Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
Title of Invention: DRUM CYLINDER UNIT METHOD FOR
ATTACHING COUPLING MEMBER, AND DRUM UNIT
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a drum cylinder unit and a drum
unit used in an elec-
trophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a laser beam printer. The
present
invention relates also to a method for attaching a coupling member.
Background Art
[0002] Regarding an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the
following con-
figuration is proposed: a photoconductive drum, a developing roller, and the
like as
rotary members related to image formation are integrated as a cartridge that
is at-
tachable to and removable from a main body of the image forming apparatus
(hereafter
"apparatus main body"). To rotate the photoconductive drum in the cartridge,
driving
force is desirably transmitted to the photoconductive drum from the apparatus
main
body. A configuration of engaging a cartridge-side coupling member with an
apparatus
main body-side driving force transmitting unit, such as a drive pin, to
transmit driving
force is proposed.
[0003] In some image forming apparatuses, the cartridge is removable in a
predetermined
direction which crosses substantially perpendicularly a rotational axis of the
photo-
conductive drum. An apparatus main body which does not have a mechanism for
moving the drive pin of the apparatus main body in the direction of the
rotational axis
by opening and closing a cover of the apparatus main body is proposed.
Specifically,
PTL 1 and PTL 2 disclose configurations in which a coupling member provided at
an
end of a photoconductive drum can be tilted to the rotational axis of the
photo-
conductive drum. The coupling member provided in the cartridge engages with a
drive
pin provided in the apparatus main body so that driving force is transmitted
to the
cartridge from the apparatus main body.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004] PTL 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-233867
PTL 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-112169
Summary of Invention
Solution to Problem
[0005] The present invention develops the above-described related art, and
facilitates at-
tachment of a coupling member provided at an end of a photoconductive drum to
the
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photoconductive drum.
[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, a drum cylinder
unit used in an elec-
trophotographic image forming apparatus which includes a photoconductive drum
and
a flange member, wherein the flange member includes a fixing portion fixed to
an end
of the photoconductive drum, a cylindrical portion which forms a hollow
portion
therein, a groove portion provided at an edge of the cylindrical portion, and
a gear
portion, and wherein the groove portion and the hollow portion open to an
outside of
an axial direction of the photoconductive drum.
[0007] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from
the following de-
scription of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0008] [fig.11Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus main body and a
cartridge.
[fig.2]Fi2. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge.
[fig.31Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge.
[fig.4A1Fig. 4A is an explanatory view illustrating attachment and removal of
the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body.
[fig.4B1Fig. 4B is an explanatory view illustrating attachment and removal of
the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body.
[fig.5A11Fig. 5A1 is an explanatory view illustrating attachment and removal
of the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body while inclining a coupling
member.
[fig.5B1]Fig. 5B1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating attachment and
removal of the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body while inclining the coupling
member.
[fig.5A21Fig. 5A2 is an explanatory view illustrating attachment and removal
of the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body while inclining the coupling
member.
[fig.5B2]Fig. 5B2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating attachment and
removal of the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body while inclining the coupling
member.
[fig.5A3]Fig. 5A3 is an explanatory view illustrating attachment and removal
of the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body while inclining the coupling
member.
[fig.5B31Fig. 5B3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating attachment and
removal of the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body while inclining the coupling
member.
[fig.5A41Fig. 5A4 is an explanatory view illustrating attachment and removal
of the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body while inclining the coupling
member.
[fig.5B41Fig. 5B4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating attachment and
removal of the
cartridge to and from the apparatus main body while inclining the coupling
member.
[fig.6A]Fig. 6A is an explanatory view of a drum unit.
[fig.6B1Fig. 6B is an explanatory view of the drum unit.
[fig.7A]Fig. 7A is an explanatory view of the coupling member and a pin.
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[fig.7B]Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member and the pin.
[fig.7C1Fig. 7C is an explanatory view of the coupling member and the pin.
[fig.8A]Fig. 8A is an explanatory view of a configuration of a drum cylinder
unit.
[fig.8131Fig. 8B is an explanatory view of a configuration of the drum
cylinder unit.
[fig.8C1Fig. 8C is an explanatory view of a configuration of the drum cylinder
unit.
[fig.9A]Fig. 9A is an explanatory view of a driving-side flange.
[fig.9B]Fig. 9B is an explanatory view of the driving-side flange.
[fig.9C]Fig. 9C is a cross-sectional view of the driving-side flange.
[fig.9D]Fig. 9D is a cross-sectional view of the driving-side flange.
[fig.9E1Fig. 9E is an enlarged view of the driving-side flange.
[fig.10A1Fig. 10A is an explanatory view illustrating assembly of the coupling
member
and the pin to the drum cylinder unit.
[fig.10B]Fig. 10B is an explanatory view illustrating assembly of the coupling
member
and the pin to the drum cylinder unit.
[fig.10C]Fig. 10C is a cross-sectional view illustrating assembly of the
coupling
member and the pin to the drum cylinder unit.
[fig.11A]Fig. 11A is an explanatory view of the drum unit.
[fig.11131Fig. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the drum unit.
[fig.11C]Fig. 11C is a cross-sectional view of the drum unit.
[fig.12]Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning unit.
[fig.13A]Fig. 13A is an explanatory view of an overhung portion of a driving-
side
flange.
[fig.13131Fig. 13B is an explanatory view of the overhung portion of the
driving-side
flange.
[fig.13C]Fig. 13C is a cross-sectional view of the overhung portion of the
driving-side
flange.
[fig.14A]Fig. 14A is an explanatory view of a driving-side flange and a lid
member.
[fig.14B1Fig. 14B is an explanatory view of the driving-side flange and the
lid
member.
[fig.14C1Fig. 14C is a cross-sectional view of the driving-side flange and the
lid
member.
[fig.15A]Fig. 15A is an explanatory perspective view of a drum cylinder unit.
[fig.15131Fig. 15B is an enlarged view of the drum cylinder unit.
[fig.16A]Fig. 16A is an explanatory perspective view of a drum cylinder unit.
[fig.16B1Fig. 16B is an enlarged view of the drum cylinder unit.
[fig.17A]Fig. 17A is an explanatory perspective view of a method for fixing a
driving-
side flange and the pin.
[fig.17131Fig. 17B is an explanatory perspective view of a method for fixing
the
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driving-side flange and the pin.
[fig.17C]Fig. 17C is an explanatory perspective view of a method for fixing
the
driving-side flange and the pin.
[fig.17D]Fig. 17D is an explanatory perspective view of a method for fixing
the
driving-side flange and the pin.
[fig.18A]Fig. 18A is an explanatory view of a pin stopper structure.
[fig.18B]Fig. 18B is an explanatory view of the pin stopper structure.
[fig.18C]Fig. 18C is an explanatory view of the pin stopper structure.
[fig.19A]Fig. 19A is an explanatory view of a driving-side flange and an upper
lid
member.
[fig.19B]Fig. 19B is an explanatory view of the driving-side flange and the
upper lid
member.
[fig.20A]Fig. 20A is an explanatory view illustrating assembly of a drum unit.
[fig.20B]Fig. 20B is an explanatory view illustrating assembly of the drum
unit.
[fig.20C]Fig. 20C is an explanatory view illustrating assembly of the drum
unit.
[fig.21]Fig. 21 is an explanatory view of the driving-side flange and the pin.
[fig.221Fig. 22 is an explanatory view of the driving-side flange.
Description of Embodiments
[0009] Embodiments to which the present invention is applied are described
hereafter with
reference to the drawings.
[0010] An image forming apparatus employing electrophotography is herein
referred to as
an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Electrophotography is a method
for
developing an electrostatic image formed on a photoconductor with toner. Any
de-
veloping system including the one-component developing system, the two-
component
developing system, and the dry developing system may be employed. An
electropho-
tographic photoconductive drum herein has a photoconductor on a surface layer
of a
drum-shaped cylinder used for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
[0011] Here, a charging roller, a developing roller, and the like related
to image formation
acting on the photoconductive drum are referred to as process means. The
cartridge
provided with a photoconductor or a process means related to image formation
(e.g., a
cleaning blade and a developing roller) is referred to as a process cartridge.
In the em-
bodiments, a process cartridge in which a photoconductive drum, a charging
roller, a
developing roller, and a cleaning blade are integrated is described as an
example.
[0012] In the embodiments, a laser beam printer is described as an
exemplary electropho-
tographic image forming apparatus used for various applications, such as a
multi-
functional peripheral, a facsimile, and a printer. Reference numerals in the
em-
bodiments are provided for the reference of the drawings and are not limiting
the con-
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figurations. Dimensions in the embodiments are presented for describing
relationships
clearly, and are not limiting the configurations.
[0013] The longitudinal direction of the process cartridge in the
embodiments refers to the
direction substantially perpendicularly crossing the direction in which the
process
cartridge is attached to and removed from a main body of the
electrophotographic
image forming apparatus. The longitudinal direction of the process cartridge
is parallel
to the rotational axis of the electrophotographic photoconductive drum (the
direction
crossing a sheet conveying direction). In the longitudinal direction, a side
of the
process cartridge on which the photoconductive drum receives rotational force
from
the image forming apparatus main body is defined as a driving side (a driven
side), and
the opposite side thereof is defined as a non-driving side. Unless otherwise
specified,
the term "above" (upper) means an upper side in the gravity direction when the
image
forming apparatus is installed and the opposite direction is defined as
"below" (lower)
in the gravity direction.
First Embodiment
[0014] A laser beam printer in the present embodiment is described
hereafter with reference
to the drawings. The cartridge in the present embodiment is a process
cartridge in
which a photoconductive drum as a photoconductor (an image bearing member or a
rotary member), a developing roller, a charging roller, and a cleaning blade
as process
means are integrated. The cartridge is attachable to and removable from the
apparatus
main body. The cartridge has a gear, a photoconductive drum, a flange, a
developing
roller, and the like as rotary members/rotating members which rotate upon
reception of
rotational force from the apparatus main body.
[0015] Among the rotary members/rotating members, a member which bears and
conveys a
toner image is referred to as an image bearing member.
100161 A configuration of a laser beam printer as an electrophotographic
image forming
apparatus and an image formation process are described hereafter with
reference to
Fig. 1. Then detailed configuration of a process cartridge is described with
reference to
Figs. 2 and 3.
100171 (Laser Beam Printer and Image Formation Process)
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a laser beam printer apparatus main body A
(hereafter "apparatus main body A") which is an electrophotographic image
forming
apparatus, and a process cartridge (hereafter "cartridge B"). Fig. 2 is a
cross-sectional
view of the cartridge B.
[0018] The apparatus main body A herein refers to a laser beam printer
which is an elec-
trophotographic image forming apparatus from which the detachable cartridge B
has
been removed.
1100191 First, a configuration of the laser beam printer which is an
electrophotographic image
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forming apparatus is described with reference to Fig. 1.
[0020] The electrophotographic image forming apparatus illustrated in Fig.
1 is an elec-
trophotographic laser beam printer in which the cartridge B is attachable to
and
removable from the apparatus main body A. When the cartridge B is attached to
the
apparatus main body A, the cartridge B is disposed below a laser scanner unit
3 which
is an exposure unit (an exposure apparatus).
[0021] A sheet tray 4 for containing sheets P as recording media (sheet
materials) which are
targets (objects) on which the image forming apparatus forms an image is
disposed
below the cartridge B.
[0022] In the apparatus main body A, a pickup roller 5a, a feeding roller
pair 5b, a
conveyance roller pair 5c, a transfer guide 6, a transfer roller 7, a
conveyance guide 8,
a fixing device 9, a discharge roller pair 10, and a discharge tray 11 are
disposed se-
quentially from the upstream in a conveyance direction X1 of the sheet P. The
fixing
device 9 as a fixing means is constituted by a heat roller 9a and a pressure
roller 9b.
100231 Next, an image formation process is described schematically with
reference to Figs. 1
and 2.
[0024] In accordance with a print start signal, a drum cylinder 62 as a
rotatable photo-
conductive drum is driven to rotate at a predetermined peripheral speed (a
process
speed) in the direction of arrow R (hereafter "rotational direction R") with a
developer
born thereon.
[0025] The drum cylinder 62 is a drum-shaped (cylindrical)
electrophotographic photo-
conductor (a photoconductive drum) in which a photoconductive layer is formed
on a
surface thereof.
[0026] A charging roller 66 to which a bias voltage is applied is brought
into contact with an
outer peripheral surface of the drum cylinder 62 to charge the outer
peripheral surface
of the drum cylinder 62 uniformly.
[0027] The laser scanner unit 3 as the exposure unit outputs laser light L
in accordance with
image information input in the laser printer. The laser light L passes through
an
exposure window 74 on an upper surface of the cartridge B and scan-exposes the
outer
peripheral surface of the drum cylinder 62. The drum cylinder 62 is thus
partially
discharged and an electrostatic image (an electrostatic latent image) is
formed on a
surface of the photoconductive drum.
[0028] As illustrated in Fig. 2, in a developing unit 20 as a developing
device, the developer
(hereafter, "toner T") in a toner chamber 29 is agitated and conveyed by the
rotation of
a conveyance screw 43 as a conveyance member, and is sent out to a toner
supply
chamber 28.
[0029] The toner T as the developer is born on a surface of a developing
roller 32 as a de-
veloping unit (a process means and a rotary member) by magnetic force of a
magnet
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roller 34 (stationary magnet). The developing roller 32 functions as a rotary
member
which bears and conveys the developer to a development area to develop the
elec-
trostatic image formed on the drum cylinder 62. The thickness of the layer of
the toner
T conveyed to the development area on the peripheral surface of the developing
roller
32 is regulated by a developing blade 42. The toner T is charged by friction
between
the developing roller 32 and the developing blade 42.
[0030] The toner T born by the developing roller 32 develops (visualizes)
the electrostatic
image formed on the drum cylinder 62. The drum cylinder 62 is rotated in a
rotational
direction R with the toner (the toner image, the developer image) developed on
the
surface thereof. That is, the drum cylinder (the photoconductive drum) 62 is
an image
bearing member which bears the image (the toner image). The developing roller
32 is a
developer bearer which bears the developer (the toner) and develops the latent
image
formed on the drum cylinder 62.
[0031] As illustrated in Fig. 1, in accordance with output timing of the
laser light L, the
sheet P contained in the lower portion of the apparatus main body A is fed
from the
sheet tray 4 by the pickup roller 5a, the feeding roller pair 5b, and the
conveyance
roller pair 5c.
[0032] The sheet P is supplied to a transfer position (a transfer nip)
between the drum
cylinder 62 and the transfer roller 7 via the transfer guide 6. At the
transfer position,
the toner image is sequentially transferred from the drum cylinder 62 as the
image
bearing member to the sheet P as the recording medium.
[0033] The sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is
separated from the drum
cylinder 62 and conveyed to the fixing device 9 along the conveyance guide 8.
The
sheet P passes through a fixing nip portion of the heat roller 9a and the
pressure roller
9b which constitute the fixing device 9. At the fixing nip portion, the
unfixed toner
image on the sheet P is fixed to the sheet P with pressure and heat. Then, the
sheet P to
which the toner image is fixed is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 10,
and is
discharged to the discharge tray 11.
[0034] As illustrated in Fig. 2, residual toner remaining on the drum
surface which has not
been transferred to the sheet adheres to the surface of the drum cylinder 62
after the
transfer of the toner T to the sheet. The residual toner is removed by a
cleaning blade
77 in contact with the peripheral surface of the drum cylinder 62. Then the
toner
remaining on the drum cylinder 62 is cleaned and the cleaned drum cylinder 62
is
charged again for the use of the image formation process. The toner (the
residual toner)
removed from the drum cylinder 62 is stored in a waste toner chamber 29 of the
cleaning unit 60.
[0035] In the above description, the charging roller 66, the developing
roller 32, and the
cleaning blade 77 function as process means acting on the drum cylinder 62.
Although
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the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment employs a method for
removing the residual toner by the cleaning blade 77, a method in which charge-
adjusted residual toner is collected simultaneously with development in the
developing
device (a cleanerless method) may be employed. In the cleanerless method, an
auxiliary charging member (e.g., an auxiliary charging brush) for adjusting
charge of
the residual toner also functions as a process means.
[0036] (Configuration of Process Cartridge)
Next, a detailed configuration of the cartridge B is described with reference
to Figs. 2
and 3.
[0037] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge B. A frame
of the cartridge B
may be disassembled into a plurality of units. The cartridge B of the present
em-
bodiment is constituted by two units (i.e., the cleaning unit 60 and the
developing unit
20) integrated with each other. Although the cleaning unit 60 holding the drum
cylinder 62 and the developing unit 20 are connected with two connecting pins
75 in
the present embodiment, three or more units may be integrated. Alternatively,
a
plurality of units may be used without being connected by coupling members,
such as
pins, so that some of the units may be replaced.
[0038] The cleaning unit 60 is constituted by a cleaning frame 71, a drum
unit Ul, the
charging roller 66, the cleaning blade 77 and the like.
[0039] The drum unit Ul is constituted by a drum cylinder unit U2, a
coupling member 86
provided at a driving-side end of the drum cylinder unit U2, and a pin 88 (see
Figs. 6A
and 6B). The drum cylinder unit U2 is constituted by the drum cylinder 62, a
driving-
side flange 87 as a flange member attached to the driving side of the drum
cylinder 62
(details thereof are described later), and the like.
[0040] Rotational force from the apparatus main body A is transmitted to
the drum cylinder
62 via the driving-side flange 87 and the coupling member 86.
[0041] As illustrated in Fig. 3, the drum cylinder 62 is rotatable about a
rotational axis Li
(hereafter, ''axis Ll''). The coupling member 86 is rotatable about a
rotational axis L2
(hereafter, "axis L2"). The coupling member 86 can be inclined (tilted) with
respect to
the drum cylinder 62. That is, an inclination angle of the coupling member 86
with
respect to the driving-side flange 87 or the drum cylinder 62 is variable.
Therefore, the
axis L2 can be inclined to the axis Ll (the inclination angle is variable).
Details are
described later.
[0042] As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the developing unit 20 is
constituted by a toner storage
container 22, a bottom material 21, a first side member 26L (a non-driving
side), a
second side member 26R (a driving side), a developing blade 42, a developing
roller
32, and a magnet roller 34. The conveyance screw 43 (an agitation sheet) as a
conveyance member which conveys the toner, and the toner T as a developer are
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provided in the toner container 22. The developing unit 20 has a compression
spring 46
which applies urging force to regulate orientation of the developing unit 20
between
the developing unit 20 and the cleaning unit 60. The cleaning unit 60 and the
de-
veloping unit 20 are pivotally connected by the connecting pins 75 as
connecting
members and configure the cartridge B.
[0043] Specifically, pivot holes 23bL and 23bR are provided at ends of arm
portions 23aL
and 23aR provided at both ends of the developing unit 20 in the longitudinal
direction
(the axial direction of the developing roller 32). The pivot holes 23bL and
23bR are
provided in parallel with an axis of the developing roller 32.
[0044] An insertion hole 71a in which the connecting pin 75 is inserted is
formed at each of
both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame 71 which
is a
cleaning unit 60-side frame. The connecting pins 75 are inserted in the pivot
holes
23bL and 23bR, and the insertion holes 71a with the arm portions 23aL and 23aR
aligned with predetermined positions of the cleaning frame 71. Then the
cleaning unit
60 and the developing unit 20 are combined pivotally about the connecting pins
75 as
the connecting members.
[0045] The compression spring 46 attached to each of bases of the arm
portions 23aL and
23aR is brought into contact with the cleaning frame 71 and urges the
developing unit
20 against the cleaning unit 60 about the connecting pin 75 as a pivotal
shaft.
[0046] In this manner, the developing roller 32 as a process means is
reliably pressed in the
direction of the drum cylinder 62 as the rotary member. The developing roller
32 is
kept at a predetermined distance from the drum cylinder 62 by a spacer (not
illustrated)
as a ring-shaped spacing member attached to each of the both end portions of
the de-
veloping roller 32.
[0047] (Attachment and Removal of Process Cartridge)
Attachment and removal of the cartridge B to and from the apparatus main body
A in
the above-described configuration will be described with reference to Figs. 4A
to 5B4.
[0048] Figs. 4A and 4B are explanatory views illustrating attachment and
removal of the
cartridge B to and from the apparatus main body A. Fig. 4A is a perspective
view seen
from the non-driving side, and Fig. 4B is a perspective view seen from the
driving side.
The driving side refers to an end in the longitudinal direction at which the
coupling
member 86 of the cartridge B is provided.
[0049] A door 13 is pivotally attached to the apparatus main body A. Figs.
4A and 4B il-
lustrate the apparatus main body A in the state in which the door 13 is open.
[0050] A driving head 14 and a guide member 12 as a guide mechanism are
provided inside
the apparatus main body A. The driving head 14, provided on the apparatus main
body
A side, is a main body-side drive transmission mechanism which transmits
driving
force to the cartridge B attached to the apparatus main body A, and engages
with the
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coupling member 86 of the cartridge B. Rotational force can be transmitted to
the
cartridge B when the driving head 14 is rotated after the engagement. The
driving head
14 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body A. The driving head 14
has a
drive pin 14b as an application portion which applies rotational force (see
Fig. 5B3).
[0051] The guide member 12 as the guide mechanism is a body-side guide
member which
guides the cartridge B into the apparatus main body A. The guide member 12 may
be a
plate-shaped member with a guide groove or may be a member which guides the
cartridge B while supporting the cartridge B from below.
[0052] A state in which the cartridge B is attached to and removed from the
apparatus main
body A while inclining (tilting, rocking, or turning) the coupling member 86
as a
driving force transmitting part is described hereafter with reference to Figs.
5A1 to
5B4.
[0053] Figs. 5A1 to 5B4 are explanatory views of attachment and removal of
the cartridge B
to and from the apparatus main body A while inclining (tilting, rocking, or
turning) the
coupling member 86. Figs. 5A1 to 5A4 are enlarged views of an area near the
coupling
member 86 seen from the driving side to the non-driving side. Fig. 5B1 is a
cross-
sectional view taken along line VB1-VB1 of Fig. 5A1 (VB1 cross-sectional
view).
Similarly, Fig. 5B2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VB2-VB2 of Fig.
5A2
(VB2 cross-sectional view), Fig. 5B3 is a cross-sectional view taken along
line
VB2-VB3 of Fig. 5A3 (VB3 cross-sectional view), and Fig. 5B4 is a cross-
sectional
view taken along line VB4-VB4 of Fig. 5A4 (VB4 cross-sectional view).
[0054] The process of attaching the cartridge B to the apparatus main body
A is illustrated in
the order of Fig. 5A1 to Fig. 5A4. Fig. 5A4 illustrates the state in which
attachment of
the cartridge B to the apparatus main body A is completed. In Figs. 5A1 to
5B4, the
guide member 12 and the driving head 14 are illustrated as parts of the
apparatus main
body A. and other parts are illustrated as parts of the cartridge B.
[0055] Directions illustrated by the arrow X2 and the arrow X3 in Figs. 5A1
to 5B4 cross
substantially perpendicularly a rotational axis L3 of the driving head 14. The
direction
illustrated by the arrow X2 is referred to as an X2 direction and the
direction illustrated
by the arrow X3 is referred to as an X3 direction. Similarly, the X2 and X3
directions
substantially perpendicularly cross the axis Li of the drum cylinder 62 of the
process
cartridge. In Figs. 5A1 to 5B4, the direction illustrated by the arrow X2 is
the direction
in which the cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A. The
direction il-
lustrated by the arrow X3 is the direction in which the cartridge B is removed
from the
apparatus main body. The directions illustrated by the arrow X2 and the arrow
X3 may
be collectively considered as the attachment/removal direction. It can also be
considered that attachment and removal have implications of directions. In
that case,
expressions of "upstream in the attachment direction," "downstream in the
attachment
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direction," "upstream in the removal direction," "downstream in the removal
direction," and the like may be used.
[0056] As illustrated in Figs. 5A1 to 5B4, the cartridge B has a spring as
an urging member
(an elastic member). In the present embodiment, a torsion spring 91 is used as
the
spring. The torsion spring 91 urges a free end portion 86a of the coupling
member 86
to fall toward the driving head 14. That is, in the attaching process of the
cartridge B,
the torsion spring 91 urges the coupling member 86 so that the free end
portion 86a
faces the downstream in the attachment direction. The cartridge B is inserted
in the
apparatus main body A with the free end portion 86a of the coupling member 86
facing
the driving head 14.
[0057] Here, the rotational axis of the drum cylinder 62 is defined as the
axis Li, the ro-
tational axis of the coupling member 86 is defined as the axis L2, and the
rotational
axis of the driving head 14 as the main body-side engaging portion is defined
as the
axis L3. Then the axis L2 is inclined to the axes Li and L3 as illustrated in
Figs. 5B1
to 5B3.
[0058] When the cartridge B is inserted to such an extent as illustrated in
Figs. 5A3 and
5B3, the coupling member 86 is in contact with the driving head 14. Fig. 5B3
il-
lustrates an example in which the drive pin 14b as the application portion
which
applies rotational force is in contact with a standby portion 86k1 of the
coupling
member. This contact regulates the position (tilting) of the coupling member
86 and
the amount of inclination (tilting) of the axis L2 with respect to the axis Li
(the axis
L3) decreases gradually.
[0059] In the present embodiment, the drive pin 14b as the application
portion is in contact
with the standby portion 86k1 of the coupling member. However, the contact
position
of the coupling member 86 and the driving head 14 changes depending on the
phase
state in the rotational direction of the coupling member 86 and the driving
head 14.
Therefore, the contact position of the present embodiment is not restrictive.
It is only
necessary that any part of the free end portion 86a of the coupling member is
in contact
with any part of the driving heads 14.
[0060] When the cartridge B is inserted to reach an attachment completion
position, as il-
lustrated in Figs. 5A4 and 5B4, the axis L2 is located on substantially the
same line
with the axis Li (axis L3). That is, the rotation axes of the coupling member
86, the
driving head 14, and the drum cylinder 62 are located substantially on the
same line.
[0061] Thus, rotational force can be transmitted from the apparatus main
body A to the
cartridge B when the coupling member 86 provided in the cartridge B engages
with the
driving head 14 provided in the apparatus main body A. When the cartridge B is
to be
removed from the apparatus main body A, the state is shifted from those
illustrated in
Figs. 5A4 and 5B4 to those illustrated in Figs. 5A1 and 5B1. When the coupling
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member 86 is inclined (tilted) with respect to the axis Li in the same manner
as in the
attachment operation, the coupling member 86 is separated from the driving
head 14.
That is, the cartridge B is moved in the X3 direction (crossing substantially
perpen-
dicularly the rotational axis L3 of the driving head 14) opposite to the X2
direction,
and the coupling member 86 is separated from the driving head 14.
[0062] The cartridge B is moved in the X2 direction or the X3 direction is
only in the area
near the attachment completion position. The cartridge B may be moved in any
di-
rections at locations other than the area near the attachment completion
position. That
is, it is only necessary that a movement locus of the cartridge B immediately
before the
engagement or removal of the coupling member 86 with or from the driving head
14
moves in a predetermined direction substantially perpendicularly crossing the
ro-
tational axis L3 of the driving head 14.
(Drum Unit)
[0063] The drum unit Ul incorporated in the cleaning unit 60 (see Fig. 3)
is described with
reference to Figs. 6A and 6B. Figs. 6A and 6B are explanatory views of the
drum unit
Ul. Fig. 6A is an exploded perspective view and Fig. 6B is a perspective view.
As il-
lustrated in Figs. 6A and 6B, the drum unit Ul is configured by attaching the
coupling
member 86 and the pin 88 to the drum cylinder unit U2. Each part constituting
the
drum unit Ul and an assembly method are described in detail hereafter.
(Coupling Member and Pin)
[0064] First, the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 are described with
reference to Figs.
7A to 7C.
[0065] Figs. 7A to 7C are explanatory views of the coupling member 86 and
the pin 88. Fig.
7A is an explanatory side view of the coupling member 86 to which the driving
head
14 is added seen in the direction vertical to the axis L2. Fig. 7B is a VIIB
cross-
sectional view taken along line VIIB-VIIB of Fig. 7A. Fig. 7C is a perspective
view.
[0066] As illustrated in Fig. 7A, the coupling member 86 mainly has three
portions. The first
portion is the free end portion 86a which engages with the driving head 14 and
receives rotational force from the driving head 14 (the drive pin 14b
thereof). The
second portion is a connecting portion 86c which is substantially spherical in
shape,
and is contained in a hollow portion 87e (details thereof are described later)
of the
driving-side flange 87. The third portion is a link portion 86b which links
the free end
portion 86a and the connecting portion 86c.
[0067] The free end portion 86a has two projections (86a1 and 86a2) which
are in contact
with the drive pin 14b of the driving head 14 to receive rotational force of
the driving
head 14.
[0068] The connecting portion 86c has a spherical surface 86e which is
substantially
spherical in shape and a through hole portion 86d which penetrates the
spherical
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surface 86e. The connecting portion 86c (the spherical center 86f thereof)
becomes the
tilt center of the coupling member 86 when the coupling member 86 is contained
in the
driving-side flange 87.
[0069] As illustrated in Fig. 7B, the pin 88 as a cylindrical column member
is provided to
penetrate the through hole portion (the first through hole portion) 86d. The
length Z5
of the pin 88 is longer than a diameter syZ4 of the spherical surface 86e (see
Fig. 7A),
and both ends (88a and 88b) of the pin 88 project to the outside of the
spherical surface
86e. When rotational force in the rotational direction R is transmitted to the
coupling
member 86 from the driving head 14, the through hole portion 86d (the side
surfaces
86d1 and 86d2 thereof) are brought into contact with a cylindrical surface 88c
of the
pin 88 and the rotational force is transmitted to the pin 88. The both end
portions (88a
and 88b) of the pin 88 are brought into contact with a side surface 87f1
(details thereof
are described later) of the driving-side flange 87, and the pin 88 transmits
rotational
force to the driving-side flange 87.
100701 That is, the pin 88 is a transmission member which transmits
rotational force (driving
force) of the coupling member 86 to the driving-side flange 87.
(Drum Cylinder Unit and Driving-Side Flange)
[0071] The drum cylinder unit U2 to which the coupling member 86 and the
pin 88 are
attached is described in detail with reference to Figs. 8A to 8C. Figs. 8A to
8C are ex-
planatory views of a configuration of the drum cylinder unit U2. Fig. 8A is an
exploded perspective view seen from the driving side, Fig. 8B is an exploded
per-
spective view seen from the non-driving side, and Fig. 8C is a perspective
view seen
from the driving side.
[0072] As illustrated in Figs. 8A to 8C, the drum cylinder unit U2 is
constituted by the drum
cylinder 62, the driving-side flange 87, a non-driving-side flange 64, and a
grounded
plate 65. The drum cylinder 62 is a conductive member made of, for example,
Al, of
which outer peripheral surface is covered with a photoconductive layer. The
drum
cylinder 62 may be hollow or solid.
[0073] Regarding the driving-side flange 87, as illustrated in Fig. 8A, in
the driving side of
the drum cylinder 62, a fixing portion 87d fits into an opening 62a1 of the
drum
cylinder 62 and is fixed to the drum cylinder 62 by adhesion, caulking, and
other
means. When the driving-side flange 87 is rotated, the drum cylinder 62 is
rotated in-
tegrally therewith. The driving-side flange 87 is fixed to the drum cylinder
62 so that
the rotational axis of the driving-side flange 87 is coaxial (on the same
line) with the
axis Li of the drum cylinder 62. Therefore, the rotational axis of the driving-
side
flange 87 is also referred to as the axis LI hereafter.
[0074] Similarly, the non-driving-side flange 64 is disposed at an end of
the non-driving side
of the drum cylinder 62 so that the rotation axis of the non-driving-side
flange 64
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becomes coaxial with the drum cylinder 62. Regarding the non-driving-side
flange 64,
as illustrated in Fig. 8B, a fixed portion 64a fits into the opening 62a2 of
the drum
cylinder 62, and is fixed to the drum cylinder 62 by adhesion, caulking, or
other
means. The conductive (mainly metallic) grounded plate 65 is disposed in the
non-
driving-side flange 64. The grounded plate 65 is in contact with an inner
peripheral
surface of the drum cylinder 62, and electrically connects the apparatus main
body A
with the drum cylinder 62 further via an unillustrated electric contact.
[0075] A configuration of the driving-side flange 87 is described with
reference to Figs. 9A
to 9E. Figs. 9A to 9E are explanatory views of the driving-side flange 87.
Fig. 9A is a
perspective view. Fig. 9B is a front view seen from the outer side of the
driving side,
Fig. 9D is a IXD cross-sectional view taken along line IXD-IXD of Fig. 9B,
Fig. 9C is
a IXC cross-sectional view taken along line IXC-IXC of Fig. 9B, and Fig. 9E is
an
enlarged view of a part of Fig. 9D (1XE).
[0076] As illustrated in Fig. 9C, the driving-side flange 87 has a fixing
portion 87d fixed to
the drum cylinder 62 so that the driving-side flange 87 rotates integrally
with the drum
cylinder 62. As illustrated in Figs. 9A and 9B, the driving-side flange 87 has
a
cylindrical portion (a cylindrical portion formed in a substantially round
cylindrical
shape) 87a of which central axis is axis Li. The cylindrical portion is
disposed further
driving side than the fixing portion 87d (further outside of the drum cylinder
62 than
the fixing portion 87d: see Fig. 8A). The driving-side flange 87 further has a
second
cylindrical portion (a second cylindrical portion formed in a substantially
round
cylindrical shape) 87b provided in a radial direction outer side of the
cylindrical
portion 87a. The driving-side flange 87 further has a ring-shaped groove
portion (a
substantially ring-shaped groove portion, the second groove portion) 87c
provided
between the cylindrical portion 87a and the second cylindrical portion 87b.
[0077] The cylindrical portion 87a has a hollow portion 87e and a pair of
groove portions
87f in the radial direction inner side. The hollow portion 87e and a pair of
groove
portions 87f respectively contain the connecting portion 86c and both end
portions
(88a and 88b) of the pin 88 of the coupling member 86 illustrated in Figs. 7A
to 7C.
[0078] The hollow portion 87e has an inner peripheral surface 87e1 of which
central axis is
the axis Li, and a bottom surface 87e2 which crosses the axis Li (crosses
perpen-
dicularly in the present embodiment). The bottom surface 87e2 is disposed at a
position to be penetrated by the axis Ll. The inner peripheral surface 87e1
refers to an
inner surface of an edge of the cylindrical portion 87a. The bottom surface
87e2 refers
to a bottom portion which becomes a bottom of the hollow portion 87e.
[0079] The groove portions 87f are formed by cutting the inner peripheral
surface 87e l.
That is, the groove portions 87f are formed by recessing, in the radial
direction outer
side, the edge of the cylindrical portion 87a which forms the hollow portion
87e. The
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two groove portions 87f are formed along the axis Li, and are disposed at 180
degrees
from each other via the axis Ll. A bottom portion 87f3 which is a plane
crossing the
axis Li (crossing perpendicularly in the present embodiment) is provided at an
end of
the non-driving side of the groove portion 87f. The bottom portion 87f3 is a
portion
which becomes a bottom of the groove portion 87f.
[0080] The groove portion 87f opens toward the side opposite to the side of
the fixing
portion 87d (the driving side) (the groove portion 87f is formed to reach an
end of the
cylindrical portion 87a), and a driving-side end of the groove portion 87f
becomes an
opening 87g. The groove portion 87f also has side surfaces 87f1 and 87f2 along
the
axis Li direction, and opposite surfaces 87f4 which are parallel with the axis
Li and
face each other in the direction of the axis Ll.
[0081] As illustrated in Fig. 9E, a narrowed portion 87h of which width Z2
is narrower than
a distance between the side surface 87f1 and the side surface 8712 (a width
Z1) is
provided between the bottom portion 87f3 and the opening 87g.
[0082] Stopper portions 87h1 and 87h2 having a stopper angle 01 to the axis
Li are
provided on the non-driving side (the bottom portion 87f3 side) of the
narrowed
portion 87h. Inlet portions 87h3 and 87h4 having an insertion angle 02 to the
axis Li
are provided on the driving side of the narrowed portion 87h. The stopper
portions
87h1 and 87h2, and the inlet portions 87h3 and 87h4 are provided to satisfy
the rela-
tionship of the stopper angle 01>the insertion angle 02.
[0083] As illustrated in Fig. 9C, the second cylindrical portion 87b has a
gear portion 87b1
on an outer peripheral side thereof for transmitting rotation to the
developing roller 32
(see Fig. 2). The ring-shaped groove portion 87c has a supported portion 87c1
which is
rotatably supported by a later-described bearing member 76.
(Attachment of Coupling Member and Pin)
[0084] A method for attaching the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 to the
drum cylinder
unit U2 is described with reference to Figs. 10A to 10C and Figs. 11A to 11C.
Figs.
10A to 10C are explanatory views illustrating assembly of the coupling member
86
and the pin 88 to the drum cylinder unit U2. Fig. 10A is a perspective view
illustrating
a state before assembly, and Fig. 10B is a perspective view illustrating a
state after
assembly. F12. 10C is a XC cross-sectional view taken along a XC virtual plane
(a
plane in which axis of the pin 88 (see Fig. 10A) is the normal line) of Fig.
10B, and an
area near the hollow portion 87e is enlarged. Fig. 10C illustrates states
before and after
assembly of the coupling member 86 and the pin 88, with the state before the
assembly
(Fig. 10A) illustrated by a solid line and the state after the assembly (Fig.
10B) il-
lustrated by a virtual line (a dash-dot-dot line).
[0085] Figs. 11A to 11C are explanatory views (of the drum unit U1)
illustrating a state in
which the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 are assembled to the drum cylinder
unit
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U2. Fig. 11A is a front view seen from the driving side, Fig. 11B is a XIB
cross-
sectional view taken along line XIB-XIB of Fig. 11A, and Fig. 11C is a XIC
cross-
sectional view taken along line XIC-XIC of Fig. 11A.
[0086] When the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 are assembled to the drum
cylinder
unit U2, as illustrated in Fig. 10A, the pin 88 and the coupling member 86 are
inserted
in the driving-side flange 87 along the direction of axis Ll with the pin 88
inserted in
the through hole portion 86d. The hollow portion 87e is opened outside (the
driving
side) of the drum cylinder 62 in a direction of axis Li, i.e., the right side
of Fig. 10A.
The coupling member 86 is inserted in a direction of axis Li from the right
into the
hollow portion 87e.
[0087] The connecting portion 86c is inserted in the hollow portion 87e and
the pin 88 is
inserted in the groove portions 87f with the phases in the rotational
direction R of the
pin 88 (both end portions 88a and 88b thereof) and the groove portions 87f
aligned.
[0088] The two groove portions 87f in which ends of the pins 88 are
respectively inserted
are disposed symmetrically about the center of the cylindrical portion 87a
(i.e., the axis
L1).
[0089] During insertion of the pin 88 in the groove portion 87f, as
illustrated in Fig. 10C, re-
sistance is produced during insertion of the pin 88 in the groove portion 87f
since the
width Z2 of the narrowed portion 87h is smaller than a diameter q)Z3 of the
pin 88.
The coupling member 86 and the pin 88 are inserted while the portion near the
narrowed portion 87h is elastically deformed by applying insertion force which
overcomes the resistance to the pin 88. Then, the pin 88 passes through the
narrowed
portion 87h, and insertion of the pin 88 in the groove portion 87f and
insertion of the
connecting portion 86c in the hollow portion 87e are completed.
[0090] As illustrated in Figs. 11A to 11C, the coupling member 86 and the
pin 88 are
assembled to the drum cylinder unit U2, and the drum unit Ul is completed. At
this
time, the coupling member 86 is positioned in the radial direction with the
connecting
portion 86c supported by the inner peripheral surface 87e 1. The coupling
member 86 is
not slipped off on the non-driving side by the bottom surface 87e2 with the
connecting
portion 86c being in contact with the bottom surface 87e2. As described above,
the
bottom surface 87e2 is disposed at a position to be penetrated by the axis Ll,
but the
bottom surface 87e2 may be disposed at a position not to be penetrated by the
axis Ll.
In this arrangement, a configuration in which the bottom surface 87e2 is
inclined to the
axis Li is more desirable than a configuration in which the bottom surface
87e2
crosses perpendicularly the axis Ll. This is because the former can make the
bottom
surface 87e2 be parallel with the surface of the connecting portion 86c as
much as
possible and the connecting portion 86c can be supported more stably. Since
the
through hole portion 86d (a non-driving-side end surface 86d3 thereof, see
Fig. 11C) is
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in contact with the pin 88, the coupling member 86 is not slipped off on the
driving
side. Since both the side surfaces (86d1 and 86d2) of the through hole portion
86d are
in contact with the pin 88, the coupling member 86 is positioned in the
rotational
direction R (with little play). The pin 88 is not slipped off in the direction
of the axis
Li by the bottom portion 87f3 and the narrowed portions 87h (the stopper
portions
87h1 and 87h2 thereof), and is positioned in the axial direction of the pin 88
by the
opposite surfaces 87f4. The pin 88 is positioned by both the side surfaces
87f1 and
87f2 of the groove portion 87f also in the rotational direction R. When
rotation in the
rotational direction R is input in the coupling member 86, the rotational
force is
transmitted to the side surface 87f1 of the groove portion 87f via the pin 88.
That is,
the side surface 87f1 functions as a portion to which the rotational force is
transmitted.
[0091] Since the relationship of the stopper angle 01>the insertion angle
02 is satisfied,
insertion force necessary to insert the pin 88 in the groove portions 87f can
be made
smaller than the force necessary to remove the pin 88 from the groove portions
87f.
Therefore, insertion force during assembly of the pin 88 to the driving-side
flange 87
can be reduced, and the pin 88 can be less easily slipped out of the driving-
side flange
87. Only one of the two groove portions 87f may have the narrowed portion 87h
to
prevent slipping off of the pin 88. However, providing the narrowed portions
87h in
both of the two groove portions 87f is desirable from the viewpoint of
reliably
preventing slipping off of the pin 88.
[0092] With the configuration described above, the coupling member 86 and
the pin 88 are
assembled so that these parts are not slipped out of the drum cylinder unit U2
and that
rotational force is transmitted to the driving-side flange 87 from the
coupling member
86. Since the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 87e1 supports the spherical
surface
86e, the coupling member 86 can be inclined about the spherical center 86f
with
respect to the driving-side flange 87 (the directions of Kl, K2, and
synthesized
direction of these in Figs. 11A and 11B). To enable the coupling member 86 to
be
inclined in the direction of Kl, a gap Si in the direction of axis L2 is
provided in the
pin 88 and the through hole portion 86d (the non-driving-side end surface 86d3
and a
driving-side end surface 86d4) (see also Figs. 7A to 7C).
(Configuration of Cleaning Unit)
[0093] A method for assembling the drum unit Ul to the cleaning unit 60 is
described
hereafter with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view
of the
cleaning unit 60.
[0094] As illustrated in Fig. 12, on the non-driving side of the cleaning
unit 60, a bearing
portion 64b (see Fig. 8B) of the non-driving-side flange 64 of the drum unit
Ul is
rotatably supported by a drum shaft 78. The drum shaft 78 is fixed to a
support portion
7 lb provided on the non-driving side of the cleaning frame 71 by press-
fitting.
Is
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100951 A bearing member 76 which is in contact with and supports the
driving-side flange
87 is provided on the driving side of the cleaning unit 60. A wall surface (a
planar
portion) 76h of the bearing member 76 is fixed to the cleaning frame 71 with a
screw
90. A support portion 76a of the bearing member 76 fittingly supports the ring-
shaped
groove portion 87c of the driving-side flange 87. In this manner, the drum
unit Ul is
rotatably supported by the cleaning frame 71 via the drum shaft 78 and the
bearing
member 76.
100961 As described above, each portion of the driving-side flange 87 can
be disposed as
follows by providing the ring-shaped groove portion 87c in the driving-side
flange 87.
That is, a portion supported by the bearing member 76 (the support portion 76a
thereof) (the supported portion 87c1) can be overlapped by the gear portion
87b1, the
hollow portion 87e (for these, see Fig. 11B), and the groove portion 87f in
the direction
of the axis Ll . That is, as illustrated in Fig. 21, the positions of the ring-
shaped groove
portion 87c (the supported portion 87c1), the gear portion 87b1, and the
hollow portion
87e overlap in a region Al along the axis Ll. Therefore, compared with a case
in
which the supported portion supported by the bearing member 76 is provided on
the
outer side in the direction of the axis Li of the gear portion 87b1 and the
hollow
portion 87e, the size of the cartridge B can be reduced in the direction of
the axis
Since the gear portion 87b1 and the groove portion 87f overlap in the
direction of the
axis LI, force received on the side surface 87f1 of the groove portion 87f
(see Fig. 9E)
can be stably transmitted to the gear portion 87b1. With this configuration,
regarding
the radial direction about the axis Li, the gear portion 87b1 is disposed
outside of the
ring-shaped groove portion 87c, and the ring-shaped groove portion 87c is
disposed
outside of the hollow portion 87e and the groove portion 87f.
[0097] Although the bearing member 76 is fixed to the cleaning frame 71
with the screw 90
in the present embodiment, the bearing member 76 may be fixed with an adhesive
or
fused resin. Alternatively, the cleaning frame 71 and the bearing member 76
may be
integrated with each other.
[0098] The cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are connected as
described above,
and the cartridge B is completed.
[0099] As described above, according to the configuration of the present
embodiment, the
coupling member 86 and the pin 88 can be assembled to the drum cylinder unit
U2
from the outer side of the driving side (in the axial direction outer side
with respect to
the photoconductive drum: the right side in Fig. 10A). Therefore, the assembly
process
of the cartridge B can be simplified for the reason described below.
[0100] As described above, since the coupling member 86 can be inclined,
there is a pos-
sibility of collision of the coupling member 86 with an assembly tool or parts
to be
assembled in the assembly process of the cartridge B. Therefore, in the
downstream
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processes of the assembly of the coupling member 86, it is necessary to
regulate in-
clination of the coupling member 86 with the hand, a tool, a device, and the
like. Once
the coupling member 86 is assembled to the driving-side flange 87, the
downstream
processes of the assembly of the cartridge B must be conducted while
controlling the
inclination of the coupling member 86. That is a burden to the operating
process.
[0101] Therefore, if assembly of the coupling member 86 can be performed in
the
downstream as much as possible in the assembly process of the cartridge B, the
number of processes in which inclination of the coupling member 86 needs to be
controlled can be reduced.
[0102] With the configuration of the present embodiment, the coupling
member 86 can be
attached to the driving-side flange 87 after the driving-side flange 87 is
fixed to the
drum cylinder 62. In this case, compared with a case in which the coupling
member 86
is attached to the driving-side flange 87 before the driving-side flange 87 is
attached to
the drum cylinder 62, the process of fixing the driving-side flange 87 to the
drum
cylinder 62 can be simplified. That is, since there is no coupling member 86
in the
driving-side flange 87, the coupling member 86 does not hinder the operation
when the
driving-side flange 87 is fixed to the drum cylinder 62.
[0103] Alternatively, the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 may be
assembled after the
drum cylinder unit U2 is assembled to the cleaning unit 60. In this case, the
assembly
process of the drum cylinder unit U2 to the cleaning unit 60 can also be
simplified. Al-
ternatively, the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 may be assembled after the
cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are connected.
[0104] Although slipping off of the coupling member 86 to the non-driving
side is stopped
by the bottom surface 87e2 in the present embodiment, slipping off may be
stopped by
the pin 88 and the through hole portion 86d (the driving-side end surface 86d4
thereof)
like the stopper to the driving side. However, since the gap Si is provided
between the
pin 88 and the through hole portion 86d (the driving-side end surface 86d4
thereof) as
described above, the configuration in which slipping off is stopped by the
bottom
surface 87e2 as in the present embodiment can position the coupling member 86
precisely.
[0105] As illustrated in Figs. 13A to 13C, overhung portions 187k may be
provided in the
driving-side flange 187 for the stopper of the coupling member 86 to the
driving side.
[0106] In this case, slipping off of the coupling member 86 on the driving
side can be
stopped by setting a distance q)Z6 between the overhung portions 187k to be
smaller
than a diameter TZ4 of the connecting portion 86c.
[0107] The overhung portions 187k are projections projecting inwardly
(toward the center of
the cylindrical portion, in the radial direction inner side) of the hollow
portion 187e
from an inner wall of the hollow portion 187e (an inner peripheral surface of
the
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cylindrical portion). The overhung portions 187k are in contact with the
coupling
member 86 and prevent the coupling member 86 from moving outside the drum
cylinder 62 (right of Fig. 13C). That is, since the overhung portions 187k are
caught in
the coupling member 86, slipping off of the coupling member 86 from the
driving-side
flange 187 is prevented. The driving-side flange 187 has a gear portion 187b1
which is
the same as the gear portion 87h1.
[0108] Therefore, compared with a case in which slipping off to the driving
side is stopped
by the pin 88 and the through hole portion 86d (the non-driving-side end
surface 86d3
thereof), the coupling member 86 can be positioned more precisely.
[0109] Although the driving-side flange 87 is an integrated member in the
present em-
bodiment, two parts may be integrated: this exemplary configuration is
described with
reference to Figs. 14A to 14C. Figs. 14A to 14C are explanatory views of a con-
figuration in which a lid member 489 is provided separately from a driving-
side flange
487. Figs. 14A and 14B are exploded perspective views and Fig. 14C is a cross-
sectional view of a state in which the pin 88 is assembled.
[0110] In the exemplary configuration illustrated in Figs. 14A to 14C, the
lid member 489
having a bottom surface 489e2 and a bottom portion 489f3 is fixed to the
driving-side
flange 487. The bottom surface 489e2 forms a bottom of the hollow portion 487e
when
the lid member 489 is fixed to the driving-side flange 487. The bottom portion
489f3
forms a part of a groove portion 487f. The driving-side flange 487 has a gear
portion
487b1 which is the same as the gear portion 87b1.
[0111] With this configuration, a hole 87m (see Fig. 9C) for forming the
narrowed portion
87h illustrated in Figs. 9A to 9E on the mold can be omitted, and molding of
the
driving-side flange 487 becomes easy. When the lid member 489 is provided,
slipping
off of the pin 88 can also be stopped by the configuration illustrated in Fig.
14C. In this
exemplary configuration, the narrowed portion 487h is formed by a projection
489h
projecting from the bottom surface 489f3 of the lid member 489 and a stopper
surface
487h1 of the driving-side flange 487. In this case, as illustrated in Fig.
14C, the pin 88
is first inserted in the direction of arrow WI in the groove portion 487f from
an
opening 487g. Then, by making the pin 88 rotate with the coupling member 86
(not il-
lustrated) in the rotational direction R, the pin 88 overrides the narrowed
portion 487h
formed by the projection 489h and the stopper surface 487h1, whereby assembly
of the
coupling member 86 and the pin 88 is completed.
[0112] As illustrated in Fig. 22, the groove portion 487f has a bent
portion Z3. That is, the
groove portion 487f has a first portion Z1 extending in the axial direction of
the photo-
conductive drum, and a second portion Z2 located closer to the bottom surface
489f3
than the first portion Z1 does and extending in a circumferential direction of
the
cylindrical portion. The bent portion Z3 is a portion located between the
first portion
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Z1 and the second portion Z2, and at which the direction in which the groove
portion
487f extends changes, i.e., a portion at which the groove portion 487f bends.
The
narrowed portion 487h is located in the second portion Z2 of the groove
portion 487f.
Second Embodiment
[0113] A second embodiment according to the present invention is described
with reference
to Figs. 15A to 16B. Since the configuration of the present embodiment is the
same as
that of the first embodiment except for a driving-side flange 287, description
of the
configuration is omitted. Regarding the driving-side flange 287, since
configurations
other than those of the groove portion 287f and the narrowed portion 287h are
the
same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.
[0114] Figs. 15A and 15B are perspective explanatory views of a drum
cylinder unit U22
provided with a driving-side flange 287 according to the present embodiment.
As il-
lustrated in Fig. 15A, the driving-side flange 287 has a pair of groove
portions 287f
opening to the driving side (an outer side of the photoconductive drum in the
axial
direction) in an opening 287g as in the first embodiment. The pair of groove
portions
287f are formed at an edge of a cylindrical portion 287a (an inner peripheral
surface
which forms the hollow portion 287e).
[0115] Here, as illustrated in Fig. 15B, side surfaces 287f2 (in the
upstream of the rotational
direction R) which do not function as the portions to which the rotational
force is
transmitted in both the side surfaces (287f1 and 287f2) of the groove portion
287f are
formed as parts of elastic deformation portions 287k. The elastic deformation
portions
287k extend on the driving side from the bottom portion 287f3, and are not con-
tinuously connected with the cylindrical portion 287a. In addition, the
elastic de-
formation portions 287k and the cylindrical portion 287a have a gap V1 also in
the
direction of arrow V. Therefore, the elastic deformation portion 287k easily
elastically
deforms in the direction of arrow V of Fig. 15B starting at the bottom portion
287f3.
From the side surface 287f2, a projection 287h1 projecting toward an opposite
side
surface 287f1 is provided. A narrowed portion 287h having a distance Z7
narrower
than a diameter TZ3 of the pin 88 is formed between the projection 287h1 and
the side
surface 287f1. A sloped portion 287h2 inclined to the axis Li is provided on
the
driving side (the opening 287g side) of the projection 287h1, and a stopper
portion
287h3 which perpendicularly crosses the axis Li is provided on the non-driving
side
(the bottom portion 287f3 side). The driving-side flange 287 has the gear
portion
287b1 which is the same as the gear portion 87b1.
[0116] When the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 are assembled to the
driving-side
flange 287, the pin 88 is brought into contact with the sloped portion 287h2
and the
elastic deformation portion 287k deforms in the direction of arrow V. Then the
narrowed portion 287h is expanded to let the pin 88 pass therethrough. Since
the
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stopper portion 287h3 perpendicularly crosses the axis Li, the elastic
deformation
portion 287k less easily deforms in the direction of arrow V even if the pin
88 tries to
pass through on the driving side.
[0117] In the present embodiment, as described above, the elastic
deformation portion 287k
is provided so that the narrowed portion 287h expands easily when the pin 88
is
inserted. As compared with a case in which no elastic deformation portion 287k
is
provided (the first embodiment), a burden during assembly of the pin 88 to the
drum
cylinder unit U22 can be reduced.
[0118] In contrast to the present embodiment, the elastic deformation
portion may be
provided on the side of the side surface 287f1 which functions as the portion
to which
the rotational force is transmitted. In that case, however, there is a
possibility that the
elastic deformation portion deforms when rotational force is transmitted from
the pin
88, and the pin 88 overrides the projection 287h1 and slips off. Therefore, it
is more
suitable to provide the elastic deformation portion on the side of the side
surface 287f2
as in the present embodiment.
[0119] Other forms of the present embodiment are described with reference
to Figs. 16A and
16B. Figs. 16A and 16B are perspective explanatory views of a drum cylinder
unit U32
including a driving-side flange 387.
[0120] In the form of the driving-side flange 387 illustrated in Figs. 16A
and 16B, the
driving-side flange 387 has a cylindrical portion 387a, a hollow portion 397e,
a
narrowed portion 387h, and the like. The driving-side flange 387 is configured
with the
elastic deformation portions 387k which are not continuously connected with
the
cylindrical portion 387a being provided in an opposite surface 387f4 side
opposite to
the axis Li, and make the projections 387h1 project toward the axis Li from
the
opposite surface 387f4. In this case, the width Z32 (the distance between two
opposite
projections 387h1) illustrated in Figs. 16A and 16B is defined as the narrowed
portion
387h, and the projection 387h1 is provided so that the width Z32 becomes
smaller than
the full length Z5 (see Figs. 7A to 7C) of the pin 88. The driving-side flange
387 has a
gear portion 387b1 which is the same as the gear portion 87b1.
Third Embodiment
[0121] A third embodiment according to the present invention is described
with reference to
Figs. 17A to 17D. Since the configuration of the present embodiment is the
same as
that of the first embodiment except for a driving-side flange 587 (687),
description of
the configuration is omitted. Regarding the driving-side flange 587 (687),
since config-
urations other than that of a groove portion 587f (687f) are the same as those
of the
first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.
[0122] Figs. 17A to 17D are perspective explanatory views of a method for
fixing the
driving-side flange 587, the driving-side flange 687, and the pin 88 in the
present em-
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bodiment. Figs. 17A and 17C are perspective views of the driving-side flange
587 and
the driving-side flange 687 illustrating examples of the present embodiment.
Figs. 17B
and 17D are perspective views illustrating the state in which slipping off of
the pin 88
is stopped after the pin 88 is inserted in the driving-side flange 587 (687)
of Figs. 17A
and 17C.
[0123] As illustrated in Figs. 17A and 17C, the cylindrical portion 587a
(687a) of the
driving-side flange 587 (687) has a pair of groove portions 587f (6870. An
opening
surface 587g1 (687g1) located further driving side than the bottom portion
587f3
(687f3) is provided in the radial direction outer side of the groove portion
587f (6870.
The driving-side flange 587 (687) has a gear portion 587b1 (687b1) which is
the same
as the gear portion 87b1.
[0124] In the present embodiment, the groove portion 587f (6870 is defined
to reach the
opening surface 587g1 (687g1) in the direction of the axis Ll. An opening 587g
(687g)
which becomes a driving-side end of the groove portion 587f (6870 is located
at the
same position as that of the opening surface 587g1 (687g1) in the direction of
the axis
Ll. A protruding portion 587i (687i) protruding on the driving side is
provided in the
opening surface 587g1 (687g1) with a gap between the cylindrical portion 587a
(687a).
A sloped portion 587i1 (687i1) inclined to the axis Li so that the normal line
faces the
direction opposite to the direction of the groove portion 587f (6870 is
provided in the
protruding portion 587i (687i). The protruding portion 587i (687i) is made of
ther-
moplastic resin, such as polyacetal. Portions of the driving-side flange 587
(687) other
than the protruding portion 587i (687i) may be made of the same material as
that of the
protruding portion 587i (687i) or another material formed integrally by two-
color
molding or the like.
[0125] After inserting the pin 88 in the groove portion 587f (6871) of the
driving-side flange
587 (687), pressure and heat in the direction which perpendicularly crosses
the sloped
portion 587i1 (687i1) are applied to the protruding portion 587i (687i) made
of ther-
moplastic resin (thermally deformable resin). Then, as illustrated in Figs.
17B and
17D, the protruding portion 587i (687i) deforms toward the groove portion 587f
(6870
to form a stopper portion 587h (687h). The opening 587g (687g) is thus closed
and
slipping off of the pin 88 can be stopped. The protruding portion 587i (687i)
is a
thermally deformable portion which prevents the pin 88 from moving in the
axial
direction outer side (right in Fig. 17D) of the photoconductive drum when it
deforms
thermally.
[0126] As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the
coupling
member 86 and the pin 88 can be assembled from the outer side on the driving
side of
the drum cylinder unit U52, assemblability of the drum cylinder unit U52
improves as
in the first and second embodiments.
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[0127] Since the driving-side flange 587 is producible in a simpler shape
compared with the
above-described embodiments, mold fabrication becomes easier and part
precision
after molding is stabilized easily.
[0128] Alternatively, slipping off of the pin 88 may be stopped by other
method without
deforming the protruding portion made of thermoplastic resin as in the present
em-
bodiment. Other stopper configurations of the pin 88 are described with
reference to
Figs. 18A to 19B. Figs. 18A to 18C are explanatory views of an exemplary
stopper
configuration of the pin 88. Fig. 18A is an exploded perspective view. and
Figs. 18B
and 18C are perspective views of a state in which the pin 88 has been
assembled. Figs.
19A and 19B are explanatory views illustrating another exemplary
configuration. Fig.
19A is an exploded perspective view, and Fig. 19B is a perspective view of a
state in
which the pin 88 has been assembled. As an exemplary stopper configuration of
the
pin 88, as illustrated in Fig. 18B, after inserting the pin 88 in the groove
portion 787f
of the driving-side flange 787 together with the coupling member 86 (not
illustrated),
an adhesive sealing agent H. such as hot melt or an adhesive, may be applied.
Alter-
natively, as illustrated in Fig. 18C, a resin member 789 may be inserted and
fixed by
press-fitting, adhesion, welding, and the like. As illustrated in Figs. 19A
and 19B, a
cylindrical portion 889a including a groove portion 889f and a stopper portion
889h
may be formed in an upper lid member 889, and the upper lid member 889 may be
fixed to the driving-side flange 887 having the bottom portion 887f3. The
upper lid
member 889 is a fixing member attached and fixed from the driving side (outer
side of
the photoconductive drum) to the driving-side flange 887. The upper lid member
889 is
also a regulating member which regulates movement (slipping off) of the pin
88. The
driving-side flange 787 has a gear portion 787b1 which is the same as the gear
portion
87b1, and the driving-side flange 887 has a gear portion 887b1 which is the
same as
the gear portion 87b1.
Fourth Embodiment
[0129] A fourth embodiment of the present invention is described with
reference to Figs.
20A to 20C. Figs. 20A to 20C are explanatory views of assembly of a drum unit
U91
in the present embodiment. The assembly process is illustrated in the
perspective views
in the order of Fig. 20A to Fig. 20C. In the present embodiment, as
illustrated in Figs.
20A to 20C, since the shape of a driving-side flange 987 and the method for as-
sembling the pin 88 are different from those of the above-described
embodiments, de-
scription other than these will be omitted.
[0130] In the driving-side flange 987, as illustrated in Fig. 20A, a gear
portion 987b1 and a
cylindrical portion 987a are provided on the driving side of a fixing portion
987d for
fixing the drum cylinder 62. The cylindrical portion 987a has a hollow portion
987e for
supporting a connecting portion 86c of the coupling member 86 in the radial
direction
25
inner side as in the first embodiment. The cylindrical portion 987a has a
through hole
(a second through hole portion) 987f which penetrates from the hollow portion
987e to
an outer peripheral surface 987a1, and which perpendicularly crosses the axis
Ll.
[0131] That is, each of the two through holes 987f penetrates an edge of
the cylindrical
portion 987a and communicates with the hollow portion 987e. The two through
holes
987f arc provided at 180 degrees from each other via the axis Ll. That is, the
two
through holes 987f are located symmetrically about the axis Li (which is the
center of
the cylindrical portion 987a).
[0132] A diameter cpZ9 of each of the two through holes 987f is slightly
smaller than the
diameter 9Z3 of the pin 88.
[0133] When assembling the coupling member 86 and the pin 88 to the driving-
side flange
987, as illustrated in Fig. 20B, the connecting portion 86c of the coupling
member 86
is first inserted in the hollow portion 987e. Then the pin 88 is inserted
toward the
hollow portion 987e from one of the through holes (the second through hole
portion)
987f. As illustrated in Fig. 20C, the pin 88 is inserted to reach the through
hole of the
opposite side (the second through hole portion) 987f (not illustrated in Fig.
20C) via a
through hole (a first through hole portion) 86d of the coupling member 86.
Since the
pin 88 is press-fit in the through hole 987f, slipping off of the pin 88 is
stopped with
respect to the driving-side flange 987. Assembly of the coupling member 86 and
the
pin 88 to the driving-side flange 987 is thus completed.
[0134] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the
coupling member 86
can be assembled from the driving side of the drum cylinder unit U92.
Therefore,
assembly of the drum cylinder unit U92 becomes easier as in the first
embodiment.
[0135] Although the pin 88 is fixed by press-fitting the pin 88 into the
through hole 987f in
the present embodiment, one of the through holes 987f may have a slightly
large
diameter and the pin 88 may be press-fit only into the other of the through
holes 987f.
Alternatively, any fixing methods other than press-fitting may be used. For
example,
the diameter of the through hole 987f may be set slightly greater than the
diameter of
the pin 88, and an adhesive may be applied to a gap between the pin 88 and the
through hole 987f after the pin 88 is inserted in the through hole 987f.
Further, any one
of the pins 88 may be formed as a male screw at its end, and is inserted in
one of the
through holes 987f while tapping to fix the pin 88.
[0136] While the present invention has been described with reference to
exemplary em-
bodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the
disclosed
exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the
broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent
structures and functions.
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