Electrophotographic image forming apparatus, developing apparatus, and coupling member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9851688-B2
Application number	US-201715455399-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2017
Priority date	Mar 23, 2007
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

An image forming apparatus cartridge comprises a developer roller having an axis L 1 and a coupling member having an axis L 2 . The coupling member includes (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the developer roller, (ii) a second end portion including at least one projection, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion. The coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from the developer roller as measured in the direction of the axis L 1 and (ii) a second position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the developer roller as measured in the direction of the axis L 1 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus cartridge comprising:
a casing;
developer contained in the casing;
a developing roller having an axis L 1 , the developing roller being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L 1 ; and
a coupling member having an axis L 2 and including (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the developing roller, (ii) a second end portion including at least one projection having a slanted surface with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis L 2 , and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion,
wherein, as measured along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 , a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to an outermost surface of the connecting portion is shorter than a distance between the axis L 2 and the at least one projection, and
wherein the coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from the developing roller as measured in the direction of the axis L 1 and (ii) a second position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the developing roller as measured in the direction of the axis L 1 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

2. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the first end portion is restrained in the casing such that a relative movement between the developing roller and the coupling member in a direction of the axis L 1 is limited.

3. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, as measured along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 , a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to an outermost surface of the connecting portion is shorter than a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to an outermost surface of the first end portion.

4. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 1 wherein, for at least part of the second end portion, a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to an outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 increases as the distance along the axis L 2 from the connecting portion increases.

5. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the casing includes an opening and at least one protrusion on an external portion of the casing adjacent to the opening.

6. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially parallel to and offset from the axis L 1 of the developing roller when the coupling member takes the first position, and
wherein the protrusion is provided adjacent to the coupling member with at least part of the connecting portion of the coupling member being uncovered to outside of the casing in a direction perpendicular to the axis L 2 away from the developing roller when the coupling member takes the first position.

7. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection includes a surface that ascends in a clockwise direction as seen from outside of the image forming apparatus cartridge along the axis L 2 .

8. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the at least one projection measured along a circumferential direction of the coupling member decreases as the distance from the casing increases.

9. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling member is movable between (i) a position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially parallel to and offset from the axis L 1 of the developing roller and (ii) an inclined position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis L 1 of the developing roller, and
wherein a maximum angle of inclination of the axis L 2 of the coupling member with respect to the axis L 1 of the developing roller is about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees.

10. An image forming apparatus cartridge comprising:
a casing;
developer contained in the casing;
a developing roller having an axis L 1 , the developing roller being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L 1 ; and
a coupling member having an axis L 2 and including (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the developing roller, (ii) a second end portion including at least one projection, with the at least one projection including a surface that extends at an obtuse angle from an adjacent surface of the second end portion, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion,
wherein, as measured along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 , a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to an outermost surface of the connecting portion is shorter than a distance between the axis L 2 and the at least one projection, and
wherein the coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from the developing roller as measured in the direction of the axis L 1 and (ii) a second position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the developing roller as measured in the direction of the axis L 1 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

11. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the first end portion is restrained in the casing such that a relative movement between the developing roller and the coupling member in a direction of the axis L 1 is limited.

12. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein, as measured along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 , a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to an outermost surface of the connecting portion is shorter than a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to an outermost surface of the first end portion.

13. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein, for at least part of the second end portion, a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to an outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 increases as the distance along the axis L 2 from the connecting portion increases.

14. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the casing includes an opening and at least one protrusion on an external portion of the casing adjacent to the opening.

15. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially parallel to and offset from the axis L 1 of the developing roller when the coupling member takes the first position, and
wherein the protrusion is provided adjacent to the coupling member with at least part of the connecting portion of the coupling member being uncovered to outside of the casing in a direction perpendicular to the axis L 2 away from the developing roller when the coupling member takes the first position.

16. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the projection includes a surface that ascends in a clockwise direction as seen from outside of the image forming apparatus cartridge along the axis L 2 .

17. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein a width of the at least one projection measured along a circumferential direction of the coupling member decreases as the distance from the casing increases.

18. An image forming apparatus cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the coupling member is movable between (i) a position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Morioka Masanari
• Miyabe Shigeo
• Ueno Takahito

Classifications

• G03G21/16 Primary

  Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements · CPC title

• G03G21/1647 Primary

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G15/08

  using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer · CPC title

• G03G15/0896

  Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894 · CPC title

• G03G21/1676

  for the developer unit · CPC title