# US 11,112,751 B2 · Cartridge, 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 11,112,751 B2 - Document ID: US11112751B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/191,991 - Filed: 2021-03-04 - Published: 2021-06-24 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-06 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Masaaki Sato; Kazuhiko Kanno; Satoshi Nishiya; Masatoshi Yamashita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112751B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1842: {for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence)} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 21/1821: {means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation (G03G21/1825 takes precedence)} - G03G 21/1857: {for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms} - G03G 21/186: {Axial couplings} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a rotatable photosensitive drum; a rotatable developing roller configured to develop image formed on the drum, the developing roller being capable of contacting to and spacing from the drum; an urging force receiving portion configured to receive, from a main assembly side urging member, an urging force for spacing the developing roller from the drum; a cartridge side drive transmission member capable of the coupling with a main assembly side drive transmission member and configured to receive, from the main assembly side drive transmission member, a rotational force for rotating the developing roller; and a decoupling member capable of urging the cartridge side drive transmission member by the urging force received by the urging force receiving portion to decouple the cartridge side drive transmission member from the main assembly side drive transmission member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process cartridge comprising a drum frame; a photosensitive drum supported by the drum frame; a developing frame connected to the drum frame; a developing roller configured to develop a latent image on the photosensitive drum, the developing roller being supported by the developing frame, and the developing roller being rotatable about an axis of the developing roller; a drive input member including a projection that (i) is exposed to outside of the cartridge and (ii) is configured to receive a driving force from outside of the process cartridge, the drive input member being operatively connected to the developing roller such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the developing roller; and a bearing attached to developing frame and rotatably supporting the developing roller, the bearing including a surface configured to receive a force for moving the developing frame between a first position and a second position, with the developing roller being positioned closer to the photosensitive drum when the developing frame is in the first position than when the developing frame is in the second position, wherein the drive input member moves in a direction of the axis of the developing roller as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position, the drive input member moves from a position more remote from the developing roller to a position closer to the developer roller in the direction of the axis of the developing roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a gear operatively connected to the drive input member such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the gear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the drive input member is coaxially positioned and engaged with the gear, and the drive input member is movable with respect to the gear. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing frame is configured to be rotatable about an axis of the developing frame and the drive input member is configured to be rotatable about an axis of the drive input member, and wherein the axis of the drive input member is coaxial with the axis of the developing frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a spring operatively connected to the drive input member, the spring being configured to apply a force to the drive input member in a direction opposite to the direction the drive member moves as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a gear operatively connected to the drive input member such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the gear; and a spring configured to apply a force to the drive input member in a direction opposite to the direction the drive member moves as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position, wherein the spring is provided between the drive input member and the gear. ### Claim 8 A process cartridge comprising: a photosensitive drum; a developing roller configured to develop a latent image on the photosensitive drum, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis of the developing roller, and the developing roller being movable between a first position and a second position, with the developing roller being positioned closer to the photosensitive drum when the developing roller is in the first position than when the developing roller is in the second position; a drive input member rotatable about an axis of the drive input member, the drive input member including a projection that (i) is exposed to outside of the cartridge and (ii) is configured to receive a driving force from outside of the process cartridge, the drive input member being operatively connected to the developing roller such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the developing roller; and a lever operatively connected to the drive input member, wherein, as the developing roller moves from the first position to the second position, the lever rotates about the axis of the drive input member to thereby provide a force for moving the drive input member in a direction of the axis of the developing roller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein, as the lever rotates about the axis of the drive input member, the drive input member moves from a position more remote from the developing roller to a position closer to the developer roller in the direction of the axis of the developing roller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A process cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising a gear operatively connected to the drive input member such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the gear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the drive input member is coaxially positioned and engaged with the gear, and the drive input member is movable with respect to the gear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the developing frame is configured to be rotatable about an axis of the developing frame and the drive input member is configured to be rotatable about an axis of the drive input member, and wherein the axis of the drive input member is coaxial with the axis of the developing frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A process cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising a spring operatively connected to the drive input member, the spring being configured to apply a force to the drive input member in a direction opposite to the direction the drive member moves as the lever rotates about the axis of the drive input member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) A process cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising a cam operatively connected to the lever and the drive input member, wherein, as lever rotates about the axis of the drive input member, a force is transferred from the lever to the drive input member by the cam to thereby cause the drive input member to move in the direction of the axis of the developing roller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) A process cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising: a gear operatively connected to the drive input member such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the gear; and a spring configured to apply a force to the drive input member in a direction opposite to the direction the drive member moves as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position, wherein the spring is provided between the drive input member and the gear. ### Claim 16 A process cartridge comprising: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum supported by the drum frame a developing frame connected to the drum frame; a developing roller configured to develop a latent image on the photosensitive drum, the developing roller being supported by the developing frame, and the developing roller being rotatable about an axis of the developing roller; a drive input member including a projection that (i) is exposed to outside of the cartridge and (ii) is configured to receive a driving force from outside of the process cartridge, the drive input member being operatively connected to the developing roller such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the developing roller; and a bearing attached to developing frame and rotatably supporting the developing roller, the bearing including a surface configured to receive a force for moving the developing frame between a first position and a second position, with the developing roller being positioned closer to the photosensitive drum when the developing frame is in the first position than when the developing frame is in the second position, wherein, as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position, the drive input member moves from a position more remote from the developing roller to a position closer to the developer roller in the direction of the axis of the developing roller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A process cartridge according to claim 16, further comprising a gear operatively connected to the drive input member such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the gear. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the drive input member is coaxially positioned and engaged with the gear, and the drive input member is movable with respect to the gear. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the developing frame is configured to be rotatable about an axis of the developing frame and the drive input member is configured to be rotatable about an axis of the drive input member, and wherein the axis of the drive input member is coaxial with the axis of the developing frame. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) A process cartridge according to claim 16, further comprising a spring operatively connected to the drive input member, the spring being configured to apply a force to the drive input member in a direction that is opposite to the direction that the drive input member moves as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) A process cartridge according to claim 16, further comprising: a gear operatively connected to the drive input member such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the gear; and a spring configured to apply a force to the drive input member in a direction that is opposite to the direction that the drive input member moves as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position, wherein the spring is provided between the drive input member and the gear. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the projection is triangular shaped. ### Claim 23 A process cartridge comprising: a photosensitive drum; a developing roller configured to develop a latent image on the photosensitive drum, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis of the developing roller, and the developing roller being movable between a first position and a second position, with the developing roller being positioned closer to the photosensitive drum when the developing roller is in the first position than when the developing roller is in the second position; a drive input member being rotatable about an axis of the drive input member, the drive input member including a projection that (i) is exposed to outside of the cartridge and (ii) is configured to receive a driving force from outside of the process cartridge, and the drive input member being operatively connected to the developing roller such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the developing roller; and a lever operatively connected to the drive input member, wherein, as the developing roller moves from the first position to the second position, the lever rotates about the axis of the drive input member and the drive input member moves from a position more remote from the developing roller to a position closer to the developer roller in the direction of the axis of the developing roller. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A process cartridge according to claim 23, further comprising a gear operatively connected to the drive input member such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the gear. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein the drive input member is coaxially positioned and engaged with the gear, and the drive input member is movable with respect to the gear. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) A process cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the developing frame is configured to be rotatable about an axis of the developing frame and the drive input member is configured to be rotatable about an axis of the drive input member, and wherein the axis of the drive input member is coaxial with the axis of the developing frame. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) A process cartridge according to claim 23, further comprising a spring operatively connected to the drive input member, the spring being configured to apply a force to the drive input member in a direction that is opposite to the direction that the drive input member moves as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) A process cartridge according to claim 23, further comprising a cam operatively connected to the lever and the drive input member, wherein, as lever rotates about the axis of the drive input member, a force is transferred from the lever to the drive input member by the cam to thereby cause the drive input member to move in the direction of the axis of the developing roller. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) A process cartridge according to claim 22, further comprising: a gear operatively connected to the drive input member such that the drive input member is capable of transmitting the driving force to the gear; and a spring configured to apply a force to the drive input member in a direction opposite to the direction the drive member moves as the developing frame moves from the first position to the second position, wherein the spring is provided between the drive input member and the gear. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) A process cartridge according to claim 22, wherein the projection is triangular shaped.