Image forming apparatus and process cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11599058-B2
Application number	US-202117470123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2021
Priority date	Sep 7, 2012
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion for mounting a process cartridge, the process cartridge including a first unit having an image bearing drum, and a second unit having a developing roller, the second unit being movable between a contact position in which the roller contacts the drum and a spaced position in which they are mutually spaced; an engageable member engageable with a force receiving portion provided on the second unit; wherein the engageable member is movable between a first position for maintaining the second unit in the spaced position by engaging with the force receiving portion, a second position for permitting movement of the second unit from the spaced position to the contact position; and a third position for permitting the process cartridge to be mounted, by being pressed by the process cartridge to retract, when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive drum;
a first frame rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum to permit rotation of the photosensitive drum about a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum;
a developing roller for developing a latent image on the photosensitive drum;
a second frame rotatably supporting the developing roller to permit rotation of the developing roller about a rotational axis of the developing roller, the second frame being pivotable about a pivot axis between (i) a first position in which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum such that the developing roller can develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum and (ii) a second position in which the developing roller is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum;
a developing roller coupling provided at the one end of the second frame and operatively connected to the developing roller, the developing roller coupling being configured to transmit a rotational force to the developing roller;
a side end wall attached to the one end of the second frame and having an end wall body with a hole formed therein through which the developing roller coupling is exposed to outside of the cartridge; and
a protrusion operatively connected to the one end of the second frame, the protrusion having a surface a part of which is configured to receive a force to move the second frame from the first position to the second position,
wherein the process cartridge is configured such that, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented such that the photosensitive drum and the protrusion are positioned at a downward side of the process cartridge with the axis of the photosensitive drum positioned downward from the axis of the developing roller, as seen in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum, the surface of the protrusion is provided below the side end wall.

2. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is projected in a direction that crosses the axis of the developing roller.

3. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented such that the photosensitive drum and the protrusion are positioned at a downward side of the process cartridge with the axis of the photosensitive drum positioned downward from the axis of the developing roller, as seen in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum, the protrusion is provided below the developing roller coupling.

4. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the second frame includes a bearing having a bearing body with a hole formed therein that receives and rotatably supports a shaft of the developing roller, with the protrusion protruding from the bearing body.

5. A cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the protrusion is in a fixed position relative to the bearing body.

6. A cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the end wall is provided outside of the bearing in a direction of the pivot axis.

7. A cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a drum coupling operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, the drum coupling being configured to transmit a rotational force to the photosensitive drum,
wherein the hole is a first hole, and the end wall body includes a second hole through which the drum coupling is exposed to outside of the cartridge.

8. A cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented such that the photosensitive drum and the protrusion are positioned at a downward side of the process cartridge with the axis of the photosensitive drum positioned downward from the axis of the developing roller, as seen in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum, the portion of the end wall body below the second hole protrudes more downward than the portion of the end wall body below the first hole.

9. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is coaxial with a rotational axis of the developing roller coupling.

10. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented such that the photosensitive drum and the protrusion are positioned at a downward side of the process cartridge with the axis of the photosensitive drum positioned downward from the axis of the developing roller, as seen in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum, a length of the bottommost part of the protrusion in a horizontal direction is greater than the length of at least of apart of the protrusion that is above the bottommost part of the protrusion.

11. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented such that the photosensitive drum and the protrusion are positioned at a downward side of the process cartridge with the axis of the photosensitive drum positioned downward from the axis of the developing roller, as seen in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum, a distance along a surface of at least a part of the protrusion in a horizontal direction increases as the distance along the protrusion in a vertical direction from the pivot axis increases.

12. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented such that the photosensitive drum and the protrusion are positioned at a downward side of the process cartridge with the axis of the photosensitive drum positioned downward from the axis of the developing roller, as seen in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum, (i) a first part of the protrusion has a width in a horizontal direction that is less than a width of a second part in the horizontal direction, and (ii) the second part of the protrusion is positioned downward of the first part of the protrusion.

13. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the protrusion at least partially faces upward.

14. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the second fame includes a container for containing toner, and
wherein, when the second frame is in the first position and the process cartridge is oriented such that the photosensitive drum and the protrusion are positioned at a downward side of the process cartridge with the axis of the photosensitive drum positioned downward from the axis of the developing roller, at least a part of the protrusion is positioned below a bottom of the container.

15. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided with a recess, and the surface is provided at the recess.

16. A process cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive drum;
a first frame rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum to permit rotation of the photosensitive drum about a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum;
a developing roller for developing a latent image on the photosensitive drum;
a second frame rotatably supporting the developing roller to permit rotation of the developing roller about a rotational axis of the developing roller, the second frame being pivotable about a pivot axis between (i) a first position in which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum such that the developing roller can develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum and (ii) a second position in which the developing roller is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum;
a developing roller coupling provided at the one end of the second frame and operatively connected to the developing roller, the developin

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Yoshimura Akira
• Noguchi Tomio
• Kubo Yukio
• Sato Masaaki
• Nishiya Satoshi
• Kashiide Yosuke

Classifications

• G03G21/18

  using a processing cartridge {, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit} · CPC title

• G03G21/1821 Primary

  means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation (G03G21/1825 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1825 Primary

  Pivotable subunit connection · CPC title

• G03G21/1842 Primary

  for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence) · CPC title

• G03G2221/1861

  Rotational subunit connection · CPC title