CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WHICH USES CARTRIDGE

1 . A cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said main assembly including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion, wherein said cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, said cartridge comprising:

i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and

ii) a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said developing roller, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said developing roller to said developing roller and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from said rotational force transmitting angular position,

wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller, said coupling member moves from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position.

2 . A cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said main assembly including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion, wherein said cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, said cartridge comprising:

i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and

ii) a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said developing roller, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said developing roller to said developing roller and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from said rotational force transmitting angular position,

wherein in the state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a part of said coupling member is behind the driving shaft as seen in a direction opposite a removing direction in which said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said coupling member is disengaged from the driving shaft by said coupling member moving from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position so as to permit the part of the coupling member to circumvent the driving shaft.

3 . A cartridge according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said coupling member has a recess coaxial with a rotational axis of said coupling member extends, and said recess is over a free end of said driving shaft in the state in which said coupling member is positioned at said rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein said coupling member is rotated by a rotational force through engagement, in a rotational direction of said coupling member, to the rotational force applying portion which is projected in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft adjacent to the free end of the driving shaft, wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said coupling member pivots from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position so that part of said coupling member circumvents the driving shaft in response to movement of said cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller.

4 . A cartridge according to claim 7 or 8 , wherein a plurality of such rotational force receiving portions are provided on a phantom circle having a center on the rotational axis of said coupling member at positions substantially diametrically opposite to each other.

5 . A cartridge according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at said rotational force transmitting angular position, the rotational axis of said coupling member is substantially coaxial with the axis of said developing roller, wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at said disengaging angular position, the rotational axis of said coupling member is inclined relative to the axis of said developing roller so as to permit an upstream portion of said coupling member passes by the free end of the driving shaft in a removing direction in which said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

6 . A cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said main assembly including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion, wherein said cartridge is mountable to and dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, said cartridge comprising:

i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and

ii) a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said developing roller, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said developing roller to said developing roller, a pre-engagement angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said developing roller, from said rotational force transmitting angular position, and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from said rotational force transmitting angular position,

wherein when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller, said coupling member moves from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position to be opposed to the driving shaft, and wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller, said coupling member is disengaged from the driving shaft by moving from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position.

7 . A cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said main assembly including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion, wherein said cartridge is mountable to and dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, said cartridge comprising:

i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and

ii) a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said developing roller, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said developing roller to said developing roller, a pre-engagement angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said developing roller from said rotational force transmitting angular position, and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said developing roller from said rotational force transmitting angular position,

wherein when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge pivots from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position so that downstream part of said coupling member, with respect to the mounting direction in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus circumvents the driving shaft, wherein when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an upstream part of said coupling member with respect to the dismounting direction in which said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the apparatus is behind the drive shaft as seen in the direction opposite the dismounting direction, and wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said coupling member is disengaged from the drive shaft by pivoting from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position so that part behind the drive shaft circumvents the driving shaft in response to movement of said cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller.

8 . A cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein said coupling member has a recess in which a rotational axis of said coupling member extends, wherein when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge pivots from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position so that downstream a part of said coupling member, with respect to the mounting direction in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus circumvents the driving shaft, wherein said recess is over a free end of said driving shaft in the state in which said coupling member is positioned at said rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein said coupling member is rotated by a rotational force through engagement, in a rotational direction of said coupling member, to the rotational force applying portion which is projected in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft adjacent to the free end of the driving shaft, and wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said coupling member is disengaged from the drive shaft by pivoting from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position so that part of said coupling member circumvents the driving shaft in response to movement of said cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller.

9 . A process cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein a plurality of such rotational force receiving portions are provided on a phantom circle having a center on the rotational axis of said coupling member at positions substantially diametrically opposite to each other.

10 . A cartridge according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at said rotational force transmitting angular position, the rotational axis of said coupling member is substantially coaxial with the axis of said developing roller, wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at the pre-engagement angular position, said coupling member is inclined relative to the axis of said developing roller so that downstream part thereof with respect to the mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus passes by the free end of the drive shaft, wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at said disengaging angular position, the rotational axis of said coupling member is inclined relative to the axis of said developing roller so as to permit an upstream portion of said coupling member passes by the free end of the driving shaft in a removing direction in which said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

11 . A process cartridge according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein said cartridge is a developing cartridge not containing said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, or a process cartridge containing said electrophotographic photosensitive drum as a unit.

12 . An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a cartridge is detachably mountable, said apparatus comprising:

i) a driving shaft having a rotating force applying portion; and

ii) a cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said developing roller, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said developing roller to said developing roller and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from said rotational force transmitting angular position,

wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller, said coupling member moves from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position.

13 . An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a cartridge is detachably mountable, said apparatus comprising:

i) a driving shaft having a rotating force applying portion; and

ii) a cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said developing roller, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said developing roller to said developing roller and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from said rotational force transmitting angular position,

wherein in the state in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a part of said coupling member is behind the driving shaft as seen in a direction opposite a removing direction in which said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said coupling member is disengaged from the driving shaft by said coupling member moving from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position so as to permit the part of the coupling member to circumvent the driving shaft.

14 . An apparatus according to claim 12 or 13 , wherein said coupling member has a recess coaxial with a rotational axis of said coupling member extends, and said recess is over a free end of said driving shaft in the state in which said coupling member is positioned at said rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein said coupling member is rotated by a rotational force through engagement, in a rotational direction of said coupling member, to the rotational force applying portion which is projected in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft adjacent to the free end of the driving shaft, wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said coupling member pivots from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position so that part of said coupling member circumvents the driving shaft in response to movement of said cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller.

15 . An apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein a plurality of such rotational force receiving portions are provided on a phantom circle having a center on the rotational axis of said coupling member at positions substantially diametrically opposite to each other.

16 . An apparatus according to claim 12 or 13 , wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at said rotational force transmitting angular position, the rotational axis of said coupling member is substantially coaxial with the axis of said developing roller, wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at said disengaging angular position, the rotational axis of said coupling member is inclined relative to the axis of said developing roller so as to permit an upstream portion of said coupling member passes by the free end of the driving shaft in a removing direction in which said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

17 . An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a cartridge is detachably mountable, said apparatus comprising:

i) a driving shaft having a rotating force applying portion; and

ii) a cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said developing roller, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said developing roller to said developing roller, a pre-engagement angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said developing roller, from said rotational force transmitting angular position, and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from said rotational force transmitting angular position,

wherein when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller, said coupling member moves from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position to be opposed to the driving shaft, and wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller, said coupling member is disengaged from the driving shaft by moving from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position.

18 . An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a cartridge is detachably mountable, said apparatus comprising:

i) a driving shaft having a rotating force applying portion, said driving shaft being rotatable by a motor; and

ii) a cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and a coupling member engageable with said rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating said developing roller, said coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating said developing roller to said developing roller, a pre-engagement angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from the axis of said developing roller, from said rotational force transmitting angular position, and a disengaging angular position in which said coupling member is inclined away from said rotational force transmitting angular position,

wherein when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge pivots from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position so that downstream part of said coupling member, with respect to the mounting direction in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus circumvents the driving shaft, wherein when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an upstream part of said coupling member with respect to the dismounting direction in which said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the apparatus is behind the drive shaft as seen in the direction opposite the dismounting direction, and wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said coupling member is disengaged from the drive shaft by pivoting from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position so that part behind the drive shaft circumvents the driving shaft in response to movement of said cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller.

19 . An apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 , wherein said coupling member has a recess in which a rotational axis of said coupling member extends, wherein when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said cartridge pivots from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position so that downstream a part of said coupling member, with respect to the mounting direction in which said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus circumvents the driving shaft, wherein said recess is over a free end of said driving shaft in the state in which said coupling member is positioned at said rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein said coupling member is rotated by a rotational force through engagement, in a rotational direction of said coupling member, to the rotational force applying portion which is projected in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft adjacent to the free end of the driving shaft, and wherein when said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said coupling member is disengaged from the drive shaft by pivoting from said rotational force transmitting angular position to said disengaging angular position so that part of said coupling member circumvents the driving shaft in response to movement of said cartridge in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller.

20 . An apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein a plurality of such rotational force receiving portions are provided on a phantom circle having a center on the rotational axis of said coupling member at positions substantially diametrically opposite to each other.

21 . An apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 , wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at said rotational force transmitting angular position, the rotational axis of said coupling member is substantially coaxial with the axis of said developing roller, wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at the pre-engagement angular position, said coupling member is inclined relative to the axis of said developing roller so that downstream part thereof with respect to the mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus passes by the free end of the drive shaft, wherein in the state in which coupling member is positioned at said disengaging angular position, the rotational axis of said coupling member is inclined relative to the axis of said developing roller so as to permit an upstream portion of said coupling member passes by the free end of the driving shaft in a removing direction in which said cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

22 . An apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 , wherein said cartridge is a developing cartridge not containing said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, or a process cartridge containing said electrophotographic photosensitive drum as a unit.