Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-12-11
Brase, Sandra (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
C399S167000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330409
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 the rotation accuracy of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is improved.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein driving force is transmitted by abutment between a projection and an edge of a hole.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein engagement between a projection and a hole is firm.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein driving force is transmitted to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between a non-twisted projection and a twisted hole.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein a projection is engageable with twisted surfaces, and the projection is provided at a longitudinal end of a photosensitive drum, wherein the projection is not twisted, and when a main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein a projection is engageable with twisted surfaces, and the projection is provided at a longitudinal end of a photosensitive drum, wherein the projection is not twisted, and when a main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection, and wherein the projection is not pulled by the hole.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein when a process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the process cartridge is correctly positioned in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein an elastic member is provided to urge the process cartridge in the longitudinal direction of a photosensitive drum when a process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of an apparatus.
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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Korean Patent Office Communication dated May 7, 2001.
European Patent Office Communication mailed Apr. 11, 2001.
English Translation of Korean Office Action dated May 7, 2001.
Ikemoto Isao
Numagami Atsushi
Watanabe Kazushi
Yokoyama Katsunori
Brase Sandra
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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