# US 10,120,332 B2 · Cartridge, rotary unit, and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,332 B2 - Document ID: US10120332B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/590,782 - Filed: 2017-05-09 - Published: 2017-08-24 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-27 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kensuke Sato; Tetsushi Uneme; Toshiki Fujino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120332B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/186: {Axial couplings} - F16D 1/101: {without axial retaining means rotating with the coupling} - G03G 15/0121: {for developing} - G03G 15/0891: {for conveying or circulating developer, e.g. augers} - G03G 15/757: {Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 21/1671: {for the photosensitive element} - G03G 2221/1657: transmitting mechanical drive power - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A cartridge includes a coupling member, a transmitted member, and a rotary member. The transmitted member includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the coupling member, and a protruded portion integrally formed with an inner wall of the accommodating portion and protruding from the inner wall toward an inside of the accommodating portion. The coupling member includes a free end portion having a rotational force receiving portion that receives a rotational force, a connected portion connected to the transmitted member in such a manner that at least a part of the connected portion can be accommodated in the accommodating portion, and a recessed portion provided at the connected portion so that the protruded portion can enter. An inclination angle of a rotation axis of the coupling member relative to a rotation axis of the transmitted member is variable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a coupling member configured to receive a rotational force when the coupling member engages with a driving member provided on the apparatus body; a transmitted member that includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the coupling member, a protruded portion integrally formed with an inner wall of the accommodating portion and protruding from the inner wall toward an inside of the accommodating portion, and is configured to receive the rotational force from the coupling member; and a rotary member configured to rotate while carrying a developer when the rotational force received by the transmitted member is transmitted to the rotary member, wherein the coupling member comprises a free end portion having a rotational force receiving portion that can be brought into contact with the driving member to receive the rotational force, a connected portion having a substantially spherical shape and connected to the transmitted member in such a manner that at least a part of the connected portion can be accommodated in the accommodating portion, and a recessed portion provided at the connected portion so that the protruded portion can enter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: an inward moving regulating member configured to enter the accommodating portion from the inside in a longitudinal direction of the rotary member in such a way as to prevent the coupling member from moving inward in the longitudinal direction of the rotary member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: an outward moving regulating member configured to contact the connected portion to prevent the coupling member from moving outward in a longitudinal direction of the rotary member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cartridge according to claim 3, further comprising a cover member provided at one end side of the cartridge in the longitudinal direction of the rotary member and configured to cover the transmitted member, wherein the outward moving regulating member is the cover member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a cover member that is provided at one end side of the cartridge in a longitudinal direction of the rotary member and is configured to cover the transmitted member, wherein in the coupling member, a maximum diameter of the connected portion seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the coupling member is greater than a maximum diameter of the free end portion seen from the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the coupling member, wherein the cover member includes an aperture that bares the coupling member, and wherein the aperture is greater than the maximum diameter of the free end portion and is smaller than the maximum diameter of the connected portion, when seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the coupling member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member includes a linking portion configured to connect the free end portion and the connected portion, and a maximum diameter of the linking portion is smaller than a maximum diameter of the connected portion when seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the coupling member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cartridge according to claim 6, further comprising a cover member that is provided at one end side of the cartridge in a longitudinal direction of the rotary member and is configured to cover the transmitted member, wherein the cover member includes a hole that bares the coupling member and an opened portion formed by cutting the cover member in such a way as to partly open the hole, and wherein the opened portion is greater than the maximum diameter of the linking portion and is smaller than the maximum diameter of the connected portion, when seen from the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the coupling member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rotary member is a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rotary member is a photosensitive member having a surface on which a developer image can be formed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted member includes a gear portion provided outside the accommodating portion and configured to transmit the rotational force to the rotary member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a cylindrical portion that engages with a sliding portion on the inner wall of the accommodating portion of the transmitted member and rotatably supports the transmitted member. ### Claim 12 A rotary unit, comprising: a coupling member configured to receive a rotational force when a driving member engages with the coupling member; and a transmitted member that includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the coupling member and a protruded portion integrally formed with an inner wall of the accommodating portion and protruding from the inner wall toward an inside of the accommodating portion, and is configured to receive the rotational force from the coupling member and transmit the rotational force to a rotary member; wherein the coupling member includes a free end portion having a rotational force receiving portion that can be brought into contact with the driving member to receive the rotational force, a connected portion having a substantially spherical shape and connected to the transmitted member in such a manner that at least a part of the connected portion can be accommodated in the accommodating portion, and a recessed portion provided at the connected portion so that the protruded portion can enter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The rotary unit according to claim 12, further comprising: an inward moving regulating member configured to enter the accommodating portion from the inside in a longitudinal direction of the rotary member in such a way as to prevent the coupling member from moving inward in the longitudinal direction of the rotary member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The rotary unit according to claim 12, wherein a maximum diameter of the connected portion seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the coupling member is greater than a maximum diameter of the free end portion seen from the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the coupling member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The rotary unit according to claim 12, wherein the coupling member includes a linking portion configured to connect the free end portion and the connected portion, and wherein a maximum diameter of the linking portion is smaller than a maximum diameter of the connected portion when seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the coupling member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The rotary unit according to claim 12, wherein the transmitted member includes a gear portion provided outside the accommodating portion and configured to transmit the rotational force to the rotary member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The rotary unit according to claim 12, wherein the transmitted member includes a sliding portion on the inner wall of the accommodating portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The rotary unit according to claim 12, wherein the transmitted member includes a fixed portion fixed to the rotary member. ### Claim 19 A coupling member configured to receive and transmit a rotational force, comprising: a first portion having a rotational force receiving portion for receiving the rotational force, a second portion connected to a transmitted member to transmit the rotational force, and a third portion configured to connect the first portion and the second portion, wherein two recessed portions and an intermediate portion are provided at the second portion, wherein each of the two recessed portions is formed by at least a transmitting surface for transmitting the rotational force and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surfaces are parallel to a rotational axis of the third portion rotated by the rotational force, and wherein the intermediate portion is a portion disposed between the bottom surfaces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The coupling member according to claim 19, wherein the second portion has a substantially spherical shape. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The coupling member according to claim 19, wherein a maximum diameter of the second portion seen from a direction parallel to an arrangement direction of the first portion, the third portion and the second portion is greater than a maximum diameter of the first portion seen from the direction parallel to the arrangement direction, wherein a maximum diameter of the third portion is smaller than a maximum diameter of the second portion when seen from the direction parallel to the arrangement direction. ### Claim 22 A coupling member configured to receive and transmit a rotational force, comprising: a first portion having a rotational force receiving portion for receiving the rotational force, a second portion connected to a transmitted member to transmit the rotational force, and a third portion configured to connect the first portion and the second portion, wherein two recessed portions and an intermediate portion are provided at the second portion, wherein each of the two recessed portions is formed by at least a transmitting surface for transmitting the rotational force and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surfaces are parallel with each other, wherein a rotational axis of the third portion rotated by the rotational force is disposed between the bottom surfaces, and wherein the intermediate portion is a portion disposed between the bottom surfaces. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The coupling member according to claim 22, wherein the second portion has a substantially spherical shape. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The coupling member according to claim 22, wherein a maximum diameter of the second portion seen from a direction parallel to an arrangement direction of the first portion, the third portion and the second portion is greater than a maximum diameter of the first portion seen from the direction parallel to the arrangement direction, wherein a maximum diameter of the third portion is smaller than a maximum diameter of the second portion when seen from the direction parallel to the arrangement direction.