US 2006/0216061 A1Published application

Process cartridge and image forming apparatus

AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorKoji Yamaguchi

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Abstract

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the drum with a developer while being in contact with the drum; a drum unit for supporting the drum, wherein the drum unit is positioned relative to the main assembly when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly; a developing unit supporting the developing roller and movable together with the drum unit between a contact position in which the developing roller and the drum are in contact to each other to develop the is electrostatic latent image and a spaced position in which the developing roller and the drum are spaced away from each other; a drum driving force receiving portion, provided in the drum unit, for receiving, from the main assembly, a drum driving force for rotating the drum when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly; a movable member which is movable to move the developing unit between the contact position and the spaced position; and a movable member driving force receiving portion provided in the drum unit for receiving, from the main assembly, a movable member driving force for moving the movable member when the process cartridge is mounted in the main assembly.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer while being in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a drum unit configured and positioned to support said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said drum unit is positioned relative to the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus;
a developing unit supporting said developing roller and movable together with said drum unit between a contact position in which said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive drum are in contact to each other to develop the electrostatic latent image and a spaced position in which said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive drum are spaced away from each other;
a drum driving force receiving portion, provided in said drum unit, configured and positioned to receive, from the main assembly of the apparatus, a drum driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus;
a movable member which is movable to move said developing unit between the contact position and the spaced position;
and
a movable member driving force receiving portions provided in said drum unit, configured and positioned to receive, from the main assembly of the apparatus, a movable member driving force for moving said movable member when said process cartridge is mounted in the main assembly of the apparatus.

5 more elements

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, said apparatus comprising:

i) a positioning portion;
ii) a drum driving force transmitting portion;
and
iii) a movable member driving force transmitting portion, wherein the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer while being in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum unit configured and positioned to support the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein the drum unit is positioned relative to said positioning portion when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, a developing unit supporting the developing roller and movable together with the drum unit between a contact position in which the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are in contact with each other to develop the electrostatic latent image and a spaced position in which the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are spaced away from each other, a drum driving force receiving portion, provided in the drum unit, configured and positioned to receive, from said drum driving force transmitting portion, a drum driving force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, movable member which is movable to move the developing unit between the contact position and the spaced position, and a movable member driving force receiving portion provided in the drum unit, configured and positioned to receive, from said movable member driving force transmitting portion, a movable member driving force for moving the movable member when the process cartridge is mounted in the main assembly of said apparatus.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/094,242Filed 31 Mar 2005
Priority: JP 086041/2005(PAT.)24 Mar 2005
Published: 28 Sep 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G03G 21/1825
Having a submodular arrangement: pivotable subunit connection
G03G 21/185
For guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks: the process cartridge being mounted parallel to the axis of the…
G03G 21/1857
Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body: for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive…
G03G 2221/1853
Process cartridge: having a submodular arrangement