Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a use of a process cartridge of a generic type as defined in the respective generic part of claim <NUM> attached and of claim <NUM> attached, to a method for mounting a process cartridge into an image formation apparatus as defined in the generic part of claim <NUM> attached, and to a method for dismounting a process cartridge into an image formation apparatus as defined in the generic part of claim <NUM> attached. Document <CIT> discloses an image forming apparatus and a use of a process cartridge of the generic type as defined above, as well as methods of the generic types as defined above. The image formation apparatus may be any one of a laser image formation apparatus, a LED image formation apparatus, a copying machine, and a fax machine.

The process cartridge may be detachably mounted in the image formation apparatus. A plurality of rotating components may be disposed in parallel along a length direction of the process cartridge. The rotating component may include a photosensitive component having a photosensitive layer for receiving irradiation of laser beam in the image formation apparatus to form an electrostatic latent image. The rotating component may also include a charging component for charging a surface of the photosensitive component to form uniform charge on the surface of the photosensitive component. In addition, the rotating component may include a developing component for transferring developer in the process cartridge to the electrostatic latent image region of the photosensitive component to form a visible developer image. Further, the rotating component may include components, e.g., a wheel hub or a gear, etc., for transmitting power in the process cartridge. Each component in the above-described rotating component may have to produce relative rotation when the process cartridge operates, which may desire to acquire a rotating driving force from the image formation apparatus.

In the prior art, a power receiving unit is often disposed at an axial end of the process cartridge to engage with a power output unit in the image formation apparatus to receive power. The power receiving unit in the process cartridge is set to be directly connected to a rotating component inside the process cartridge, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to any other rotating component through the rotating component. Alternatively, the rotational driving force is transmitted to a gear on a longitudinal end of the process cartridge through the power receiving unit, and then transmitted to any other rotating component inside the process cartridge through the gear.

<FIG> illustrate schematic diagrams of a process cartridge for receiving a driving force from an image formation apparatus. Referring to <FIG>, the process cartridge <NUM> includes a rotating component <NUM> (e.g., a photosensitive component, a developing component, a powder feeding component, etc.). Two ends of the rotating component <NUM> are rotatably supported on a frame <NUM> of the process cartridge <NUM>. A power receiving unit <NUM> is disposed on an end of the rotating component <NUM>. The image formation apparatus is provided with a swingable power output unit <NUM>. After the process cartridge <NUM> is mounted into the image formation apparatus along a Z1 direction (an axial direction of the rotating component <NUM> or a length direction of the process cartridge <NUM>), the power receiving unit <NUM> in the process cartridge <NUM> is engaged with a power output unit <NUM> in the image formation apparatus to receive the driving force, thereby driving the rotating component <NUM> to rotate.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of the power receiving unit in the process cartridge and the power output unit in the image formation apparatus in an engaged state when transmitting the power. The power output unit <NUM> often has an overall cylindrical shape, and three radially concave recessed portions 101a are disposed on an outer circumference 101f thereof. The power receiving unit <NUM> in the process cartridge <NUM> has a hollow cylinder structure, and three claws <NUM> are disposed inside the hollow cylinder structure. A claws <NUM> is connected to the cylindrical inner wall of the hollow cylinder structure through an elastic arm <NUM>. The claws <NUM> are inserted into the recessed portions 101a, respectively, to realize the engaged power transmission between the power receiving unit <NUM> in the process cartridge <NUM> and the power output unit <NUM> in the image formation apparatus.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of the power receiving unit in the process cartridge and the power output unit in the image formation apparatus in a state when not transmitting the power. Referring to <FIG>, when the process cartridge <NUM> is attached to or taken out from the image formation apparatus, the outer circumferential wall of the power output unit <NUM> pushes the claw <NUM> outward to prepare for the claw <NUM> entering the recessed portion 101a, or to take out the claw <NUM> from the recessed portion 101a. During such process, the elastic arm <NUM> provides elastic deformation force for the claw <NUM>. With such a structure, the elastic arm <NUM> is easily broken during the repeated disassembly and assembly of the process cartridge <NUM>. Once the elastic arm <NUM> is broken, the image formation apparatus cannot transmit power to the process cartridge <NUM>. The disclosed process cartridge, assembly and disassembly methods thereof are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems in the art.

According to the technical problem to be solved above, the technical solutions provided by the present invention are defined in independent claims <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> attached, respectively. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims attached.

To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings will be briefly described below. The drawings in the following description are certain embodiments of the present invention.

The present disclosure provides a power receiving unit disposed on a process cartridge for receiving a driving force from an image formation apparatus and transmitting the driving force to a rotating component in the process cartridge. The disclosed power receiving unit may be quickly, reliably, and stably engaged to a power output unit in the image formation apparatus to receive the driving force.

In one embodiment, an axial (a length) direction of the process cartridge is substantially coaxial or parallel to a rotary shaft of a developing component. A mounting direction for mounting the process cartridge into an electronic imaging apparatus is the same as the axial (length) direction of the process cartridge or an axial direction of the rotary shaft of the developing component. A direction for disassembling (detaching) the process cartridge from the electronic imaging apparatus is opposite to the mounting direction of the process cartridge.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the power receiving unit of the process cartridge consistent with disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure; and <FIG> illustrates an exploded perspective view of the power receiving unit. Referring to <FIG>, the power receiving unit may include a wheel hub <NUM>, a power receiving part <NUM> and a bias part <NUM>. The wheel hub <NUM> is fixed to an end of a rotating component in the process cartridge to transmit a driving force to the rotating component. The power receiving part <NUM> is mounted inside the wheel hub <NUM>, and a fixing protrusion <NUM>, which is engaged with a recessed portion of the power output unit in the image formation apparatus, is disposed on the inner wall of the power receiving part <NUM>. The power receiving part <NUM> may further include a notch <NUM>, and the notch <NUM> is disposed opposite to the fixing protrusion <NUM>. The notch <NUM> may provide a certain swinging space for a power output unit <NUM>. The bias part <NUM> is disposed on a side where the notch <NUM> is located, and may provide a bias force toward the fixing protrusion <NUM> for the power output unit in the image formation apparatus.

In one embodiment, a quantity of the fixing protrusions <NUM> is one or two. For illustrative purposes, two fixing protrusions are used as an example in the disclosed embodiments. The bias part <NUM> is a component having an elastic function, e.g., a tension spring, a rubber band, a torsion spring, or a leaf spring, etc. Alternatively, the bias part is a pair of magnets, etc. For illustrative purposes, a torsion spring is used as an example in the disclosed embodiments.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic diagram for assembling a power receiving part and a bias part consistent with disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, a mounting portion <NUM> for mounting the bias part <NUM> and an abutting portion <NUM> abutted against a short side <NUM> of the bias part <NUM> is disposed on an end of the notch <NUM>. A slit <NUM> for providing a movable space for a long side <NUM> of the bias part <NUM> is disposed on another end of the notch <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of the power receiving unit in the process cartridge and the power output unit in the image formation apparatus in an engaged state when not transmitting the driving force consistent with disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of the power receiving unit in the process cartridge and the power output unit in the image formation apparatus in an engaged state when transmitting the driving force consistent with disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when mounting the process cartridge into the image formation apparatus, the power output unit <NUM> is inserted into the power receiving part <NUM>. The positions of the fixing protrusion <NUM> and a recessed portion 101a may be arbitrary, for illustrative purposes, the relative positions of the fixing protrusion <NUM> and the recessed portion 101a are shifted as an example.

In a process of inserting the power output unit <NUM> into the power receiving part <NUM> and after the insertion is completed, the power output unit <NUM> and the power receiving part <NUM> may be in a state illustrated in <FIG>. In view of this, the power output unit <NUM> is topped by the fixing protrusion <NUM> toward the bias part <NUM>, and the long side <NUM> of the bias part <NUM> may apply a force toward the fixing protrusion <NUM> side on the power output unit <NUM>. When the power output unit <NUM> is rotated along a 'A' direction until the fixing protrusion <NUM> reaches a position coincided with the recessed portion 101a, the fixing protrusion <NUM> is caught in the recessed portion 101a under the restoring force of the bias part <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG>), and the power receiving unit in the process cartridge may rotate along the 'A' direction together with the power output unit <NUM> in the image formation apparatus. When the power receiving unit is detached from the power output unit <NUM>, because the power output unit <NUM> in the image formation apparatus can swing and the bias part <NUM> is disposed, the fixing protrusion <NUM> is axially detached from the recessed portion 101a to disengage.

Guide bevels (an inclined surface or a curved surface) may be disposed on the front and rear (axial direction) ends of the fixing protrusion <NUM>, such that the fixing protrusion <NUM> may be smoothly inserted into or detached from the recessed portion 101a.

The difference between the present embodiment and the above-described embodiment may include that the bias part in the present embodiment is disposed on the inner wall of the wheel hub.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of a power receiving unit in the process cartridge and a power output unit in the image formation apparatus in an engaged state when transmitting the driving force consistent with disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure. The bias part 30a is disposed on the inner wall of the wheel hub <NUM>. In one embodiment, the bias part 30a is an elastic structure integrally formed with the wheel hub <NUM>. In another embodiment, the bias part 30a is a separately installed elastic part. The bias part 30a is disposed on a side opposite to the fixing protrusion <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiments, the bias part may be a component having an elastic function, e.g., a tension spring, a rubber band, a torsion spring, or a leaf spring, etc. Alternatively, the bias part may be a pair of magnets, etc. The wheel hub <NUM> may be integrally formed with the power receiving part <NUM>. A holder <NUM> of the wheel hub <NUM> may be fixedly connected to a rotating component, e.g., a photosensitive component (photosensitive drum), in the process cartridge. The power receiving unit may be fixed to the frame of the process cartridge by a supporting component.

<FIG> illustrates schematic diagrams of the power receiving unit in the process cartridge. The parts that are not described in detail in the Embodiment <NUM> may refer to the descriptions associated with structures, functions, and operations of the same or similar parts in the above-described embodiments, which are not repeated herein.

Referring to <FIG>, the power receiving unit a100 is disposed on one end of the process cartridge aC in the axial (length) direction. The power receiving unit a100 is mounted into the image formation apparatus along a direction Z1 to engage with the power output unit <NUM> to receive the rotational driving force and transmit the rotational driving force to the rotating component in the process cartridge aC to make it rotated.

Referring to <FIG>, the power receiving unit a100 may include a wheel hub a120, a power receiving part a110, and a bias part a130. The wheel hub a120 is directly or indirectly connected to the rotating component in the process cartridge aC to transmit a driving force to the rotating component. The wheel hub a120 may have a hollow cylindrical structure, and may include an inner hole a115. The power receiving part a110 is disposed inside the wheel hub a120. A trapezoidal shaped fixing protrusion a111 is disposed on the inner wall of the power receiving part a110. The fixing protrusion a111 is disposed around the rotary shaft of the power receiving part a110. A quantity of the fixing protrusions a111 may be one or two.

As viewed from the axial direction of the power receiving unit a100, referring to <FIG>, a guide bevel a111a is formed on the outward end (front end) of the fixing protrusion a111, and another guide bevel a111b is formed on the inward end (rear end) thereof. As viewed from the end direction of the power receiving unit a100, referring to <FIG>, a substantially upright engagement side a111c is formed on a side of the fixing protrusion a111, and a guide bevel a111d is formed on another side of the fixing protrusion a111. A notch a112 is formed inside the power receiving part a110 and opposite to the fixing protrusion a111. A minimum distance of the notch a112 is W3. The bias part a130 is disposed on the wheel hub a120, and is inserted into the contour of the wheel hub a120 through an intermediate "U"-shaped structure. One side (short side) a131 of the bias part a130 is fixed to the protrusion of the outer surface of the wheel hub a120, and another side (long side) a132 of the bias part a130 is disposed on the inside the wheel hub a120. The side (long side) a132 of the bias part a130 is extended into the notch a112 of the power receiving part a110. As viewed from the end direction of the power receiving unit a100, the side (long side) a132 is disposed opposite to the fixing protrusion a111, and a portion (the side (long side) a132) of the bias part a130 is overlapped with the notch a112.

Referring to <FIG>, the power output unit <NUM> in the image formation apparatus is coupled to one side of a gear base <NUM>, and a mounting post <NUM> is disposed on the other side of the gear base <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the mounting post <NUM> of the gear base <NUM> is rotatably coupled to a holder P11 disposed on an outer frame of the image formation apparatus. The middle part(cylindrical) of the gear base <NUM> may pass through an inner frame P12 of the image formation apparatus. A reset elastic part <NUM> is disposed inside the gear base <NUM>. The reset elastic part <NUM> may enable the power output unit <NUM> and the gear base <NUM> to be integrally expanded and contracted along the axial direction thereof with respect to the inner frame P12. At the same time, because the aperture W2 of the inner frame P12 is larger than the middle part W1 of the gear base <NUM>, the power output unit <NUM> may have a certain radial movement space for substantially swinging in the image formation apparatus. The power output unit <NUM> is tilted with respect to the inner frame P12 when being subjected to an external force. When the external force is removed, the reset elastic part <NUM> may enable the power output unit <NUM> to be restored from the tilted state to the initial state.

Referring to <FIG>, the power output unit <NUM> may often have an overall cylindrical shape, and three radially concave recessed portions 101a is disposed on the outer circumference of the power output unit <NUM>. An arc-shaped protrusion portion 101b is disposed on the front end of the power output unit <NUM>. A guide bevel 101c is formed on one end of the recessed portion 101a close to the protrusion portion 101b. A diameter of the front end of the power output unit <NUM> is W4.

<FIG> illustrate schematic diagrams of a contact engagement between the power receiving unit a100 in the process cartridge and the power output unit <NUM> in the image formation apparatus. When the power receiving unit a100 is mounted into the image formation apparatus along the direction Z1 (axial direction) and is in contact engagement with the power output unit <NUM>, the protrusion portion 101b on the front end of the power output unit <NUM> may first abut against the guide bevel a111a of the fixing protrusion a111. The power output unit <NUM> may swing to a certain extent, and the minimum distance W3 of the notch a112 is greater than or equal to the diameter W4 of the power output unit <NUM>. With the continuation of the mounting movement of the process cartridge C, the guide bevel a111a of the fixing protrusion a111 may push the protrusion portion 101b of the power output unit <NUM> to cause the power output unit <NUM> to be tilted by the external force and to be moved toward the notch a112. In view of this, a rotation axis of the power output unit <NUM> is inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the power receiving unit a100 (there is an inclination angle R1).

In the above-described mounting process, the guide bevel a111a of the fixing protrusion a111 may cause the power output unit <NUM> to be tilted, thereby avoiding structural interference between the power output unit <NUM> and the fixing protrusion a111. Referring to <FIG>, after mounting the power receiving unit a100, even if the fixing protrusion a111 and the recessed portion 101a have a staggered relative position and are not engaged, after the motor drives the power output unit <NUM> to rotate counterclockwise, the recessed portion 101a of the power output unit <NUM> may move to a position corresponding to the fixing protrusion a111, and the cylindrical surface of the power output unit <NUM> may no longer abut against the fixing protrusion a111. In view of this, the reset elastic part <NUM> in the gear base <NUM> may enable the power output unit <NUM> to be restored from the tilt state to the initial state. The fixing protrusion a111 is caught into the recessed portion 101a to receive the rotational driving force, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic diagram of a disengagement between the power receiving unit a100 in the process cartridge and the power output unit <NUM> in the image formation apparatus. Referring to <FIG>, when the power receiving unit a100 moves along the direction Z2 (reverse of the direction Z1) to be disengaged from the power output unit <NUM> in the image formation apparatus, the guide bevel a111b of the fixing protrusion a111 may abut against the guide bevel 101c in the recessed portion 101a of the power output unit <NUM>. With the continuation of the detaching movement of the process cartridge C, the guide bevel a111b may push the guide bevel 101c to enable the power output unit <NUM> to be tilted by the external force and to be moved toward the notch a112. In view of this, a rotation axis of the power output unit <NUM> is inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the power receiving unit a100 (there is an inclination angle R2). With the tilting movement of the power output unit <NUM>, the fixing protrusion a111 is disengaged from the recessed portion 101a. When the power output unit <NUM> is no longer in contact with the fixing protrusion a111, the power output unit <NUM> is restored from the tilted state to the initial state under the action of the reset elastic part <NUM>.

In addition, during the above-described process (contact engagement between the power receiving unit and the power output unit), referring to Figures 17a-18b, through auxiliary disposure of the bias part a130, after the power output unit <NUM> abuts against the fixing protrusion a111 and is tilted, the side a132 (long side) of the bias part a130 is deformed by the thrust of the power output unit <NUM>. When the recessed portion 101a of the power output unit <NUM> moves to a position corresponding to the fixing protrusion a111, the side a132 (long side) of the bias part a130 may apply an elastic force to push the cylindrical surface of the power output unit <NUM> to enable the power output unit <NUM> to be moved toward the fixing protrusion a111.

At the same time, in the process of engagement between the power receiving unit and the power output unit for receiving the power, the side a132 (long side) of the bias part a130 may also apply the elastic force to push the cylindrical surface of the power output unit <NUM> to enable the fixing protrusion a111 of the power receiving unit a100 to be not disengaged from the recessed portion 101a of the power output unit <NUM>.

Moreover, in the process cartridge aC, referring to <FIG>, a convex power receiving unit a200 is disposed on a same end as the power receiving unit a100. The convex power receiving unit a200 is engaged with a concave power output unit <NUM> to receive the rotational driving force. The power receiving unit a100 and the convex power receiving unit a200 is separately independent units to drive the respective rotating components to rotate. In one embodiment, the power receiving unit a100 may drive the photosensitive component a10 to rotate, and the convex power receiving unit a200 may drive the developing component a20 to rotate.

Further, to make the relative rotation substantially stable, a quantity of components in the process cartridge may be reduced, and the convex power receiving unit a200 may be eliminated. Referring to <FIG>, a pair of transfer parts a11 and a21 (gears) is added on one end of the photosensitive component a10 and the developing component a20. Through the disposure of the transfer parts a11 and a21, the power receiving unit a100 may simultaneously drive the photosensitive component a10 and the developing component a20 to rotate after receiving the rotational driving force from the power output unit <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the transfer parts a11 and a21 are disposed on the same end as the power receiving unit a100, and the transfer part a11 is integrally disposed with the power receiving unit a100. Further, referring to <FIG>, the transfer parts a11 and a21 (gears) may be replaced by a belt a30, an inner side of the belt a30 may be sleeved on an outer side of the power receiving unit a100, and another inner side of the belt a30 may be sleeved on the axial center of the developing part a20. The belt a30 may be disposed on one end (driving end or conductive end) or both ends of the photosensitive component a10 and the developing component a20.

<FIG> illustrate perspective views of the power receiving unit in the process cartridge consistent with disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure. The power receiving part 20c is mounted inside the wheel hub 10c and on the base 11c. An elastic part 12c is disposed between the base 11c and the power receiving part 20c to enable the power receiving part 20c to be expanded and contracted along the axial direction of the rotational shaft of the power receiving unit and to translate with respect to the base 11c.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the power receiving unit after removing the wheel hub 10c, and <FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the power receiving part 20c. A fixing protrusion 21c and a trapezoidal block 22c is disposed on the power receiving part 20c. The trapezoidal block 22c is closer to the base 11c than the fixing protrusion 21c. The trapezoidal block 22c may allow the power receiving part 20c to translate inside the wheel hub 10c.

A quantity of the fixing protrusions 21c is at least one. In one embodiment, a quantity of the fixing protrusions 21c is two. A quantity of the trapezoidal blocks 22c is at least one, and the trapezoidal block 22c may have at least one inclined surface. In one embodiment, a quantity of the trapezoidal blocks 22c is two (forming a cross-coaxial structure), and each trapezoidal block 22c may have two inclined surfaces. At the same time, the angle between every two inclined surfaces is <NUM> degrees.

Similarly, other couplings may be used to replace the trapezoidal block 22c in the disclosed embodiments, such that the power receiving part 20c is fixed to the inside of the wheel hub 10c, and the power receiving part 20c may translate inside the wheel hub 10c.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of another power receiving part 20d consistent with disclosed embodiments in the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, the power receiving part 20d may include a fixing protrusion 21d, a ball portion 22d, and a transfer portion 23d. In one embodiment, the transfer portion 23d is located on the ball portion 22d for transmitting power to the wheel hub 10c. The power receiving part 20d illustrated in <FIG> is interchangeable with the power receiving part 20c illustrated in <FIG>.

A quantity of the fixing protrusions 21d is at least one. In one embodiment, a quantity of the fixing protrusions 21d is two. Similarly, a recessed hole for carrying the ball portion 22d of the power receiving part 20d is disposed on the base, such that the power receiving part 20d may rotate inside the wheel hub.

Claim 1:
Use of a process cartridge (C), detachably mounted in an image formation apparatus, the image formation apparatus configured with a power output unit (<NUM>) that is swingable, wherein an outer circumference of the power output unit (<NUM>) contains a recessed portion (101a), the process cartridge (C) comprising a power receiving unit (a100), and the power receiving unit (a100) comprising:
a fixing protrusion (a111), wherein:
the fixing protrusion (a111) is disposed inside the power receiving unit (a100), and
the fixing protrusion (a111) is engaged with the recessed portion (101a) of the power output unit (<NUM>) to receive a driving force, characterized in that
the power receiving unit (a100) is configured to, when the power receiving unit (a100) moves along an axial direction (Z1) thereof and is in a contact engagement with the power output unit (<NUM>), have the fixing protrusion (a111) abut against a front end of the power output unit (<NUM>) to cause the power output unit (<NUM>) to be tilted and swung.