Back to results
US 2006/0051131 A1Published application
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorJunya Takigawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process cartridge is detachably provided in an image forming apparatus having a main gear. The process cartridge includes a photoconductive unit and a rotatable unit, and a positioning member. The rotatable unit includes an unit body, an idler shaft, an idler gear attached to the idler shaft, a rotating gear coupled to the main gear via the idler gear, and a rotating member having a shaft and the rotating gear on the shaft of the rotating member. The positioning member positions the image carrying member and the rotating member with a predetermined distance therebetween, and includes an absorbing hole configured to reduce the effect of an external force, generated by a rotation of the main gear, applied from the main gear to the idler gear.
Claims27
A process cartridge detachably provided in an image forming apparatus having a main gear, the process cartridge, comprising:
- a photoconductive unit comprising an image carrying member;
- a rotatable unit, comprising;
- an unit body;
- an idler shaft provided on the unit body;
- an idler gear attached to the idler shaft and configured to be rotatable around the idler shaft;
- a rotating gear coupled to the main gear via the idler gear;
- and
- a rotating member having a shaft, the rotating gear being mounted on the shaft of the rotating member, the rotating member rotating around the shaft of the rotating member and facing the image carrying member, the rotating member being driven by a driving force transmitted from the main gear via the idler gear and the rotating gear;
- and
- a positioning member configured to position the image carrying member and the rotating member with a predetermined distance therebetween, and including a absorbing hole configured to reduce an effect of an external force, generated by a rotation of the main gear, applied from the main gear to the idler gear.
7 more elements
A process cartridge detachably provided in an image forming apparatus having a main gear, the process cartridge, comprising:
- a photoconductive unit comprising means for carrying an image;
- a rotatable unit, comprising;
- an unit body;
- an idler shaft provided on the unit body;
- an idler gear attached to the idler shaft and configured to be rotatable around the idler shaft;
- a rotating gear coupled to the main gear via the idler gear;
- and
- rotating means having a shaft and the rotating gear on the shaft of the means for rotating, wherein the rotating means rotates around the shaft of the rotating means and faces the means for carrying an image, and the means for rotating is driven by a driving force transmitted from the main gear via the idler gear and the rotating gear;
- and
- means for positioning the means for carrying an image and the rotating means with a predetermined distance therebetween, and including means for absorbing an effect of an external force, generated by a rotation of the main gear, is applied from the main gear to the idler gear.
7 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a main gear;
- a process cartridge configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:
- a photoconductive unit comprising an image carrying member;
- a rotatable unit, comprising;
- an unit body;
- an idler shaft provided on the unit body;
- an idler gear attached to the idler shaft and configured to be rotatable around the idler shaft;
- a rotating gear coupled to the main gear via the idler gear;
- and
- a rotating member having a shaft, the rotating gear on the shaft of the rotating member, the rotating member rotating around the shaft of the rotating member and facing the image carrying member, the rotating member being driven by a driving force transmitted from the main gear via the idler gear and the rotating gear;
- and
- a positioning member configured to position the image carrying member and the rotating member with a predetermined distance therebetween, and including a absorbing hole configured to reduce an effect of an external force, generated by a rotation of the main gear, is applied from the main gear to the idler gear.
9 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a main gear;
- a process cartridge configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:
- a photoconductive unit comprising an image carrying member;
- a rotatable unit, comprising;
- an unit body having a reference hole;
- an idler shaft provided on the unit body;
- an idler gear attached to the idler shaft and configured to be rotatable around the idler shaft;
- a rotating gear coupled to the main gear via the idler gear;
- and
- a rotating member having a shaft, the rotating gear being mounted on the shaft of the rotating member, the rotating member rotating around the shaft of the rotating member and facing the image carrying member, the rotating member being driven by a driving force transmitted from the main gear via the idler gear and the rotating gear:
- a main output shaft provided with the main gear provided thereon, and including a first portion rotatably supported by a body of the image forming apparatus, and a second portion rotatably supported by the reference hole formed in the unit body of the rotatable unit when the process cartridge is attached into the image forming apparatus;
- and
- a driving motor configured to drive the main gear via the main output shaft.
10 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a first supporting portion;
- a second supporting portion;
- a main gear;
- a main output shaft provided with the main gear thereon;
- a process cartridge, comprising:
- a photoconductive unit comprising an image carrying member having a shaft, and a first supported portion on an end portion of the shaft, which is supported by the first supporting portion when the process cartridge is attached in the image forming apparatus;
- a rotatable unit, comprising;
- an unit body having a second supported portion, which is supported by the second supporting portion when the process cartridge is attached in the image forming apparatus, the unit body is positioned in a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is attached in the image forming apparatus with the first and second supporting portions and the corresponding first and second supported portions;
- an idler shaft provided on the unit body;
- an idler gear attached to the idler shaft and configured to be rotatable around the idler shaft;
- a rotating gear coupled to the main gear via the idler gear;
- and
- a rotating member having a shaft, the rotating gear being mounted on the shaft of the rotating member, the rotating member rotating around the shaft of the rotating member and facing the image carrying member, the rotating member driven by a driving force transmitted from the main gear via the idler gear and the rotating gear.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.