Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2001-11-13
Braun, Fred L (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317572
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
In this specifications, the term “electrophotographic image forming apparatus” means an apparatus that forms an image on recording medium with the use of an electrophotographic image formation process. As for examples of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, or the like), a facsimile apparatus, a word processor, and the like are included.
The term “process cartridge” refers to a cartridge that is removably installable in the main assembly of an image forming apparatus, and in which a charging means or a cleaning means are integrally disposed along with an electrophotographic photosensitive member, or in which at least one of a charging means and a cleaning means is integrally disposed along with an electrophotographic photosensitive member.
In the past, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that employed an electrophotographic image formation process employed a process cartridge system, according to which an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a processing means that worked on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, were integrated in the form of a cartridge, which was removably installable in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. Also according to this process cartridge system, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus could be maintained by the users themselves, without relying on service personnel. Therefore, the operational efficiency could be remarkably improved. Thus, a process cartridge system has been widely used in the field of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
In the case of a process cartridge system, such as the one described above, it is necessary to prevent an electrophotographic photosensitive member from shaking during an image forming operation by an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Therefore, an electrophotographic photosensitive member is supported by a frame, which is supported by the main assembly of an image forming apparatus, so that the electrophotographic photosensitive member is accurately and stably positioned relative to the main assembly of an image forming apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a result of the further advancement of the above described conventional technologies.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge capable of preventing an electrophotographic photosensitive member from shaking during image formation, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which such a process cartridge can be removably installable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge capable of accurately and stably rotating an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which such a process cartridge can be removably installable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge, the driving force receiving member of which is provided with a hole that is coaxial with an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and into which the projection of the driving force transmitting member fits, and a plurality of driving force transmission holes that are circularly and evenly distributed around the aforementioned hole, and into which a plurality of driving force transmission projections of the aforementioned driving force transmitting member fit, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which such a process cartridge can be removably installable.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Miura Kouji
Miyabe Shigeo
Braun Fred L
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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