Patent Application
20120243905
The present invention relates to a process cartridge, a photosensitive drum unit, a developing unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge, the photosensitive drum unit and/or the developing unit is demountably mountable.
The electrophotographic image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (a laser beam printer, a LED printer or the like) or the like.
The process cartridge is a unit in which an image bearing member (photosensitive member) and at least one of process means actable on the image bearing member are unified into a cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Here, the process means is developing means, charging means and/or cleaning means, for example. An example of the process cartridge may contain the image bearing member and charging means as the process means which are unified into a cartridge. Another example of the process cartridge may contain the image bearing member, and charging means and cleaning means as the process means which are unified into a cartridge. A further example of the process cartridge may contain the image bearing member, developing means, charging means and cleaning means as the process means which are unified into a cartridge.
Here, the process cartridge, the photosensitive drum unit and/or the developing unit can be mounted and demounted relative to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus by the user. Therefore, maintenance operation of the apparatus can be carried out in effect by the user without relying on a service person. This improves the maintenance operation of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A structure of the process cartridge is known in which it is demountable, in a predetermined direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the image bearing member or the like, from the main assembly of the apparatus which is not provided with a mechanism for moving a main assembly side engaging portion (main assembly side coupling member) provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to transmit a rotational force to a rotatable member such as the image bearing member, in the rotational axis direction, in interrelation with an opening and closing operation of a main assembly cover of the main assembly of the apparatus. In the structure, the coupling member of the process cartridge is engaged with the main assembly side engaging portion.
In such a coupling type (rotational force transmission means), it is known that the coupling member provided in the process cartridge is movable in the rotational axis direction, by which an engaging operation and a disengaging operation of the coupling member by a mounting and demounting operation of the process cartridge to the main assembly of the apparatus is made possible (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2009-134284).
It is also known that the coupling member provided on the process cartridge is made movable in the rotational axis direction, and is inclinable relative to the rotational axis, by which the engaging operation and the disengaging operation of the coupling member in interrelation with the mounting and demounting operation of the process cartridge relative to the main assembly of the apparatus is enabled (Japanese Patent 4498407).
However, with the conventional structure disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2009-134284, in a dismounting operation the process cartridge is taken out of the main assembly of the apparatus, at least one of the main assembly side engaging portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus and the rotatable member provided in the process cartridge is rotated significantly, as the case may be. If this occurs, a large load may be required for dismounting of the process cartridge with the result of deterioration the usability performance.
With the conventional structure disclosed in
The present invention further develops the above-described prior-art technique, and provides a process cartridge, a photosensitive drum unit and developing unit which can be demounted from said main assembly of the apparatus in a predetermined direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis the image bearing member, which can be demounted from the main assembly of the apparatus without deterioration of the usability performance and with which the apparatus can be downsized, wherein the main assembly of the apparatus is not provided with a mechanism for moving the main assembly side engaging portion provided on the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to transmit a rotational force to the image bearing member, in interrelation with opening and closing operations of the main assembly cover of said main assembly of the apparatus. The present invention also provides an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge, the photosensitive drum unit, and/or the developing unit is detachably mountable.
According to the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a rotatable main assembly side engaging portion having a recess and a rotational force applying portion provided in the recess, said process cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to a mounting and demounting direction of said process cartridge;
process means actable on said photosensitive drum;
a cylindrical rotational force transmitted member for receiving a rotational force for rotating said photosensitive drum; and
a coupling member held inside said rotational force transmitted member and including a rotational force receiving portion for receiving the rotational force from the rotational force applying portion, and a rotational force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force to said rotational force transmitted member, wherein said coupling member enters the recess in a state that process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, and said coupling member is inclinable and translatable relative to a rotational axis of said rotational force transmitted member to disengage from the main assembly side engaging portion when said process cartridge is dismounted at said main assembly of the apparatus.
According to the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive drum unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a rotatable main assembly side engaging portion having a recess and a rotational force applying portion provided in the recess, said photosensitive drum unit comprising:
a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to a mounting and demounting direction of said photosensitive drum unit;
a cylindrical rotational force transmitted member for receiving a rotational force for rotating said photosensitive drum; and
a coupling member held inside said rotational force transmitted member and including a rotational force receiving portion for receiving the rotational force from the rotational force applying portion, and a rotational force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force to said rotational force transmitted member, wherein said coupling member enters the recess in a state that photosensitive drum unit is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, and said coupling member is inclinable and translatable relative to a rotational axis of said rotational force transmitted member to disengage from the main assembly side engaging portion when said photosensitive drum unit is dismounted at said main assembly of the apparatus.
According to the present invention, there is provided a developing unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a rotatable main assembly side engaging portion having a recess and a rotational force applying portion provided in the recess, said process cartridge comprising:
a developing roller having a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to a mounting and demounting direction of said developing unit;
a cylindrical rotational force transmitted member for receiving a rotational force for rotating said developing roller; and
a coupling member held inside said rotational force transmitted member and including a rotational force receiving portion for receiving the rotational force from the rotational force applying portion, and a rotational force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force to said rotational force transmitted member, wherein said coupling member enters the recess in a state that developing unit is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, and said coupling member is inclinable and translatable relative to a rotational axis of said rotational force transmitted member to disengage from the main assembly side engaging portion when said developing unit is dismounted at said main assembly of the apparatus.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:
a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a rotatable main assembly side engaging portion having a recess and a rotational force applying portion provided in the recess;
a process cartridge including,
a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to a mounting and demounting direction of said developing unit;
process means actable on said photosensitive drum;
a cylindrical rotational force transmitted member for receiving a rotational force for rotating said photosensitive drum; and
a coupling member held inside said rotational force transmitted member and including a rotational force receiving portion for receiving the rotational force from the rotational force applying portion, and a rotational force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force to said rotational force transmitted member, wherein said coupling member enters the recess in a state that developing unit is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, and said coupling member is inclinable and translatable relative to a rotational axis of said rotational force transmitted member to disengage from the main assembly side engaging portion when said developing unit is dismounted at said main assembly of the apparatus.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, a cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the following, a laser beam printer is taken as an example of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge for use with the laser beam printer is taken as an example of the cartridge. In the following description, a widthwise direction of the process cartridge is a direction in which the process cartridge is mounted and demounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus are is the same as a feeding direction of a recording material. In addition, a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge is a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the process cartridge is mounted and demounted relative to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and is parallel with a rotational axis of an image bearing member. In addition, reference numerals in the description are for reference to the drawing and are not intended to limit the structures.
Referring to
As shown in
In synchronism with the formation the developed image, a lift-up plate 3b provided at a free end of a sheet feeding tray 3a accommodating recording materials 2 is raised, and one of the recording materials 2 is fed by sheet feeding rollers 3c, a separation pad 3d and registration rollers 3e and so on.
In an image transfer position, there is provided a transfer roller 4 as transferring means. And, the transfer roller 4 is supplied with a voltage of a polarity opposite to that of the developed image. By doing so, the developed image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred onto the recording material 2. Here, the recording material 2 is a material on which the image of the developer is formed, and is recording paper, label, OHP sheet, for example.
The recording material 2 having the transferred developed image is fed to a fixing means 5 by way of a feeding guide 3f. Fixing means 5 is provided with a driving roller 5a and a fixing roller 5c containing therein a heater 5b. The fixing means 5 applies heat and pressure to the passing recording material 2 to fix the developed image transferred onto the recording material 2 on the recording material 2. In this manner, the image is formed on the recording material 2.
Thereafter, the recording material 2 is fed by discharging rollers and is discharged to a discharging portion 8c of a main assembly cover 8. The sheet feeding roller 3c, the separation pad 3d, the registration rollers 3e, the feeding guide 3f, the discharging rollers 3g and so on structures a feeding means for the recording material 2.
Referring to
As shown in
As shown in part (a) of
On the other hand, as shown in part (a)
Referring to
In this embodiment, setting the cartridge B in the setting portion 7 is called “mounting the cartridge B to the main assembly A of the apparatus”. In addition, dismounting the cartridge B from the setting portion 7 is called “dismounting the cartridge B from the main assembly A of the apparatus”. Furthermore, the position of the cartridge B disposed to the setting portion 7 relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus is called “mounting completed position”.
In the foregoing description, the mounting type for the cartridge B is a manual type in which the user inserts the cartridge B to the setting portion 7, but this is not inevitable. For example, in another type, the user inserts the cartridge B manually half way, and the final mounting operation may be carries out by another means. More particularly, using the operation of closing the main assembly cover 8, the cartridge B placed half way may pushed into the setting portion 7. Or, the user pushes the cartridge B half way, and the cartridge B may be let fall into the setting portion 7 by the weight thereof.
Here, “substantially perpendicular” will be described.
A slight gap is provided between the cartridge B and the main assembly A of the apparatus, for the purpose of smooth mounting and demounting of the cartridge B. Therefore, when the cartridge B is mounted to the main assembly A of the apparatus, and when it is dismounted, the cartridge B as a whole may become slightly oblique within the limit of the gap. Therefore, the mounting and/or the dismounting may not be in the perpendicular direction, strictly. However, even in such a case, the present invention applies, and therefore, the slightly oblique direction of the cartridge is covered by “substantially perpendicular”.
Referring to
B according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.
As shown in
The developer t accommodated in a developer accommodating container 14 is delivered into a developing container 16 through an opening 14a of the developer accommodating container 14 by a rotatable developer feeding member 17. The developing container 16 includes a developing roller 13 as a developing means (process means). The developing roller 13 functions as a rotatable member for carrying the developer t. The developing roller 13 contains a magnet roller (fixed magnet) 13c. A developing blade 15 is provided contacted to the peripheral surface of the developing roller 13. Developing blade 15 regulates an amount of the developer t deposited on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 13 and applies triboelectric charge to the developer t. By this, a developer layer is formed on the surface of the developing roller 13. By a blow preventing sheet 24, leakage of the developer t through the developing container 16 is prevented.
Developing roller 13 is urged to the photosensitive drum 10 by urging springs 23a, 23b while keeping a constant clearance relative to the photosensitive drum 10 by spacer rollers 13k which are gap holding members. And, the developing roller 13 supplied with a voltage is rotated to supply the developer t to a developing zone of the photosensitive drum 10. The developing roller 13 transfers the developer t in accordance with the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10, thus forming the developed image. That is, the photosensitive drum 10 functions as a rotatable member for carrying the developed image (developer).
Thereafter, the developed image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred onto the recording material 2 by the transfer roller 4.
The cleaning frame 21 is provided with a cleaning blade 20 as cleaning means (process means) contacted to the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 10. A free end of the cleaning blade 20 is elastically contacted to the photosensitive drum 10. The cleaning blade 20 scrapes the developer t off the photosensitive drum 10 after the developed image is transferred onto the recording material 2. The developer t scraped from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 by the cleaning blade 20 is accommodated in a removed developer accommodating portion 21a. A receptor sheet 22 is provided to prevent the leakage of the developer t from the removed developer accommodating portion 21a.
The cartridge B comprises the first frame unit 18 and the second frame unit 19 which are connected integrally with each other. The description will be made as to the first frame unit 18 and the second frame unit 19.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
The photosensitive drum 10 comprises an electroconductive member of the aluminum or the like, coated with a photosensitive layer. The photosensitive drum 10 may be hollow or solid.
The driving side flange unit U2 is disposed at the driving side end portion of the photosensitive drum 10. More specifically, as shown in part (c) of
Similarly, the non-driving side flange 50 is substantially co-axial with the photosensitive drum 10 is disposed at the non-driving side end portion of the photosensitive drum 10. The non-driving side flange 50 is made of a resin material, and as shown in part (c) of
The photosensitive drum unit U1 is rotatably supported by the second frame unit 19. As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
Here, “L1” in
Into the coupling member 180, the drive pin 190 is press-fitted, and is provided in the driving side flange 150 together with the urging member 170 and the covering member 160. And, the covering member 160 is fixed to the driving side flange 150 by a method such as bonding or welding or the like.
In this embodiment, the urging member 170 is a compression coil spring as an elastic member. One end portion of the urging member 170 is contacted to a spring contact portion 180d1 of the coupling member 180, and the other end portion is contacted to a spring contact portion 160a of the covering member 160. And, the urging member 170 is compressed the coupling member 180 and the covering member 160 and urges the coupling member 180 in the direction from the non-driving side toward the driving side. The urging member may be a leaf spring, a torsion spring, a rubber, a sponge or the like if it can produce an elastic force. However, as will be described hereinafter, the urging member has to have a certain stroke since the coupling member 180 moves in the direction parallel with the axis L1 of the driving side flange 150. For this reason, the coil spring or the like is desirable since it has a stroke.
On the other hand, drive pin 190 is press-fitted in a hole 180f provided in a portion-to-be-guided 180c of the coupling member 180. Opposite ends 190a1, 190a2 of the drive pin 190 project from the portion-to-be-guided 180c. In this embodiment, the drive pin 190 has a circular column configuration, and in the following description, a center axis of the circular column configuration is called “axis L4”. The portion-to-be-guided 180c of the coupling member 180 has a part spherical shape, and the axis L4 of the drive pin 190 passes substantially through a center of the spherical shape.
In this embodiment, the coupling member 180 and the drive pin 190 are unintegral with each other, but they may be formed integrally.
As shown in parts (a) and (b) of
In this embodiment, the portion-to-be-guided 180c is constituted by the spherical surface and the inner wall 150h which is in the form of a hollow cylinder provided by penetrating by a circular column. A small clearance is provided between the inner wall 150h and the portion-to-be-guided 180c, and the driving side flange 150 guides the coupling member 180. Therefore, the center of the spherical shape of the portion-to-be-guided 180c is substantially on the axis L1 of the driving side flange 150. While keeping such a relation, the coupling member 180 is translatable along an axis L1 of the driving side flange 150. In addition, the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is movable (inclinable, pivotable, swingable, whirlable) in any directions relative to the axis L1 of the driving side flange 150.
Hereinafter, a combination of the inner wall 150h and the contact portion 150g is called “guide portion (holding portion)” which has a guide configuration for the inclining, pivoting, swinging, and/or whirling movement of the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 relative to the axis L1 or for the movement of the coupling member 180 along the axis L1.
In this embodiment, the driving side flange 150 is provided with the inner wall 150h as a guide portion (holding portion) for guiding the sliding movement (translational movement) of the coupling member 180 along the axis L1. By this, the coupling member 180 does not need to provide the coupling member 180 with a guide configuration for movement of the coupling member 180 in the direction of the axis L1, and the coupling member 180 may be short in the direction of the axis L2. In other words, a distance between rotational force receiving portions 180a3, 180b3 which will be described hereinafter and the drive pin 190 in the direction of the axis L2 can be reduced. By doing so, when the coupling member 180 transmits the rotational force, the amount of twisting of the coupling member 180 by the load to the cartridge B or the like can be reduced. Therefore, the coupling member 180 can transmit the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 of the main assembly A of the apparatus to the driving side flange 150 with high accuracy.
The inner surface of the driving side flange 150 guides an outer periphery of the portion-to-be-guided 180c of the coupling member 180. In other words, the formed on the inner surface of the driving side flange 150 directly holds a portion-to-be-supported which is the portion-to-be-guided 180c. By doing so, the coupling member 180 can be maximized relative to the inner surface of the driving side flange 150. Then, a rigid of the coupling member 180 can be enhanced, and therefore, the amount of twisting of the coupling member by the load or the like of the cartridge B when the coupling member 180 transmits the rotational force can be reduced. Therefore, the coupling member 180 can transmit the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the driving side flange 150 with high accuracy.
The inner wall 150h of the driving side flange 150 may have a shape other than those provided by penetration with a circular column. For example, as shown in parts (a1) or (b1) of
In addition, in this embodiment, the inner diameter of the opening 150e of the driving side flange 150 is made smaller than an outer diameter of the portion-to-be-guided 180c of the coupling member 180. By this, the coupling member 180 does not disengage from the opening 150e by a portion-to-be-contacted 180e abutting to a contact portion 150g of the driving side flange 150. The portion-to-be-contacted 180e is a part of the portion-to-be-guided 180c (part (c) of
In the state that the spherical surface of the portion-to-be-contacted 180e is in contact with the conical surface of the contact portion 150g, the center of the spherical shape of the portion-to-be-guided 180c is held on the axis L1. By this, the coupling member 180 and the driving side flange 150 are positioned relative to each other with high accuracy in a diametrical direction from the axis L1. As a result, the rotational force can be transmitted from the coupling member 180 to the driving side flange 150 with high accuracy.
On the other hand, in the side opposite from the opening 150e, the coupling member 180 is prevented from being dislodged by the covering member 160.
Rotational force transmitted portions 150a1, 150a2 of the driving side flange 150 functions to receive the rotational force for rotating the photosensitive drum 10 from the coupling member 180. As shown in part (d) of
In this embodiment, the driving side flange 150, the coupling member 180 and the covering member 160 are made of resin material, more particularly polyacetal or polycarbonate or the like. The drive pin 190 is made of metal, more particularly steel or stainless steel. However, metal or resin material may be selected for each part depending on the load torque required for rotating the photosensitive drum 10. As described above, the drive pin 190 may be integral with the coupling member 180.
In this embodiment, the gear portion 150c transmits the rotational force received by the coupling member 180 from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the developing roller 13, and includes a helical gear or a spur gear which is integral with the driving side flange 150. The rotation of the developing roller 13 may be made not through the driving side flange 150. In such a case, the gear portion 150c may be omitted.
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
The portion-to-be-guided 180c is guided inside the flange 150 so that the coupling member 180 translates relative to the axis L1, and that the axis L2 inclines relative to the axis L1 (
The first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b project toward the free end portion (driving side of the axis L2) of the coupling member 180 directly from the part of the spherical shape (barrel configuration) forming the portion-to-be-guided (portion-to-be-supported) 180c. The first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b are positioned symmetrically with each other with respect to the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 (180 degrees). Here, the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b is formed closer to the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 than an outermost circumference of the portion-to-be-guided the portion-to-be-supported) 180c in the radial direction of the coupling member 180.
In addition, the structure is such that centers of gravity of cross-sections of the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b taken along a plane perpendicular to the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 approaches to the axis L2 toward the free end portion (driving side of the axis L2) of the coupling member 180.
Further, the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b each comprises a main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1, another main assembly contact portion 180a2, 180b2 and a rotational force receiving portion 180a3, 180b3. The main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1 is outside the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b as seen from the axis L2. In other words, the main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1 is outside the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b, respectively in the radial direction of the coupling member 180. Here the main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1 is the portion which is contactable with a part of the main assembly of the apparatus such as the main assembly side engaging portion 100 when the coupling member 180 is engaged with the main assembly side engaging portion 100, or when the coupling member 180 disengages from the main assembly side engaging portion, as will be described hereinafter.
The rotational force receiving portion 180a3 is an inclined surface (part (a) of
Here, the main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1 approaches the axis L2 toward the driving side of the axis L2. In addition, in this embodiment, the main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1 comprises a curved surface. In other words, the main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1 comprises a part of spherical surface having a diameter which is smaller than that of the portion-to-be-guided 180c, and the diameter reduces toward the driving side of the axis L2.
The spring mounting portion 180d is provided in the non-driving side of the portion-to-be-guided 180c and has a circumferential groove configuration. A bottom surface of the circumferential groove constitutes a spring contact portion 180d1 to which the urging member 170 abuts. The spring contact portion 180d1 is a surface substantially perpendicular to the axis L2 of the coupling member 180.
The arrangement of the rotational force receiving portions 180a3, 180b3 and the other main assembly contact portions 180a2, 180b2 are as follows. As shown in
Here, the configuration of the “sphere” of the portion-to-be-guided 180c in this embodiment will be described.
The configuration of the sphere of the portion-to-be-guided 180c of the coupling member 180 may not be a true sphere (distorted or polygonal) due to variation in the part dimensions or production of small corners or the like in the machining thereof. The spherical configuration including such a shape is called “substantially spherical configuration”. The present invention is usable with the function effects when the substantially spherical configuration is used.
Referring to
Referring first to
Parts (a1) and (b1) of
Parts (a2) and (b2) of
Parts (a3) and (b3) of
Parts (a4) and (b4) of
Here, as for the direction different from the inclining direction described above, in the direction of an arrow X8 in the (a1) of
In this manner, the coupling member 180 is rotatable substantially in all directions relative to the axis L1. That is, the coupling member 180 is inclinable in any directions relative to the axis L1.
Furthermore, the coupling member 180 can swing in any directions relative to the axis L1. Furthermore, the coupling member 180 is capable of whirling substantially all directions relative to the axis L1. Here, the rotation of the coupling member 180 is such a motion that the inclined axis L2 rotates about the axis L1.
When the coupling member 180 inclines, the urging force of the urging member 170 is a drag against the inclination of the coupling member 180. Therefore, it is preferable that the urging force of the urging member 170 is minimized, for the purpose of easy inclination of the coupling member 180.
In this embodiment, the structure for limiting the inclination of the coupling member 180 is the abutment between the coupling member 180 or the drive pin 190 and the driving side flange 150, but this is not inevitable, and another structure can be used. For example, as shown in
Referring next to
As shown in parts (a1) and (b1) of
On the other hand, as shown in (a3), (b3), (a4) and (b4) of
As described in the foregoing, the coupling member 180 is guided so that the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is capable of inclining (pivoting, swing or whirling) in any direction relative to the axis L1 of the driving side flange 150 and so that it is translatable along the axis. L1 of the driving side flange 150.
Referring to
Here, L3 in
As shown in part (a) of
The driving shaft 100j has a cylindrical recess, and the rotational force applying portions 100a1 and 100a2 are provided on the inner wall 100b forming the recess. By doing so, the rotational force applying portions 100a1 and 100a2 are connected by inner wall 100b so that the strength of the rotational force applying portions 100a1 and 100a2 can be enhanced. Therefore, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 can transmit the rotational force smoothly to the coupling member 180.
In a side opposite the cartridge B side with respect to the axis L3 of the main assembly side engaging portion 100, a drive gear portion 100c having the center on the axis L3 is provided. The drive gear portion 100c is integrally or unrotatably fixed on the main assembly side engaging portion 100, and when the drive gear portion 100c rotates about the axis L3, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 rotates about the axis L3.
Here, as shown in part (c) of
As shown in parts (a) and (b) of
Referring to
As shown in
When the cartridge B is further moved in the direction of the arrow X1, as shown in (b2) of
When the cartridge B is moved further in direction of the arrow X1, the coupling member 180 moves in the direction of an arrow X8 parallel with the axis L1 in the inclined state, as shown in (b3) of
As shown in (b4) of
And, the coupling member 180 enters the space portion 100f of the main assembly side engaging portion 100. At this time, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 covers the coupling member 180. In this state, the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 overlap as seen in the direction perpendicular to the axis L3. Simultaneously, the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 is opposed to the rotational force applying portion 100a1. In this manner, the coupling member 180 is engaged with the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to enable rotation of the coupling member 180.
In this embodiment, an amount of inclination of the coupling member when the coupling member 180 contacts the opening 150e of the driving side flange 150 (angle of the axis L2 relative to the axis L1) is a maximum inclination amount ((b2) of
In this embodiment, as the structure for limiting the maximum inclination amount of the coupling member 180, the structure in which the coupling member 180 contacts the opening 150e of the driving side flange 150, but another structure may be used. For example, as described above, the maximum inclination amount of the coupling member 180 may be limited by contacting the spring mounting portion 180d of the coupling member 180 to the inner wall 150h of the driving side flange 150.
When the cartridge B is moved to the mounting completion position, the main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1 and the rotational force applying portion 100a1, 100a2 may contact to each other in the direction of the axis L3, depending on the phases of the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 in the rotational moving direction. In this case, the coupling member 180 can not enter the space portion 100f. However, by rotation of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 by a driving source which will be described hereinafter, the main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1 and the rotational force applying portion 100a1, 100a2 becomes out of contact from each other in the direction of the axis L3. Then, by the urging force of the urging member 170, the main assembly contact portion 180a1, 180b1 can enter the space portion 100f. As a result, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 can engage with the coupling member 180 while being rotated by the driving source, by which the coupling member 180 starts to rotate.
Thus, upon mounting of the cartridge B to the main assembly A of the apparatus, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 can engage with the coupling member 180 irrespective of the phase relation in the rotational moving direction between the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
As described in the foregoing, according to the structure of this embodiment, the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 can be engaged with a simple structure without a complicated structure in the main assembly A of the apparatus and/or the cartridge B.
In this embodiment, the structure for moving the coupling member 180 in the direction X8 parallel with the axis L1 uses the contact of the coupling member 180 to the side plate 108 of the main assembly A of the apparatus, but this is not inevitable. For example, as shown in (a1) and (b1) of
In this embodiment, the contact portion 108a of the side plate 108 shown in
Referring to
First, the description will be made as to the positioning of the cartridge B relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus in the rotational force transmission. When the cartridge B is placed in the mounting completion position, as shown in
In this manner, the cartridge B is positioned at the cartridge positioning portions 120a1, 125a1 of the main assembly A of the apparatus.
The rotational force transmitting operation for rotating the photosensitive drum 10 will be described.
As shown in part (a) and (b) of
In this embodiment, the drive gear portion 100c is driven directly by the pinion gear 107, but this is not inevitable. For example, a plurality of gears may be provided between the drive gear portion 100c and the pinion gear 107. In addition, the rotational force may be transmitted using a belt or the like from the pinion gear 107 to the drive gear portion 100c.
The main assembly side engaging portion 100 is positioned so that during the rotational force transmission of the main assembly side engaging portion 100, the positions of the rotational force applying portions 100a1, 100a2 in the direction of the axis L3 is within a supporting range of the bearing member 103 (within the contact region). Here, the supporting range (contact region) of the bearing member 103 is a range in which the bearing member 103 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 are contacted with each other when the bearing member 103 supports the main assembly side engaging portion 100 rotatably. By this, during the rotational force transmission, the axis tilting of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 due to the load applied to the main assembly side engaging portion 100 can be suppressed. Therefore, rotation non-uniformity of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 attributable to the axis tilting can be suppressed, so that the rotational force is transmitted smoothly from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the coupling member 180. Then, the photosensitive drum 10 can be rotated with high accuracy.
Furthermore, the drive gear portion 100c and the pinion gear 107 are engaged by helical gear engagement. A twist angle and direction of the helical gears are so selected that when the motor 106 rotates, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is urged in the direction of an arrow X7 parallel with the axis L3 by the rotational force. By this, the position of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 in the direction of the axis L3 relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus can be determined. Then, the amount engagement between the main assembly side engaging portion 100 and the coupling member 180 which will be described hereinafter can be maintained constant.
In this embodiment, the helical gears are used as the urging means for main assembly side engaging portion 100 in the direction of the arrow X7 but this is not inevitable. For example, as shown in
As shown in
As described in the foregoing, the rotational force of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 10 through the coupling member 180, the drive pin 190, and the driving side flange 150 to rotate the photosensitive drum 10.
Here, in this embodiment, upon the rotational force transmitting operation, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is positioned at the predetermined position in the main assembly A of the apparatus in the diametrical direction. The driving side flange 150 is also positioned at the predetermined position of the main assembly A of the apparatus through the cartridge B in the diametrical direction. And, by the coupling member 180, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 positioned at the predetermined position and the driving side flange 150 positioned at the predetermined position are connected. In the case that the main assembly side engaging portion 100 and the driving side flange 150 are positioned so that the axis L1 and the axis L3 are substantially co-axial with each other, the coupling member 180 rotates substantially without the inclination. Therefore, the main assembly side engaging portion 100 can transmit the rotational force smoothly to the photosensitive drum 10 through the coupling member 180. On the other hand, depending on the variation of the part dimensions or the like, the axis L1 and the axis L3 may be deviated slightly from the co-axial relation. Even in such a case, by the coupling member 180 rotating with the inclination (pivoting, swing and/or rotation) of the axis L2 relative to the axis L1, the coupling member 180 can transmit the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the driving side flange 150. At this time the coupling member 180 can rotate without imparting a large load to the driving side flange 150 and to the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
The description will be made as to the positioning of the photosensitive drum unit U1 relative to the main assembly of the apparatus in the direction of the axis L3 in this embodiment. For the purpose of simplification of the description, the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 side is taken, and the description about the rotational force receiving portion 180b3 side is omitted since the same applies to the rotational force receiving portion 180b3.
As shown in
When the rotational force F2 is applied to the rotational force receiving portion 180a1 from the rotational force applying portion 100a1, the coupling member 180 is moved in the direction of the arrow X11 by the urging force of the urging member 170 and the component force F2a. And, the portion-to-be-contacted 180e of the coupling member 180 contacts to the contact portion 150g of the driving side flange 150. Furthermore, by the rotational force F2, the U2 and the photosensitive drum unit U1 is moved in the direction of the arrow X11. When the photosensitive drum unit U1 is moved in the direction of the arrow X11, a contact portion 150n of the driving side flange 150 and a contact portion 30a are contacted to each other so that the drum bearing 30 and the cleaning frame 21 move in the direction of the arrow X11. Therefore, the cartridge B also moves in the direction of the arrow X11.
Thereafter, in the direction of the axis L3, a regulating portion 21h of the cleaning frame 21 contacts to a driving side end portion 9a of a longitudinal direction regulating portion 9 for the cartridge provided in the main assembly A of the apparatus. By this, the photosensitive drum unit U1 is positioned through the drum bearing 30 and the cleaning frame 21 in the direction of the axis L3 relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus. At this time, the photosensitive drum unit U1 rotates while keeping a clearance D1 between the end portion 100g of the opening of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 and the end portion 150k of the opening of the driving side flange 150.
In place of the cleaning frame 21, the drum bearing 30 or the like may be contacted to the driving side end portion 9a of the longitudinal direction regulating portion 9 for the cartridge provided in the main assembly A of the apparatus to determine the position of the photosensitive drum unit U1 in the direction of the axis L3.
Here, the overlapping amount between the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 in the direction of the axis L3 in a state that the coupling member 180 receives the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 100. And, an amount through which the coupling member 180 is translatable away from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 along the axis L1 without inclination relative to the axis L1 of the driving side flange 150, from the position where the coupling member 180 receives the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 100, is called “translatable amount”. The translatable amount is larger than the engagement amount (overlying amount) in the state that the coupling member 180 receives the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 100. With such a structure, the engaging operation between the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 at the time of mounting of the cartridge B is easy, and the structure for the engagement is simplified.
The inclination θ1 is set so that the rotational force F2 can move the coupling member 180, the photosensitive drum unit U1 and the cartridge B in the direction of X11 of the axis L3. In this case, in the state that the coupling member 180 receives the rotational force, the portion-to-be-contacted 180e of the coupling member 180 keeps in contact with the contact portion 150g of the driving side flange 150. Therefore, it does not occur that the coupling member 180 moves along the axis L1 while rotating. For this reason, the rotational force can be transmitted from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the driving side flange 150 with high accuracy. However, when there is provided another means for moving the coupling member 180, the photosensitive drum unit U1 and the cartridge B in the direction X11 of the axis L3, the inclination θ1 may be small. For example, in the non-driving side of the second frame unit 19, an urging member may be provided between the photosensitive drum unit U1 and the second frame unit 19, and an urging member may be provided between the cartridge B and the main assembly A of the apparatus. By the urging forces of such urging members, the photosensitive drum unit U1 is moved in the direction X11 of the axis L3.
In the state that the coupling member 180 receives the rotational force, the spherical surface of the portion-to-be-contacted 180e is kept in contact with the conical surface of the contact portion 150g, and therefore, the center of the spherical shape of the portion-to-be-guided 180c is kept on the axis L1. Thus, even if the coupling member 180 rotates in the inclined state, the center of the spherical shape of the portion-to-be-contacted 180e does not change. For this reason, the rotational force can be transmitted from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the driving side flange 150 with high accuracy.
Here, in order for the coupling member 180 to transmit the rotational force smoothly to the photosensitive drum 10 when the coupling member 180 receives the rotational force in the state that the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined (pivoted, swung, whirled), the inclining operation of the coupling member 180 is smooth. Therefore, it is effective for the purpose of the smooth inclining operation of the coupling member 180 that the urging force of the urging member 170 is minimized using the above-described structure for limiting the inclination amount of the coupling member 180.
(10) Disengaging Operation of the Coupling with the Dismounting Operation of the Cartridge:
Referring to
First, the description will be made as to the case in which directions of the rotational forces F3, F4 received from the rotational force applying portion 100a1 and 100a2 by the rotational force receiving portions 180a3, 180b3 are parallel with the removing direction (arrow X12) of the cartridge B, as shown in part (a) of
As shown in (b1) of
Then, the cartridge B is moved in the removing direction X12. At this time, the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 which is upstream of the coupling member 180 with respect to the removing direction receives a force F5 from the rotational force applying portion 100a1 by the dismounting of the cartridge B. By doing so, the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 inclines toward the upstream relative to the axis L1 with respect to the removing direction X12. At this time, the portions of the coupling member 180 except for the rotational force receiving portions 180a3, 180b3 do not contact the main assembly side engaging portion 100. Therefore, the user can move the cartridge B in the removing direction X12 with a small force.
And, as shown in (b2) of
When the cartridge B is further moved in the removing direction X12, as shown in (b3) of
When the cartridge B is moved further in the removing direction X12, as shown in (b4) of
More particularly, as seen in the direction opposite the removing direction X12 of the cartridge B, the rotational force receiving portion 180a3 is retracted from behind the rotational force applying portion 100a1 to permit the coupling member 180 to disengage from the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
Thereafter, as shown in (a1) and (a2) of
The description will be made as the case in which the directions of the rotational forces F7, F8 received from the rotational force applying portions 100a1 and 100a2 of the rotational force receiving portions 180a3, 180b3 and the removing direction X12 of the cartridge B are perpendicular, as shown in part (a) of
As shown in (b1) of
When the cartridge B is further moved in the removing direction X12, the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined toward the upstream relative to the axis L1 with respect to the removing direction X12 by the force F9. The other main assembly contact portion 180a2 is inclined by θ2 as described above. The inclination θ2 is set so that a component force F9a of the force F9 parallel with the axis L1 is in the direction of the arrow X8. Therefore, the coupling member 180 moves in the direction of arrow X8 while inclining the axis L2 relative to the axis L1. At this time, the coupling member 180 inclines until the end portion 190a2 of the drive pin 190 is brought into contact to the end portion 150m of the groove of the driving side flange 150.
When the cartridge B is further moved in the removing direction X12, the coupling member 180 moves in the direction of the arrow X8 while being inclined and while the other main assembly contact portion 180a2 and the rotational force applying portion 100a2 are in contact with each other ((b3) of
Here, when the coupling member 180 moves in the direction of arrow X8, the moving operation of the coupling member 180 may be obstructed by the inclinations θ1 of the rotational force receiving portions 180a3, 180b3. In such a case, the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 inclines relative to the axis L1 so that the obstruction to the moving operation is avoided. And, the coupling member 180 moves in the direction of the arrow X8.
When the cartridge B is moved in the removing direction X12, the coupling member 180 continues moving in the direction of the arrow X8, and the rotational force receiving portions 180a3, 180b3 disengage from the space portion 100f of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 ((b4) of
Thereafter, the coupling member 180 is moved similarly to the case of (a1)-(a3) of above-described so that the cartridge B is dismounted from the main assembly A of the apparatus.
In the foregoing description, the removing direction of the cartridge B is parallel with or perpendicular to the direction of the rotational force received from the rotational force applying portions 100a1, 100a2 by the rotational force receiving portions 180a3, 180b3. When the removing direction is different from these directions, the coupling member 180 can be disengaged from the main assembly side engaging portion 100. For example, the removing direction of the cartridge B is 45 degrees relative to the direction of the rotational force received from the rotational force applying portions 100a1 and 100a2 by the rotational force receiving portions 180a3, 180b3, the coupling member 180 can be disengaged from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 by combination of the inclining operation of the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 relative to the axis L1 and the moving operation in the direction of the axis L1.
Therefore, as described above, irrespective of the phase relation in the rotational moving direction between the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 upon dismounting of the cartridge B from the main assembly A of the apparatus, the cartridge B can be dismounted from the main assembly A of the apparatus by the above-described structure.
Referring to
Here, a sphere diameter of the portion-to-be-guided 180c of the coupling member 180 is φZ1; sphere diameters of the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b are φZ2; distances between a center of the sphere of the portion-to-be-guided 180c and the centers of the spheres of the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b Z3; and a distance between the center of the sphere of the portion-to-be-guided 180c and the end portion of the opening of the driving side flange 150 is Z4. Inclinations of the rotational force applying portions 180a3, 180b3 are θ1; a distance of the portion-to-be-guided 180c from the center of the sphere is Z5; inclinations of the other main assembly contact portions 180a2, 180b2 are θ2; and a distance of the portion-to-be-guided 180c from the center of the sphere is Z6. A maximum inclination angle of the axis L4 of the coupling member 180 is α1; a maximum inclination angle of the axis perpendicular to the axis L4 and the axis L2 is α2; and a movement distance in the direction of the axis L2 is δ1. A diameter of the inner wall 100b of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 is φZ7; distances of the rotational force applying portions 100a1, 100b1 from the end portion of the opening is Z8; and distances of the rotational force applying portions 100a1 and 100b1 from the axis L3 are Z9, Z10, respectively. A diameter of the drive pin 190 is φZ11, and the length thereof is Z12. A diameter of the inner wall 150h of the driving side flange 150 is φZ13. A diameter of the coil spring of the urging member 170 is φZ14; and a spring pressure of the urging member 170 in the state that the portion-to-be-contacted 180e of the coupling member 180 is in contact with the contact portion 150g of the flange 150 is M1. In the specific example, Z1=14.6 mm, Z2=12 mm, Z3=4.3 mm, Z4=3.7 mm, Z5=3.6 mm, Z6=1.9 mm, Z7=17.6 mm, Z8=2.7 mm, L9=L10=1.75 mm, Z11=2 mm, Z12=16.5, Z13=14.64 mm, Z14=8.6 mm, θ1=10 degrees, θ2=10 degrees, α1=16.2 degrees, α2=12.18 degrees, δ1=6.4 mm, M1=1N. In these conditions, it has been confirmed that the coupling member 180 can engage with the main assembly side engaging portion 100. It has been confirmed that the coupling member 180 can transmit the rotational force smoothly to the photosensitive drum 10. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the coupling member 180 can disengage from the main assembly side engaging portion 100.
These values are examples, and are not inevitable, and other values are usable.
As described in the foregoing, in accordance with the dismounting operation of the cartridge B, the coupling member 180 (axis L2) inclines relative to the axis L1 and makes translational movement extended along axis L1 by which the coupling member 180 which is in the space portion 100f of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 can be disengaged to the outside of the space portion 100f. Therefore, the cartridge B can be dismounted in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 10.
When the cartridge B is dismounted, the coupling member 180 is inclined not less than θ1 of the inclination of the rotational force receiving portion, and then the coupling member 180 is moved in the direction of X8 parallel with the axis L1. By this, the operation of dismounting is cartridge B by the user can be made smooth, so that the dismounting operation of the cartridge B by the user can be made easier.
According to the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the coupling member 180 is guided so that the axis L2 thereof can incline (pivot, swing and/or whirl) in any direction relative to the axis L1 of the driving side flange 150. Furthermore, the coupling member 180 is guided movably along the axis L1 of the driving side flange 150. By doing so, when the cartridge B is moved in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 10 to mount the cartridge B to the main assembly A of the apparatus, the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 inclines relative to the axis L1, and moves along the axis L1 so that the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 can engage with each other. When the cartridge B is moved in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 10 to dismount is cartridge B from the main assembly A of the apparatus, the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 inclines with respect to axis L1, and moves along the axis L1, and the coupling member 180 can disengage from the main assembly side engaging portion 100. In addition, the cartridge B dismounting load when the cartridge B is dismounted from the main assembly A of the apparatus, and the usability performance when the cartridge B is mounted to the main assembly A of the apparatus can be improved.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, for the purpose of the rotational force transmission, the coupling member 180 enters the space portion 100f which is a cylindrical recess of the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to receive the rotational force. In addition, the first projected portion 180a and the second projected portion 180b of the coupling member 180 is smaller beyond opening 150e of the driving side flange 150. Therefore, the coupling member 180 can move into the driving side flange 150 with the mounting operation and the dismounting operation of the cartridge B. Thus, for the mounting and dismounting of the cartridge B, it is unnecessary to provide a space for the movement of the coupling member 180, and therefore, the cartridge B and/or the main assembly A of the apparatus can be downsized.
In the embodiment of the present invention, for the purpose of movement of the coupling member 180 into the limited space in the space portion 150f of the driving side flange 150, the coupling member 180 enters the space portion 100f of the recess of the main assembly side engaging portion 100. By this, a radius of the rotational force transmission from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the coupling member 180 can be maximized, and the coupling member 180 can transmit the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the driving side flange 150 with high accuracy. In other words, the coupling member 180 can be downsized to the maximum, relative to the predetermined rotational force transmission radius for rotating the photosensitive drum 10. Then, the cartridge B and/or the main assembly A of the apparatus can be downsized to the maximum. In other words, structure of the embodiment of the present invention is effective in the case that a smooth rotation with high accuracy is required together with large load of the cartridge B such as the case of transmitting the rotational force to the rotatable member or the like the photosensitive drum 10.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the portion-to-be-guided 180c of the coupling member 180 has a spherical shape, and the inner wall 150h of the driving side flange 150 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and the portion-to-be-guided 180c is guided by the inner wall 150h. Therefore, a radius of rotational force transmission from the coupling member 180 into driving side flange 150 can be maximized in the limited space in the cartridge B (photosensitive drum 10). Therefore, the coupling member 180 can transmit the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 100 to the driving side flange 150 with high accuracy. In other words, the coupling member 180 can be downsized to the maximum, within the limit of the required predetermined rotational force transmission radius for rotating the photosensitive drum 10 with high accuracy. Then, the cartridge B and/or the main assembly A of the apparatus can be downsized to the maximum. In other words, the structure of the embodiment of the present invention is effective for the case of transmitting the rotational force to the rotatable member or the like photosensitive drum 10 in which the smooth rotation with high accuracy is required together with the large load of the cartridge B.
These apply to the other embodiments which will be described hereinafter.
Referring to
In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1 are assigned to the elements having the corresponding functions in this embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted for simplicity. This applies to the other embodiments which will be described hereinafter.
Referring to
Similarly to Embodiment 1, rotational axes of a driving side flange (rotational force transmitted member) 250, a coupling member 280 and a main assembly side engaging portion 200 are called “axes”. This applies to the other embodiments which will be described hereinafter.
In this embodiment, a mounting direction of a cartridge B to a main assembly A of the apparatus and the removing direction of the cartridge B from the main assembly A of the apparatus are the same as in Embodiment 1. This applies to the other embodiments which will be described hereinafter.
As shown in
The structure in which the coupling member 280 inclines about an axis perpendicular to the axis L22 of the coupling member 280 and an axis L24 of the drive pin 290 is similar to the embodiment 1. That is, the coupling member 280 can incline until the drive pin 290 is brought into contact to the driving side flange 250.
On the other hand, a structure for inclination about an axis co-axial with the axis L24 of the drive pin 290. With the structure of Embodiment 1, the coupling member 180 can incline until the first projected portion 180a or the second projected portion 180b contacts to the opening 250e of the driving side flange 250. With the structure of this embodiment the as shown in part (b) of
At this time, an amount inclination of the coupling member 280 is limited by an urging force of the urging member 270. That is, the urging force of the urging member 270 tends to keep an axis L22 of the coupling member 280 co-axial with the axis L21 of the driving side flange 250. As a result, the urging force of the urging member 270 is a drag against the inclination of the coupling member 280. Therefore, the inclination amount of the coupling member 280 is limited.
The fixing method of the drive pin 290 relative to the coupling member 280, the fixing method of the covering member 260 relative to the driving side flange 250 and the structure of the urging member 270 are similar to those in Embodiment 1, and therefore, the description is omitted. Embodiment 1 applies with respect to the axis of the drive pin 290. This applies to the other embodiments which will be described hereinafter.
Referring to
As shown in
The coupling member 280 of this embodiment is different from the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 in the configurations of the first projected portion 280a and the second projected portion 280b. In this embodiment, the first projected portion 280a and the second projected portion 280b are a part of the sphere forming the portion-to-be-guided 280c. And, main assembly contact portions 280a1, 280b2 are also a part of the spherical surface of the portion-to-be-guided 280c.
On the other hand, the arrangements of the rotational force receiving portions 280a3, 280b3 and the other main assembly contact portions 280a2, 280b2 are similar to those of Embodiment 1, as shown in
Referring to
As shown in (b1) of
When the cartridge B is further moved in the direction of the arrow X1, as shown in (b2) of
As shown in (b3) of
Depending on the frictional force between the coupling member 280 and the side plate 208 and/or the urging force of the urging member 270, the coupling member 280 may move in the direction of the arrow X21 with the inclination of the axis L22 relative to the axis L21 (part (c) of
By doing so, it is unnecessary in order to limit the inclination amount of the coupling member 280 to provide a configuration for contacting the coupling member 280 to the driving side flange 250. As a result, the latitude for the configurations of the coupling member 280 and the driving side flange 250 increases. In addition, the inclinable amount of the coupling member 280 particularly in the inclining direction about the axis co-axial with the axis L24 of the drive pin 290 or the inclining direction close thereto can be increased.
The urging force of the urging member 270 may be properly selected so as to satisfy the urging force necessitated to limit the inclination amount of the coupling member 280 and the urging force necessitated to incline the coupling member 270 smoothly and to transmit the rotational force smoothly.
In addition, the structure for limiting the inclination amount of the coupling member 280 by the urging force of the urging member 270 in this embodiment can be used in embodiment 1. On the contrary, the structure for limiting the inclination amount of Embodiment 1 may be used for the coupling member 280 of this embodiment. That is, a part of the coupling member 280 may be contacted to the driving side flange 250 to limit the inclination amount of the coupling member 280.
In addition, in the structure for moving the coupling member 280 in the direction of the arrow X21, the coupling member 280 may be contacted to the driving side guiding member 120 similarly to the embodiment 1. Furthermore, the coupling member 280 may be contacted to the main assembly side engaging portion 200. Furthermore, the above-described structure of moving coupling member 280 in the direction of the arrow X21 may be combined.
As to the state in which the coupling member 280 receives the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 200 and the disengaging operation of the coupling member 280 from the main assembly side engaging portion 200, the description of Embodiment 1 applies, and therefore, the description is omitted.
As described in the foregoing, since the portion-to-be-guided 280c of the coupling member 280, the first projected portion 280a and the second projected portion 280b have the same spherical shape, a space for inclining the coupling member 280 can be saved. Therefore, the space required to engage the coupling member 280 with the main assembly side engaging portion 200, and the space required for the dismounting can be minimized. By this, the cartridge B and/or the main assembly A of the apparatus can be downsized.
With respect to the configuration of the coupling member 280 of this embodiment, if it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the photosensitive drum 10 and/or the driving side flange 250 and so on, the diameter of the spherical shape of the portion-to-be-guided 280c has to be small. This leads t reduction of the projection amount of the coupling member 280 from the end portion 250k of the opening of the driving side flange 250 in the direction of the axis L21 with the result of difficulty in assuring the engagement amount between the coupling member 280 and the main assembly side engaging portion 200. Therefore, the configuration of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 is effective to increase the engagement amount between the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100. On the other hand, the coupling member 280 of this embodiment is short in the direction of the axis L22, and therefore, an amount of twisting of the coupling member 280 by the load torque or the like of the cartridge B when the coupling member 280 transmits the rotational force is small. Therefore, the coupling member 280 can transmit the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 200 of the main assembly A of the apparatus to the driving side flange 250 with high accuracy.
The configuration of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 and the configuration of the coupling member 280 of this embodiment may be selected properly in accordance with the load torque of the cartridge B and/or the diameter of the photosensitive drum 10.
Referring to
Here, a sphere diameter of the portion-to-be-guided 280c of the coupling member 280 is φz21; and a distance of the center of the sphere of the portion-to-be-guided 280c from the end portion of the opening of the driving side flange 250 is Z22. Inclinations of the rotational force applying portions 280a3, 280b3 are θ21; a distance of the portion-to-be-guided 280c from the center of the sphere is Z23; inclinations of the other main assembly contact portions 280a2, 280b2 are θ22; and a distance of the portion-to-be-guided 280c from the center of the sphere is Z24. A maximum inclination angle of the shaft perpendicular to the axis L24 and the axis L22 of the coupling member 280 is α21; and a movement distance in the direction of the axis L22 is δ21. A diameter of the inner wall 200b of the main assembly side engaging portion 200 is φZ25; distances of the rotational force applying portions 200a1, 200b1 from the end portion of the opening is Z26; and distances of the rotational force applying portions 200a1 and 200b1 from the axis L3 are Z27, Z28, respectively. A diameter of the drive pin 290 is φZ29, and the length thereof is Z30. A diameter of the inner wall 150h of the driving side flange 150 is φZ31. A diameter of the coil spring of the urging member 270 is φZ32; and a spring pressure of the urging member 270 in the state that the portion-to-be-contacted 280e of the coupling member 280 is in contact with the contact portion 250g of the flange 250 is M2. In the specific example, Z21=14.6 mm, Z22=3.3 mm, Z23=3.8 mm, Z24=1.9 mm, Z25=17.6 mm, Z26=1.8 mm, Z27=Z28=1.75 mm, Z29=2 mm, Z30=16.5 mm, Z31=14.64 mm, Z32=8.6 mm, θ21=20 degrees, θ22=10 degrees, α21=9.74 degrees, δ21=3.8 mm, M2=1N. In these conditions, it has been confirmed that the coupling member 280 can engage with the main assembly side engaging portion 200. It has been confirmed that the coupling member 280 can transmit the rotational force smoothly to the photosensitive drum 10. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the coupling member 280 can disengage from the main assembly side engaging portion 200.
These values are examples, and are not inevitable, and other values are usable.
Referring to
In this embodiment, positioning methods for the photosensitive drum unit U31 and the photosensitive drum unit U35 relative to a main assembly A of the apparatus are different from those of the foregoing embodiments. First, the description will be made as to the example of the configuration of the coupling member 280 described with the embodiment 2.
Referring to
Referring to
Part (a) of
Also, clearances D31 and D32 are provided between a portion-to-be-contacted 380e of a coupling member 380 and a contact portion 350g of a driving side flange 350. The sizes of the clearances D31, D32 is determined by the position, in the direction of the axis L31 of the driving side flange 350, of the photosensitive drum unit U31 and an amount of entrance of the coupling member 380 into the space portion 300f when the cartridge B is in the mounting completion position. The amount of the entrance of the coupling member 380 into the space portion 300f is determined by the way of contact between the rotational force applying portions 300a1300a2 and the rotational force receiving portions 380a1, 380a2 and an urging force of an urging member 370 or the like.
Here, as shown in part (a) of
When the coupling member 380 and the main assembly side engaging portion 300 are engaged with each other, and the rotational force F31 is applied to the rotational force receiving portions 380a1, 380a2, the coupling member 380 moves in the direction of the arrow X31 by the function of the component force F31a and the urging force of the urging member 370. As shown in part (b) of
Then, the end portion 300g of the opening of the main assembly side engaging portion 300 and the end portion 350k of the opening of the driving side flange 350 are contacted (D33 becomes zero), by which the positions of the coupling member 380 and the photosensitive drum unit U31 relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus in the direction of the axis L33.
As described in the foregoing, according to the structure of this embodiment, as compared with the photosensitive drum unit positioning structure of the foregoing embodiments, the photosensitive drum unit U31 can be positioned with respect to main assembly A of the apparatus with respect to direction of the axis L33 with high accuracy. Therefore, the positional relation, in the longitudinal direction, is correct between the photosensitive drum unit U31 and a laser beam projected from an optical means 1 provided in the main assembly A of the apparatus or the recording material 2 or the like. Then, an image can be outputted at the correct position on the recording material 2.
With the structure of this embodiment, the number parts required to determine the position of the coupling member 380 relative to the main assembly side engaging portion 300 in the direction of the axis L33. Therefore, the variation in the amount of engagement between the coupling member 380 and the main assembly side engaging portion 300 can be reduced irrespective of the size of the clearance D33 in the mounting completion position. Therefore, the rotational force can be transmitted more stably at main assembly side engaging portion 300 to the coupling member 380.
With the structure of this embodiment, the axis L31 of the driving side flange 350 and the axis L33 of the main assembly side engaging portion 300 can be made parallel with each other. Therefore, the rotational force can be transmitted more stably from main assembly side engaging portion 300 to the coupling member 380.
With the structure of this embodiment, the engagement amount between the coupling member 380 and the main assembly side engaging portion 300 can be maximized. Therefore, the rotational force can be transmitted more stably at main assembly side engaging portion 300 to the coupling member 380.
The inclination 831 is selected such that the rotational force F31 can move the coupling member 380 and the photosensitive drum unit U31 in the direction of the arrow X31. However, another means for moving the coupling member 380 and the photosensitive drum unit U31 in the direction of the arrow X31 is provided, the inclination 831 may be small. For example, in a non-driving side of the photosensitive drum unit U31, an urging member for urging the photosensitive drum unit U31 toward the driving side is provided. By the urging force of the urging member, the end portion 300g of the opening of the main assembly side engaging portion 300 and the end portion 350k of the opening of the driving side flange 350 may be contacted in the state that the rotational force is received.
With respect to the positioning of the photosensitive drum unit U31 relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus in the direction of the axis L33, the end portion 350k of the opening of the driving side flange 350 and the contact portion 300g of the main assembly side engaging portion 300 may be contacted to each other. By doing so, the regulating portion 21h for the cleaning frame 21 and/or the cartridge longitudinal direction regulating portion 9 of the main assembly A of the apparatus described with respect to Embodiment 1 may be omitted. Therefore, the latitude of the configuration of the cleaning frame 321 and/or main assembly A of the apparatus or the like is improved.
In addition, in this embodiment, the description has been made using the configuration of the coupling member 280 of the Embodiment 2, but the configuration of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 may be used. That is, as shown in
Referring to
In this embodiment, a positioning method of the coupling members 480 and 485 relative to main assembly A of the apparatus is different from the foregoing embodiment. First, the description will be made as to the example of the configuration of the coupling member 280 described with Embodiment 1.
Referring to
By providing the contact portion 400h with the rotational force applying portions 400a1, 400a2, the rotational force applying portions 400a1 and 400a2 are connected by the contact portion 400h, so that the strength rotational force applying portions 400a1, 400a2 can be enhanced. Therefore, the main assembly side engaging portion 400 can transmit the rotational force smoothly to the coupling member 480.
As to the drive gear portion 400c of the main assembly side engaging portion 400, the description of the foregoing embodiments applies.
Referring to
As shown in part (a) of
Also in this embodiment, rotational force receiving portions 480a3, 480b3 are inclined relative to an axis L42 of the coupling member 480 by θ41. When the rotational force is applied to the rotational force receiving portions 480a3, 480b3 from the main assembly side engaging portion 400, the coupling member 180 is moved in the direction of X41 of the axis L43 by the functions of the rotational force and an urging force of an urging member 170. As shown in part (b) of
In the state that the cartridge B is placed in the mounting completion position, the portion-to-be-contacted 480e of the coupling member 480 and the contact portion 450g of the driving side flange 450 are contacted (part (b) of
As described in the foregoing, with the structure of this embodiment, the number parts required to determine the position of the coupling member 480 relative to the main assembly side engaging portion 400 in the direction of the axis L43 can be reduced. Therefore, the variation in the amount of engagement between the coupling member 480 and the main assembly side engaging portion 400 can be reduced irrespective of the size of the clearance D45 in the mounting completion position.
The main assembly contact portions 480a1, 480b1 of the coupling member 480 have a part spherical shape, and the contact portion 400h of the main assembly side engaging portion 400 has a conical shape. Therefore, during the rotational force transmission, the center of the sphere portion of the main assembly contact portions 480a1, 480b1 of the coupling member 480 can be kept on the axis L43 of the main assembly side engaging portion 400. Therefore, the rotational force can be transmitted more stably at main assembly side engaging portion 400 to the coupling member 480.
The inclination 641 may be selected such that the rotational force can produce the effective to move the coupling member 480 or the photosensitive drum unit U41 in the direction of the X41 of the axis L43. However, when another means is provided to move the coupling member 480 or the photosensitive drum unit U41 in the direction of X41 of the axis L43, the inclination 841 may be small. As shown in
Referring to
In this embodiment, as shown in part (a) of
With such a structure of this embodiment, a rotational force receiving portion 580a3 of the first projected portion 580a and a rotational force receiving portion 580b3 of the second projected portion 580b are connected with each other. For this reason, the strengths of the rotational force receiving portion 580a3, 580b3 can be enhanced. The coupling member 580 can transmit a rotational force to the photosensitive drum 10 further smoothly.
As shown in part (b) of
As to the engaging operation of the coupling member 580, 585 to the main assembly side engaging portion, the disengaging operation from the main assembly side engaging portion, and the state of receiving the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion, the foregoing descriptions apply, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.
Referring to
This embodiment is different from the foregoing embodiments in the contact portion for transmitting the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 600 to the coupling member 680. The description will be made as to the example of the configuration of the coupling member 180 described with Embodiment 1.
As shown in
With such a structure of this embodiment, a positional change of the contact points P1, P2 attributable to a variation of the dimensions of the coupling member 680 and the main assembly side engaging portion 600 can be suppressed. Therefore, the rotational force can be transmitted with high accuracy and with small change of the rotational force transmission radius.
In this embodiment, the ridges 680a4, 680b4 as a rotational force receiving portion have shapes of edge, but this is not inevitable, and the ridges 680a4, 680b4 may be beveled or rounded. For this reason, the strengths of the rotational force receiving portion 680a3, 680b3 can be enhanced.
In this embodiment, the description has been made taking the configuration of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 for instance. However, as shown in
Referring to
This embodiment is different from Embodiment 6 in the contact portion for transmitting the rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion 700 to the coupling member 780. The description will be made as to the example of the configuration of the coupling member 180 described with Embodiment 1.
As shown in part (a) of
Rotational force receiving portions 780a1, 780a2 may be formed such that they are inclined surfaces relative to an axis L72 of the coupling member 780 similarly to the above-described embodiments.
As to the structure or the like in which the coupling member 780 is guided by a driving side flange (rotational force transmitted member) 750, the coupling member 780 moves in the direction of an axis L71 of the driving side flange 750, and the axis L72 of the coupling member 780 inclines relative to the axis L71, the description in the above-described embodiments applies, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.
As shown in part (b) of
With the structure of this embodiment described above, the positions of the contact portions (rotational force transmitting portion) for transmitting the rotational force can be determined definitely. Therefore, a variation of the position of the rotational force transmitting portion can be suppressed, so that the rotational force can be transmitted with high accuracy.
In this embodiment, the contact portions between the rotational force applying portions 700a1, 700a2 and the rotational force receiving portions 780a1, 780a2 have edge configuration of the ridges. However, the ridges may be beveled or rounded. By doing so, strength of the rotational force applying portions 700a1, 700a2 can be enhanced.
In this embodiment, the configuration of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 is used, but the configuration of the coupling member 280 of the Embodiment 2 may be used with the similar effect.
Referring to
The embodiment is different from the above-described embodiments in the positioning (retention) of the coupling member 880 relative to a driving side flange (rotational force transmitted member) 850. As shown in part (a) of
As shown in parts (b) and (c) of
Referring to
As shown in part (a) of
On the other hand, when the coupling member 880 is inclined central the axis AY, the situation is similar to Embodiment 1, and therefore, the description is omitted.
As described in the foregoing, with the structure of this embodiment, as compared with Embodiment 1, the position of the drive pin 890 in the direction of the axis L81 can be made closer to the main assembly side engaging portion. Therefore, the distance along the axis L82 from the contact portion between the coupling member 880 and the rotational force applying portion of the main assembly side engaging portion of the rotational force receiving portion 880a3, 880b3 to the drive pin 890 can be made smaller. Therefore, the twisting amount of the coupling member 880 during the rotational force transmission can be reduced, and therefore, the coupling member 880 can transmit the rotational force to the photosensitive drum 10 further smoothly.
In this embodiment, the description has been made taking the configuration of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 for instance. However, as shown in
Referring to
This embodiment uses groove end portions 950m1, 950m2, different from the foregoing embodiments, of the groove portion (rotational force receiving portions) 950a1, 950a2 accommodating end portions 990a1, 990a2 of a drive pin 990 of a driving side flange (rotational force transmitted member) 950. As shown in part (a) of
As shown in parts (a) and (b) of
Referring to
Part (a) of
On the other hand, when the coupling member 980 is inclined central the axis AY, the situation is similar to Embodiment 1, and therefore, the description is omitted.
The structure of this embodiment described above is effective when it is required to incline greatly the axis L92 of the coupling member 980 relative to the axis L1 of the driving side flange 950 during the rotational force transmission of the coupling member 980 or upon the dismounting of the cartridge B.
In this embodiment, the configurations of the driving side flange 150 of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 are used. However, as shown in
Referring to
This embodiment is different from the above-described Embodiment 1 in the configurations of main assembly contact portions 1080a1 and 1080b1 of the coupling member 1080, as shown in part (a) of
In the configuration of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1, the main assembly contact portions 180a1, 180b1 are parts of the spherical surface. As shown in parts (b) and (c) of
As to the configurations and arrangements of the other main assembly contact portions 1080a2, 1080b2 constituting a first projected portion 1080a and a second projected portion 1080b, and rotational force receiving portions 1080a3, 1080b3, the description of Embodiment 1 applies.
With the structure of this embodiment described above, even if a contact position varies when the main assembly contact portions 1080a1, 1080b1 contact parts provided in the main assembly A of the apparatus upon a mounting operation of the cartridge B, the coupling member 1080 can be moved stably along an axis of the driving side flange. As a result, a usability performance upon mounting of the cartridge B to the main assembly A of the apparatus is improved.
As shown in part (a) of
Referring to
This embodiment is different from the above-described embodiments in the structure of a cylinder flange 1151. The configurations of the coupling member 180 and the driving side flange 150 of the Embodiment 1 will be taken for instance. As shown in
The photosensitive drum unit U111 of this embodiment comprises a photosensitive drum 10, a non-driving side flange 50 and the cylinder flange 1151, and the 50 and the cylinder flange 1151 are fixed to an end portion of the photosensitive drum 10 by bonding, clamping or the like. The photosensitive drum unit U111 is rotatably supported by the second frame unit 1119. In this embodiment, in the driving side of the photosensitive drum unit U111, the gear flange 1150 engaged with the cylinder flange 1151 is rotatably supported by the drum bearing 1130. The non-driving side of the photosensitive drum unit U111 is rotatably supported by a drum shaft 54 similarly to the embodiment 1.
As shown in
With such a structure, in this embodiment, the rotational force received from the main assembly A of the apparatus is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 10 through the coupling member 1180, the drive pin 1190, the gear flange 1150 and the cylinder flange 1151.
As described in the foregoing, according to Embodiment 1, the covering member 160 is fixed to the driving side flange 150 by bonding, welding or the like, but according to the structure of this embodiment, no fixing step by the bonding or the welding is required, so that the assembling steps can be simplified. In addition, the gear flange 1150, the coupling member 1180 and the urging member 1170 can be dismounting easily, and therefore, these parts can be easily reused.
In this embodiment, the configurations of the driving side flange 150 of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 are used. However, the structure of this embodiment can be applied, with the similar effects, to the configurations of the coupling member 280 and/or the driving side flange 250 of embodiment 2.
Referring to
As shown in
The coupling member 1280 comprises a columnar portion-to-be-guided 1280c, and projected portions 1280a and 1280b for receiving a rotational force a main assembly of the apparatus. A drive pin 1290 is press-fitted into the coupling member 1280. On the other hand, the intermediary guiding member 1285 comprises a portion-to-be-guided 1285c in the form of a part of a spherical shape, and a guide portion 1285b including an inner surface of a hollow cylindrical shape. The portion-to-be-guided 1280c of the coupling member 1280 is guided by a guide portion 1285c, so that the coupling member 1280 is movable in a direction of an axis L122 of the intermediary guiding member 1285. At this time, the drive pin 1290 is engaged with a groove portion 1285a of the intermediary guiding member 1285, and the drive pin 1290 contacts the end surface of the groove portion 1285a. By doing so, a movement range of the coupling member 1280 in the direction of the axis L122 is limited.
Similarly to the Embodiment 1, a driving side flange 1250 comprises an inner wall 1250h of the hollow cylindrical shape, and rotational force transmitted portions 1250a1, 1250a2. A space portion 1250f defined by the inner wall 1250h, the intermediary guiding member 1285, the coupling member 1280 and the urging member 1270 are provided. By coupling the covering member 1260 with the driving side flange 1250, the intermediary guiding member 1285, the coupling member 1280 and the urging member 1270 are held inside of the driving side flange 1250. The covering member 1260 is connected with the driving side flange 1250 by bonding, welding or the like.
Here, the inner wall 1250h of the driving side flange 1250, the contact portion 1250g and the contact portion 1260a of the covering member 1260 guide the portion-to-be-guided 1285c of the guiding member 1285. Therefore, the axis L122 of the intermediary guiding member 1285 is inclinable in any direction relative to the axis L121 of the driving side flange 1250. By the contact portion 1250g of the driving side flange 1250 and the contact portion 1260a of the covering member 1260, the movement of the intermediary guiding member 1285 in the direction of the axis L121 is limited. The contact portion 1250g and the contact portion 1260a are provided with a fine clearance relative to the intermediary guiding member 1285 so as not to disturb inclination of the intermediary guiding member 1285.
The coupling member 1280 is urged by the urging member 1270 in the direction of projecting through an opening 1250e of the driving side flange 1250. At this time, the drive pin 1290 contacts an end surface of the groove portion 1285a of the intermediary guiding member 1285, and the intermediary guiding member 1285 contacts to the contact portion 1250g of the driving side flange 1250. By doing so, the position of the coupling member 1280 in the direction of the axis L122 is determined. In addition, the drive pin 1290 engages with the rotational force transmitted portions 1250a1, 1250a2 of the driving side flange 1250 to transmit the rotational force to the driving side flange 1250.
As to the structure for fixing the driving side flange unit U122 to end portion of the photosensitive drum 10, and the structure for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum unit U122 on the second frame unit, the description in the above-described embodiments applies, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.
As described in the foregoing, with such a structure of this embodiment, the axis L122 of the intermediary guiding member 1285 is inclinable in any directions relative to the axis L121 of the driving side flange 1250. The coupling member 1280 is movable along the axis L122 of the intermediary guiding member 1285. Therefore, in the inside of the driving side flange 1250, the coupling member 1280 is inclinable in any direction relative to the axis L121 of the driving side flange 1250 and translatable along the axis L121 of the driving side flange 1250. In other words, the portion-to-be-guided (portion-to-be-supported) 1280c of the coupling member 1280 is held indirectly by a holding portion of the driving side flange 1250. By this, the coupling member 1280 can move to the inside of the driving side flange 1250 with the mounting operation and the dismounting operation of the cartridge. In addition, the engagement and the disengagement relative to the main assembly side engaging portion are smooth, the similar effect as Embodiment 1 can be provided.
In this embodiment, the configurations of the driving side flange 150 of the coupling member 180 of Embodiment 1 are used. However, the structure of this embodiment can be applied, with the similar effects, to the configurations of the coupling member 280 and/or the driving side flange 250 of embodiment 2.
Referring to
This embodiment is different from Embodiment 1 in the structure for the positioning (retention) of the coupling member 1380.
As shown in
In addition, as shown in
Then, the description will be made as to a structure for mounting a part such as the coupling member 1380 to the photosensitive drum unit U131. First, the photosensitive drum unit U131 is mounted to the second frame unit 1319. Then, the urging member 1370 and the coupling member 1380 are incorporated into the driving side flange 1350, in the order named. Finally, the drum bearing 1330 is mounted to a second frame unit.
Then, the description will be made as to the structure guiding the coupling member 1380 inclinably and translatably. As shown in parts (b) and (c) of
Furthermore, the contact portion 1330g has a conical shape having a center axis substantially coaxial with an axis L131 of the driving side flange 1350. Therefore, by the spherical surface of the portion-to-be-contacted 1380e contacting to the conical surface of the contact portion 1350g the center of the sphere of the portion-to-be-guided 1380c is kept substantially on the axis L131.
On the other hand, in the side opposite from the drum bearing 1330, the urging member 1370 is mounted on a mounting portion 1350d of the driving side flange 1350.
With such a structure, the coupling member 1380 is positioned (retained) by the drum bearing 1330. In addition, the coupling member 1380 is guided by and inner wall 1350h of the driving side flange 1350 and the contact portion 1330g of the drum bearing 1330 so as to be movable along the axis L131, and such that an axis L132 of the coupling member 1380 is inclinable relative to the axis L131.
As described in the foregoing, with the structure of this embodiment, it is unnecessary to fix the covering member 160 to the driving side flange 150 by bonding or welding or the like as in Embodiment 1, so that the assembling step can be simplified. In addition, by dismounting the drum bearing 1330, the coupling member 1380 and/or the urging member 1370 can be dismounted from the photosensitive drum unit U131, and therefore, reuse of the such parts are made easier.
In this embodiment, the configuration of the coupling member 180 or the like of Embodiment 1 is used, but the configuration of the coupling member 280 or the like of Embodiment 2 may be used. Then, as shown in
Referring to
This embodiment is different from Embodiment 1 in the configuration of the other main assembly contact portions 1480a2, 1480b2 of the coupling member 1480 and the configuration of the rotational force applying portion of the main assembly side engaging portion 1400.
As shown in the part (c) of
As to the dispositions of the rotational force receiving portions 1480a3, 1480b3 and the other main assembly contact portions 1480a2, 1480b2, they are similar to Embodiment 1, the description in the above-described Embodiment 1 applies, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted. It can be properly selected as to whether the other main assembly contact portions 1480a2, 1480b2 enter the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant, respectively.
Referring to
As shown in parts (a) and (b) of
The first rotational force applying portions 1400a1, 1400a2 and the second rotational force applying portions 1400b1, 1400b2 functions to transmit a rotational force to the coupling member 1480. Here, the first rotational force applying portions 1400a1, 1400a2 are to transmit the rotational force in the direction of an arrow X143 shown in part (b) of
Referring to
As shown in part (b) of
As described in the foregoing, with the structure of this embodiment, the forward rotation and backward rolling can be transmitted.
In this embodiment, the configurations of the coupling member 180 and the main assembly side engaging portion 100 of Embodiment 1 are used, but the coupling member 280 and/or the main assembly side engaging portion 200 of Embodiment 2 may be used. More particularly, as shown in
In the above-described embodiments, the coupling member 180 transmits the rotational force to the photosensitive drum 10 from the main assembly side engaging portion 100. But, this is not inevitable. For example,
As shown in
As shown in
The cartridge B of the above-described embodiments includes the photosensitive drum 10 and the plurality of process means. However, this is not inevitable. As for the types of the cartridge B, the present invention is applicable to a process cartridge or the like including the photosensitive drum 10 and at least one process means. Therefore, in addition to the above-described example of the process cartridges, the present invention is usable with a cartridge integrally including the photosensitive drum 10 and a charging means as the process means. As a further example, the cartridge may integrally include the photosensitive drum 10, charging means and a cleaning means as the process means. As an even further example, the process cartridge may integrally include the photosensitive drum 10, a developing means, the charging means and the cleaning means as the process means.
The cartridges B of the above-described embodiments include photosensitive drums 10. But, this is not inevitable. As shown in
The cartridges B of the above-described embodiments are the ones for forming monochromatic images. But, this is not inevitable. The present invention is conveniently applicable to a cartridge, including a plurality of developing means, for forming different color images (two-color image, three-color image or full-color or the like).
A mounting-and-demounting path the cartridge B relative to the main assembly A of the apparatus may be rectilinear or a combination of lines or may include a curve line or lines.
As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, the process cartridge can be mounted, in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said photosensitive drum, to the main assembly of the apparatus not provided with a mechanism for moving, in the rotational axis direction, the main assembly side engaging portion provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the photosensitive drum, by an opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover of said main assembly of the apparatus.
In addition, according to the present invention, the process cartridge can be mounted, in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said photosensitive drum, to the main assembly of the apparatus not provided with a mechanism for moving, in the rotational axis direction, the main assembly side engaging portion provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the photosensitive drum, by an opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover of said main assembly of the apparatus, and the load required for dismounting the process cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said photosensitive drum can be reduced.
According to the present invention, the process cartridge can be mounted, in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said photosensitive drum, to the main assembly of the apparatus not provided with a mechanism for moving, in the rotational axis direction, the main assembly side engaging portion provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the photosensitive drum, by an opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover of said main assembly of the apparatus, and the load required for dismounting the process cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said photosensitive drum can be reduced, and the apparatus can be downsized.
In addition, according to the present invention, the process cartridge can be mounted, in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said photosensitive drum, to the main assembly of the apparatus not provided with a mechanism for moving, in the rotational axis direction, the main assembly side engaging portion provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the photosensitive drum, by an opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover of said main assembly of the apparatus, and the load required for dismounting the process cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said photosensitive drum can be reduced, and the apparatus can be downsized, and Furthermore, the rotational force can be transmitted with high accuracy.
The present invention can be applied to a process cartridge, a photosensitive drum unit, a developing unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
According to the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge, a photosensitive drum unit or a developing unit which can be dismounted, in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the image bearing member, from the main assembly of the apparatus not provided with a mechanism for moving, in the rotational axis direction, the main assembly side engaging portion provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the image bearing member, by an opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover of the main assembly of the apparatus, without deterioration of the usability performance. In addition, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge, the photosensitive drum unit or the developing unit is detachably mountable.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-285750 | Dec 2009 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2010/073264 | 12/16/2010 | WO | 00 | 6/7/2012 |
