Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2001-08-28
Beatty, Robert (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282390
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
In this specification, the term “electrophotographic image forming apparatus” refers to an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium with the use of an electrophotographic image formation process. Examples of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for examples, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, or the like), a facsimile apparatus, a word processor, and the like.
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 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 which employed an electrophotographic image formation process employed a process cartridge system, according to which an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a processing means which 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, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is supported on a frame, which in turn is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, by which the photosensitive member is correctly positioned.
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 wherein an electrophotographic photosensitive member can be supported at the correct position in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein an electrophotographic photosensitive member can be supported at the correct position in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a frame for supporting at least the electrophotographic photosensitive member; wherein the frame includes a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion for positioning the process cartridge relative to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus coaxially with the electrophotographic photosensitive member; wherein the first and second positioning portions are each provided with at least three receiving portions at three positions on an outer surface; wherein each of the receiving portions of each of the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion positions the first and second positioning portions by contacting a first positioning member of the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a second positioning portion of the mounting means when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus while being supported by a movable mounting means of the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
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Arimitsu Takeshi
Miyabe Shigeo
Miyamoto Jun
Beatty Robert
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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