Drum unit, cartridge and coupling member

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

a cylindrical photosensitive drum having an axis L 1 ; and

a coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, the coupling member including:

(i) a drum flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum, a part of the drum flange being positioned inside of the photosensitive drum, and

(ii) a connecting part operatively connected to the drum flange, the connecting part including:

(ii-i) a cap positioned adjacent to the drum flange,

(ii-ii) an arm portion extending from the cap in a direction of the axis L 1 , and

(ii-iii) a projection projecting from the arm portion in a direction perpendicular to and toward the axis L 1 such that at least a part of the projection is closer to the axis L 1 than the arm portion is to the axis L 1 , with at least a part of a surface of the projection facing the axis L 1 , the projection being movable between a first position and a second position, with an end of the projection being closer to the axis L 1 in the first position than in the second position.

2. A drum unit according to claim 1 , wherein the projection is biased towards the first position.

3. A drum unit according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling member includes a plurality of arm portions projecting from the cap in the direction of the axis L 1 , with a projection projecting from each of the arm portions in the perpendicular direction.

4. A drum unit according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the projection is positioned inside of the photosensitive drum.

5. A drum unit according to claim 1 , wherein an open space is formed in the coupling member between the end of the projection and the axis L 1 .

6. A drum unit according to claim 1 , wherein the drum flange includes a back-up portion configured to prevent movement of the projection relative to the drum flange.

7. A drum unit according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive drum has a first end, with the drum flange being provided adjacent to the first end, and a second end opposite to the first end, and

wherein the coupling member includes a recess, the recess (i) extending about axis L 1 , (ii) being positioned closer to the second end of the photosensitive drum than the projection is to the second end of the photosensitive drum, and (iii) being positioned such that a surface adjacent to the recess faces the projection.

8. A drum unit according to claim 1 , wherein the drum flange has a cylindrical shape.

9. A drum unit according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive drum has a first end, with the drum flange being provided adjacent to the first end, and a second end opposite to the first end, and

wherein the projection includes a part inclined relative to the axis L 1 , and, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis L 1 , a distance between the inclined part and the axis L 1 increases as the distance in the direction of the axis L 1 to the second end of the photosensitive drum decreases.

10. A drum unit according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive drum has a first end, with the drum flange being provided adjacent to the first end, and a second end, the second end being opposite to the first end, and

wherein the projection includes a part inclined relative to the axis L 1 , and, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis L 1 , a distance between the inclined part and the axis L 1 decreases as the distance in the direction of the axis L 1 to the second end of the photosensitive drum decreases.

11. A cartridge comprising:

a casing;

a cylindrical photosensitive drum having an axis L 1 , the photosensitive drum being supported by the casing; and

a coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, the coupling member including:

(i) a drum flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum, a part of the drum flange being positioned inside of the photosensitive drum, and

(ii) a connecting part operatively connected to the drum flange, the connecting part including:

(ii-i) a cap positioned adjacent to the drum flange,

(ii-ii) an arm portion extending from the cap in a direction of the axis L 1 , and

(ii-iii) a projection projecting from the arm portion in a direction perpendicular to and toward the axis L 1 such that at least a part of the projection is closer to the axis L 1 than the arm portion is to the axis L 1 , with at least a part of a surface of the projection facing the axis L 1 , the projection being movable between a first position and a second position, with an end of the projection being closer to the axis L 1 in the first position than in the second position.

12. A cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the projection is biased towards the first position.

13. A cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the coupling member includes a plurality of arm portions projecting from the cap in the direction of the axis L 1 , with a projection projecting from each of the arm portions in a direction perpendicular to the axis L 1 .

14. A cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein at least a part of the projection is positioned inside of the photosensitive drum.

15. A cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein an open space is formed in the coupling member between the end of the projection and the axis L 1 .

16. A cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the drum flange includes a back-up portion configured to prevent movement of the projection relative to the drum flange.

17. A cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the photosensitive drum has a first end, with the drum flange being provided adjacent to the first end, and a second end opposite to the first end, and

wherein the coupling member includes a recess, with the recess (i) extending about the axis L 1 , (ii) being positioned closer to the second end of the photosensitive drum than the projection is to the second end of the photosensitive drum, and (iii) being positioned such that a surface adjacent to the recess faces the projection.

18. A cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the drum flange has a cylindrical shape.

19. A cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the photosensitive drum has a first end, with the drum flange being provided adjacent to the first end, and a second end opposite to the first end, and

wherein the projection includes a part inclined relative to the axis L 1 , and, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis L 1 , a distance between the inclined part and the axis L 1 increases as the distance in the direction of the axis L 1 to the second end of the photosensitive drum decreases.

20. A cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the photosensitive drum has a first end, with the drum flange being provided adjacent to the first end, and a second end, the second end being opposite to the first end, and

wherein the projection includes a part inclined relative to the axis L 1 , and, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis L 1 , a distance between the inclined part and the axis L 1 decreases as the distance in the direction of the axis L 1 to the second end of the photosensitive drum decreases.

21. A process cartridge comprising:

a casing;

toner contained in the casing;

a cylindrical photosensitive drum having an axis L 1 , the photosensitive drum being supported by the casing;

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

a coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, the coupling member including:

(i) a drum flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum, a part of the drum flange being positioned inside of the photosensitive drum, and

(ii) a connecting part operatively connected to the drum flange, the connecting part including:

(ii-i) a cap positioned adjacent to the drum flange,

(ii-ii) an arm portion extending from the cap in a direction of the axis L 1 , and

(ii-iii) a projection projecting from the arm portion in a direction perpendicular to and toward the axis L 1 such that at least a part of the projection is closer to the axis L 1 than the arm portion is to the axis L 1 , with at least a part of a surface of the projection facing the axis L 1 , the projection being movable between a first position and a second position, with an end of the projection being closer to the axis L 1 in the first position than in the second position.

22. A process cartridge according to claim 21 , wherein the projection is biased towards the first position.

23. A process cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein the coupling member includes a plurality of arm portions projecting from the cap in the direction of the axis L 1 , with a projection projecting from each of the arm portions in the direction perpendicular to the axis L 1 .

24. A process cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein at least a part of the projection is positioned inside of the photosensitive drum.

25. A process cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein an open space is formed in the coupling member between the end of the projection and the axis L 1 .

26. A process cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein the drum flange includes a back-up portion configured to prevent movement of the projection relative to the drum flange.

27. A process cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein the photosensitive drum has a first end, with the drum flange being provided adjacent to the first end, and a second end opposite to the first end, and

wherein the coupling member includes a recess, with the recess (i) extending about the axis L 1 , (ii) being positioned closer to the second end of the photosensitive drum than the projection is to the second end of the photosensitive drum, and (iii) being positioned such that a surface adjacent to the recess faces the projection.

28. A process cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein the drum flange has a cylindrical shape.

29. A process cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein the photosensitive drum has a first end, with the drum flange being provided adjacent to the first end, and a second end opposite to the first end, and

wherein the projection includes a surface inclined relative to the axis L 1 , and, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis L 1 , a distance between the inclined surface and the axis L 1 increases as the distance in the direction of the axis L 1 to the second end of the photosensitive drum decreases.

30. A process cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein the photosensitive drum has a first end, with the drum flange being provided adjacent to the first end, and a second end opposite to the first end, and

wherein the projection includes a surface inclined relative to the axis L 1 , and, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis L 1 , a distance between the inclined surface and the axis L 1 decreases as the distance in the direction of the axis L 1 to the second end of the photosensitive drum decreases.