# US 8,275,286 B2 · Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,275,286 B2 - Document ID: US8275286B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/902,472 - Filed: 2010-10-12 - Published: 2011-04-21 - Granted: 2012-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-22 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takahito Ueno; Shigeo Miyabe; Masanari Morioka; Masato Hisano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8275286B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1842: {for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence)} - G03G 15/751: {relating to drum (G03G15/757 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/757: {Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 21/1814: {Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence)} - G03G 21/1817: {having a submodular arrangement} - 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 21/185: {the process cartridge being mounted parallel to the axis of the photosensitive member} - G03G 21/1853: {the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member} - G03G 21/1857: {for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms} - G03G 21/186: {Axial couplings} - G03G 2221/1657: transmitting mechanical drive power - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A process cartridge for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof. The process cartridge also includes a coupling member to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, with the coupling member capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The coupling member is also capable of taking a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the rotational force transmitting angular position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process cartridge comprising: a casing; a rotary member having a longitudinal axis L1, the rotary member being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L1; and a coupling member having a longitudinal axis L2, the coupling member having (i) a rotational force transmitting portion engageable with the rotary member, (ii) a rotational force receiving portion, and (iii) a connecting portion that connects the rotational force receiving portion to the rotational force transmitting portion, wherein the coupling member is movable between a first position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is coaxial with the axis L1 of the rotary member, and a second position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis L1 of the rotary member, wherein the rotational force receiving portion comprises (i) a surface on a side opposite the connecting portion, with the surface having an opening to a recess, and (ii) at least one pair of projections, with each projection having a tip that is the part of the projection that is farthest from the rotary member when the coupling member is in the first position, wherein at least part of the projections is farther from the rotational force transmitting portion than the surface having the opening, and wherein a surface of the rotational force receiving portion that defines the recess is slanted with respect to the axis L2. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the recess has one of a semi-spherical shape and a conical shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rotary member is a photosensitive drum. ### Claim 4 A process cartridge comprising: a casing; a rotary member having a longitudinal axis L1, the rotary member being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L1; and a coupling member having a longitudinal axis L2, the coupling member having (i) a rotational force transmitting portion engageable with the rotary member, (ii) a rotational force receiving portion, and (iii) a connecting portion that connects the rotational force receiving portion to the rotational force transmitting portion, wherein the coupling member is movable between a first position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is coaxial with the axis L1 of the rotary member, and a second position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis L1 of the rotary member, wherein the rotational force receiving portion comprises at least one pair of projections, with each projection having a tip that is a surface of the projection farthest from the rotary member when the coupling member is in the first position, wherein, in the first position, the projections are positioned on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis L1, with the plane being perpendicular to a line passing through both projections, and, in the second position, the projections are positioned on the same side of the plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the rotational force receiving portion of the coupling member has a recess, with the recess being coaxial with the axis L2 and having an opening facing away from the rotary member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the recess has one of a semi-spherical shape and a conical shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the coupling member can be inclined in substantially any direction with respect to the axis L1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the rotational force transmitting portion, the rotational force receiving portion, and the connecting portion are integrally formed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the rotational force transmitting portion, the rotational force receiving portion, and the connecting portion are separate parts connected together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the rotary member is a photosensitive drum. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the rotary member has a flange at one end that is coaxial with the axis L1, and the coupling member is engageable with the rotary member via the flange. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the rotational force receiving portion comprises a plurality of pairs of projections. ### Claim 13 An image forming apparatus comprising: a process cartridge including: a casing; a rotary member having a longitudinal axis L1, the rotary member being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L1; and a coupling member having a longitudinal axis L2, the coupling member having (i) a rotational force transmitting portion engageable with the rotary member, (ii) a rotational force receiving portion, and (iii) a connecting portion that connects the rotational force receiving portion to the rotational force transmitting portion, wherein the coupling member is movable between a first position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is coaxial with the axis L1 of the rotary member, and a second position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis LI of the rotary member, wherein the rotational force receiving portion comprises (i) a surface on a side opposite the connecting portion, with the surface having an opening to a recess, and (ii) at least one pair of projections, with each projection having a tip that is the part of the projection that is farthest from the rotary member when the coupling member is in the first position, wherein at least part of the projections is farther from the rotational force transmitting portion than the surface having the opening, and wherein a surface of the rotational force receiving portion that defines the recess is slanted with respect to the axis L2; a driving motor; a driving shaft engageable with the rotational force receiving portion of the coupling member of the process cartridge and having a rotational axis L3; a guide portion configured to guide insertion of the process cartridge into the image forming apparatus along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis L3 of the driving shaft; and an urging member movable between an urging position and a retracted position retracted from the urging position, wherein, when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, the coupling member is inclined toward the driving shaft by being urged by an elastic force of the urging member restoring to the urging position after being temporarily retracted to the retracted position by being contacted by the coupling member. ### Claim 14 A process cartridge comprising: a casing; a rotary member having an axis L1, the rotary member being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L1; and a coupling member having an axis L2, the coupling member having (i) a first end portion connected to the rotary member, (ii) a second end portion, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the coupling member is movable between a first position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is coaxial with the axis L1 of the rotary member, and a second position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis L1 of the rotary member, and wherein, when the coupling member is in the second position, the axis L2 of the coupling member is inclined at least about 20 degrees with respect to the position of the axis L2 when the coupling member is in the first position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein, when the coupling member is in the second position, the axis L2 of the coupling member is not greater than about 60 degrees with respect to the position of the axis L2 when the coupling member is in the first position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process cartridge according claim 15, wherein, when the coupling member is in the second position, an angle of inclination of the axis L2 with respect to the axis L1 is about 35 degrees. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein a maximum distance from the axis L2 to an outermost surface of the connecting portion along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 is less than a maximum distance from the axis L2 to an outermost surface of the second end portion along a line perpendicular to the axis L2. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the connecting portion comprises a shaft along the axis L2. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the first end portion of the coupling member has a maximum outer dimension in a direction perpendicular to the axis L2 that is greater than the maximum outer dimension of the connecting portion of the coupling member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The process cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the first end portion of the coupling member has a minimum outer dimension in a direction perpendicular to the axis L2 that is smaller than the maximum outer dimension of the connecting portion of the coupling member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein, for at least part of the second end portion, a maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 increases as the distance along the axis L2 from the connecting portion increases. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the second end portion comprises a projection, and the second end portion comprises an opening to a recess, with the opening facing away from the connecting portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the coupling member is connected to the rotary member by a flange. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The process cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the coupling member is connected to the flange by a bearing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The process cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the flange has a hollow portion, and at least part of the first end portion of the coupling member is in the hollow portion of the flange. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The process cartridge according to claim 25, the first end portion of the coupling member is supported by the hollow portion. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the coupling member is connected to a shaft of the rotary member. ### Claim 28 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the rotary member is a photosensitive drum. ### Claim 29 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the casing comprises a guide portion capable of guiding the coupling member toward the second position. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The process cartridge according to claim 29, wherein the guide portion projects substantially in the same direction as the axis L1 and is disposed proximate to the coupling member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, further comprising a contact portion capable of contacting the coupling member to position the coupling member at the second position. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The process cartridge according to claim 31, wherein the casing provides the contact portion. ### Claim 33 (depends on 14) The process cartridge according to claim 14, the projection includes a surface at least a portion of which overhangs a portion of the second end portion.