TWI714264B - Drum unit, cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and coupling member - Google Patents

Abstract

The drum unit has a photoconductor drum and a coupling member. The coupling member has an engaging member, and the engaging member has a driving force receiving portion configured to receive the driving force for rotating the photoreceptor drum by entering into the recess of the drive shaft. In addition, the coupling member includes a holding member configured to hold the engaging member slidably at least in the diameter direction of the drum unit, and an elastic member configured to push the engaging member.

Description

Optical drum unit, cassette, electronic photo image forming device and coupling member

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

In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the photoreceptor drum or developing roller, which is a rotating body related to image formation, is integrated as a cassette, and it can be assembled and disassembled to the main body of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the main body) Department is known. In such a configuration, a configuration in which the device body receives a driving force in order to rotate the photoconductor drum in the cassette has been adopted in many devices. At this time, it is also known that the coupling member is engaged with a driving force transmission portion such as a drive pin on the device body side to transmit the driving force on the cassette side.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cassette provided with a coupling member capable of obliquely moving the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum at the end of the photoreceptor drum.

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

A representative structure is a photo-drum unit, which is a photo-drum unit that can be attached to and detached from the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus provided with a drive shaft with a recessed portion. It has: (1) a photoreceptor drum, (2) ) Is provided in the coupling member of the photoreceptor drum, and (2-1) has a driving force receiving portion configured to receive the driving force for rotating the photoreceptor drum by entering the concave portion The engaging member is constituted with (2-2) a holding member configured to allow the engaging member to be slidably held at least in the diameter direction of the drum unit, and (2-3) and the engaging member are constituted separately And the elastic pushing member constructed by pushing the aforementioned engaging member.

The present invention allows the aforementioned prior art to be developed.

1‧‧‧Photoconductor drum

2‧‧‧Charging roller

3‧‧‧Scanner Unit

4‧‧‧Developing unit

5‧‧‧Intermediate transfer belt

6‧‧‧Cleaning scraper

7‧‧‧Handle cassette

8‧‧‧ Primary transfer roller

9‧‧‧Secondary transfer roller

10‧‧‧Fitting device

11‧‧‧Intermediate transfer belt cleaning device

12‧‧‧Recording material

13‧‧‧Cleaning unit

14a‧‧‧Waste Toner Containment Department

14b‧‧‧Opening

15‧‧‧Charging roller bearing

16‧‧‧Compression spring

17‧‧‧Developing roller

18‧‧‧Developing frame

19‧‧‧Bearing components

20‧‧‧Toner supply roller

51‧‧‧Drive roller

52‧‧‧Counter roller for secondary transfer

53‧‧‧Driven roller

100‧‧‧Image forming device

100A‧‧‧Image forming device body

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the appearance of the processing cassette 7.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the processing cassette 7.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the processing cassette 7.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the processing cassette 7.

Fig. 6 is an external view of the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler 28 and the main body drive shaft 101.

10 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 in the vertical direction of the rotation axis.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the driving side of the optical drum unit 30.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the driving side of the drum unit 30.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the engaging member 65. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the members constituting the coupling unit 28.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit 28 in the vertical direction of the rotation axis.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the installation of the cassette 7 to the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of the cassette 7 to the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of the cassette 7 to the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus.

19 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of the cassette 7 to the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus.

Figure 20 shows the coupling unit 28 to the main body drive shaft 101 Sectional view of the installation.

21 is a sectional view showing the installation of the coupling unit 28 to the main body drive shaft 101.

22 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of the coupling unit 28 to the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction of the rotation axis of the coupling unit 28 and the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction of the rotation axis of the coupling unit 28 and the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction of the rotation axis of the coupling unit 28 and the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the drive transmission engagement surface of the engagement member 65 and the main body drive shaft 101.

FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 4100A.

Figure 28 is a perspective view of the external appearance of the optical drum cartridge 4013.

Figure 29 is a cross-sectional view of the drum cartridge 4013.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the appearance of the developing cartridge 4004.

Figure 31 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge 4004.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the main body drive shaft 4101.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the main body drive shaft 4101.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the coupling unit 4028.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the engaging member 4065. FIG.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the members constituting the coupling unit 4028.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the coupling unit 4028 and the toner supply roller 4020.

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction of the rotation axis of the coupling unit 4028 and the main body drive shaft 4101.

Figure 39 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge 4004.

FIG. 40 is a perspective view showing the installation of the developing cartridge 4004 to the main body 4100 of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 41 is a sectional view showing the installation of the developing cartridge 4004 to the main body 4100 of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 42 is a sectional view showing the installation of the developing cartridge 4004 to the main body 4100 of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of the developing cartridge 4004 to the main body 4100 of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of the coupling unit 4028 to the main body drive shaft 4101.

FIG. 45 is a sectional view showing the installation of the coupling unit 4028 to the main body drive shaft 4101.

FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of the coupling unit 4028 to the main body drive shaft 4101.

FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of the coupling unit 4028 to the main body drive shaft 4101.

Fig. 48 is an explanatory diagram showing the engagement member.

Figure 49 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit.

Fig. 50 is an explanatory diagram showing the engagement member.

Figure 51 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit.

Figure 52 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit.

Figure 53 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit.

Figure 54 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit.

Figure 55 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit.

Figure 56 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit.

Figure 57 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit.

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus and the processing cassette of this embodiment will be described using drawings. In addition, the image forming device is, for example, a person who forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, it includes an electronic photo copier, an electronic photo printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser printer, etc.), an electronic photo fax device, and the like. In addition, the term "cassette" refers to the one that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body (device body). Among the cartridges, the photoconductor or the processing means acting on the photoconductor are particularly integrated as a process cartridge.

In addition, the unit that integrates the photoreceptor drum and the coupling member is called a drum unit.

In addition, in the following embodiments, a full-color image forming apparatus capable of attaching and detaching four processing cassettes is illustrated. However, the number of processing cassettes installed in the image forming apparatus is not limited to this. In addition, in the same way, the materials, arrangement, dimensions, other numerical values, etc. of each configuration disclosed in the embodiment are not limited unless they are specifically described. In addition, in When specifically noted, the so-called upper side refers to the upper side in the direction of gravity when the image forming device is installed.

<Example 1> [Overview of electronic photograph image forming device]

First, the overall configuration of an embodiment of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus) related to this embodiment will be explained with reference to 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 units, respectively has first, second, and second images for forming images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The third and fourth image forming units SY, SM, SC, and SK. In this embodiment, the first to fourth image forming parts SY, SM, SC, and SK are arranged in a row in an approximately horizontal direction.

In addition, in this embodiment, the structure and operation of the processing cassette 7 (7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K) are substantially the same except that the colors of the formed images are different. That is, in the following, when there is no need to distinguish them specifically, Y, M, C, and K are omitted and the description will be collectively described.

In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100, as a plurality of image carriers, has four cylinders with photosensitive layers (hereinafter referred to as photoreceptor drums) arranged side by side in a direction slightly inclined to the vertical direction. 1. The scanner unit is arranged below the gravity direction of the processing cassette 7 (Exposure device) 3. In addition, around the photoreceptor drum 1, a charging roller 2 and the like acting as a processing means (processing device, processing member) acting on the photosensitive layer are arranged.

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

Furthermore, the four photoreceptor drums 1 are arranged so as to transfer the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 1 to the intermediate transfer body for the recording material (sheet, recording medium) 12. Printed belt 5.

The developing unit 4 of this embodiment uses a non-magnetic single-component developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) as the developer, and adopts contact development in which the developing roller 17 as the developer supporting body contacts the photoreceptor drum 1 the way.

In the aforementioned configuration, the toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 is transferred to the sheet (paper) 12, and the toner image transferred to the sheet is fixed. In addition, as a processing means acting on the photoreceptor drum 1, the processing cassette is equipped with a charging roller 2 for charging the photoreceptor drum 1 and cleaning the remaining toner that has not been transferred to the photoreceptor drum 1. Scraper 6. The transfer residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 1 without being transferred to the sheet 12 is recovered by the cleaning blade 6. In addition, by cleaning The transfer residual toner collected by the plate 6 is accommodated in the removed developer storage portion (hereinafter referred to as waste toner storage portion) 14a through the opening 14b. The waste toner storage portion 14a and the cleaning blade 6 constitute an integrated cleaning unit (photoreceptor unit, image carrier unit) 13.

In addition, the processing cassette 7 is constructed by unitizing the developing unit 4 and the cleaning unit 13 as a unit (cassette conversion). The image forming apparatus 100 is provided with guides (positioning means) such as mounting guides and positioning members (not shown) in the main body frame. The processing cassette 7 is guided by the aforementioned guide, and is configured to be detachable to the image forming apparatus body (electrophotographic image forming apparatus body) 100A.

The processing cassettes 7 for each color contain toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors.

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

When forming an image, first, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 2. Then, the surface of the charged photoreceptor drum 1 is scanned and exposed by the laser light corresponding to the image information emitted by the scanner unit 3. Thereby, a corresponding image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 The electrostatic latent image of information. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 is developed as a toner image by the developing unit 4.

The photoreceptor drum is a rotating body (image carrier) that rotates while supporting an image (developer image, toner image) formed with a developer (toner) on its surface.

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 processing cassettes 7 (7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K). Next, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 of each process cassette 7 are sequentially and firstly transferred so as to be superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5. Thereafter, in synchronization with the movement of the intermediate transfer belt 5, the recording material 12 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit. 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 conveyed to the fixing device 10 as a fixing means. The fixing device 10 applies heat and pressure to the recording material 12 to fix the toner image on 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 can also use a desired single Single or several (not all) image forming parts form monochromatic or multicolor images.

[Outline of handling cassette]

Next, the outline of the process cassette 7 (cassette 7) installed in the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

In addition, the cassette 7a for storing yellow toner, the cassette 7b for storing magenta toner, the cassette 7c for storing cyan toner, and the cassette 7d for storing black toner have the same configuration. That is, in the following description, the cassettes 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d are collectively referred to as cassettes 7 for description. The respective cassette constituent members will also be described in general terms.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the appearance of the processing cassette 7. Here, as shown in Figure 2, the direction of the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum 1 is taken as the Z direction (arrow Z1, arrow Z2), and the horizontal direction in Figure 1 is taken as the X direction (arrow X1, arrow X2). The vertical direction is regarded as the Y direction (arrow Y1, arrow Y2).

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the process cassette 7 in a state (posture) in which the photoreceptor drum 1 and the developing roller 17 are in contact with the developing roller 17 as seen along the Z direction.

The process cartridge 7 is composed of two units: the cleaning unit 13 that unites the photoreceptor drum 1, the charging roller 2, the cleaning blade 6, and the developing unit 4 having a developing member such as a developing roller 17, etc.

The developing unit 4 has various requirements for supporting the developing unit 4 素的Development frame 18. The developing unit 4 is provided with a developing roller 17 which is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 1 and serves as a developer carrier rotating in the direction (counterclockwise) of the arrow D in the figure. The developing roller 17 is rotatably supported by the developing frame 18 with developing bearings 19 (19R, 19L) interposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction (rotation axis direction). Here, the developing bearings 19 (19R, 19L) are attached to both sides of the developing frame 18, respectively.

In addition, the developing unit 4 has a developer storage chamber (hereinafter referred to as a toner storage chamber) 18a and a developing chamber 18b in which the developing roller 17 is arranged.

In the developing chamber 18b, a developing blade for the toner supply roller 20 which is a developer supply member rotating in the direction of arrow E in contact with the developing roller 17 and a developer restricting member for restricting the toner layer of the developing roller 17 are arranged板21。 Board 21. The developing blade 21 is fixed and integrated by welding the fixing member 22 or the like.

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

Next, the developing unit 4 is rotatably coupled to the cleaning unit 13 around the fitting shafts 24 (24R, 24L) provided in the bearing members 19R, 19L and fitted into the holes 19Ra and 19La as the center. In addition, the developing unit 4 elastically pushes the developing roller 17 in a direction abutting the photoreceptor drum 1 by the pressure spring 25 (25R, 25L). Therefore, when processing the image formation of the cartridge 7, the developing unit 4 is reversed (rotated) in the direction of arrow F with the fitting shaft 24 as the center, and the photoreceptor drum 1 and the developing roller 17 butt.

The cleaning unit 13 has a cleaning frame 14 as a frame supporting various elements in the cleaning unit 13.

4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken along the imaginary plane of the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum 1 of the process cartridge 7.

In addition, in FIG. 4, the side on which the coupling unit (coupling member) 28 receives the driving force from the main body of the image forming apparatus (the side in the Z1 direction) is referred to as the driving side of the process cassette 7. In addition, in FIG. 5, the side opposite to the driving side (the side in the Z2 direction) is referred to as the non-driving side of the processing cassette 7.

When the cassette 7 is inserted into the mounting part of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the driving side of the cassette 7 is arranged on the rear side of the mounting part, and the non-driving side of the cassette 7 is arranged on the front side of the mounting part.

At the end on the opposite side of the coupling unit 28 (the end on the non-driving side of the process cartridge), there is an electrode (electrode) that contacts the inner surface of the photoreceptor drum 1, and this electrode is connected to the body of the image forming apparatus. Contact and play the role of grounding.

A coupling unit 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 30. The photoreceptor drum unit 30 has a coupling unit 28 interposed therebetween, and the driving force is obtained from the main body drive shaft 101 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A (the main body drive shaft 101 transmits the driving force). As described in detail later, with the installation of the cassette 7 of the device body 100A, the coupling unit 28 can be engaged with the body drive shaft 101. With the cassette 7 removed from the device body 100A, the coupling unit 28 can be separated from the body drive shaft 101.

The coupling unit 28 is constructed in a manner that can be combined with and separated from the main body drive shaft 101.

The coupling unit 28 has a flange member 71 (drive-side flange member) attached to the drive-side end of the photoreceptor drum 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the Z1 side of the coupling unit 28 has a cylindrical shape (cylinder part 71a). The cylindrical portion 71a protrudes to the Z1 side (outer side in the axial direction) than the end portion of the photoreceptor drum 1. The portion near the tip end of the cylindrical portion 71a on the Z1 side is the to-be-beared portion 71c. The bearing portion 71c is rotatably supported by a bearing portion provided on the drum unit bearing member 39R. In short, the photoreceptor drum unit 30 is made rotatable by being supported by the bearing portion 71c by the bearing portion of the drum unit bearing member 39R.

Similarly to FIG. 5, the non-driving side flange member 29 provided on the non-driving side of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member 39L. The non-driving side flange member 29 has a cylindrical portion (cylinder portion) protruding from the end of the photoreceptor drum 1, and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 29a is rotatably supported by the drum unit bearing member 39L.

In addition, the drum unit bearing member 39R is arranged on the driving side of the process cassette 7, and the drum unit bearing member 39L is arranged on the non-driving side of the process cassette 7.

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

In the Z direction of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, 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 near the rear cassette positioning portion. The position of the 108 position. By doing so, when the processing cassette 7 is installed in the apparatus body 100A, the coupling unit 28 can be restrained from tilting.

The bearing member 39R is arranged at a position where the bearing member 71c is supported, and the bearing member 39R is arranged at a position close to the position positioned at the rear cassette positioning portion 108, and the bearing member 71c is arranged. In short, the to-be-bearing portion 71c is arranged on the tip side (Z1 direction side) of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 71a provided in the coupling unit 28.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, in the Z direction, the drum unit bearing member 39L is arranged at a place that rotatably supports the non-driving side flange member 29, and the drum unit bearing member 39L is arranged close to the front side card. The position of the cartridge positioning portion 110. This suppresses 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 to support the photoreceptor drum unit 30 respectively. Thereby, the photoreceptor drum unit 30 is rotatably supported on 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 in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. In addition, a charging roller bearing 15 (15R, 15L) is attached to the cleaning frame 14. The charging roller bearing 15 is a shaft for supporting the shaft of the charging roller 2 Accept.

Here, the charging roller bearings 15 (15R, 15L) are mounted so as to be movable in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 3. 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 a pressure spring 16 as a urging means. Thereby, the charging roller 2 abuts against 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 scraper rubber (elastic member) 6a that abuts against the photoreceptor drum 1 to remove the toner on the photoreceptor drum 1, and is integrated with a support plate 6b that supports it. In this embodiment, the supporting plate 6b is fixedly installed on the cleaning frame 14 with screws.

As mentioned above, the cleaning frame 14 has an opening 14b for collecting the transfer residual toner recovered by the cleaning blade 6. The opening 14b is provided with a blow-out prevention plate 26 that abuts 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.

By adopting the structure in which the cassette that can be attached and detached to the main body of the device is integrated with the image forming elements, the ease of maintenance is improved. In other words, the user can easily repair the device by attaching and disassembling the processing cassette to the device body. Therefore, it is possible to provide a device that can easily perform maintenance work not only by service personnel but also by users.

[Constitution of main body drive shaft]

The configuration of the main body drive shaft 101 will be described using FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, and 10.

Figure 6 is an outline drawing of the main body drive shaft.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the rotation axis (rotation axis) of the main body drive shaft 101 in a state where the image forming apparatus is installed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the main body drive shaft.

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

10 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 cut in the vertical direction of the rotation axis.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body drive shaft 101 has a gear portion 101e, a shaft portion 101f, a rough guide portion 101g, and a bearing portion 101d.

A motor (not shown) as a driving source is provided in the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus. The gear portion 101e is rotationally driven by the motor and the main 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 from the gear portion 101e along the rotation axis. Next, the rotational driving force received by the motor is transmitted to the cassette 7 side 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.

This main body drive transmission groove 101a has a shape into which a part of the engaging portion 65a of the coupling unit 28 described later can enter. Specifically, it has a driving force receiving surface (driving force receiving portion) 65b with the coupling unit 28 In contact with the main body drive transmission surface 101b as a surface for transmitting the driving force.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the main body drive transmission surface 101b is not a flat surface, but has a twisted shape centered on the rotation axis of the main body drive shaft 101. The twisting direction is the direction from the Z1 direction side of the main body drive shaft 101 to the Z2 direction side, and is arranged on the upstream side of the main body drive shaft 101 in the rotation direction. In this embodiment, the amount of twist along the rotation axis direction of the cylinder of the engaging portion 65a is about 1° per 1 mm. The reason for twisting the shape of the body drive transmission surface 101b will be detailed later.

In addition, the main body side pull-out gradient 101i is provided on the surface on the Z2 direction side of the main body drive transmission groove 101a. The main body side pull-out gradient 101i is a gradient (inclined surface, inclined portion) for assisting the extraction of the engaging portion 65a from the drive transmission groove 101a when the processing cassette 7 is removed from the apparatus main body 100A. See details later.

Here, when the drive transmission groove 101a transmits the drive to the engaging portion 65a, it is preferable that the main body drive transmission surface 101b and the driving force receiving surface (driving force receiving portion) 65b reliably abut. Here, in such a way that surfaces other than the main body drive transmission surface 101b do not come into contact with the engaging portion 65a, the main body drive transmission groove 101a is adopted in the rotation axis direction, the circumferential direction, and the radial direction. G) The structure (refer to Figure 9 and Figure 10).

In addition, in the axial direction of the main body drive shaft 101, the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c is arranged within the range of the main body drive transmission groove 101a (see FIG. 7). In other words, on the axis of the main body drive shaft 101, the center 101h and the main body drive transmission groove 101a are projected on the main body drive In the case of the axis of the shaft 101, on the axis, the projection area of the center 101h is arranged inside the projection area of the main body drive transmission groove 101a.

Here, the axis (rotation axis, rotation center line) of the main body drive shaft or the drum unit means an imaginary line extending so as to pass through the rotation center of the shaft. In addition, the axis direction (rotation axis direction) means the direction in which the axis extends. Next, the axial direction of the drum unit 30 is synonymous with the longitudinal direction (Z direction) of the drum unit 30.

Furthermore, the term "overlaps X and Y in the A direction" means that when X and Y are projected on a straight line extending in parallel to the A direction, on the straight line, at least a part of the projection area of X and the projection area of Y At least part of overlaps.

Also, when projecting something onto a line, unless otherwise specified, the projection direction is a direction perpendicular to the line. For example, "project A onto the axis" means "project A on the axis perpendicular to the axis".

The rough guide portion 101g of the main body drive shaft 101 is provided between the shaft portion 101f and the gear portion 101e in the axial direction (refer to FIG. 6). The rough guide portion 101g has a gradient shape at the tip end on the shaft portion 101f side. The outer diameter D6 of the rough guide portion 101g, as shown in FIG. 9, is smaller than the inner peripheral surface 71b of the cylindrical portion 71a of the coupling unit 28 described later. The inner diameter D2 is even smaller. In addition, the outer diameter D6 of the rough guide portion 101g is larger than the outer diameter D5 of the shaft portion 101f as shown in FIG. 6. Thereby, when the cassette 7 is inserted into the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus, the main body drive shaft 101 can be imitated as a coupling unit by reducing the axis deviation between the rotation center of the cylindrical portion 71 and the rotation center of the shaft portion 101f Guide in the way of element 28. Therefore, the rough guide part 101g may be renamed as an insertion guide.

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

As shown in FIG. 7, the to-be-beared portion 101d of the main body drive shaft 101 is arranged on the opposite side of the rough guide portion 101g with the gear portion 101e. Next, the supported portion 101d is rotatably supported (supported) by the bearing member 102 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the main body drive shaft 101 is elastically pushed to the cassette 7 side by the spring member 103 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A. However, the movable amount (clearance) of the main body drive shaft 101 in the Z direction is about 1 mm, which is sufficiently smaller than the Z direction width of the driving force receiving surface 65b described later.

As described above, the main body drive shaft 101 is provided with the main body drive transmission groove 101a, and the coupling unit 28 is provided with the engaging portion 65a, so that the drive is transmitted from the apparatus main body 100A to the cassette 7 (drum unit 30).

In addition, the details will be described later, but the engaging portion 65a is elastically pushed by an elastic pushing member composed of an elastic stretchable compression spring. Therefore, the engaging portion 65a can move at least to the outer side in the diameter direction of the drum unit 30 when the cassette 7 is mounted to the apparatus body 100A. Thereby, as the cassette 7 is inserted into the main body 100A of the apparatus, the engaging portion 65a enters the drive transmission groove 101a, and the engaging portion 65a and the main body drive transmission groove 101a can be engaged.

In addition, in the following description, the diameter direction of the drum unit 30 will also be simply referred to as the diameter direction. In addition, the diameter direction of the drum unit 30 is the diameter direction of the photoreceptor drum 1 and also the diameter direction of the coupling unit 28.

[Configuration of coupling unit]

Next, the coupling unit 28 of this embodiment will be described in detail using FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the driving side of the drum unit 30 with the coupling unit 28 mounted on the photoreceptor drum 1.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the driving side of the drum unit 30.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the engaging member 65, Fig. 13(a) is a perspective view seen from the upper left, and Fig. 13(b) is a perspective view seen from the upper right.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the members constituting the coupling unit 28.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the rotation axis of the coupling unit 28 in the vertical direction.

In the coupling unit 28, as shown in FIG. 11, three engagement portions 65a engaged with the main body drive shaft 101 are provided. This engaging portion 65a enters the groove portion 101a of the main body drive shaft 101 as shown in FIG. 10. The driving force receiving surface 65b of the engaging portion 65a abuts against the drive transmission surface 101b of the main body drive shaft 101, and the main body drive shaft 101 goes to the coupling unit 28 Drive communication.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the state in which the coupling unit 28 is mounted on the photoreceptor drum 1. The engaging member 65 with the engaging portion 65a is in the coupling unit Inside 28, it is supported in a state of being pushed by the pushing member 66 toward the inside in the radial direction of the coupling unit 28.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the coupling unit 28 will be described in detail. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 and the perspective view of FIG. 14, the coupling unit 28 is composed of a flange member 71, a flange cover member 72, an engaging member 65, and an elastic member 66.

The flange member 71 is attached to the inner periphery of the photoreceptor drum 1 and is fixed to the photoreceptor drum 1. The flange member 71 is approximately cylindrical and has a hollow portion. The flange member 71 opens toward the outer side in the axial direction of the drum unit.

The flange cover member 72 is attached to the inner surface of the hollow portion of the flange member 71. The flange cover member 72 plugs the inner side (bottom side) of the flange member 71 in the axial direction of the drum unit.

The flange cover member 72 fixes the photoreceptor drum 1 through the flange member 71.

The engagement member 65 is movably (slidably) held by the flange cover member 72 and is configured to be movable (slidable) with respect to the flange cover member 72. The urging member 66 is an elastic member (spring member), and is configured to urge the engaging member 65 toward at least the inner side in the diameter direction of the drum unit.

In this embodiment, the flange member 71, the flange cover member 72, the engagement member 65, and the elastic member 66 are configured as different individuals (different members) from each other. In addition, in this embodiment, the engaging member 65 is configured to be movable along the diameter direction of the coupling unit (approximately parallel to the diameter direction). In addition, the engaging member 65 and the elastic member 66 are arranged along the diameter direction. In short, it is configured to arrange both the engaging member 65 and the elastic pushing member 66 on an imaginary line parallel to the diameter direction of the coupling unit.

As shown in FIG. 11, three engagement members 65 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the coupling unit 28 (120° intervals, approximately equal intervals). In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, the engaging member 65 has an engaging portion 65a protruding from the inner side in the radial direction, and a driving force receiving surface 65b formed on the engaging member 65a. In addition, the engagement member 65 is formed adjacent to the driving force receiving surface 65b, and has a drive shaft contact surface (drive shaft contact portion) 65c formed in an arc shape so as to contact the outer peripheral surface 101f of the main body drive shaft. The driving force receiving surface 65b is a driving force receiving portion that receives the driving force from the main body drive shaft 101 by contacting the drive groove 101a. In addition, the engaging portion 65a is a protrusion (protruding portion) protruding from the surface of the engaging member 65 (protruding).

The engaging member 65 is a driving force receiving member provided with a driving force receiving portion (driving force receiving surface 65b), and is also a supporting member for supporting the driving force receiving surface 65b.

In addition, the engaging member 65 has a first guided surface 65d and a second guided surface 65e in order to be movably guided in the coupling unit. The first guided surface 65d is a restricted position portion for restricting the position of the engaging member 65 in the circumferential direction, and the engaging portion 65a is arranged on the near side. The second guided surface 65e is also a restricted position portion for restricting the position of the engaging member 65 in the circumferential direction, and the engaging portion 65a is arranged on the far side.

The first guided surface 65d and the second guided surface 65e are guided portions guided by a flange cover member 72 described later. In addition, the first guided surface 65 d and the second guided surface 65 e are restricted portions for restricting the position of the drum unit in the rotation direction (circumferential direction) by the flange cover member 72. The first guided surface 65d is an upstream-side guided portion (and an upstream-side restricted portion) located on the downstream side of the engaging member 65 in the rotation direction of the coupling unit. The second guided surface 65e is a downstream-side guided portion (and a downstream-side restricted portion) located on the upstream side of the engaging member 65 in the rotation direction.

The first guided surface 65d and the second guided surface 65e are substantially parallel to each other.

In addition, it has a third guided surface 65f and a fourth guide surface 65g for restricting the position of the engaging member 65 in the axial direction. The third guided surface 65f and the fourth guided surface 65g are guided portions guided by a flange cover member 72 described later. In addition, the third guided surface 65f and the second guided surface 65g are restricted portions for restricting the position in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the drum unit by the flange cover member 72. The third guided surface 65f is an outer guided portion (and an outer restricted portion) located on the outer side of the engaging member 65 in the axial direction of the drum unit. The fourth guide surface 65g is a downstream-side guided portion (and a downstream-side restricted portion) located on the upstream side of the engaging member 65 in the axial direction.

The third guided surface 65f and the fourth guided surface 65e are substantially parallel to each other.

Furthermore, the engaging member 65 has a bearing member 66 producing 65h (Figure 10) for the abutment surface (both pushed part and surface) for the raw elastic thrust. In addition, the engaging member 65 abuts against the flange cover member 72 by the elastic pushing force of the elastic pushing member 66, and has a position restricting protrusion 65i for restricting the position of the engaging member 65. In particular, the elastic thrust position regulating surface (locked portion) 65 j formed on the position regulating protrusion comes into contact with the flange cover member 72. The position restricting protrusion 65i is provided on both sides of the engaging member 65 with the abutting surface 65h of the elastic pushing member 66 sandwiched therebetween.

In addition, the engaging member 65 has an insertion inclined surface 65k on the outside (Z1 direction side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 in the Z direction. The insertion inclined surface 65k is an inclined portion facing the outside in the axial direction. The insertion inclined surface 65k is an installation-time force receiving portion that receives the force for retracting the engaging member 65 in the radial direction when the cassette is installed. In addition, the engaging member 65 has a pull-out inclined portion 65l as a force receiving portion at the time of removal on the inner side (the Z2 direction side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 in the Z direction. Pulling out the inclined surface 65l is a force receiving portion for detachment that receives the force for retracting the engaging member 65 in the radial direction when the cassette is detached.

The flange cover member 72 has a coupling hole portion 72a through which the main body drive shaft 101 passes, and a mounting hole portion 72b for supporting the engaging member 65 to be movable in the radial direction. In order to engage the engaging member with the main body drive shaft, the engaging portion 65a of the engaging member 65 is exposed from the coupling hole portion 72a. The mounting hole 72b has a first guide surface 72d that abuts against the first guided surface 65d of the surface that restricts the position of the engaging member 65 in the circumferential direction, and abuts against the second guided surface 65e The second guide surface 72e. In addition, the mounting hole 72b has a restricting position for the engaging member 65 The third guide surface 72f that is in contact with the third guided surface 65f of the surface placed in the axial direction, and the fourth guide surface 65g that is in contact with the fourth guide surface 65g of the surface facing the third guided surface The guide surface is 72g.

The first guide surface 72d, the second guide surface 72e, the third guide surface 72f, and the fourth guide surface 72g are respectively guide portions for guiding the engaging member 65 and also restricting the engaging member Restriction part for position (position restriction part).

The first guide surface 72d guides the upstream side of the engagement member 65 in the rotation direction of the drum unit, and is an upstream guide (upstream restricting portion) of the restricting position. Similarly, the second guide surface 72e is a downstream guide (downstream restricting portion) that guides the downstream side of the engaging member 65.

The engaging member 65 and the elastic pushing member 66 are arranged in the space between the first guide surface 72d and the second guide surface 72e.

In addition, the third guide surface 72f guides the outer side of the engaging member 65 in the axial direction of the drum unit, and is an outer guide portion (outer restricting portion) that restricts the position. Similarly, the fourth guide surface 72g guides the inner side of the engagement member 65 in the axial direction and is an inner guide portion (inner restricting portion) that restricts the position.

The flange cover member 72 guides the engaging member 65 by these guide portions (the first guide surface 72d, the second guide surface 72e, the third guide surface 72f, and the fourth guide surface 72g) Guide member. In addition, the flange cover member 72 is a holding member that movably (guideably) holds the engaging member 65.

The first guide surface 72d and the second guide surface 72e are mutually real Qualitatively parallel. The third guide surface 72f and the fourth guide surface 72g are substantially parallel to each other.

In addition, the engagement member 65 is a moving member that is movably held by the flange cover member 72 and is also a sliding member that is slidable with respect to the flange cover member 72.

In addition, in order to restrict the position of the engaging member 65 against the elastic pushing force of the elastic pushing member 66, the flange cover member 72 has a restricting surface (locking portion) 72j.

The restriction surface (locking portion) 72j abuts against the elastic thrust position restriction surface (diametrically stopped portion) 65j to restrict the engaging member 65 from moving inward in the radial direction. In short, the restricting surface (locking portion) 72j locks the locking member 65 against the elastic thrust of the elastic pushing member 66. The cassette 7 is installed in the device body (a natural state in which no force is applied to the cassette 7 from the outside), and the locking member 65 is pushed/pressed toward the restricting surface 72j by the elastic force of the elastic member 66.

In addition, the flange cover member 72 has a fitting surface 72k fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the flange member 71, and a position restricting groove 72l for restricting the position of the flange member 71 in the rotation direction. Furthermore, the flange cover member 72 has a conical surface 72m for contacting the hemispherical shape 101c of the main body driving shaft 101 and positioning the main body driving shaft 101 with respect to the flange cover member 72.

In addition, the positioning portion does not need to be a conical depression like 72 m of the conical surface. When the diameter direction positioning portion and the longitudinal direction positioning portion contact the tip of the main body drive shaft 101 (hemispherical shape 101c), only If the position of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 can be determined with respect to the main body drive shaft 101, the shape of the photoconductor drum unit 30 is not limited. For example, these are suitable as depressions (concave portions) that become narrower toward the bottom. As such a thing, a pyramid shape other than a cone, such as a pyramid (tetragonal pyramid, etc.) may be used. However, as in the conical shape 72m of the present embodiment, as long as it is a conical concave portion symmetrical to the axis of the coupling unit 28, the position of the coupling unit 28 can be maintained particularly accurately.

In addition, the conical shape 72m only needs to be an area for contact with the main body drive shaft 101, and the non-contact area may be any shape. For example, the portion not in contact with the main body drive shaft 101 does not need to have a bottom of the cone shape 72m, and the cone shape 72m may be a concave portion without a bottom.

The flange member 71 has a fitting portion 71d for the photoreceptor drum, and a flange portion 71e formed at the axial end of the fitting portion. Furthermore, the flange member 71 has the cylindrical part 71a extended in the axial direction from the flange part 71e. The cylindrical portion 71a is formed with an inner peripheral surface 71b for passing the main body drive shaft 101, and a bearing portion 71c supported by a bearing member. As shown in FIG. 14, the flange part 71e has a shape which protrudes to the outside rather than the fitting part 71d in a radial direction. When the coupling unit 28 is assembled to the photoreceptor drum 1, the end surface of the flange portion 71e is abutted against the end surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 to determine the position of the photoreceptor drum 1 and the coupling unit 28 in the Z direction.

The fitting portion 71d of the flange member 71 is pressed into the inner diameter of the cylinder of the photoreceptor drum 1 as shown in FIG. 12. Make flanges In the axial direction, the member 71 enters into the cylinder until the collar portion 71e of the flange member 71 abuts against the end surface of the photoreceptor drum, and the fitting portion 71d is pressed into the photoreceptor drum 1. , The coupling unit 28 is positioned correctly on the photoreceptor drum 1. Specifically, a size is adopted such that the inner diameter of the cylinder of the photoreceptor drum 1 and the outer shape of the fitting portion 71d are in a press-fitting relationship.

In this way, after the flange member 71 is mounted on the photoreceptor drum 1, the flange member 71 and the photoreceptor drum 1 are fixed using a fixing method according to a temporary lock. Specifically, in a not-shown groove formed in the fitting portion 71d of the flange member 71, the end of the cylinder of the photoreceptor drum 1 enters the plastically deformed portion, and the photoreceptor is firmly bonded Optical drum 1 and flange member 71. Here, the “temporary lock” refers to the operation of plastically working and joining a part of a plurality of parts.

In addition, according to the temporary lock fixing method, it is an example of a means for firmly fixing the flange member 71 to the photoreceptor drum 1. The inner diameter of the cylinder and the fitting portion 71d are fixed by adhesion, etc. Other fixing means are also possible.

As described above, the cylindrical portion 71a of the flange member 71 has a to-be-beared portion 71c (as shown in Figs. 4 and 9) on the tip side (Z1 direction side) of the outer peripheral surface. In other words, the engagement member of the coupling unit has the bearing portion 71c having a cylindrical outer shape on the Z1 direction side (outer side in the axial direction). By adopting such a shape, the engaging portion 65a is not exposed to the outside of the cassette 7. Therefore, the engaging portion 65a of the engaging member 65 can be protected by the drum unit bearing member 39R or by the bearing portion 71c. In this way, the use of The user accidentally touches the engaging portion 65a, or prevents something from directly hitting the engaging portion 65a when the cassette 7 is dropped. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 14, the inner peripheral surface 71b of the cylindrical part 71 has a gradient shape 71g at the front end (Z1 direction). This gradient shape 71g is an inclined portion (inclined surface) for guiding the main body drive shaft 101 inserted into the cylindrical portion 71.

The elastic pushing member 66 is an elastically stretchable compression coil spring, which opposes the external force of the compression spring in the contraction direction, and on the contrary has the reaction force of the compression spring in the extension direction. In addition to the compression coil spring of the present embodiment, the elastic urging member 66 only needs to be configured to apply an elastic urging force to the radially inner side of the engaging member 65. For example, a leaf spring or a torsion coil spring may be used. Such an elastic member (elastic member, spring member).

The elastic pushing member 66 and the engaging member 65 or the flange cover member 72 may also be integrated. However, in this embodiment, the elastic pushing member 66 is configured as a separate entity from the engaging member 65 or the flange cover member 72. In this way, the freedom of selection of the elastic pushing member 66 can be increased, and it is easy to select a suitable one as the elastic pushing member 66. For example, it is easy to select the elastic pushing member 66 having an appropriate elastic pushing force (elastic force) for the elastic pushing engagement member 65.

Regarding the coupling unit 28 configured as described above, the supporting structure of the engaging member 65 will be described in detail. Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axial direction of the coupling unit.

The first guided surface 65 d and the second guided surface 65 e of the engagement member 65 abut and are guided to the first guide surface 72 d and the second guide surface 72 e of the flange cover member 72, respectively. Then, as shown in Figure 12, click The third guided surface 65f and the fourth guide surface 65g of the member 65 abut and are guided to the third guide surface 72f and the fourth guide surface 72g of the flange cover member 72, respectively. By the contact of these guide surfaces, the flange cover member 72 is guided and supported by the engagement member 65 so as to be movable in at least the radial direction. In short, the vector along the direction in which the engaging member 65 moves has at least a component in the diameter direction of the drum unit. In this embodiment, the engaging member 65 can move almost parallel to the diameter direction.

The engaging member 65 is elastically pushed toward the radial inner side of the coupling unit 28 by the elastic pushing member 66. The elastic member 66 is compressed while being nipped by the abutment surface 65h of the engaging member 65 with the inner peripheral surface of the flange member 71. Therefore, the elastic force in the extending direction of the elastic member 66 causes the card to be elastically pushed.合Component 65.

For the engagement member 65, the position restriction surface 65j of the engagement member 65 abuts against the restriction surface 72j of the flange cover member 72 to restrict the position against the elastic thrust.

The engagement member 65 is supported by the flange cover member 72 in a state where the engagement portion 65 a of the engagement member 65 is exposed from the hole 72 a of the flange cover member 72. In addition, the drive shaft contact surface 65c formed in the arc shape of the engagement member 65 is similarly exposed by the hole 72a of the flange cover member 72. The engaging portion 65a of the engaging member 65 protrudes further inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the hole 72a of the flange cover member 72.

The amount of protrusion of the engaging portion 65a on the drive shaft abutting surface 65c of the engaging member 65 is such that the engaging portion 65a surely enters the groove 101a of the drive shaft. In addition, this protrusion only has to be formed in the engagement The driving force receiving surface 65b of the portion 65a corresponds to the strength of the load moment of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 of the rotating member. In short, the driving force receiving surface 65b of the engaging portion 65a only needs to be capable of stably transmitting the driving force by the main body drive shaft 101. In the case of this embodiment, if the distance from the inner surface of the flange cover member 72 to the tip of the engaging portion 65a is measured along the diameter direction of the coupling unit, the engaging portion 65a is defined such that the distance becomes 1 mm to 3 mm The amount of protrusion.

In addition, the drive shaft abutting surface 65c of the engaging member 65 is also similarly protruded inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the hole portion (hollow portion) 72a of the flange cover member 72. The protruding amount (exposure amount) of the drive shaft abutment surface 65c from the inner peripheral surface of the hole 72a. When the size of each part is uneven, the drive shaft abutment surface 65c can be surely covered by the inner peripheral surface of the hole 72a. The prominent ones are better. In the case of this embodiment, the amount of protrusion of the drive shaft contact surface 65c from the inner peripheral surface of the hole 72a is preferably 0.3 mm to 1 mm. In short, when the distance from the inner surface of the flange cover member 72 to the drive shaft contact surface 65c is measured along the diameter direction of the coupling unit, the distance is 0.3 mm to 1 mm.

In this way, the engaging portion 65a and the drive shaft abutting surface 65c of the engaging member 65 are exposed from the hole portion 72a, and the drive shaft 101 of the main body can be engaged and abutted. The engaging member 65 engages with the main body drive shaft 101 and is driven and transmitted in detail later.

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

Use Figure 16, Figure 17, Figure 18, Figure 19 to explain the processing Removal of the cassette 7 to the body of the image forming apparatus.

16 is a perspective view for explaining the installation of the display cassette 7 to the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus.

17, 18 and 19 are cross-sectional views for explaining the installation operation of the display cassette 7 to the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus.

The main body 100A of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment adopts a structure capable of mounting a cassette in an approximately horizontal direction. Specifically, the image forming apparatus main 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 image forming apparatus body 100A (the direction in which the user stands when used).

As shown in FIG. 16, the cassette door 104 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A is opened and closed. When the cassette door 104 is opened, the cassette lower rail 105 that guides the cassette 7 is disposed on the bottom surface of the space, and the cassette upper rail 106 is disposed on the upper surface. The cassette 7 is guided to the installation position by the upper and lower guide rails (105, 106) arranged above and below the space. The cassette 7 is approximately along the axis of the photoconductor drum unit 30 and inserted into the installation position.

Hereinafter, the operation of attaching and detaching the cassette to the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus will be described using FIGS. 17, 18, and 19.

As shown in FIG. 17, the cartridge 7 is not in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5 when the photo drum unit bearing member 39R and the photoreceptor drum 1 are initially inserted. In other words, in a state where the end on the deep side of the insertion direction of the cassette 7 is supported by the cassette lower rail 105, the photoconductor drum 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 5 are in a dimensional relationship that does not contact.

Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the image forming apparatus main body 100A is provided with a deep cassette lower guide 107 protruding upward in the direction of gravity than the cassette lower guide 105 on the deep side of the insertion direction of the cassette lower rail 105. This deep-side cassette lower guide 107 has an inclined surface 107 a on the front side in the insertion direction of the cassette 7. Along with the insertion, the cassette 7 straddles the inclined surface 107a and is guided to the installation position.

In addition, the position or shape of the lower guide 107 of the deep cassette should be set so that when the cassette is inserted into the main body 100A of the device, a part of the cassette does not slip against the image forming area 5A of the intermediate transfer belt 5. Here, the image forming area 5A refers to an area of the intermediate transfer belt 5 that carries the toner image transferred to the recording material 12. In addition, in this embodiment, among the cassettes that maintain the installation posture, the unit bearing member 39R provided on the deep side of the insertion direction of the cassette 7 protrudes most upward in the direction of gravity. Therefore, as long as the trajectory (hereinafter referred to as the insertion trajectory) drawn by the deepest end of the drum unit bearing member 39R in the insertion direction does not interfere with the image forming area 5A, the arrangement of the elements should be appropriately selected. And shape.

Next, the cassette 7 is inserted into the deep side of the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus from the state of straddling the lower guide 107 of the deep side cassette. In this way, the drum unit bearing member 39R abuts against the deep cassette positioning portion 108 provided in the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus. At this time, the cassette 7 (photoreceptor drum unit 30) is in a state inclined by about 0.5 to 2° than the state (FIG. 17(d)) in which the mounting on the image forming apparatus body 100A is completed. In short, in the insertion direction of the cassette 7, it becomes the cassette 7 (photoreceptor drum unit 30) The downstream side is more lifted than the upstream side.

19 is a diagram showing the state of the device body and the cassette when the cassette door 104 is closed. The image forming apparatus 100A has a front side cassette lower guide 109 on the front side of the insertion direction of the cassette lower guide 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 side cassette lower guide 109 rises. Next, the drum unit bearing member 39L abuts against the front cassette positioning portion 110 of the image forming apparatus main body 100A, and the cassette 7 positions the image forming apparatus main body 100A.

Through the above operations, the installation of the cassette 7 to the image forming apparatus body 100A is completed.

In addition, the removal of the cassette 7 from the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus is the reverse order of the aforementioned insertion operation.

As described above, because of the oblique installation structure, when the cassette 7 is installed on the main body 100A of the apparatus, the slip of the photoreceptor drum 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 5 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress minute scratches (scratches) on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5.

In addition, the structure disclosed in this embodiment can simplify the structure of the image forming apparatus main body 100A compared to the structure in which the apparatus main body 100A moves the cassette 7 in the horizontal direction and then lifts up the entire cassette.

〔The process of engaging the coupling unit to the main drive shaft〕

Next, the process of engaging the coupling unit 28 and the main body drive shaft 101 will be described in detail using FIGS. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26.

FIG. 20, FIG. 21, and FIG. 22 are cross-sectional views for explaining the installation operation of the coupling unit 28 to the main body drive shaft 101.

Figures 23 and 24 are for explaining that the main body drive shaft 101 is rotated when the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 65 (driving force receiving surface 65b) are out of phase, and the main body drive shaft 101 is coupled to the main body drive shaft 101 when the phase is matched. Sectional view of unit 28 for installation.

Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship of forces acting on the engaging member.

26 is a cross-sectional view in the axial direction of the engagement surface showing the drive transmission of the engagement member and the main body drive shaft.

In addition, FIGS. 21 and 23 are diagrams for explaining a state where the main body drive transmission groove 101a and the engaging portion 65 (driving force receiving surface 65b) are out of phase.

Install the cassette 7 into the device body 100A as described above. In this way, along with the installation operation of the cassette, the hemispherical shape 101c formed at the tip of the main body drive shaft 101 and the inclined surface of the end surface of the thick guide portion 101g formed on the main body drive shaft are pressed by the coupling unit. Pick up. Thereby, the main body drive shaft 101 is guided to the inner surface 71b of the flange member 71 of the coupling unit.

FIG. 20 shows a state where the main body drive shaft 101 guided in this way abuts against the engaging member 65 of the coupling unit. The hemispherical shape of the main body drive shaft The shape 101c abuts on the insertion inclined surface 65k formed on the engagement member 65.

In this state, a force is further applied in the direction in which the cassette 7 is installed deep. In this way, the force in the cassette mounting direction is inserted into the inclined surface 65k so that the force is in the direction in which the engaging member 65 is retracted outward in the radial direction. Therefore, in a state where the tip end of the main body drive shaft 101 abuts on the insertion inclined surface 65k, the cassette 7 can be further moved to the depth of the apparatus main body.

Figures 21 and 23 show a state in which the cassette 7 is moved to the depth and the installation of the cassette 7 to the device body 100A is completed. In this state, the hemispherical shape 101c of the main body drive shaft is in contact with the conical surface 72m of the coupling unit, and the main body drive shaft 101 is positioned in the axial direction and the radial direction with respect to the coupling unit 28.

As described above, the engaging member 65 is guided by the first 1, 2, 3, and 4 guide surfaces of the flange cover member 72, so that the first 1, 2, 3, and 4 guide surfaces of the engaging member 65 are guided. As a result, the tip of the engaging portion is retracted in the radial direction until it abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft. At this time, as shown in FIG. 23, with respect to the restriction surface 65j of the elastic thrust of the engagement member 65, the restriction surface 72j of the flange cover member is separated. In addition, the elastic pushing member 66 is in a shortened state that is more compressed than the state of FIG. 15 in which the main body drive shaft 101 is not inserted into the coupling unit 28.

Thereafter, when the main body of the image forming apparatus is started, or when the image forming operation starts, the main body drive shaft 101 rotates. In this way, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 24, the engaging portion 65a of the engaging member enters the groove 101a of the main body drive shaft. Thereby, the drive shaft contact surface 65c of the engaging member The engaging member 65 moves to the radially inner side until it abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft. In addition, FIG. 24 shows a state where the position restriction surface 65j of the engagement member is also in contact with the restriction surface 72j of the flange cover member.

However, in order to make the drive shaft abutment surface 65c of the engaging member abut the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft more reliably, the position control surface 65j and the control surface 72j are always set to a certain gap The dimensional relationship in the opened state is preferable. In short, even if the size is discrete, when the drive shaft abutment surface 65c of the engaging member abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft, it is surely generated between the position control surface 65j and the control surface 72j. gap.

Then, when the main body drive shaft 101 is rotated from the state of FIG. 24, as shown in FIG. 25, the drive transmission surface 101b of the main body drive shaft abuts against the driving force receiving surface 65b of the engaging portion, and becomes capable of driving and transmitting to the photosensitive member. The state of the body drum 1. As described above, the engaging portion 65a of the engaging member is engaged with the main body drive shaft 101.

22, 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 65a is performed so that the length L2 of the driving force receiving surface 65b becomes the relationship of L1>L2 The engaging portion 65a is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 22, the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c is arranged in a conical shape 72m in the Z direction so as to enter the range L2 of the driving force receiving surface 65b of the engaging member 65. When the engaging portion 65a and the center 101h are projected to the axis of the drum unit 30, the driving force of the engaging portion 65a bears Inside the projection area L2 of the receiving surface 65b, the center of the center 101h is arranged. By establishing such an arrangement relationship, the following effects can be obtained.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 19, the drum unit bearing member 39R and the drum unit bearing member 39L abut against the deep cassette positioning portion 108 and the front cassette positioning portion 110, respectively. Thereby, the position of the cassette 7 with respect to the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus is determined. Here, the relative position of the main body drive shaft 101 and the coupling unit 28 is affected by the part tolerance. Specifically, the position shift is affected by the part tolerance from the drum unit bearing member 39R to the coupling unit 28 and the part tolerance from the deep cassette positioning portion 108 to the main body drive shaft 101.

As shown in Figures 6 and 22, the main body drive shaft 101 has a hemispherical shape 101c that abuts against the inverse cone shape 533a, and is configured to support the bearing portion 101d and the hemispherical shape 101c at two points. That is, as viewed from the coupling unit 28, the main body drive shaft 101 tilts the center 101h of the hemispherical shape 101c. The position that is the same as the center 101h in the Z-axis direction is the position least affected by this tilt. The driving force receiving surface 65b is arranged at the same position as the center 101h in the Z-axis direction, but it is also a position where the influence of the position shift can be minimized. That is, it becomes a position where the photoreceptor drum 1 can be stably driven.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a protrusion for receiving driving force is provided on the engaging member 65 side, but it is also possible to provide a groove for receiving driving on the engaging member, and to provide a drive shaft 101 on the main body side by moving A movable protrusion that can be engaged with the groove in the diameter direction. However, compared with the cassette 7, the image forming apparatus body 100A requires higher durability. As in this embodiment, the movable It is preferable to provide the movable portion (engaging portion 65) in the diameter direction on the coupling unit 28 side of the cassette 7 to improve the durability of the image forming apparatus body 100A.

〔According to the driving of the coupling unit of the main drive shaft〕

The transmission structure of the rotational driving force to the coupling unit 28 will be described using FIGS. 25 and 26.

First, the supporting structure of the engaging member 65 at the time of coupling driving will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 25, when the main body drive shaft 101 is rotationally driven in the arrow R direction, the drive transmission surface 101b of the groove 101a formed on the main body drive shaft abuts the driving force of the engaging portion 65a formed on the engaging member On the receiving surface 65b, the force F acts on the normal direction of the driving force receiving surface 65b. When the driving force F acts on the driving force receiving surface, this force causes the first guided surface 65d of the engaging member to abut against the first guide surface 72d of the flange cover. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the drive shaft abutting surface 65c of the engaging member abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft. Thereby, the engaging member 65 is firmly supported between the flange cover member 72 and the main body drive shaft 101.

Next, when the engaging member 65 generates a force, the supporting structure of the engaging member 65 using this force will be described.

The driving force receiving surface 65b is inclined to the moving direction S of the engaging member 65, and faces at least the outer side in the diameter direction. In short, the normal vector of the driving force receiving surface 65b (the vector extending perpendicular to the driving force receiving surface 65b toward the side facing the driving force receiving surface 65b) has an outward component in the diameter direction of the coupling unit.

To put it another way, the radial inner side of the driving force receiving surface 65b (the tip side of the engaging portion 65a) is closer to the drum unit rotation direction than the radial outer side of the driving force receiving surface 65b (the rear end of the engaging portion 65a) The upstream side.

When the driving force F is applied perpendicularly to the driving force receiving surface 65b of the engagement portion, the direction in which the driving force F is generated is inclined so that the circumferential direction (circumferential direction) of the coupling unit is diametrically inner. In short, if a virtual circle passing through the driving force receiving surface 65b is drawn concentrically with the coupling unit, the connecting line of the driving force F with respect to the virtual circle is inclined toward the inner side in the radial direction.

Therefore, the driving force F can be decomposed into the force F1 of the connection direction component (circumferential direction component, rotation direction component) along the connection line of the aforementioned imaginary circle, and the force F2 which is the radial component toward the radial inner side.

With the force F2 acting on the driving force receiving surface 65b as a result, the driving force receiving surface 65b of the engaging member is elastically pushed toward the radially inner side. Since the driving force receiving surface 65b can be prevented from moving outward in the radial direction, the contact state between the driving force receiving surface 65b and the drive transmission surface 101b of the main body's drive shaft can also be prevented from being eliminated.

In addition, with respect to the direction of the force F acting on the normal direction of the driving force receiving surface, the movement direction S in which the engagement member is movably guided to the radial inner side of the flange cover member is a direction inclined only by an angle θ. Thereby, the force F acting on the driving force receiving surface generates a component FS acting in the moving direction S of the engagement member as shown in FIG. 25(b). With this force FS, the movement of the engaging member 65 to the opposite side of the movement direction S is prevented, It is possible to prevent the driving force receiving surface 65b of the engaging member from being detached from the driving transmission surface 101b of the main body drive shaft and falling to the outside. To briefly describe this, it can be said that the direction of the driving force receiving surface 65b is the direction in which the driving force receiving surface 65b bites into the drive transmission surface 101b of the main body's drive shaft with respect to the moving direction of the engaging member 65.

In addition, it is more preferable that the drive shaft contact surface 65c of the engaging member abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft.

As shown in FIG. 25, the drive shaft contact surface 65c and the drive force receiving surface 65b are provided on the side opposite to the direction of the drive force F. Thereby, the rotational moment M generated in the engaging member 65 by the force F acting on the driving force receiving surface is supported by the drive shaft abutting surface 65c, and the engaging member 65 can be supported more firmly. The drive shaft contact surface 65c of the engaging member protrudes inwardly in the radial direction than the inner peripheral surface 72a of the hole of the flange cover member. Thereby, when the size of each part and the assembly accuracy are discrete, the drive shaft contact surface 65c can be reliably brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 101f. In short, it is preferable that at least a part of the driving shaft abutting surface 65c is arranged on the upstream side than the driving force receiving surface 65b in the rotation direction of the drum unit.

As described above, the engaging member 65 is firmly supported between the flange cover member 72 and the main body drive shaft 101. As a result, the engagement member 65 is prevented from being detached and dropped from the main body drive shaft 101, and at the same time, the driving force from the main body drive shaft 101 can be stably transmitted to the engagement member 65. Then, the driving stability of the photoreceptor drum 1 can be improved, and the image quality can be improved.

Next, explain the axial direction of the driving force receiving surface 65b of the engaging portion tilt. Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the engaging portion 65a of the engaging member cut along a surface extending in the normal direction of the driving force receiving surface 65b. In short, it is a cross-sectional view cut in the direction of the arrow of the force F in FIG. 25. Here, the main body drive transmission surface 101b formed in the drive transmission groove 101a of the main body drive shaft 101 is in contact with the drive force receiving surface 65b of the engaging portion 65a formed on the engaging member, and the drive force of the main body drive shaft 101 It is transmitted to the engaging member 65.

As described above, the main body drive transmission surface 101b has a shape in which the axis of the coupling unit 28 is twisted to the center. In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 26, the main body drive transmission surface 101b is inclined to the rotation axis of the main body drive shaft 101. The driving force receiving surface 65b of the engaging portion is in contact with the main body drive transmission surface 101b and therefore has a twisted shape, and the driving force receiving surface 65b is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the main body drive shaft 101. In more detail, the driving force receiving surface 65b is arranged on the outer side in the axial direction of the drum unit on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the drum unit than the inner side.

Therefore, the force F in the normal direction that acts on the drive force receiving surface 65b from the main body drive transmission surface 101b has a force F3 as a component of the rotation axis direction. In other words, a force F3 is generated that pushes the engaging member 65 and the coupling unit 28 outward in the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor drum. Thereby, it is possible to prevent force from being applied to the main body drive shaft 101 in the direction in which the coupling unit 28 is separated from the axial direction. Next, as shown in FIG. 21, a force is generated that pushes the hemispherical shape 101c formed at the tip end of the main body drive shaft in the direction in which the conical shape 72m formed on the flange cover member collides. As a result, the hemispherical shape 101c, which becomes the main body's drive shaft, definitely collides against the conical shape 72m of the flange cover member. For the coupling unit 28, the main body drive shaft 101 can be positioned more accurately.

The driving force received by the driving force receiving surface 65 b is transmitted to the flange cover member 72 by the engaging member 65. That is, the driving force is transmitted from the first guided surface 65 d of the engaging member 65 to the first guide surface 72 d of the flange cover member 72. The first guide surface 72d is a transmitted portion through which driving force is transmitted, and the flange cover member 72 is a transmitted member. In addition, the first guide surface 72d is also a backup portion that prevents the engaging portion 65a from moving to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the drum unit when a driving force is applied to the engaging member 65. In addition, the first guided surface 65 d is a transmitting portion for transmitting driving force to the flange cover member 72.

In addition, the first guide surface 72d is inclined to the driving force receiving surface 65b. Therefore, the driving force F applied perpendicularly to the driving force receiving surface 65d has a component that is directed radially inward along the first guide surface 72d.

With this component of the driving force F, the engaging portion 65a is guided toward the radially inner side of the coupling unit 28 along the ground 1 guide surface 72d. In short, the first guide surface 72d faces the direction in which the engaging portion 65a or the driving force receiving surface 65b springs toward the radially inner side (that is, the deep side of the drive transmission groove 101a) when the driving force F is transmitted.

In FIG. 25, when extending the wiring of the first guide surface 72d and the driving force receiving surface 65d, these two wirings intersect at a radially outer side than the first guide surface 72d or the driving force receiving surface 65d Mode composition.

In addition, in the rotation direction R of the drum unit, the first guide surface 72d is arranged on the downstream side of the radially inner side than the radially outer side (refer to the figure). 25).

The driving force transmitted from the engaging member 65 to the flange cover member 72 is transmitted to the photoreceptor drum 1 through the flange member 71. As a result, the photoreceptor drum 1 rotates together with the coupling unit 28.

That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the flange cover member 72 has a position restricting groove 721 (engagement portion, recessed portion) for engaging with the convex portion provided on the flange member 71. In addition, it also has a fitting surface 72k fitted to the inner circumference of the flange member 71. The driving force is transmitted to the flange member 71 through these fitting surfaces 72k or the position restriction groove 72l. The flange member 71 is attached to the inner periphery of the photoreceptor drum 1, so the flange member 71 finally transmits the driving force to the photoreceptor drum 1.

In addition, the flange member 71 is provided with a convex portion, and the flange cover member 72 is provided with a concave portion (position restriction groove 721) for engaging with this, but it is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a concave portion may be provided in the flange member 71, and a convex portion that engages with this may be provided in the flange cover member 72, and the driving force may be transmitted from the flange cover member 72 to the flange member 71.

Furthermore, as described above, by making the driving force receiving surface 65b a torsion surface, the driving force F is applied to the driving force receiving surface 65b, and the light drum unit 30 is elastically pushed to the outside in the axial direction. That is, when the driving force is applied to the driving force receiving surface 65b by the main body drive shaft 101, the drum unit 30 and the main body drive shaft 101 are configured to be close to each other. In addition, the driving force receiving surface 65b may have a structure equivalent to that of a twisted surface, and it does not have to be a twisted shape. The driving force receiving surface 65b may be a surface that is inclined in the direction in which the elastic thrust Fc2 is generated with respect to the aforementioned driving force F, and the surface shape is, for example, It can be flat or curved.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, in the flange member 71, for the radially inner thrust of the engaging member 65 received by the resilient member 66, there is provided a spring that receives the radially outer force of the reaction force. 71 f of the contact surface of the pushing member (the elastic pushing member abutting portion). The contact surface 71f is a pressing force receiving portion (elastic thrust receiving portion) that is pressed and pushed by the elastic pushing member. In addition, it is an elastic member support part for supporting the elastic member.

As shown in FIG. 12, the contact surface 71f of the flange member 71 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor drum 1. At least a part of the contact surface 71f and a part of the photoreceptor drum 1 are arranged in the longitudinal direction. Overlapping position. In short, when the contact surface 71f and the photoreceptor drum 1 are projected perpendicularly to the axis of the photoreceptor drum, at least a part of the mutual projection areas overlap. Furthermore, in other words, at least a part of the contact surface 71 f is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1. Particularly in this embodiment, the entire contact surface 71 f is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1. This should be due to the following reasons.

The contact surface 71f of the flange member 71 is arranged in the thin-walled portion of the flange member from a spatial consideration in the radial direction. The radially outward elastic thrust from the elastic member 66 generated on the contact surface 71f is received by the photoreceptor drum 1, which is generally made of aluminum alloy and has higher strength than the flange member, thereby suppressing The flange member 71 is deformed around the abutting surface 71f. By suppressing the deformation of the flange member 71, the deformation up to the bearing portion 71c formed on the flange member 71 for rotatably supporting the photoreceptor drum 1 is suppressed, and the photoreceptor can be rotatably supported with high accuracy. body Optical drum 1.

In order to arrange at least a part of the contact surface 71 f inside the photoreceptor drum 1, at least a part of the elastic member 66 is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1.

To be more precise, at least a part of the contact portion (ejection portion) of the ejection member 66 that is in contact with the contact surface 71 f is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1. Particularly in this embodiment, the entirety of the ejector member 66 is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1.

In addition, at least a part of the engaging member 65, or the engaging portion 65a, and the driving force receiving surface 65b is also arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1. In short, particularly in this embodiment, the entire engagement member 65 is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1.

By arranging the movable engaging member 65 or the elastically deformable elastic pushing member 66 inside the photoreceptor drum 1, the user's hand cannot easily touch them. It is also suitable for protecting the engaging member 65 or the elastic pushing member 66.

Furthermore, arranging at least a part of the engaging member 65 inside the photoreceptor drum also has the following effects.

That is, if the engaging member 65 is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1, when the cartridge 7 is installed in the device body, the shaft portion 101f forming the drive transmission groove 101a also enters the inside of the photoreceptor drum 1 (see Figure 8, Figure 9). Next, the drive transmission shaft 101 is supported by the bearing portion 101d and the shaft portion 101f. Therefore, the longer the distance between the bearing portion 101d and the shaft portion 101f, the inclination of the drive transmission shaft 101 to the drum unit is suppressed. appropriate. If the shaft portion 101f enters the inside of the photoreceptor drum 1, the device body can be kept small, and the distance between the bearing portion 101d and the shaft portion 101f can be easily ensured.

〔Unplug the coupling unit from the main drive shaft〕

10, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, and FIG. 22 are used to explain the unplugging operation of the coupling unit 28 from the main body drive shaft 101.

As shown in FIG. 10, at the time point when the rotational drive of the main body drive shaft 101 stops, the driving force receiving surface 65b and the main body drive transmission surface 101b are in a contact state. In this state, the engaging portion 65a enters the main body drive transmission groove 101a.

When the cassette 7 is initially removed from the main body 100A of the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 22, the removal inclined surface 65l of the engaging portion 65a conflicts with the main removal gradient 101i. Pulling off the inclined surface 65l, because it is against the body side pulling out gradient 101i, the elastic pushing member 66 starts to shorten, and the engaging member 65 moves radially outward along the body side pulling out gradient 101i.

Furthermore, when the coupling unit 28 is pulled out from the main body drive shaft 101, it is in the same state as in FIG. 21, the elastic member 66 is shortened, and the engaging portion 65a is moved to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101f of the main body drive shaft 101. By moving the engaging portion 65a to the outer diameter of the shaft portion 101f, the coupling unit 28 can be pulled out from the main body drive shaft 101.

Furthermore, when the coupling unit 28 is removed from the main body drive shaft 101, as shown in Figures 20 and 15, the position of the engagement member 65 returns to the engagement member's restricting portion 65j and the flange cover member's restricting portion 72j. Pick up The position is limited to the state of the push direction.

Through the above actions, the coupling unit 28 can be pulled out from the main body drive shaft 101.

In addition, as described above, the driving force receiving surface 65b has a twisted shape with the rotation axis of the flange member 71 as the center. The twisting direction is the outer side (Z1 direction side) and the inner side (Z2 direction side) of the photoreceptor drum unit 30 with respect to the driving force receiving surface 65b, and is arranged on the upstream side of the photoreceptor drum 1 in the rotation direction.

If the coupling unit 28 is to be removed from the main body drive shaft 101 in this state, the drive force receiving surface 65b is arranged in a direction that hinders the removal operation. In short, as shown in FIG. 26, the outer side (Z1 direction side) and the inner side (Z2 direction side) of the driving force receiving surface 65b are arranged on the upstream side in the rotation direction. Therefore, the coupling unit 28 is pulled out from the main body drive shaft 101 by a pulling action. If you go, unplugging the load increases the insertion load.

In this regard, the rotation drive of the main body drive shaft 101 may be stopped until the cassette 7 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100A, and the main body drive shaft 101 may be rotated in the reverse direction. Thereby, after the state that the driving force receiving surface 65b abuts on the driving transmission surface 101b is released, the cassette 7 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100A, so that the removal load can be reduced.

As a method of reverse rotation, it can also be linked to the opening action of the cassette door 104, the main body drive shaft 101 can be reversely rotated by a link mechanism or the like, or the motor of the drive source of the main body drive shaft 101 can be reversely rotated. .

In the above-described embodiments, the functions related to the present invention are collectively described And effect.

In this embodiment, because the engaging member 65 movable in the radial direction is provided in the coupling unit 28, it is not necessary to use a mechanism for retracting the main body drive shaft 101 in the axial direction, and the cassette 7 can be assembled and disassembled well, and According to the driving transmission of the coupling unit 28.

The engaging portion 65a formed in the engaging member 65 protrudes inward in the radial direction from the hole portion 72a of the coupling unit 28. Thereby, it is possible to protect the engaging portion 65a in the cassette 7 configured to be detachable from the device body 100A.

In addition, the driving force receiving surface 65b formed in the engagement portion extends toward the inner side in the radial direction. Therefore, after the engaging portion enters the groove portion 101a of the drive shaft of the main body, the driving force receiving surface 65b abuts the drive transmission surface 101b formed in the groove portion 101a, and good drive transmission can be performed.

In addition, when the coupling unit 28 is driven, the direction of the driving force F received by the driving force receiving surface 65b in the normal direction is such that the connection direction of the imaginary circle centered on the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum 1 is directed toward the photoreceptor. The drum 1 is inclined inward in the radial direction. Furthermore, the direction of the driving force F is inclined to the direction in which the engaging member 65 is movably guided, so that the angle formed is an acute angle. This prevents the engagement member 65 from applying force to the outside in the radial direction, prevents the driving force receiving surface 65b from detaching and falling off from the drive transmission surface 101b, and at the same time, it is possible to stably transmit the driving force from the main body drive shaft 101 to the engagement member 65 . Then, the driving stability of the photoreceptor drum 1 can be improved, and the image quality can be improved.

In addition, the engaging member 65 is provided with a shaft abutting against the drive shaft of the main body The drive shaft contact surface 65c of the outer peripheral surface of the portion 101f. Thereby, the rotational moment M generated in the engaging member 65 is supported by the drive shaft abutting surface 65c, so that the engaging member 65 can be supported more firmly, and the driving stability is improved.

In addition, the direction of the driving force F received by the driving force receiving surface 65 b in the normal direction is inclined toward the outside in the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor drum 1 in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum 1. Thereby, it is possible to prevent force from being applied to the main body drive shaft 101 in the direction in which the coupling unit 28 is separated from the axial direction.

In addition, in the engaging portion 65a, an insertion inclined surface 65k is formed at one end of the photoreceptor drum 1 in the longitudinal direction, and an unplugging inclined surface 65l is formed at the other end opposite to the end having the insertion inclined surface 65k. . Thereby, when the cassette 7 is attached and detached, by contacting the insertion inclined surface 65k or the removal inclined surface 65l to the groove portion 101a of the main body drive shaft, the cassette 7 can be smoothly detached without jamming.

In addition, at least a part of the contact surface 71 f with the elastic member provided on the flange member 71 is configured to be arranged at a position overlapping with the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor drum 1. The engaging member 65 receives a radially inner elastic force received by the elastic member 66, and on the other hand, the contact portion 71f receives a radially outer force of the reaction force of the elastic thrust. When the contact surface 71f is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1 in this way, the deformation of the bearing portion 71c formed on the flange member 71 can be suppressed, and the photoreceptor drum 1 can be rotatably supported with high accuracy.

<Example 2>

The second embodiment will be described using FIGS. 27 to 47. The elements corresponding to the aforementioned embodiments are given the same names, and the description of the same points as the aforementioned elements may be omitted. The description will focus on the differences from the aforementioned elements.

The coupling unit disclosed in the foregoing embodiment is a member that transmits the driving force for rotating the photoreceptor drum 1. However, in order to rotate components other than the photoreceptor drum 1, the aforementioned coupling unit can also be used.

As an example of such a configuration, in this embodiment, a coupling unit 4028 that transmits a driving force for rotating the developing roller and the toner supply roller is disclosed.

In addition, the photoreceptor drum 1, the developing roller 4017, and the toner supply roller 4020 are all rotating bodies configured to rotate while supporting the developer (toner) on the surface.

[Overview of electronic photograph image forming device]

First, the overall configuration of an embodiment of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus) related to this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 27.

FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 4100A of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 27, the image forming apparatus 4100A, as a plurality of image forming portions, has first, second, and second images for forming images 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 the first The four image forming parts SY, SM, SC, and SK are arranged in a row in an approximately horizontal direction.

In addition, in this embodiment, the structure and operation of each drum cartridge 4013 (4013Y, 4013M, 4013C, 4013K) are substantially the same except that the colors of the formed images are different. Similarly, the structure and operation of each developing cassette 4004 (4004Y, 4004M, 4004C, 4004K) are substantially the same except that the colors of the formed images are different. That is, in the following, when there is no need to distinguish between them, Y, M, C, and K are omitted, and the drum cartridge 4013 and the developing cartridge 4004 will be described collectively.

In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 4100A, as a plurality of image carriers, has four cylinders with photosensitive layers (hereinafter referred to as photoreceptor drums) arranged side by side in a direction slightly inclined to the vertical direction. 1. A scanner unit (exposure device) 3 is arranged below the gravity direction of the drum cartridge 4013 and the developing cartridge 4004. In addition, around the photoreceptor drum 1, a charging roller 2 and the like acting as a processing means (processing device, processing member) acting on the photosensitive layer are arranged.

The charging roller 2 is a charging means (charging device, charging member) for uniformly charging the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. Next, the scanner unit (exposure device) 3 is an exposure means (exposure device, exposure member) that irradiates a laser based on image information to form an electrostatic image (electrostatic image) on the photoreceptor drum 1. Around the photoreceptor drum 1, a cleaning blade 6 as a cleaning means (cleaning device, cleaning member) and a developing cartridge 4004 are arranged.

Furthermore, the four photoconductor drums 1 are arranged opposite to The intermediate transfer belt 5 is an intermediate transfer body for transferring the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 1 to the recording material (thin plate, recording medium) 12.

The developer cartridge 4004 of this embodiment uses a non-magnetic single-component developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) as the developer, and uses a contact that makes the developer roller 4017 as the developer support contact the photoreceptor drum 1 Development method.

In the aforementioned configuration, the toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 is transferred to the sheet (paper) 12, and the toner image transferred to the sheet is fixed. In addition, as a processing means acting on the photoreceptor drum 1, the photoreceptor drum cartridge 4013 is equipped with a charging roller 2 for charging the photoreceptor drum 1 and cleaning the remaining toner that has not been transferred to the photoreceptor drum 1. The cleaning scraper 6. The transfer residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 1 without being transferred to the sheet 12 is recovered by the cleaning blade 6. In addition, the transfer residual toner recovered by the cleaning blade 6 is accommodated in the removed developer storage portion (hereinafter referred to as waste toner storage portion) 4014a through the opening 4014b. The waste toner storage portion 4014a and the cleaning blade 6 constitute an integrated drum cartridge (photoreceptor unit, drum unit, image carrier unit) 4013.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 4100A includes guides (positioning means) such as mounting guides and positioning members (not shown) in the main body frame. The developing cassette 4004 and the drum cassette 4013 are guided by the aforementioned guides, and are constructed in a manner that can be assembled and disassembled to the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus.

The developing cartridge 4004 for each color contains toner of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

Intermediate transfer belt 5, abutting each drum cartridge 4013 The prepared photoreceptor drum 1 rotates (moves) in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1. The intermediate transfer belt 5 is stretched on a plurality of supporting 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 arranged side by side so as to face each photoreceptor drum 1. Further, on the outer peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 5, at a position opposed to the secondary transfer counter roller 52, a secondary transfer roller 9 as a secondary transfer means is arranged.

When forming an image, first, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 2. Then, the surface of the charged photoreceptor drum 1 is scanned and exposed by the laser light corresponding to the image information emitted by the scanner unit 3. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the photoreceptor drum 1. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 is developed as a toner image by the developing cartridge 4004. 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 on the four drum cartridges 4013 (4013Y, 4013M, 4013C, 4013K) and the developing cartridge 4004 (4004Y, 4004M, 4004C, 4004K) in sequence. Next, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptor drum 1 of each drum cartridge 4013 are sequentially and firstly transferred so as to be superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5. Thereafter, in synchronization with the movement of the intermediate transfer belt 5, the recording material 12 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit. 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 conveyed to the fixing device 10 as a fixing means. The fixing device 10 applies heat and pressure to the recording material 12 to fix the toner image on 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 4100A may use a desired single or several (not all) image forming sections to form a monochromatic or multicolor image.

[Outline of handling cassette]

Next, using FIGS. 28, 29, 30, and 31, the drum cartridge 4013 (4013Y, 4013M, 4013C, 4013K) and the developing cartridge 4004 (4004Y, 4004Y, 4004M, 4004C, 4004K) summary.

In addition, the optical drum cartridge 4013Y, the optical drum cartridge 4013M, the optical drum cartridge 4013C, and the optical drum cartridge 4013K have the same structure. In addition, the developing cartridge 4004Y containing yellow toner, the developing cartridge 4004M containing magenta toner, the developing cartridge 4004C containing cyan toner, and the developing cartridge 4004K containing black toner have the same configuration. That is, in the following description, the drum cartridges 4013Y, 4013M, 4013C, and 4013K are collectively referred to as the drum cartridge 4013, and the developing cartridges 4004Y, 4004M, 4004C, and 4004K are collectively referred to as the developing cartridge 4004. The same applies to the components of each cassette. Weigh to explain.

Figure 28 is a perspective view of the external appearance of the optical drum cartridge 4013. Here, as shown in Figure 28, the direction of the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum 1 is taken as the Z direction (arrow Z1, arrow Z2), and the horizontal direction in Figure 27 is taken as the X direction (arrow X1, arrow X2), and Figure 27 The vertical direction is regarded as the Y direction (arrow Y1, arrow Y2).

The drum unit bearing members 4039R and 4039L are respectively mounted on both sides of the cleaning frame 4014, and respectively support the photoreceptor drum unit 4030. Thereby, the photoreceptor drum unit 4030 is rotatably supported on the cleaning frame 4014.

In addition, a charging roller 2 and a cleaning blade 6 are attached to the cleaning frame 4014, and these are arranged in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. In addition, a charging roller bearing 15 is attached to the cleaning frame 4014. The charging roller bearing 15 is a bearing for supporting the shaft of the charging roller 2.

Here, the charging roller bearings 15 (15R, 15L) are attached so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow C shown in FIG. 29. 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 a pressure spring 16 as a urging means. Thereby, the charging roller 2 abuts against the photoreceptor drum 1 and rotates with the photoreceptor drum 1.

The cleaning frame 4014 is provided with a cleaning blade 6 as a cleaning means for removing carbon powder remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. The cleaning blade 6 is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 1 to remove the carbon on the photoreceptor drum 1 The powder scraper rubber (elastic member) 6a is integrated with the support plate 6b supporting it. In this embodiment, the support plate 6b is fixedly installed on the cleaning frame 4014 with screws.

As described above, the cleaning frame 4014 has an opening 4014b for collecting the transfer residual toner recovered by the cleaning blade 6. The opening 4014b is provided with a blow-out prevention plate 26 that abuts the photoreceptor drum 1 and is sealed between the photoreceptor drum 1 and the opening 4014b to prevent toner leakage in the upper direction of the opening 4014b.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the appearance of the developing cartridge 4004.

The developing cassette 4004 has a developing frame 4018 that supports various elements. The developing cartridge 4004 is provided with a developing roller 4017 that is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 1 and is a developer carrier rotating in the arrow D direction (counterclockwise direction) shown in FIG. 31. The developing roller 4017 is rotatably supported by the developing frame 4018 with developing bearings 4019 (4019R, 4019L) interposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction (rotation axis direction). Here, the development bearings 4019 (4019R, 4019L) are attached to both sides of the development frame 4018, respectively.

In addition, the developing cassette 4004 has a developer storage chamber (hereinafter referred to as a toner storage chamber) 4018a as shown in FIG. 31 and a developing chamber 4018b in which a developing roller 4017 is arranged.

In the developing room 4018b, the toner supply roller 4020 of the developer supply member which is in contact with the developing roller 4017 and rotates in the direction of arrow E and the developing blade of the developer restricting member for restricting the toner layer of the developing roller 4017 are arranged板21。 Board 21. The developing blade 21, by performing the fixing member 22 Fixed and integrated by welding, etc.

In addition, the toner storage chamber 4018a of the developing frame 4018 is provided with a stirring member 23 for stirring the contained toner while conveying the toner to the toner supply roller 4020.

[Constitution of main body drive shaft]

The configuration of the main body drive shaft 4101 will be described using FIGS. 32 and 33.

Fig. 32 is an external view of the main body drive shaft 4101.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along the rotation axis (rotation axis) of the main body drive shaft 4101 in a state where the image forming apparatus is installed.

As shown in FIG. 32, the main body drive shaft 4101 is composed of a gear member 4101e, an intermediate body 4101p, an output member 4101q, and a drive transmission member 4101r.

A motor (not shown) as a driving source is provided in the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus. The gear member 4101e is rotationally driven by this motor, and the main body drive shaft 4101 rotates by transmitting the drive in the order of the intermediate body 4101p, the output member 4101q, and the drive transmitting member 4101r. In addition, the gear member 4101e, the intermediate body 4101p, and the output member 4101q have an O1dham coupling mechanism, which can move a certain distance in the X direction and the Y direction. Therefore, the drive transmission member 4101r provided on the cassette side of the main body drive shaft 4101 via the Oldham coupling can also move a certain distance in the X direction and the Y direction. Next, the drive transmission member 4101r has The rotatably shaft portion 4101f transmits the rotational driving force received by the motor to the developing cassette 4004 side through a groove-shaped drive transmission groove 4101a (recessed portion, drive transmission portion) provided in the shaft portion 4101f. In addition, the shaft portion 4101f has a conical shape 4101c at its tip.

This main body drive transmission groove 4101a has a shape into which the engaging portion 4065a described later can enter. Specifically, it is provided with a main body drive transmission surface 4101b which is in contact with the driving force receiving surface (driving force receiving portion) 4065b of the coupling unit 4028 as a surface for transmitting the driving force.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 32, the main body drive transmission surface 4101b is not a flat surface, but is a twisted shape with the center of the rotation axis of the main body drive shaft 4101. The twisting direction is the direction from the Z1 direction side of the main body drive shaft 4101 to the Z2 direction side, and is arranged on the upstream side of the main body drive shaft 4101 in the rotation direction. In this embodiment, the amount of twist along the rotation axis of the cylinder of the engaging portion 4065a is about 1° per 1 mm. The reason for twisting the shape of the body drive transmission surface 4101b will be detailed later.

In addition, the main body side pull-out gradient 4101i is provided on the Z2 direction side surface of the main body drive transmission groove 4101a. The main body side pull-out gradient 4101i is a gradient (inclined surface, inclined portion) for assisting the extraction of the engaging portion 4065b from the drive transmission groove 4101a when the developing cartridge 4004 is removed from the device main body 4100A.

As shown in FIG. 33, the to-be-beared portion 4101d provided in the gear member 4101e is rotatably supported (supported) by the bearing member 4102 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 4100A. Secondly, the output component 4101q, The coupling holder 4101s is rotatably supported. In addition, the drive transmission member 4101r is supported by the output member 4101q so as to be movable in the Z direction, and is urged by the spring member 4103 to the side of the developing cassette 4004 (Z2 direction). However, the movable amount (clearance) in the Z direction of the drive transmission member 4101q is about 1 mm, which is sufficiently smaller than the Z direction width of the driving force receiving surface 4065a described later.

Furthermore, the coupler holder 4101s is pushed in the Y2 direction by the elastic spring 4101t. Therefore, as described later, when the developing cartridge 4004 is installed, the axis of the drive transmission member 4101r with respect to the gear member 4101e is located at a position shifted approximately in the Y2 direction.

As described above, the drive transmission member 4101r is provided with the main body drive transmission groove 4101a, and the coupling unit 4028 is provided with the engaging portion (protrusion portion, protruding portion) 4065a to transmit the drive from the device main body 4100A to the developing cartridge 4004. When the driving force is transmitted to the coupling unit 4028, the developing roller or the supply roller rotates.

In addition, the details will be described later, but the engaging portion 4065a is formed in an engaging member (sliding member, moving member, driving force receiving member) 4065 that is movable while being pushed by the elastic pushing member. Therefore, the engaging portion 4065a is configured to be movable at least to the outside in the diameter direction when the developing cartridge 4004 is mounted on the main body 4100A of the apparatus. Thereby, as the developing cartridge 4004 is inserted into the main body 4100A of the apparatus, the engaging portion 4065a enters the drive transmission groove 4101a, and the engaging portion 4065a can be engaged with the main body drive transmission groove 4101a.

[Configuration of coupling unit]

Next, the coupling unit 4028 of this embodiment will be described in detail using FIGS. 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the coupling unit 4028 mounted on the toner supply roller 4020.

Fig. 35 is a perspective view of the engaging member 4065, Fig. 35(a) is a perspective view seen from the upper left, and Fig. 35(b) is a perspective view seen from the upper right.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the members constituting the coupling unit 4028.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the coupling unit 4028 and the toner supply roller 4020.

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of a state where the coupling unit 4028 is engaged with the drive transmission member 4101r.

Figure 39 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge 4004.

The coupling unit 4028 of this embodiment is different from the coupling unit 28 of the first embodiment in that the driving member is the toner supply roller 4020, and the others have similar structures.

In the coupling unit 4028, as shown in FIG. 34, three engagement parts 4065a engaged with the drive transmission member 4101r are provided. This engagement portion 4065a is fitted into the groove portion 4101a of the drive transmission member 4101r as shown in FIG. 38 to perform drive transmission.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the coupling unit (coupling member) 4028 will be specifically described. Coupling unit 4028, as shown in the perspective view of Figure 36, or the cross section of Figure 38 As shown in the figure, it is composed of a coupling cover member 4071, a coupling clamping frame member 4072, an engaging member 4065, and an elastic pushing member 4066.

The coupling cover member 4071 is a cylindrical member having a hollow portion, and the coupling holder 4072 is arranged in the internal space of the coupling cover member 4071.

The coupling holder 4072 is a holding member that slidably holds the engaging member 4065.

As shown in FIG. 38, the engaging member 4065 having the engaging portion 4065a is supported in the coupling unit 4028 in a state of being pushed by the elastic pushing member 4066 toward the radial inner side of the coupling unit 4028.

As shown in FIG. 35, the engaging member 4065 is movably guided in the coupling unit, and has a first guided surface 4065d and a second guided surface 4065e. In addition, it has a third guided surface 4065f and a fourth guide surface 4065g for restricting the position of the engaging member 4065 in the axial direction.

As in Example 1, the first to fourth guided surfaces (4065d, 4065e, 4065f, 4065g) are guided to the guided portion of the coupling holder 4072, and are also restricted by the coupling holder 4072 The restricted position part (restricted part) of the position. The coupling holder 4072 having first to fourth guide surfaces corresponding to the first to fourth guided surfaces is also the same as in the first embodiment.

The engaging member 4065 has an abutting surface (a pushed portion, a pressed surface) 4065h for receiving the elastic thrust generated by the elastic pushing member 4066. In addition, the engaging member 4065 is coupled with the elastic thrust of the elastic member 66 The clamping frame member 4072 abuts, and has a position restricting protrusion 4065i for restricting the position of the engaging member 4065, and an elastic thrust position restricting surface 4065j formed on the position restricting protrusion. As in the first embodiment, the elastic thrust position restricting surface 4065j is a locked portion that is restricted/locked to move toward the radially inner side by the coupling clamping frame member 4072.

In addition, the engaging member 4065 has an insertion inclined surface 4065k.

The coupling clamping frame member 4072 has a coupling hole 4072a for passing the drive transmission member 4101r, and an installation hole 4072b for supporting the engaging member 4065 to be movable in the radial direction.

The coupling cover member 4071 has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 36, and is attached to the outer peripheral surface 4072k of the coupling holder member 4072.

The elastic pushing member 4066 is an elastically stretchable elastic member (compression coil spring). For the external force of the compression spring in the contraction direction, the opposite force is the reaction force of the compression spring in the extension direction.

The engaging member 4065 is elastically pushed toward at least the inner side (inward in the radial direction) of the coupling unit 4028 by the elastic pushing member 4066. The elastic pushing member 4066 is compressed while being nipped by the abutting surface 4065h of the engaging member 4065 and the inner peripheral surface of the coupling cover member 4071. Therefore, the elastic pushing force in the extending direction of the elastic pushing member 4066 pushes the card.合Component 65.

The engaging member 4065 has the engaging portion 4065 a of the engaging member 4065 supported by the coupling clamping frame member 4072 in a state exposed by the hole portion 4072 a of the coupling clamping frame member 4072. In addition, the drive shaft abutting surface 4065c formed in an arc shape on the engaging member 4065 is also the same. The hole 4072a of the coupling and clamping frame member 4072 is exposed.

The engaging portion 4065a of the engaging member 4065 is further projected toward the inner side in the radial direction by the inner peripheral surface of the hole 4072a of the coupling clamping frame member 4072. The protrusion amount is the size that the engaging portion 4065a surely enters the groove 4101a of the drive shaft. In addition, the amount of protrusion is only the magnitude of the strength of the driving force receiving surface 4065b formed on the engaging portion 4065a corresponding to the load moment of the toner supply roller 4020 of the member to be rotated. By setting the protrusion amount in this way, it is sufficient that the engaging portion 4065a can stably transmit the driving force by the main body drive shaft 4101.

In the case of this embodiment, the protrusion amount of the engaging portion 4065a is preferably 1 mm to 3 mm. In short, when the distance from the inner surface of the coupling holder member 4072 to the tip of the engaging portion 4065a is measured along the diameter direction of the coupling member, the distance is 1 mm to 3 mm.

In addition, the drive shaft abutting surface 4065c of the engaging member 4065 is similarly, and the inner peripheral surface of the hole 4072a of the flange cover member 4072 protrudes further inward in the radial direction. When the size of each part is uneven, the protrusion amount is also such that the drive shaft abutting surface 4065c definitely protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the hole 4072a. In the case of this embodiment, it is preferably 0.3 mm to 1 mm.

In addition, in the coupling holding frame member 4072, as shown in FIG. 37, a hole 4072h for passing through the shaft (shaft) 4020a of the toner supply roller 4020 is formed. The toner supply drum 4020 and the coupling unit 4028 are integrated and rotated by the stop shape formed in the hole portion 4072h and the shaft portion 4020a. In short, in this embodiment, unlike Embodiment 1, the coupling unit 4028 is fixed to the shaft (shaft portion 4020a) of the rotating body (toner supply roller). The coupling unit 4028 is arranged coaxially with the toner supply roller 4020.

In addition, the distance from the axis (center) of the coupling unit 4028 to the driving force receiving portion (driving force receiving surface 4065b) is longer than the radius of the shaft portion 4020a. By doing so, the load moment necessary to rotate the shaft portion 4020a of the toner supply roller 4020 can be smaller than the force applied to the driving force receiving surface 4065b.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 39, the toner supply roller 4020 has a gear 4098 on the side (non-driving side) opposite to the driving side on which the coupling unit 4028 is mounted. This gear meshes with a gear 4099 attached to the shaft of the developing roller 4017.

When the toner supply roller 4020 is rotated by the driving force transmitted from the coupling unit 4028, the developing roller 4017 is also rotated by the aforementioned two gears.

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

Using Figure 40, Figure 41, Figure 42, and Figure 43, the attachment and detachment of the developing cartridge 4004 to the main body of the image forming apparatus will be described.

FIG. 40 is a perspective view for explaining the installation of the developing cartridge 4004 to the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus.

41, 42 and 43 are cross-sectional views for explaining the installation operation of the developing cartridge 4004 to the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming device body 4100A of this embodiment adopts A configuration in which the developing cartridge 4004 and the drum cartridge 4013 are installed approximately in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the image forming apparatus main body 4100A has a space in which the developing cartridge 4004 and the drum cartridge 4013 can be installed. Next, there is a cassette door 4104 (front door) for inserting the developing cassette 4004 and the drum cassette 4013 into the aforementioned space on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 4100A (the direction in which the user stands when in use).

As shown in FIG. 40, the cassette door 4104 of the image forming apparatus main body 4100A is opened and closed. When the cassette door 4104 is opened, the cassette lower rail 4105 that guides the developing cassette 4004 is disposed on the bottom surface of the space, and the cassette upper rail 4106 is disposed on the upper surface. The developing cassette 4004 is guided to the installation position by the upper and lower guide rails (4105, 4106) arranged above and below the space. The developing cassette 4004 is approximately along the axis of the developing roller 4020 and inserted into the installation position.

Hereinafter, the attaching and detaching operation of the developing cartridge 4004 to the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus will be described using FIGS. 41, 42, and 43.

As shown in Figure 41, the developing cassette 4004 is supported/guided by the lower end of the deep side in the insertion direction for the lower guide rail 4105 of the cassette, and the upper end of the lower end in the insertion direction is the upper side of the cassette upper guide 4016 (not shown) Show) the guided state is inserted. At this time, the development frame 4018 and the development bearing 4019 have a dimensional relationship in which the intermediate transfer belt 5 does not contact.

Next, as shown in FIG. 42, the developing cassette 4004 is inserted in the horizontal direction while being supported by the lower cassette guide 4105, and inserted until it abuts against the deep cassette positioning portion 4108 provided in the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus.

In addition, when the developing cartridge 4004 is installed, the drive transmission member 4101r of the image forming apparatus main body 4100A is engaged with the coupling unit 4028 in a state of being pushed in the approximate Y2 direction as described above.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing the state of the image forming apparatus main body 4100A and the developing cartridge 4004 in a state where the cassette door 4104 is closed. The cassette lower rail 4105 of the image forming apparatus main body 4100A is configured to move up and down in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cassette door (front door) 4104.

When the user closes the cassette door 4104, the cassette lower rail 4105 rises. Next, the two ends of the developing cassette 4004 abut against the cassette positioning portions (4108·4110) of the image forming apparatus main body 4100A, and the developing cassette 4004 positions the image forming apparatus main body 4100A. In addition, the drive transmission member 4101r of the image forming apparatus main body 4100A also rises following the developing cassette 4004.

With the above actions, the installation of the developing cartridge 4004 to the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus is completed.

In addition, the removal of the developing cartridge 4004 from the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus is the reverse order of the aforementioned insertion operation.

〔The process of engaging the coupling unit to the main drive shaft〕

Next, the process of engaging the coupling unit 4028 and the main body drive shaft 4101 will be described in detail using FIGS. 44, 45, 46, and 47.

44, FIG. 45, FIG. 46, and FIG. 47 are cross-sectional views for explaining the installation operation of the coupling unit 4028 to the main body drive shaft 4101.

Figure 44 shows the coupling unit 4028 starts to communicate with the drive A diagram of the state where the member 4101r is engaged. In addition, FIG. 47 shows a state in which the developing cartridge 4004 is mounted to the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus. Particularly, FIG. 47 shows a state in which the cassette door 4104 is closed and the cassette lower rail 4105 rises, and the developing cassette 4004 is positioned on the image forming apparatus main body 4100A.

Here, FIGS. 45 and 46 are diagrams for explaining the installation process of the coupling unit 4028 and the drive transmission member 4101r between FIGS. 44 and 47. In addition, the drive transmission member 4101r is urged in the approximate Y2 direction by the urging spring 4101t, and the axis of the drive transmission member 4101r is urged until the axis of the coupling unit 4028 is offset in the approximate Y2 direction.

As described with reference to FIG. 40, the developing cassette 4004 is inserted in the horizontal direction while the main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus is supported by the lower rail 4105 of the cassette.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing a state before the drive transmission member 4101r is engaged with the coupling unit 4028. As described above, in this state, the axis of the drive transmission member 4101r is deviated from the axis of the coupling unit 4028. Therefore, first, the inclined surface 4072p of the coupling unit 4028 formed at the entrance of the hole 4072a of the coupling holder member 4072 abuts the conical shape 4101c of the drive transmission member 4101r.

As shown in FIG. 45, the coupling unit 4028 is further inserted toward the deep side of the drive transmission member 4101r from FIG. 44. In this way, on the insertion inclined surface 4065k of the engaging member 4065, the conical shape 4101c of the drive transmission member 4101r is guided, and the axis of the coupling unit 4028 and the drive transmission The axis of the member 4101r becomes approximately the same.

As shown in Fig. 46, Fig. 45 further inserts the coupling unit 4028 toward the deep side of the drive transmission member 4101r. In this way, the coupling unit 4028 is inserted into the drive transmission member 4101r until the removal inclined surface 4065l of the engagement member 4065 is closer to the deep side in the Z direction than the main body side removal gradient 4101i of the drive transmission member 4101r.

Furthermore, the coupling unit 4028 is inserted into the drive transmission member 4101r. In this way, the conical concave portion 4072m of the coupling unit 4028 formed in the positioning portion of the coupling holder member 4072 abuts the conical shape 4101c of the drive transmission member 4101r.

Thereafter, as described above, the developing cassette 4004 is lifted by the cassette lower rail 4105, and the developing cassette 4004 is positioned in the image forming apparatus main body 4100A (as shown in FIG. 43). At this time, as shown in FIG. 47, as the developing cassette 4004 rises, the drive transmission member 4101r also rises.

As described above, as the developing cartridge 4004 is mounted on the main body 4100A of the apparatus, the main body drive transmission groove 4101a and the engaging portion 4065a become engageable. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the main body drive shaft 4101 to engage with the coupling unit 4028. In short, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for moving the main body drive shaft 4101 to engage with the coupling unit 4028 in the apparatus main body 4100A of the image forming apparatus.

In short, there is no mechanism for moving the main body drive shaft 4101 to engage the coupling unit 4028 after mounting the developing cartridge 4004 to the image forming apparatus 4100A.

In addition, when the developing cartridge 4004 is mounted on the main body 4100A of the apparatus, the engaging member 4065 of the coupling unit 4028 is configured to retract to the radially outer side by contacting the main body drive shaft 4101. Next, the engaging member 4065 is moved radially inward to engage with the groove of the main body drive shaft 4101 (the main body drive transmission groove 4101a).

Here, a groove for receiving driving may be provided on the coupling unit side, or a movable protrusion that can be engaged with the groove by moving in the radial direction may be provided on the main body drive shaft 4101 side. However, compared with the developing cartridge 4004, the image forming apparatus main body 4100A requires higher durability. It is preferable that the movable part (the engaging member 4065) movable in the diameter direction is provided on the coupling unit 4028 side of the developing cassette 4004 as in this embodiment to improve the durability of the image forming apparatus main body 4100A.

In addition, the engagement member 4065 provided in the coupling unit 4028 of this embodiment has almost the same structure as that provided in the coupling unit 28 described in the first embodiment. In short, the coupling unit 4028 of this embodiment is a part of the configuration of the coupling unit 28 described in Embodiment 1 applied to the developing cartridge (developing device) 4004. Therefore, the coupling unit 4028 of this embodiment also has the same functions and effects related to the present invention as the coupling unit 28 described in the first embodiment.

Furthermore, the configuration of the coupling unit shown in this embodiment may be used as a coupling unit for rotating the photoreceptor drum 1.

<Example 3>

The third embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 48 to 50. This implementation For example, the shape of the engaging portion of the engaging member is different from the previous embodiment. The description will be centered on the shape of the engagement portion.

In addition, this embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, taking the coupling unit provided on the drum cartridge as an example for description, but it can also be used for the coupling unit provided on the developing cartridge.

〔The engaging part of the engaging member〕

Fig. 48(a) and Fig. 48(b) are perspective views of the engagement member 5065 of this embodiment, and Fig. 48(c) is a front view. Figure 49 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit. FIG. 49 is a diagram showing the driving force generated from the main body drive shaft 101 to the coupling unit 5028, and a cross-sectional view of the coupling unit 5028 is partially enlarged. In more detail, FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axis of the coupling unit 5028 (the axis of the drum unit).

As shown in FIGS. 48 and 49, as in the case of the first embodiment, the engaging member 5065 is provided with an engaging portion 5065a protruding toward the inner side of the photoreceptor drum 1 in the radial direction. The tip side of this engaging portion 5065a is arcuate, and expands (projects) toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the drum unit.

In more detail, the engaging portion 5065a is formed with a semicircular convex portion (expanded portion) 5065m protruding in the circumferential direction toward the side where the drive shaft abutting surface 5065c is formed, and the convex portion 5065m is engaged with The root of the portion 5065a is formed with a recessed portion 5065n. In short, the convex portion 5065m is a portion that protrudes (expands) toward the upstream side of the rotation direction of the drum unit with respect to the concave portion 5065n. Conversely, the concave part 5065n is opposite to the convex part 5065m. The part that is sunken to the downstream side of the rotation direction.

FIG. 49 shows a state in which a driving force F is generated from the driving transmission surface 101b of the main body driving shaft 101 in the engaging portion 5065a having such a shape. The root portion of the engaging portion 5065a protruding from the engaging member 5065 is formed with a recess 5065n. Therefore, in this portion, in the groove 101a of the main body drive shaft 101, the entrance-side corner 101j on the drive transmission surface 101b side can enter the recess 5065n. Thereby, the engaging portion 5065a receives the driving force F in the normal direction acting on the drive transmission surface 101b, and can perform drive transmission.

In short, the drive force receiving portion 5065r for receiving the drive force by the drive transmission surface 101b faces at least the radially outer side of the coupling unit. Therefore, the drive force F received by the drive transmission surface 101b by the drive force receiving portion 5065r acts toward the radial inner side of the coupling unit. The engaging portion 5065a or the driving force receiving portion 5065r springs toward at least the radially inner side (that is, the deep side of the drive transmission groove 101a).

As a result, the engaging portion 5065a or the driving force receiving portion 5065r can be stably engaged with the drive transmission groove 101a.

Furthermore, the shape of the engaging portion 5065a will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 49, when the wire T parallel to the moving direction S of the engaging member 5065 is drawn out of the convex portion 5065m, the wire T and the convex portion 5065m have an apex 5065p as a contact point. The vertex 5065p protrudes from the root 5065q of the engaging portion 5065a along the movement direction S of the engaging member 5065 and is arranged at a position separated by a distance L3.

Between the apex 5065p and the root 5065q, a concave portion 5065n recessed in the line T is formed. Enter the recess through the corner 101j of the drive shaft 5065n, the engaging portion 5065a can receive the driving force F at the abutting portion (driving force receiving portion 5065r) with the drive transmission surface 101b arranged in the recessed portion 5065n.

The surface provided with the driving force receiving portion 5065r (the curved surface between the vertex 5065p and the root portion 5065q) is inclined to the moving direction of the engaging member 5065, and faces at least the outside in the radial direction of the coupling unit. In short, the normal vector of the driving force receiving portion 5065r (a vector extending perpendicularly to the driving force receiving portion 5065r in the direction in which the driving force receiving portion 5065r faces) has a radially outward component. Next, as shown in FIGS. 49(a) and (b), the driving force F is a force that acts perpendicularly to the driving transmission surface 101b or the driving force receiving portion 5065r. Therefore, the driving force F has a component toward the radially inner side.

In addition, the driving force F is a force that acts on the moving direction S of the engaging member 5065 only in the direction inclined by the angle θ. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 49(b), the driving force F has a force FS which is a component of the movement direction S of the engaging member. With this force FS, the engagement member 5065 is prevented from moving to the opposite side of the movement direction S, and the drive force receiving portion 5065r of the engagement member can be prevented from being detached from the drive transmission surface 101b of the main body drive shaft and falling to the outside.

In addition, in FIG. 49, one example of the shape of the convex portion (expanded portion) 5065m is a circular shape, but the shape of the convex portion is not limited to this, as long as the engaging portion 5065a generates a force FS on the driving force F The way can be formed. That is, for the wire T, a position protruding from the root 5065q of the engaging portion has a vertex 5065p as a contact point, and a recess 5065n in which the wire T is recessed may be formed between the vertex 5065p and the root 5065q.

The cross-sectional shape of the convex portion (expanded portion) 5065m may be swollen for engagement with the drive transmission groove 101a. For example, an approximately round polygonal shape (pentagonal shape, etc.) can also be used as the expansion portion. In addition, the shape of the cross section may be an ellipse or the like. Such an example will be described in FIG. 55 of the fourth embodiment.

In addition, as described above, in this embodiment, between the apex 5065p and the root 5065q of the convex portion (expanded portion) 5065m, a contact portion (driving force receiving portion) 5065r that contacts the drive transmission surface 101b is preferably arranged.

In order to reliably contact the drive transmission surface 101b at the contact portion 5065r thus arranged, it is preferable that at least the engaging member 5065 can be moved by a distance from the center of the cross section of the convex portion 5065m to the surface. That is, the engagement member 5065 is preferably more than the radius of the cross-sectional shape of the movable convex portion 5065m. More preferably, there is a margin that allows the convex portion to be moved 5065m or more in width (that is, the diameter or more).

In addition, if the amount of movement of the engaging member 5065 is small, the convex portion 5065m is in contact with the drive transmission groove 101a on the tip side of the convex portion 5065m than the vertex 5065p. In this case, when the convex portion 5065m receives the driving force, a force in the direction in which the oil-driven transmission groove 101a is separated may be applied to the engaging member 5065. That is, in order to make the engagement state of the engagement member 5065 and the drive transmission groove 101a more certain, increase the elastic thrust of the elastic pushing member that pushes the engaging member 5065, or increase the elastic thrust generated by the convex portion 5065m and the drive transmission The friction between the grooves 101a is better. If these countermeasures are taken, the engaging member 6065 will not be easily transmitted by the drive. 101a retreated.

Next, FIG. 50 and FIG. 51 show a modification of the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 50, the entire engagement portion 6065a may be an expanded portion formed in an approximately circular shape. By being formed into such a simple shape, it is possible to easily manage the dimensional accuracy of the engaging portion 6065a.

The engaging portion 6065a also has a vertex 6065p as a contact point of the wire T parallel to the moving direction S of the engaging member 6065. In addition, the vertex 6065p protrudes and is arranged at a position separated from the base 6065q of the engaging portion by a distance L4 along the movement direction S. Next, between the apex 6065p and the root 6065q of the engaging portion, a recess 6065n recessed to the line T is formed. Between the vertex 6065p and the root 6065q of the engaging portion, a contact portion (driving force receiving portion 6065r) for contacting the drive transmission surface 101b is also arranged. This contact portion (driving force receiving portion) 6065r faces the direction in which the driving force F is generated as a component of the force FS generated in the direction opposite to the moving direction S of the engaging member. As a result, it is possible to prevent the engagement member 6065 from being detached from the drive transmission surface 101b of the main body drive shaft and falling to the outside.

The surface (curved surface between the vertex 6065p and the root portion 6065q of the engaging portion) on which the contact portion (driving force receiving portion) 6065r is provided is inclined to the moving direction S of the engaging member 6065. In more detail, the wiring of the driving force receiving portion 6065r is inclined to the moving direction S.

Then, the driving force receiving portion 6065r faces the outside at least in the radial direction of the coupling unit. In short, the normal vector of the driving force receiving portion 6065r toward the side facing the driving force receiving portion 6065r has at least the direction coupling The component on the outside of the cell diameter.

In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 6065a of the engaging portion (expansion portion) does not need to be arcuate, and it may be swollen for engaging with the drive transmission groove 101a. For example, an approximately round polygonal shape (pentagonal shape, etc.) is also suitable for use as the expansion portion. In addition, the shape of the cross section may be an ellipse or the like.

In addition, in order for the contact portion (driving force receiving portion) 6065r arranged between the apex 6065p and the root portion 6065q to surely contact the drive transmission surface 101b, it is preferable that the movement amount of the engaging member 6065 satisfies the following conditions. In short, it is preferable that the engaging member 6065 is movable more than the distance from the center of the cross section of the engaging portion 6065a to the surface. That is, the engagement member 6065 (engagement portion 6065a) preferably has a radius of the cross-sectional shape of the movable engagement portion 6065a or more.

More preferably, the width (that is, the diameter) of the cross-sectional shape of the engaging portion 6065a that can move the engaging member is more than that of the engaging portion 6065a.

<Example 4>

The fourth embodiment will be described using FIGS. 52 to 57. In this embodiment, the structure corresponding to the structure of the engagement member and the spring push member is integrated with resin. In addition, this embodiment is the same as Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 3, taking the coupling unit provided on the drum cartridge as an example for description, but it can also be used for the coupling unit provided on the developing cartridge.

Figure 52 (a), (b) is a cross-sectional view of the drum unit. Figure 52 (a) The state where the engaging portion 565a engages with the drive transmission groove 101a and receives the driving force is displayed. Fig. 52(b) shows a state before the engagement portion 565a is engaged with the drive transmission groove 101a.

A flange member 571 is attached to the inside of the photoreceptor drum 1 in the same manner as in the first or third embodiment. This flange member 571 is the coupling unit (coupling member) of this embodiment.

In the flange member 571, a support portion 565 for movably supporting the driving force receiving portion 565r is formed integrally with the flange member 571. Three support parts 565 are provided on the flange member 571. Each of these support portions 565 has an extension portion 565t, an expansion portion (engaging portion 565a) provided at the tip of the extension portion, and a connecting portion 565s for connecting the extension portion 565t and the engagement portion 565a.

The extension 565t is continued to the inner circumference of the flange member 571. In short, the fixed end 565 of the extension 565t is provided on the inner circumference of the flange member 571. Next, the extension portion 565t is a portion extending from the fixed end 565t toward the inside of the hollow portion of the flange member 571. The details will be described later, but the extension portion 565t is an elastic portion that can be elastically deformed.

In addition, the free end side of the extension portion 565t (that is, the side where the connecting portion 565s is provided) is located closer to the downstream side in the rotation direction R of the drum unit (coupling unit) than the fixed end 565t1 of the extension portion 575t. In short, the extension 565t is a portion extending from the fixed end 565t1 toward the free end at least to the downstream side of the rotation direction R. In addition, the free end of the extension portion 575t (ie, the connecting portion 565s or the engaging portion 565a) is located closer to the radial inner side than the fixed end 565t1 of the extension portion 575t.

In addition, the engaging portion 565a is an expanded portion provided at the tip end of the extension portion 565t, and is a portion for entering the drive transmission groove 101a of the main body drive shaft 101. The engaging portion 565a is connected by a connecting portion 575s provided at the tip of the extension portion 575t. The connecting portion 575s is a portion formed by bending the tip side of the extension portion 565t. In addition, the engaging portion 565a and the connecting portion 565s are protruding portions (protruding portions) that protrude from the extending direction of the extending portion 565t in the direction intersecting.

The engaging portion 565a is provided with a driving force receiving portion 565r. As shown in FIG. 52(a), the driving force receiving portion 565r is in contact with the driving transmission groove 101a to receive the driving force. When the driving force receiving portion 565r receives the driving force, the driving force is transmitted to the flange member 571 through the fixed end 565t1 of the supporting portion 565. The flange member 571 is fixed to the photoreceptor drum 1 so that the flange member 571 and the photoreceptor drum 1 rotate integrally.

The extension part 575t and the engagement part 565a are integrally comprised in the flange member 570. The extension portion 575t and the engaging portion 565a are part of the support portion 565 that movably supports the driving force receiving portion 565r.

As described above, the extension 565t can be elastically deformed. That is, as shown in FIG. 52(b), in the process of inserting the cassette 7 into the main body of the device, the engaging portion 565a contacts the outer peripheral surface of the main body drive shaft 101. In this way, the extension portion 565a is elastically deformed to move the engaging portion 565a at least to the radially outer side of the coupling unit.

Here, the extension 565t is deformed in such a way that its fixed end 565t is used as a fulcrum. As a result, the engaging portion 565a moves in a direction crossing the direction in which the extension portion 565t extends.

After the cassette 7 is inserted into the main body of the apparatus, when the main body drive shaft 101 is rotationally driven, the engaging portion 565a enters the drive transmitting groove 101a at a time when the phase of the engaging portion 565a and the drive transmitting groove 101a match.

In short, at least a part of the elastic deformation of the extension portion 565t is cancelled, and the engaging portion 565a is elastically pushed into the driving transmission groove 101a. The extension 565t can also be regarded as an elastic pushing portion that pushes the engaging portion 565a at least toward the inner side in the radial direction.

In short, the engaging portion 565a is elastically pushed toward the inside of the drive transmission groove 101a by the elastic force (elastic thrust) of the extension portion 565t. The extension 565t functions as the elastic pushing member 72 of the first embodiment. In short, the support portion 565 is a part that has the function of the elastic pushing member 72 and the function of the engaging member 65 in the first embodiment.

At least a part of the support part 565 or at least a part of the driving force receiving part 565r provided in the support part 565 is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1 (see FIG. 52). This is the same as the elastic pushing member 72 or the engaging member 65 of the first embodiment.

Furthermore, in the inside of the photoreceptor drum 1, the flange member 571 is held by the photoreceptor drum 1, so the flange member 571 is not easily deformed. In particular, if at least a part of the fixed end 565t of the support portion 565 is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum 1, even if the driving force is transmitted to the flange member 571 through the fixed end 565t, the deformation of the flange member 571 can be suppressed, so it is appropriate of.

In addition, the extension part is made of resin, but the Inserting an elastic metal (such as a leaf spring) inside the resin may increase the elastic force or strength of the extension.

When the engagement portion 565a enters the inside of the drive transmission groove 101a, the drive force receiving portion 565r provided in the engagement portion 565a receives the force from the inside of the drive transmission groove 101a. In addition, when the drive transmission shaft 101a is driven, to make the engagement state of the drive transmission shaft 101a and the engaging portion 565a more reliable, it is preferable that more than half of the engaging portion 565a enters the inside of the drive transmission shaft.

That is, the engaging portion 565a is preferably movable more than the radius (the distance from the center of the engaging portion to the surface) of the cross section of the engaging portion 565a. More preferably, the engaging portion 565a is movable from the diameter of the cross section of the engaging portion 565a or more (from the width of the cross section of the engaging portion 565a or more, and the distance from the center of the engaging portion to the surface is 2 Times or more) is better.

In addition, in FIG. 53, the state where the driving force receiving portion 565r receives the driving force F is shown. In addition, a straight line LN1 is drawn in the normal direction of the driving force receiving portion 565r. The straight line LN1 extends toward the side facing the driving force receiving portion 565r, and is also a straight line along the vector displaying the driving force F.

Next, the fixed end 565t1 of the extension portion 565t is arranged on the upstream side of the rotation direction R than the straight line LN1. That is, the support portion 565 is configured to straddle the straight line L1.

In such a case, when the driving force receiving portion 565r receives the driving force F, a moment M1 is generated in the extension portion 565t with the fixed end 565t as a fulcrum and the direction of rotation of the drum unit (counterclockwise in the figure). this The moment M1 acts in such a way that the support portion 565 approaches the main body drive shaft 101. That is, the moment M1 acts so that the engaging portion 565a bounces toward the depth of the drive transmission groove 101a. Thereby, the engagement state between the engagement portion 565a and the drive transmission groove 101a can be stabilized. In this embodiment, the support portion 565 can be formed as a part of the flange member 571 with a mold, so the flange member 571 having the support portion 565 can be easily manufactured.

Hereinafter, a modification of the fourth embodiment will be described using FIGS. 54 to 58. Figure 54 to Figure 58 are cross-sectional views of the coupling unit (flange member).

First, in the modification shown in FIG. 54, the extension portions (665t, 665s) are bent, and the extension portion has a first extension portion 665s and a second extension portion 665t extending in mutually different directions. The boundary between the first extension 665s and the second extension 665t is a curved portion. The first extension portion 665s of this modification example corresponds to the connecting portion 565s shown in FIG. 52. That is, the extension connecting portion 565s (FIG. 52) is the first extension portion 665s (FIG. 54), and the first extension portion 665s is also the connecting portion connecting the second extension portion 665t and the engaging portion 665a. Conversely, the connecting portion 565s shown in FIG. 52 may be regarded as the first extension portion, and the extension portion 565t may be regarded as the second extension portion.

The engagement portion 665a shown in FIG. 54 is an expansion portion provided at the tip of the extension portion (the first extension portion 665s). The first extension portion 665s and the engagement portion 665a can also be regarded as protrusions (protrusions) protruding in a direction crossing the second extension portion 665t.

Compared with the connecting portion 565s shown in FIG. 52, the first extension portion 665s of this modification example is very long. Therefore, the flange member 671 corresponding to this modified example becomes thinner (the thickness becomes smaller).

Next, Fig. 55 shows another modification. Fig. 55 shows the shape of the expansion part (engagement part) changed. As explained in the third embodiment, the swelling part may also be polygonal. The cross-sectional shape of the engagement portion 765a in FIG. 55 is approximately hexagonal. Such a cross-sectional shape can also be regarded as approximately circular. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the engaging portion (expanded portion) may be polygonal in the modified examples shown below (see FIGS. 56 and 57).

Figure 56 shows another modification. In the configuration shown in FIG. 56, the extension portion 865t does not buckle, but is directly connected to the expansion portion (engagement portion 865a) at the extension portion 865t. However, the center of the extension line engagement portion 865a of the extension portion 865t is offset, and the engagement portion 865a becomes a protrusion that protrudes in a direction crossing the extension portion 865t. In this modification, the position of the fixed end 856t1 of the extension 865t is changed from the configuration shown in FIG. 52. In short, for the straight line L1 extending in the normal direction of the driving force receiving portion 865r, the fixed end 865t1 is located on the downstream side of the rotation direction R.

In such a configuration, when the support portion 865 receives the driving force, the support portion 865 may be applied with a clockwise moment in the figure with the fixed end 865t1 as a fulcrum. This moment acts to keep the engaging portion 865a away from the drive transmission groove 101a.

In this case, it is preferable to increase the elastic force of the extension 865t (even if the extension 865t becomes less deformable) so that the engagement between the engagement portion 865a and the drive transmission groove 101a is not released. Alternatively, it is preferable to generate a large frictional force between the engaging portion 865a and the drive transmission groove 101a.

Another modification example is further described in FIG. 57. In the aforementioned Figure 56 In the configuration, the engaging part is arranged at a position away from the extension line of the extension part. In contrast, in the present modification shown in FIG. 57, the center of the engaging portion 965a is arranged on the extension line of the extension portion 965t.

The engaging portion 965a is a protruding portion provided at the tip end of the extension portion 965t, and protrudes (bulges) toward the entire circumference of the extension portion 965t.

In this modification shown in FIG. 57, compared with the previously described configuration shown in FIG. 56, the fixed end 965t1 of the support portion 965 is further arranged on the downstream side in the rotation direction R. That is, when the driving force receiving portion of the engaging portion 965a receives the driving force, the supporting portion 965 may be applied with a moment in the direction in which the engaging portion 965a is separated from the drive transmission groove 101a.

Here, in order to make the engagement state of the engagement portion 965a and the drive transmission groove 101a more reliable, as described above, the elastic force of the extension portion 965t is further improved, or the friction coefficient of the surface of the engagement portion 965a is increased. Such countermeasures are better.

However, if the elastic force of the extension portion 965t is strengthened so that the extension portion 965t is not easily flexed, the force necessary to mount the cassette 7 to the device body will increase. In short, in order to install the cassette 7, it is necessary to flex the extension part 965t, so its load becomes large. Therefore, in consideration of the mountability of the cassette 7, it is preferable to set a sufficient elastic force as the extension 965t.

[Industrial use possibility]

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical drum unit that can be attached to and detached from the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

1‧‧‧Photoconductor drum

65‧‧‧Clamping member

65a‧‧‧Locking part

65b‧‧‧Drive force bearing surface

65h‧‧‧Abutment surface

66‧‧‧Pushing member

71‧‧‧Flange member

71f‧‧‧Abutting surface

72‧‧‧Flange cover member

101‧‧‧Body drive shaft

101a‧‧‧Drive transmission channel

101b‧‧‧Main body drive transmission surface

G‧‧‧Gap

Claims (110)

An optical drum unit for cassettes, the optical drum unit includes: (1) Photoconductor drum; and (2) A coupling member operatively connected to the aforementioned photoreceptor drum; The coupling member includes: (2-1) An engaging member having a driving force receiving portion configured to receive a driving force to rotate the aforementioned photoreceptor drum; (2-2) A holding member constructed to slidably hold the aforementioned engagement member; and (2-3) An elastic pushing member constructed to push the aforementioned engaging member; Wherein the aforementioned engaging member is provided with a protruding portion including the aforementioned driving force receiving portion, and The protruding portion is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum, and the protruding portion protrudes inwardly at least in the diameter direction of the photo drum unit. For example, the optical drum unit in the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member makes the engaging member elastically push toward the inner side of the diameter direction of the optical drum unit at least. For example, in the optical drum unit of the first item of the scope of patent application, the holding member is provided with a locking portion for restricting the movement of the engaging member in the diameter direction of the optical drum unit. For example, the optical drum unit of the third item in the scope of the patent application, wherein the engaging member is elastically pushed to the locking portion by the elastic pushing member. Such as the drum unit in the first item of the patent application, where the aforementioned drive The force receiving portion is inclined with respect to the movement direction of the aforementioned engagement member. For example, the optical drum unit in the first item of the patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion is inclined so as to be bounced inward at least in the diameter direction by receiving the driving force. For example, the drum unit in the first item of the patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion faces at least the outer side of the drum unit in the diameter direction. Such as the drum unit of item 1 in the scope of patent application, Wherein the engaging member is provided with a curved surface extending along the circumferential direction of the photo drum unit, and faces the inner side of the photo drum unit in the diameter direction, and The protruding portion protrudes relative to the curved surface of the engaging member. For example, the optical drum unit of claim 8, wherein at least a part of the curved surface of the engaging member is arranged on the upstream side of the driving force receiving portion with respect to the rotational movement direction of the optical drum unit. Such as the optical drum unit of the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member has a hollow portion, and the engaging member springs toward the inside of the hollow portion. For example, the drum unit of the first item in the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member has a hollow portion, and the driving force receiving portion is exposed inside the hollow portion. For example, the optical drum unit of the first item in the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned elastic pushing member is stretchable. Such as the optical drum unit of the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned elastic member is an elastic member. For example, the optical drum unit of the first item in the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned elastic pushing member is a coil spring. For example, the optical drum unit of the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein at least a part of the elastic pushing member is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum. Such as the drum unit of item 1 in the scope of patent application, Wherein the aforementioned coupling member includes an elastic pushing member support portion for receiving the elastic thrust from the aforementioned elastic pushing member and supporting the aforementioned elastic pushing member, and Wherein, at least a part of the elastic pushing member support portion is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum. For example, in the optical drum unit of claim 1, wherein the holding member includes a transmitting portion for transmitting the driving force from the engaging member. For example, in the optical drum unit of the 17th patent application, the transmitted portion is configured to bounce the driving force receiving portion inward at least in the diameter direction of the optical drum unit when the driving force is transmitted. For example, the drum unit of item 17 in the scope of patent application, wherein the transmitted portion is inclined with respect to the driving force receiving portion. Such as the 17th optical drum unit in the scope of patent application, in which the communicated part also serves as a guide for guiding the engaging member. Such as the drum unit of the first item in the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member is fixed to the photoreceptor drum. For example, the drum unit in the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member is provided with a guide for guiding the engaging member. For example, the drum unit of item 22 in the scope of patent application, where the aforementioned guide The member guides the upstream side of the engaging member with respect to the rotational movement direction of the photoreceptor drum. For example, the drum unit of the 22nd patent application, wherein the guide member guides the downstream side of the engaging member with respect to the rotational movement direction of the photoreceptor drum. For example, the drum unit of item 22 of the scope of patent application, wherein the guide is provided with an upstream guide for guiding the upstream side of the engaging member with respect to the rotational movement direction of the photoconductor drum. The direction of movement is a downstream guide for guiding the downstream side of the aforementioned engaging member. For example, the drum unit of the 25th patent application, wherein the upstream guide and the downstream guide are arranged substantially parallel to each other. For example, the drum unit of the first item of the patent application, wherein the holding member is provided with two guides substantially parallel to each other, and the engaging member is guided by the two guides. For example, the optical drum unit of the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein in the axial direction of the optical drum unit, the inner side of the driving force receiving portion is arranged to be more inclined to the rotation of the drum unit than the outer side of the driving force receiving portion The downstream side of the movement direction. Such as the optical drum unit of the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion faces at least the inner side of the axial direction of the optical drum unit. For example, the optical drum unit of the first item in the scope of patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member and the holding member are separate members. For example, the drum unit of item 1 in the scope of patent application, where the aforementioned bomb The pushing member and the aforementioned engaging member are separate members. Such as the optical drum unit of the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member and the engaging member are arranged along the diameter direction of the optical drum unit. A cassette containing: (1) A rotating member configured to rotate while supporting the developer on its surface; and (2) Coupling components, which include: (2-1) An engaging member having a driving force receiving portion configured to receive a driving force to rotate the aforementioned rotating member; (2-2) A holding member configured to slidably hold the engaging member so that the engaging member can slide relative to the holding member at least in the diameter direction of the coupling member; and (2-3) An elastic pushing member constructed to push the aforementioned engaging member; The aforementioned engaging member includes a protruding portion provided with the aforementioned driving force receiving portion. Such as the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member makes the engaging member elastically push at least toward the inner side of the diameter direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member is provided with a locking portion for restricting the movement of the engaging member in the diameter direction of the coupling member. Such as the cassette of item 35 in the scope of patent application, in which the aforementioned snap-fit structure The piece is elastically pushed on the locking portion by the elastic pushing member. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion is inclined with respect to the moving direction of the engaging member. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion is inclined so as to be pushed inward at least in the diameter direction of the coupling member by receiving the driving force. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion faces at least the outer side of the cassette in the diameter direction. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the engaging member is provided with a curved surface extending along the circumferential direction of the cassette, and facing the inner side of the diameter direction of the coupling member, and wherein the protrusion is opposite to the card The aforementioned curved surface of the joint member protrudes. For example, the cassette of claim 40, wherein at least a part of the curved surface of the engaging member is arranged on the upstream side of the driving force receiving portion with respect to the rotational movement direction of the cassette. Such as the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the protruding part protrudes inwardly at least in the diameter direction of the cassette. Such as the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member has a hollow portion, and the engaging member springs toward the inner side of the hollow portion. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member has a hollow portion, and the driving force receiving portion is exposed inside the hollow portion. For example, the cassette of item 33 in the scope of patent application, in which the aforementioned snap-fit structure At least a part of the piece is arranged inside the aforementioned rotating member. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein at least a part of the driving force receiving portion is arranged inside the rotating member. For example, the cassette of item 33 in the scope of patent application, in which the aforementioned elastic pushing member is stretchable. For example, the cassette of item 33 in the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned elastic member is an elastic member. For example, the cassette of item 33 in the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned elastic pushing member is a coil spring. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein at least a part of the elastic pushing member is arranged inside the rotating member. For example, the cassette of item 33 in the scope of patent application, Wherein the aforementioned coupling member includes an elastic pushing member support portion for receiving the elastic thrust from the aforementioned elastic pushing member and supporting the aforementioned elastic pushing member, and Wherein, at least a part of the elastic pushing member support portion is disposed inside the rotating member. For example, the cassette of the 33rd patent application, wherein the holding member includes a conveyed portion for transmitting the driving force from the engaging member. For example, the cassette of item 52 of the scope of patent application, wherein the conveyed portion is configured to elastically push the driving force receiving portion inward at least in the diameter direction of the coupling member. Such as the cassette of item 52 in the scope of patent application, wherein the transmitted portion is inclined relative to the driving force receiving portion. For example, the cassette of item 52 of the scope of patent application, wherein the communicated part is also used as a guide for guiding the engaging member. Such as the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member is fixed to the rotating member. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member is provided with a guide for guiding the engaging member. Such as the cassette of item 57 of the scope of patent application, wherein the guide member guides the upstream side of the engaging member with respect to the rotational movement direction of the rotating member. Such as the cassette of item 57 of the scope of patent application, wherein the guide member guides the downstream side of the engaging member with respect to the rotational movement direction of the rotating member. For example, the cassette of item 57 of the scope of patent application, wherein the guide is provided with an upstream guide for guiding the upstream side of the engaging member with respect to the rotational movement direction of the rotation member, and is provided with respect to the rotational movement direction. A downstream guide for guiding the downstream side of the aforementioned engagement member. For example, in the cassette of item 60 of the scope of patent application, the upstream guide and the downstream guide are arranged substantially parallel to each other. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member is provided with two guides substantially parallel to each other, and the engaging member can slide relative to the two guides. For example, in the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, in the axial direction of the coupling member, the inner side of the driving force receiving portion is arranged at The outer side of the driving force receiving portion is more toward the downstream side of the rotational movement direction of the coupling member. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion at least faces the inner side of the axial direction of the cassette. Such as the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member and the holding member are separate members. Such as the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member and the engaging member are separate members. For example, the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member and the engaging member are arranged along the diameter direction of the coupling member. For example, the 33rd cassette in the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned rotating member is a photoconductor drum. For example, the 33rd cassette in the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned rotating member is a developing roller. For example, the cassette of item 69 of the scope of patent application additionally includes a supply roller for supplying developer to the aforementioned developing roller. Such as the cassette of the 70th patent application, wherein the supply roller is rotated by the driving force received by the coupling member. For example, in the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, the aforementioned rotating member is a supply roller for supplying developer to the developing roller. For example, the cassette of the 33rd patent application, wherein the rotating member includes a shaft, and the coupling member is mounted on the shaft. An electronic photo image forming device, including: The 33rd item in the scope of patent application for the cassette, and Ontology. A coupling member that can be disassembled and assembled on a drive shaft provided in the main body of an electrophotographic image forming device. The aforementioned coupling member includes: (1) The engaging member includes a driving force receiving portion, which is configured to receive the driving force to rotate a rotating member that carries the developer on its surface; (2) A holding member configured to slidably hold the aforementioned engaging member so that the aforementioned engaging member can slide inward at least in the diameter direction of the aforementioned coupling member with respect to the aforementioned holding member; and (3) The elastic pushing member is constructed to push the aforementioned engaging member; The driving force receiving portion extends inwardly at least in the diameter direction of the coupling member. A cassette containing: frame; The optical drum unit is rotatably supported by the aforementioned frame, the optical drum unit includes a photoconductor drum and a coupling member; The aforementioned coupling member is operatively connected to the aforementioned photoreceptor drum, and the aforementioned coupling member includes: (1) The engaging member includes a driving force receiving portion, which is configured to receive the driving force to rotate the photoconductor drum; (2) The holding member is constructed to slidably hold the aforementioned engaging member; and (3) The elastic pushing member is constructed to push the aforementioned engaging member; Wherein the aforementioned engaging member is provided with a protrusion including the aforementioned driving force receiving portion Department, and The protruding portion is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum, and the protruding portion protrudes inwardly at least in the diameter direction of the photo drum unit. For example, the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member makes the engaging member elastically push toward the inner side of the diameter direction of the photo drum unit at least. For example, the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member is provided with a locking portion for restricting the movement of the engaging member in the diameter direction of the drum unit. For example, the cassette of the 78th patent application, wherein the engaging member is elastically pushed on the engaging portion by the elastic pushing member. Such as the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion is inclined with respect to the moving direction of the engaging member. For example, the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion is inclined so as to be pushed inward at least in the diameter direction by receiving the driving force. For example, the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion faces at least the outer side of the drum unit in the diameter direction. Such as the cassette of item 76 in the scope of patent application, The engaging member is provided with a curved surface extending along the circumferential direction of the photo drum unit, and facing the inner side of the photo drum unit in the diameter direction, and wherein the protruding portion protrudes relative to the curved surface of the engaging member. Such as the cartridge of item 83 of the scope of patent application, wherein at least a part of the curved surface of the engaging member is configured to be related to the optical drum unit The direction of rotation is on the upstream side of the aforementioned driving force receiving portion. For example, the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member has a hollow portion, and the engaging member springs toward the inner side of the hollow portion. For example, the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member has a hollow part, and the driving force receiving part is exposed inside the hollow part. For example, the cassette of item 76 in the scope of patent application, in which the aforementioned elastic pushing member is stretchable. For example, the cassette of item 76 in the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned elastic member is an elastic member. Such as the cassette of item 76 in the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned elastic pushing member is a coil spring. For example, the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein at least a part of the elastic pushing member is arranged inside the photoconductor drum. Such as the cassette of item 76 in the scope of patent application, Wherein the aforementioned coupling member includes an elastic pushing member support portion for receiving the elastic thrust from the aforementioned elastic pushing member and supporting the aforementioned elastic pushing member, and Wherein, at least a part of the elastic pushing member support portion is arranged inside the photoreceptor drum. Such as the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member includes a transmitted portion for transmitting the driving force from the engaging member. Such as the cartridge of item 92 in the scope of patent application, where the foregoing is conveyed The part is configured to bounce the driving force receiving part inward at least in the diameter direction of the photo drum unit when the driving force is transmitted. For example, the cassette of the 92nd patent application, wherein the conveyed part is inclined relative to the driving force receiving part. For example, the cassette of item 92 in the scope of patent application, wherein the communicated part also serves as a guide for guiding the engaging member. Such as the cartridge of item 76 in the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member is fixed to the photoreceptor drum. Such as the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the holding member is provided with a guide for guiding the engaging member. Such as the cartridge of the 97th patent application, wherein the guide member guides the upstream side of the engaging member with respect to the rotational movement direction of the photoconductor drum. Such as the cartridge of the 97th patent application, wherein the guide member guides the downstream side of the engaging member with respect to the rotational movement direction of the photoreceptor drum. For example, the cartridge of item 97 of the scope of patent application, wherein the guide is provided with an upstream guide for guiding the upstream side of the engaging member with respect to the rotational movement direction of the photoconductor drum. The direction is a downstream guide for guiding the downstream side of the aforementioned engagement member. Such as the 100th cassette in the scope of the patent application, wherein the upstream guide and the downstream guide are arranged substantially parallel to each other. For example, the cassette of item 76 in the scope of patent application, in which the aforementioned remain The member is provided with two guides substantially parallel to each other, and the engaging member is guided by the two guides. For example, the cartridge in the scope of patent application No. 76, in which in the axial direction of the drum unit, the inner side of the driving force receiving portion is arranged in a direction of rotation of the drum unit more than the outer side of the driving force receiving portion The downstream side. For example, the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the driving force receiving portion faces at least the inner side of the axial direction of the drum unit. Such as the cassette of item 76 in the scope of the patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member and the holding member are separate members. Such as the cassette of item 76 in the scope of the patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member and the engaging member are separate members. Such as the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein the elastic pushing member and the engaging member are arranged along the diameter direction of the drum unit. Such as the optical drum unit of the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein an open space is formed in the coupling member and between the protrusion and the rotation axis of the coupling member. Such as the cassette of item 33 of the scope of patent application, wherein an open space is formed in the aforementioned coupling member and between the aforementioned protrusion and the rotation axis of the aforementioned coupling member. Such as the cassette of item 76 of the scope of patent application, wherein an open space is formed in the aforementioned coupling member and between the aforementioned protrusion and the rotation axis of the aforementioned coupling member.

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