Image forming apparatus and process cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9791804-B2
Application number	US-201615280707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2016
Priority date	Dec 28, 2007
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

The image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a drum drive input member; a developing cartridge configured to be movably mounted to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing roller disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum and a developing drive input member; a drum drive transmission member configured to engage with the drum drive input member and configured to transmit drum driving force to the drum drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drum drive input member within a predetermined range; and a developing drive transmission member configured to engage with the developing drive input member and configured to transmit developing driving force to the developing drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the developing drive input member within a predetermined range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a drum unit comprising:
a photosensitive drum extending in a first direction; and
a drum coupling for rotating the photosensitive drum;

a developing unit comprising:
a developing roller; and
a developing coupling for rotating the developing roller;

a first coupling configured to couple to the drum coupling, the first coupling being movable between a first position and a second position in the first direction, the first position being a position at which the first coupling is coupled to the drum coupling, and the second position being a position at which the first coupling is spaced apart from the drum coupling; and
a second coupling configured to couple to the developing coupling,
wherein the developing coupling has a recessed part recessed along the first direction, the recessed part being configured to accommodate a part of the second coupling.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a rotational center of the developing roller is deviated from a rotational center of the developing coupling.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the developing coupling comprises:
an abutment portion located within the recessed part, the abutment portion being configured to engage with the second coupling in a rotational direction of the developing coupling.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the drum coupling comprises a projection projecting in the first direction, the projection being engageable with the first coupling.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the developing unit is configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, the second position being a position at which the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum, the fourth position being a position at which the developing roller is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum, and
wherein the developing unit is configured to move between the first position and the second position in a state where the second coupling is engaged with the developing coupling.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the developing unit is attachable to and detachable from the drum unit.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the developing unit is separable from the drum unit.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second coupling is configured to engage with the developing coupling with permitting a positional gap between the developing coupling within a predetermined range.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the developing coupling comprises:
an abutment portion extending in the first direction, the abutment portion being configured to engage with the second coupling.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second coupling being movable between a third position and a fourth position in the first direction, the third position being a position at which the second coupling couples to the developing coupling, the fourth position being a position at which the second coupling is spaced apart from the developing coupling.

11. A process cartridge comprising:
a drum unit comprising:
a photosensitive drum rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a first direction; and
a drum coupling for rotating the photosensitive drum, a first coupling of an image forming apparatus being configured to couple the drum coupling in a state where the drum unit is attached to the image forming apparatus, the first coupling being movable between a first position and a second position in the first direction, the first direction being a position at which the first coupling is coupled to the drum coupling, the second position being a position at which the first coupling is spaced apart from the drum coupling in the first direction; and

a developing unit comprising:
a developing roller; and
a developing coupling for rotating the developing roller, a second coupling of the image forming apparatus being configured to couple to the developing coupling in a state where the developing unit is attached to the image forming apparatus,
wherein the developing coupling has a recessed part recessed along the first direction, the recessed part being configured to accommodate a part of the second coupling.

12. The process cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein a rotational center of the developing roller is deviated from a rotational center of the developing coupling.

13. The process cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the developing coupling comprises:
an abutment portion located within the recessed part, the abutment portion being configured to engage with the second coupling in a rotational direction of the developing coupling.

14. The process cartridge according to claim 13 , wherein the drum coupling comprises a projection projecting in the first direction, the projection being engageable with the first coupling.

15. The process cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the developing unit is separable from the drum unit.

16. The process cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the second coupling is configured to engage with the developing coupling with permitting a positional gap between the developing coupling within a predetermined range.

17. The process cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the developing coupling comprises:
an abutment portion extending in the first direction, the abutment portion being configured to engage with the second coupling.

18. The process cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the second coupling is movable between a third position and a fourth position in the first direction, the third position being a position at which the second coupling couples to the developing coupling, the fourth position being a position at which the second coupling is spaced apart from the developing coupling.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Kamimura Naoya
• Nakashima Atsuhisa

Classifications

• G03G15/757

  Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears · CPC title

• G03G21/1647

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G15/0822

  Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer · CPC title

• G03G21/1814

  Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1864 Primary

  associated with a positioning function · CPC title