bearing portion 71c (shown in FIGS. 4 and 11 ). The supported portion 71c is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member 39R. As shown in FIG. 13, the inner diameter D2 of the inner peripheral surface 71 b of the cylindrical portion 71 is smaller than the inner diameter D9 of the inner peripheral surface 72 m of the mounting portion 72. In addition, 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 of the front side (Z1 direction). This inclined surface shape is an inclined portion (inclined surface) for guiding the body drive shaft 101 inserted into the cylindrical portion 71. Thereby, when the drum cartridge 13 is inserted into the image forming apparatus body 100A, the body drive shaft 101 can be imitated as a coupling member in such a manner as to reduce the axis deviation of the rotation center of the cylindrical portion 71 and the rotation center of the shaft portion 101f 28 ways to guide. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the inner diameter D2 of the inner peripheral surface 71 b is larger than the outer diameter D6 of the shaft portion 101 f of the body drive shaft 101. Therefore, after the attachment of the optical drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A is completed, the inner peripheral surface 71b does not contact the thick guide portion 101g.

As shown in FIG. 14, the flange portion 75 is shaped to protrude outward in the radial direction from the press-fit portion 72d. When the coupling member 28 is assembled to the photoreceptor drum 1, the shape of the position of the photoreceptor drum 1 and the coupling member 28 in the Z direction is determined at the end surface 75b of the flange 75 by contacting the end surface of the photoreceptor drum 1.

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

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

The contact surface 74h provided at the base 74 of the support portion is a curved surface that contacts the shaft portion 101f when the coupling member 28 is engaged with the body drive shaft 101, and is an arc along the circumferential direction (rotation direction) of the coupling member 28 surface. The radius R1 of the arc constituting the contact 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 supporting surface 33t of the supporting portion 33j of the alignment member 33 described later, and is disposed downstream in the rotation direction with respect to the drive receiving surface 73a (shown in FIG. 12 ). In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, the arrangement is such that the angle J between the supported surface 74 i and the drive receiving surface 73 a is an acute angle. In short, for the support surface 33t of the support portion 33j, the drive receiving surface 73a is inclined.

The driving bearing surface (driving force bearing 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 short, the cylinder member 70 is a hollow portion (a portion having a hollow inside) of the coupling member 28. The base portion 74 of the support portion (73, 74) has a base portion 74a with a fixed end, and the base portion 74a is fixed to the inner surface of the cylinder 70.

At least a part of the support portions (73, 74) is arranged inside the cylinder member 70. In this embodiment, the entirety of the support portions (73, 74) is arranged inside the cylinder member 70.

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

In more detail, the base portion 74 has a base-side extension (fixed end-side extension) 74t, a folded-back portion (curved portion, a continuous portion) 74r, and a free-end-side extension (front end-side extension) 74s. The free end side extension 74s is provided with a supported surface 74i or a contact surface 74h.

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

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

The folded-back portion 74r is continuously formed with the base-side extension 74t, and is also a portion continuously connected with the free-end extension 74s. In short, the turned-back portion 74s is a curved portion provided between the root-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s. In addition, the folded-back portion 74s is a continuous portion that connects the free-end-side extension 74s and the root-side extension 74t. In this embodiment, the bending angle of the turn-back portion 74r is greater than 90°. Specifically, the angle is about 180°.

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

The free-end-side extension 74 extends from the turned-back portion 74r as a starting point, and extends approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 70 in the Z1 direction (that is, outside the optical drum unit 30 in the axial direction). The free-end-side extension 74s is disposed radially inward of the fundamental-side extension 74t.

By bending the base 74 formed as one body, a free-end extension 74s and a base-side extension 74t are formed. With such a configuration, the support portion (73, 74) can be easily configured.

However, the splicing portion, the root-side extending portion 74t, and the free-end-side extending portion 74s are each formed as an individual (different member), and the base-side extending portion 74t and the free-end-side extending portion 74s are connected by a connecting member (sequential portion) It is also possible.

The free end side extension 74s is also a portion for supporting the drive bearing surface 73a. That is, the free-end-side extending portion 74s has an engaging portion (protruding portion, protruding portion) 73 formed with a drive receiving surface 73a.

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

The root-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s are formed in such a manner that at least a part of each other overlaps in the axial direction of the drum unit 30. That is, when the base-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s are vertically projected on the axis of the optical drum unit 30, at least a part of the projection areas overlap each other.

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

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

In other words, each extension (74t, 74s) only needs to extend at least in the axial direction. In other words, the vector extending in the extending direction of each extending portion (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 root-side extending portion 74g may be inclined toward the axis while extending in the Z2 direction. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 64 and 65, the free end side extending portion 74s may be inclined in the Z1 direction while being inclined to the axis direction. In such a case, the root-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s are also considered to extend at least in the axial direction. Further, the root-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s are considered to extend in mutually different directions in the axial direction.

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

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

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

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

The root-side extension 74t is deformed so as to tilt with the root 74a as a starting point. In addition, the folded-back portion 74r is deformed so as to incline the free-end-side extending portion 74s. As a result, the engaging portion 73 can move in a direction crossing the direction in which the extending portions (74t, 74s) extend.

Specifically, when the engaging portion 73 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the main body drive shaft 101, the elastic deformation of the base 74 causes the engaging portion 73 to move radially outward along the outer peripheral surface of the main body drive shaft 101. Thereafter, when the engaging portion 73 is in the same position (same phase) as the body-side drive transmission groove 101 a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the body drive shaft 101, it moves toward the direction in which the elastic deformation of the base 74 is eliminated. As a result, the engaging portion 73 moves radially inward, and a part of the engaging portion 73 can enter the drive transmission groove 101a.

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

In addition, the drive receiving surface 73a only needs to have different phases in the rotation direction at two points in contact with the drive shaft 101. In short, as long as the drive receiving surface 73a is configured to have the same function as the twisted surface, it does not necessarily have to be a twisted shape.

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

By making the drive receiving surface 73a have a twisted shape or an inclined shape in this way, when the drive receiving surface 73a receives the drive, the photoreceptor drum unit 30 is applied to the bearing portion 101d side of the main body drive shaft 101 being pulled Of force.

As shown in FIG. 14, the engaging portion 73 has an insertion inclined surface 73d as a force receiving portion during mounting in the Z direction outside the photoreceptor drum unit 30 (Z1 direction side). In addition, the engaging portion 73 has a pull-out inclined surface 73e in the Z direction inside the photoreceptor drum unit 30 (the Z2 direction side) as a force receiving portion when detached. Thereby, the attachability and attachability of the coupling member 28 to the main body drive shaft 101 can be improved.

During installation, the insertion inclined surface 73d abuts on the hemispherical shape 101c, and the engaging portion 73 moves radially outward of the drive shaft. In addition, when pulling out, the pull-out inclined surface 73e comes into contact with the main body-side pull-out inclined surface 101i, and the engaging portion 73 moves radially outward of the main body drive shaft 101.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, in the Z direction, the distance L1 from the front end surface of the cylindrical portion 71 to the front end surface of the engaging portion 73 is such that the length L2 of the drive receiving surface 73 becomes a relationship of L1>L2 The engaging portion 73 is configured.

As shown in FIG. 15, the force receiving portion 77 is arranged on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the engaging portion 73 and has a receiving surface 77 a and a rib 77 e. The supporting portion 33j of the alignment member 33 described later is sandwiched 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 approximately parallel. As shown in FIG. 15, the rib 77e is arranged with the inner diameter side end of the receiving surface 77a as a starting point, and is almost perpendicular to the receiving surface 77a so as to contact the inner peripheral surface 72m of the mounting portion 72.

In addition, at least a part of the support portions (73, 74) and the drive receiving surface 73a are arranged in the axial direction of the optical drum unit 30, and are arranged inside the bearing portion 71c. Therefore, the support portions (73, 74) or the drive receiving surface 73a can be protected by the bearing portion 71c or the bearing member 19R. Particularly in the present embodiment, the entirety of the support portions (73, 74) and the drive receiving surface 73a are arranged inside the axial direction of the drum unit 30 relative to the bearing portion 71c.

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

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

If at least a portion of the support portion (73, 74) or at least a portion 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 this embodiment, the whole of (73, 74) and the whole of the drive receiving surface 73a are arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1.

In addition, the fundamental portion 74a of the fixed end of the supporting portions (73, 74) is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1, and has the following effects. The base portion 74a is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1 so that the flange member 70 (coupling member 28) is covered by the photoreceptor drum 1 around the base portion 74a and fixed to the photoreceptor drum 1. The photoreceptor drum 1 has high rigidity, and the portion of the flange member 70 covered by the photoreceptor drum 1 becomes less deformable.

The support portions (73, 74) can be elastically deformed with the base portion 74a as a starting point, but even if the support portions (73, 74) are elastically deformed, the photoreceptor drum 1 can suppress the deformation from affecting the base 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. In addition, the support portion (73, 74) is supported by the portion of the flange member 70 that is not easily deformed. As a result, the driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 73a) provided on the supporting portions (73, 74) can stably receive the driving force from the main body drive shaft 101.

In addition, by providing the drive receiving surface 73a inside the photoreceptor drum 1, the main body drive shaft 101 can be made longer. The body drive shaft 101 supports its fixed end (bearing portion 101d) by the device body, and supports its free end (shaft portion 101f) by the drum unit. In this way, the longer the distance between the body bearing shaft 101d and the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft 101, the less inclined it is to the drum unit. In short, when the cassette 7 is installed in the apparatus body, it becomes easy to maintain the body drive shaft 101 and the drum unit in parallel.

Here, if the drive receiving surface 73a is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1, the shaft portion 101f can be inserted into the photoreceptor drum 1 to support the shaft portion 101f inside the photoreceptor drum 1. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the enlargement of the device body, and it is easy to ensure the length of the body drive shaft 101 (the distance between the bearing portion 101d and the shaft portion 101f).

(Explanation on manufacturing method)

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

The configuration of the metal mold used when molding the flange member 70 will be described using FIG. 17.

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

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

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

As described above, the engaging portion 73 has an insertion slope 73d at one end in the Z direction and a pull-out slope 73e at the other end. Therefore, it is difficult to select which end surface in the Z direction of the engaging portion 73 to arrange the parting surface 62 of the mold. This is because when a mold divided into two bodies is used, when the parting surface 62 is arranged on any one of the two end surfaces of the engaging portion 73, it is difficult to remove the formed flange member 70 from the mold. In short, when the two metal molds are removed from the engagement part 73 after the engagement part 73 is formed, at least one of the metal molds will be caught by the engagement part 73 and become immobile.

The parting surface 62 is made as narrow as possible, and it is easier to produce the metal mold. As a result, it is possible to produce the parting surface 62 with high accuracy. Accordingly, 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 narrow the parting surface 62 of the engaging portion 73, it is necessary to arrange the driving receiving surface 73a on the deep side (Z2 side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 by inserting the inclined surface 73d at least. Here, in this embodiment, the end of the insertion slope 73d and the end of the drive receiving surface 73a are arranged at the same position in the Z direction.

When forming the flange member 70 of this embodiment, the parting surface 62 is arranged as described below. In short, the mounting portion-side mold 61 forms the surfaces seen from the Z2 direction side of the drive receiving surface 73a and the base portion 74. In addition, the cylindrical side mold 60 forms a surface seen from the Z1 direction side of the insertion slope 73 d and the base 74. As described above, the inner side surface of the root-side extending portion 74t is arranged to have the same diameter as the inner peripheral surface 71R of the cylindrical portion 71 or to protrude from the inner diameter side. In this way, it is possible to prevent the root-side extending portion 74t from being caught by the cylindrical portion side mold 60 and obstructing the movement of the cylindrical portion side mold 60.

In addition, when the flange member 70 is viewed from the Z direction (when the flange member 70 is viewed along the axis direction), as shown in FIG. 12, it is necessary that the force receiving portion 77 does not overlap with the engaging portion 73 and the base portion 74 Way configuration. In short, when the flange member 70 is viewed in the axial direction, the force receiving portion 77 must be arranged 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 arranged such that the engaging portion 73 and the base portion 74 have a gap of about 1 mm.

(Explanation on the alignment member)

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

In this embodiment, the aligning member 33 has a concave portion (reverse conical shape 33a) narrowing toward the bottom. The reverse conical shape 33 a is a low-convex shape (concave portion) that is almost conical and is arranged on the axis of the optical drum unit 30. In addition, in the axial direction of the optical drum unit 30, it is arranged inside the drive receiving surface 73a. The detailed shape of the alignment member 33 will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 18, the alignment member 33 has an inverse conical shape 33a, a fitting portion 33b, a detachment preventing portion 33c, and a supporting portion 33j.

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

As shown in FIG. 10, the reverse conical shape 33 a is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum unit 30 (the Z2 direction side) than the engaging portion 73. In addition, 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 an abutment portion 33e that abuts on the hemispherical shape 101c of the front end of the main body drive shaft 101 when the photoreceptor drum 1 is rotationally driven. In addition, the reverse conical shape 33a is approximately reverse conical (a shape that is approximately conically lowered). As shown in FIG. 10, in the Z direction, with the contact portion 33e in contact with the hemispherical shape 101c, the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c of the main body drive shaft 101 is within the range of the drive receiving surface 73a The inner mode is attached to the flange member 70.

The contact portion 33e provided in the reverse conical shape 33a contacts the body drive shaft 101 to position the optical drum unit 30 by contacting the hemispherical shape 101c of the body drive shaft 101.

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

In addition, it is not necessary for the radial positioning portion and the longitudinal positioning portion to have a conical shape like a reverse conical shape 33a. When the radial positioning portion and the longitudinal positioning portion are in contact with the body drive shaft 101, the shape of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 can be determined as long as the position of the body drive shaft 101 can be determined. For example, these are suitable for low depressions (recesses) that become narrower toward the bottom. As such an object, a pyramid shape such as a pyramid (a square pyramid, etc.) that is not a cone may be used. However, as with the reverse conical shape 33a of the present embodiment, as long as it is a conical-shaped recessed portion that is symmetrical about the axis of the coupling member 28, the position of the coupling member 28 (the position of the drum unit 30) can be maintained particularly accurately .

In addition, the reverse conical shape 33a may be any area as long as it is in contact with the body drive shaft 101, and the non-contact area may be any shape. For example, the bottom that is not in contact with the main body drive shaft 101, that is, the reverse conical shape 33a may be absent, and the reverse conical shape 33a may be a recess without a bottom.

The fitting portion 33b is provided in a space for attaching the alignment member 33 to the flange member 70. As shown in FIG. 10, the flange member 70 has a fitted portion 72a in a space corresponding to the fitting portion 33b. In addition, the fitting portion 33b is disposed inside the photoreceptor drum unit 30 (Z2 direction side) than the contact portion 33e.

As shown in FIG. 18, the detachment preventing portion 33c is a shape for preventing the aligning member 33 from falling off from the flange member 70. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, the flange member 70 has a hole shape 72 b in a place corresponding to the detachment preventing portion 33 c.

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

In short, the supporting portion 33j is a portion that suppresses the movement of the engaging portion 73 (drive receiving surface 73a) in the circumferential direction of the flange member 70 by contacting the supported surface 74i. In addition, the alignment member 33 is a support member having a support portion 33j.

In addition, the alignment member 33 is also a positioning member that determines the relative position of the flange member 70 (drum unit 30) of the body drive shaft 101. The concave portion (inverse conical shape 33a) provided in the alignment 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 jointly determined for the body drive shaft 101.

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

[Installation of the cassette to the main body of the image forming apparatus]

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

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

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

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

As shown in FIG. 20, the cassette 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 optical drum cassette 13 is arranged on the bottom surface of the aforementioned space, and the cassette upper rail 106 is arranged on the upper surface. The drum cartridge 13 is guided to the installation position by the upper and lower guide rails (105, 106) provided above and below the space. The drum cartridge 13 is inserted into the mounting position approximately along the axis of the photoreceptor drum unit 30.

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

As shown in FIG. 21(a), the drum cartridge 13 does not come into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5 when the drum unit bearing member 39R and the photoreceptor drum 1 start to be inserted. In other words, in a state where the deep end of the drum cartridge 13 in the insertion direction is supported by the cartridge lower rail 105, there is a dimensional relationship in which the photoreceptor drum 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 5 are not in contact.

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

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

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 21( c ), the drum cartridge 13 is inserted into the deep side of the image forming apparatus body 100A from the state of the upper deep cassette lower guide 107. Next, the drum unit bearing member 39R comes into contact with the deep cassette positioning portion 108 provided in the image forming apparatus body 100A. At this time, the drum cartridge 13 (photoreceptor drum unit 30) is in a state tilted by about 0.5 to 2° from the state where it is completely attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100A (FIG. 21(d)). In short, in the insertion direction of the drum cartridge 13, the downstream side of the drum cartridge 13 (photoreceptor drum unit 30) is raised more than the upstream side.

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

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

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

In addition, removing the drum cartridge 13 from the image forming apparatus main body 100A is the reverse order of the insertion operation described above.

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

In addition, the configuration disclosed in this embodiment can simplify the configuration of the image forming apparatus main body 100A compared with the configuration in which the entire cassette is lifted after the cassette is moved and installed in the horizontal direction of the apparatus main body.

[The coupling process of the coupling member toward the main 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 body drive shaft 101. FIG.

FIG. 23 illustrates the installation of the coupling member 28 to the body drive shaft 101 when the body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 73 (drive receiving surface 73a) are out of phase with each other and the rotation of the body drive shaft 101 is started. Cross-sectional view for action.

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

Here, FIGS. 22(b) to (d) are diagrams illustrating the installation process of the coupling member 28 and the body drive shaft 101 between FIGS. 22(a) and 22(e). Moreover, the main body drive shaft 101 hangs downward in the direction of gravity at a slight angle by its own weight.

Fig. 23(a) is a diagram for explaining a state where the phase of the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 73 (drive receiving surface 73a) are out of phase.

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

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

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body drives the shaft 101 to support the bearing portion 101d on one side. In addition, the gear portion 101e is engaged with a gear (not shown) that transmits driving to the gear portion 101e. FIG. 22(a) is a diagram showing a state where the body drive shaft 101 is not in contact with the coupling member 28. In this state, the state in which the drum cartridge 13 is positioned to the image forming apparatus body 100A (as shown in FIG. 22(e)), with the bearing portion 101d as the center of rotation, is directed in a direction determined by its own weight and the direction of the bite θ1 falls.

As shown in FIG. 22( b ), first, the front end of the inner circumferential surface 71 b of the cylindrical portion 71 of the coupling member 28 abuts on the thick guide portion 101 g of the body drive shaft 101. As shown in the figure, the main body drive shaft 101 is configured to support the bearing portion 101d on one side. Therefore, the thick guide portion 101g of the body drive shaft 101 is inserted into the body drive shaft 101 in a state of following the inner circumferential surface 71b of the coupling member 28 without leaving. As described above, the engaging portion 73 is tied in the Z direction to the distance L1 from the front end surface of the cylindrical portion 71 to the front end surface of the engaging portion 73 so that the length L2 of the drive receiving surface 73 becomes L1>L2 Configuration of the relationship (as shown in Figure 14). Therefore, the hemispherical shape 101c of the front end of the main body drive shaft 101 contacts the engaging portion 73, and the thick guide portion 101g of the main body drive shaft 101 follows the inner circumferential surface 71b of the coupling member 28. Thereby, the main body drive shaft 101 guides the coupling member 28. Thereby, the hemispherical shape 101c at the front end of the main body drive shaft 101 can be prevented from colliding with the engaging portion 73 or the base 74 in an unexpected place, and these damages can be suppressed.

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

Furthermore, when the coupling member 28 is inserted into the main body drive shaft 101, the base 74 is elastically deformed radially outward so that the engaging portion 73 follows the hemispherical shape 101c. As a result, as shown in FIG. 23( a ), the engaging portion 73 moves (retracts) to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101 f of the body drive shaft 101. By this movement, as shown in FIG. 22(d), the inclined surface 73e of the engaging portion 73 is removed from the 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 drive shaft 101. As described above, the base 74 has an elastically deformable root-side extending portion 74t and a folded-back portion 74r. When the engaging portion 73 moves outward in the radial direction, the base-side extension 74t and the folded-back portion 74r of the base 74 are elastically deformed respectively. Therefore, compared with a configuration in which only the base-side extension 74t is elastically deformed, a smaller force can be used in the radial direction Deformed outside. Therefore, the mounting force of the optical drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A can be suppressed to be very low.

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

As described above, the flange member 70 can suppress the mounting force of the drum cartridge 13 to the image forming apparatus body 100A to be low without increasing the size in the Z2 direction.

Thereafter, as described above, the drum cartridge 13 is lifted up so that the drum unit bearing member 39L of the drum cartridge 13 abuts against the front-side cartridge positioning portion 110. As the drum cartridge 13 is lifted, the drum cartridge 13 is in a state of being positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus body 100A (as shown in FIG. 21(d)). By the operation of the drum cartridge 13, as shown in FIG. 22(e), the inclination of the coupling member 28 is eliminated.

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

Moreover, when the phase of the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 73 is well matched, the elastic deformation of the base portion 74 is released at the stage of FIG. 22(d), and the state of FIG. 23(b) is obtained, so that the main body drive shaft 101 can be The driving force is transmitted to the drum cartridge 13 through the coupling member 28.

As described above, as the optical drum cartridge 13 is attached to the device body 100A, the body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 73 become engaged. Therefore, there is no need to move the body drive shaft 101 to engage the coupling member 28. In short, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for moving the main body drive shaft 101 to be engaged 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 the optical drum cartridge 13 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 100A may be omitted from the apparatus main body 100A.

In addition, when the drum cartridge 13 is attached to the device body 100A, the engaging portion 73 of the coupling member 28 is retracted radially outward by contacting the body drive shaft 101. Next, the engaging portion 73 moves inward in the radial direction and engages with the groove of the body drive shaft 101 (body drive transmission groove 101a).

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

[Driven by coupling member of main body drive shaft]

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

When the drive receiving surface 73a of the coupling member 28 is in contact with the main drive transmission surface 101b, the cleaning blade 26, the charging roller 22, and the like load the photoconductor drum unit 30. That is, the drive receiving surface 73a rotates integrally with the drive transmission surface 101b while receiving a load (driving force) F1.

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

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

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

In short, the supporting surface 33t of the supporting portion 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 is contacted by the support surface 74i to the support surface 33t, the engaging portion 73 moves to the radially inner side along the support surface 33t. In short, the supporting surface 33t or the supported surface 74i is inclined to the drive receiving surface 73a, and when the supporting surface 33t contacts the supported surface 74i, a force is generated to cause the engaging portion 73 to urge radially inward.

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 member receiving surface 73a in the radial direction of the coupling member.

In addition, in the radial direction of the coupling member 28, the support surface 33t is inclined so that its inner diameter side is arranged further downstream in the rotation direction than its outer diameter side. The supported surface 74i is the same.

In addition, the driving force receiving surface 73 a provided in the engaging portion 73 is an inclined portion inclined to the moving direction of the engaging portion 73. The engaging portion 73 is movable so as to be retractable outward in the radial direction of the coupling member 28, and the driving force receiving surface 73a is inclined in this direction.

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

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

Therefore, when the coupling member 28 (photoreceptor drum unit 30) rotates, the force received by the drive receiving surface 73a causes the engaging portion 73 to move in a direction to engage with the body drive transmission groove 101a. In short, the driving force received by the driving bearing surface 73a causes the engaging portion 73 to be pushed toward the inner side in the radial direction. As a result, the engagement state of the engaging portion 73 and the main body drive transmission groove 101a is stable, and the disengagement of the engaging portion 73 and the main body drive transmission groove 101a is suppressed.

As a result of the foregoing configuration, the drive receiving surface 73a can be stabilized to abut on the body drive receiving surface 101a, and the photoreceptor drum unit 30 can be drawn toward the body drive shaft 101 toward the bearing portion 101d side. In addition, even if the load F1 fluctuates, the engaging portion 73 is supported as described above, so the deformation of the engaging portion is suppressed. Therefore, the rotation amount of the photoreceptor drum 1 hardly changes, and as a result, the image quality can be maintained.

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

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

[Removal of coupling member from main body drive shaft]

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

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

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

When the cassette door 104 is opened, the front cassette lower guide 109 is lowered, and the drum unit bearing member 39L is separated from the front cassette positioning portion 110 of the image forming apparatus 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 about 0.5 to 2° with respect to the end-mounted state (Z direction).

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

Furthermore, when the coupling member 28 is removed from the body drive shaft 101, the base 74 is elastically deformed to move the engaging portion 73 to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101f of the body drive shaft 101. By moving the engaging portion 73 to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101f, as shown in FIG. 24(d), the coupling member 28 can be pulled out of the body drive shaft 101.

Furthermore, 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 74 is released, and the position of the engaging portion 73 also returns to the position before the elastic deformation.

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

In addition, in this embodiment, the base portion 74 is provided with the folded-back portion 74r at one place. However, as long as it can be disposed in the space of the inner peripheral surface 72m of the coupling member 28, it is possible to have a structure with a plurality of folded-back portions 74r.

For example, the following configuration may be considered in order from the fixed end of the base 74 toward the free end. That is, (1) an extension that extends inward in the axial direction, (2) a turn-back portion, (3) an extension that extends in the axial direction outside, (4) a turnback portion, (5) extends inward in the axis direction Of the extension. In this case, the base 74 has three extensions that are S-shaped. In the case where there is only one turn-back portion or in the case of a plurality of base portions, the base portion 74 has at least a first extension portion and a second extension portion of the upper limb extending in mutually different directions in the axial direction. In this embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, among the fundamental-side extension 74t and the free-end-side extension 74s extending in mutually different directions, one is equivalent to the first extension and the other is equivalent to the second extension unit.

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

<Example 2>

The second embodiment will be described using FIGS. 25 to 30.

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

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

FIG. 27 is a diagram and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 170 related to this embodiment seen from the outside in the Z direction.

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

FIG. 29 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the assembly procedure of the coupling member 128 related to this embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the assembly procedure of the coupling member 128 related to this embodiment seen from the outside and the side in the Z direction.

When the elements of this embodiment correspond to the elements described in Embodiment 1, the same names are assigned. In particular, these elements will be described in detail with respect to the configuration or function different from the elements of the foregoing embodiments, and the same elements as those described above may be omitted.

In addition, elements that are substantially equivalent to those of the foregoing embodiments are given the same names and the same symbols, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

In the first embodiment, the coupling member 28 is divided into two parts including the flange member 70 and the alignment member 33. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the coupling member 128 is composed of 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 an attachment portion 172, a cylindrical portion 171, a flange portion 175, a force receiving portion 177, a core adjustment 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, a drop prevention portion 140b, and a rotation stop portion 140c.

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

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

(Explanation on flange member)

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

The mounting portion 172 is the portion to be mounted on the photoreceptor drum 1 in the same manner as the mounting portion 72 of the first embodiment. The attachment portion 172 is pressed into the inner periphery of the photoreceptor drum 1 by being attached to the inner periphery of the photoreceptor drum 1.

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

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

The force receiving portion 177 is a shape for preventing the deformation of the engaging portion 173 on the downstream side in the rotation direction when the coupling member 128 is driven by the main body drive shaft 101 and contacts the supported surface 174i of the inner cylinder described later. That is, in the state of the coupling member 128, it is arranged 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, has a receiving surface 177a abutting on the supported surface 174i, and is arranged perpendicular to the receiving surface 177a, and extends from the inner diameter end of the receiving surface to the mounting portion 172 .

The receiving surface 177a is a supporting portion that suppresses the movement of the engaging portion 173 (driving receiving surface 173a) in the circumferential direction of the flange member 128. In addition, the flange member 170 is a supporting member having a supporting portion (receiving surface 177a).

Furthermore, the receiving surface 177a transmits the driving force from the inner cylindrical member 140 by contacting the supported surface 174i. That is, the driving force received by the drive receiving surface 173a of the engaging portion 173 from the device body is transmitted from the inner cylindrical member 140 to the cylinder member 170 through the supported surface 174i and the receiving surface 177a. The receiving surface 177a is a part to be transmitted for transmitting driving force from the inner cylindrical member 140.

The reverse conical shape 133a, as in the first embodiment, has an approximately reverse conical shape. In the Z direction, the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c of the main body drive shaft 101 is arranged on the flange member 170 so that the contact portion 133e is in contact with the hemispherical shape 101c within the range of the drive receiving surface 173a.

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

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

(Explanation on the inside cylinder)

As described above, the inner cylinder 140 has the base portion 174 of the support portion, the engaging portion 173 of the support portion, the fitting portion 140a, the drop prevention portion 140b, and the rotation stop portion 140c (as shown in FIG. 28).

The engaging portion 173 has the drive receiving surface 173a as in the first embodiment.

Like the first embodiment, the base portion 174 has a fundamental side extending portion 174t, a turned-back portion 174r, and a free end side extending portion 174s. The free end side extension 174s has a backup surface 174i and a contact surface 174h.

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

The base-side extension 174t extends from the base 174a, approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the flange member 170, in the Z1 direction (outside of the drum unit axis direction), and is disposed on the base-side extension 174s or the engaging portion 173 On the radially outer side.

The turn-back portion 174r is a curved portion that continuously connects the fixed end side of the root-side extension 174s and the free end side of the root-side extension 174t.

The base side extension 174s is provided with an engaging 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).

Each of the base portion 174, the base-side extension portion 174t, and the folded-back portion 174r is elastically deformed. Compared with a configuration in which only the fundamental side extension 174t is elastically deformed, it can be deformed radially outward with a small force. This is the same as in Example 1.

Both the free end side of the engaging portion 173 (the front end side of the free end extension 174s) and the base 174a of the base portion 174 are arranged closer to the Z2 side than the folded-back portion 174r.

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

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

The anti-rotation part 140c, after the flange member 170 is incorporated into the inner cylindrical member 140, the inner cylindrical member 140 restricts the rotation to the upstream side in the direction of rotation, and the anti-dropping part 140b is a part for preventing the cylindrical member pressing part 178 from coming off . As shown in Fig. 28(B), it is a snap shape.

(Assembly of coupling member)

As described above, the coupling member 128 is composed of the flange member 170 and the inner cylindrical member 140. The assembly of the coupling member 128 will be explained using FIGS. 29 and 30.

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

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

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 29(c) and 30(c), the inner cylindrical member 140 is rotated toward the downstream side of 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 becomes contactable with the receiving surface 177a of the force receiving portion 177 of the flange member 170. In addition, at this time, the buckling of the buckle-shaped rotation preventing portion 140 c is released, and the inner cylindrical member 140 is attached to the flange member 170.

That is, for the flange member 170, the inner cylindrical member 140 is restricted from moving in the rotation direction. In short, the inner cylindrical member 140 is on the downstream side in the rotation direction, and the supported surface 174i can rotate within a range up to the contact surface 177a. On the upstream side in the rotation direction, the inner cylindrical member 140 can rotate within a range until the rotation stop portion 140c contacts the flange member 170.

[Driven by coupling member of main body drive shaft]

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

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

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

As a result, the drive receiving surface 73a can be stabilized to abut on the main body drive receiving surface 101a, and the photoreceptor drum unit 30 can be drawn toward the body drive shaft 101 toward the bearing portion 101d side. In addition, even if the load F1 fluctuates, the engaging portion 73 is supported as described above and hardly deforms. Therefore, the rotation amount 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.

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

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

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

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing other types of coupling members 228 related to this embodiment.

Among the elements of the present embodiment, those corresponding to the elements described in the aforementioned embodiment are given the same names as the elements of the aforementioned embodiment. With regard to these particularly detailed descriptions of configurations or functions that are different from the aforementioned elements, the same elements as the aforementioned elements may be omitted.

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

The free-end-side extending portion 274s extends from the folded-back portion 274r in the Z1 direction (outside the axis direction of the optical drum unit 30) along the axis direction.

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

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

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the free end side extension 274s and the base side extension 274t are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction (rotation direction) of the optical drum unit 30. In other words, the free end side extension 274s and the base side extension 274t are arranged at positions offset from each other in the circumferential direction (rotation direction). In other words, the free-end-side extension 274s is arranged closer to the upstream side than the base-side extension 274t in the rotation direction (see FIG. 32). This point is different from Example 1.

In addition, the supporting 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 as in the first embodiment.

Like the first embodiment, the alignment member 233 has an inverse conical shape 233a, a fitting portion 233b, a detachment preventing portion 233c, and a supporting portion 233j (as shown in FIG. 33). As shown in FIG. 32, the transmission of the driving force F1 according to the driving of the coupling member 228 of the main body drive shaft 101 is also the same as in the first embodiment. The configuration of support is also the same as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the alignment member 233 is also a supporting member and also a positioning member.

In addition, when the cassette 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus body 100, the engaging portion 273 moves radially outward. At this time, by elastically deforming the base-side extension 274t and the folded-back portion 274r of the base 274, the cassette 1 can be mounted at a low load as in the first embodiment.

In addition, in the present embodiment, for the sake of explanation, the base-side extension 274t is disposed downstream of the rotation direction with respect to the engaging portion 273 or the free-end-side extension 274s. However, the root-side extension 274t may be arranged upstream of the rotation direction with respect to the engaging portion 273 or the free-end-side extension 274s (see FIG. 34(a)). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 34(b), the basic side extending portion 274t may be disposed on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotation direction of the engaging portion 273 or the free end side extending portion 274s. At this time, of course, the folded-back portion 274r is also arranged 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 supporting portions (273, 274) have two fundamental side extending portions 274t for supporting the free end side extending portion 274s. In other words, the free-end-side extension 274s is connected to the two fundamental-side extensions 274t through the two return portions 274r. Such supporting portions (273, 274) have an M-shape (see FIG. 34(b)).

<Example 4>

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

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

36 is a diagram and a cross-sectional view of the flange member 370 related to the present embodiment seen from the outside in the Z direction.

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

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the core adjustment member 333 related to this embodiment.

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

Fig. 40 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 328 and the main body drive shaft 101 according to the present embodiment cut through the position of the drive transmission surface 373a in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

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

Those corresponding to the elements described in the foregoing embodiments are given the same names as in the foregoing embodiments. With regard to these particularly detailed descriptions of configurations or functions that are different from the aforementioned elements, the same elements as the aforementioned elements may be omitted.

In addition, among the elements of the present embodiment, those substantially equivalent to the elements of the aforementioned embodiment are given the same name and the same symbol, and detailed description is omitted.

In this embodiment, the detailed description is particularly different from Embodiment 3. The free end side extension 374s and the fixed end side extension 374t of this embodiment are different from the free end side extension 274s and the fixed end side extension 274t of Embodiment 3 in the direction of extension.

In addition, in the third embodiment, the coupling member 228 is composed of the flange member 270 and the alignment member 233, and the flange member 270 has the engaging portion 273 and the base portion 274. In addition, the base portion 274 arranges the folded-back portion 274r on the deep side (Z2 side) of the engaging portion.

In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 35, the coupling member 328 is composed of the flange member 370, the inner cylindrical member 340, and the alignment member 333. The inner cylindrical member 340 is a driving force receiving member as in the second embodiment, and the aligning member 333 is a supporting portion as in the second embodiment, and is a transmitted member and a positioning member.

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

In addition, as shown in FIG. 37, the inner cylindrical member 340 has a base portion 374, an engaging portion 373, and a fitting portion 340a. Like the third embodiment, the base 374 has a base extension 374t and a turn-back portion 374r.

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

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

The free-end-side extending portion 374s extends from the folded-back portion 374r in the Z2 direction (inward of the axis direction of the drum unit 30), and is arranged 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 374s. The engaging portion 373 is provided with a driving receiving surface 373a which is a driving force receiving portion.

As shown in FIG. 38, the aligning member 333 has an inverse conical shape 333a, an aligning member fitting portion 333i, an anti-dropping portion 333j, and an inner cylindrical member fitted portion 333k.

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

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

When the coupling member 328 is driven by the main body drive shaft 101, as in Embodiment 2, as shown in FIG. 40, the supported surface 374i of the engaging portion 373 is supported by the mounting portion 372 through the rib 377e of the force receiving portion 377 . Therefore, the engaging portion 373 hardly deforms on the downstream side in the rotation direction.

In addition, as in the first embodiment, when the cassette 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus body 100, when the engaging portion 373 moves radially outward, the base-side extension 374t and the return portion 374r elastically deform when the base portion 374 moves, The cassette 1 can be installed at a low load.

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

In addition, in this Embodiment 4 and the foregoing Embodiments 1 to 3, the configuration of the coupling member that receives the driving force for driving the photoreceptor drum 1 of the drum cartridge 13 is described.

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

<Example 5>

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

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

In the foregoing Embodiments 1 to 4, the configuration of the drive coupling portion (coupling member and body drive shaft 101) of the apparatus body and the drum cartridge is explained. The present embodiment and the sixth embodiment to be described later apply this configuration to the drive coupling portion (coupling member 528 and main body drive shaft 5101) of the apparatus main body and the developing cartridge.

That is, among the elements of the present embodiment, those corresponding to the elements described in the aforementioned embodiment are given the same names as the aforementioned elements. With regard to these particularly detailed descriptions of configurations or functions that are different from the aforementioned elements, the same elements as the aforementioned elements may be omitted.

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

[Structure of main body drive shaft]

The structure of the body drive shaft 5101 will be described using FIGS. 42 and 43.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

In addition, on the surface on the Z2-direction side of the main body drive transmission groove 5101a, a main body-side inclined surface 5101i is provided. The gradient 5101i is pulled out of the main body side when the developing cartridge 4 is detached from the apparatus main body 100A, and the auxiliary engaging portion 573 is pulled out of the drive transmission groove 5101a (inclined surface, inclined portion).

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

Furthermore, the coupler holding frame 5101s is urged in the direction of approximately Y2 by acting spring 5101t. As will be described later, when the developing cartridge 4 is installed, the axis of the drive transmission member 5101r to the gear member 5101e is located at Approximately offset position in Y2 direction.

As described above, the main body drive transmission groove 5101a is provided in the drive transmission member 5101r, and the engaging portion 573 is provided in the coupling member 528. The apparatus body 100A transmits the drive to the developing cartridge 4.

In addition, the details will be described later, but the engaging portion 573 is provided at the front end of the base portion 574 so as to be elastically deformable. Therefore, the engaging portion 573 is configured to be movable radially outward when the developing cartridge 4 is attached to the apparatus body 100A. With this, as the developing cartridge 4 is inserted into the apparatus body 100A, the engaging portion 573 enters the drive transmission groove 5101a, and the engaging portion 573 and the body drive transmission groove 5101a can be engaged.

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

[Structure 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.

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

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

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

47 is a perspective view of the alignment member 533.

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

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

As shown in FIG. 44, the coupling member 528 is composed of a combination of the cylinder member 570 and the alignment member 533 in two parts. However, depending on the choice of material, molding method, configuration, etc., it is not necessary to have two members, and it is possible to combine three or more members.

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

As shown in FIG. 48, the alignment member 533 is assembled to the cylinder member 570 toward the axis direction of the cylinder member 570 (illustrated by arrows). Furthermore, by rotating the aligning member 533 in the counterclockwise direction (arrow shown), the fall prevention portion 533c is engaged with the hook portion 572, and the aligning member 533 and the cylinder member 570 are unitized.

(Explanation on flange member)

As shown in FIG. 45, the cylinder member 570 has an engaging portion 573 and a base portion 574 as in the first embodiment. Like the first embodiment, the engaging portion 573 is a supporting portion for movably supporting the driving force receiving portion (driving receiving surface 573a).

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

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

The contact surface 574h is a surface that contacts the shaft portion 5101f when the coupling member 528 is engaged with the body drive shaft 5101, and the radius R51 of the arc constituting the inner diameter thereof is approximately the same as the radius R52 of the shaft portion 5101f.

The supported portion 574i is a surface that abuts on the receiving surface 577a of the force receiving portion 577 of the alignment member 533 described later when the coupling member 528 is engaged with the main body drive shaft 5101, and is disposed downstream in the rotation direction with respect to the driving receiving surface 573a (Illustrated in Figure 46). In addition, as shown in FIG. 46, the angle J between the supported surface 574i and the drive receiving surface 573a is arranged so as to be an acute angle.

In addition, the drive receiving surface 573a only needs to have a different phase in the rotation direction at two points in contact with the drive transmission member 5101r. In short, as long as the drive receiving surface 573a has a configuration equivalent to that of the twisted surface, it does not necessarily have to be in a twisted shape. When the drive receiving surface 573a has a twisted shape or an inclined shape, when the drive receiving surface 573a receives a drive, a force is applied to the coupling member 528 to be pulled out of the developing cartridge 4 (the Z1 direction side).

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

During installation, the insertion inclined surface 573d abuts on the conical shape 5101c, and the engaging portion 573 moves radially outward of the drive shaft. In addition, at the time of pull-out, the pull-out inclined surface 573e comes into contact with the main body-side pull-out inclined surface 5101i, and the engaging portion 573 moves radially outward of the main body drive shaft 5101.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Explanation on the alignment member)

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

The reverse conical shape 533a is a portion for determining the position of the body drive shaft 5101 in the axial direction and the position in the radial direction. The reverse conical shape of the reverse conical shape 533a contacts the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r, thereby restricting the movement of the drive transmission member 5101r in the axial direction and diameter direction of the body drive shaft 5101.

The force-receiving surface 577, in the assembled state of the coupler 528, is a receiving surface 577a (refer to FIG. 46) that is abutted to the supported surface 574i provided in the engaging portion 573, and a surface perpendicular to the receiving surface 577a The rib 577e (refer to FIG. 46) is configured. Like the first embodiment, the receiving surface 577a is a supporting part, and is also a transmitted part for the cylinder member 570 to receive a driving force.

As shown in FIG. 48, the driving transmission surface 533m is a surface (transmitted portion) in which the cylinder member 570 transmits driving to the alignment member 533. The cylinder member 570 has a corresponding cylinder drive transmission surface (drive transmission section) 570m. Three positions (120° intervals, approximately equal intervals) are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the alignment member 533 and the cylinder member 570, respectively.

The cylinder drive transmission surface 570m and the drive transmission surface 533m are respectively twisted along the axes of the cylinder member 570 and the alignment member 453, and the amount of twist is about 2° per 1 mm.

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

Therefore, the cylinder member 570 must be pulled in the Z2 direction. At least a part of the Z-direction engagement portion D of the cylinder drive transmission surface 570m and the drive transmission surface 33m is 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 this embodiment, the D-shaped hole provided in the alignment member 533, that is, the mounting portion 533d (see FIG. 37) is mounted on the shaft of the toner supply roller 20 as shown in FIG. 49. Then, the shaft transmitted from the core adjustment member 533 to the toner supply roller 20 is driven to rotate the toner supply roller 20. Next, the toner supply roller gear 598 provided on the Z1 direction side of the axis of the toner supply roller 20 is transmitted and driven. Finally, the toner supply roller gear 598 transmits and drives the developing roller gear 599 provided on the Z1 direction side of the axis of the developing roller 17 to rotate the developing roller 17. The developing roller 17 is rotatably supported at both ends by the developing bearings 519R, 519L.

[Installation of the cassette to the main body of the image forming apparatus]

50 and 51, the attachment and detachment of the developing cartridge 4 to the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus will be described.

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

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

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

As shown in FIG. 50, the cassette 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 guiding the developing cassette 4 is arranged on the bottom surface of the space, and the cassette upper rail 5106 is arranged on the upper side. The developing cartridge 4 is guided to the installation position by upper and lower guide rails (5105, 5106) provided above and below the space. The developing cartridge 4 is inserted into the installation position approximately along the axis of the developing roller 20.

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

As shown in FIG. 51(a), the developing cartridge 4 is supported/guided by the lower end of the deep side in the insertion direction as the lower guide rail 5105 of the cartridge. The developing cartridge 4 is guided by the cartridge shang4 rail 5106 (not shown) with the end shang4 side of the deep side in the insertion direction. In this state, the developing cartridge 4 is inserted into the device body. At this time, the development frame 18 and the development bearing 19 (19L, 19R) are in a dimensional relationship where 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 cartridge lower rail 5105, and is inserted until it comes into contact with the deep-side cartridge positioning portion provided in the image forming apparatus body 100A Until 5108.

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

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

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

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

In addition, the removal of the developing cartridge 4 from the image forming apparatus main body 100A is in the reverse order of the aforementioned insertion operation.

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

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

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

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

The developing cartridge 4 is as described using FIG. 51, and the image forming apparatus main body 100A is inserted in the horizontal direction while being supported by the cartridge lower rail 5105.

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

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 abuts the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r Pick up. In the insertion inclined surface 573d of the coupling member 528, the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r is guided, and the axis of the coupling member 528 and the axis of the drive transmission member 5101r are approximately the same.

As shown in FIG. 52(c), FIG. 52(c) shows a state in which the coupling member 528 is further inserted toward the deep side of the drive transmission member 5101r as shown in FIG. 52(b). Due to the elastic deformation of the base portion 574, the engagement portion 573 deforms radially outward of the coupling member 528 such that the insertion inclined surface 573d of the engagement portion 573 follows the conical shape 5101c. Furthermore, when the coupling member 528 is inserted in the Z1 direction, the pull-out inclined surface 573e of the engaging portion 573 of the coupling member 528 is closer to the deep side in the Z direction (Z1 side) than the pull-out inclined surface 5101i of the body side of the drive transmission member 5101r, Insert into the drive transmission member 5101r. Next, until the positioning portion 533a of the coupling member 528 abuts on the conical shape 5101c of the drive transmission member 5101r, the coupling member 528 is inserted into the drive transmission member 5101r.

Thereafter, as described above, the developer cartridge 4 is lifted up by the cartridge lower guide rail 5105, and the developer cartridge 4 is positioned to the image forming apparatus body 100A (as shown in FIG. 51(c)) . In addition, as shown in FIG. 51(d), as the developing cartridge 4 rises, the drive transmission member 5101r also rises. Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, when the main body drive shaft 5101 rotates, and the phase of the engaging portion 573 and the drive transmission groove 5101a is engaged, the elastic deformation of the base portion 574 is released, and the engaging portion 573 invades the drive transmission groove 5101a.

[Driven by coupling member of main body drive shaft]

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

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

When the driving receiving surface 753a receives this driving force F51, the angle between the supported surface 574i and the driving receiving surface 573a is an acute angle, so it can be decomposed into a component Fv perpendicular to the supported surface 574i and a 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 opposite to the drive receiving surface 573a of the engaging portion 573. The supported surface 574i is supported against the force receiving surface 577a or the rib 577e perpendicular to the force receiving surface 577a. As a result, even if the load F51 fluctuates, the engaging portion 573 hardly deforms because it is supported as described above, so the rotation amounts of the toner supply roller 20 and the developing roller 17 hardly change. As a result, the image quality can be maintained quality.

In addition, the removal of the developing cartridge 4 from the image forming apparatus main body 100A is in the reverse order of the aforementioned insertion operation.

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

As shown in FIGS. 54(a) and 55, the base-side extending portion 574t may be arranged downstream of the engaging portion 573 in the rotation direction, and may extend to the deep side (Z2 direction) than the base portion 274a. As shown in FIG. 54(b), the root-side extending portion 574t may be arranged upstream of the engaging portion 573 in the rotation direction, and may extend to the deep side (Z2 direction) than the root portion 274a. As shown in Figure 54 (c). The basic side extension 574t may be arranged on both sides of the rotation direction of the engaging portion 573.

As shown in FIGS. 56(a) and 57, the base-side extension 574t is disposed downstream of the engaging portion 573 or the free-end-side extension 574s, and extends in the Z1 direction more than the base 574a. Also. As shown in FIG. 56(b), the root-side extension 574t may be disposed upstream of the engaging portion 573 or the free-end-side extension 574s, and may extend in the Z1 direction more than the root 574a. As shown in FIG. 56(c), the base-side extension 574t may be disposed on both sides in the rotation direction with respect to the engaging portion 573 or the free-end-side extension 574s.

<Example 6>

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

FIG. 58 is a perspective view of the core adjustment member 633 of this embodiment.

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

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

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

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

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

The elements corresponding to the elements disclosed in the foregoing embodiments are given the same names. With regard to these particularly detailed descriptions of configurations or functions that are different from the aforementioned elements, the same elements as the aforementioned elements may be omitted. In addition, those substantially equivalent to the aforementioned elements are given the same name and the same symbol, and detailed description is omitted. In this embodiment, the detailed description is particularly different from Embodiment 5.

In Embodiment 5, the coupling member 528 is constituted by the cylinder member 570 and the alignment member 533, the system cylinder member 570 has the cylinder drive transmission surface 570m, the base portion 574, the engaging portion 573, and the alignment member 533 has the force receiving portion 577 and the drive transmission Surface 533m.

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

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

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

The engaging portion 673 has the drive receiving surface 673a as in the fifth embodiment. In short, the alignment member 633 is a driving force receiving member provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force by the device body.

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

The angle j between the drive receiving surface 673a and the supported surface 674i is an acute angle as in the fifth embodiment.

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

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

The anti-falling portion 633c engages with the hook portion 672 provided in the cylinder member 670 to unitize the alignment member 633 and the cylinder member 670.

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

The supporting portion 670j, as shown in FIG. 60, is shaped to prevent the gap between the supported surface 674i and the receiving surface 677a of the alignment member 633 to prevent the engaging portion 673 from falling to the upstream side in the rotation direction. Therefore, the thickness of the supporting portion 670j is approximately the same as the gap between the supported surface 674i and the receiving surface 677a. In addition, when viewed from the Z direction, the circle passing through the ridgeline on the side of the engaging portion 673 of the supporting portion 670j is arranged so that the center thereof is the same as the reverse conical shape 633a. 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 it is made such that D68≧D65 when the respective dimensional accuracy is examined. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 62, the support part 670j is arrange|positioned so that it may overlap with the drive receiving surface 673a.

The cylinder member 670 is assembled by assembling the aligning member 633 from the deep side to the front side in the Z direction (from the Z2 side to the Z1 side) to constitute the coupling member 628 (as shown in FIG. 62). At this time, as described above, the anti-falling portion 633c of the alignment 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. Among them, the force Fv in the direction perpendicular to the supported surface is supported by the supported surface 674i, the supporting portion 670j, the receiving surface 670a, and the rib 670e, so that the engaging portion 673 can be prevented from being deformed downstream in the rotation direction. In addition, against the force Fh parallel to the supported surface 674i, the contact surface 674h of the base portion 674 can prevent the engaging portion 673 from being deformed in the radial direction by contacting the shaft portion 5101f of the body drive shaft 5101.

In addition, in Example 5, the cylinder member 570 is provided with the engaging portion 573, and the aligning member 533 is arranged across the reverse conical shape 533a and other components. Therefore, the cylinder member 570 is provided with a cylinder drive transmission surface 570m, and the alignment member 533 is provided with a drive transmission surface 533m. By this, by pulling the cylinder member 570 toward the alignment member 533 side (Z2 direction side), the positions of the engaging portion 573 in the Z direction and the reverse conical shape 533a are stabilized.

In this regard, in this embodiment, the engaging portion 673 and the reverse conical shape 633a are assigned to the alignment member 633, so there is no need to pull the cylinder member 670 toward the alignment member 633 side.

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

〔Industry utilization possibilities〕

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

70‧‧‧Flange member

71‧‧‧Cylinder

71b‧‧‧Inner peripheral surface

71R‧‧‧Inner peripheral surface

72‧‧‧Installation Department

72d‧‧‧Pressing Department

72f‧‧‧Press into the guide

72g‧‧‧Guided inclined surface

72m‧‧‧Inner peripheral surface

73‧‧‧Joint Department

73a‧‧‧Drive bearing surface

74‧‧‧Support

74a‧‧‧Basic Department

74h‧‧‧ abutment surface

74i‧‧‧Support

74r‧‧‧Return Department

74s‧‧‧Free end extension

74t‧‧‧Fundamental side extension

75‧‧‧E

77‧‧‧ Force Department

D2, D9‧‧‧ ID

Z1, Z2‧‧‧arrow

Claims (45)

A cassette is characterized by having: (1) a rotating body configured to rotate while supporting toner on its surface, and (2) a coupling member for transmitting driving force to the rotating body, and having ( 2-1) the protruding portion, and (2-2) the coupling member of the supporting portion that movably supports the protruding portion; the supporting portion, supporting the protruding portion, has a front end that extends at least toward the rotating body toward the front end of the supporting portion The first extension portion in the axial direction and the second extension portion connected to the first extension portion and extending toward the first extension portion in a direction opposite to the axial direction from the first extension portion. As in the cassette of claim 1, the protruding portion protrudes in a direction close to the axis of the coupling member. For a cassette according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the protruding portion protrudes in a direction crossing the direction in which the first extending portion extends. For a cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the second extension portion has a fixed end of the support portion. As in the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the coupling member has a hollow portion, and the support portion extends from the inner surface of the hollow portion. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the first extension portion extends outward in the axial direction, and the second extension portion extends inward in the axial direction. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the first extension portion extends toward the inner side in the axis direction, and the second extension portion extends toward the outer side in the axis direction. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the support portion supports the protruding portion in such a manner that it can move at least in the radial direction of the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the aforementioned supporting portion can be elastically deformed. As in the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the first extension portion extends substantially parallel to the axial direction. As in the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the second extension extends substantially parallel to the axis. For a cassette according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application, the first extension portion extends obliquely to the axis direction. For a cassette according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application, the second extension portion extends obliquely to the axis direction. For example, the cassette of claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting portion connecting the first extension portion and the second extension portion is bent. As in the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the first extension is closer to the axis of the coupling member than the second extension. As in the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the first extension portion and the second extension portion are arranged offset from each other in the circumferential direction of the coupling member. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the first extension portion is disposed upstream of the second extension portion in the rotation direction of the coupling member. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the first extension portion is disposed downstream of the second extension portion in the rotation direction of the coupling member. As in the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the support portion has a plurality of the second extension portions, and the first extension portion is connected to the plurality of second extension portions. For example, in the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the supporting part has an M-shape. For a cassette according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the coupling member has a plurality of the protruding portions and the supporting portions, respectively. For example, in the cassette of claim 21, the plurality of protrusions are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette of claim 21 of the patent scope, in which The coupling member has three protruding portions and support portions, respectively. A cassette as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling member has a driving force receiving member having the supporting portion and the protruding portion, and a transmitted member that receives the driving force by the driving force receiving member. A cassette as claimed in item 24 of the patent application, wherein the transmitted member has a transmitted portion that receives the driving force by contacting the protruding portion or the supporting portion. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application scope, wherein when the conveyed member receives the driving force again, the protruding portion is pushed so as to approach the axis of the coupling member. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the member to be transmitted is fixed to the rotating body. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the coupling member has a support portion for inhibiting the protrusion from moving in the circumferential direction of the coupling member. As in the cassette of claim 28, the support portion is configured to suppress the circumferential movement of the protruding portion by contacting the protruding portion or the supporting portion. A cassette as claimed in item 29 of the patent application, wherein the supporting portion is configured to springly push the protruding portion close to the axis of the coupling member by contacting the protruding portion or the supporting portion. As in the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the coupling member has a hollow portion, and at least a part of the protruding portion or at least a portion of the supporting portion is arranged inside the hollow portion. For a cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2, the protruding portion has a driving force receiving portion that receives the driving force. As in the cassette of claim 32, the driving force receiving portion is inclined to the moving direction of the protruding portion. As in the cassette of claim 32, the driving force receiving portion is inclined so as to face at least the radially outer side of the coupling member. A cassette according to claim 32, wherein the inclined portion of the driving force receiving portion is inclined so as to spring toward the radially inner side of the coupling member when the driving force is received. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the coupling member has a concave portion arranged inward of the protruding portion in the axial direction of the rotating body, and moves toward the inner side in the axial direction Narrowed recess. According to the cassette of claim 1 or 2, the coupling member has a buckle provided with the support portion and the protruding portion. For example, in the cartridge of claim 1 or 2, the rotating body is a photoreceptor drum. As in the cartridge of claim 1 or 2, the coupling member is provided at the end of the photosensitive drum. For example, in the cartridge of claim 1 or 2, the aforementioned rotating body is a developing roller. A cassette as claimed in item 40 of the patent application, wherein the cassette has a supply roller for supplying toner to the developing roller. As in the cartridge of claim 41, the coupling member is provided on the supply roller, and the coupling member is connected to the developing roller via the supply roller. A cassette as claimed in item 1 or 2 of the patent application, wherein the cassette has a shaft supporting the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of claim 43, the rotating body has the shaft. An electronic photo image forming device is characterized by comprising: the device body of the electronic image forming device, and the cassette of claim 1 or 2, which can be detached from the device body.

Images