# US 12,222,673 B2 · Image forming apparatus and process cartridge including protrusion to receive a force for moving developing roller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,673 B2 - Document ID: US12222673B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/226,362 - Filed: 2023-07-26 - Published: 2023-11-16 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-07 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Akira Yoshimura; Tomio Noguchi; Yukio Kubo; Masaaki Sato; Satoshi Nishiya; Yosuke Kashiide - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222673B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1842: {for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence)} - 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 2221/1861: Rotational subunit connection - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing roller for developing a latent image on the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a protrusion having a surface configured to receive a force to move a frame supporting the developing roller from the first position in which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum to the second position in which the developing roller is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge is configured such that, when the frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at a bottom side of the process cartridge, (i) a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum is lower than a rotational axis of the developing roller, and (ii) as viewed in a direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, the surface of the protrusion extends in a direction that is perpendicular to a part of a surface at the bottom side of the process cartridge that extends away from the photosensitive drum and away from the protrusion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process cartridge comprising: a photosensitive drum; a first frame rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum to permit rotation of the photosensitive drum about a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing a latent image on the photosensitive drum; a second frame rotatably supporting the developing roller to permit rotation of the developing roller about a rotational axis of the developing roller, the second frame being pivotable about a pivot axis between (i) a first position in which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum such that the developing roller can develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum and (ii) a second position in which the developing roller is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum; and a protrusion having a surface configured to receive a force to move the second frame from the first position to the second position, wherein the process cartridge is configured such that, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at a bottom side of the process cartridge, (i) the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum is lower than the rotational axis of the developing roller, and (ii) as viewed in a direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, the surface of the protrusion extends in a direction that is perpendicular to a part of a surface of the first frame at the bottom side of the process cartridge that extends away from the photosensitive drum and away from the protrusion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, the pivot axis of the second frame, the rotational axis of the developing roller, and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum are located in this order in a horizontal direction, and an imaginary line extending along the surface of the protrusion extends between the pivot axis of the second frame and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, (i) the pivot axis of the second frame, the rotational axis of the developing roller, and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum are located in this order in a horizontal direction, and (ii) the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum and the rotational axis of the developing roller are on one side of an imaginary line that extends along the surface of the protrusion and through a top side of the process cartridge, and the pivot axis of the second frame is on the other side of the imaginary line. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, the position of the protrusion is fixed relative to the second frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a spring that urges the second frame toward the first position, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, the spring is located above the pivot axis of the second frame in a vertical direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling exposed to outside of the process cartridge and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller, wherein the coupling is coaxial with the pivot axis of the second frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling exposed to outside of the process cartridge and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller, wherein the coupling is positioned at the same side of the process cartridge as the protrusion in a direction of the pivot axis of the second frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a coupling exposed to outside of the process cartridge and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller, and a spring that urges the second frame toward the first position, wherein the coupling is positioned at an opposite side of the process cartridge from a side at which the spring is positioned in a direction of the pivot axis of the second frame. ### Claim 9 A process cartridge comprising: a photosensitive drum; a first frame rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum to permit rotation of the photosensitive drum about a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing a latent image on the photosensitive drum; a second frame rotatably supporting the developing roller to permit rotation of the developing roller about a rotational axis of the developing roller, the second frame being pivotable about a pivot axis between (i) a first position in which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum such that the developing roller can develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum and (ii) a second position in which the developing roller is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum; and a protrusion having a surface configured to receive a force to move the second frame from the first position to the second position, wherein the process cartridge is configured such that, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at a bottom side of the process cartridge, (i) the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum is lower than the rotational axis of the developing roller, and (ii) as viewed in a direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, the surface of the protrusion extends in a direction that is parallel to at least a part of an edge of a sidewall of the first frame, with the surface of the protrusion and the sidewall facing the same direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, the pivot axis of the second frame, the rotational axis of the developing roller, and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum are located in this order in a horizontal direction, and an imaginary line extending along the surface of the protrusion extends between the pivot axis of the second frame and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, (i) the pivot axis of the second frame, the rotational axis of the developing roller, and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum are located in this order in a horizontal direction, and (ii) the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum and the rotational axis of the developing roller are on one side of an imaginary line that extends along the surface of the protrusion and through a top side of the process cartridge, and the pivot axis of the second frame is on the other side of the imaginary line. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, the position of the protrusion is fixed relative to the second frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A process cartridge according to claim 9, further comprising a spring that urges the second frame toward the first position, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, the spring is located above the pivot axis of the second frame in a vertical direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A process cartridge according to claim 9, further comprising a coupling exposed to outside of the process cartridge and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller, wherein the coupling is coaxial with the pivot axis of the second frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) A process cartridge according to claim 9, further comprising a coupling exposed to outside of the process cartridge and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller, wherein the coupling is positioned at the same side of the process cartridge as the protrusion in a direction of the pivot axis of the second frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) A process cartridge according to claim 9, further comprising: a coupling exposed to outside of the process cartridge and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller, and a spring that urges the second frame toward the first position, wherein the coupling is positioned at an opposite side of the process cartridge from a side at which the spring is positioned in a direction of the pivot axis of the second frame. ### Claim 17 A process cartridge comprising: a photosensitive drum; a first frame rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum to permit rotation of the photosensitive drum about a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing a latent image on the photosensitive drum; a second frame rotatably supporting the developing roller to permit rotation of the developing roller about a rotational axis of the developing roller, the second frame being pivotable about a pivot axis between (i) a first position in which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum such that the developing roller can develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum and (ii) a second position in which the developing roller is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum; and a protrusion having a surface configured to receive a force to move the second frame from the first position to the second position, wherein the process cartridge is configured such that, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at a bottom side of the process cartridge, (i) the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum is lower than the rotational axis of the developing roller, and (ii) as viewed in a direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, the surface of the protrusion extends in a direction that is parallel to a part of a surface of a sidewall of the first frame, with the surface of the protrusion and the part of the surface of the sidewall facing the same direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, the pivot axis of the second frame, the rotational axis of the developing roller, and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum are located in this order in a horizontal direction, and an imaginary line extending along the surface of the protrusion extends between the pivot axis of the second frame and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, (i) the pivot axis of the second frame, the rotational axis of the developing roller, and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum are located in this order in a horizontal direction, and (ii) the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum and the rotational axis of the developing roller are on one side of an imaginary line that extends along the surface of the protrusion and through a top side of the process cartridge, and the pivot axis of the second frame is on the other side of the imaginary line. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, the position of the protrusion is fixed relative to the second frame. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) A process cartridge according to claim 17, further comprising a spring that urges the second frame toward the first position, wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the protrusion positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge, the spring is located above the pivot axis of the second frame in a vertical direction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) A process cartridge according to claim 17, further comprising a coupling exposed to outside of the process cartridge and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller, wherein the coupling is coaxial with the pivot axis of the second frame. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) A process cartridge according to claim 17, further comprising a coupling exposed to outside of the process cartridge and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller, wherein the coupling is positioned at the same side of the process cartridge as the protrusion in a direction of the pivot axis of the second frame. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) A process cartridge according to claim 17, further comprising: a coupling exposed to outside of the process cartridge and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller, and a spring that urges the second frame toward the first position, wherein the coupling is positioned at an opposite side of the process cartridge from a side at which the spring is positioned in a direction of the pivot axis of the second frame.