Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Utility Patent
1997-09-26
2001-01-02
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
C399S167000
Utility Patent
active
06169866
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material using an electrophotographic image formation process. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (laser beam printer, LED printer or the like), a facsimile machine and a word processor or the like.
The process cartridge contains integrally an electrophotographic photosensitive member and charging means, developing means or cleaning means, and is detachably mountable relative to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus. It may integrally contain the electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one of the charging means, the developing means and the cleaning means. As another example, it may contain the electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least the developing means.
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, the process cartridge is used, which contains the electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, and which is detachably mountable as a unit to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus (process cartridge type). With this process cartridge type, maintenance of the apparatus can be carried out in effect by the user without depending on a serviceman. Therefore, the process cartridge type is now widely used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.
The present invention is directed to a further improvement of such a process cartridge.
A driving system for a photosensitive member in a process cartridge type, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,829,335 and 5,023,660.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein driving force can be transmitted assuredly from a main assembly of an apparatus to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum of a process cartridge.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein a process cartridge can be positioned in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein vibration of a process cartridge can be suppressed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and a electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, comprising a cartridge positioning portion for abutting to the main assembly positioning portion to stop a movement of said process cartridge beyond a predetermined distance in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of said photosensitive drum, when said process cartridge is mounted to the cartridge mounting portion, and said photosensitive drum receives the rotation driving force through interaction of a hole and a projection.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Ikemoto Isao
Numagami Atsushi
Watanabe Kazushi
Yokoyama Katsunori
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Chen Sophia S.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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