Patent ID: 6163666
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A process cartridge, comprising:a photoconductor unit in which a photoconductor drum is rotatably mounted;a developing unit connected to the photoconductor unit, in which a developing roller is rotatably mounted and configured to supply toner to the photoconductor drum;a first pair of side plates, formed on the photoconductor unit and configured to rotatably support end portions of the photoconductor drum;a second pair of side plates, formed on the developing unit and configured to rotatably support end portions of the developing roller;a first pair of pin inserting holes, formed on the first pair of side plates of the photoconductor unit;a second pair of pin inserting holes, formed on the second pair of side plates of the developing unit, said holes in the second pair of side plates overlapping with the holes in the first pair of side plates with their respective centers aligned when the photoconductor unit and the developing unit are connected together;a pair of fitting holes, formed on one of the first and second pairs of side plates such that said one of the pairs of side plates have tapered parts;a pair of fitting projections, formed on the other of the first and second pairs of side plates, said projections fitting elastically into the fitting holes such that the tapered parts guide the pair of fitting projections into the pair of fitting holes when the photoconductor unit and the developing unit are connected together; anda pair of connecting pins, fitted into the first and second pairs of pin inserting holes and configured to connect the photoconductor unit and the developing unit together such that the first and second pairs of side plates are in surface contact with each other.