Claims
- 1. A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- an image carrying member;
- a developing agent carrying member for supplying a developing agent to said image carrying member in order to develop a latent image formed on said image carrying member;
- a flange provided in an end portion of said developing agent carrying member by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said flange to be fitted into said developing agent carrying member is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said developing agent carrying member to be fitted into said flange before said flange and said developing agent carrying member are fitted to each other, said flange is mounted to said developing agent carrying member by press-fitting, and said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said developing agent carrying member at an end of said fitting portion, said guide portion being a guide when said flange and said developing agent carrying member are fitted; and
- a spacer for keeping a constant spacing between said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member is located at a more central side of said developing agent carrying member than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitted into said developing agent carrying member in an axial direction of said developing agent carrying member.
- 2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a cylindrical shape.
- 3. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a tapered shape.
- 4. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said spacer has a cap shade made of resin, mounted rotatably to an end of a developing roller as said developing agent carrying member and an end portion of said spacer has an diameter larger than the other portion, said end portion abutting against a curved surface of said image carrying member.
- 5. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member are biased by a spring so as to approach each other.
- 6. A process cartridge according to claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein said developing agent carrying member is made of metal, and said flange is made of resin.
- 7. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said metal is aluminum, and said flange is made of plastic.
- 8. A process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the developing roller as said developing agent carrying member is rotated by transmitting a driving force with a gear flange provided in an end of a photosensitive drum as said image carrying member, and to said gear flange, a driving force is transmitted by a driving gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
- 9. A process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said developing roller includes a magnet therein, said flange is rotatably supported in a bearing, and said developing roller is supported by a holder through said magnet and said bearing.
- 10. A process cartridge removably mountable into a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a photosensitive member;
- a developing roller for supplying a developing agent to said photosensitive member in order to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive member;
- a flange provided in an end portion of said developing roller by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said flange to be fitted into said developing roller is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said developing roller to be fitted into said flange before said flange and said developing roller are fitted to each other, said flange is mounted to said developing roller by press-fitting, said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said developing roller at an end of said fitting portion, and said guide portion is a guide when said flange and said developing roller are fitted;
- a spacer for keeping a constant spacing between said photosensitive member and said developing roller; and
- a spring for biasing said photosensitive member and said developing roller so as to approach each other,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said photosensitive member and said developing roller is located at a more central side of said developing roller than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitted into said developing roller in an axial direction of said developing roller.
- 11. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a cylindrical shape.
- 12. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a tapered shape.
- 13. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said spacer has a cap shade made of resin, mounted rotatably to an end of said developing roller as a developing agent carrying member and an end portion of said spacer has an outer diameter larger than the other portion, said end portion abutting against a curved surface of said photosensitive member.
- 14. A process cartridge according to claims 10 or 13, wherein said developing roller is made of metal, and said flange is made of resin.
- 15. A process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said metal is aluminum, and said flange is made of plastic.
- 16. A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said developing roller as said developing agent carrying member is rotated by transmitting a driving force with a gear flange provided in an end of said photosensitive drum as an image carrying member, and to said gear flange, a driving force is transmitted by a driving gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
- 17. A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein said developing roller includes a magnet therein, said flange is rotatably supported in a bearing, and said developing roller is supported by a holder through said magnet and said bearing.
- 18. A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a photosensitive drum;
- a developing roller made of metal and for supplying a developing agent to said photosensitive drum in order to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, said developing roller including a magnet therein;
- a flange made of resin and provided in an end portion of said developing roller by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said flange to be fitted into said developing roller is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said developing roller to be fitted into said flange before said flange and said developing roller are fitted to each other, said flange is mounted to said developing roller by press-fitting, said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said developing roller at an end of said fitting portion, and said guide portion is a guide when said flange and said developing roller are fitted;
- a spacer made of resin and provided in an end of said developing roller and for keeping a constant spacing between said photosensitive drum and said developing roller; and
- a spring for biasing said photosensitive drum and said developing roller so as to approach each other,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said photosensitive drum and said developing roller is located at a more central side of said developing roller than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitted into said developing roller in an axial direction of said developing roller, said developing roller is rotated by transmitting a driving force with a gear flange provided in an end of said photosensitive drum, and to said gear flange, a driving force is transmitted by a driving gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
- 19. A process cartridge according to claim 18, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a cylindrical shape.
- 20. A process cartridge according to claim 18, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a tapered shape.
- 21. A process cartridge according to claim 18, wherein said spacer has a cap shade made of resin, mounted rotatably to an end of said developing roller and an end portion of said spacer has an outer diameter larger than the other portion, said end portion abutting against a curved surface of said photosensitive drum.
- 22. A process cartridge according to claims 18 or 21, wherein said developing roller is made of aluminum, and said flange is made of plastic.
- 23. A process cartridge according to claim 22, wherein said developing roller includes a magnet therein, said flange is rotatably supported in a bearing, and said developing roller is supported by a holder through said magnet and said bearing.
- 24. A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- an image carrying member;
- a developing agent carrying member for supplying a developing agent to said image carrying member in order to develop a latent image formed on said image carrying member;
- a flange provided in an end portion of said image carrying member by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said flange to be fitted into said image carrying member is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said image carrying member to be fitted into said flange before said flange and said image carrying member are fitted to each other, said flange is mounted to said image carrying member by press-fitting, and said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said image carrying member at an end of said fitting portion, said guide portion being a guide when said flange and said image carrying member are fitted; and
- a spacer for keeping a constant spacing between said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member is located at a more central side of said image carrying member than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitted into said image carrying member in an axial direction of said image carrying member.
- 25. A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a cylindrical shape.
- 26. A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a tapered shape.
- 27. A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said spacer has a cap shape made of resin, mounted rotatably to an end of a developing roller as said developing agent carrying member and an end portion of said cap has an outer diameter larger than the other portion, said end portion abutting against a curved surface of said image carrying member.
- 28. A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member are biased by a spring so as to approach each other.
- 29. A process cartridge according to claims 24, 27 or 28, wherein said developing agent carrying member is made of metal, and said flange is made of resin.
- 30. A process cartridge according to claim 29, wherein said metal is aluminum, and said flange is made of plastic.
- 31. A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein the developing roller as said developing agent carrying member is rotated by transmitting a driving force with a gear flange as said flange, and to said gear flange, a driving force is transmitted by a driving gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
- 32. A process cartridge according to claim 31, wherein said developing roller includes a magnet therein, and is rotatably supported in a bearing, and said developing roller is supported by a holder through said magnet and said bearing.
- 33. A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a photosensitive drum;
- a developing roller for supplying a developing agent to said photosensitive drum in order to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;
- a flange provided in an end portion of said photosensitive drum by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said flange to be fitted into said photosensitive drum is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said photosensitive drum to be fitted into said flange before said flange and said photosensitive drum are fitted to each other, said flange is mounted to said photosensitive drum by press-fitting, said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said photosensitive drum at an end of said fitting portion, and said guide portion is a guide when said flange and said photosensitive drum are fitted;
- a spacer for keeping a constant spacing between said photosensitive drum and said developing roller; and
- a spring for biasing said photosensitive drum and said developing roller so as to approach each other,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said photosensitive drum and said developing roller is located at a more central side of said photosensitive drum than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitted into said photosensitive drum in an axial direction of said photosensitive drum.
- 34. A process cartridge according to claim 33, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a cylindrical shape.
- 35. A process cartridge according to claim 33, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a tapered shape.
- 36. A process cartridge according to claim 33, wherein said spacer has a cap shade made of resin, mounted rotatably to an end of said developing roller as a developing agent carrying member and an end portion of said spacer has an outer diameter larger than the other portion, said end portion abutting against a curved surface of said photosensitive drum.
- 37. A process cartridge according to claim 36, wherein said developing agent carrying member is made of metal, and said flange is made of resin.
- 38. A process cartridge according to claim 37, wherein said metal is aluminum, and said flange is made of plastic.
- 39. A process according claim 38, wherein said developing roller is rotated by transmitting a driving force with a gear flange as said flange, and to said gear flange, a driving force is transmitted by a driving gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
- 40. A process cartridge according to claim 39, wherein said developing roller includes a magnet therein, and is rotatably supported in a bearing, and said developing roller is supported by a holder through said magnet and said bearing.
- 41. A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a photosensitive drum;
- a developing roller made of metal and for supplying a developing agent to said photosensitive drum in order to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, said developing roller including a magnet therein;
- a gear flange having a gear, made of resin and provided in an end portion of said photosensitive drum by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said gear flange to be fitted into said photosensitive drum is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said photosensitive drum to be fitted into said gear flange before said gear flange and said photosensitive drum are fitted to each other, said gear flange is mounted to said photosensitive drum by press-fitting, said gear flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said photosensitive drum at an end of said fitting portion, and said guide portion is a guide when said gear flange and said photosensitive drum are fitted;
- a spacer made of resin and provided in an end of said developing roller and for keeping a constant spacing between said photosensitive drum and said developing roller; and
- a spring for biasing said photosensitive drum and said developing roller so as to approach each other,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said photosensitive drum and said developing roller is located at a more central side of said photosensitive drum than the fitting portion of said gear flange press-fitted into said photosensitive drum in an axial direction of said photosensitive drum, said developing roller is rotated by transmitting a driving force with said gear flange, and to said gear flange, a driving force is transmitted by a driving gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
- 42. A process cartridge according to claim 41, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a cylindrical shape.
- 43. A process cartridge according to claim 41, wherein said guide portion of said flange has a tapered shape.
- 44. A process cartridge according to claim 41, wherein said spacer has a cap shape made of resin, mounted rotatably to an end of said developing roller and an end portion of said spacer has an outer diameter larger than the other portion, said end portion abutting against a curved surface of said photosensitive drum.
- 45. A process cartridge according to claim 44, wherein said developing roller is made of aluminum, and said gear flange is made of plastic.
- 46. A process cartridge according to claim 45, wherein said developing roller is rotatably supported in a bearing, and said developing roller is supported by a holder through said magnet and said bearing.
- 47. A process cartridge according to claims 1, 10, 18, 24, 33 or 41, further comprising charging means.
- 48. A process cartridge according to claims 1, 10, 18 24, 33 or 41, further comprising cleaning means.
- 49. An image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is removably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a mounting unit for mounting the process cartridge removably and mountably, said mounting unit comprising:
- an image carrying member;
- a developing agent carrying member for supplying a developing agent to said image carrying member in order to develop a latent image formed on said image carrying member;
- a flange provided in an end portion of said developing agent carrying member by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said flange to be fitted into said developing agent carrying member is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said developing agent carrying member to be fitted into said flange before said flange and said developing agent carrying member are fitted to each other, said flange is mounted to said developing agent carrying member by press-fitting, and said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said developing agent carrying member at an end of said fitting portion, said guide portion being a guide when said flange and said developing agent carrying member are fitted; and
- a spacer for keeping a constant spacing between said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member is located at a more central side of said developing agent carrying member than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitted into said developing agent carrying member in an axial direction of said developing agent carrying member;
- b) transferring means for transferring to said recording medium a toner image formed on said image carrying member which is included in said process cartridge mounted on said mounting unit;
- c) fixing means for fixing in said recording medium the toner image transferred onto said recording medium by said transferring means; and
- d) feeding means for feeding said recording medium.
- 50. An image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is removably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a mounting unit for mounting the process cartridge removably and mountably, said mounting unit comprising:
- a photosensitive member;
- a developing roller for supplying a developing agent to said photosensitive member in order to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive member;
- a flange provided in an end portion of said developing roller by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said flange to be fitted into said developing roller is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said developing roller to be fitted into said flange before said flange and said developing roller are fitted to each other, said flange is mounted to said developing roller by press-fitting, said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said developing roller at an end of said fitting portion, and said guide portion is a guide when said flange and said developing roller are fitted;
- a spacer for keeping a constant spacing between said photosensitive member and said developing roller; and
- a spring for biasing said photosensitive member and said developing roller so as to approach each other,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said photosensitive member and said developing roller is located at a more central side of said developing roller than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitted into said developing roller in an axial direction of said developing roller;
- b) transferring means for transferring to said recording medium a toner image formed on said photosensitive member which is included in said process cartridge mounted on said mounting unit;
- c) fixing means for fixing to said recording medium the toner image transferred onto said recording medium by said transferring means; and
- d) feeding means for feeding said recording medium.
- 51. An image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is removably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a mounting unit for mounting the process cartridge removably and mountably, said mounting unit comprising:
- a photosensitive drum;
- a developing roller made of metal and for supplying a developing agent to said photosensitive drum in order to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, said developing roller including a magnet therein;
- a flange made of resin and provided in an end portion of said developing roller by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said flange to be fitted into said developing roller is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said developing roller to be fitted into said flange before said flange and said developing roller are fitted to each other, said flange is mounted to said developing roller by press-fitting, said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said developing roller at an end of said fitting portion, and said guide portion is a guide when said flange and said developing roller are fitted;
- a spacer made of resin and provided in an end of said developing roller and for keeping a constant spacing between said photosensitive drum and said developing roller; and
- a spring for biasing said photosensitive drum and said developing roller so as to approach each other,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said photosensitive drum and said developing roller is located at a more central side of said developing roller than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitted into said developing roller in an axial direction of said developing roller, said developing roller is rotated by transmitting a driving force with a gear flange provided in an end of said photosensitive drum, and to said gear flange, a driving force is transmitted by a driving gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus;
- b) transferring means for transferring to said recording medium a toner image formed on said photosensitive drum which is included in said process cartridge mounted on said mounting unit;
- c) fixing means for fixing to said recording medium the toner image transferred onto said recording medium by said transferring means; and
- d) feeding means for feeding said recording medium.
- 52. An image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is removably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a mounting unit for mounting the process cartridge removably and mountably, said mounting unit comprising:
- an image carrying member;
- a developing agent carrying member for supplying a developing agent to said image carrying member in order to develop a latent image formed on said image carrying member;
- a flange provided in an end portion of said image carrying member by being fitted therein, wherein an outer diameter of a fitting portion of said flange to be fitted into said image carrying member is larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said image carrying member to be fitted into said flange before said flange and said image carrying member are fitted to each other, said flange is mounted to said image carrying member by press-fitting, and said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said image carrying member at an end of said fitting portion of said flange, said guide portion being a guide when said flange and said image carrying member are fitted; and
- a spacer for keeping a constant spacing between said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said image carrying member and said developing agent carrying member is located at a more central side of said image carrying member than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitted into said image carrying member in an axial direction of said image carrying member;
- b) transferring means for transferring to said recording medium a toner image formed on said image carrying member which is included in said process cartridge mounted on said mounting unit;
- c) fixing means for fixing to said recording medium the toner image transferred onto said recording medium by said transferring means; and
- d) feeding means for feeding said recording medium.
- 53. An image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is removably mounted for forming an image on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a mounting unit for mounting the process cartridge removably and mountably, said mounting unit comprising:
- a photosensitive drum;
- a developing roller for supplying a developing agent to said photosensitive drum in order to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;
- a flange provided in an end portion of said photosensitive drum by being fitted therein, wherein a fitting portion of said flange fitted into said photosensitive drum has an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said photosensitive drum fitted into said flange, said flange is mounted to said photosensitive drum by press-fitting, said flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said photosensitive drum at an end of said fitting portion, and said guide portion is a guide when said flange and said photosensitive drum are fitted;
- a spacer for keeping a constant spacing between said photosensitive drum and said developing roller; and
- a spring for biasing said photosensitive drum and said developing roller so as to approach each other,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said photosensitive drum and said developing roller is located at a more central side of said photosensitive drum than the fitting portion of said flange press-fitting into said photosensitive drum in an axial direction of said photosensitive drum;
- b) transferring means for transferring to said recording medium a toner image formed on said photosensitive drum which is included in said process cartridge mounted on said mounting unit;
- c) fixing means for fixing to said recording medium the toner image transferred onto said recording medium by said transferring means; and
- d) feeding means for feeding said recording medium.
- 54. An image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is removably mounted for forming an image on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a mounting unit for mounting the process cartridge removably and mountably, said mounting unit comprising:
- a photosensitive drum;
- a developing roller made of metal and for supplying a developing agent to said photosensitive drum in order to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, said developing roller including a magnet therein;
- a gear flange having a gear, made of resin and provided in an end portion of said photosensitive drum by being fitted therein, wherein a fitting portion of said gear flange fitted into said photosensitive drum has an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of a fitting portion of said photosensitive drum fitted into said gear flange, said gear flange is mounted to said photosensitive drum by press-fitting, said gear flange has a guide portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said photosensitive drum at an end of said fitting portion, and said guide portion is a guide when said gear flange and said photosensitive drum are fitted;
- a spacer made of resin and provided in an end of said developing roller and for keeping a constant spacing between said photosensitive drum and said developing roller; and
- a spring for biasing said photosensitive drum and said developing roller so as to approach each other,
- wherein a contacting position of said spacer with said photosensitive drum and said developing roller is located at a more central side of said photosensitive drum than the fitting portion of said gear flange press-fitted into said photosensitive drum in an axial direction of said photosensitive drum, said developing roller is rotated by transmitting a driving force with said gear flange, and to said gear flange, a driving force is transmitted by a driving gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus;
- b) transferring means for transferring to said recording medium a toner image formed on said photosensitive drum which is included in said process cartridge mounted on said mounting unit;
- c) fixing means for fixing to said recording medium the toner image transferred onto said recording medium by said transferring means; and
- d) feeding means for feeding said recording medium.
- 55. An image forming apparatus according to claims 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 or 54, wherein said image forming apparatus is an electro-photographic copying machine.
- 56. An image forming apparatus according to claims 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 or 54, wherein said image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
4-274854 |
Sep 1992 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation application under 37 CFR 1.62 of prior application Ser. No. 08/123,147, filed Sept. 17, 1993, abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
123147 |
Sep 1993 |
|