Patent ID: 6934489
Filing Date: 2005-08-23
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing member configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a drum unit supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing unit supporting said developing member; a first portion to be positioned, which is coaxial with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and which projects longitudinally outwardly of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from said drum unit, said first portion to be positioned being positioned by a first main assembly positioning portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the first main assembly positioning portion is provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and wherein said first portion to be positioned supports a rotational drum shaft of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a second portion to be positioned, which is coaxial with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and which projects longitudinally outwardly of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from said drum unit, said second portion to be positioned being positioned by a second main assembly positioning portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the second main assembly positioning portion is provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and wherein said second portion to be positioned rotatably supports the rotational drum shaft; a third portion to be positioned projected in a downstream direction, with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, from said drum unit at a position downstream of said first portion to be positioned with respect to the mounting direction, said third portion to be positioned being positioned by a third main assembly positioning portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the third main assembly positioning portion is provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; a cartridge coupling, provided at one longitudinal end of the rotational drum shaft, configured and positioned to receive a rotational driving force for driving said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and a helical gear partly exposed through said drum unit between said first portion to be positioned and said third portion to be positioned with respect to the mounting direction, wherein said helical gear, when said process cartridge is mounted to mounting means of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, receives a driving force for rotating said developing member from a main assembly driving force transmitting portion provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and wherein said third portion to be positioned, said helical gear, and said first portion to be positioned are positioned in the order named in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the inside to the outside thereof.