# US 10,768,573 B2 · Process cartridge and electrophotographic 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 10,768,573 B2 - Document ID: US10768573B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/351,735 - Filed: 2019-03-13 - Published: 2019-09-19 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-14 - Assignees: Print-Rite • Unicorn Image Products Co., Ltd. of Zhuhai - Applicants: Print-Rite ⋅ Unicorn Image Products Co., Ltd. of Zhuhai - Inventors: Kinkeung So; Xiaofeng Yang; Wenyi Ding - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768573B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/186: {Axial couplings} - G03G 21/1814: {Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence)} - G03G 21/1842: {for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence)} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a cartridge body, a photosensitive drum having a first axis, and a driving force receiving member having a second axis. The photosensitive drum is rotatably supported between two end walls of the cartridge body, and the driving force receiving member has a head portion and a shaft portion. The driving force receiving member is connected to an axial end of the photosensitive drum through an Oldham coupling; a rotation angle limiting mechanism is disposed between the driving force receiving member and the photosensitive drum; and the driving force receiving member is movable in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and rotatable around the second axis such that the second axis is either co-axial or parallel with the first axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process cartridge, comprising a cartridge body, a photosensitive drum having a first axis, and a driving force receiving member having a second axis, wherein the photosensitive drum is rotatably supported between two end walls of the cartridge body, and the driving force receiving member comprises a head portion and a shaft portion; wherein the driving force receiving member is connected to an axial end of the photosensitive drum through an Oldham coupling; a rotation angle limiting mechanism is disposed between the driving force receiving member and the photosensitive drum to regulate a relative rotation of the driving force receiving member with respect to the photosensitive drum; and the driving force receiving member is movable in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and rotatable around the second axis such that the second axis is either co-axial or parallel with the first axis; the shaft portion further comprises a guided portion formed by an elliptical cylinder portion; the process cartridge further comprises a sliding plate disposed on one of the end walls of the cartridge body, and is provided with a round hole; the shaft portion further comprises an engaging portion formed by a cylinder portion; the guided portion is disposed between the engaging portion and the head portion; and the round hole is in engagement with the engaging portion; wherein the sliding plate is slidable between (i) a first position in which the second axis is co-axial with the first axis and (ii) a second position in which the second axis is parallel with the first axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the sliding plate is provided with a guiding groove that extends from an edge of the sliding plate to the round hole for guiding the guided portion into the round hole, a width of the guiding groove is slightly greater than a short axis of the elliptical cylinder portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle limiting mechanism is disposed between the photosensitive drum and the Oldham coupling. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle limiting mechanism is disposed between the shaft portion of the driving force receiving member and the Oldham coupling. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member, wherein the elastic member forces the sliding plate to be located at the first position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein when the sliding plate is at the second position, the sliding plate goes beyond a front wall of the cartridge body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a driving force transmitting portion of the driving force receiving member is partially outside a drum gear of the photosensitive drum in the direction perpendicular to the first axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the Oldham coupling includes an outer coupling adjacent to the shaft portion; when the sliding plate is in the second position, the outer coupling is at least partially out of the photosensitive drum, viewing along the first axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising a main body, wherein the main body is provided therein with a cartridge containing chamber, and the cartridge containing chamber is used for placing and taking the process cartridge according to claim 1. ### Claim 10 A process cartridge, comprising a cartridge body, a photosensitive drum having a first axis, and a driving force receiving member having a second axis, wherein the photosensitive drum is rotatably supported between two end walls of the cartridge body, and the driving force receiving member comprises a head portion and a shaft portion; wherein the driving force receiving member is connected to an axial end of the photosensitive drum through an Oldham coupling; a rotation angle limiting mechanism is disposed between the driving force receiving member and the photosensitive drum to regulate a relative rotation of the driving force receiving member with respect to the photosensitive drum; and the driving force receiving member is movable in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and rotatable around the second axis such that the second axis is either co-axial or parallel with the first axis; the process cartridge further comprises a sliding plate positioned on one of the end walls of the cartridge body, the sliding plate is provided with a round hole; wherein the sliding plate is movable between (i) a first position in which the second axis is co-axial with the first axis and (ii) a second position in which the second axis is parallel with the first axis; and wherein the shaft portion comprises an engaging portion formed by a cylinder portion, and the round hole is in engagement with the engaging portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein when the sliding plate is at the second position, the sliding plate goes beyond a front wall of the cartridge body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The process cartridge according to claim 10, further comprising an elastic member, wherein the elastic member forces the sliding plate to be located at the first position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein a driving force transmitting portion of the driving force receiving member is partially outside a drum gear of the photosensitive drum in the direction perpendicular to the first axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the Oldham coupling includes an outer coupling adjacent to the shaft portion; when the sliding plate is in the second position, the outer coupling is at least partially out of the photosensitive drum, viewing along the first axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the rotation angle limiting mechanism is disposed between the photosensitive drum and the Oldham coupling. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the rotation angle limiting mechanism is disposed between the shaft portion of the driving force receiving member and the Oldham coupling. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising a main body, wherein the main body is provided therein with a cartridge containing chamber, and the cartridge containing chamber is used for placing and taking the process cartridge according to claim 10.