IP Library Granted Patent US 9,791,819
Granted Patent B2
US 9,791,819 · App. 15/255,631 · Granted Oct 17, 2017

End member, photosensitive drum unit, developing roller unit, and process cartridge

Inventors: Shuichi Ikeda (Odawara, JP); Yohei Matsuoka (Odawara, JP); Yasunori Kawai (Odawara, JP); Susumu Taguchi (Odawara, JP)
Assignee: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
G03G15/757G03G21/186G03G21/1857
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,791,819
App. No.
15/255,631
Granted
Oct 17, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An end member is disposed at an end portion of a columnar rotating body mounted on an image forming apparatus body. The end member includes a tubular bearing member and a shaft member held by the bearing member. The shaft member includes a shaft-like rotating shaft which is disposed coaxially to the bearing member, and which rotates around a shaft line with respect to the bearing member to move in a direction of the shaft line, and a tip end member which is disposed coaxially to the rotating shaft, and at which a rotating force receiving member having a tip end provided with an engaging member which engages with a driving shaft of the image forming apparatus body is disposed. A rotating force around the shaft line is transmitted to the rotating force receiving member, the rotating shaft, and the bearing member in order.

Claims (42)

1. An end member to be disposed at an end portion of a columnar rotating body mounted on an image forming apparatus body, the end member comprising:

a tubular bearing member; and

a shaft member held by the bearing member, wherein

the shaft member includes:

a shaft-like rotating shaft which is disposed coaxially to the bearing member, and which rotates around a shaft line with respect to the bearing member to move in a direction of the shaft line; and

a tip end member which is disposed coaxially to the rotating shaft, and at which a rotating force receiving member having a tip end provided with an engaging member which engages with a driving shaft of the image forming apparatus body is disposed, and

a rotating force around the shaft line is transmitted to the rotating force receiving member, the rotating shaft, and the bearing member in order,

wherein a recessed portion having a depth in the shaft line direction is formed on an end surface of the rotating force receiving member, and

a side surface of the recessed portion is formed in a projected shape.

2. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rotating shaft and the tip end member moves in a direction along the direction of the shaft line regardless of the rotation around the shaft line of the shaft member.

3. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein a recessed portion having a depth in the shaft line direction is formed on an end surface of the rotating force receiving member, and

a side surface of the recessed portion includes a spiral groove extending in a radial shape when viewed from the shaft line and being curved in a circumferential direction around the shaft line.

4. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging member includes an inclined surface or a curved surface inclined to the shaft line direction.

5. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging member includes a recessed portion with which the driving shaft is engaged.

6. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein a part formed in a spiral shape is provided on an inner surface of the bearing member, and a member which moves inside the part formed in the spiral shape is provided in the rotating shaft, whereby the rotating shaft rotates around the shaft line with respect to the bearing member to move in the shaft line direction.

7. A photosensitive drum unit comprising

a photosensitive drum as the columnar rotating body; and

the end member according to claim 1 , wherein the end member is disposed at least in one end portion of the photosensitive drum.

8. A process cartridge comprising:

a housing; and

the photosensitive drum unit according to claim 7 , wherein the photosensitive drum unit is held by the housing.

9. A developing roller unit comprising:

a developing roller as the columnar rotating body; and

the end member according to claim 1 , wherein the end member is disposed at least in one end portion of the developing roller.

10. A process cartridge comprising:

a housing; and

the developing roller unit according to claim 9 , wherein the developing roller unit is held by the housing.

11. An end member to be disposed at an end portion of a columnar rotating body mounted on an image forming apparatus body, the end member comprising:

a tubular bearing member; and

a shaft member held by the bearing member, wherein

the shaft member includes:

a shaft-like rotating shaft which is disposed coaxially to the bearing member, and which rotates around a shaft line with respect to the bearing member to move in a direction of the shaft line; and

a tip end member which is disposed coaxially to the rotating shaft, and at which a rotating force receiving member having a tip end provided with an engaging member which engages with a driving shaft of the image forming apparatus body is disposed, and

a rotating force around the shaft line is transmitted to the rotating force receiving member, the rotating shaft, and the bearing member in order,

wherein a part formed in a spiral shape is provided on an inner surface of the rotating shaft, and a member which moves inside the part formed in the spiral shape is provided in the tip end member, whereby the tip end member rotates around the shaft line with respect to the rotating shaft to move in the shaft line direction.

12. The end member according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the rotating shaft and the tip end member moves in a direction along the direction of the shaft line regardless of the rotation around the shaft line of the shaft member.

13. A photosensitive drum unit comprising

a photosensitive drum as the columnar rotating body; and

the end member according to claim 11 , wherein the end member is disposed at least in one end portion of the photosensitive drum.

14. A process cartridge comprising:

a housing; and

the photosensitive drum unit according to claim 13 , wherein the photosensitive drum unit is held by the housing.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 5, 2017
From: MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043750/0834 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 4, 2017
From: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
To: MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 043750/0207 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2016
From: IKEDA, SHUICHI; MATSUOKA, YOHEI; KAWAI, YASUNORI; TAGUCHI, SUSUMU
To: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039622/0553 →
Priority Claims (3)
JP 2014-044368 · Mar 6, 2014 · national
JP 2014-142742 · Jul 10, 2014 · national
JP 2014-163057 · Aug 8, 2014 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2015056434 · Mar 4, 2015
Related Publication 20160370750A1 · Dec 22, 2016