Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-02
2001-08-07
Brase, Sandra (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272299
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, loadable with the same, for forming an image on a recording material.
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, the 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.
In a conventional process cartridge, driving force is transmitted to the process cartridge at one end side of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and electric contacts of the process cartridge are provided at the side where the driving force is transmitted, or at both of the ends.
A driving system for a process cartridge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,829,335, 5,023,660 and so on.
An electric contact arrangement of a process cartridge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,839,690, 5,404,198, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 4253/1988 and so on.
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 electrical connection can be assuredly established between the process cartridge and the main assembly of the apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable wherein electrical wiring is efficiently arranged.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge which can be efficiently assembled and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge is detachably mountable.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge wherein a grounding contact, a developing bias contact and a contact are all provided adjacent a longitudinal end opposite from a longitudinal end where a cartridge coupling member is disposed, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is detachably mountable.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is detachably mountable, wherein when a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus is rotated after the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, it is engaged with a cartridge coupling member for receiving, from the main assembly, driving force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
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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Numagami Atsushi
Oguma Toru
Watanabe Kazushi
Brase Sandra
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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