# US 11,442,406 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 11,442,406 B2 - Document ID: US11442406B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/188,367 - Filed: 2021-03-01 - Published: 2021-06-24 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-15 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Masaaki Sato; Masatoshi Yamashita; Satoshi Nishiya; Kazuhiko Kanno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442406B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1857: {for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms} - G03G 15/0896: {Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894} - G03G 21/18: using a processing cartridge {, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit} - G03G 21/1825: {Pivotable subunit connection} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes (i) a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member; (ii) a first drive transmission member capable of receiving a rotational force originated by the main assembly; (iii) a second drive transmission member capable of coupling with the first drive transmission member and capable of transmitting the rotational force received by the first drive transmission member to the developing roller; and (iv) a coupling disconnection member including a force receiving portion capable of receiving the force originated by the main assembly, and an urging portion capable of urging at least one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member by the force received by the force receiving portion to separate one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member from the other, thereby disconnecting the coupling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge comprising: (i) a frame; (ii) a developing roller rotatably supported by the frame; and (iii) a drive inputting portion configured to receive a rotational force from outside of the cartridge; (iv) a transmission gear configured to transmit the rotational force to the developing roller; and (v) a clutch including: (v-i) a first drive transmission member configured to receive the rotational force from the drive inputting portion; (v-ii) a second drive transmission member at least a part of which is positioned inside of the transmission gear, the second drive transmission member being configured to transmit the rotational force from the first drive transmission member to the transmission gear; and (v-iii) a lever movable relative to the frame between a first position and a second position, wherein the clutch is configured to (a) permit transmission of the rotational force from the first drive transmission member to the second drive transmission member when the lever is in the first position and (b) prevent the transmission of the rotational force from the first drive transmission member to the second drive transmission member when the lever is in the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing roller includes a shaft, wherein the cartridge further comprises a developing roller gear engaging with the shaft of the developing roller, and wherein the transmission gear is configured to transmit the rotational force to the developing roller via the developing roller gear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the transmission gear engages with the developing roller gear such that the transmission gear is capable of transmitting the rotational force to the developing roller gear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the drive inputting portion and the transmission gear are coaxially aligned. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an entirety of the second drive transmission member is positioned inside of the transmission gear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the lever is rotatable between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the clutch includes a cam configured to separate the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member from each other when the lever is in the second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission member includes an engagement portion, and the second transmission member includes an engagement portion configured to receive the rotational force from the engagement portion of the first transmission member by engaging with the engagement portion of the first engagement member, and wherein the engagement portion of the first transmission member and the engagement portion of the second transmission member are separated from each other when the lever is in the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein one of the transmission gear and the second transmission member includes a projection, and the other of the transmission gear and the second transmission member includes an opening configured to receive the projection, and wherein the transmission gear is capable of receiving the rotational force from the second transmission member by engagement between the projection and the opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the lever projects downward when the cartridge is oriented such that the developing roller is positioned on a downward side of the cartridge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first drive transmission member is provided with the drive inputting portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first drive transmission member is movable along a rotational axis thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second drive transmission member is movable along a rotational axis thereof. ### Claim 14 A cartridge comprising: a developing roller; an urging force receiving portion configured to receive an urging force from outside of the cartridge, the urging force receiving portion being movable between a first position and a second position; a drive inputting portion configured to receive a rotational force for rotating the developing roller from outside of the cartridge; a transmission gear configured to transmit the rotational force to the developing roller; and a clutch at least a part of which is positioned inside the transmission gear, the clutch being configured to (a) transmit the rotational force from the drive inputting portion to the transmission gear when the urging force receiving portion is in the first position, and (b) prevent transmission of the rotational force from the drive inputting portion to the transmission gear when the urging force receiving portion is in the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the developing roller includes a shaft, wherein the cartridge further comprises a developing roller gear engaging with the shaft of the developing roller, and wherein the transmission gear is configured to transmit the rotational force to the developing roller via the developing roller gear. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the transmission gear engages with the developing roller gear such that the transmission gear is capable of transmitting the rotational force to the developing roller gear. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the clutch includes: a first drive transmission member configured to receive the rotational force from the drive inputting portion; and a second drive transmission member configured to transmit the rotational force from the first drive transmission member to the transmission gear, wherein the clutch is configured to (a) permit transmission of the rotational force from the first drive transmission member to the second drive transmission member when the urging force receiving portion is in the first position and (b) prevent the transmission of the rotational force from the first drive transmission member to the second drive transmission member when the urging force receiving portion is in the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the first transmission member includes an engagement portion, and the second transmission member includes an engagement portion configured to receive the rotational force from the engagement portion of the first transmission member by engaging with the engagement portion of the first engagement member, and wherein the engagement portion of the first transmission member and the engagement portion of the second transmission member are separated from each other when the urging force receiving portion is in the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the first drive transmission member is movable along a rotational axis thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the second drive transmission member is movable along a rotational axis thereof. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the first transmission member is provided with the drive inputting portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein at least a part of the second drive transmission member is positioned inside the transmission gear. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein an entirety of the second drive transmission member is positioned inside of the transmission gear. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the clutch includes a cam for separating the first transmission member and the second transmission member from each other in response to the reception of the urging force by the urging force receiving portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the transmission gear is coaxially aligned with the drive inputting portion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the clutch includes a movable lever, and the clutch is configured to operate in response to movement of the lever. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A cartridge according to claim 26, wherein the lever is provided with the urging force receiving portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 14) A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the urging force receiving portion is positioned on a downward side of the cartridge when the cartridge is oriented such that the developing roller is positioned on the downward side of the cartridge. ### Claim 29 A cartridge comprising: a developing roller for developing a latent image on a photosensitive drum; an urging force receiving portion configured to receive an urging force from outside of the cartridge; and a drive inputting portion configured to receive a rotational force for rotating the developing roller from outside of the cartridge; a transmission gear configured to transmit the rotational force to the developing roller, a clutch at least a part of which is positioned inside of the transmission gear, the clutch being configured to transmit the rotational force from the drive inputting portion to the transmission gear, wherein the clutch is capable of preventing transmission of the rotational force to the transmission gear in response to reception of the urging force by the urging force receiving portion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A cartridge according to claim 29, wherein the clutch includes: a first drive transmission member configured to receive the rotational force from the drive inputting portion; and a second drive transmission member at least a part of which is positioned inside of the transmission gear, the second drive transmission member being configured to transmit the rotational force from the first drive transmission member to the developing roller, wherein the clutch is configured to prevent transmission of the rotational force from the first drive transmission member to the second drive transmission member in response to the reception of the urging force by the urging force receiving portion. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the first drive transmission member is provided with the drive inputting portion. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the first transmission member includes an engagement portion, and the second transmission member includes an engagement portion for receiving the rotational force from the engagement portion of the first transmission member by engaging with the engagement portion of the first engagement member, and wherein the engagement portion of the first transmission member and the engagement portion of the second transmission member are separated from each other in response to the reception of the urging force by the urging force receiving portion. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the first drive transmission member is movable along a rotational axis thereof. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the second drive transmission member is movable along a rotational axis thereof. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the clutch includes a cam for separating the first transmission member and the second transmission member from each other in response to the reception of the urging force by the urging force receiving portion. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) A cartridge according to claim 29, wherein the transmission gear is coaxially aligned with the drive inputting portion. ### Claim 37 (depends on 29) A cartridge according to claim 29, wherein the urging force receiving portion is positioned on a downward side of the cartridge when the cartridge is oriented such that the developing roller is positioned on the downward side of the cartridge.