US 6,240,266 B1 · Process cartridge and drum mount for photosensitive drum

Abstract

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a charger for charging the photosensitive drum, a developer for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image, a transferrer for transferring the toner image onto the recording material, a fixer for fixing the toner image on the recording material, a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving a driving force from the motor, and a hole formed substantially at a center of the gear. The hole has a polygonal cross-section. The apparatus also includes a projection provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum. When the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through the hole and the projection with the projection is pulled into the hole. An end portion of a shaft having the projection and a surface defining the hole contact each other so that the process cartridge is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum relative to the main assembly. The apparatus also includes a mover for imparting relative movement between the hole and the photosensitive drum to engage the projection with the hole.

Claims91

Dependent claims

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
charging means for charging said photosensitive drum;
developing means for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum into a toner image:
transfer means for transferring the toner image onto the recording material;
fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material;
a motor;
a driving rotatable member for receiving a driving force from said motor;
a hole formed substantially at a center of said driving rotatable member, said hole having a polygonal cross-section;
a projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said driving rotatable member rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, wherein a rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum relative to the main assembly, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum;
and
moving means for imparting relative movement between said hole and said projection a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to engage said projection with said hole.

8 more elements

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a motor, a driving rotatable member for receiving a driving force from said motor and a hole formed substantially at a center of said driving rotatable member, said hole having a polygonal cross-section, wherein said process cartridge comprises:

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
process means actable on said photosensitive drum;
a projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said driving rotatable member rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum relative to the main assembly, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum.

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

a motor;
a driving rotatable member for receiving a driving force from said motor;
a hole formed substantially at a center of said driving rotatable member, said hole having a polygonal cross-section;
means for mounting a process cartridge which includes:
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
process means actable on said photosensitive drum;
and
a projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said driving rotatable member rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum relative to the main assembly, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum;
and
moving means for imparting relative movement between said hole and said projection in a longitudinal direction of said photosensitive drum to engage said projection with said hole;
and
means for feeding the recording material.

9 more elements

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
charging means for charging said photosensitive drum;
developing means for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum into a toner image:
transfer means for transferring the toner image onto the recording material;
fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material;
a motor;
a driving rotatable member for receiving a driving force from said motor:
a twisted hole formed substantially at a center of said driving rotatable member said hole having a polygonal cross-section;
a twisted prism projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said driving rotatable member rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum relative to the main assembly, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum;
and
moving means for imparting relative movement between said hole and said projection in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to engage said projection with said hole.

8 more elements

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a motor, a driving rotatable member for receiving driving force from said motor and a twisted hole formed substantially at a center of said driving rotatable member, said hole having a polygonal cross-section, said process cartridge comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
process means actable on said photosensitive drum;
and
a twisted polygonal prism projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said driving rotatable member rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum relative to the main assembly, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum.

1 more element

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

a motor;
a driving rotatable member for receiving a driving force from said motor;
a twisted hole formed substantially at a center of said driving rotatable member, said hole having a polygonal cross-section;
means for mounting a process cartridge which includes:
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
process means actable on said photosensitive drum;
and
a twisted polygonal prism projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said driving rotatable member rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum relative to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus, and wherein said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum;
and
moving means for imparting relative movement between said hole and said projection in a longitudinal direction of said photosensitive drum to engage said projection with said hole;
and
means for feeding the recording material.

9 more elements

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a motor, a driving rotatable member for receiving driving force from said motor and a twisted hole formed substantially at a center of said driving rotatable member, said hole having a substantially triangular cross-section, said process cartridge comprising:

a cartridge frame;
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;
and
a twisted substantially triangular prism projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said driving rotatable member rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said photosensitive drum relative to the main assembly, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum;
and
wherein said projection is projected from an end of said shaft provided substantially coaxial with a drum helical gear for transmitting a rotational force to said developing roller, and wherein said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum in said cartridge frame.

4 more elements

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

a motor;
a driving rotatable member for receiving a driving force from said motor:
a twisted hole formed substantially at a center of said driving rotatable member, said hole having a substantially triangular cross-section;
means for mounting a process cartridge which includes:
a cartridge frame:
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;
and
a twisted substantially triangular prism projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said driving rotatable member rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum relative to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum;
and
wherein said projection is provided at an end of a shaft provided substantially coaxial with a drum helical gear for transmitting a rotational force to said developing roller, and wherein said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum in said cartridge frame;
moving means for imparting relative movement between said hole and said projection in a longitudinal direction of said photosensitive drum to engage said projection with said hole;
and
means for feeding the recording material.

11 more elements

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly helical gear for receiving a driving force from said motor and a twisted hole formed substantially coaxial with said helical gear, said hole having a substantially triangular cross-section, wherein said process cartridge comprises:

a cartridge frame;
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;
a cleaning blade for removing residual toner from said photosensitive drum;
a twisted substantially triangular prism projection provided at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein when said main assembly helical gear rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum relative to the main assembly, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum;
and
wherein said projection is provided at an end of said shaft provided substantially at a center of a drum helical gear for transmitting a rotational driving force to said developing roller, and wherein said shaft functions to rotatably support said electrophotographic photosensitive drum in said cartridge frame, and
wherein said projection, said drum helical gear and said shaft are of integrally molded resin material, and an outer diameter D1 of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, an outer diameter F of said shaft and a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted substantially triangular prism projection, satisfy:
D1>F≧C.

6 more elements

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

a motor;
a main assembly side helical gear for receiving a driving force from said motor;
twisted hole formed substantially coaxial with said gear, said hole having a substantially triangular cross-section, said hole being formed in an end of a circular column projected from a substantially central portion of said helical gear;
means for mounting a process cartridge which includes:
a cartridge frame;
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;
a cleaning blade for removing residual toner from said photosensitive drum;
and
a twisted substantially triangular prism projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said main assembly side helical gear rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said projection with said projection being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said projection and a surface defining said hole are contacted to each other so that said photosensitive drum is positioned in place in a longitudinal direction of said photosensitive drum relative to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum;
and wherein said projection is provided at an end of a shaft provided substantially coaxial with a drum helical gear for transmitting a rotational force to said developing roller, and wherein said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum in said cartridge frame, and wherein said projection, said drum helical gear and said shaft are of integrally molded resin material, and an outer diameter D1 of said photosensitive drum, an outer diameter F of said shaft and a diameter C of a circumscribed circle of said twisted substantially triangular prism projection satisfy:
D1>F≧C;
an openable cover for permitting mounting and demounting of said process cartridge relative to said main assembly;
moving means for moving said hole away from said projection in interrelation with opening of said cover, and for moving said hole toward said projection in interrelation with closing of said cover to engage said projection with said hole;
and
means for feeding the recording material;
and
wherein a dedendum diameter G of said drum helical gear and an inner diameter D2 of said photosensitive drum, satisfy:
G>D2, and G>F≧C.

16 more elements

process means actable on said photosensitive drum;
a plurality of engageable portions engageable to an inner surface of said hole, said engageable portions being provided at and supported by an end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said driving rotatable member rotates with said hole and engageable portions engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said photosensitive drum through said hole and said engageable portions with said engageable portions being pulled into said hole, wherein an end portion of a shaft having said engageable portions and a surface defining said hole contact each other so that said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned in a plane in a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum relative to the main assembly, and said shaft functions to rotatably support said photosensitive drum.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process cartridge and drum mount for photosensitive drum

Life of this patent

Process cartridge and drum mount for photosensitive drum

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims91