Process cartridge and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9778615-B2
Application number	US-201615139042-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2016
Priority date	Nov 28, 2008
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus are provided. The process cartridge is detachably mountable in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, and includes a plurality of photosensitive drums, a first outer side plate which is provided on one side of the photosensitive drums in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a second outer side plate which is provided on the other side of the photosensitive drums in the axial direction, and opposes the first outer side plate with the photosensitive drums interposed therebetween, and a plurality of input parts which are provided on ends of the photosensitive drums at the one side, respectively. An end face of each of the input parts being provided inward with respect to the outer surface of the first outer side plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus having an apparatus body, the process cartridge comprising:
a drum body including a photosensitive layer and extending in a longitudinal direction, the drum body including an end in the longitudinal direction;
a flange fitted into the end of the drum body in the longitudinal direction and including an input part, the input part including an end in the longitudinal direction, the end of the input part being configured to receive a driving force; and
a plate including a first end, a second end, and a surface, the surface extending in the longitudinal direction, the second end being an end of the surface in the longitudinal direction, and the second end being opposite to the first end in the longitudinal direction,
wherein the first end of the surface, the end of the input part, and the second end of the surface are arranged in the longitudinal direction such that the end of the input part is between the first end of the surface and the second end of the surface, and
wherein the second end of the surface, the end of the input part, and the end of the drum body are arranged in the longitudinal direction such that the second end of the surface is between the end of the input part and the end of the drum body.

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the plate includes a circular arc part.

3. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the plate includes an inclined surface inclined inwardly in a radial direction of the drum body as proceeding in a direction from the first end of the surface to the second end of the surface.

4. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the plate is configured to protect the input part of the flange.

5. The process cartridge according to claim 1 further comprising:
a frame including a supporting part supporting the flange.

6. The process cartridge according to claim 5 ,
wherein the frame includes an end in the longitudinal direction, and
wherein the first end of the surface, the end of the input part, the second end of the surface, and the end of the frame being arranged in this order in a direction from the first end of the surface to the second end of the surface in the longitudinal direction.

7. The process cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the frame is made of metal material.

8. The process cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the frame extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

9. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the process cartridge is detachably mountable in the apparatus body.

10. The process cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the plate includes a positioning part which protrudes from an outer surface of the plate and is configured to position the process cartridge with respect to the apparatus body in the longitudinal direction.

11. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the plate is made of resin.

12. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the apparatus body includes a protrusion, and
wherein the input part includes a groove engaged with the protrusion provided with the apparatus body.

13. The process cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the protrusion of the apparatus body is configured to move between a first position in which the protrusion of the apparatus body is spaced apart from the input part in the longitudinal direction and a second position in which the protrusion of the apparatus body contacts the input part in the longitudinal direction.

14. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plate includes a first portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and a second portion that extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,
wherein the surface is a part of the first portion, and
wherein the first end is a part of the second portion.

15. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the input part includes a hole at a center thereof.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Abe Koji
• Hashimoto Junichi

Classifications

• G03G21/18

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

• G03G21/1864

  associated with a positioning function · CPC title

• G03G21/1828 Primary

  Prevention of damage or soiling, e.g. mechanical abrasion (G03G21/1839 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G2221/1609

  protective arrangements for preventing damage · CPC title

• G03G21/1803 Primary

  Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof · CPC title