Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9581958
Timestamp: 2018-02-25 03:43:34
Document Index: 510597003

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 101138907', 'Application No. 200780045749', 'Application No. 07', 'Application No. 14158347', 'Application No. 2011141533', 'Application No. 2011141555', 'Application No. 2011141561', 'Application No. 1', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2007', 'Application No. 2012200185', 'Application No. 2011254086', 'Application No. 201110029120', 'Application No. 201110158524', 'Application No. 201110159403', 'Application No. 201110159417', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 096142484', 'Application No. 104135826', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 200902535', 'Application No. 200902535']

US9581958B2 - Process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents
US9581958B2
US9581958B2 US14832262 US201514832262A US9581958B2 US 9581958 B2 US9581958 B2 US 9581958B2 US 14832262 US14832262 US 14832262 US 201514832262 A US201514832262 A US 201514832262A US 9581958 B2 US9581958 B2 US 9581958B2
US14832262
US20150362891A1 (en )
This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/437,331, filed Apr. 2, 2012, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/012,181, filed Jan. 24, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,335,454, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/869,382, filed Oct. 9, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,899,364.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART Field of the Invention
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising (i) a rotatable first main assembly drive transmission member and a rotatable second main assembly drive transmission member; (ii) a process cartridge mounted detachably to the main assembly of the apparatus of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and (iii) feeding means for feeding the recording material. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum unit, a developing roller, a developing unit, a drum coupling member, and an Oldham coupling. The drum unit comprises the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The developing roller is for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer. The developing unit comprises the developing roller and is movably connected with the drum unit. The developing unit is movable relative to the drum unit between a contact position in which the developing roller is contacted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spaced position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The drum coupling member is provided on one axial end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for engaging with the first main assembly drive transmission member and transmitting a first rotational driving force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus along an axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The Oldham coupling is for transmitting the second rotational driving force to the developing roller with a deviation permitted between an axis of the second main assembly drive transmission member provided on one axial end of the developing roller and an axis of the developing roller, The Oldham coupling includes a driving side engaging portion for engaging with the second main assembly drive transmission member when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, a following side engaging portion fixed to the developing roller, and an intermediary engaging portion which is engaged with the driving side engaging portion and with the following side engaging portion and which is movable with the engagement maintained with the driving side engaging portion and with the following side engaging portion when the developing unit moves between the contact position and the spaced position in a state in which the driving side engaging portion is in engagement with the second main assembly drive transmission member.
Referring to FIG. 11, the releasing method of the space holding member 64 will be described. As shown in FIG. 11(a), the space holding member 64 is provided with a boss 64 a. The boss 64 a is rotatably supported in a groove 31 c formed in the developing device frame 31, and it is confined by a confining portion 48 b of the side cover 48. An engaging portion 64 b of the space holding member 64 is locked with a hole 27 e provided in the cleaning frame 27 again. When the process cartridge 7 is, in this state, moved in the direction of arrow E, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the main assembly releasing member 65 is inserted into the hole 27 e of the cleaning frame 27. The main assembly releasing member 65 contacts the space holding member 64, and the space holding member 64 rotates about the boss 64 a, so that the space holding member 64 is released from the cleaning frame 27.
As shown in FIG. 11(c), the developing device frame 31 becomes movable in the direction of arrow L so that the contact between the unshown photosensitive drum 1 and the unshown developing roller 25 is enabled.
A description will be provided about the operation of the spacing mechanism at the time of mounting again the process cartridge 7 having once been taken out of the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100, to the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100. The space holding member 64 is released from the hole 27 e of the cleaning frame 27 in the process cartridge 7, having been taken out of the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100. For this reason, the developing unit 4 is in the contact position and the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing roller 25 contact each other (FIG. 26(a)). In addition, when the process cartridge 7 is demounted from the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100, the image forming operation of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 has been finished. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to maintain the developing unit 4 in the spaced position, the spacer member 8 is in the position contacted to the spacing force receiving portion 31 b. When the process cartridge 7 is demounted from the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100 with this state of the force applying portion 8, the developing unit 4 is restored to the contact position as shown in FIGS. 26(a) and 27(a). In remounting the taken-out process cartridge 7, it is required to move the developing unit 4 to the spaced position again.
As shown in FIG. 26(a) and FIG. 27(a), before moving the process cartridge 7 into the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100, the developing unit 4 is in the contact position, and therefore, the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing roller 25 contact to each other. As shown in FIG. 26(b), when the process cartridge 7 is mounted to the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100, the guide portion 27 b, integral with the cleaning frame 27, is first mounted to the main assembly guide member 81 provided in the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100. And, the spacing force receiving portion 31 b provided in the developing device frame 31 contacts inclined bevelled portion 84 a of spacing guide portion 84. As shown in FIG. 26(c) and FIG. 27(b), when the process cartridge 7 further enters the main assembly 100A, the developing unit 4 rotates in the direction of arrow J around the axis of the back supporting pin 15. By doing so, the developing unit 4 moves to the spaced position of arrow K, so that the developing roller 25 is spaced from the photosensitive drum 1. As shown in FIG. 10, when the process cartridge 7 has been positioned by the image forming apparatus main assembly 100A, the spacing force receiving portion 31 b is contacted to the spacer member 8 disposed downstream with respect to the mounting direction of the spacing guide portion 84. The developing unit 4 is in the spaced position in that case, and therefore the process cartridge 7 can be mounted to the image forming apparatus main assembly 100A, with the spaced state maintained from the photosensitive drum 1. In this case, a clearance 31 e provided upstream of the force receiving portion 31 b relating to the mounting direction of the process cartridge 7 has a configuration that does not interfere with the mounting guide portion 84. By doing so, the developing unit 4 can move to the contact position, without interfering with the spacing guide portion 84.
Referring to sectional view of FIG. 14, the Oldham coupling 20 will be described in more detail. FIG. 14(a) is the sectional view taken along the surface perpendicular to the direction of arrow H of FIG. 13, and FIG. 14(b) is the sectional view taken along the surface perpendicular to the direction of arrow I in FIG. 13.
The driven side engaging portion 21 is provided integrally with a rib 21 a as shown in FIG. 14(a). A groove 22 a is formed on the intermediary engaging portion 22, and the rib 21 a and the groove 22 a are engaged with each other in FIG. 13 for movement in the direction of arrow H.
The driving side engaging portion 23 is provided integrally with a rib 23 a as shown in FIG. 14(b). A groove 22 b is formed in the intermediary engaging portion 22, and the rib 23 a and the groove 22 b are engaged with each other for the movement in the direction of arrow I in FIG. 13.
As shown in FIG. 17, the developing roller 25 (broken lines) and the photosensitive drum 1 (broken lines) are in the state where they are spaced from each other, in the state where the developing unit 4 is positioned at the spaced position by the space holding member 64 or by the spacing guide portion 84. However, an arm portion 18 a of the urging member 18, which is a torsion coil spring, provided on the side cover 48, contacts a locking portion 19 c (FIG. 17) of the engaging portion bearing member 19. By doing so, the driving side engaging portion 23 is urged in the direction (the direction of arrow Q in FIG. 18) crossing with axial direction of the developing roller 25. The contact portion 19 d of the engaging portion bearing member 19 is contacted to the contact portion 11 c, which is the holding portion provided in the drum-rear bearing 11, so that the position of the engaging portion bearing member 19 is determined. More particularly, the driving side engaging portion 23 is positioned at the predetermined position. Here, the contact portion 11 c of the drum-rear bearing 11 is formed by the two surfaces which are in parallel with the axis of the photosensitive drum 1 and which constitute the shape of a V configuration. The engaging portion bearing member 19 can be retained in parallel with the axis of the photosensitive drum 1 by contacting the engaging portion bearing member 19 to this contact portion 11 c. In addition, the drum-rear bearing 11 is provided integrally with a positioning portion 11 b. For this reason, the driving side engaging portion 23 rotatably supported by the engaging portion bearing member 19 is positioned with high precision relative to the rear side plate 83 of the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100, which positions the positioning portion 11 b. Therefore, it is positioned with high precision also relative to the axis 53 d of the main assembly development coupling 53 provided in the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100. The driving side engaging portion 23 of the Oldham coupling 20 is rotatably engaged with the engaging portion bearing member 19. For this reason, in this state, the axis 23 c 5 of the driving side engaging portion 23 of the Oldham coupling 20 is shifted (deviated) from the axis 25 k of the developing roller 25. And, the axis 23 c 5 of the driving side engaging portion 23 is nearer than the axis 25 k of the developing roller 25 to the axis 53 d of the main assembly development coupling 53 of the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100. In other words, the position n by which the driving side engaging portion 23 is positioned is such a position that when the process cartridge 7 enters into the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100, it engages smoothly with the main assembly development coupling 53. Although the means for urging the engaging portion bearing member 19 in this example is the urging member 18, the engaging portion bearing member 19 may be provided integrally with the elastic portion which is elastically deformable, so that the engaging portion bearing member 19 is contacted to the contact portion 11 c.
Referring to FIG. 18, a still more detailed description will be provided. When the main assembly development coupling 53 engages and rotates in the driving side engaging portion 23, the driving side engaging portion 23 is correctly positioned by the main assembly development coupling 53 as will be described hereinafter. By doing so, the contact portion 19 b of the engaging portion bearing member 19 is spaced from the drum-rear bearing 11 and its contact portion 11 c. For this reason, when the process cartridge 7 enters the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100, the axis 23 c 5 of the driving side engaging portion 23 begins the engagement in the state where it is shifted from axis 53 d of the main assembly development coupling 53 by the distance d3 toward the photosensitive drum 1 side. By the process cartridge 7 further entering from this state, the bevelled portion 23 c 6 (FIG. 15) provided in the centering boss 23 c 4 and 53 f (FIG. 16) of bevelled portions provided in the hole 53 e contact each other, so that they engage, correcting the deviation between axes.
In the first embodiment, the engaging portion bearing member 19 is urged to the drum-rear bearing 10 which supports the photosensitive drum 1, by the urging spring 18. In this embodiment, the drum-rear bearing 11 is provided with a hole 11 f which is the holding portion for retaining the driving side engaging portion 23, as shown in FIG. 30(a). An inner diameter of the hole 11 f is large as compared with the outer diameter of the driving side engaging portion 23. More particularly, the driving side engaging portion 23 is retained for movement in the direction crossing the axis of the developing roller 25 to the hole 11 f. In Embodiment 1, the driving side engaging portion 23 is positioned with a gap relative to the axis of 53 d of the main assembly development coupling 53 with respect to the positioning direction to the drum-rear bearing 11, through the engaging portion bearing member 19, as shown in FIG. 18. In this embodiment, the structure is such that the axis 23 c 5 of the driving side engaging portion 23 may deviate in the direction crossing the axis of the developing roller 25 to whichever side. Even if the developing unit 4 moves to the spaced position from the contact position, the driving side engaging portion 23 is retained in the hole 11 f. Therefore, also when the process cartridge 7 enters the main assembly 100A of the apparatus 100 with the state of being positioned at the spaced position, the driving side engaging portion 23 is smoothly engaged with the main assembly development coupling 53. FIG. 30(b) illustrates the state where the driving side engaging portion 23 is positioned by the main assembly development coupling (unshown). In more detail, the driving side engaging portion 23 is positioned by the main assembly development coupling (unshown), so that it does not contact the hole 11 f.
As shown in FIG. 31, a hole 27 f for retaining the driving side engaging portion 23 may be provided in the cleaning frame 27.
(ii) a first frame configured and positioned to rotatably support said photosensitive drum;
(iii) a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;
(iv) a second frame configured and positioned (a) to rotatably support said developing roller, and (b) to be connected to said first frame so as to be movable relative to said first frame;
(v) a coupling member provided adjacent to an end of said second frame in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of said developing roller, said coupling member including:
(v-i) a driving force receiving portion configured and positioned (a) to receive a driving force for rotating said developing roller, and (b) to be movable relative to said second frame in a crossing direction crossing a rotational axis of said driving force receiving portion, and
(vi) an urging portion configured and positioned to urge said driving force receiving portion in the crossing direction.
2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an urging member that includes said urging portion,
wherein said urging member includes an elastic member.
3. A process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein said elastic member is a spring.
4. A cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a holding portion configured and positioned (a) to rotatably hold said driving force receiving portion, and (b) to be movable together with said driving force receiving portion relative to said developing roller in the crossing direction.
5. A cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said urging portion is configured and positioned to urge said driving force receiving portion via said holding portion.
6. A cartridge according to claim 5, further comprising a stopping portion configured and positioned to stop said holding portion that is urged by said urging portion.
7. A cartridge according to claim 6, further comprising a drum supporting portion configured and positioned to rotatably support said photosensitive drum,
wherein said stopping portion is provided on said drum supporting portion.
8. A cartridge according to claim 6, further comprising a guiding portion configured and positioned to guide a movement of said holding portion in the crossing direction.
9. A cartridge according to claim 5, further comprising a guiding portion configured and positioned to guide a movement of said holding portion in the crossing direction.
10. A cartridge according to claim 4, further comprising a stopping portion configured and positioned to stop said holding portion that is urged by said urging portion.
11. A cartridge according to claim 10, further comprising a drum supporting portion configured and positioned to rotatably support said photosensitive drum,
12. A cartridge according to claim 10, further comprising a guiding portion configured and positioned to guide a movement of said holding portion in the crossing direction.
13. A cartridge according to claim 4, further comprising a guiding portion configured and positioned to guide a movement of said holding portion in the crossing direction.
14. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said second frame is movable, relative to said first frame, between a contact position in which said developing roller contacts said photosensitive drum, and a spaced position in which said developing roller is spaced from said photosensitive drum.
15. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein, when said second frame takes the spaced position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion is not aligned with the axis of said developing roller.
16. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein, when said second frame takes the contact position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion and the axis of said developing roller are substantially aligned with each other.
17. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said second frame is rotatable, relative to said first frame, between a contact position in which said developing roller contacts said photosensitive drum, and a spaced position in which said developing roller is spaced from said photosensitive drum.
18. A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein, when said second frame takes the spaced position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion is not aligned with the axis of said developing roller.
19. A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein, when said second frame takes the contact position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion and the axis of said developing roller are substantially aligned with each other.
20. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member is an Oldham coupling.
21. A cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a drum coupling member, provided adjacent to an axial end of said photosensitive drum, to receive a driving force for rotating said photosensitive drum.
22. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive drum is unified together, into said first frame, with (a) a charging member configured and positioned to electrically charge said photosensitive drum, and (b) a cleaning member configured and positioned to clean said photosensitive drum,
wherein said developing roller is unified together, into said second frame, with a developer container configured and positioned to contain developer, and
wherein said first frame and said second frame are connected so as to be rotatable relative to each other.
23. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said first frame and said second frame are connected by a shaft.
24. A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a supplying roller configured and positioned to supply said developing roller with developer and to be rotatably supported by said second frame.
(v-i) a driving force receiving portion including a plurality of projections, the driving force receiving portion being configured and positioned (a) to receive a driving force for rotating said developing roller, and (b) to be movable relative to said second frame in a crossing direction crossing a rotational axis of said driving force receiving portion, and
(vi) a spring configured and positioned to urge said driving force receiving portion in the crossing direction.
26. A cartridge according to claim 25, further comprising a coupling bearing configured and positioned (a) to rotatably bear said driving force receiving portion, and (b) to be movable together with said driving force receiving portion relative to said developing roller in the crossing direction.
27. A cartridge according to claim 26, further comprising a stopper configured and positioned to stop said coupling bearing that is urged by said spring.
28. A cartridge according to claim 27, further comprising a drum bearing configured and positioned to rotatably bear said photosensitive drum,
wherein said stopper is provided on said drum bearing.
29. A cartridge according to claim 28, further comprising a guide configured and positioned to guide a movement of said coupling bearing in the crossing direction.
30. A cartridge according to claim 27, further comprising a guide configured and positioned to guide a movement of said coupling bearing in the crossing direction.
31. A cartridge according to claim 25, further comprising a coupling bearing configured and positioned (a) to rotatably bear said driving force receiving portion, and (b) to be movable together with said driving force receiving portion relative to said developing roller in the crossing direction,
wherein said spring is configured and positioned to urge said driving force receiving portion via said coupling bearing.
32. A cartridge according to claim 31, further comprising a stopper configured and positioned to stop said coupling bearing that is urged by said spring.
33. A cartridge according to claim 32, further comprising a drum bearing configured and positioned to rotatably bear said photosensitive drum,
34. A cartridge according to claim 33, further comprising a guide configured and positioned to guide a movement of said coupling bearing in the crossing direction.
35. A cartridge according to claim 32, further comprising a guide configured and positioned to guide a movement of said coupling bearing in the crossing direction.
36. A cartridge according to claim 25, wherein said second frame is movable, relative to said first frame, between a contact position in which said developing roller contacts said photosensitive drum, and a spaced position in which said developing roller is spaced from said photosensitive drum.
37. A cartridge according to claim 36, wherein, when said second frame takes the spaced position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion is not aligned with the axis of said developing roller.
38. A cartridge according to claim 36, wherein, when said second frame takes the contact position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion and the axis of said developing roller are substantially aligned with each other.
39. A cartridge according to claim 25, wherein said second frame is rotatable, relative to said first frame, between a contact position in which said developing roller contacts said photosensitive drum, and a spaced position in which said developing roller is spaced from said photosensitive drum.
40. A cartridge according to claim 39, wherein, when said second frame takes the spaced position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion is not aligned with the axis of said developing roller.
41. A cartridge according to claim 39, wherein, when said second frame takes the contact position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion and the axis of said developing roller are substantially aligned with each other.
42. A cartridge according to claim 25, wherein said coupling member is an Oldham coupling.
43. A cartridge according to claim 25, further comprising a drum coupling member, provided adjacent to an axial end of said photosensitive drum, to receive a driving force for rotating said photosensitive drum.
44. A cartridge according to claim 25, wherein said photosensitive drum is unified together, into said first frame, with (a) a charging member configured and positioned to electrically charge said photosensitive drum, and (b) a cleaning member configured and positioned to clean said photosensitive drum,
45. A cartridge according to claim 25, wherein said first frame and said second frame are connected by a shaft.
46. A process cartridge according to claim 25, further comprising a supplying roller configured and positioned to supply said developing roller with developer and to be rotatably supported by said second frame.
(iv) a second frame configured and positioned (a) to rotatably support said developing roller, and (b) to be connected to said first frame so as to be movable relative to said first frame; and
(v-i) a driving force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating said developing roller, and
(v-ii) a driving force transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the driving force from the driving force receiving portion toward said developing roller, wherein said driving force receiving portion is movable relative to said driving force transmitting portion; and
(vi) an urging portion configured and positioned to urge said driving force receiving portion to move said driving force receiving portion relative to said driving force transmitting portion.
48. A process cartridge according to claim 47, further comprising an urging member that includes said urging portion, wherein said urging member includes an elastic member.
49. A process cartridge according to claim 48, wherein said elastic member is a spring.
50. A process cartridge according to claim 47, wherein said driving force receiving portion is movable in a crossing direction crossing a rotational axis of said driving force transmitting portion.
51. A process cartridge according to claim 50, wherein said urging portion is configured and positioned to urge said driving force receiving portion in the crossing direction.
52. A cartridge according to claim 51, further comprising a holding portion configured and positioned (a) to rotatably hold said driving force receiving portion, and (b) to be movable together with said driving force receiving portion relative to said driving force transmitting portion in the crossing direction,
wherein said urging portion is configured and positioned to urge said driving force receiving portion via said holding portion.
53. A cartridge according to claim 52, further comprising a stopping portion configured and positioned to stop said holding portion that is urged by said urging portion.
54. A cartridge according to claim 53, further comprising a drum supporting portion configured and positioned to rotatably support said photosensitive drum,
55. A cartridge according to claim 53, further comprising a guiding portion configured and positioned to guide a movement of said holding portion in the crossing direction.
56. A cartridge according to claim 52, further comprising a guiding portion configured and positioned to guide a movement of said holding portion in the crossing direction.
57. A cartridge according to claim 50, further comprising a holding portion configured and positioned (a) to rotatably hold said driving force receiving portion, and (b) to be movable together with said driving force receiving portion relative to said driving force transmitting portion in the crossing direction.
58. A cartridge according to claim 57, further comprising a stopping portion configured and positioned to stop said holding portion that is urged by said urging portion.
59. A cartridge according to claim 58, further comprising a drum supporting portion configured and positioned to rotatably support said photosensitive drum,
60. A cartridge according to claim 58, further comprising a guiding portion configured and positioned to guide a movement of said holding portion in the crossing direction.
61. A cartridge according to claim 57, further comprising a guiding portion configured and positioned to guide a movement of said holding portion in the crossing direction.
62. A cartridge according to claim 47, wherein said second frame is movable, relative to said first frame, between a contact position in which said developing roller contacts said photosensitive drum, and a spaced position in which said developing roller is spaced from said photosensitive drum.
63. A cartridge according to claim 62, wherein, when said second frame takes the spaced position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion is not aligned with an axis of said driving force transmitting portion.
64. A cartridge according to claim 62, wherein, when said second frame takes the contact position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion and an axis of said driving force transmitting portion are substantially aligned with each other.
65. A cartridge according to claim 47, wherein said second frame is rotatable, relative to said first frame, between a contact position in which said developing roller contacts said photosensitive drum, and a spaced position in which said developing roller is spaced from said photosensitive drum.
66. A cartridge according to claim 65, wherein, when said second frame takes the spaced position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion is not aligned with an axis of said driving force transmitting portion.
67. A cartridge according to claim 65, wherein, when said second frame takes the contact position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion and an axis of said driving force transmitting portion are substantially aligned with each other.
68. A cartridge according to claim 47, wherein said coupling member is an Oldham coupling.
69. A cartridge according to claim 47, further comprising a drum coupling member, provided adjacent to an axial end of said photosensitive drum, to receive a driving force for rotating said photosensitive drum.
70. A cartridge according to claim 47, wherein said photosensitive drum is unified together, into said first frame, with (a) a charging member configured and positioned to electrically charge said photosensitive drum, and (b) a cleaning member configured and positioned to clean said photosensitive drum,
71. A cartridge according to claim 47, wherein said first frame and said second frame are connected by a shaft.
72. A process cartridge according to claim 47, further comprising a supplying roller configured and positioned to supply said developing roller with developer and to be rotatably supported by said second frame.
73. A process cartridge comprising:
(v-i) a driving force receiving portion including a plurality of projections, said driving force receiving portion being configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating said developing roller, and
(v-ii) a driving force transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit said driving force from the driving force receiving portion toward said developing roller, wherein said driving force receiving portion is movable relative to said driving force transmitting portion; and
(vi) a spring configured and positioned to urge said driving force receiving portion to move said driving force receiving portion relative to said driving force transmitting portion.
74. A process cartridge according to claim 73, wherein said driving force receiving portion is movable in a crossing direction crossing a rotational axis of said driving force transmitting portion.
75. A process cartridge according to claim 74, wherein said spring configured and positioned to urge said driving force receiving portion in the crossing direction.
76. A cartridge according to claim 75, further comprising a coupling bearing configured and positioned (a) to rotatably bear said driving force receiving portion, and (b) to be movable together with said driving force receiving portion relative to said driving force transmitting portion in the crossing direction,
77. A cartridge according to claim 76, further comprising a stopper configured and positioned to stop said coupling bearing that is urged by said spring.
78. A cartridge according to claim 77, further comprising a drum bearing configured and positioned to rotatably bear said photosensitive drum,
79. A cartridge according to claim 78, further comprising a guide configured and positioned to guide a movement of said coupling bearing in the crossing direction.
80. A cartridge according to claim 77, further comprising a guide configured and positioned to guide a movement of said coupling bearing in the crossing direction.
81. A cartridge according to claim 74, further comprising a coupling bearing configured and positioned (a) to rotatably bear said driving force receiving portion, and (b) to be movable together with said driving force receiving portion relative to said driving force transmitting portion in the crossing direction.
82. A cartridge according to claim 81, further comprising a stopper configured and positioned to stop said coupling bearing that is urged by said spring.
83. A cartridge according to claim 82, further comprising a drum bearing configured and positioned to rotatably bear said photosensitive drum,
84. A cartridge according to claim 83, further comprising a guide configured and positioned to guide a movement of said coupling bearing in the crossing direction.
85. A cartridge according to claim 82, further comprising a guide configured and positioned to guide a movement of said coupling bearing in the crossing direction.
86. A cartridge according to claim 73, wherein said second frame is movable, relative to said first frame, between a contact position in which said developing roller contacts said photosensitive drum, and a spaced position in which said developing roller is spaced from said photosensitive drum.
87. A cartridge according to claim 86, wherein, when said second frame takes the spaced position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion is not aligned with an axis of said driving force transmitting portion.
88. A cartridge according to claim 86, wherein, when said second frame takes the contact position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion and an axis of said developing roller are substantially aligned with each other.
89. A cartridge according to claim 73, wherein said second frame is rotatable, relative to said first frame, between a contact position in which said developing roller contacts said photosensitive drum, and a spaced position in which said developing roller is spaced from said photosensitive drum.
90. A cartridge according to claim 89, wherein, when said second frame takes the spaced position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion is not aligned with an axis of said driving force transmitting portion.
91. A cartridge according to claim 89, wherein, when said second frame takes the contact position, an axis of said driving force receiving portion and an axis of said driving force transmitting portion are substantially aligned with each other.
92. A cartridge according to claim 73, wherein said coupling member is an Oldham coupling.
93. A cartridge according to claim 73, further comprising a drum coupling member, provided adjacent to one axial end of said photosensitive drum, to receive a driving force for rotating said photosensitive drum.
94. A cartridge according to claim 73, wherein said photosensitive drum is unified together, into said first frame, with (a) a charging member configured and positioned to electrically charge said photosensitive drum, and (b) a cleaning member configured and positioned to clean said photosensitive drum,
wherein said developing roller is unified together, into said second frame, with a developer container configured and positioned to contain the developer, and
95. A cartridge according to claim 73, wherein said first frame and said second frame are connected by a shaft.
96. A process cartridge according to claim 73, further comprising a supplying roller configured and positioned to supply said developing roller with the developer and to be rotatably supported by said second frame.
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JP2006-332837 2006-12-11
JP2006332837 2006-12-11
JP2007259660A JP4464435B2 (en) 2006-12-11 2007-10-03 A process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus
JP2007-259660 2007-10-03
US11869382 US7899364B2 (en) 2006-12-11 2007-10-09 Process cartridge having couplers transmitting driving forces from an image forming apparatus to electrophotographic photosensitive drum and developing roller and such an apparatus
US13012181 US8335454B2 (en) 2006-12-11 2011-01-24 Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
US13437331 US9134688B2 (en) 2006-12-11 2012-04-02 Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
US14832262 US9581958B2 (en) 2006-12-11 2015-08-21 Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
US15364474 US20170075299A1 (en) 2006-12-11 2016-11-30 Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
US13437331 Division US9134688B2 (en) 2006-12-11 2012-04-02 Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
US15364474 Division US20170075299A1 (en) 2006-12-11 2016-11-30 Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
US20150362891A1 true US20150362891A1 (en) 2015-12-17
US9581958B2 true US9581958B2 (en) 2017-02-28
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US11869382 Active 2028-06-06 US7899364B2 (en) 2006-12-11 2007-10-09 Process cartridge having couplers transmitting driving forces from an image forming apparatus to electrophotographic photosensitive drum and developing roller and such an apparatus
US13012181 Active US8335454B2 (en) 2006-12-11 2011-01-24 Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
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US15364474 Pending US20170075299A1 (en) 2006-12-11 2016-11-30 Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
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WO (1) WO2008072431A3 (en)
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