Process cartridge, mountable to an image forming apparatus, having first contact portion to be guided by a guide when mounted and second contact portion to limit cartridge rotation or movement when mounted, and image forming apparatus mounting such a process cartridge

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 first main assembly guide provided in a main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• (ii) a first main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• (iii) a second main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• (iv) a second main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• and
• (v) a mounting portion configured and positioned to detachably mount a process cartridge, which includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the photosensitive drum, and a first contact portion provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame portion of the process cartridge, the cartridge frame portion being provided at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum and configured and positioned to support one longitudinal end portion of the photosensitive drum, the first contact portion being guided by said first main assembly guide when the process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the first contact portion is disposed at a leading portion of the process cartridge with respect to a mounting direction in which the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, and wherein the first contact portion is mounted to contact said first main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, the process cartridge further including a cartridge coupling disposed above the first contact portion when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position and engageable with a main assembly coupling provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus to receive a rotational driving force from the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a second contact portion provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge frame portion of the process cartridge provided at the one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, the second contact portion being disposed upstream of the first contact portion with respect to the mounting direction, wherein the second contact portion is effective to limit rotation of the process cartridge in a rotational direction of the photosensitive drum when the process cartridge mounted to the mounting position receives the rotational driving force from the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge further includes a positioning portion projected outwardly from another cartridge frame portion of the process cartridge, the another cartridge frame portion being provided at the other longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum and being configured and positioned to support the other longitudinal end portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the positioning portion being guided by said second main assembly guide when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position of the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and being positioned to contact said second main assembly receiving portion when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a process device actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a first contact portion provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge, the cartridge frame portion being provided at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and being configured and positioned to support one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said first contact portion is guided by a first main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position in the main assembly of the apparatus,
• wherein said first contact portion is disposed at a leading portion of said process cartridge with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, and
• wherein said first contact portion is mounted to contact a first main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position;
• and
• a limiting portion, provided on the cartridge frame portion at a position behind said first contact portion with respect to the mounting direction,
• wherein said limiting portion is configured and positioned to limit movement of said process cartridge by an urging force applied to said photosensitive drum from a transferring roller provided in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position by contact to a main assembly contact portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus.

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 first main assembly guide provided in a main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• (ii) a first main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• (iii) a main assembly contact portion provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• and
• (iv) a mounting portion configured and positioned to mount a process cartridge, which includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the photosensitive drum, and a first contact portion provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame portion of the process cartridge, the cartridge frame portion being provided at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum and configured and positioned to support one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, the first contact portion being guided by said first main assembly guide when the process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the first contact portion is disposed at a leading portion of the process cartridge with respect to a mounting direction in which the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, and wherein the first contact portion is mounted to contact said first main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, wherein the process cartridge also includes a limiting portion, provided on the cartridge frame portion at a position behind the first contact portion with respect to the mounting direction, wherein the limiting portion is configured and positioned to limit movement of the process cartridge by an urging force applied to the photosensitive drum from a transferring roller provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position mounting by contact to said main assembly contact portion.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a transfer roller configured and positioned to transfer a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum of said process cartridge onto a recording material, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a process device actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said process device comprises a charging roller configured and positioned to electrically charge said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a first contact portion, provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge, the cartridge frame portion being provided at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and configured and positioned to support one longitudinal end portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said first contact portion is guided by a first main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position in the main assembly of the apparatus,
• wherein said first contact portion is disposed at a leading portion of said process cartridge with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, and said first contact portion is mounted to contact a first main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position;
• a cartridge coupling disposed above said first contact portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said cartridge coupling being engageable with a main assembly coupling provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to receive a rotational driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a second contact portion provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge provided at the one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said second contact portion is disposed upstream of said first contact portion with respect to the mounting direction,
• wherein said second contact portion is effective to limit rotation of said process cartridge in a rotational direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge mounted to the mounting position receives the rotational driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a positioning portion projected outwardly from another cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge, the another cartridge frame portion being provided at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and being configured and positioned to support the other longitudinal end portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said positioning portion is guided by a second main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position of the main assembly of the apparatus, and is positioned to contact a second main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position,
• wherein the rotational driving force is effective to rotate said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charging roller, said developing roller and the transfer roller,
• wherein said second contact portion is an arcuate portion disposed at a corner portion of said cartridge frame portion which is provided at the one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• a first helical gear and a second helical gear juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the order named on the leading portion of said process cartridge with respect to the mounting direction and disposed above said first contact portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position,
• wherein said first helical gear is disposed on an outer side of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said first helical gear is effective to transmit, to the transfer roller, a rotational driving force for rotating the transfer roller and to transmit, to said charging roller a rotational driving force for rotating said charging roller, and
• wherein said second helical gear is spaced from the outer side of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said second helical gear is effective to transmit, to said developing roller, a rotational driving force for rotating said developing roller.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a transfer roller configured and positioned to transfer a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum of said process cartridge onto a recording material, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a process device actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said process device comprises a charging roller configured and positioned to electrically charge said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a first contact portion, provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge, the cartridge frame portion being provided at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and configured and positioned to support one longitudinal end portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said first contact portion is guided by a first main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position in the main assembly of the apparatus,
• wherein said first contact portion is disposed at a leading portion of said process cartridge with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, and said first contact portion is mounted to contact a first main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position;
• a cartridge coupling disposed above said first contact portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said cartridge coupling being engageable with a main assembly coupling provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to receive a rotational driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a second contact portion provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge provided at the one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said second contact portion is disposed upstream of said first contact portion with respect to the mounting direction,
• wherein said second contact portion is effective to limit rotation of said process cartridge in a rotational direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge mounted to the mounting position receives the rotational driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a positioning portion projected outwardly from another cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge, the another cartridge frame portion being provided at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and being configured and positioned to support the other longitudinal end portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said positioning portion is guided by a second main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position of the main assembly of the apparatus, and is positioned to contact a second main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position,
• wherein the rotational driving force is effective to rotate said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charging roller, said developing roller, and the transfer roller;
• and
• a first helical gear and a second helical gear juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the order named on the leading portion of said process cartridge with respect to the mounting direction and disposed above said first contact portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position,
• wherein said first helical gear is disposed on an outer side of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said first helical gear is effective to transmit, to the transfer roller, a rotational driving force for rotating the transfer roller and to transmit, to said charging roller a rotational driving force for rotating said charging roller, and
• wherein said second helical gear is spaced from the outer side of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said second helical gear is effective to transmit, to said developing roller, a rotational driving force for rotating said developing roller, and
• wherein said positioning portion, when said process cartridge is removed from the mounting position, contacts an upper surface of the second main assembly guide to prevent upward rotation of a leading side of said process cartridge beyond a predetermined degree with respect to a removing direction in which said process cartridge is removed from the mounting position.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a transfer roller configured and positioned to transfer a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum of said process cartridge onto a recording material, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a process device actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said process device comprises a charging roller configured and positioned to electrically charge said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a first contact portion, provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge, the cartridge frame portion being provided at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and configured and positioned to support one longitudinal end portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said first contact portion is guided by a first main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position in the main assembly of the apparatus,
• wherein said first contact portion is disposed at a leading portion of said process cartridge with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, and said first contact portion is mounted to contact a first main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position;
• a cartridge coupling disposed above said first contact portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said cartridge coupling being engageable with a main assembly coupling provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to receive a rotational driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a second contact portion provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge provided at the one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said second contact portion is disposed upstream of said first contact portion with respect to the mounting direction,
• wherein said second contact portion is effective to limit rotation of said process cartridge in a rotational direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge mounted to the mounting position receives the rotational driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a positioning portion projected outwardly from another cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge, the another cartridge frame portion being provided at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and being configured and positioned to support the other longitudinal end portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said positioning portion is guided by a second main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position of the main assembly of the apparatus, and is positioned to contact a second main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position,
• wherein the rotational driving force is effective to rotate said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charging roller, said developing roller, and the transfer roller;
• and
• a mounting guide provided on the outside of the cartridge frame portion and which is provided at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said mounting guide is disposed upstream of said positioning portion with respect to the mounting direction, and
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said mounting guide is guided by the second main assembly guide.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a transfer roller configured and positioned to transfer a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum of said process cartridge onto a recording material, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a process device actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said process device comprises a charging roller configured and positioned to electrically charge said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a first contact portion, provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge, the cartridge frame portion being provided at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and configured and positioned to support one longitudinal end portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said first contact portion is guided by a first main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position in the main assembly of the apparatus,
• wherein said first contact portion is disposed at a leading portion of said process cartridge with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, and said first contact portion is mounted to contact a first main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position;
• a cartridge coupling disposed above said first contact portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said cartridge coupling being engageable with a main assembly coupling provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to receive a rotational driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a second contact portion provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge provided at the one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said second contact portion is disposed upstream of said first contact portion with respect to the mounting direction,
• wherein said second contact portion is effective to limit rotation of said process cartridge in a rotational direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge mounted to the mounting position receives the rotational driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a positioning portion projected outwardly from another cartridge frame portion of said process cartridge, the another cartridge frame portion being provided at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and being configured and positioned to support the other longitudinal end portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said positioning portion is guided by a second main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position of the main assembly of the apparatus, and is positioned to contact a second main assembly receiving portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position;
• and
• a first helical gear and a second helical gear juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the order named on the leading portion of said process cartridge with respect to the mounting direction and disposed above said first contact portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position,
• wherein said first helical gear is disposed on an outer side of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said first helical gear is effective to transmit, to the transfer roller, a rotational driving force for rotating the transfer roller and to transmit, to said charging roller a rotational driving force for rotating said charging roller, and
• wherein said second helical gear is spaced from the outer side of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said second helical gear is effective to transmit, to said developing roller, a rotational driving force for rotating said developing roller, and
• wherein said positioning portion, when said process cartridge is removed from the mounting position, contacts an upper surface of the second main assembly guide to prevent upward rotation of a leading side of said process cartridge beyond a predetermined degree with respect to a removing direction in which said process cartridge is removed from the mounting position.