Electrophotographic image forming apparatus, developing apparatus, and coupling member
A developing device usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the apparatus including a driving shaft rotatable by a motor and having a rotating force applying portion, and a movable member, the developing device being mountable to the movable member, and the developing device being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft in response to movement of the movable member in one direction with the developing device mounted to the movable member, the developing device includes i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis; and ii) a coupling member for transmitting a rotating force to the developing roller, the coupling member including, a rotating force receiving portion engageable with the rotating force applying portion to receive a rotating force from the driving shaft.
1. An image forming apparatus cartridge comprising:
a casing;
developer contained within the casing;
a developer roller having an axis L 1 , the developer roller being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L 1 ;
a developer supplying roller configured to remove developer from a surface of the developer roller and to supply developer to the surface of the developer roller; and
a coupling member having an axis L 2 about which the coupling member is rotatable, the coupling member including (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the developer roller and the developer supplying roller and (ii) a second end portion for receiving a rotational force, the second end portion including at least two projections that are at least partly outside of the casing, each of the at least two projections being open to the axis L 2 ,
wherein the second end portion has an outermost surface, and for at least part of the outermost surface, a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to the outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 increases as the distance along the axis L 2 from the first end portion increases, and
wherein the coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially parallel to and offset from the axis L 1 of the developer roller, (ii) a second position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position, and (iii) a third position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position in a direction opposite to the direction the coupling member is inclined when in the second position.
2. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first gear operatively connected to the developer roller; and
a second gear in meshing engagement with the first gear,
wherein the coupling member is operatively connected to the developer roller via the first and second gears.
3. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 2 , wherein, when the coupling member is in the first position, the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially coaxial with an axis about which the second gear is rotatable.
4. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the second gear has a hollow portion, and at least part of the coupling member is positioned within the hollow portion of the second gear.
5. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the second gear is connected to the coupling member such that the coupling member can partially rotate about the axis L 2 without transmitting a force to the second gear.
6. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 2 , wherein each projection has a tip, and when the coupling member is in the first position, the tip of each projection is the same distance from the second gear.
7. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 1 , wherein an angle at which the axis L 2 is inclined when the coupling member is in the second position is different than an angle at which the axis L 2 is inclined when the coupling member is in the third position.
8. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 1 , wherein, when the coupling member is in the second position or the third position, the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined between 20 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position.
9. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 1 , wherein, in addition to being inclinable, the coupling member is retractable towards inside of the casing.
10. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 9 , further comprising a spring biasing the coupling member towards outside of the casing.
11. An image forming apparatus cartridge comprising:
a casing;
developer contained within the casing;
a developer roller having an axis L 1 , the developer roller being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L 1 ;
a developer supplying roller configured to remove developer from a surface of the developer roller and to supply developer to the surface of the developer roller; and
a coupling member having an axis L 2 about which the coupling member is rotatable, the coupling member including (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the developer roller and the developer supplying roller and (ii) a second end portion for receiving a rotational force, the second end portion including at least two projections that are at least partly outside of the casing, each of the at least two projections being open to the axis L 2 ,
wherein the second end portion has an outermost surface, and for at least part of the outermost surface, a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to the outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 increases as the distance along the axis L 2 from the first end portion increases, and
wherein the coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially parallel to and offset from the axis L 1 of the developer roller and (ii) a second position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position.
12. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first gear operatively connected to the developer roller; and
a second gear in meshing engagement with the first gear,
wherein the coupling member is operatively connected to the developer roller via the first and second gears.
13. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 12 , wherein, when the coupling member is in the first position, the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially coaxial with an axis about which the second gear is rotatable.
14. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the second gear has a hollow portion, and at least part of the coupling member is positioned within the hollow portion of the second gear.
15. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the second gear is connected to the coupling member such that the coupling member can partially rotate about the axis L 2 without transmitting a force to the second gear.
16. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 12 , wherein each projection has a tip, and when the coupling member is in the first position, the tip of each projection is the same distance from the second gear.
17. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 11 , wherein, when the coupling member is in the second position, the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined between 20 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position.
18. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 11 , wherein, in addition to being inclinable, the coupling member is retractable towards inside of the casing.
19. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 18 , further comprising a spring biasing the coupling member towards outside of the casing.
20. An image forming apparatus cartridge comprising:
a casing;
developer contained within the casing;
a developer roller having an axis L 1 , the developer roller being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L 1 ;
a developer supplying roller configured to remove developer from a surface of the developer roller and to supply developer to the surface of the developer roller; and
a coupling member having an axis L 2 about which the coupling member is rotatable, the coupling member including (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the developer roller and the developer supplying roller and (ii) a second end portion for receiving a rotational force, the second end portion including at least one projection that is at least partly outside of the casing, the at least one projection being open to the axis L 2 ,
wherein the second end portion has an outermost surface, and for at least part of the outermost surface, a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to the outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 increases as the distance along the axis L 2 from the first end portion increases, and
wherein the coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially parallel to and offset from the axis L 1 of the developer roller, (ii) a second position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position, and (iii) a third position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position in a direction opposite to the direction the coupling member is inclined when in the second position.
21. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 20 , further comprising:
a first gear operatively connected to the developer roller; and
a second gear in meshing engagement with the first gear,
wherein the coupling member is operatively connected to the developer roller via the first and second gears.
22. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 21 , wherein, when the coupling member is in the first position, the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially coaxial with an axis about which the second gear is rotatable.
23. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 21 , wherein the second gear has a hollow portion, and at least part of the coupling member is positioned within the hollow portion of the second gear.
24. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 21 , wherein the second gear is connected to the coupling member such that the coupling member can partially rotate about the axis L 2 without transmitting a force to the second gear.
25. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the second end portion includes a recess facing away from the first end portion.
26. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 20 , wherein an angle at which the axis L 2 is inclined when the coupling member is in the second position is different than an angle at which the axis L 2 is inclined when the coupling member is in the third position.
27. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 20 , wherein, when the coupling member is in the second position or the third position, the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined between 20 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position.
28. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 20 , wherein, in addition to being inclinable, the coupling member is retractable towards inside of the casing.
29. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 28 , further comprising a spring biasing the coupling member towards outside of the casing.
30. An image forming apparatus cartridge comprising:
a casing;
developer contained within the casing;
a developer roller having an axis L 1 , the developer roller being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L 1 ;
a developer supplying roller configured to remove developer from a surface of the developer roller and to supply developer to the surface of the developer roller; and
a coupling member having an axis L 2 about which the coupling member is rotatable, the coupling member including (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the developer roller and the developer supplying roller and (ii) a second end portion for receiving a rotational force, the second end portion including at least one projection that is at least partly outside of the casing, the at least one projection being open to the axis L 2 ,
wherein the second end portion has an outermost surface, and for at least part of the outermost surface, a maximum distance from the axis L 2 to the outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L 2 increases as the distance along the axis L 2 from the first end portion increases, and
wherein the coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially parallel to and offset from the axis L 1 of the developer roller and (ii) a second position in which the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position.
31. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 30 , further comprising:
a first gear operatively connected to the developer roller; and
a second gear in meshing engagement with the first gear,
wherein the coupling member is operatively connected to the developer roller via the first and second gears.
32. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 31 , wherein, when the coupling member is in the first position, the axis L 2 of the coupling member is substantially coaxial with an axis about which the second gear is rotatable.
33. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 31 , wherein the second gear has a hollow portion, and at least part of the coupling member is positioned within the hollow portion of the second gear.
34. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 31 , wherein the second gear is connected to the coupling member such that the coupling member can partially rotate about the axis L 2 without transmitting a force to the second gear.
35. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 30 , wherein the second end portion includes a recess facing away from the first end portion.
36. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 30 , wherein, when the coupling member is in the second position, the axis L 2 of the coupling member is inclined between 20 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the position of the axis L 2 when the coupling member is in the first position.
37. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 30 , wherein, in addition to being inclinable, the coupling member is retractable towards inside of the casing.
38. The image forming apparatus cartridge of claim 37 , further comprising a spring biasing the coupling member towards outside of the casing.