EP0251693A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus using same
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1987-06-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A process cartridge (4) contains as a unit a photosensitive drum (1) and processing elements for repetitive image formation on the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge is mountable into an image forming machine (6). The process cartridge is provided with a helical gear (3) for driving the photosensitive drum. The helical gear is engaged with another helical gear (9) in the image forming machine, when it is mounted into the image forming machine. The helical gears are twisted in such directions that when the photosensitive drum is driven, the photosensitive drum is urged (arrow A) toward a rear side of the apparatus, whereby during an image forming operation, the process cartridge and/or the photosensitive member is correctly positioned. More particularly, the helical gear of the process cartridge is twisted in a direction which is the same as the direction of rotation of the photosensitive drum during the image forming operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinji Kanemitsu
- 👤 Tokihide Ebata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:09
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1839; G03G21/1857; G03G21/1864; G03G15/00; G03G15/75; G03G15/757; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654; G03G2221/1657; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotatable photosensitive member; a helical gear operatively coupled to said photosensitive member and adapted to receive driving force from the image forming apparatus when mounted thereto to drive said photosensitive member; process means contributable to repetitive formation of an image on said photosensitive member; and supporting means for supporting as a unit said photosensitive member and said process means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotatable photosensitive member; a helical gear operatively coupled to said photosensitive member and adapted to receive driving force from the image forming apparatus when mounted thereto to drive said photosensitive member; process means contributable to repetitive formation of an image on said photosensitive member; and supporting means for supporting as a unit said photosensitive member and said process means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helical gear is disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said photosensitive member and is twisted, in use, in such a direction that when it receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus said helical gear urges said photosensitive member toward said end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said helical gear has a module of 0.5 - 1.5, and has a twist angle, with respect to its rotational axis, of 5 - 30 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cartridge according to Claim 3, wherein the module is 0.8, and the twist angle is 10 degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein said process cartridge is insertable into the image forming apparatus in the direction of the rotational axis of said photosensitive member, and said end is a leading end when said process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said supporting means has a positioning portion for engagement with a positioning portion of the image forming apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said positioning means of said supporting means includes means for defining an opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the opening is coaxial with the rotation axis of said photosensitive member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image forming apparatus having a process cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, and a second helical gear meshed with the first mentioned helical gear of the process cartridge to drive said photosensitive member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, when utilising a cartridge as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, and further including a second positioning portion for engagement with said first mentioned positioning portion of said process cartridge, and second positioning portion being fixed to a frame of said image forming apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first and second positioning portions are engageable interrelatedly with mounting of said process cartridge into said image forming apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 or 11 when utilising a cartridge as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein said second positioning portion includes a pin engageing the opening.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 12 in the form of an electrophotographic copying apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus, having a member for bearing an image, means for mounting the member for rotation and with a limited axial clearance, and means for urging the member to one of the limits of the axial clearance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus, having a member for bearing an image, means for mounting the member for rotation and with a limited axial clearance, and means for urging the member to one of the limits of the axial clearance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image forming apparatus having a cartridge as claimed in claim 14, second mounting means for mounting the first-mentioned mounting means of the cartridge for limited axial movement, and second means for urging the first mounting means to the limit of axial movement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cartridge as claimed in claim 14 or an apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the or each urging means employs the axial thrust force developed by a helical gear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR565183A
Cited
US4552030A
Cited
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