Patent ID: 6473580
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: F16D,G03G

Abstract:
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising:(a) mounting means onto which said process cartridge is detachably mountable, said process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means acting on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum support shaft for supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a cartridge coupling member having a hole to which said drum support shaft is inserted and fitted; (b) an apparatus coupling member disposed in a main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said apparatus coupling member to be engaged with and disengaged from said cartridge coupling member; (c) drive means for driving said apparatus coupling member and having a rotary shaft to which said apparatus coupling member is secured; and (d) convey means for conveying the recording medium; wherein said apparatus coupling member includes a cylindrical projection coaxial with a rotation center, a plurality of projections disposed around said cylindrical projection and protruded in a same direction as said cylindrical projection, and a flat surface provided on each of said plurality of projections and inclined in a rotational direction wherein said cylindrical projection and said plurality of projections are integrally constructed; and wherein said cartridge coupling member includes a cylindrical hole to be fitted onto said cylindrical projection, a plurality of holes to be fitted onto said plurality of projections, respectively and disposed around said cylindrical hole, and a flat surface provided in each of said plurality of holes and inclined in the rotational direction, said flat surface of said cartridge coupling member being contacted by said flat surface of each of said plurality of projections.