Patent ID: 6636712
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A process unit comprising:a photosensitive drum section which includes a photosensitive drum having a rotation center axis and an outer peripheral surface, and a photosensitive drum frame supporting the rotation center axis of the photosensitive drum in a rotatable manner; a developing device section which includes a developing roller having a rotation center axis and an outer peripheral surface, and a developing roller frame supporting the rotation center axis of the developing roller in a rotatable manner, said roller frame and said drum frame being coupled so that a mutual distance between the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller and the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum is set in an adjustable manner and so that the rotation center axis of the developing roller is parallel to the rotation center axis of the photosensitive drum and is directed in a same direction with respect to the rotation center axis of the photosensitive drum in a state where the developing roller is located adjacent to the photosensitive drum; and an inter-axis distance regulation mechanism which is provided on one of the drum frame and the roller frame in a movable manner in multiple stages, and which is in contact with the other of the drum frame and the roller frame, said inter-axis distance regulation mechanism adjusting the mutual distance between the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller and the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum in multiple stages by movement of the regulation mechanism in the multiple stages relative to the one of the drum frame and the roller frame on which the regulation mechanism is provided.