US4829335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus using same
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1987-06-23
•
Granted: 1989-05-09
•
Expires: 2007-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A process cartridge containing as a unit a photosensitive drum and processing elements for repetitive image formation on the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge is mountable into an image forming machine. The process cartridge is provided with a helical gear for driving the photosensitive drum. The helical gear is engaged with another helical gear 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 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
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:41
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: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotatably photosensitive member; 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 and to urge said photosensitive member in the direction of its rotational axis only with the driving force received from the image forming apparatus; 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
94 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotatably photosensitive member; 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 and to urge said photosensitive member in the direction of its rotational axis only with the driving force received from the image forming apparatus; 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
117 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 form the image forming apparatus when mounted thereto to drive said photosensitive member, said helical gear being disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said photosensitive member and being twisted in such a direction that when it receives the driving force form the image forming apparatus said helical gear urges said photosensitive member toward a side of said process control; 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 4
Dependent Claim
117 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 form the image forming apparatus when mounted thereto to drive said photosensitive member, said helical gear being disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said photosensitive member and being twisted in such a direction that when it receives the driving force form the image forming apparatus said helical gear urges said photosensitive member toward a side of said process control; 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 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A catridge according to claim 2, wherein said process cartridge is insertable into the image forming apparatus in a direction of a rotational axis of said photosensitive member, and said side is a leading side when said process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 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, said helical gear being disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said photosensitive member and being twisted in such a direction that when it receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus said helical gear urges said photosensitive member toward a side of said process cartridge; process means contributable to repetitive formation of an image on said photosensitive member; and supporting means for supporting as a unit said photosensitive member said process means; wherein said helical gear has a module of 0.8, and has a twist angle, with respect to its rotational axis, of 10 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 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, said helical gear being disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said photosensitive member and being twisted in such a direction that when it receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus said helical gear urges said photosensitive member toward a side of said process cartridge; process means contributable to repetitive formation of an image on said photosensitive member; and supporting means for supporting as a unit said photosensitive member said process means; wherein said helical gear has a module of 0.8, and has a twist angle, with respect to its rotational axis, of 10 degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 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 form the image forming apparatus when mounted thereto to drive said photosensitive member, said helical gear being disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said photosensitive member and being twisted in such a direction that when it receives the driving force form the image forming apparatus said helical gear urges said photosensitive member toward a side of said process cartridge wherein said helical gear has a module of 0.5-1.5 and has twist angle, with respect to its rotational axis, of 5-30 degrees; 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 9
Dependent Claim
139 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 form the image forming apparatus when mounted thereto to drive said photosensitive member, said helical gear being disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said photosensitive member and being twisted in such a direction that when it receives the driving force form the image forming apparatus said helical gear urges said photosensitive member toward a side of said process cartridge wherein said helical gear has a module of 0.5-1.5 and has twist angle, with respect to its rotational axis, of 5-30 degrees; 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 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cartridge according to claim 5, wherein said process cartride is insertable into the image forming apparatus in a direction of a rotational axis of said photosensitive member, and said side is a leading side when said process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 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 form the image forming apparatus when mounted thereto to drive said photosensitive member, said helical gear being disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said photosensitive member and being twisted in such a direction that when it receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus said helical gear urges said photosensitive member toward a side of said process cartridge; 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, said supporting means having a positioning portion for engagement with a positioning portion of the image forming apparatus interrelatedly with mounting of said process cartridge into the image forming apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
147 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 form the image forming apparatus when mounted thereto to drive said photosensitive member, said helical gear being disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said photosensitive member and being twisted in such a direction that when it receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus said helical gear urges said photosensitive member toward a side of said process cartridge; 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, said supporting means having a positioning portion for engagement with a positioning portion of the image forming apparatus interrelatedly with mounting of said process cartridge into the image forming apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cartridge according to claim 7, wherein said positioning portion of said supporting means includes means for defining an opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the opening is coaxial with the rotational axis of said photosensitive member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to 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; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; and a second helical gear meshed with the first mentioned helical gear to drive said photosensitive member; wherein said photosensitive member is urged in the direction of its rotational axis only by said second helical gear driving said photosensitive member through said first helical gear.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
102 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to 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; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; and a second helical gear meshed with the first mentioned helical gear to drive said photosensitive member; wherein said photosensitive member is urged in the direction of its rotational axis only by said second helical gear driving said photosensitive member through said first helical gear.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
109 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to 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; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; and a second helical gear meshed with the first mentioned helical gear to drive said photosensitive member; wherein said helical gears are twisted in such directions that when said photosensitive member is driven said photosensitive member is urged toward a side of said process cartridge where said first helical gear is provided.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
109 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to 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; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; and a second helical gear meshed with the first mentioned helical gear to drive said photosensitive member; wherein said helical gears are twisted in such directions that when said photosensitive member is driven said photosensitive member is urged toward a side of said process cartridge where said first helical gear is provided.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
132 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to 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; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; and a second helical gear meshed with the first mentioned helical gear to drive said photosensitive member; wherein said helical gears are twisted in such directions that when said photosensitive member is driven said photosensitive member is urged toward a side of said process cartridge where said first helical gear is provided; and wherein said helical gear has module of 0.5-1.5, and has a twist angle, with respect to its rotational axis, of 5-30 degrees.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
132 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to 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; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; and a second helical gear meshed with the first mentioned helical gear to drive said photosensitive member; wherein said helical gears are twisted in such directions that when said photosensitive member is driven said photosensitive member is urged toward a side of said process cartridge where said first helical gear is provided; and wherein said helical gear has module of 0.5-1.5, and has a twist angle, with respect to its rotational axis, of 5-30 degrees.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the module is 0.8, and the twist angle is 10 degrees.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
154 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to said photosensitive member, process means contributable to repetitive formation of an image on said photosensitive member, supporting means for supporting as a unit said photosensitive member and said process means, said supporting means having a positioning portion for positioning said process cartridge; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; a second helical gear meshed with said first mentioned helical gear of said process cartridge to drive said photosensitive member; and a second positioning portion for engagement with said first mentioned positioning portion of said process cartridge, said second positioning portion being fixed in a frame of said image forming apparatus; wherein said helical gears are twisted in such directions that when said photosensitive member is driven said photosensitive member is urged toward a side of said process cartridge where said first helical gear is provided.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
154 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to said photosensitive member, process means contributable to repetitive formation of an image on said photosensitive member, supporting means for supporting as a unit said photosensitive member and said process means, said supporting means having a positioning portion for positioning said process cartridge; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; a second helical gear meshed with said first mentioned helical gear of said process cartridge to drive said photosensitive member; and a second positioning portion for engagement with said first mentioned positioning portion of said process cartridge, said second positioning portion being fixed in a frame of said image forming apparatus; wherein said helical gears are twisted in such directions that when said photosensitive member is driven said photosensitive member is urged toward a side of said process cartridge where said first helical gear is provided.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first positioning portion includes means for defining an opening in a casing of said process cartridge which functions as said supporting means, and wherein said second positioning portion includes a pin.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first and second positioning portions are engageable interrelatedly with mounting of said process cartridge into said image forming apparatus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said process cartridge is insertable into the image forming apparatus in a direction of a rotational axis of said photosensitive member, and wherein said first helical gear is provided adjacent a side which is a leading side when said process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying apparatus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
164 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to said photosensitive member, process means contributable to repetitive formation of an image on said photosensitive member, supporting means for supporting as a unit said photosensitive member and said process means, said supporting means having a positioning portion for positioning said process cartridge; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; a second helical gear meshed with said first mentioned helical gear of said process cartridge to drive said photosensitive member; and a second positioning portion for engagment with said first mentioned positioning portion of said process cartridge, said second positioning portion being fixed in a frame of said image forming apparatus; wherein said first and second positioning portions are engageable interrelatedly with mounting of said process cartridge into said image forming apparatus; and 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 30
Dependent Claim
164 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a process cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive member, a helical gear operatively coupled to said photosensitive member, process means contributable to repetitive formation of an image on said photosensitive member, supporting means for supporting as a unit said photosensitive member and said process means, said supporting means having a positioning portion for positioning said process cartridge; means for detachably holding said process cartridge; a second helical gear meshed with said first mentioned helical gear of said process cartridge to drive said photosensitive member; and a second positioning portion for engagment with said first mentioned positioning portion of said process cartridge, said second positioning portion being fixed in a frame of said image forming apparatus; wherein said first and second positioning portions are engageable interrelatedly with mounting of said process cartridge into said image forming apparatus; and 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 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the module is 0.8, and the twist angle is 10 degrees.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR565183A
Cited
US3966316A
Cited
JPS566253A
Cited
JPS57104974A
Cited
US4425036A
Cited
US4591258A
Cited
US4575221A
Cited
US4588280A
Cited
JPS5961847A
Cited
JPS59152458A
Cited
JPS59189386A
Cited
US4552030A
Cited
JPH06117169A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-08 | 1992-11-07 | 1993-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-08 | 1996-11-07 | 1997-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-08 | 2000-11-07 | 2001-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |