Processing cartridge, photoreceptor drum unit, and end member pair

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a processing cartridge, a photoreceptor drum unit, and end member pair, which are used in an image forming apparatus, such as a laser printer or a copier.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus in a view illustrating a first aspect.

#FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a structure of a processing cartridge.

#FIG. 3A is an outer appearance perspective view of a photoreceptor drum unit 10 in which a driving side end member 50 is illustrated in front. FIG. 3B is an outer appearance perspective view of the photoreceptor drum unit 10 in which a non-driving side end member 20 is illustrated in front.

#First, a first aspect will be described. FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the first aspect, and is a perspective view schematically illustrating an image forming apparatus 1 including a processing cartridge 3 and an image forming apparatus main body 2 (hereinafter, there is a case of being described as “apparatus main body 2”) in which the processing cartridge 3 is mounted and used. The processing cartridge 3 can be mounted on and disengaged from the apparatus main body 2 by being moved in the direction illustrated by I in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a structure of the processing cartridge 3. As can be ascertained from FIG. 2, the processing cartridge 3 includes a photoreceptor drum unit 10 (refer to FIG. 3), a charging roller 4, a developing roller 5, a regulating member 6, and a cleaning blade 7, inside a housing 3a. In a posture in which the processing cartridge 3 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2, as a recording medium, such as a paper sheet, moves along a line illustrated by II in FIG. 2, an image is transferred to the recording medium.

#In addition, attachment and detachment of the processing cartridge 3 to and from the apparatus main body 2 are generally performed as follows. Since the photoreceptor drum unit 10 provided in the processing cartridge 3 receives a rotation driving force from the apparatus main body 2 and rotates, a driving shaft 70 (refer to FIG. 10) of the apparatus main body 2 and a shaft member 61 (refer to FIG. 10) of the photoreceptor drum unit 10 are engaged at least when an operation is performed. Meanwhile, when attaching and detaching the processing cartridge 3 to and from the apparatus main body 2, the engagement of the driving shaft 70 of the apparatus main body 2 and the shaft member 61 of the photoreceptor drum unit 10 is released.