IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,029,645

Granted Patent B2

US 11,029,645 · App. 16/679,774 · Granted Jun 8, 2021

Drum unit, cartridge and coupling member

Inventors: Tetsuo Uesugi (Suntou-gun, JP); Makoto Hayashida (Numazu, JP); Koji Yamaguchi (Numazu, JP); Takashi Yano (Mishima, JP)

Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

G03G21/1853 G03G15/00 G03G15/08 G03G15/757 G03G21/16 G03G21/18 G03G21/186 G03G21/1857 G03G21/1821 G03G21/1842 G03G2215/0132 G03G2221/1657 Y10T403/60 Y10T403/606 Y10T403/7026 Y10T403/7033

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 11,029,645
App. No.: 16/679,774
Granted: Jun 8, 2021
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A cartridge includes a casing and a photosensitive drum rotatably supported by the casing. A coupling member is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling member being rotatable about a rotational axis thereof. The coupling member includes (i) a cylindrical portion, (ii) a first projection at least partially positioned inside of the cylindrical portion, (iii) a second projection at least partially positioned inside of the cylindrical portion, and (iv) an aligner at least partially positioned inside of the cylindrical portion, the aligner including a surface that faces the rotational axis. A distance between at least one of the first and second projections and the aligner is changeable.

Claims (46)

1. A cartridge comprising:

a casing;

a photosensitive drum rotatably supported by the casing; and

a coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, the coupling member being rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, the coupling member including (i) a cylindrical portion, (ii) a first projection at least partially positioned inside of the cylindrical portion, (iii) a second projection at least partially positioned inside of the cylindrical portion, and (iv) an aligner at least partially positioned inside of the cylindrical portion, the aligner including a surface that faces the rotational axis of the coupling member,

wherein a distance between at least one of the first and second projections and the aligner is changeable,

wherein, along a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member, the first projection is open to the rotational axis of the coupling member, and

wherein, along a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member, the second projection is open to the rotational axis of the coupling member.

2. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, as seen in a direction of the rotational axis of the coupling member, the first projection and second projection are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees.

3. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, as seen in a direction of the rotational axis of the coupling member, (i) the first projection and the second projection are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees, (ii) the first projection and the aligner are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees, and (iii) the second projection and the aligner are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees.

4. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the rotational axis of the coupling member and an end of the first projection is about equal to a distance between the rotational axis of the coupling member and an end of the second projection.

5. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein as seen in a direction of the rotational axis of the coupling member, the first and second projections are positioned in one half section of the inside of the cylindrical portion and the aligner is positioned in a second half section of the inside of the cylindrical portion.

6. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, along a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member, the aligner is open to the rotational axis of the coupling member.

7. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are positioned at least partially inside of the photosensitive drum.

8. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling member includes (i) a first extending portion extending from an inside surface of the cylindrical portion, with the first projection projecting from the first extending portion, and (ii) a second extending portion extending from an inside surface of the cylindrical portion, with the second projection projecting from the second extending portion.

9. A cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein the first extending portion is movable relative to the cylindrical portion, and the second extending portion is movable relative to the cylindrical portion.

10. A process cartridge comprising:

a casing;

a photosensitive drum rotatably supported by the casing; and

toner contained in the casing;

a developing roller configured to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with the toner;

wherein a distance between at least one of the first and second projections and the aligner is changeable,

wherein, along a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member, the first projection is open to the rotational axis of the coupling member, and

wherein, along a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member, the second projection is open to the rotational axis of the coupling member.

11. A process cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein, as seen in a direction of the rotational axis of the coupling member, the first projection and second projection are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees.

12. A process cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein, as seen in a direction of the rotational axis of the coupling member, (i) the first projection and the second projection are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees, (ii) the first projection and the aligner are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees, and (iii) the second projection and the aligner are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees.

13. A process cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein a distance between the rotational axis of the coupling member and an end of the first projection is about equal to a distance between the rotational axis of the coupling member and an end of the second projection.

14. A process cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein as seen in a direction of the rotational axis of the coupling member, the first and second projections are positioned in one half section of the inside of the cylindrical portion and the aligner is positioned in a second half section of the inside of the cylindrical portion.

15. A process cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein, along a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member, the aligner is open to the rotational axis of the coupling member.

16. A process cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are positioned at least partially inside of the photosensitive drum.

17. A process cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the coupling member includes (i) a first extending portion extending from an inside surface of the cylindrical portion, with the first projection projecting from the first extending portion, and (ii) a second extending portion extending from an inside surface of the cylindrical portion, with the second projection projecting from the second extending portion.

18. A process cartridge according to claim 17 , wherein the first extending portion is movable relative to the cylindrical portion, and the second extending portion is movable relative to the cylindrical portion.

19. A drum unit for a cartridge, the drum unit comprising:

a photosensitive drum; and

wherein a distance between at least one of the first and second projections and the aligner is changeable,

wherein, along a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member, the first projection is open to the rotational axis of the coupling member, and

wherein, along a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member, the second projection is open to the rotational axis of the coupling member.

20. A drum unit according to claim 19 , wherein, as seen in a direction of the rotational axis of the coupling member, the first projection and second projection are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees.

21. A drum unit according to claim 19 , wherein, as seen in a direction of the rotational axis of the coupling member, (i) the first projection and the second projection are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees, (ii) the first projection and the aligner are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees, and (iii) the second projection and the aligner are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees.

22. A drum unit according to claim 19 , wherein a distance between the rotational axis of the coupling member and an end of the first projection is about equal to a distance between the rotational axis of the coupling member and an end of the second projection.

23. A drum unit according to claim 19 , wherein as seen in a direction of the rotational axis of the coupling member, the first and second projections are positioned in one half section of the inside of the cylindrical portion and the aligner is positioned in a second half section of the inside of the cylindrical portion.

24. A drum unit according to claim 19 , wherein along a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of the coupling member, the aligner is open to the rotational axis of the coupling member.

25. A drum unit according to claim 19 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are positioned at least partially inside of the photosensitive drum.

26. A drum unit according to claim 19 , wherein the coupling member includes (i) a first extending portion extending from an inside surface of the cylindrical portion, with the first projection projecting from the first extending portion, and (ii) a second extending portion extending from an inside surface of the cylindrical portion, with the second projection projecting from the second extending portion.

27. A drum unit according to claim 26 , wherein the first extending portion is movable relative to the cylindrical portion, and the second extending portion is movable relative to the cylindrical portion.

Priority Claims (2)

JP 2015-039432 · Feb 27, 2015 · national

JP 2016-023071 · Feb 9, 2016 · national

Continuity (3)

Division 15685169 · Aug 24, 2017

Continuation PCTJP2016056692 · Feb 26, 2016

Related Publication 20200073323A1 · Mar 5, 2020