# US 12,111,608 B2 · Photosensitive member unit and development unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,608 B2 - Document ID: US12111608B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/464,885 - Filed: 2023-09-11 - Published: 2023-12-28 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-17 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Masao Uyama; Kenji Matsuda; Ken Kikuchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111608B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1814: {Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/0806: {on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller (complete developer unit G03G15/0896)} - G03G 15/0896: {Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894} - G03G 21/1652: {Electrical connection means} - G03G 21/1817: {having a submodular arrangement} - 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 21/1825: {Pivotable subunit connection} - G03G 21/1864: {associated with a positioning function} - G03G 2221/166: Electrical connectors - G03G 2221/1853: having a submodular arrangement - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member, a transfer roller, a mounting portion capable of mounting a development unit including a development roller, a first gear and a second gear each provided at one end of the photosensitive member in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, and a third gear provided at one end of the transfer roller in an axial direction of the photosensitive member and configured to engage with the second gear. The first gear, the second gear, and the third gear are helical gears. A direction in which helical teeth of the first gear are inclined is opposite to a direction in which helical teeth of the second gear are inclined, and the direction in which the helical teeth of the first gear are inclined matches a direction in which helical teeth of the third gear are inclined. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge comprising: a first unit including a first frame, a first pressing member, a second pressing member, a photosensitive drum being rotatable about a first axis which extends in a first direction, wherein the first frame includes (i) a first engaging portion, (ii) a second engaging portion, (iii) a first supporting portion and (iv) a second supporting portion; and a second unit separatably attached to the first frame, the second unit including (i) a development roller being rotatable about a second axis that extends in a second direction, (ii) a first engaged portion, (iii) a second engaged portion and (iv) a second frame supporting the development roller and accommodating toner, wherein in a state where the second unit is attached to the first frame, the first engaged portion is inserted into the first engaging portion, the second engaged portion is inserted into the second engaging portion, and the second frame is pressed by the first pressing member and the second pressing member such that the development roller is pressed against the photosensitive drum, wherein the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion are configured to support the second frame, wherein the first pressing member includes a first pressing portion that presses the second frame, the second pressing member includes a second pressing portion that presses the second frame, the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are located between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion with respect to the first direction, and wherein a region on the development roller is configured to be coated with the toner, the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are located between both ends of the region with respect to the second direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second unit includes a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the development roller, a driving force receiving member configured to receive a driving force for rotating the development roller, a first electrical contact electrically connected with the development roller, a second electrical contact electrically connected with the supply roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising: a rotatable unit including a moving member and an urging portion, the moving member being configured to be rotatable and the moving member being urged by the urging portion toward a rotation direction of the moving member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the first electrical contact, the second electrical contact, and the rotatable unit are located in one end side with respect to a center of the first frame in the first direction, and the driving force receiving member is located in the other end side with respect to the center of the first frame in the first direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein at least part of the moving member is exposed to outside of the cartridge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the moving member is rotatable about a third axis which extends in a third direction, and wherein the third direction is parallel to the first direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the urging portion is a spring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein when viewed in the first direction, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are located between the photosensitive drum and the moving member with respect to a direction orthogonal to the first direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the cartridge is configured to be detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus in an attachment direction, and wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are located in a downstream side of the rotatable unit with respect to the attachment direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein at least part of the moving member is exposed to outside of the cartridge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the moving member is rotatable about a third axis which extends in a third direction, wherein the third direction is parallel to the first direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the urging portion is a spring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein when viewed in the first direction, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are located between the photosensitive drum and the moving member with respect to a direction orthogonal to the first direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the cartridge is configured to be detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus in an attachment direction, and wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are located in a downstream side of the rotatable unit with respect to the attachment direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the driving force receiving member is configured to transmit the diving force to the development roller and the supply roller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the second unit includes an agitator for agitating the developer, an agitator gear connected to the agitator, a cover attached to the second frame so as to cover the agitator gear. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first frame is provided with an attachment portion to which the second unit is attached, the attachment portion is located between the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion are projections extending along the second direction.