A cartridge (b) detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus

Abstract

A cartridge (B) detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus is provided, said cartridge (B) comprising: a photosensitive drum (62); and a coupling member (664) provided at an end portion of said photosensitive drum (62) and including a plurality of input portions (610) for receiving a rotational force for rotating said photosensitive drum (62), characterized in that said input portions are movable such that a free end portion of each of said input portions is moved away from an axis of said coupling member. Fig. 2

Description

[TECHNICAL FIELD]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge and an image formingapparatus.

[0002] The cartridge is mountable to and dismountable from an apparatusmain assembly (main assembly of image forming apparatus) of the imageforming apparatus (electrophotographic image forming apparatus).

[0003] In addition, the image forming apparatus forms an image on arecording material using an electrophotographic image forming process.For example, there are an electrophotographic copying machine, anelectrophotographic printer (LED printer, laser beam printer, etc), a facsimilemachine, a word processor, and so on.[BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION]

[0004] In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter, alsosimply referred to as "image forming apparatus"). In (1), anelectrophotographic photosensitive member which is generally a drum type as animage bearing member, that is, a photosensitive drum (electrophotographicphotosensitive drum) is uniformly charged. Then, the charged photosensitivedrum is selectively exposed to form an electrostatic latent image (electrostaticimage) on the photosensitive drum. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent imageformed on the photosensitive drum is developed into a toner image with toner asa developer. Subsequently, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drumThis application is a divisional application of Indian PatentApplication No.202047028322.is transferred onto the recording material such as recording sheet or a plasticsheet, and heat or pressure is applied to the toner image carried on the recordingmaterial to form the toner image on the recording material, thus performing aimage recording operation.

[0005] Such an image forming apparatus generally requires tonerreplenishment and maintenance of various process means thereof. In order tofacilitate the toner replenishment and maintenance, the photosensitive drum,charging means, a developing means, a cleaning means, and the like arecollectively constituted into a cartridge which is detachably mountable to theimage forming apparatus main assembly, and such a cartridge has been put intopractical use.

[0006] With this cartridge system, a part of the maintenance of the device canbe performed by the user without relying on the service person in charge of theafter-sales service. Therefore, the operability of the apparatus can besignificantly improved, and an image forming apparatus having excellentusability can be provided. Therefore, this cartridge system is widely used inimage forming apparatuses.

[0007] A process cartridge is an example of the cartridge. The processcartridge is a cartridge in which an electrophotographic photosensitive drum anda process unit that are actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum areintegrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is dismountably mounted tothe apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

[0008] In the above-described process cartridge, a structure in which acoupling member is provided at the free end of the photosensitive member drumto transmit the driving force from the apparatus main assembly to thephotosensitive member drum is widely used. In JP 2016-40625 (Figure 22), it isproposed that the coupling member is structured to be movable back and forth inthe longitudinal direction, and a push rod arranged in the process cartridge isoperated to provide a trigger for the moving back and forth of the couplingmember. In addition, a structure has been proposed in which the tension cordfixed to the coupling member is penetrated through the drum to be exposed to theoutside from the non-driving side, and the tension cord is placed in and out toeffect forward and backward movement of the coupling member.[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION][PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED]

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to further develop the abovementionedprior art.[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM]

[0010] A typical structure according to the present application is a cartridgedetachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, saidmain assembly including an inclinable drive transmission member fortransmitting a driving force in said cartridge, said cartridge comprising aphotosensitive drum; and a movable member movable relative to saidphotosensitive drum to control an inclination angle of the drive transmissionmember, said movable member being movable between (a) a first position forreducing the inclination angle of said drive transmission member relative to saidphotosensitive drum and (b) a second position retracted from the first position.[EFFECT OF THE INVENTION]

[0011] The conventional techneque can be further developed.[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

[0012] Figure 1 is a side view of a process cartridge B.

[0013] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main assembly of a imageforming apparatus and the process cartridge.

[0014] Figure 3 is a sectional view of the process cartridge.

[0015] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus main assembly and theprocess cartridge with a opening / closing door opened.

[0016] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the process cartridge.

[0017] Figure 6 is a illustration of the structure of a driving side flange unit.

[0018] Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of a cleaning unit including anoperating unit.

[0019] Figure 8 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of a drive unit end of adrum unit.

[0020] Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of the cleaning unit including anoperating unit.

[0021] Figure 10 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus in a statebefore the opening / closing door 13 of the apparatus main assembly is opened andthe process cartridge B is mounted to the apparatus main assembly A.

[0022] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus in astate in which the process cartridge B is completely mounted to the apparatusmain assembly A and the opening / closing door 13 is not closed.

[0023] Figure 12 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus forexplaining the process in which the cartridge pressing member contacts the levermember according to this embodiment.

[0024] Figure 13 is a perspective view of an outer cylindrical cam member, aninner cylindrical cam member, and a lever member.

[0025] Figure 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drive transmissionmember 81 and a coupling member 64 of the apparatus main assembly A.

[0026] Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the inclined drivetransmission member 81 and the coupling member 64 of the main assembly A ofthe apparatus.

[0027] Figure 16 is a partially enlarged view of a chamfered portion of thecoupling member.

[0028] Figure 17 is a perspective view illustrating a chamfered portion 64eprovided on a end surface of a driven transmission portion 64a of the couplingmember 64.

[0029] Figure 18 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drum unit according toEmbodiment 2.

[0030] Figure 19 is a view illustrating a method of assembling the drum unitaccording to Embodiment 2.

[0031] Figure 20 is a partial perspective view illustrating a structure of thecleaning unit including the operation unit.

[0032] Figure 21 is a perspective view of the process cartridge of Embodiment2.

[0033] Figure 22 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus forexplaining the process in which the cartridge pressing member is brought intocontact to the lever member according to Embodiment 2.

[0034] Figure 23 is a perspective view of a lever member 212, a outercylindrical cam member 270, and a inner cylindrical cam member 274 accordingto Embodiment 2.

[0035] Figure 24 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drive transmissionmember 81 and the coupling member 64 of the apparatus main assembly Aaccording to Embodiment 2.

[0036] Figure 25 is a perspective view of a main assembly drive transmissionmember.

[0037] Figure 26 is an illustration of a coupling structure between the couplingmember and the driving side flange member.

[0038] Figure 27 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge.

[0039] Figure 28 is an illustration of a side surface of the cartridge and acontact member of the apparatus main assembly.

[0040] Figure 29 is an illustration for explaining electrical grounding of thephotosensitive drum.

[0041] Figure 30 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drum unit ofEmbodiment 3.

[0042] Figure 31 is a perspective view before assembly and a perspective viewafter assembly.

[0043] Figure 32 is a longitudinal sectional view of the driving side flange unit.

[0044] Figure 33 is a perspective view illustrating a method of assembling thedrum unit and a partial detailed view illustrating a locking portion for a couplingsupport member 552 and a drum bearing 573.

[0045] Figure 34 is a side view of the process cartridge.

[0046] Figure 35 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus mainassembly.

[0047] Figure 36 is a partial detailed view of the apparatus main assembly.

[0048] Figure 37 is a perspective view of the process cartridge.

[0049] Figure 38 is an exploded view of a coupling unit.

[0050] Figure 39 is an exploded view of a coupling shaft and the couplingmember.

[0051] Figure 40 is an exploded view of a outer cylindrical cam and a innercylindrical cam.

[0052] Figure 41 is an exploded view of the outer cylindrical cam and thedrum bearing.

[0053] Figure 42 is an exploded view of the inner cylindrical cam and thedrum bearing.

[0054] Figure 43 is a sectional view of the coupling unit.

[0055] Figure 44 is a sectional view of the coupling unit.

[0056] Figure 45 is an illustration of the coupling unit as viewed in a axialdirection.

[0057] Figure 46 is an illustration of the coupling portion as viewed in theaxial direction.

[0058] Figure 47 is a perspective view of the process cartridge.

[0059] Figure 48 is a perspective view of the coupling.

[0060] Figure 49 is a perspective view of the coupling.

[0061] Figure 50 is a sectional view of the coupling.

[0062] Figure 51 is a sectional view of the coupling.

[0063] Figure 52 is a perspective view of a drive transmission portion.

[0064] Figure 53 is a perspective view of the drive transmission portion.

[0065] Figure 54 is a perspective view of the drive transmission portion.

[0066] Figure 55 is a perspective view of the coupling.

[0067] Figure 56 is a perspective view of the coupling.

[0068] Figure 57 is a sectional view of the coupling.

[0069] Figure 58 is a sectional view of the drive transmission portion.

[0070] Figure 59 is a sectional view of the drive transmission portion.

[0071] Figure 60 is a perspective view of a aligning member.

[0072] Figure 61 is a perspective view of a pin receiving member.

[0073] Figure 62 is a perspective view of a drive input unit.

[0074] Figure 63 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the drive input unit.

[0075] Figure 64 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drum unit and apartially enlarged view thereof.

[0076] Figure 65 is an illustration of a method of assembling the drum unit.

[0077] Figure 66 is a partial perspective view of the actuation unit and thedrive input unit.

[0078] Figure 67 is a partial perspective view of the operating unit.

[0079] Figure 68 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus asviewed from the cartridge non-driving side.

[0080] Figure 69 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus mainassembly and the cartridge.

[0081] Figure 70 is a partially enlarged view of the aligning member and thedrive transmission member.

[0082] Figure 71 is a sectional view of the drive transmission member and thedrive input unit.

[0083] Figure 72 is a perspective view of the drive input unit.

[0084] Figure 73 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the drum unit andthe drum bearing.

[0085] Figure 74 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus mainassembly and the cartridge.

[0086] Figure 75 is a partially enlarged view of a outer circumferencereceiving alignment member and the drive transmission member 81.

[0087] Figure 76 is a perspective view of the cartridge.

[0088] Figure 77 is a perspective view of the developing unit.

[0089] Figure 78 is a sectional view of the drive transmission member and theprocess cartridge.

[0090] Figure 79 is a perspective view of the developing unit.

[0091] Figure 80 is a sectional view of the drive transmission member and theprocess cartridge.

[0092] Figure 81 is a sectional view of the drive transmission member and theprocess cartridge.

[0093] Figure 82 is a sectional view of the drive transmission member and theprocess cartridge.

[0094] Figure 83 is a perspective view of the cartridge.

[0095] Figure 84 is a sectional view of the drive transmission member and theprocess cartridge.

[0096] Figure 85 is a perspective view of the developing unit.

[0097] Figure 86 is a sectional view of the drive transmission member and theprocess cartridge.

[0098] Figure 87 is a sectional view of the drive transmission member and theprocess cartridge.

[0099] In Figure 88, part (a) is a perspective view of the cartridge, and part (b)is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge.

[0100] In Figure 89, part (a) is a side view of the cartridge, and part (b) is asectional view of the cartridge.

[0101] Figure 90 is an illustration of the drive transmission member.

[0102] Figure 91 is an illustration of the cartridge and the drive transmissionmember.

[0103] Figure 92 is an illustration of the drive transmission member.

[0104] In Figure 93, part (a) is an illustration of a drive transmission member,and part (b) is an illustration of the cartridge and the drive transmission member.

[0105] In Figure 94, part (a) is an illustration of the drive transmissionmember, and part (b) is an illustration of the cartridge and the drive transmissionmember.

[0106] In Figure 95, part (a) is an illustration of the drive transmissionmember. part (b) is an illustration of the cartridge and the drive transmissionmember.

[0107] In Figure 96, part (a) is an illustration of a drive transmission member,and part (b) is an illustration of the cartridge and the drive transmission member.

[0108] In Figure 97, part (a) is an illustration of the drive transmissionmember, and part (b) is an illustration of the cartridge and the drive transmissionmember.

[0109] In Figure 98, part (a) is an illustration of the drive transmissionmember, and part (b) is a side view of the cartridge.

[0110] In Figure 99, part (a) is a perspective view of the cartridge, and (b) is aside view of the cartridge.

[0111] In Figure 100, part (a) is a perspective view of the cartridge, and part(b) is a perspective view of the cartridge.

[0112] In Figure 101, parts (a) and (b) show a control member.

[0113] Parts (a) and (b) of Figures 102 are side views of the cartridge.

[0114] In Figure 103, part (a) is a cross-sectional view of the cartridgeillustrating the positional relationship of the control members, and part (b) is anillustration of an arrangement of the control member

[0115] In Figure 104, part (a) is a side view of the cartridge, and part (b) is aview illustrating the cartridge and the drive transmission member as viewed fromthe front side.

[0116] Figure 105 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0117] Figure 106 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0118] Figure 107 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0119] Figure 108 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0120] Figure 109 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0121] In Figure 110, part (a) and part (b) are side views of the cartridge.

[0122] Figure 111 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0123] In Figure 112, part (a) is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge,and part (b) is a perspective view of the cartridge.

[0124] In Figure 113, part (a) and part (b) are side views of the cartridge.

[0125] Figure 114 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0126] Figure 115 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0127] Figure 116 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0128] Figure 117 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0129] In Figure 118, part (a) and part (b) are side views of the cartridge.

[0130] Figure 119 is a perspective view of the cartridge.

[0131] Figure 120 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0132] Figure 121 is a side view of the cartridge.

[0133] Figure 122 is a perspective view of the cartridge.

[0134] Figure 123 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling member.

[0135] Figure 124 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling member.[DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS]<Embodiment 1>

[0136] Embodiment 1 will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

[0137] Unless otherwise specified, a rotation axis direction of aelectrophotographic photosensitive drum (photosensitive member, photosensitivedrum) is simply referred to as a longitudinal direction. The rotation axisdirection (axis direction) is a direction parallel to the axis (rotation axis line) ofthe photosensitive drum. The axis of the photosensitive drum is an imaginarystraight line extending along the center of rotation of the photosensitive drum.The photosensitive member drum rotates about the rotation axis thereof.

[0138] In the longitudinal direction, a side where the electrophotographicphotosensitive drum receives the driving force from the image forming apparatusmain assembly is a driving side, and the opposite side is a non-driving side.

[0139] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the overall structure and image forming process will be described.

[0140] Figure 2 is a sectional view of an apparatus main assembly(electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly, image formingapparatus main assembly) A and a process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as acartridge B) of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0141] Figure 3 is a sectional view of the cartridge B.

[0142] Here, the apparatus main assembly A is a portion excluding thecartridge B from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Thecartridge B can be mounted to and dismounted from the apparatus main assemblyA.<Overall structure of electrophotographic image forming apparatus>

[0143] The electrophotographic image forming apparatus (image formingapparatus) shown in Figure 2 is a laser beam printer using an electrophotographictechnique in which a cartridge B is dismountably mounted to an apparatus mainassembly A. When the cartridge B is mounted to the apparatus main assemblyA, a exposure device 3 (laser scanner unit) for forming a latent image on theelectrophotographic photosensitive drum 62 as an image bearing member of thecartridge B is arranged. In addition, below the cartridge B, a sheet tray 4accommodating recording materials (hereinafter referred to as a sheet materialsPA) as an image formation object is arranged. The electrophotographicphotosensitive drum 62 is a photosensitive member (electrophotographicphotosensitive member) used for electrophotographic image formation.

[0144] In the apparatus main assembly A, along a conveyance direction D ofthe sheet material PA, a pickup roller 5a, a feeding roller pair 5b, a conveyanceroller pair 5c, a transfer guide 6, a transfer roller 7, a conveyance guide 8, a fixingdevice 9, a pair of discharge rollers 10 and a discharge tray 11 are sequentiallyarranged. The fixing device 9 comprises a heating roller 9a and a pressure roller9b. The fixing device 9 comprises a heating roller 9a and a pressure roller 9b.<Image forming process>

[0145] An outline of the image forming process will be described. Inresponse to a print start signal, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum(hereinafter, referred to as photosensitive drum 62 or simply drum 62) isrotationally driven in a direction of arrow R at a predetermined peripheral speed(process speed).

[0146] A charging roller (charging member) 66 to which a bias voltage isapplied contacts a outer peripheral surface of the drum 62 and uniformly chargesthe outer peripheral surface of the drum 62. The charging roller 66 is a rotatablemember (roller) capable of rotating while being in contact with the drum 62.The charging member is not limited to such a rotatable contact roller structure,and a charging member (charging device) fixed to the drum 62 with a space suchas a corona charging device, may be used.

[0147] The exposure device 3 outputs a laser beam L in accordance withimage information. The laser beam L travels through a laser opening 71hprovided in a cleaning frame 71 of the cartridge B and scans and exposes theouter peripheral surface of the drum 62. By this, an electrostatic latent imagecorresponding to the image information is formed on the outer peripheral surfaceof the drum 62.

[0148] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, in a developing unit 20 as adeveloping device, the toner T in a toner chamber 29 is stirred and fed by therotation of a feeding member (stirring member) 43, and fed to a toner supplychamber 28.

[0149] The toner T is carried on a surface of a developing roller 32 by amagnetic force of a magnet roller 34 (fixed magnet). The developing roller 32is a developer carrying member which carries the developer (toner T) on thesurface thereof in order to develop the latent image (electrostatic latent image)formed on the drum 62. In this embodiment, a non-contact developing methodis used, with which the latent image is developed with provision of a minute gapbetween the developing roller 32 and the drum 62. It is also possible to employa contact developing system in which the latent image is developed while thedeveloping roller 32 is in contact with the drum 62.

[0150] The toner T is triboelectrically charged by a developing blade 42, and alayer thickness on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 32 as adeveloper carrying member is regulated.

[0151] The toner T is supplied to the drum 62 in accordance with theelectrostatic latent image to develop the latent image. By this, the latent imageis visualized into a toner image. The drum 62 is an image bearing memberwhich carries the latent image or the image (toner image, developer image)formed with toner (developer) on the surface thereof.

[0152] In addition, the drum 62 and the developing roller 32 are rotatablemembers (rotating members) which can rotate while carrying the developer(toner) on the surface thereof.

[0153] As shown in Figure 2, the sheet material PA stored in the lower portionof the apparatus main assembly A is fed out of the sheet tray 4 by the pickuproller 5a, the feeding roller pair 5b, and the feeding roller pair 5c in timed relationwith the output of the laser beam L. Sent out. Then, the sheet material PA isfed to the transfer position between the drum 62 and the transfer roller 7 by wayof, by way of the transfer guide 6. At this transfer position, the toner image issequentially transferred from the drum 62 onto the sheet material PA.

[0154] The sheet material PA on which the toner image has been transferred isseparated from the drum 62 and fed to the fixing device 9 along the conveyanceguide 8. Then, the sheet material PA passes through the nip portion between theheating roller 9a and the pressure roller 9b which form the fixing device 9.Pressure / heat fixing processing is performed in this nip portion to fix the tonerimage on the sheet material PA. The sheet material PA which has beensubjected to the toner image fixing process is fed to the discharge roller pair 10and discharged to the discharge tray 11.

[0155] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, the residual toner on the outerperipheral surface of the drum 62 after the transfer is removed by the cleaningblade 77, and is used again in the next image forming process. It is stored in awaste toner chamber 71b of a toner cleaning unit 60 removed from the drum 62.The cleaning unit 60 is a unit including the photosensitive drum 62.

[0156] In the above-described structure, the charging roller 66, the developingroller 32, the transfer roller 7, and the cleaning blade 77 are process means(process members, acting members) which act on the drum 62.<Structure of entire cartridge>

[0157] Referring to Figures3, 4, and 5, the overall structure of the cartridge Bwill be described. Figure 3 is a sectional view of the cartridge B, and Figures 4and 5 are perspective views illustrating the structure of the cartridge B. In thisembodiment, description will be made with screws for connecting the respectiveportions omitted.

[0158] The description of the actuating unit including the lever member willbe omitted here because it will be described hereinafter.

[0159] The cartridge B includes the cleaning unit (photosensitive memberholding unit, drum holding unit, image bearing member holding unit, first unit)60 and a developing unit (developer carrying member holding unit, second unit)20.

[0160] The cartridge B of this embodiment is a process cartridge. In general,a process cartridge is a cartridge in which an electrophotographic photosensitivemember and at least one process means which acts on the electrophotographicphotosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge and can be mountedto and dismounted from a main assembly (apparatus main assembly) of anelectrophotographic image forming apparatus. Examples of process meansinclude a charging means, a developing means, and a cleaning means.

[0161] As shown in Figure 3, the cleaning unit 60 includes a drum 62, acharging roller 66, a cleaning member 77, and a cleaning frame 71 whichsupports these members. On the driving side of the drum 62, a driving sidedrum flange 63 provided on the driving side is rotatably supported through a hole73a of the drum bearing 73. In a broad sense, a drum bearing 73, a side member76, and the cleaning frame 71 can be collectively referred to as a cleaning frame.The drum bearing 73, the side member 76, and the cleaning frame 71 are all aportion of the frame which constitutes the cartridge. The drum bearing 73, theside member 76, and the cleaning frame 71 are a frame for supporting thephotosensitive drum 62, and therefore, they may be called a drum frame.

[0162] On the non-driving side, as shown in Figure 5, the structure is such thata hole (not shown) of the non-driving side drum flange is rotatably supported by adrum shaft 78 press-fitted into a hole 71c provided in the cleaning frame 71.

[0163] In the cleaning unit 60, the charging roller 66 and the cleaning member77 are arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62.

[0164] The cleaning member 77 includes a rubber blade 77a, which is a blade-shapedelastic member of rubber as an elastic material, and a support member 77bwhich supports the rubber blade. The rubber blade 77a is in contact with thedrum 62 in the counter direction with respect to the rotational direction of thedrum 62. That is, the rubber blade 77a is in contact with the drum 62 so that thesurface of the free end faces toward the upstream side in the rotational directionof the drum 62.

[0165] As shown in Figure 3, the waste toner removed from the surface of thedrum 62 by the cleaning member 77 is stored in the waste toner chamber 71bformed by the cleaning frame 71 and the cleaning member 77.

[0166] In addition, as shown in Figure 3, a scooping sheet 65 for preventingthe waste toner from leaking from the cleaning frame 71 is provided at a edge ofthe cleaning frame 71 so as to contact the drum 62.

[0167] The charging roller 66 is rotatably mounted in the cleaning unit 60 byway of charging roller bearings (not shown) at opposite ends in the longitudinaldirection of the cleaning frame 71.

[0168] The longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame 71 (longitudinaldirection of the cartridge B) is substantially parallel with the direction in whichthe rotation axis of the drum 62 extends (axial direction). Hereinafter, unlessotherwise noted, the longitudinal direction or the axial direction is intended tomean the axial direction of the drum 62 (direction parallel with the axis of thedrum).

[0169] The charging roller 66 is pressed against the drum 62 by pressingcharging roller bearings 67 toward the drum 62 by a urging member 68. Thecharging roller 66 is rotated by the rotation of the drum 62.

[0170] As shown in Figure 3, the developing unit 20 includes a developingroller 32, a developing container 23 which supports the developing roller 32, adeveloping blade 42, and so on. The developing roller 32 is rotatably mountedin the developing container 23 by a bearing member 27 (Figure 5) and a bearingmember 37 (Figure 4) provided at respective ends. The developing container 23,the bearing member 27, and the bearing member 37 are all parts of the frame ofthe cartridge. The developing container 23, the bearing member 27, and thebearing member 37 are a frame (frame which support the developing roller 32)which constitutes the developing unit 20, and therefore, they may be collectivelyreferred to as a developing frame.

[0171] A magnet roller 34 is provided inside the developing roller 32. In thedeveloping unit 20, a developing blade 42 for regulating the toner layer on thedeveloping roller 32 is arranged. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a spacingmember 38 is mounted to the developing roller 32 at each of opposite ends of thedeveloping roller 32, and the developing roller 32 is kept with a slight gapbetween the drum 62 by the spacing member 38 and the drum 62in contact witheach other. In addition, as shown in Figure 3, a blowout prevention sheet 33 forpreventing the toner from leaking from the developing unit 20 is provided at aedge of a bottom member 22 so as to contact the developing roller 32. Further,a feeding member 43 is provided in the toner chamber 29 provided by thedeveloping container 23 and the bottom member 22. The feeding member 43stirs the toner contained in the toner chamber 29 and transports the toner to thetoner supply chamber 28.

[0172] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cartridge B is constituted bycombining the cleaning unit (first unit) 60 and the developing unit (second unit)20.

[0173] When connecting the developing unit and the cleaning unit with eachother, first, the center of the developing first supporting boss 26a of thedeveloping container 23 with respect to a driving-side first hanging hole 71i ofthe cleaning frame 71, and the center of the developing second support boss 23bwith respect to a non-driving-side second hanging hole 71j are first aligned.Specifically, by moving the developing unit 20 in the direction of arrow G, thedeveloping first supporting boss 26a and the developing second supporting boss23b are fitted into the first hanging hole 71i and the second hanging hole 71j.By this, the developing unit 20 is movably connected with the cleaning unit 60.More specifically, the developing unit 20 is rotatably (pivotably) connected withthe cleaning unit 60. Thereafter, the side member 76 is assembled to thecleaning unit 60, thus forming the cartridge B.

[0174] In this embodiment, the non-driving side urging member 46L (Figure4) and the non-driving side urging member 46R (Figure 4) are compressionsprings. By the urging force of these springs, the developing unit 20 is urged bythe cleaning unit 60, and the developing roller 32 is reliably pressed toward thedrum 62. The developing roller 32 is kept at a predetermined distance from thedrum 62 by the gap keeping members 38 mounted to the opposite ends of thedeveloping roller 32.<Advancing / retracting mechanism for coupling member>

[0175] The coupling member 64 and the advancing / retracting mechanismportion for advancing / retracting the coupling member will be described. Thecoupling member 64 is a member (drive input member, input coupling) forreceiving a driving force (rotational force) for rotating the drum 62 and thedeveloping roller 32, from the outside of the cartridge (that is, the image formingapparatus main assembly). Is there.

[0176] Figure 25 is a perspective view of the drive transmission member(drive output member) 81. As shown here, the drive transmission member 81includes a recess (drive transmission portion 81a) having a substantiallytriangular shape. The driven transmission portion 64a of the coupling member64 engages with the recess (drive transmission portion 81a), and the couplingmember 64 receives the driving force. Referring to Figure 6, the driving sideflange unit 69 will be described.

[0177] The coupling member 64 is provided at the end of the photosensitivedrum 62. That is, the coupling member 64 is movably supported by the flangemember 75 fixed to the end of the photosensitive drum 62.

[0178] The driving side flange unit 69 according to this embodiment includesthe coupling member 64, the driving side flange member 75, a lid member 58,and a first pressing member 59. The coupling member 64 includes a driventransmission portion (driving force receiving portion) 64a and a drivetransmission portion 64b. The driving force is transmitted from the drivetransmission member (drive output member) 81 (Figures 14 and 25) of theapparatus main assembly A to the driven transmission portion 64a. The drivetransmission portion 64b is supported by the driving side flange member 75, andat the same time transmits drive to the driving side flange member 75.

[0179] The driving side flange member 75 includes a gear portion 75a thattransmits drive to the gear member 36 (Figure 27) provided at the end of thedeveloping roller, a coupling support portion 75b (Figure 26), and the like.After the coupling member 64 is inserted into the inner periphery (couplingsupport portion 75b) of the driving side flange member 75, the first pressingmember 59 for urging the coupling member 64 toward the driving side is inserted.After that, the lid member 58 is fixed to the end portion 75c of the driving sideflange member 75 by welding or the like to form the driving side flange unit 69.

[0180] Figure 26 shows a perspective view of the driving side flange member75 and the coupling member 64. The inner peripheral surface of the driving sideflange member 75 serves as a coupling support portion 75b. The driving sideflange member 75 supports the coupling member 64 by supporting the outerperipheral surface of the coupling member 64 on the inner peripheral surface(coupling support portion 75b). Then, of the outer peripheral surfaces of thecoupling member 64, two surfaces symmetrically arranged with respect to therotation axis are flat portions. This flat surface portion is the drive transmissionportion 64b of the coupling member 64. The inner peripheral surface 75b of theflange member 75 is also provided with two flat surface portions 75b1corresponding to the drive transmission portion 64b. The flat surface portion ofthe flange member 75 serves as the driven transmission portion 75b1 of theflange member 75. That is, the driving force is transmitted from the couplingmember 64 to the flange member 75 by the drive transmission portion 64b of thecoupling member 64 contacting the transmitted portion 75b1 of the flangemember 75.

[0181] The driving side flange 75 of the driving side flange unit 69 is fixed tothe end portion of the photosensitive drum 62 by means such as press fitting orclamping (Figure 8). By this, the driving force (rotational force) that thecoupling member 64 receives from the drive transmission member 81 (Figures 14and 25) is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 62 via the driving side flange 75.That is, the coupling member 64 is connected to the end portion of thephotosensitive drum via the driving side flange member 75, and therefore, thecoupling member 64 can transmit the drive toward the photosensitive drum 62.

[0182] Next, Figure 27 shows an exploded perspective view of the cartridge.As shown in Figure 27, the driving force (rotational force) is transmitted from thedriving side flange 75 to the developing roller 32 via the gear 75a. That is, thegear 75 a meshes with the developing roller gear 36 and transmits the rotation ofthe driving side flange 75 to the developing roller gear 36. The developingroller gear 36 is a gear provided on the developing roller 32, and morespecifically, is engaged with a shaft portion of a developing roller flange 35 fixedto an end portion of the developing roller 32. Therefore, the rotation of thedeveloping roller gear 36 is transmitted to the developing roller 32 via thedeveloping roller flange 35. Further, the developing roller gear 36 alsotransmits the drive to the feeding member gear 41 via the idler gear 39. Thefeeding member gear 41 is a gear provided on the feeding member 43 (Figure 3),and when the feeding member gear 41 rotates, the feeding member 43 also rotates.

[0183] That is, the driving side flange 75 is a drive transmission member(cartridge side drive transmission member) for transmitting drive from thecoupling member 64 to the drum 62, the developing roller 32, the feedingmember 43, and the like. In this embodiment, the driven transmission portion64a of the coupling member 64 has a substantially triangular cross-section and aprojection shape (projection). Specifically, a substantially triangular cross-sectiontwisted counterclockwise with respect to the axis of the photosensitivemember drum from the driving side to the non-driving side was employed.However, the driven transmission portion 64a is not limited to such a shape, andmay be any one that engages the driving transmission member 81 (Figure 25) andcan receive a driving force. In this embodiment, the drive transmission member81 of the main assembly A of the apparatus is provided with a substantiallytriangular recess (drive transmission portion 81a: see Figure 25) that can beengaged with the driven transmission portion 64a. Therefore, the driventransmission portion 64a has a projection shape that engages with the recessportion. This projection shape may be plural instead of one, and the shape is notlimited to a triangle. In addition, the projection shape has a shape in which atriangle is twisted, but the twist does not necessarily have to be twisted.

[0184] As shown in Figure 14, the coupling member 64 is structured to bemovable back and forth along the longitudinal direction (axial direction). Part(a) of Figure 14 shows a state in which the coupling member is retracted anddisengaged from the drive transmission member 81. In part (c) of Figure 14, thecoupling member 64 is advanced and engaged with the drive transmissionmember 81. It shows the state of matching. In addition, part (b) of Figure 14shows a state (a process of forward / backward movement) between part (a) ofFigure 14 and part (c) of Figure 14.

[0185] Therefore, next, an operating unit (an operating mechanism, anadvancing / retracting unit, an advancing / retracting mechanism) that enables sucha longitudinal movement of the coupling member 64 will be described referringto Figures 7, 8 and 9.

[0186] Figure 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the structure of theoperation unit provided in the cleaning unit 60 according to this embodiment.

[0187] Figure 8 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drive unitend of the drum unit according to this embodiment.

[0188] Figure 9 is a partial perspective view illustrating the operation unitaccording to the present embodiment similarly to Figure 7.

[0189] As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the operating unit includes an outercylindrical cam member 70, an inner cylindrical cam member 74, a lever member12, a second pressing member (elastic member, urging member) 14, and the like.The operating unit is a control mechanism (control unit) that is connected to thecoupling member 64 and controls the movement (advancing / retractingmovement) of the coupling member 64.

[0190] The outer cylindrical cam member 70 comprises a cylindrical camportion 70b and a lever member engaging portion 70a for engaging the levermember 12. Similarly to the outer cylindrical cam member 70, the innercylindrical cam member 74 is provided with a longitudinal position regulatingsurface 74d which contacts the cylindrical cam portion 70b and the couplingmember 64 to restrict the longitudinal position of the coupling member 64.

[0191] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, in this embodiment, the outer cylindricalcam member 70 and the inner cylindrical cam member 74 are structured so as tobe supported by the outer peripheral portion 73a of the drum bearing member 73.A lever member engaging portion 70a of the outer cylindrical cam member 70 isstructured so as to be exposed to the outside of the drum bearing member 73(Figure 9).

[0192] After the developing unit 20 is supported by the cleaning unit 60, thelever member 12 engages with the lever member engaging portion 70a of theouter cylindrical cam member 70 at the engaged portion 12b provided at one endof the lever member 12. In addition, the lever member 12 is arranged such thatthe slide portion 12c at the other end is positioned between the slide ribs 71gprovided on the cleaning frame 71. That is, the projection-shaped engagingportion 70a enters the hole-shaped engaged portion 12b to engage with each other,and the lever member 12 is connected to the outer cylindrical cam member 70.

[0193] After the lever member 12 is arranged, the second pressing member 14which presses and urges the lever member 12 is arranged between the cleaningframe 71 and the lever member 12. In this embodiment, a torsion coil spring isused as the second pressing member (urging member) 14, but the presentinvention is not limited to this example, and as another example, an elasticmember (spring) having a different structure such as a compression coil springcan also be preferably used.

[0194] By fixing the side member 76 to the cleaning frame 71, a processcartridge including the operation unit according to this embodiment is provided.

[0195] This operating unit is connected with the coupling member 64 at theinner cylindrical cam 74, and the coupling member 64 can be moved back andforth (moved) by operating the lever member 12. Although the detailedoperation principle will be described hereinafter, the lever member 12 isconnected the outer cylindrical cam member 70, and therefore, the outercylindrical cam 70 rotates as the lever member 12 moves substantially linearly.The outer cylindrical cam 70 is in contact with the inner cylindrical cam 74, andthe rotational movement of the outer cylindrical cam 70 causes the innercylindrical cam 74 to move back and forth in the longitudinal direction. Theinner cylindrical cam 74 is in contact with the coupling member 62, and theforward / backward movement of the inner cylindrical cam 74 and the forward / backward movement of the coupling member 62 are interrelated with each other.

[0196] That is, the lever member 12 is functionally (indirectly andoperatively) connected with the coupling member 64 by way of the outercylindrical cam member 70 and the inner cylindrical cam member 74, so that thelever member 12 and the coupling member 64 move interrelatedly with eachother.

[0197] Referring to Figures 1 and 10 to 14, the advancing and retractingmovement of the coupling member 64 in interrelation with the movement of thelever member 12 will be described. The lever member 12 is structured to moveby abutting to and separating from a cartridge pressing member (pressing forceapplying member) provided in the apparatus main assembly A.

[0198] Figure 1 is a side view of the process cartridge B according to thisembodiment.

[0199] Figure 10 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus in a statebefore the opening / closing door 13 of the apparatus main assembly is opened andbefore the process cartridge B is mounted to the apparatus main assembly A.

[0200] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus in astate where the process cartridge B is completely mounted to the apparatus mainassembly A with the opening / closing door 13 not closed.

[0201] Part (a) of Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the image formingapparatus in a state where the cartridge pressing member 1 starts to contact thepressed portion 12a of the lever member 12 in the process of closing theopening / closing door 13 of the apparatus main assembly A in the direction H inthe drawing.

[0202] Part (b) of Figure 12 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatuswith the opening / closing door 13 of the apparatus main assembly A completelyclosed.

[0203] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the lever member 12, the outercylindrical cam member 70, and the inner cylindrical cam member 74 accordingto this embodiment. Here, part (a) of Figure 13 is a perspective view of the state(Figure 10, Figure 11, part (a) of Figure 12) before the cartridge pressing member1 comes into contact with the pressed portion 12a of the lever member 12. Part(c) of Figure 13 is a perspective view in the state in which the opening / closingdoor 13 is completely closed, and a predetermined pressureis applied from thecartridge pressing spring 19 to the contact portion 12a of the lever member 12(part (b) of Figure 12). Part (b) of Figure 13 is a perspective view in a statebetween the states of Figures 13A and 13(c) (part (a) of Figures 12 and 12(b)).

[0204] Figure 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drive transmissionmember 81 and the coupling member 64 of the apparatus main assembly Aaccording to this embodiment as described above. Here, similarly to Figure 13,part (a) of Figure 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a state (Figures 10, 11,and part (a) of Figure 12) before the cartridge pressing member is brought intocontact with the pressed portion 12a of the lever member 12. Part (c) of Figure14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a state in which the opening / closing door 13is completely closed and a predetermined pressure of the cartridge pressingspring 19 is applied to the contact portion 12a of the lever member 12 (part (b) ofFigure 12). Part (b) of Figure 14 is a longitudinal sectional view in a state (part(a) of Figures 12 to 12(b)) between the states of part (a) and part (c) of Figures 14.As shown in Figure 10, the process cartridge B is mounted to the apparatus mainassembly A after the opening / closing door 13 of the apparatus main assembly Ais opened by being rotated about the rotation center 13X. The opening / closingdoor 13 is an opening / closing member for opening and closing a cartridgemounting portion (space for mounting the cartridge) provided inside theapparatus main assembly A. Guide rails (guide members) 15h, 15g for guidingthe guided portions 76c, 76g of the process cartridge B are provided in themounting portion, and the cartridge B of the apparatus main assembly A is guidedalong the guide rails 15h, 15g, so that it is inserted into the mounting portion(only the driving side is shown). As shown in Figure 11, the mounting of theprocess cartridge B is completed when positioned portions 73d and 73f providedon the drum bearing member 73 are brought into contact with the apparatus mainassembly positioning portions 15a and 15b or inserted to the neighborhoodthereof.

[0205] Two cartridge pressing members 1 are mounted to opposite ends of theopening / closing door 13 in the axial direction (Figure 11). Each of the twocartridge pressing members 1 is movable with respect to the opening / closing door13 within a predetermined range.

[0206] The two cartridge pressing springs 19 are mounted to opposite ends inthe longitudinal direction of the front plate 18 provided in the main assembly Aof the apparatus. The cleaning frame 71 is provided with cartridge pressedportions (portions-to-be-pressed in the cartridge) 71e, which function as urgingforce receiving portions of the cartridge pressing spring 19, at the oppositelongitudinal ends. As will be described hereinafter, by the opening / closing door13 being completely closed, a predetermined pressure F2 is applied from thecartridge pressing spring 19 to the cartridge pressed portion 71e and the levermember pressed portion 12a.

[0207] Next, the forward / backward movement of the coupling member 64 willbe described. In the state before the cartridge pressing member 1 is brought intocontact with the lever member 12 (Figures 10, 11, and part (a) of Figure 12), thelever member 12 is urged by the second pressing member 14 (Figure 9) in part (a)of Figure 13 urged in the E direction.

[0208] The outer cylindrical cam member 70, which is engaged with the levermember 12 and is supported so as to be rotatable about the drum axis, is urged inthe G direction in part (a) of Figure 13. The projecting surface 70c, that isclosest to the nondriving side, of the outer cylindrical cam member 70 contactsthe innermost projecting surface 74c of the inner cylindrical cam member 74.

[0209] As shown in part (a) of Figure 14, the coupling member 64 is urgedtoward the driving side by the first pressing member 59, and the coupling contactportion 64c is pressed against the coupling member longitudinal positionrestricting surface 74d of the inner cylindrical cam member 74. That is, thelongitudinal position of the coupling member 64 is determined depending on thelongitudinal position (position in the longitudinal direction) of the innercylindrical cam member 74. The first pressing member 59 is used to operate thecoupling member 64 on the driving side, and therefore, the first pressing member59 can also be regarded as a portion of the above-mentioned operating unit. Inthis embodiment, the compression coil spring is used as the first pressing member59, but it is also possible to urge the coupling member 64 by using an elasticmember having another shape.

[0210] When the cartridge B is not mounted to the apparatus main assembly A,the inner cylindrical cam member 74 is arranged to retract the coupling member64 into the drum against the elastic force of the first pressing member 59. Thatis, in the state in which the main assembly door 13 is released as shown inFigures 10 and 11, or in the state before the cartridge pressing member 1 abuts onthe lever member 12, the coupling member 64 is located at the most non-drivingside. The position in which the coupling member 64 is retracted to the non-drivingside (that is, the inner side of the cartridge B) is referred to as a firstposition (retracted position, inner position, disengaged position, releasedposition). As shown in part (a) of Figure 14, the structure is such that when thecoupling member 64 is at the first position, the driven transmission portion 64a ofthe coupling member 64 and the driving transmission portion 81a of the drivetransmission member 81 does not overlap in the longitudinal direction. That is,the process cartridge B can be smoothly mounted and dismounted to and from theapparatus main assembly A without interference between the coupling member64 and the drive transmission member 81 of the apparatus main assembly.

[0211] When the opening / closing door 13 is closed after the cartridge B ismounted to the apparatus main assembly A, the cartridge pressing member 1provided on the opening / closing door 13 contacts the lever member 12. Bybeing pressed by the pressing member 1, the movement of the lever member 12 isstarted. The coupling member 64 moves from the first position (retractedposition) to the driving side in interrelation with the movement of the levermember 12. This movement will be described below.

[0212] As shown in part (a) of Figure 12, when the mounting of the processcartridge B is completed and the opening / closing door 13 is closed in thedirection H in the part (a) of Figure 12, the contact between the cartridge pressingmember 1 and the lever member 12 is started, so that the pressing force of thecartridge pressing spring 19 begins to act on the lever member 12. Due to thispressing force, the lever member 12 starts to move in the K direction in theFigure against the urging force (elastic force) of the second pressing member 14.As shown in part (b) of Figure 13, when the lever member 12 moves in the Kdirection, the outer cylindrical cam member 70 engaged with the lever member12 starts to rotate in the M direction in the Figure.

[0213] An inner cylindrical cam member 74 is adjacent to the outer cylindricalcam member 70. The inner cylindrical cam member 74 is structured not to berotatable but movable only in the axial direction. By the rotation of the outercylindrical cam member 70 in the M direction, the cylindrical cam portion 70b ofthe outer cylindrical cam member 70 and the cylindrical cam portion 74b of theinner cylindrical cam member 74 are contacted to each other at their slopes.Then, the inner cylindrical cam member 74 starts to move toward the driving side(N direction) along the longitudinal direction by the pressing force of the firstpressing spring member 59. When the inner cylindrical cam member 74 movesin the N direction, the coupling member 64 pressed by the first pressing springmember 59 is also allowed to move in the longitudinal direction. By thismovement of the coupling member 64, the coupling member 64 is advancedtoward the driving side (that is, the outside of the cartridge B). Then, the driventransmission portion 64a of the coupling member 64 is in a relationship capableof engaging with the driving transmission portion 81a of the driving transmissionmember of the apparatus main assembly in the longitudinal direction (part (b) ofFigure 14). When the opening / closing door 13 is completely closed (state ofpart (b) of Figure 12), the phases of the cylindrical cam portions of the outercylindrical cam member 74 and the inner cylindrical cam member 70 align witheach other, as shown in part (c) of Figure 13. The structure is such that at thistime, the inner cylindrical cam member 74 and the coupling member 64 arepositioned on the most driving side by the urging force of the first pressingmember 59. In this embodiment, the position in which the coupling member 64advances toward the driving side is called the second displacement (advanceposition, outer position, engagement position, drive transmission position).

[0214] The coupling member 64 located at the second position (advanceposition) can be regarded as advancing toward the outside of the photosensitivedrum 62 (outside of the cartridge).

[0215] On the other hand, the coupling member 64 located at the above25described first position (withdrawal position) can be regarded as being withdrawntoward the inside of the photosensitive drum 62 (inside of the cartridge).

[0216] In this embodiment, the coupling member 64 moves along the axis ofthe photosensitive member drum 62 substantially parallel with the axis.However, the structure is not limited to such a structure, and for example, thecoupling member 64 may be moved to the first position (retracted position) andto the second position (advanced position), by moving the coupling member 64 ina direction inclined with respect to the axis.

[0217] As shown in part (c) of Figure 14, the structure is such that when thecoupling member 64 is at the second position, the required amount oflongitudinal engagement can be secured such that the driven transmission portion64a of the coupling member 64 and the drive transmission portion 81a of thedrive transmission member 81 are in stable drive transmission.

[0218] The position of the lever member 12 when the coupling member 64 isheld at the second position (advance position) may also be referred to as thesecond position (second position of the lever member). The second position ofthe lever member 12 is a position (an operating position or an acting positionposition) in which the lever member 12 moves when a force is applied to thelever member 12 from the outside of the cartridge B, and an acting position foracting on the coupling member 64. In addition, it is an engaging holdingposition and an advancement holding position for holding the advanced state ofthe coupling member 64 and for maintaining the engaged state of the couplingmember 64 and the drive transmission member 81.

[0219] In addition, as described above, the driven transmission portion of thecoupling member 64 according to this embodiment has a twisted triangular shape.Therefore, when the lever member 12 is operated to the second position, thetriangular phases of the drive transmission portion 81a of the drive transmissionmember 81 of the apparatus main assembly and the driven transmission portion64a of the coupling member 64 may be not aligned with each other. At this time,in the process in which the coupling member 64 moves to the driving side secondposition, the drive transmission portion 64 a comes into contact with the endsurface 81c of the drive transmission member 81 and stops there. In otherwords, the drive transmission portion 64a cannot engage with the drivetransmission portion 81a, and therefore, the drive transmission member 81 andthe coupling member 64 interfere with each other and the coupling member 64cannot move to the second position. In this state, the first pressing member 59is partially compressed.

[0220] Even in such a case, drive is input to the apparatus main assembly Aand the drive transmission member 81 rotates, so that the phase differencebetween the drive transmission portion 81a and the driven transmission portion64a falls within a certain range. Then, the drive transmission portion 81a andthe driven transmission portion 64a become engageable with each other. At thistime, the elastic deformation of the first pressing member 59 that has beencompressed is partly eased, so that the coupling member 64 can move to thesecond position. As described above, the first pressing member 59 compresseswhen the drive transmission member 81 and the coupling member 64 interferewith each other, so that the influence of the interference is imparted to the drivetransmission member 81 and the coupling member 64. The first pressingmember 59 is also a cushion member (buffer member, damper) for suppressingthe influence of interference. When the process cartridge is pulled out to theoutside by opening the main assembly door 13, the main assembly pressingmember 1 separates from the lever member 12 in the process of opening theopening / closing door 13. Thereafter, the lever member 12 starts moving in theE direction from the state of part (c) of Figure 13 by the urging force of thesecond pressing member 14 (Figure 9). By this, the outer cylindrical cammember 70 rotates in the G direction, and the inner cylindrical cam member 74and the coupling member 64 take the first positions by the shapes 70b and 74b ofthe outer and inner cylindrical cam portions. That is, by the lever member 12moving in the E direction, the coupling member 64 is moved to the first position(retracted position). The position of the lever member 12 when the couplingmember 64 is located at the first position may also be referred to as the firstposition. The first position of the lever member 12 is a position in which noexternal force is applied to the lever member 12 from the outside of the cartridge(normal position, non-acting position). In addition, the first position of the levermember 12 is a retracted holding position and a retractable position for holdingand allowing the retracted state of the coupling member 12, and a mountingallowance position and a removal allowance position in which the cartridge B ismountable to and dismountable from the main assembly A of the apparatus.

[0221] Part (a) of Figures 13 and 14(a) show a state in which the levermember 12 and the coupling member 64 are in the first positions, respectively.Part (c) of Figures 13 and 14(c) show a state in which the lever member 12 andthe coupling member 64 in the second positions, respectively. Part (b) of Figure13 and part (b) of Figure 14 respectively show the position (intermediateposition) of the process in which the lever member 12 and the coupling member64 move from the first position to the second position.

[0222] By moving the coupling member 64 to the first position (retractedposition), the process cartridge B is enabled to be taken out from the apparatusmain assembly A.

[0223] As described above, the lever member 12 is an operation member(moving member) which is operated and moved by a force from the outside of thecartridge (that is, the apparatus main assembly A). Then, the movement of thelever member 12 is transmitted to the coupling member 64 by way of the twocam members 70 and 74, by which the coupling member 64 is moved betweenthe first position (retracted position) and the second position (extended position).That is, the lever member 12 is operated to move the coupling member 64.

[0224] The two cam members (the outer cylindrical cam member 70 and theinner cylindrical cam member 74) provided in the actuation unit constitutes a cammechanism for interrelating the lever member 12 with the coupling member 64.The lever member 12 is structured to move in an crossing direction crossing thelongitudinal direction (substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction).The movement of this cross direction is converted into the movement of thecoupling member 64 along the longitudinal direction by the cam mechanism.

[0225] The first pressing member 59 is a urging member that urges thecoupling member 64 toward a predetermined position (second position / advanceposition). The second pressing member 14 is a urging member that urges thelever member 12 to a predetermined position (first position / normal position).

[0226] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, a contact surface 82a of thecharging roller contact member 82 is directed toward a downstream side (the sideindicated by the arrow K in the Figure) with respect to a movement direction ofthe lever member 12 from the first position (normal position) to the secondposition (acting position) That is, the contact surface 82a faces in the direction ofarrow J1 in Figure

[0227] The charging roller contact member 82 is an electrical contact which iselectrically connected to the charging roller 66 to be supplied with a voltage fromthe main assembly by contacting a charging bias application contact member(main assembly side electrical contact) provided in the apparatus main assemblyA.

[0228] That is, the contact surface (exposed surface, exposed portion) 82a ofthe charging roller contact member 82 contacts the main assembly side contactmember 101 shown in Figure 28 at a predetermined charging contact pressure.By this, the charging bias voltage is applied from the apparatus main assembly Ato the charging roller by way of the charging roller contact member 82. Figure28 is an illustration showing the electrical contacts (contact members) of thecartridge B and the apparatus main assembly A.

[0229] As shown in Figure 1, the cartridge B is provided with a developingroller contact member 83 electrically connected to the developing roller 32. Thedeveloping roller contact member 83 is supplied with the voltage from the mainassembly A column by contacting a developing bias voltage application contactmember (electrical contact, Figure 28) 102 provided in the main assembly A ofthe apparatus. That is, by the contact surface (exposed surface, exposed portion)83 a of the developing roller contact member 83 contacting the contact member102 on the apparatus main assembly side, the developing bias voltage is appliedfrom the apparatus main assembly A to the developing roller 32 by way of thedeveloping roller contact member 83.

[0230] The contact surface 83a of the developing roller contact member is alsostructured to face the downstream side (K direction in the drawing) in the movingdirection of the lever member 12. That is, the contact surface 83a faces in thedirection of arrow I1 in Figure 28.

[0231] When the opening / closing door 13 is closed and the cartridge pressingmember 1 presses the lever member 12, the pressing force is added toward thedownstream side (the side indicated by the arrow K) in the moving direction ofthe lever member 12. As described above, the charging roller contact member82 (contact surface 82a) and the developing roller contact member 83 (contactsurface 83a) also face the downstream side. Therefore, by using the pressingforce (the force acting in the direction of arrow K) by the cartridge pressingmember 1, the charging roller contact member 82 (contact surface 82a) and thedeveloping roller contact member 83 (contact surface 83a) can be urged towardthe corresponding main assembly contacts of the apparatus main assembly. Bythis, it is possible to stabilize the contact state between the contact members (82,83) on the cartridge side contact member and the main assembly contact member.

[0232] In addition, the positioned portions 73d and 73f of the cartridge B canbe reliably pressed against the positioning portions 15a and 15b (Figure 12) of theapparatus main assembly by using the pressing force received by the levermember 12. That is, normally, when contacting the corresponding mainassembly contact member on the main assembly side, each of the charging rollercontact member 82 and the developing roller contact member 83, respectivelyreceives contact pressure (contact pressure) in the direction perpendicular to thecharging contact surface 82a and the developing contact surface 83a from themain assembly. In Figure 28, the charging contact surface 82a receives a forcein the arrow J2 direction, and the developing contact surface 83a receives a forcein the arrow I2 direction. However, when the pressing force of the cartridgepressing member 1 applied to the cartridge B by way of the lever member 12 actsin the direction of the arrow K, it acts so as to cancel these contact pressures.Therefore, even if the charging contact surface 82a and the developing contactsurface 83a receive a contact pressure (contact pressure), the attitude of thecartridge B is prevented from becoming unstable due to the contact pressure.

[0233] By the force of the cartridge pressing member 1, the positionedportions 73d and 73f of the cartridge B can be more surely pressed against thepositioning portions 15a and 15b of the apparatus main assembly, and thecartridge can be mounted and positioned in the apparatus main assembly A in astable attitude. As described above, the positioning accuracy of the cartridge inthe apparatus main assembly is improved, and therefore, the coupling member 64and the drive transmission member 81 of the apparatus main assembly can bestably engaged.

[0234] When the electrical contact (contact member) such as the chargingroller contact member 82 or the developing roller contact member 83 faces thedownstream side in the moving direction of the lever member 12 (the sideindicated by the arrow K), the direction in which the electrical contact faces is notrequired to be parallel with the arrow faces is parallel to the arrow K. If thedirection in which the electrical contact faces is smaller than 90 degrees relativeto the arrow K (that is, the angle is 0 degree or more and less than 90 degrees),the electrical contact is in the moving direction of the lever member 12, it can beregarded as facing the downstream side.

[0235] That is, in Figure 28, the angle between the arrow K and the arrow J1is less than 90 degrees, and the angle between the arrow K and the arrow I1 isless than 90 degrees.

[0236] In this embodiment, the lever member 12 is arranged on the same sideof the cartridge as each electrical contact (charging roller contact member 82 anddeveloping roller contact member 83) in the longitudinal direction (axialdirection). That is, the lever member 12 and the electrical contacts 82 and 83are both arranged on one end side (one side) of the cartridge in the longitudinaldirection. The contact pressure received by each electrical contact 82 and 83and the pressing force applied to the lever member 12 by the cartridge pressingmember 1 both act on the same one end side of the cartridge. Therefore, it iseasy to urge and position the cartridge B by the cartridge pressing member 1against the contact pressure by the pressing force of the lever member 12.

[0237] When the cartridge has a plurality of electrical contacts, each electricalcontact may be separately arranged on both ends of the cartridge. If the numberof electrical contacts is odd, it is possible to arrange the lever member 12 on theside where more electrical contacts are arranged.

[0238] In this embodiment, one end of the cartridge in which the levermember 12 and the electrical contacts 82 and 83 are provided is the side (drivingside) in which the coupling member 64 is provided. Even when vibration or thelike is transmitted to the driving side of the cartridge B provided with thecoupling member 64 when the coupling member 64 receives the rotational force,It is possible to suppress the influence of the vibration and the like, because thelever member 12 is urged on the driving side of the cartridge B.

[0239] In this embodiment, by using the pressing force of the lever member 12,both of the two electrical contacts 82 and 83 provided in the cartridge B are urgedtoward the main assembly side contact members 102 and 103 provided in themain assembly A of the apparatus. However, all of the plurality of electricalcontacts do not have to be urged by using the pressing force with which the levermember 12 is pressed. If at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts of thecartridge B faces the downstream side in the moving direction of the lever, it ispossible to urge these electrical contacts to the electrical contacts provided in themain assembly A by the pressing force received by the lever member 12.

[0240] In addition, in this embodiment, the apparatus main assembly A isprovided with two cartridge pressing members 1. One 1 of the pressingmembers presses the lever member 12 on the driving side of the cartridge B, andthe other pressing member 1 presses the frame of the cartridge B on the other endside (other side, non-driving side) of the cartridge B. As described above, theattitude of the cartridge B is stabilized by receiving the force at two points onboth ends thereof, but the structure is not necessarily limited to such a structure,and the cartridge B may be structured to receive the force at one point. That is,it is sufficient that at least the lever member 12 receives the force by the pressingmember 1.

[0241] Further, in this embodiment, the lever member 12 is arranged betweenthe charging contact surface 82a and the developing contact surface 83a on theplane perpendicular to the axis of the drum. That is, as shown in Figure 28,when the lever member 12 is in the first position, a line segment L1 connectingboth ends of the lever member 12 and a line segment L2 connecting the chargingcontact surface 82a and the developing contact surface 83a on the above planeintersect.

[0242] With this arrangement, the pressing force received by the levermember 12 from the pressing member 1 can be distributed to the two electricalcontacts 82, 83 in a well-balanced manner. That is, in the process of mountingthe cartridge, as a force received by each of the electrical contacts 82 and 83 anda force received by the lever member 12 are applied to the cartridge B, themoment produced in the cartridge B is stabilized by these forces. Even if thelever member 12 receives a pressing force, the attitude of the cartridge B isunlikely to change.

[0243] As a result, the positioned portions 73d and 73f of the cartridge B aresecurely pressed in the positioning portions 15a and 15b (Figure 12) of theapparatus main assembly, by using the force received by the lever member 12against the contact pressure received from the plurality of electrical contacts.That is, the coupling member 64 and the drive transmission member 81 of theapparatus main assembly can be stably engaged with each other.

[0244] More specifically, the line segment connecting the contact portion 212aand the engaged portion 212b of the lever member 12 and the line segment L2intersect.

[0245] The lever member 12 has a shape extending along the moving direction(K direction) of the lever member. Therefore, as the lever member 12 is pressedby the pressing member 1 of the apparatus main assembly A and moves in the Kdirection, the force of the pressing member 1 is smoothly transmitted to thecartridge B via the lever member 12. Therefore, it is easy to surely bring thecontact members 82 and 83 on the cartridge side into contact to the correspondingcontact members on the main assembly side by using the force of the pressingmember 1.

[0246] In addition, although the integrated lever member 12 is used as theoperation member, the operation member may be structured by connecting aplurality of members.

[0247] The contact members (electrical contacts) may be referred to as a firstcontact member (first electrical contact), a second contact member (secondelectrical contact), and the like, respectively. In addition, in this embodiment,the charging roller contact member 82 and the developing roller contact member83 are connected with the charging roller 67 and the developing roller 30. Thatis, each of the electrical contacts 82 and 83 is connected to the process member6730 that acts on the photosensitive member, and is used to apply a voltage fromthe apparatus main assembly A to each of these process members 6730.However, the electrical contacts (contact members) are not limited to those forapplying voltage to such process members. For example, in the case that amemory chip storing information about the cartridge B is provided in thecartridge B, an electrical contact (contact member) electrically connected to thememory is provided in the cartridge B. This electrical contact is used for theapparatus main assembly A to read information from the memory or to write newinformation into the memory by contacting the electrical contact of the apparatusmain assembly A. The present embodiment can be preferably applied to suchelectrical contacts for information communication.

[0248] As described above, in this embodiment, the cleaning frame 73 isprovided with the pressed portion 71e which is pressed by the cartridge pressingmember 1 in the apparatus main assembly. More particularly, the pressingmember 1 presses the lever member 12 to move it from the first position to thesecond position, and then contacts the pressed portion 71e of the cleaning frame73. Then, the pressing member 1 applies a pressing force to the cartridge B byway of the lever member 12 and the pressed portion 71e. However, the pressingmember 1 does not necessarily have to contact with the cleaning frame 73, andthe pressing member 1 contact only with a abutted portion 12a of the levermember so that a pressing force is applied to the cartridge B by way of only thelever member 12.<Modification>

[0249] In addition, in the above description (Figure 14), it is assumed that therotation axes L2 and L1 are coaxial before the drive transmission member 81 andthe coupling member 64 are engaged (part (a) of Figure 14), but the structure isnot limited to this. It is possible that the rotation axis of the drive transmissionmember 81 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the coupling member 64before the drive transmission member 81 and the coupling member 64 areengaged with each other. However, since the coupling member 64 is structuredto be movable back and forth, it is possible to engage the drive transmissionmember 81 and the coupling member 64 even in such a case. Hereinafter, amodified example in which the drive transmission portion 81 of the Embodiment1 is structured to be pivotable (inclinable) will be described.

[0250] Referring to Figure 15, in the case that the rotation axes L3 and L1 ofthe drive transmission member 81 and the coupling member 64 are not coaxialbefore the coupling member 64 is engaged, the description will be made as tohow the coupling member 64 and the drive transmission member 81 are engagedwith each other.

[0251] Here, part (a) of Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view in a state inwhich the process cartridge is inserted into the apparatus main assembly A andthe opening / closing door 13 is closed. The driving force is inputted to theapparatus main assembly A, the drive transmission member 81 starts to rotate,and the phase of the drive transmission portion 81a and the phase of the driventransmission portion 64a of the coupling member 64 fall within a predeterminedrange. In part (b) of Figure 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional viewimmediately after the operation. Part (c) of Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectionalview illustrating a state in which the drive transmission portion 81a of the drivetransmission member 81 and the driven transmission portion 64a of the couplingmember 64 are completely engaged. Parts (a), (b) and (c) of Figure 15 showsthe process of of the coupling member 64 being brought into engagement withthe drive transmission member 81 while decreasing the inclination angle, as thecoupling member 64 moves to the second position (advance position).

[0252] Figure 16 is a partial detailed view illustrating an enlarged portionsurrounded by a circle J in part (a) of Figure 15, and Figure 17 is a perspectiveview illustrating a chamfered portion 64e provided on the end surface of thedriven transmission portion 64a of the coupling member 64.

[0253] As shown in part (a) of Figure 15, in this modification, the structure issuch that a diameter LD1 of the supported portion 81b of the drive transmissionmember 81 and a diameter LD2 of the support portion 85a of the drivetransmission member support member 85 satisfy LD1 > LD2.

[0254] Therefore, the drive transmission member 81 can move relative to thesupport member 85. When the drive transmission member 81 and the couplingmember 64 are engaged with each other, the drive transmission member 81 canmove so that its axis is aligned with the axis of the coupling member 64. That is,the rotation axis L3 of the drive transmission member 81 and the rotation axis L1of the coupling member 64 can be accurately aligned.

[0255] More specifically, as shown in part (c) of Figure 15, the drivetransmission member 81 is supported by the driven transmission portion 64a ofthe coupling member 64. At this time, a gap is provided between the supportedportion 81b of the drive transmission member 81 and the support portion 85a ofthe drive transmission member support member 85 because of the relationship ofLD1 > LD2. The drive transmission member 81 is movable within the range ofthis gap. By setting the size of this gap appropriately, when the drivetransmission member 81 engages with the coupling member 64, the centerposition of the drive transmission member 81 at the free end side (the coreposition of the drive transmission member 81 at the free end side) can be alignedwith the center position of the coupling member 64. As a result, the rotationaxis L3 of the drive transmission member 81 can be accurately aligned with therotation axis L1 of the coupling member 64.

[0256] On the other hand, the drive transmission member 81 before beingengaged with the coupling member 64 is inclined by the own weight to in the Vdirection in the drawing, as shown in part (a) of Figure 15, because of therelationship of LD1 > LD2. As described above, when the rotatable door 13 ofthe main assembly A of the apparatus is completely closed, the coupling member64 is supposed to be movable from the first position to the second position.However, in this modification, since the drive transmission member 81 is inclinedin the V direction in the drawing, the driven transmission portion 64a of thecoupling member 64 cannot immediately engage with the drive transmissionportion 81a of the drive transmission member 81.

[0257] That is, the inclination angle of the drive transmission member 81relative to the horizontal plane is required to reduce to such an extent that thedrive transmission portion 81a of the drive transmission member 81 can beengaged with the driven transmission portion 64a of the coupling member 64 ofthe coupling member 64.

[0258] In this modification, by the coupling member 64 applying a force to thedrive transmission member 81 in the process of moving the coupling transmissionmember 64 to the second position, the drive transmission member 81 is moved soas to reduce the inclination angle. Therefore, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, thechamfered portion (inclined portion, taper portion) 64e inclined relative to theaxis of the coupling member 64 is provided on the triangular ridge line at thedriving side end of the coupling member 64. The chamfered portion 64e is anacting portion for acting on the drive transmission member 81, and the drivetransmission member 81 can be moved by contacting with the drive transmissionmember 81 under a specific condition.

[0259] As shown in Figure 16, the chamfered portion 64e is structured suchthat when the drive transmission member 81 is inclined in the V direction (part(a) of Figure 15), a portion of the chamfered portion 64e is inside the drivetransmission portion 81a of the transmission member 81 in the radial direction.For detailed description, in Figure 16, the position of the ridge line inside thechamfered portion 64e is indicated by L4, and the position of the edge (edge) ofthe recess serving as the drive transmission portion 81a is indicated by L5. Asshown in Figure 16, when the drive transmission member 81 rotates, if a stateoccurs in which L5 is located radially outside of L4, the inclined portion of thechamfered portion 64e contacts the edge of the drive transmission portion 81a(recessed portion). In Figure 16, the edge (L5) of the drive transmission portion81a is located radially outside the ridge line (L4) inside the chamfered portion64e by the distance x.

[0260] The inclined chamfer 64e applies a force to the drive transmissionmember 81 in a direction perpendicular to the surface thereof. Therefore, whenthe chamfered portion 64e contacts the edge of the drive transmission portion 81a,the chamfered portion 64e applies a force to the drive transmission member 81 inthe upper left direction in the Figure. Therefore, as shown in part (b) of Figure15, a moment is applied to the drive transmission member 81 in the arrow Wdirection with its fixed end as a fulcrum. By this, the drive transmissionmember 81 swings (pivots) in the arrow W direction.

[0261] When the drive transmission member 81 swings in the direction of thearrow W, the drive transmission portion 81a and the driven transmission portion64a become engageable with each other, and therefore, the coupling member 64moves toward the second position on the driving side to drive, by which theengagement between the transmission portion 81a and the driven transmissionportion 64a is completed. When the engagement between the coupling member64 and the drive transmission member 81 is completed, the rotation axis L3 of thedrive transmission member 81 accurately aligned with the rotation axis L1 of thecoupling member 64.

[0262] As described above, since the chamfered portion 64e is inclinedrelative to the advancing / retracting direction of the coupling member 64, the freeend (free end side) of the drive transmission member 81 is raised in interrelationwith the advancing movement of the coupling member 64. This makes itpossible to reduce the angular difference between the drive transmission member81 and the coupling member 64 (the angle formed by the rotational axes of them),so that the drive transmission member 81 and the coupling member 64 can beengaged with each other. The chamfered portion (inclined portion) 64e is aurging portion which urges the drive transmission drive transmission member 81,and is also an acting portion which acts on the drive transmission member 81.The chamfered portion (inclined portion) 64e is inclined in order to apply a forceacting on the drive transmission member 81 in a direction to reduce theinclination angle of the drive transmission member 81.

[0263] As shown in Figure 16, the chamfered portion 64e is an inclinedsurface (surface portion) disposed close to the free end of the coupling member64. The chamfered portion 64e is inclined so that the distance from the axis ofthe coupling member 64 decreases as it goes toward the free end of the couplingmember 64. In other words, the chamfered portion 64e is inclined so that thedistance from the axis of the photosensitive member drum becomes smaller as itgoes toward the free end of the coupling member 64.

[0264] The chamfered portion 64e shown in Figure 16 will be described indetail as an example. The chamfered portion 64e is inclined so as to descenddownward toward the left. The left end of the chamfered portion 64e is the freeend of the coupling member 64. In addition, the axis of the coupling member 64and the axis of the photosensitive drum are located below the chamfered portion64e. That is, the chamfered portion 64e is closer to the axis of the couplingmember 64 located below as it goes to the free end of the coupling memberlocated to the left.

[0265] The coupling member 64 is a movable member movably provided inthe cartridge B, to urge the drive transmission member 81 to reduce theinclination of the drive transmission member 81 with respect to the couplingmember 64. By this, the drive transmission member 81 is aligned with thecoupling member 64.

[0266] In addition, when the coupling member 64 moves to the secondposition, the phases of the drive transmission portion 81a and the driventransmission portion 64a may be significantly different from each other. In thatcase, the drive transmission portion 81a and the driven transmission portion 64acannot be engaged with each other, and therefore, the coupling member 64 abutsto the drive transmission member 81 and stops once while the coupling member64 moves to the second position. Even in that case, when drive is subsequentlyinputted to the apparatus main assembly, the phase of the driven transmissionportion 64a of the coupling member 64 changes relative to the phase of the drivetransmission portion 81a by the rotation of the drive transmission member 81.As a result, the phase difference between the drive transmission portion 81a andthe driven transmission portion 64a decreases, and the triangular attitude of thedrive transmission portion 81a and the triangular attitude of the driventransmission portion 64a of the coupling member 64 become closer to each other.As a result, the coupling member 64 is brought into a state in which it canengages with the drive transmission member 81 (part (b) of Figure 15).

[0267] At this time, the coupling member 64 presses the drive transmissionmember 81 by the chamfered portion 64e to swing the drive transmission member81 inclined in the V direction in the direction of decreasing the inclination angle(W direction in the drawing). That is, by bringing the chamfered portion 64einto contact with the drive transmission member 81, the center position of the freeend of the drive transmission member 81 can be brought closer to the centerposition of the free end of the coupling member 64. In this state, the couplingmember 64 itself moves to the driving side to complete the engagement with thedrive transmission member 81 (part (c) of Figure 15).

[0268] In the above description, the inclination direction (V direction) of thedrive transmission member 81 is the gravity direction, but this inclinationdirection may be any direction.

[0269] In addition, the coupling member 64 and the drive transmissionmember 81 can engage with the drive transmission member 81 even if therotation axes of the coupling member 64 and the drive transmission member 81are parallel and not coaxial, before the engagement. That is, when thechamfered portion 64a contacts the drive transmission member 81, the centerposition of the free end of the drive transmission member 81 is moved so as toapproach the center position of the free end of the coupling member 64, as in theabove description. That is, as in the case where the drive transmission member81 is inclined, even if the axis of the drive transmission member 81 is offset inany direction, the drive transmission member 81 and the coupling member 64 canbe engaged with each other.

[0270] In this embodiment, the position of the coupling member 64 retractedtoward the inside of the photosensitive drum 62 (retracted position) is called thefirst position, and the position of the coupling member 64 advanced toward theoutside of the photosensitive drum (advanced position) is called the secondposition. This is for convenience, and the retracted position may be called thesecond position and the advanced position may be called the first position.Similarly, in this embodiment, the normal position of the lever member 12 iscalled the first position, and the acting position of the lever member 12 is calledthe second position. However, the normal position may be called the secondposition of the lever member 12, and the acting position may be called the firstposition of the lever member. The same applies to the embodiments which willbe described hereinafter.<Embodiment 2>

[0271] Next, a Embodiment 2 will be described. The description of the samepoints as those in the above-described embodiment may be omitted. Inparticular, among the elements disclosed in the present embodiment, thosecorresponding to the members described in the Embodiment 1 will be given thesame names as the members of the Embodiment 1, and the points different fromthose of the Embodiment 1 will be described only.

[0272] In a Embodiment 1 described above, the operating member (levermember 12) is arranged on the driving side of the cartridge B (the side on whichthe coupling member is arranged), but in this embodiment, the operating memberis arranged on the side opposite to the driving side in the longitudinal direction.The difference in the structure and the operation resulting from the difference inthe arrangement and operation the operation member will be described in detail.

[0273] Referring first to Figures18 and 19, the driving side flange unit 269 andthe drum unit according to this embodiment will be described.

[0274] Figure 18 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drum unit according tothe Embodiment 2. Figure 19 is a view illustrating a method of assembling thedrum unit according to the Embodiment 2.

[0275] As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the driving side flange unit 269according to the present embodiment comprises a coupling member 264, adriving side flange member 275, a lid member 258, a first pressing member 259and the like. Further, the drum unit comprises the driving side flange unit 269, aconnecting member 261, a cushion member (cushioning member, damper) 255, anon-driving side flange member 254, and an inner cylindrical cam member 274.Similarly to the Embodiment 1, a coupling member 264 comprises a driventransmission portion 264a, a driving transmission portion 264b which transmitsdriving force to the driving side flange member 275, and the like. The drivingside flange member 275 also has a gear portion 275a for transmitting drive to thedeveloping roller gear provided at the end portion of the developing roller, as inthe Embodiment 1. The connecting member 261 comprises a cushion membersupporting portion 261a, a connecting portion 261b connecting the couplingmember 264 and the inner cylindrical cam member 274, a supported portion 261csupported by the inner cylindrical cam member, and the like. The innercylindrical cam member 274 comprises a cylindrical cam portion 274a (Figure23), a connecting member supporting portion 274b, a supported portion 274csupported by a drum shaft 278, and an outer diameter portion 274d inserted in theinner peripheral portion 254b of the non-driving side flange member 254.

[0276] The first pressing member 259 in the form of in a compression springor the like is provided between the first member contact surface 264d (Figure 24)of the coupling member 264 and the first member contact surface 275d (Figure24) of the driving side flange member 275.

[0277] Also in this embodiment, the coupling member 264 is provided at theend of a photosensitive member drum 62. That is, the driving side flange unit269 including the coupling member 264 is fixed to the driving side end portion ofthe photosensitive drum 62 by means such as press fitting or clamping as in theEmbodiment 1. In addition, as shown in Figure 19, the connecting member 261supporting the cushion member 255 is inserted into the drum from the non-drivingside end portion 62b. The non-driving side flange member 254 is fixedto the non-driving side drum end portion 62b by means such as clamping in thesame manner as in the Embodiment 1 with the inner cylindrical cam member 274fitted to the inner peripheral portion 254b (Figure 18). The drum unit of theEmbodiment 2 is structured as described above. The coupling member 264 ismovably connected to the driving side flange member 275.

[0278] Also in this embodiment, the driven transmission portion 264a of thecoupling member 264 employs a projection shape with a substantially triangularcross-section. Specifically, a shape in which a substantially triangular cross-sectionis twisted counterclockwise around the axis of the photosensitive drumfrom the driving side toward the non-driving side is employed.

[0279] Referring to Figures 20 to 23, an operation unit which enables thecoupling member 264 to move forward and backward in the longitudinaldirection will be described.

[0280] Figure 20 is a partial perspective view illustrating the structure of thecleaning unit 260 including the operation unit according to this embodiment.

[0281] Figure 21 is a perspective view of the process cartridge of thisembodiment.

[0282] Part (a) of Figure 22 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatusin a state in which the cartridge pressing member 1 has started to abut against thepressed portion 212a of the lever member 212 in the process of closing theopening / closing door 13 of the apparatus main assembly A in the direction H inthe drawing.

[0283] Part (b) of Figure 22 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatuswith the opening / closing door 13 of the apparatus main assembly A completelyclosed.

[0284] Figure 23 is a perspective view of the lever member 212, a outercylindrical cam member 270, and the inner cylindrical cam member 274according to this embodiment. Here, part (a) of Figure 23 is a perspective viewof the state before the cartridge pressing member 1 is contacted with the pressedportion 212 a of the lever member 212. Part (c) of Figure 23 is a perspectiveview of the state where the opening / closing door 13 is completely closed and apredetermined pressure of the cartridge pressing spring 19 is applied to thecontact portion 212a of the lever member 212 (part (b) of Figure 22). Part (b) ofFigure 23 is a perspective view in a state between the states of part (a) of Figure23 and part (c) of Figure 23 (part (a) of Figures 22 to 22 (b)).

[0285] As shown in Figure 23, the actuating unit includes the outer cylindricalcam member 270, the inner cylindrical cam member 274, the lever member(operation member) 212, a second pressing member 214 (Figure 21) and the like.The outer cylindrical cam member 270 includes, a lever member engagingportion 270b which engages a cylindrical cam portion 270a and the lever member212, and the like. The lever member 212 includes an abutting portion 212a towhich the cartridge pressing member 1 (Figure 21) of the main assembly A of theapparatus abuts, an engaged portion (portion to be engaged) 212b with which theouter cam member 270 is engaged, and the like. As shown in Figure 20, theouter cylindrical cam member 270 engaged with the lever member 212 ismounted to the cleaning frame 271 from the top to the bottom in the drawing.Specifically, it is supported by the drum shaft 278 so as to be rotatable relative tothe cleaning frame 271 together with the drum unit by way of the supportedportion 270c.

[0286] As shown in Figure 21, the second pressing member 214 and adeveloping unit 20 are mounted to the cleaning unit 260 to constitute the processcartridge of this embodiment.

[0287] Next, the description will be made as to forward and backwardmovement of the coupling member 264 by the movement of the lever member212 caused by the cartridge pressing member 1 provided in the main assembly Aof the apparatus contacting to and separating from the lever member 212 will bedescribed.

[0288] Referring first to Figure 19, the longitudinal positioning structure ofthe coupling member 264 of this embodiment will be described. In thisembodiment, the position of the coupling member 264 in the longitudinaldirection is determined by the outer cylindrical cam member 270, the innercylindrical cam member 274, and the connecting member 261.

[0289] Specifically, the coupling member 264 pressed to the non-driving sideby the first pressing member 259 urges the connecting member 261 in an sdirection shown in part (a) of Figure 23, and the end surface 261d thereof abuts tothe longitudinal regulation surface 274d of the inner cylindrical cam member 274.This determines the longitudinal position of the coupling member. As will bedescribed hereinafter, the structure is such that the longitudinal position of theinner cylindrical cam member 274 is determined by the phases of the outercylindrical cam member 270 and the cylindrical cam portion of the innercylindrical cam member 274 as shown in Figure 23.

[0290] Referring to Figures21 to 24, the movement of the lever member 212and forward / backward movement of the coupling member 264 in the longitudinaldirection will be described.

[0291] Figure 24 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drive transmissionmember 81 and the coupling member 264 of the apparatus main assembly Aaccording to this embodiment. Similarly to Figure 23, part (a) of Figure 24 is alongitudinal sectional view illustrating a state before the cartridge pressingmember abuts to the pressed portion 212a of the lever member 212. Part (c) ofFigure 24 is a longitudinal sectional view of a state in which the opening / closingdoor 13 is completely closed and a predetermined pressure of the cartridgepressing spring 19 is applied to the contact portion 12a of the lever member 212(part (b) of Figure 22). Part (b) of Figure 24 is a longitudinal sectional view in astate (part (a) of Figure 22 to part (b) of Figure 22) between the states of part (a)of Figure 24 and part (c) of Figure 24.

[0292] As shown in part (a) of Figure 23, in the state before the cartridgepressing member 1 is brought into contact with the lever member 212, the levermember 212 is urged by the second pressing member 214 (Figure 21) in thedirection of arrow E in Figures 21 and part (a) of Figure 23. The cylindricalcam portions of the outer cylindrical cam member 270 and the inner cylindricalcam member 274 are structured to have the phases shown in part (a) of Figure 23at this time, and therefore, the inner cylindrical cam member 274 is in the mostnon-driving side (S in the drawing) position. For this reason, the structure issuch that the coupling member 264 taking the longitudinal position determinedby way of the connecting member 261 and the cushion member 255 is located onthe most non-driving side. That is, the operating unit including the connectingmember 261 and the like allows the coupling member 264 to retract to the non-drivingside by the urging force of the first pressing member 259 (Figure 19).The position in which the coupling member 264 is retracted to the non-drivingside in this manner is called the first position in this embodiment similarly toEmbodiment 1. The first pressing member (urging member, elastic member)259 that urges the coupling member 264 toward the non-driving side can beregarded as a portion of the operation unit.

[0293] As shown in part (a) of Figure 24, the structure is such that when thecoupling member 264 is at the first position, the driven transmission portion 264aof the coupling member 264 and the drive transmission portion 81a of the drivetransmission member 81 do not overlap with each other in the longitudinaldirection. That is, the process cartridge B can be smoothly mounted anddismounted to and from the device main assembly A without any interferencebetween the coupling member 264 and the drive transmission member 81 of theapparatus main assembly.

[0294] Next, the movement in which the cartridge pressing member 1 isbrought into contact with the lever member 212,, the lever member 212 is startedto move, and the coupling member 264 moves from the first position to thedriving side will be described.

[0295] As shown in part (a) of Figure 22, when the mounting of the processcartridge B is completed and the opening / closing door 13 is closed in thedirection H in the Figure, the contact between the cartridge pressing member 1and the lever member 212 starts, and the pressing force of the cartridge pressingspring 19 starts to act on the lever member 212. The pressing force causes thelever member 212 to start moving in the K direction shown in part (a) of Figures22 and part (b) of Figure 23 against the second pressing member 214. As shownin part (b) of Figure 23, when the lever member 212 moves in the K direction, theouter cylindrical cam member 270 engaged with the lever member 212 starts torotate in the M2 direction in the Figure. When the outer cylindrical member 270rotates in the M2 direction, the inner cylindrical cam member 274 starts to movein the N direction (driving side) shown in part (b) of Figure 23 by the cylindricalcam portions of the outer cylindrical cam member 270 and the inner cylindricalcam member 274. As in Embodiment 1, the inner cylindrical cam member 274is supported so as not to rotate and but to be movable only in the longitudinaldirection.

[0296] By the movement of the inner cylindrical cam member 274 in thelongitudinal direction (N direction), the connecting member 261 connected to theinner cylindrical cam member 274 also starts moving against the urging force ofthe first pressing portion 259 (Figure 19). Then, the connecting member 261also moves in the N direction by the movement of the connecting member 261,and the driven transmission portion 264a of the coupling member 264 and thedriving transmission portion 81a of the drive transmission member 81 of theapparatus main assembly become engageable in the longitudinal direction (part(b) of Figure 24). The connecting member 261 is not directly connected to thecoupling member 264, but the connecting member 261 is connected to thecoupling member 264 by way of the cushion member 255 (Figure 19) asdescribed above. The cushion member 255 is a expandable and contractableelastic member, and when the connecting member 261 moves in the N direction,the cushion member 255 is compressed, and the elastic force produced by thecompression is used to move the coupling member 264 in the N direction. Thatis, by the elastic force (urging force) of the cushion member 255 exceeding theelastic force (urging force) of the first pressing member 259 (Figure 19), thecoupling member 264 moves toward the outside of the cartridge against theurging force of the first pressing member 259. This cushion member 255 canalso be regarded as a portion of the operating unit.

[0297] Further, the structure is such that when the opening / closing door 13 isclosed and the opening / closing door 13 is completely closed (state of part (b) ofFigure 22), the longitudinal end surfaces of the cylindrical cam portions of theouter cylindrical cam member 270 and the inner cylindrical cam member 274contact to each other, as shown in part (c) of Figure 23. At this time, the innercylindrical cam member 274 is located closest to the driving side. That is, thecoupling member 264 is also structured to be located closest to the driving sideby way of the connecting member 261. The position where the couplingmember 264 projects toward the driving side is called the second position also inthis embodiment.

[0298] As shown in part (c) of Figure 24, the structure is such that when thecoupling member 264 is in the second position, the required amount oflongitudinal engagement between the driven transmission portion 264a of thecoupling member 264 and the driving transmission portion 81a of the drivetransmission member 81 is assured.

[0299] In this embodiment, similarly to Embodiment 1, the positions of thelever member 212 corresponding to the first position and the second position ofthe coupling member 264 are called the first position and the second position,respectively. That is, part (a) of Figures 23 and part (a) of Figure 24 show thefirst positions of the lever member 212 and the coupling member 264,respectively, and part (c) of Figures 23 and part (c) of Figure 24 show the secondpositions of the lever member 212 and the first position, respectively. Part (b)of Figures 23 and part (b) of Figure 24 show intermediate positions in the processof moving the lever member 212 and the coupling member 264 from the firstpositions to the second positions, respectively.

[0300] In addition, as described above, the driven transmission portion 264a ofthe coupling member 264 in this embodiment has a twisted triangular shape.Therefore, when the phases of the drive transmission portion 81a (Figure 25) ofthe drive transmission member 81 and the drive transmission portion 64 of thecoupling member 264 are not aligned, the drive transmission portion 81a and thedriven transmission portion 64a are not completely engaged, and therefore, thecoupling member 264 and the drive transmission member 81 interfere with eachother. At this time, the coupling member 264 cannot sufficiently move to thesecond position (projection position).

[0301] That is, even though the lever member 212 is moved to the secondposition (part (c) of Figure 23) by the pressing member 1 of the apparatus mainassembly A, the coupling member 264 cannot move to the second position (part(c) of Figure 24). At this time, the cushion member 255 is largely compressedto absorb the positional deviation between the lever member 212 and the couplingmember 264. That is, the cushion member 255 is a cushioning memberdisposed between the lever member 212 and the coupling member 264, and isused to allow the interference between the coupling member 264 and the drivetransmission member 81.

[0302] Thus, the cushion member 255 is arranged between the couplingmember 264 and the connecting member 261, and therefore, the structure is suchthat the coupling member 264 can be stopped on the end surface 81c of the drivetransmission member 81 without strong resistance in the longitudinal direction.

[0303] When drive is input to the apparatus main assembly A in this state, thedrive transmission member 81 rotates, so that the phase difference between thecoupling member 264 and the drive transmission member 81 becomes within apredetermined range as in the Embodiment 1. Then, the coupling member 264can move to the second position. That is, at the time when the phase differencebetween the coupling member 264 and the drive transmission member 81 fallswithin a predetermined range, the elastic deformation of the cushion member 255is partially mitigated, and the elastic force of the cushion member 255 is used tomove the coupling member 264 to the second position. By this, the couplingmember 264 and the drive transmission member 81 are engaged with each other.In this embodiment, the compression coil spring is used for the cushion member255, but other elastic members such as rubber can be preferably used. Inaddition, the cushion member 255 may be arranged somewhere between the levermember 212 and the coupling member 264, and the cushion member 255 doesnot necessarily have to be arranged between the connecting member 261 and thecoupling member 264. For example, a portion of the resin forming the levermember 212 may elastically deform to function as the cushion member. Also inthis case, it can be deemed that there is a cushion member between the levermember 212 and the coupling member 264.

[0304] In this embodiment, the cushion member 255 is mounted to theprojection of the coupling member 264 with a gap therebetween. Therefore, thecushion member 255 is rotatable relative to the coupling member 264. In otherwords, the coupling member 264 slides and rotates relative to the cushionmember 255 when receiving the rotational force. When the coupling member264 rotates, the cushion member 255 does not rotate, and the connecting member261 with which the cushion member 255 is connected does not rotate, either. Inaddition, in this embodiment, the drum shaft 278 and the inner cylindrical cammember 274 are structured so as not to rotate relative to each other. Specifically,the cross-sections of the drum shaft 278 and the recess portion (support portion274c) of the inner cylindrical cam member 274 have a non-circular cross-section,and by the drum shaft 278 engaging (fitting) with the support portion 274c, theinner cylindrical cam member 274 does not rotate relative to the drum shaft 278.That is, the inner cylindrical cam 274 does not rotate but can move back and forthin the axial direction (longitudinal direction) along the drum shaft 278.Furthermore, the structure is such that the non-driving side flange member 254 isfixed to the photosensitive member drum 62, but is rotatable relative to the outerdiameter portion 274d (Figure 19) of the inner cylindrical cam member 274.

[0305] When the drive is transmitted to the coupling member 264, thephotosensitive member drum 62 and the non-driving side flange member 254rotate. Then, the non-driving side flange member 254 arranged so as tosurround the inner cylindrical cam member 274 rotates while sliding on the innercylindrical cam member 274. The non-driving side flange member 254 issupported by the drum shaft 278 by way of the inner cylindrical cam member 274.

[0306] In this embodiment, unlike a Embodiment 1, the operation member(lever member 212), the cam mechanism (inner cylindrical cam member 274 andouter cylindrical cam member 270) are provided on the non-driving side.Therefore, the cartridge B is provided with a connecting member 261 forconnecting the operating member and the cam mechanism on the non-drivingside with the coupling member 264 on the driving side. This connectingmember 261 can also be deemed as a portion of the operating unit for moving thecoupling member 264. The connecting member 261 is an extending memberwhich extends in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge B. In thisembodiment, by arranging the connecting member 261 inside the drum 62, thedead space inside the drum 62 is effectively utilized.

[0307] As described above, the first pressing member 259 is the urgingmember for urging the coupling member 264 to the first position (retractedposition). When the lever member 212 is in the first position (normal position),the operating unit allows the coupling member 264 to be in the retracted positionby the force of the first pressing member 259.

[0308] On the other hand, when the lever member 212 moves to the secondposition (acting position), the cam mechanism (the inner cylindrical cam member274, the outer cylindrical cam member 270) and the connecting member 261move interrelatedly with each other. This cam mechanism moves the couplingmember 264 to the second position (advanced position) against the urging forceof the first pressing member 259. The connecting member 261 is not directlyconnected to the coupling member 264, but the connecting member 261 and thecoupling member 264 are connected by way of the cushion member 255 asdescribed above. In this embodiment, the drum shaft 278, the inner cylindricalcam member 274, and the non-driving side flange member 254 are made of anelectroconductive material. By this, the drum 62 and the drum shaft 278 areelectrically connected with each other. The drum shaft 278 is a contact member(electrical contact) that is electrically connected to the drum 62 and is used toelecctrically ground the drum 62. As shown in Figure 29, the drum shaft 278 isstructured to be electrically connected to the sheet metal member of the apparatusmain assembly A by way of the contact member 103 provided in the apparatusmain assembly A. Figure 29 is an explanatory view illustrating grounding of thephotosensitive drum 62. The contact member 103 is an electrical contact on theapparatus main assembly A side that is electrically connected to a sheet metalmember (a plate-shaped metal frame of the apparatus main assembly A) 104.

[0309] Since a portion of the operating unit is electrically connected to thedrum 62 and the drum shaft 278, the structure is such that the drum 62 and thesheet metal member of the apparatus main assembly A are electrically connectedby way of the drum shaft 278 and the operating unit.

[0310] Therefore, since the drum shaft 278, the inner cylindrical cam member274, and the non-driving side flange member 254 are made of a conductivematerial, the drum can be stably connected (grounded) to the ground.

[0311] In addition, similarly to the modified example of Embodiment 1, thecoupling member 264 in this embodiment has a structure in which the member 81can be engaged even when the rotation axis of the coupling member 264 isinclined relative to the rotation axis of the coupling member 264 beforeengagement. That is, similarly to the modification of a Embodiment 1, as thecoupling member 264 advances toward the drive transmission member 81, thecoupling member 264 can reduce the inclination of the drive transmissionmember 81 (parts (a) - (c) of Figure 15). By this, the drive transmissionmember 81 is aligned with the coupling member 264 so that they can be engagedwith each other.

[0312] Furthermore, the coupling member 64 and the drive transmissionmember 81 can engage with the drive transmission member 81 even when thesituation before the engagement is that the rotation axes of the coupling member64 and the drive transmission member 81 are parallel and not coaxial.

[0313] As described above, in this embodiment, the lever member 212(operation member) is arranged on the non-driving side opposite to the sidehaving the coupling member 264. The non-driving side of the cartridge B is notprovided with (or the number of arranged members on this side is small) the drivetransmission members such as gears as contrasted to the driving side, so that it iseasy to assure a space for placing the lever member 212. That is, by providingthe lever member 212 on the non-driving side of the cartridge B, the latitude indesign regarding the structure, shape, and arrangement of the lever member 212can be enhanced. In addition, since a portion of the operating unit is arrangedon the non-driving side, a portion of the operating unit can be effectively used asa path for electrically grounding the drum 62. In addition, even if the levermember 212 is arranged on the non-driving side opposite to the side on which theelectrical contacts 82, 83 are arranged, the electrical contacts 82, 83 can bepressed against the main assembly side electrical contacts 102, 103 by thepressing force received by the lever member 212 even though the degree ofpressing is not as high as in Embodiment 1.

[0314] In the above-described Embodiment 1, the operation member 12 andthe coupling member 64 are arranged on the same side of the cartridge in theaxial direction of the photosensitive drum (Figures 1, 4, 5, 9). In other words, inthe Embodiment 1, the operation member 12 is arranged in the neighborhood ofthe driving side end of the frame of the cartridge, like the coupling member 64.That is, both the operating member 12 and the coupling member 64 are arrangednear the drum bearing 73 arranged on the driving side.

[0315] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the operation member 212 andthe cartridge member 264 are arranged on the opposite sides of the cartridge(Figure 21). That is, the operation member 212 is arranged in the neighborhoodof the non-driving side end of the cleaning frame 71.

[0316] On the basis of what has been described with the Embodiment 1 andthis embodiment, it may be selected appropriately depending on the functions,structures, conditions and so on required of the cartridge B and the apparatusmain assembly A whether the operation member is arranged on the driving sideor the non-driving side Also in each of the embodiments which will be describedhereinafter, it is a matter that can be appropriately selected whether the operatingmember is arranged on the driving side or the non-driving side of the cartridge.<Embodiment 3>

[0317] Embodiment 3 will be described. In the Embodiment 3, similarly tothe drive transmission member 81 shown in the modification of the Embodiment1, the drive transmission member 581 having the axis inclined relative to the axisof the photosensitive drum is shown.

[0318] A structure in which the coupling member (drive input member) isengaged with the inclined drive transmission member 581 by determining theposition and attitude of the coupling member (drive input member) so as tofollow the axis of the inclined drive transmission member 581, will be described(will be described hereinafter in Figure 35).

[0319] Referring first to Figures 30, 31 and 32, a driving side flange unit 569and a drum unit including a Oldham coupling 549 which is the shaft couplingaccording to this embodiment will be described.

[0320] Figure 30 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drum unit.

[0321] Figure 31 is a perspective view illustrating the Oldham coupling 549used in this embodiment, part (a) of Figure 31 is a perspective view beforeassembly, and part (b) of Figure 31 is a perspective view after assembly. Figure32 is a longitudinal sectional view of the driving side flange unit 569.

[0322] As shown in Figure 30, Figure 31, and Figure 32, the driving sideflange unit 569 according to this embodiment includes a drive input member 564,a intermediate member 545, a drive force transmission pin 548, a output member547, a lid member 558, and a first pressing member 559 and the like. Inaddition, as shown in Figure 30, the drum unit of this embodiment includes thedriving side flange unit 569, a connecting member 261, a cushion member 255, anon-driving side flange member 254, and a inner cylindrical cam member 274.The connecting member 261, the cushion member 255, the non-driving sideflange member 254, and the inner cylindrical cam member 274, which are theoperating member unit for moving the drive input member 564 back and forth,have the same structures as those of the Embodiment 2, and therefore, detaileddescription thereof is omitted.

[0323] As shown in Figures 30 and 31, the drive input member 564 of thisembodiment includes a driven transmission portion (driving force receivingportion) 564a as in the above-described embodiments. The drive input member564 is a part of the coupling member (Oldham coupling 549), and the drive forceis inputted to the drive input member 564 by way of the driven transmissionportion 564a.

[0324] As the shape of the driven transmission portion 564a, a triangularshape is used as in the above-described embodiment. In addition, the driveinput member 564 is provided with a guided rib 564b which is locked to anOldham coupling 549 which will be described hereinafter. As shown in Figure31, the Oldham coupling 549 includes the drive input member (input disc, inputmember, input portion) 564, an intermediate member (intermediate member,intermediate disc, intermediate portion) 545, the drive output member (outputmember, output disc, output portion) 547.

[0325] The intermediate member 545 has a guide groove 545a and a guidedrib 545b. Similarly, to the intermediate member 545, the output member 547 isprovided with a guided groove 547a and a hole portion 547b into which a drivetransmission pin which will be described hereinafter is inserted. As shown inpart (a) of Figure 31, the drive input member 564 is locked to the intermediatemember 545 by engaging the guided rib 564b provided in the drive input memberwith the guide groove 545a of the intermediate member 545. This allows thedrive input member 564 to move in the x1 direction in part (a) of Figure 31relative to the intermediate member. That is, the input member 564 is engagedwith the intermediate member 545 so as to be slidable in the x1 direction relativeto the intermediate member 545.

[0326] The intermediate member 545 is locked to the output member 547 byengaging the guided rib 545b provided in the intermediate member with theguided groove 547a of the output member 547. By this, the intermediatemember 545 is movable relative to the output member 547 in the x2 direction inpart (a) of Figure 31. That is, the intermediate member 545 is engaged with theoutput member 547 so as to be slidable in the x2 direction relative to the outputmember 547.

[0327] The x1 direction and the x2 direction are different directions (that is,directions orthogonal to each other), and therefore, the drive input member 564 isstructured to be movable with respect to the output member 547 in any of the x1direction and the x2 direction. In addition, as shown in part (a) of Figure 2, inthis embodiment, the guided width d5 of the guided rib 564b of the drive inputmember, the width d6 of the guide groove of the intermediate member, and theguided width d7 of the intermediate member and the output member, and thewidth d8 of the slide groove of the output member is selected to satisfy d5 < d6and d7 < d8. Although the details will be described hereinafter, the axis of thedrive input member 564 is structured to be inclinable relative to the axis of thephotosensitive drum.

[0328] A drive transmission pin 548 for transmitting the drive force receivedby the drive input member 564 to the driving side flange member 575 by way ofthe transmitted surface 575d is inserted into the hole 547b of the output member547. By this, the Oldham coupling 549 including the drive input member 564 iscompletely constituted (part (b) of Figure 31).

[0329] The input member 564 is a disk to which driving force is input fromthe outside. The output member 547 is a disk for outputting a driving forcefrom the Oldham coupling 549 to the photosensitive drum. That is, the outputmember 547 has the drive transmission pin (drive transmission portion) 548 tooutput the driving force to the driving side flange member 575. The drivingforce output from the output member 547 via the drive transmission pin 548 istransmitted to the photosensitive drum through the driving side drum flange.The intermediate member (intermediate member) 545 is a disk which is providedbetween the input member 564 and the output member 547 so as to transmit thedriving force from the input member 564 to the output member 547, and which isengaged with the input member 564 and the output member 547.

[0330] Figure 32 shows a cross-section of the driving side drum flange unit569, and is a view before the lid member 558 is assembled.

[0331] As shown in Figure 32, the Oldham coupling 549 including the driveinput member 564 is inserted in the driving side flange member 575 together withthe first pressing member 559, as in the Embodiment 2.

[0332] The first pressing member 559 is arranged between the contact surface547c of the output member 547 and the contact surface 575c of the driving sideflange member 575. By this, the Oldham coupling 549 including the drive inputmember 564 is structured to be urged to the first position, in the longitudinaldirection, which is the retracted position. The axis x3 of the output member 547and the axis x4 of the driving side flange member 575 are structured to be coaxial.The lid member 558 is fixed to the driving side flange member 575. The drivingside flange member 564 to which the lid member 558 is fixed is fixed to thephotosensitive drum 62. The connecting member 261, the cushion member 255,the non-driving side flange member 254, and the inner cylindrical cam member274 described in Embodiment 2 are also mounted to the drum unit (Figure 30).

[0333] As described above, the drive input member 564 is structured to takean arbitrary position in the x1 direction and the x2 direction in part (a) of Figure31 relative to the output member 547. In addition, since the output member 547and the axis lines x3 and x4 of the driving side flange member are coaxial withthe axis L1 of the photosensitive member drum 62, the drive input member 564 inthis embodiment can take any position in the x1 direction and in the x2 directionrelative to the axis of the photosensitive member drum 62.

[0334] Next, referring to Figures33 and 34, a method for assembling the drumunit according to this embodiment will be described. Part (a) of Figure 33 is aperspective view illustrating a method of assembling the drum unit.

[0335] Part (b) of Figure 33 is a partial detailed view illustrating a lockingportion between the coupling support member 552 and the drum bearing 573.

[0336] Figure 34 is a side view of the process cartridge according to thisembodiment.

[0337] As shown in Figure 33, the drum unit of this embodiment is rotatablysupported by the cleaning frame 571 by way of a drum bearing 573. A couplingsupport member 552 and a coupling urging member 553 are mounted to the drumbearing 573 in this embodiment. As shown in part (a) of Figure 33, the couplingsupport member 552 is structured such that the locked portion 552b of thecoupling support member 552 is locked by the cut-away portion 573a provided inthe drum bearing 573. In addition, in this embodiment, the relationship betweenthe width d3 of the locked portion 552b of the coupling support member 552 andthe cut-away width d4 of the cut-away portion 573a of the drum bearing 573 isD4 > d3.

[0338] By this, the axis of the coupling support member 552 is structured to beinclinable relative to the axis of the photosensitive member drum. A torsion coilspring is used as a coupling urging member 553 of this embodiment, and thetorsion coil spring is held by boss portions 573c and 573d of the drum bearing573. One end of the torsion coil spring is in contact with the contacted portion552d of the coupling support member 552, and the coupling support member 552is structured to urge in the X5 direction in part (b) of Figure 34.

[0339] As shown in Figures 30 and 34, the coupling support member 552 isstructured to rotatably support the drive input member outer peripheral portion564c by the inner peripheral portion 552a. By this, the drive input member 564supported by the coupling support member 552 is urged in the x5 direction in theFigure by the urging force of the coupling urging member 553. As will bedescribed hereinafter, the direction x5 is a direction in which the drive inputmember 564 engages with the drive transmission member 81 having an axisinclined relative to the axis of the photosensitive drum.

[0340] Next, referring to part (a) of Figure 34, the inclination of the drivetransmission member 581 will be described. Similarly to the modified exampleof the Embodiment 1 described above and the like, the drive transmissionmember 581 is also inclinable in this embodiment. That is, similarly to theabove-described embodiment, there is a gap (play) between the bearing portionwhich supports the drive transmission member 581 and the drive transmissionmember 581. The drive transmission member 581 can be tilted within this gap.

[0341] However, in this embodiment, the direction in which the drivetransmission member 581 is inclined is different from that in each of the above10described embodiments. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the drivetransmission member is inclined downward due to gravity when it is notconnected to the cartridge B (Figure 15 and so on). However, in thisembodiment, the drive transmission member 581 is inclined in a directiondifferent from the gravity direction (right downward). Specifically, as shown inpart (a) of Figure 34, the drive transmission member 581 is inclined so that thefree end of the drive transmission member 581 is directed toward the downstreamside in the mounting direction KH of the cartridge B. The reason for this will bedescribed.

[0342] As shown in part (a) of Figure 34, the cartridge may be mounted to theapparatus main assembly in a state of being slightly inclined relative to theapparatus main assembly. At this time, a portion of the cartridge B lightlycontacts the free end portion of the drive transmission member 581 and pushes it,with the possible result that the drive transmission member 581 is inclined towardthe downstream side in the mounting direction KH. If the attitude and themomentum when mounting the cartridge B are different, the contacting statebetween the cartridge B and the drive transmission member 581 is also different,and the inclining direction and the inclining distance of the drive transmissionmember 581 may be different. Under such circumstances, the attitude(inclination) of the drive transmission member 581 varies every time the cartridgeB is mounted, with the result that it may be difficult to stably engage the drivetransmission member 581 and the cartridge B with each other.

[0343] Therefore, in this embodiment, the drive transmission member 581 ispreliminarily inclined to the downstream side in the mounting direction KH.That is, regardless of how the cartridge B is mounted, the drive transmissionmember 581 is always inclined in substantially the same direction so as to take asubstantially the same attitude. By this, the connection between the drivetransmission member 581 and the cartridge B is stabilized every time.

[0344] In the state that the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus mainassembly, the free end of the drive transmission member 581 is inclined relativeto the cartridge B in the arrow x5 direction shown in part (b) of Figure 34.

[0345] The arrow X5 direction is the direction of a line (half line) X6extending from the center of the photosensitive drum toward the center of thedeveloping roller at this time when the line is rotated counterclockwise by 41degrees. The counterclockwise direction in part (b) of Figure 34 is the directionin which the photosensitive drum rotates when a latent image and a toner imageare formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

[0346] In this embodiment, the drive input member 564 is moved in the X5direction relative to the photosensitive drum, with the drive transmission member581 which is inclined in the X5 direction. By this, the drive transmissionmember 581 and the drive input member 564 are engaged (connected) with eachother. Referring to Figures35 and 36, this will be described in detail.

[0347] Parts (a), (b) and (c), of Figure 35 show step by step how the driveinput member 564 of this embodiment is engaged with the drive transmissionmember 581 having the axis L6 inclined with respect to the axis L1 of thephotosensitive drum.

[0348] Similarly to the Embodiment 2, part (a) of Figure 35 is a longitudinalsectional view illustrating a state in which the process cartridge is inserted intothe apparatus main assembly A and the opening / closing door 13 is closed. Part(b) of Figure 35 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view immediately after theoperation in which the driving force is input to the apparatus main assembly A,the drive transmission member 581 starts to rotate, and the phase of the drivetransmission portion 581a and the phase of the driven transmission portion 564 aof the drive input member 564 are within a predetermined range. Part (c) ofFigure 35 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a state in which the drivetransmission portion 581 a of the drive transmission member 581 and the driventransmission portion 564 a of the drive input member 564 are completely engagedwith each other.

[0349] Figure 36 is a partial detailed view of y portion of part (a) of Figure 35.

[0350] The coupling member (Oldham coupling 549) of this embodiment hasa structure capable of moving back and forth similarly to the coupling membersof the first and second embodiments described above. The structure for movingthe Oldham coupling 549 (drive input member 564, intermediate member 545,output member 547) along the longitudinal direction is the same as that in theEmbodiment 2. That is, the output member 547 moves along the axial directionof the photosensitive member drum 62, similarly to the coupling member 264shown in Figure 26. By this movement of the output member 547, the entirecoupling member (Oldham coupling 549) moves between the advanced position(part (c) of Figure 35) and the retracted position (part (a) of Figure 35).

[0351] As described above, in this embodiment, the drive input member 564 isurged in the x5 direction of part (b) of Figure 34 so that the drive input member564 can be engaged with the drive transmission member 581 having the axis L6.

[0352] More specifically, the drive input member 564 is urged in the x5direction such that in the state that the opening / closing door 13 of the apparatusmain assembly is closed, a part of the chamfered portion 564e is inside the drivetransmission portion 581a of the drive transmission member 581 in the radialdirection. When the drive transmission member 581 further rotates, the driveinput member 564 moves to the second position in the longitudinal direction, andthe engagement between the input member 564 of the Oldham coupling and thedrive transmission member 581 is completed (part (c) of Figure 35).

[0353] As described above, in this embodiment, the axes of the drive inputmember (input member, input portion) 564 and the coupling support member(coupling bearing) 552 are structured to be inclinable relative to the axis of thephotosensitive drum. Therefore, when the engagement between the drive inputmember 564 and the drive transmission member 581 is completed, the axes of thedrive input member 564 and the coupling support member 552 are coaxial withthe axis of the drive transmission member 581.

[0354] The drive transmission member of the apparatus main assembly istransmitted to the photosensitive drum by way of the drive input member 564, theintermediate member (intermediate member, intermediate portion) 545, theoutput member (output portion) 547, the drive transmission pin 548, and thedriving side flange member 575.

[0355] As described above, in this embodiment, the drive input member 564 isurged in the x5 direction (Figure 34), by which the drive input member 564 canbe engaged with the drive transmission member 81 having the axis L6 inclinedrelative to the axis L1 of the photosensitive drum.

[0356] The Oldham coupling 549 (the drive input member 564, theintermediate member 545, the output member 547) is an axis misalignmentpermitting mechanism (misalignment accommodating mechanism) for permittinga state in which the axis of the drive transmission member 581 and the axis of thephotosensitive drum are not aligned with each other (axis misalignment state).

[0357] That is, the coupling member (Oldham coupling 549) has the inputmember 564 for inputting a driving force from the apparatus main assembly andthe output member 547 for outputting the driving force to the photosensitivedrum. The axis of the output member 547 is substantially aligned with the axisL1 of the photosensitive drum, and the input member 564 is movable relative tothe output member 547 in the direction crossing with the axis of the outputmember (direction perpendicular to each other). That is, the axis (rotationcenter) of the input member 564 can be displaced (offset or separated) from theaxis (L1) of the output member 547. By this, the input member 564 canaccommodate the deviation resulting between the axis of the drive transmissionmember 581 and the axis of the photosensitive drum. That is, since the inputmember 654 is displaced in the direction intersecting the axis L1, the free end ofthe drive transmission member 581 and the input member 654 are close to eachother when the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main assembly. In thisstate, the input member 654 further approaches the drive transmission member581 along the axis L1 and engages with the drive transmission member 581.

[0358] In this embodiment, the direction in which the center of the inputmember 654 is displaced with respect to the output member 547 and thephotosensitive member drum is the arrow X5 direction shown in part (b) ofFigure 34. The X5 direction is a direction in which the free end side of the drivetransmission member 581 is inclined as described above. The X5 direction is adirection in which a line X6 extending from the center of the photosensitive drumtoward the center of the developing roller is rotated counterclockwise (that is,toward the downstream side in the rotational direction of the photosensitivedrum) by an angle X5.

[0359] In this embodiment, the angle in the direction X5 in which the free endof the drive transmission member 581 is inclined is 41 degrees. Therefore, theangle X7 of the direction in which the input member 654 is displaced is also 41degrees. However, the angle in the direction in which the drive transmissionmember 581 is displaced need not be strictly 41 degrees, and may be in the rangeof 11 ° to 71 ° (range of ± 30 degrees with respect to the angle of the drivetransmission member 581). That is, the direction in which the input member654 is displaced relative to the photosensitive member drum is in a range largerthan 11 degrees and smaller than 71 degrees relative to X6.

[0360] The input member 654 is held in a state of being moved in the X5direction by urging the input member 654 by the coupling urging member 553(referring to part (a) of Figure 33). An elastic member (spring) is employed asthe coupling urging member 553. Although the coupling urging member 553 ofthe present embodiment is a torsion coil spring, it is not limited to this exampleand may have another structure.

[0361] In this embodiment, the axis of the input member 654 may be inclinedwith respect to the axis (L1) of the output member 547 and the photosensitivemember drum 62. The input member 654 is also inclined along the inclineddrive transmission member 581 to stabilize the engagement state between thedrive transmission member 581 and the input member 654. As shown in part (a)of Figures 35, (b), and (c), the axis of the input member 654 is inclined so as toapproach the axis of the drum toward the free end (that is, the left side) of theOldham coupling. In parts (a), (b) and (c) of Figure, the axis of the inputmember 654 is inclined toward the upper left.

[0362] As described above, in this embodiment, the drive transmissionmember 581 is inclined in the KH direction (X5 direction) (parts (a) and (b) ofFigures 34). The drive transmission members of Embodiments 1 and 2 may alsobe inclined in the same direction as this embodiment. Also in the embodimentswhich will be described hereinafter, the drive transmission member may beinclined in the same direction as this embodiment.<Embodiment 4>

[0363] Next, Embodiment 4 will be described. The description of the samepoints as those in the above-described embodiment may be omitted. Inparticular, among the elements disclosed in the present embodiment, thosecorresponding to the members described in Embodiment 1 will be assigned thesame names as the members of the Embodiment 1, and only the points differentfrom those of the Embodiment 1 will be described.

[0364] In the modification of the Embodiment 1 described above, the slope ofthe free end of the coupling member 64 is brought into contact to the drivetransmission member 81 in the process of moving the coupling member 64toward the drive transmission member 81. By this, the coupling member 64causes the drive transmission member 81 to incline so that the coupling member64 is engaged with the drive transmission member 81.

[0365] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the drive transmission member81 and the coupling member are engaged with each other by controlling the phaseof the coupling member to a specific state depending on the inclination of thedrive transmission member 81. That is, the coupling member is held in thephase that facilitates engagement with the inclined drive transmission member 81.The difference in the structure and the operation caused by the difference in thecoupling engagement method will be described in detail.(Explanation of process cartridge mounting / dismounting)

[0366] Figure 37 is a perspective view of a cartridge B of an embodimentaccording to the present application.

[0367] Part (a) of Figure 37 is an overall view of the cartridge B. Part (b) ofFigure 37 is an exploded view of the cartridge B illustrating the mechanism foroperating a input member (driving input member, moving member) 764.

[0368] In part (a) of Figure 37, a coupling unit U3 including an input member764 is provided on a side surface of a cleaning frame 771. In addition, on thisside surface, a drum bearing 773 which rotatably supports the drum unit U1 and arestricting member 790 which is fixed to the drum bearing 773 and whichregulates the movement of the coupling unit U3 in the longitudinally outwarddirection LO are provided.

[0369] Part (b) of Figure 37 is an exploded perspective view when therestricting member 790 and the drum bearing 773 are removed. The restrictingmember 790 is fixed to the drum bearing 773 with screws 791. The end surface790a of the restricting member 790 can contact the end surface 770a of the outercylindrical cam 770 which will be described hereinafter with Figure 43, andrestricts the outer cylindrical cam 770 from moving in the longitudinally outwarddirection LO.

[0370] Next, referring to Figure 38, the description will be made as to theinternal structure of the coupling unit U3 for receiving a rotational force from thedrive transmission member 81 of the apparatus main assembly A. Part (a) ofFigure 38 and 38(b) are exploded perspective views of the coupling unit U3.The outside of the long side is LO and the inside of the long side is LI.

[0371] The coupling unit U3 includes a coupling shaft 793, a third pressingmember 787, an input member 764, an outer cylindrical cam 770, an innercylindrical cam 774, a first pressing spring 759, a driving side flange 775, atorsion spring 789, and a fixing screw 788.

[0372] The coupling shaft 793 is provided on the driving side flange 775. Inthis embodiment, the coupling shaft 793 is fixed to the driving side flange 775using a fixing screw 788. In this embodiment, the coupling shaft 793 isprovided coaxially with the rotation axis L1 of the drum 62. More specifically,the fixing screw 788 penetrates the hole 775a of the driving side flange 775, isinserted into the hole 793a1 of the coupling shaft 793, and is fixed by a screw.The coupling shaft 793 has a free end portion 793b as a restricting portion in thelongitudinally outside direction LO (longitudinal outside end portion) and a shaft793a in the longitudinally inward direction LI. In the longitudinally inwarddirection LI of the free end portion 793b, there is provided an engaging portion793b1 which includes a plurality of recesses and projections and which functionsas a drive transmitting portion. An end surface 793b2 is provided radially insidethe engaging portion 793b1 (an enlarged view is shown in Figure 43).

[0373] In this embodiment, the input member 764 has, at one end, a driventransmission portion 764a, which is a substantially triangular twisted prism, and asubstantially triangular prism 764e at the other end. The input member 764 isprovided at the center of the rotation axis L1 with an engaging portion 764f as adriving force transmitting portion including a through hole 764c and a plurality ofrecess and projections (part (a) of Figure 39 is an enlarged view). The engagingportion 764f is adjacent to the driven transmission portion 764a in the inwardradial direction and adjacent to the through hole 764c in the outward longitudinaldirection LO. The coupling shaft 793 is inserted into the through hole 764c ofthe input member 764. The third pressing member 787 is mounted around theshaft 793a of the coupling shaft 793, and is disposed between the input member764 and the end surface 793b2 of the free end portion 793b functioning as therestricting portion for the coupling shaft 793. The engaging portion 793b1 as adriving force receiving portion of the coupling shaft 793 and the engaging portion764f as a driving force transmitting portion of the input member 764 arestructured to be engageable with and disengageable from each other. By this,the driving force is transmitted or interrupted between the input member 764 andthe coupling shaft 793.

[0374] The coupling member of this embodiment includes the input member764 and the coupling shaft 793. The input member 764 is a drive input memberprovided on the coupling member to receive a driving force inputted from theoutside. Although it will be described in detail hereinafter, the input member764 is a moving member (movable coupling member) which can move along theaxis of the coupling member. On the other hand, the coupling shaft 793 is anoutput member (driving output member) for outputting a driving force from thecoupling member toward the photosensitive drum. The coupling shaft 793 is aconnecting member which is connected to the driving side flange 775 so as to becapable of transmitting the driving force, and is a fixed member which is fixed tothe driving side flange 775 and the photosensitive drum.

[0375] Here, the engaging portion 793b1 functions as a restricting portion, andthe engaging portion 764f functions as a regulated portion. The coupling shaft793 can regulate the movement of the input member 764 by the contact betweenthe restricting portion (engagement portion 793b1) and the regulated portion(engagement portion 764f). That is, the movement of the input member 764 inthe direction away from the driving side flange 775 (or the drum 62) can berestricted.

[0376] The outer cylindrical cam 770 is provided so as to surround theperiphery of the input member 764. The outer cylindrical cam 770 has the endsurface 770a on the outside with respect to the longitudinally outward directionLO. The outer cylindrical cam 770 is provided on the longitudinally LI innerside with an end surface 770b having a cam 770e and a cylindrical portion 770cprovided with a through hole 770d at the center.

[0377] The inner cylindrical cam 774 has a cylinder 774a, a hole 774j, anouter end surface 774b, a hole 774c, a cam 774d, a hole 774e, a shaft 774f, aninner end surface 774g, a wall 774h, and a hole 774i. The hole 774j is providedat the center of the cylindrical portion 774a. The cam 774d projects from theouter end surface 774b in the longitudinally outward direction LO. A hole 774cis arranged around the cylindrical portion 774a. The hole 774e is provided atleast in the outer end surface 774b. The hole 774e may be penetrated. Theshaft 774f and the wall 774h are arranged so as to project in the longitudinallyinward direction LI from the inner end surface 774g. A hole 774i is provided inthe inner cylindrical cam 774 at the longitudinally inward LI side. The shaft793a of the coupling shaft 793 is in the hole 774i.

[0378] The shaft 764d of the input member 764 is in the hole 774j. Thecylindrical portion 770c of the outer cylindrical cam 770 is in the hole 774c.The cam 774d of the inner cylindrical cam 774 and the end surface 770bincluding the inclined surface 770e of the outer cylindrical cam 770 are structuredto contact with each other.

[0379] The torsion spring 789 has a hole 789a, an arm 789b, and an arm 789c.By inserting the hole 789a of the torsion spring 789 into the shaft 774f, thetorsion spring 789 is held by the shaft 774f. The arm 789c contacts a radiallyinner surface of a wall 774h of the inner cylindrical cam 774. The arm 789bcontacts a substantially triangular prism 786e provided on the input member 764.

[0380] In this embodiment, two cams 774d and holes 774e are provided, andthree shafts 774f and three walls 774h are provided.

[0381] The driving side flange 775 is provided with the hole 775a on theinside with respect to the longitudinally inward direction LI. The driving sideflange 775 has a gear 775b, a hole 775c, and an outer end surface 775d withrespect to the longitudinal direction LO.

[0382] The first pressing spring 759 as a urging member is accommodated inthe hole 775c of the driving side flange 775. The first pressing spring 759contacts the end surface 775d of the driving side flange 775 in the longitudinallyinward direction LI, and contacts the end surface 774g of the inner cylindricalcam 774 in the longitudinally outward direction LO.

[0383] Figure 39 is an enlarged perspective view of the coupling shaft 793, thethird pressing member 787 as a urging member, and the input member 764.This is for explaining the free end portion 793b as a restricting portion of thecoupling shaft 793.

[0384] The engaging portion 793b1 as a driving force receiving portionincluding a plurality of recesses and projections is provided at the free endportion 793b as the regulated portion of the coupling shaft 793. An arbitraryprojection of the free end portion 793b has a surface 793b3 on one side in thecircumferential direction and a surface 793b4 on the opposite side in thecircumferential direction. In this embodiment, the surface 793b3 is the drivetransmission surface (the shaft side driving force receiving portion or the flangeside driving force receiving portion).

[0385] A third pressing member 787 is provided around the shaft 793a. Anend surface 787a of the third pressing member 787 contacts the end surface793b2 of the free end portion 793b in the assembled state.

[0386] Next, the input member 764 will be described.

[0387] An arbitrary projection of the engaging portion 764f has a surface 764jon one side in the circumferential direction and a surface 764k on the oppositeside in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the surface 764j is thedrive transmission surface (driving force transmission portion). When thecoupling shaft 793 and the input member 764 are in the drive transmission state,the surface 793b3 as the drive force receiving portion of the coupling shaft 793and the surface 764j as the drive force transmission portion of the input member764 contact with each other, and the input member 764 transmits the driving forceto the coupling shaft 793. The input member 764 has an end surface 764l. Theend surface 764l is in contact with the end surface 787b (Figure 43) of the thirdpressing member 787 in the assembled state.

[0388] The input member 764 has a through hole 764c centered on the axis L1.

[0389] Figure 40 is a illustration of a contact portion between the outercylindrical cam 770 and the inner cylindrical cam 774. The cylindrical portion770c of the outer cylindrical cam 770 is accommodated and supported in the hole774c of the inner cylindrical cam 774. The end surface 770b of the outercylindrical cam 770 has an inclined surface 770e, an end surface 770g, and anend surface 770h. The cam 774d of the inner cylindrical cam 774 has aninclined surface 774k and an end surface 774l.

[0390] In a state in which the input member 764 is retracted in thelongitudinally inward direction LI (non-driving side) (part (a) of Figure 43), theend surface 770g of the outer cylindrical cam 770 contacts the end surface 774l ofthe inner cylindrical cam 774.

[0391] The end surface 770h of the outer cylindrical cam 770 is in contactwith the end surface 774l of the inner cylindrical cam 774 in the state where theinput member 764 projects in the longitudinally outward direction LO (drivingside) (part (b) of Figure 5).

[0392] In the process of moving the input member 764 from the retracted state(part (a) of Figure 43) to the projected state (part (b) of Figure 43), the inclinedsurface 770e of the outer cylindrical cam 770 and the inclined surface 774k of theinner cylindrical cam 774 contact each other.

[0393] Figure 41 is a illustration of a structure of the drum bearing 773 whichaccommodates the outer cylindrical cam 770.

[0394] The outer cylindrical cam 770 includes the cylindrical portion 770c, anouter cylindrical portion 770i, an engaging portion 770f, and the end surface 770b.The drum bearing 773 includes a sector-shaped hole 773c which accommodatesthe cylindrical portion 770c, a hole 773d which accommodates the outercylindrical portion 770i, an end surface 773e which contacts the end surface 770b,and a slit 773f which accommodates the engaging portion 770f. The outercylindrical cam 770 is rotatably mounted to the drum bearing 773.

[0395] Figure 42 is a illustration of the structures of the inner cylindrical cam774 and the drum bearing 773.

[0396] The inner cylindrical cam 774 includes the cam 774d, the hole 774e,and the outer end surface 774b. The drum bearing 773 includes a rib 773f, ahole 773g, and an end surface 773h. The rib 773f of the drum bearing 773 isaccommodated in the hole 774e of the inner cylindrical cam 774. By this, theinner cylindrical cam 774 is structured to be slidable along the rotation axis L1 ofthe drum 62 while being prevented from rotating relative to the drum bearing 773.The cam 774d of the inner cylindrical cam 774 is accommodated in the hole 773gof the drum bearing 773. The outer end surface 774b of the inner cylindricalcam 774 is structured to be to be contactable to the end surface 773h of the drumbearing 773.

[0397] Figure 43 is a sectional view of the coupling unit U3 and the drumbearing 773 taken along the sectional line in Figure 37.

[0398] Part (b) of Figure 43 shows a state in which the input member 764 isretracted in the inner longitudinal direction LI (a state in which the input member764 is located at the retracted position).

[0399] The coupling shaft 793 is held by the fixing screw 788 on the drivingside flange 775.

[0400] The input member 764 is supported by the coupling shaft 793 so as tobe rotatable about the axis L1 and movable in the direction of the axis L1. Theengaging portion 793b1 of the coupling shaft 793 and the engaging portion 764fof the input member 764 are not engaged with each other. A third pressingmember 787 as a urging member is provided between the coupling shaft 793 andthe input member 764. The third pressing member 787 acts so as to relativelymove the input member 764 in the longitudinally inward direction LI relative tothe coupling shaft 793. The end surface 787a of the third pressing member 787contacts the end surface 793b2 of the coupling shaft 793. The end surface 787bof the third pressing member 787 contacts the end surface 764l of the inputmember 764. The inner cylindrical cam 774 is disposed between the inputmember 764 and the driving side flange 775. The first pressing spring 759 forpressing the inner cylindrical cam is disposed between the inner cylindrical cam774 and the driving side flange 775. The first pressing spring 759 acts so as torelatively move the inner cylindrical cam 774 relative to the driving side flange775 in the longitudinally outward direction LO. The first pressing spring 759 isprovided inside the driving side flange 775. The outer cylindrical cam 770regulates the movement of the inner cylindrical cam 774 in the longitudinallyoutward direction LO. The restricting member 790 regulates the movement ofthe outer cylindrical cam 770 in the longitudinally outward direction LO. Therestricting member 790 is fixed to the drum bearing 773. The drum bearing 773rotatably supports the driving side flange 775 and the outer cylindrical cam 770.

[0401] Part (b) of Figure 43 shows a state in which the input member 764 isretracted in the longitudinally inward direction LI (the state in which the inputmember 764 is located at the retracted position). In this state, the innercylindrical cam 774 receives a force in the longitudinally outward direction LOby the urging force of the first pressing spring 759. By this, the cam 774l of theinner cylindrical cam 774 contacts the end surface 770g of the outer cylindricalcam 770. By this, the outer cylindrical cam 770 receives a force in thelongitudinally outward direction LO by the inner cylindrical cam 774. The endsurface 770a of the outer cylindrical cam 770 is restricted from moving in thelongitudinally outward direction LO by the end surface 790a of the restrictingmember 790. The third pressing member 787 urges the input member 764 in thelongitudinal inward direction LI so that the end surface 764n (in thelongitudinally inward direction LI) and the end surface 774m of the innercylindrical cam 774 abut against each other. At this time, the connectionbetween the engaging portion 793b1 as the driving force receiving portion of thecoupling shaft 793 and the engaging portion 764f as the driving force transmittingportion of the input member 764 is broken (in the disengaged state). Therefore,at this time, the rotational driving force of the input member 764 cannot betransmitted to the coupling shaft 793. In other words, the input member 764 atthis time is located at the (driving force) non-transmission position. Thus, theinput member 764 and the coupling shaft 793 function as a clutch.

[0402] Part (a) of Figure 43 shows a state in which the input member 764 isprojecting in the longitudinally outward direction LO (position at the projectingposition or the advancing position).

[0403] The lever member 712 rotates the outer cylindrical cam 770 to apredetermined phase (parts (a) and (b) of Figure 45). Then, the end surface 774lof the inner cylindrical cam 774 moves from the state of contacting the endsurface 770h of the outer cylindrical cam 770 to the state of contacting the endsurface 770n (also Figure 14). By this, the inner cylindrical cam 774 is movedin the longitudinally outward direction LO by the urging force of the translationcam first-pressing-spring 759. The end surface 774m of the inner cylindricalcam 774 pushes the end surface 764n (in the longitudinally inward direction LI)of the input member 764. The urging force of the first pressing spring 759 asthe urging member is set to be larger than the urging force of the third pressingmember 787 as the urging member, and therefore, the input member 764 movesin the longitudinally outward direction LO. At this time, the engaging portion793b1 as the driving force receiving portion of the coupling shaft 793 is engaged(connected) with the engaging portion 764f as the driving force transmittingportion of the input member 764. As a result, the rotational driving force of theinput member 764 becomes transmittable to the coupling shaft 793. The inputmember 764 and the coupling shaft 793 constitute the coupling member of thisembodiment.

[0404] The free end portion 793b of the coupling shaft 793 restricts themovement of the input member 764 in the longitudinally outward direction LO.

[0405] Referring to Figure 44,, a phase control mechanism of the inputmember 764 will be described. The phase control mechanism is a mechanismwhich sets the input member 764 to a phase with which it is easily engaged withthe drive transmission member 81 of the apparatus main assembly.

[0406] Parts (a) and (b) of Figure 44 are sectional views of the coupling unitU3. By inserting the shaft 774f of the inner cylindrical cam 774 into the hole789a of the torsion spring 789, the torsion spring 789 is supported. One of thetwo torsion springs 789 (arm 789c) is in contact with the wall 774h of the innercylindrical cam 774.

[0407] Part (a) of Figure 44 shows a state in which the input member 764 isstopped at a certain phase after the image formation is completed. The arm789b of the torsion spring 789 is in contact with the substantially triangular prism764e of the input member 764. More specifically, the arm 789b is in contactwith the neighborhood of the apex 764h of the prism 764e. Here, the torsionspring 789 is set so that a urging force acts in a direction in which the arms 789band 789c expand. Therefore, the urging force of the torsion spring 789 receivedby the input member 764 by way of the arm 789b acts in the direction of rotatingthe input member 764 clockwise in part (a) of Figure 44.

[0408] Actually, the input member 764 does not rotate when the input member764 is coupled (engaged) with the drive transmission member 81. However,when the user opens the opening / closing door 13 of the apparatus main assemblyA (part (a) of Figure 12), the input member 764 retracts in the longitudinallyinward direction LI. That is, the input member 764 moves from the advancedposition (drive transmission position, projecting position: part (a) of Figure 43) tothe retracted position (non-drive transmission position: part (b) of Figure 43), sothat the input member 764 disengages from the drive transmission member 81.Further, at this time, the input member 764 also disengages from the couplingshaft 793. That is, the engaging portion 793b1 as the driving force receivingportion of the coupling shaft 793 and the engaging portion 764f as the drivingforce transmitting portion of the input member 764 are disengaged from eachother. Then, the input member 764 becomes freely rotatable relative to thecoupling shaft 793.

[0409] Therefore, the input member 764 is rotated by the urging force of thetorsion spring 789, and the phase changes from that shown in part (a) of Figure44 to the phase shown in part (b) of Figure 44. The phase of the input member764 shown in part (b) of Figure 44 is the phase in which the arm 789b contactsthe arcuate portion 764p of the input member 764. In this state, the rotationmoment of the input member 764 received from the torsion spring 789 isbalanced, so that the rotation of the input member 764 is stopped. That is, theinput member 764 is held in the predetermined phase shown in part (b) of Figure44 by the torsion spring 789. The torsion spring 789 is a phase determiningmember for determining the input member 764 in a predetermined phase.

[0410] The prism 764e of the input member 764 has a substantially triangularshape, which is substantially 120-degree rotationally symmetrical (symmetrical).Therefore, while the input member 764 rotates once (360 degrees), the rotation isstopped by the torsion spring every 120 degrees. That is, assuming that thephase of the input member 764 shown in part (b) of Figure 44 is 0 degree, evenwhen the input member 764 is 120 degrees and 240 degrees positions, therotational moments received by the input member 764 are balanced and the inputmember 764 stops rotating. In other words, the input member 764 is held(rotation is stopped) by the torsion spring 789 in any of three different phases (0degree, 120 degrees, and 240 degrees in this embodiment).

[0411] The phase control means is not limited to the above structure, and mayhave another structure. For example, although three torsion springs 789 areprovided in this embodiment, the number of torsion springs 789 is not necessarilylimited to this number, and even if the number of torsion springs 789 is one ortwo, the phase of the input member 764 may be any one of the above-describedthree phases. The prism of the input member 764 has a rotational symmetry of120 degrees, but strict symmetry is not required. That is, although the inputmember 764 is held in any of the three phases, it is not required that those phasesare exactly 0 degrees, 120 degrees, and 240 degrees.

[0412] Referring to Figures45, 38 and 44, the description will be made further.Figure 45 is a view of the drive transmission unit viewed from the axial directionLO. In this embodiment, the phase at which the three vertices 764h (Figures 38,44) of the substantially triangular prism 764e of the input member 764a arearranged is substantially the same as the phase in which three apexes 764u of thesubstantially triangular driven transmission portion 764a are arranged. In thatcase, the direction in which each apex 764u faces is substantially the same as thedirection in which each apex 764h faces.

[0413] By performing the phase control of the coupling member (inputmember) as described above, the drive transmission member 81 of the apparatusmain assembly A and the coupling member (input member 764) of the cartridgeB are smoothly connected as described, as will be described below.

[0414] Similar to the drive transmission member 581 of the Embodiment 3described above, the drive transmission member 81 is held in this embodiment ina state of being inclined toward the downstream side in the cartridge mountingdirection (Figure 34). Specifically, the drive transmission member 81 isinclined to the direction of arrow AZ shown in part (a) of Figure 45 when theopening / closing door 13 is open (part (a) of Figure 12). The arrow AZ directionis a direction in which the line is inclined by 41 degrees downstream of the drum62 in the rotational direction, from the line drawn from the center of the drum 62to the developing roller 32 which is a reference line of 0 °. The rotationaldirection of the drum 62 is the direction in which the drum 62 rotates duringimage formation (during toner image formation). Specifically, the rotationaldirection is the direction in which the surface of the drum 62 contacts orapproaches the charging roller 66 (Figure 3) and then the developing roller 32sequentially (arrow AX direction).

[0415] Since the drive transmission member 81 is inclined, when the cartridgeB is inserted into the apparatus main assembly A, the center of the driventransmission portion 764a of the input member 764 and the center of the drivetransmission portion 81a of the drive transmission member 81 are misaligned.However, by the phase control described above, any one of the three triangularapexes 764u, which is the driven transmission portion 764a of the input member764, is positioned in the AZ direction in which the driving transmission member81 is inclined (part (a) of Figure 45). In other words, in the driven transmissionportion 764a, a portion (apex 764u) that most radially projects from the center ofthe drum 62 is located in the AZ direction in which the drive transmissionmember 81 is inclined. By holding the input member 764 in such a phase, it iseasy to engage the input member 764 and the drive transmission member 81 evenif they are misaligned.

[0416] That is, when the drive transmission member 81 is rotated from thestate shown in part (a) of Figure 45, the phase of the substantially triangularshape of the drive transmission portion 81a of the drive transmission member 81substantially align the phase of the triangle shape of the driven transmissionportion 764a of the input member 764 (referring to part (b) of Figure 45). Then,the driven transmission portion 764a of the input member 764 enters the drivingtransmission portion 81a of the driving transmission member 81, thusestablishing the engagement.

[0417] Hereinafter, the reason why the phase control makes it easier to engagethe input member 764 with the inclined drive transmission member 81 will bedescribed referring to parts (a) - (f) of Figure 46. Part Figures 46 (a) of Figure46, part (b) of Figure 46, part (d) of Figure 46, part (e) of Figure 46, and part (e)of Figure and part (f) of Figure 46 are cross-sectional views of the drivetransmission unit as viewed in the axial direction LO. Part (c) of Figure 46 is asectional view as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the drivetransmission unit.

[0418] As described above, in this embodiment, the apparatus main assemblyis provided with the drive transmission member 81, the cartridge is provided withthe power input member 764, and these are couplings which connect with eachother. As shown in Figure 46, these couplings (81, 764) have engaging portionsin the form of substantially triangular shaped recess portions 81a (referring toFigure 25, part (a) of Figure 46 and so on) and projections 764a (part (a) ofFigure 38 and part (a) of Figure 46), respectively. The tips (corners, apexes) ofthese triangular shapes (81a, 764a) are portions for transmitting the driving force,and therefore, they are rounded to keep necessary strength. As shown in part (a)of Figure 46, when the triangular shapes are engaged with each other in a coaxialstate and in aligned phase with each other, the triangular clearances are defined asfollows. The gap between the tips of these triangular shapes (81a, 764a)(distance between the free end 81r and free end 764y) is LB, and the gap betweenthese sides (distance between the side 81s and side 764x) is LA. Then, there isthe following relationship. LA > LB (Formula A)

[0419] That is, in these triangular shapes (81a, 764a), the gap LA between thesides of the triangle (81a, 764a) is larger than the gap LB between the tips (thegap LA has a margin larger than the gap LB). In this case, as shown in parts (d),(e) and (f) of Figures 46, it is preferable that the apex 764y of the triangular shape(projection 764a) on the cartridge side is inclined in the direction in which thedrive transmission member 81 is inclined (lower left AZ direction in the Figure).This corresponds to directing the side 764x of the projection 764a to the sideopposite to the AZ direction in which the drive transmission member 81 isinclined. By doing so, the projection 764a of the input member 764 can besmoothly engaged with the recess portion 81a of the drive transmission member81 which is inclined.

[0420] As shown in part (d) of Figure 46, the phases of the recess portion 81aand the projection 764a are not aligned when they are not engaged. When thedrive transmission member 81 rotates clockwise in this state from this state, thephases of the triangular shapes 81a and 764a are aligned as shown in part (d) ofFigure 46. However, the drive transmission member 81 is inclined in the AZdirection, and therefore, the recess 81a is shifted in this inclination direction, andthere is an area in which the gap between the recess 81a and the projection 764ais narrowed. Nonetheless, in this embodiment, in the region where the gap isnarrowed (that is, the side opposite to the direction in which the drivetransmission member 81 is inclined), the side of the recess portion 81a and theside of the projection 764a are located. The gap between the side of the recessportion 81a and the side of the projection 764a is assured to be relatively large(LA) as defined in Equation A and shown in part (a) of Figure 46. Therefore,even if this gap is shortened due to the inclination of the drive transmissionmember 81, the positional relationship required for an operating the engagementbetween the drive transmission member and the input member can be assured.Therefore, when the phases of the recess portion 81a and the projection 764abecome aligned, the projection 764a can enter the recess portion 81a by the forceof the first pressing spring 759 (parts (a) and (b) of Figure 38). Further, thedrive transmission member 81 continues to rotate, and the recess portion 81a andthe projection 764a are engaged with each other as shown in part (d) of Figure 46,and the projection 764a receives the driving force from the recess portion 81a.

[0421] In summary, even if the gap between the drive transmission member 81and the input member 764 becomes small due to the inclination of the drivetransmission member 81, the phase of the member 764 is set so that the gapbetween the drive transmission member 81 and the input member 764 is assuredto be a certain degree or more. In this embodiment, this corresponds to directingthe triangular (projection 764a) side of the input member 764 to the side oppositeto the direction AZ in which the drive transmission member 81 is inclined (that is,the upper right in part (d) of Figure 46). In other words, it corresponds todirecting any one of the three apexes 764y of the triangular shape (projection764a) of the input member 764 in the inclination direction AZ (lower left) of thedrive transmission member 81. The three apexes (three arcs 764y) of theprojection 764a correspond to the driving force receiving portion for receivingthe driving force from the drive transmission member 81.

[0422] The reason why the gap LA between the sides is set larger than the gapLB between the apexes as shown in (Equation A) and part (a) of Figure 46 will bedescribed below.

[0423] The gaps LA and LB between the triangular shapes (the projection 81aand the recess portion 764a) are set in consideration of the dimensional tolerancesof the recess portion 81a and the recess portion 764a. However, the clearanceLA between the sides is set to be larger in consideration of not only thedimensional tolerance, but also the fact that the input member 764 is more easilyengaged with the rotating drive transmission member 81.

[0424] When the drive transmission member 81 rotates and the phasedifference between the triangular shape of the drive transmission member 81 (therecess portion 81a) and the triangular shape of the input member 764 (theprojection 764a) is smaller than a certain angle, the drive transmission member81 and the input member 764 are in the engageable state. As shown in part (b)of Figure 46, when the projection 764a is between the phase indicated by thesolid line and the phase indicated by the broken line, the recess portion 81a andthe projection 764a can engage with each other. The larger the clearance LAbetween the sides of the recess portion 81a and the projection 764a, the larger thephase difference that can permit the engagement, so that the recess portion 81aand the projection portion 764a are more easily engaged.

[0425] Here, when the drive transmission member 81 rotates, at a stage wherethe recess portion 81a and the projection 764a are insufficiently engaged, a forcemay act in a direction of moving the coupling member 764 away from the drivetransmission member 81. That is, as shown in part (c) of Figure 46, the inputmember 764 may contact the chamfer 81p of the recess 81a, with the result thatthe input member 764 receives a force from the drive transmission member 81 ina direction of hindering the engagement. The above-mentioned gap LA is setlarge so that such a force is not produced. If the gap LA is large, the abovedescribedforce does not act when the drive transmission member 81 rotates, andtherefore, the state that the recess portion 81a and the projection 764a can beengaged with each other continues for a long time, so that the engagement ispromoted.

[0426] When the inclination direction AZ of the drive transmission member81 and the direction of the triangular free end (arc portion 764y) of the inputmember 764 are completely aligned, they are most easily engaged with eachother. However, if the direction of the free end (arc portion 764y) of thetriangular shape (projection 764a) relative to the direction in which the drivetransmission member 81 is inclined is within ± 30 °, the effect of promoting theengagement between the couplings is enhanced.

[0427] As described above, the inclination direction of the drive transmissionmember 91 (the arrow AZ direction) is a direction in which a line drawn from thecenter of the drum 62 to the center of the developing roller 32 is inclined 41degrees toward the downstream side in the rotational direction of the drum 62.In consideration of this, it is preferable that the apex of the projection (projectionportion) 764 is in the range of 11 degrees to 71 degrees toward the downstreamside in the rotational direction of the drum 62, from the line passing through thecenter of the drum 62 and the center of the developing roller 32.

[0428] In addition, in the above description, the engaging portions (the recessportion 81a and the projection portion 764a) of the drive transmission member 81and the input member 764 are similar to each other and are substantiallyequilateral triangles. That is, each of the recess portion 81a and the projection764a has a rotational symmetry of 120 degrees.

[0429] However, the basic idea is the same even if the engaging portions maynot have such a shape, and by controlling the phase of the input member 764, thesame effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained. For example,the shape of the projection 764a may be a triangular shape with a portion cut off,may not be a triangular shape, and may not be rotational symmetry of 120degrees.

[0430] However, assuming that the shape of the recess portion 81a is asubstantially equilateral triangle (Figure 25) as described in this embodiment, it isdesirable that the projection 764a contacts the recess portion 81a at three pointsand receives the driving force. More desirably, these three points are be evenlyarranged. That is, even when the shape of the projection 764a is different fromthat of this embodiment, it is desirable that the projection 764a has driving forcereceiving portions at positions corresponding to the three apexes (the circular arcportion 764y) of this embodiment. That is, it is preferable that the distancebetween the adjacent driving force receiving portions is approximately 120degrees with respect to the axis of the projection 764a (driving force receivingportion).<Embodiment 5>

[0431] A Embodiment 5 will be described below. A coupling member 664shown in this embodiment includes an input member (drive receiving member,drive input member, input unit) 610 which receives a driving force from theoutside of the cartridge, and a urging member 620 (urging member) whichregulates the attitude of the input member 610 and an advancing / retractingmember 630 capable of advancing / retracting in the rotation axis direction of thephotosensitive drum.

[0432] Three of such input members 610 and three of such urging members620 are supported by a support member (supporting portion) 640, and arearranged along the circumferential direction (rotational direction) of thephotosensitive drum.

[0433] Also in this embodiment, the structure for moving the couplingmember 664 forward and backward by the operation member (lever member 12)and the operation thereof are the same as those in the Embodiment 1 (Figures 7, 9,10, 11, 12 and Figure 13). The explanations for them are omitted.

[0434] Referring first to Figure 49, the components of the coupling member664 of this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0435] A columnar shape 611 of the input member 610 is engaged with arecess shape 641 of a support member 640a and is rotatably (swingably)supported. The input member 610 can change the inclination angle about anaxis of the columnar shape 611. The columnar shape 612 of the input member610 is engaged with and supported by the one end 621 of the urging member 620.The other end 622 of the urging member 620 is engaged with and supported bythe columnar shape 642 of the support member 640a.

[0436] The support members 640a and 640b are in a coupling relationshipwith each other, and the input member 610 and the urging member 620 areenclosed and supported between the support members 640a and 640b so that thepositions of the input member 610 and the urging member 620 are regulated.

[0437] The urging member 620 is a pulling spring, and the force of the pullingspring regulates the input member 610 in the rotational direction about thecolumnar shape 611 as an axis.

[0438] The advancing / retracting member 630 includes an advancing / retractingmember 630a having an advancing / retracting contact portion 631 capable ofcontacting the input member 610 when advancing / retracting, and anadvancing / retracting member 630b receiving an advancing / retracting drive by thelever member 12. These two are joined by welding or the like and have abonded relationship with each other. As the advancing / retracting member 630moves forward / backward, the entire coupling member 664 also movesforward / backward.

[0439] The input member 610 has a free end portion (drive receiving portion)613 for engaging with the drive transmission member 81 of the apparatus mainassembly A. The input member 610 receives the rotational drive by way of thefree end portion 613, and transmits the rotational drive to the support member640a supporting itself.

[0440] The surface 640c of the support member 640a and the surface 640d ofthe support member 640b are joined by welding or the like and have a couplingrelationship with each other, and the support member 640a and the supportmember 640b rotate integrally as the support member 640.

[0441] The support member 640b has a first rotation receiving portion 643,and can engage with a second rotation receiving portion 632 of theadvancing / retracting member 630b to transmit rotational drive. That is, theadvancing / retracting member 630 and the support member 640 are structured tobe relatively slidable relative to each other in the drum axis direction L1 whilebeing integrally rotatable.

[0442] In addition, the advancing / retracting member 630b has a third rotationreceiving portion 633, and in this embodiment, a fourth rotation receiving portion(not shown) corresponding to the third rotation receiving portion 633 is providedin the driving side flange 75, thereby engaging with this to transmit the drivingforce.

[0443] By this, it has a component structure capable of transmitting rotationaldrive to the rotating body.

[0444] Referring to Figure 50, the movement of the coupling member 664moving forward and backward in conjunction with the lever member 12 will bedescribed referring to Figure

[0445] Figure 50 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drive transmissionmember 81 and a coupling member 664 and shows the steps (a)-(f) of advancingmovement of the coupling member 664 in interrelation with the movement of thelever member 12 similarly to Figure 14

[0446] Part (a) of Figure 50 shows a state of the retracted position in which thecoupling member 664 is most inside of the cartridge in interrelation with themovement of the lever member 12.

[0447] Part (d) of Figure 50 shows a state in which the coupling member 664moves most to the outside of the cartridge in interrelation with the movement ofthe lever member 12 at the advanced position.

[0448] Figures 50 (b) and 50 (c) show a state of moving from the retractedposition to the advanced position and a state of moving from the advancedposition to the retracted position.

[0449] Figures 50 (e) and 50 (f) show a state of movement from the advancedposition to the retracted position. In Figure 50, the order of the state change inone reciprocating movement of the coupling member 664 is as shown parts (a) Q(b) Q (c) Q (d) Q (e) Q (f) Q (a) or (a) Q (b) Q (c) Q (d) Q (c) Q (b) Q (a).

[0450] Hereinafter, the behavior of the coupling member 664 when the abovementionedstate changes will be described.

[0451] First, the outline of the behavior will be described.

[0452] The advancing / retracting member 630 can slide along the drum axis L1by rotating the cylindrical cam 74 when the lever 12 (Figure 12) is operated.The slide of the advancing / retracting member 630 changes the position of thesupport member 640 in the L1 direction on the drum axis and the opening amount(radial movement amount) of the free end 613 of the input member 610.

[0453] Next, details of the behavior will be described.

[0454] [1] First, the state change from (a) to (b) in Figure 50 will be described.The longitudinal restricting portion 74d of the cylindrical cam member 74 movesin the direction H in the drawing, and the advancing / retracting members 630a and630b that have received the spring force of the first pressing member 59 advance,so that the advancing / retracting contact portion 631 is brought into contact to theinput member 610, by which the input member 610 is pressed in H direction inthe drawing. Until the stopper shape 698 provided on the drum bearing member73 and the support member 640a come into contact with each other, the inputmember 610 is urged in the closing direction by the force of the pulling spring ofthe urging member 620, and therefore does not open. Then, the columnar shape611 presses the recess shape 641 of the support member 640a supporting it in theH direction in the drawing, and the entire coupling member 664 advances in theH direction. That is, the support member 640, the input member 610, and theadvancing / retracting member 630 are integrally moved in the direction H in theFigure until just before the stopper shape 698 provided on the drum bearingmember 73 and the support member 640a are brought into contact with eachother in the state that the free end 613 of the input member 610 is not opened.As a result, the drive transmission member 81 enters to the second advancedposition where the free end 613 of the input member 610 can be engaged with thea triangular recess (drive transmission portion) 81a (Figure 25).

[0455] [2] Next, the state change from (b) to (c) in Figure 50 will be described.The cylindrical cam member 74 moves in the direction H in the Figure, and theadvancing / retracting members 630a and 630b which receives the spring force ofthe first pressing member 59 advance. By this, the contact portion 631 at thetime of advancing and retracting contacts the input member 610 and presses it inthe direction H in the Figure. At this time, the stopper shape 698 provided onthe drum bearing member 73 and the support member 640a contact with eachother, and the support member 640a does not further advance in the H directionin the Figure. By this, the input member 610 rotates by the force to rotate in theR direction in the Figure with the columnar shape 611 as an axis becoming largerthan the force of the pulling spring of the urging member 620, and the inclinationangle in the R direction in the Figure changes. In other words, the free end 613of the input member 610 starts to open radially outward at the second advancedposition. The radial direction is the radial direction (rotation radial direction) ofthe coupling member 664. That is, the free end of the input member 610 beginsto move away from the axis of the coupling member 664.

[0456] [3] Next, the state change from (c) to (d) in Figure 50 will be described.From the state of part (c) of Figure 50, the advancing / retracting members 630a,630b further advance, and the input member 610 changes the inclination angle inthe R direction shown in the same manner as in [2], and reaches the advanceposition most moved to the outside of the cartridge. In the state of part (d) ofFigure 50, the free end 613 of the input member 610 opens outward in the radialdirection, so that the free end 613 of the input member 610 is engaged with thetriangular recess (drive transmitting portion) 81a (the drive transmission member81) (Figure 25). By this, the drive transmission is enabled, and the drivetransmission member 81 is rotated by the motor (not shown), so that therotational drive is transmitted to the input member 610.

[0457] [4] Next, description will be made on the state change from (d) Q (e)Q (f) Q (a) in Figure 50. When moving from the advanced position to theretracted position, the inclination angle of the input member 610 changes towardthe L direction in the Figure after the entire coupling member 664 retracts. First,in the state change from part (d) of Figure 50 to part (e) of Figure 50, thecylindrical cam member 74 moves in the G direction in the Figure, the spring ofthe first pressing member 59 is compressed, and the advancing / retractingmembers 630a and 630b retract. At that time, when the spring force of theurging member 620 is applied to the contact point 631 duringadvancing / retracting as a pressing force in the L direction in the drawing, and thefriction force between the input member 610 and the advancing / retractingmember 630 at the contact point 631 during advancing / retracting is large, theentirety of the coupling member 664 follows and retracts in the G direction in theFigure. By this, the engagement between the free end 613 of the input member610 and the triangular recess (drive transmission portion) 81a (Figure 25) of thedrive transmission member 81 is released. Next, the state change from part (e)of Figure 50 to (f) to (a) will be described. Similarly to the above, theadvancing / retracting member 630 retracts and the entire coupling member 664tends to retract, but the support member 640b and the stopper shape 699 providedon the drum bearing member 73 abut to each other, and therefore, the supportmember 640b is not further retracted in the G direction in the drawing. Afterthat, as the advancing / retracting member 630 retracts, the contact state betweenthe input member 610 and the advancing / retracting member 630 changes, and theinput member 610 rotates about the columnar shape 611 as an axis by the force ofthe pulling spring of the urging member 620, so that the inclination angle changesin the direction indicated in the Figure. As a result, the free end 613 of the inputmember 610 closes inward in the radial direction. That is, the free end 613 ofthe drive transmission member 610 approaches the axis of the coupling member664.

[0458] [5] The state change from part (d) of Figure 50 Q parts (c) Q (b) Q(a) will be described. When moving from the advanced position to the retractedposition, the advancing / retracting member 630 retracts first, and the inclinationangle of the input member 610 changes toward the L direction in the drawing,and then the support member 640 retracts. First, in the state change from part(d) of Figure 50 to part (c) of Figure 50, the cylindrical cam member 74 moves inthe direction G in the Figure, and the spring of the first pressing member 59 iscompressed, so that the advancing / retracting members 630a and 630b retract.Then, the input member 610 rotates about the columnar shape 611 as an axis bythe force of the pulling spring of the urging member 620, and the inclinationangle changes toward the L direction in the drawing. By this, the engagementbetween the free end 613 of the input member 610 and the triangular recess (drivetransmission portion) 81a (Figure 25) of the drive transmission member 81 isreleased. Next, in the state change from part (c) of Figure 50 to part (b) ofFigure 50, the tilt angle of the input member 610 changes tw the L direction inthe Figure by retracting the advancing / retracting member 630, as described above.In the state change from part (b) of Figure 50 to part (a) of Figure 50, when theadvancing / retracting member 630 retracts, the advancing / retracting member 630band the support member 640b abut at the abutting portion 697, and thereafter,when the advancing / retracting member 630 retracts, and the support member640b also follows and retracts. As a result, the entire coupling member 664retracts in the G direction in the Figure, and reaches the first retracted position.

[0459] The structure has been described in which the entire coupling member664 is movable back and forth along the axial direction. However, as shown inpart (a) of Figures 51 and 51(b), even in the structure that the coupling member664 does not move back and forth along the axial direction as a whole, therecessed portion (drive transmission portion) 81a of the drive transmissionmember 81 and the input member 610 are engageable with each other.

[0460] Such an example is shown in part (a) of Figures 51 and 51 (b). Asillustrated in these Figures, the amount of change in the inclination angle of theinput member 610 (P in part (a) of Figure 51) may be set to a large value. Then,when the free end of the input member 610 moves outward in the radial direction,the projection amount (X in part (b) of Figure 51) of the input member 610projecting to the outside of the cartridge increases. It is possible to increase theengagement width between the recess portion (drive transmission portion) 81a ofthe drive transmission member 81 and the input member 610 in the axialdirection. Then, even if the entire coupling member 664 does not slide along theaxial direction, the drive transmission member 81 can be engaged only byinclining the input member 610.

[0461] In parts (a) and (b) of Figure 51), the coupling member 664 movesback and forth by moving (inclining) only a portion thereof (that is, only the inputmember 610). That is, the coupling member 664 can take the advanced position(part (b) of Figure 51) for engaging the drive transmission member 81 and theretracted position (part (a) of Figure 51) for breaking the engagement with thedrive transmission member 81 only by the inclining movement (inclining) of theinput member 610.

[0462] However, in addition to the inclining of the input member 610, it ismore effective to employ a structure in which the entire coupling member 664can advance and retract, as in the state change from parts (a) to (b) in Figure 50.That is, it is possible to assure a larger engagement width between the recessportion (drive transmitting portion) 81a of the drive transmission member 81 andthe input member 610. Therefore, it is more desirable that the coupling member664 can be moved back and forth.

[0463] Next, referring to Figure 52, the description will be made as to theconditions for engaging the drive transmission portion (recessed portion) 81a ofthe drive transmission member 81 and the free end portion (drive receivingportion) 613 of the input member 610. As shown in Figure 52, when the freeend portions 613 of the three input members 610 are closest to the rotation axis ofthe coupling member 664 by the urging member 620, a circle 688 passingthrough the most remote point of the three tips 613 is drawn about the rotationaxis is the closest to the rotation axis. The circle 688 is a circumscribed circle ofthe free end portion 613. Next, a circle 686 passing through a point closest tothe rotation axis of the coupling member 664 among a the recess portions (drivetransmitting portions) 81a of the drive transmission member 81 is drawn aboutthe rotation axis of the coupling member 664 The circle 686 is an inscribed circleof the drive transmission portion 81a. The circle 688 and the circle 686 are bothperpendicular to the rotation axis.

[0464] At this time, it will suffice if the circle 688 formed by the free endportion 613 is smaller than the circle 686 formed by the drive transmissionportion 81a. That is, in this case, the input member 610 enters the inside of thedrive transmission portion 81a regardless of the combination of the phases of therecess (drive transmission portion) 81a of the drive transmission member 81 andthe input member 610 of the coupling member 664. After that, the drivetransmission member 81 and the input member 610 can be reliably engaged witheach other by changing the inclination angle of the input member 610.

[0465] However, in Figure 52, the case where the rotation axes of the drivetransmission member 81 and the coupling member 664 are aligned with eachother has been described as an example. In practice, the drive transmissionmember 81 shown in part (a) of Figures 50 and 50(b) is inclined with respect tothe axis of the coupling member 664, as with the drive transmission membershown in the modified example of the Embodiment 1. Even in such a case, theinput member 610 can be engaged with the drive transmission member 81 if thefollowing conditions are satisfied.

[0466] For better understanding, Figure 53 shows a state in which the drivetransmission member 81 is inclined more than the actual inclination. In Figure53, a circle 687 which passes through a point closest to the rotation axis of thecoupling member 664 among the recesses (drive transmission portions) 81a of thedrive transmission member 81 is drawn about the rotation axis of the couplingmember 664 as the center. This circle 687 is perpendicular to the rotation axis.The circle 687 is smaller than the circle 686 (Figure 52) described above becausethe drive transmission member 81 is inclined.

[0467] At this time, it will suffice if the circle 687 formed by the recess (drivetransmission portion) 81 a of the drive transmission member 81 is larger than thecircle 688 formed by the free end portion 613 of the input member 610. That is,in this case, the input member 610 of the coupling member 664 can enter thedrive transmission portion 81a irrespective of the combination of the phases ofthe recess (drive transmission portion) 81a of the drive transmission member 81and the input member 610 of the coupling member 664. That is, the inputmember 610 engages with the drive transmission member 81 by changing theinclination angle of the input member 610 after the coupling member 664advances. The drive transmission member 81 becomes substantially coaxialwith the coupling member 664 by reducing the inclination angle of the inputmember 610 as the inclination angle of the input member 610 changes. Thedrive transmission member 81 is aligned with the coupling member 664.

[0468] In addition, depending on the combination of the phase of the recessportion (drive transmitting portion) 81a of the drive transmission member 81 andthe input member 610 of the coupling member 664, The change of the inclinationangle of the input member 610 may stop halfway, before the engagement of thedrive transmitting portion 81a and the input member 610 is completed. That is,as shown in Figure 54, the input member 610 once stops when the inclinationangle of the input member 610 changes until the minimum inner diameter portion(circle 686) of the drive transmission portion 81a and the input member 610 comeinto contact with each other.

[0469] At this time, even if the lever member 12 is operated to the positionwhere the coupling member 664 is held in the advanced position, the firstpressing member 59 functions as a damper, so that the advancing / retractingmember 630 does not advance any further. The first pressing member 59 holdsthe compression reaction force in the direction in which the advancing / retractingmember 630 advances. Therefore, the drive transmission member 81 is rotatedby the drive of the apparatus main assembly, and when the recess portion (drivetransmission portion) 81a of the drive transmission member 81 and the inputmember 610 of the coupling member 664 are in phase, the advancing / retractingmember 630 is advanced, and the inclination angle of the input member 610 alsochanges. That is, the inclination angle of the input member 610 changes untilthe free end of the input member 610 is located at a position corresponding to themaximum inner diameter circle 685 of the recess portion (drive transmittingportion) 81a of the drive transmission member 81. By this, the drivetransmission member 81 is urged by the input member 610, and the drivetransmission member 81 rotates (swings) so as to reduce its inclination angle.The drive transmission member 81 is aligned with the input member 610, and thedrive transmission member 81 and the input member 610 can be reliably engagedwith each other.

[0470] The input member (driving input member) 610 of this embodiment hasa different moving direction from the input member (coupling member 64) shownin the modification of the Embodiment 1, and also moves in the radial direction.Even with such a structure, the input member 610 moves toward the inner surfaceof the recess of the drive transmission member 81 to urge the drive transmissionmember 81, thereby reducing the inclination angle of the drive transmissionmember 81. By this, the input member 610 can engage with the inclined drivetransmission member 81 similarly to the coupling member 64 shown in themodification of the Embodiment 1.

[0471] In this embodiment, three input members 610 including the same shapeand three urging members 620 using pull springs are arranged along thecircumference, but the structure is not limited to this example. In addition, theshape of the advancing / retracting member 630 is not limited to the shape of thisembodiment. In addition, it is also possible to employ the structure in which theadvancing / retracting mechanism for advancing / retracting the coupling member ison the non-driving side of the cartridge as in the Embodiment 2.<Embodiment 6>

[0472] Next, a Embodiment 6 will be described. The description of the samepoints as those in the above-described embodiment may be omitted. Inparticular, among the elements disclosed in the present embodiment, thosecorresponding to the members described in the Embodiment 1 will be given thesame names as the members of the Embodiment 1, and only the points differentfrom those of the Embodiment 1 may be described.

[0473] In the Embodiment 1 described above, the driven transmission portion64a of the coupling member 64 has a substantially triangular cross-section and aprojection shape (projection) (referring to Figure 17). However, in thisembodiment, the driven transmission portion comprises a plurality of members(Figure 55).

[0474] The difference in the structure and the operation resulting from thisdifference will be described in detail.

[0475] Referring first to Figures 55, 56 and 57, the coupling member 864according to this embodiment will be described.

[0476] Figure 55 is a perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of thecoupling member 864 of the Embodiment 6.

[0477] Figure 56 is a partial perspective view illustrating the structure of theoperation unit of the Embodiment 6.

[0478] Figure 57 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drive unitend of the drum unit according to the Embodiment 6.

[0479] Figure 58 is a side view illustrating the operation of the coupling of theEmbodiment 6.

[0480] Figure 59 is a sectional view of the engaging portion showing theoperation of the coupling according to the Embodiment 6.

[0481] As in Embodiment 1, a drum bearing member 873 is supported by acleaning unit 860. As shown in Figures 55 and 56, the coupling member 864includes a plurality of projections 801, a projection support member (supportmember) 802, a projection pressing member 803, a lid member 858, and the like.Although the details will be described hereinafter, the projection 801 is an inputmember (drive input member) to which a driving force is inputted from theoutside of the coupling member 864 (that is, from the drive transmission memberof the apparatus main assembly).

[0482] As shown in Figures 56 and 57, in this embodiment, a outer cylindricalcam member 870 and a inner cylindrical cam member 874 are structured to besupported by the outer peripheral portion 873b of the drum bearing member 873,as in the Embodiment 1.

[0483] Further, a inner cylindrical surface 802c of the support member 802 isstructured to be supported by a hole portion 873a of the drum bearing member873. As shown in Figures 56 and 57, a plurality of projections 801 are providedon the inner peripheral portion of the support member 802. The supportmember 802 is a holding member (support member) for holding and supportingthe plurality of projections 801.

[0484] A drive receiving portion 801a for receiving a drive transmission forcefrom the drive portion side, a longitudinal position regulating surface 801b, and apressing cylindrical shaft 801c are provided on the plurality of projections 801respectively.

[0485] A projection pressing member 803 is provided on each of the pressurecylinder shafts 801c of the plurality of projections 801. The opposite side of theprojection pressing member 803 to the projection 801 is supported by theplurality of cylindrical shafts 858a provided on the lid member 858.

[0486] The lid member 858 is fixed to the end portion 875c of the driving sideflange member 875 by means of welding or the like.

[0487] The drive receiving portion 801a of the projection portion 801 isengaged with and supported by the engagement hole 802a so as to be movable inthe axial direction.

[0488] The projection 801 pressed in a arrow N direction by a pressing forceof the projection pressing portion 803 has longitudinal position regulating surface801b thereof abutted against the longitudinal regulating surface 802d of thesupport member 802, so that the movement thereof in the arrow N direction isrestricted.

[0489] A outer cylindrical surface 802b of the support member 802 issupported by a inner peripheral surface 875b of a driving side flange 875 so as tobe movable in the arrow N direction.

[0490] The plurality of projections 801 which receive the pressing force of theplurality of projection pressing members 803 result in pressing the supportmember 802 in the arrow N direction. The support member 802 receives apressing force in the direction of the arrow N, and a longitudinal regulationsurface 802e abuts the longitudinal regulation surface 874d of the innercylindrical cam member 874. The inner cylindrical cam member 874, whichreceives the pressing force in the arrow N direction, abuts to the outer cylindricalcam member 870 and presses the outer cylindrical cam member 870 in the arrowN direction.

[0491] The outer cylindrical cam member 870 abuts to the drum bearingmember 873 fixed to the cleaning unit 860 in the direction of a axis N, and thelongitudinal position is restricted.

[0492] Similarly to the coupling member 64 of Embodiment 1, the couplingmember 864 of the present embodiment can move back and forth between theadvanced position and the retracted position. Specifically, the support member802 of the coupling member 864 moves back and forth in the same manner as inthe Embodiment 1, so that the coupling member 864 moves between theadvanced position and the retracted position (Figure 13).

[0493] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 57, the support member 802 isurged toward the driving side (arrow N side) by the projection pressing member803, and the longitudinal regulation surface 802e is pressed against thelongitudinal regulation surface 874d of the inner cylindrical cam member 874.

[0494] When the cartridge B is not mounted in the apparatus main assembly A,the inner cylindrical cam member 874 is arranged to retract the support member802 into the drum against the elastic force of the projection pressing member 803.This is a state in which the support member 802 of the coupling member 864 is inthe first position (retracted position).

[0495] When the opening / closing door 13 is closed after the cartridge B ismounted to the apparatus main assembly A, the cartridge pressing member 1provided on the opening / closing door 13 contacts the lever member 12 (parts (a)and (b) of Figure 12). In interrelation with the movement of the lever member12, the support member 802 of the coupling member 864 moves from the firstposition (retracted position) to the driving side second position (advancedposition).

[0496] That is, the longitudinal position of the support member 802 is alsodetermined depending on the longitudinal position (position in the longitudinaldirection) of the inner cylindrical cam member 874. Since the projectionpressing member 803 operates the support member 802 on the driving side, theprojection pressing member 803 can be regarded as a portion of the abovementionedoperating unit. In this embodiment, the compression coil spring isused as the projection pressing member 803, but it is also possible to urge thesupport member 802 using an elastic member having another shape.

[0497] The drive transmission member 881 of this embodiment is inclined asin the drive transmission member 81 shown in the modification of theEmbodiment 1. When the drive transmission member 881 is inclined, the drivetransmission member 881 and the coupling member 864 are not coaxiallyarranged. Then, the description will be made as to how the coupling member864 and the drive transmission member 881 engage with each other in the casethat the rotation axis L3 of the drive transmission member 881 and the rotationaxis L1 of the coupling member 864 are not coaxial before the engagement.

[0498] Figure 58 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drivetransmission member 881 and the coupling member 864 of the apparatus mainassembly A according to this example.

[0499] Here, part (a) of Figure 58 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating astate in which the process cartridge is inserted into the apparatus main assemblyA.

[0500] Part (b) of Figure 58 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a statein which the opening / closing door 13 (not shown) is closed after the processcartridge is inserted into the apparatus main assembly A.

[0501] Part (c) of Figure 58 shows a state in which the driving force isinputted to the apparatus main assembly A, the drive transmission member 881starts to rotate, and a part of the projection 801 of the coupling member 864 startto engage with a part of the drive input coupling 881.

[0502] Part (d) of Figure 58 is a illustration immediately after a phase of thedrive transmission portion 881a and a phase of the projection 801 of the couplingmember 864 fall within a predetermined range.

[0503] Part (e) of Figure 58 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state inwhich the drive transmission portion 881a of the drive transmission member 881and the projection 801 of the coupling member 864 are completely engaged witheach other.

[0504] In parts (c), (d) and (e) of Figure 58, as the plurality of projections 801of the coupling member 864 sequentially engage with the drive transmissionmember 881, the engagement operation is completed, while the inclination angleof the drive transmission member 881 is reducing.

[0505] Parts (a) to (e) of Figure are cross-sectional views of the drivetransmission member 881 and the coupling member 864 corresponding to thetimings of parts (a) to (e) of Figure 58 in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

[0506] Similar to the Embodiment 1, the drive transmission member 881 issupported by the drive transmission member support member 85. At this time, agap is formed between the supported portion 881b of the drive transmissionmember 881 and the support portion 85a of the drive transmission membersupport member 85 due to the relationship of LD1 > LD2. The drivetransmission member 881 can move within the range of this gap. By properlyselecting the size of this gap, when the drive transmission member 881 and thecoupling member 864 are engaged, the center position of the free end side of thedrive transmission member 881 (the center of the free end side of the drivetransmission member 881 Position) can be aligned with the center position of thecoupling member 864. As a result, the rotation axis L3 of the drive transmissionmember 881 can be accurately aligned with the rotation axis L1 of the couplingmember 864.

[0507] From the relationship of LD1 > LD2, the drive transmission member881 is inclined by its own weight in a V direction as shown in part (a) of Figure58.

[0508] When the rotatable door 13 of the apparatus main assembly A iscompletely closed, the support member 802 of the coupling member 864 movesfrom the first position to the second position by way of the lever member 12, theouter cylindrical cam member 870, and the inner cylindrical cam member 874.At this time, the plurality of projections 801 having longitudinal positions areregulated by the support member 802 also project in the direction of arrow N withthe movement of the support member 802.

[0509] In the present modified example,, a portion of the plurality ofprojection members 801 abut against to the drive transmission member 881inclined in the direction V in the Figure at the drive transmission portion 881a bythe pressing force of the projection pressing member 803, and a part thereof abutsto the end surface 881c (part (b) of Figure 57, part (b) of Figure 58).

[0510] Here, for convenience of explanation, the plurality of (six) projections801 are 801A to 801F, respectively (part (b) of Figure 59). Each of theseprojections 801 can independently move back and forth.

[0511] When the drive transmission member 881 is located at the positionshown in part (b) of Figures 58 and part (b) of Figure 59, the projections 801B,801C, and 801E of the projection 801 abut the drive transmission portion 881a,and 801A, 801D, and 801F abut the end surface 881C.

[0512] Thereafter, as shown in part (c) of Figures 58 and 59 (c), when thedrive transmission member 881 rotates in the direction of arrow R, a part of theprojection 801D and the projection 801F abuts to the drive transmission portion881a by the pressing force of the projection pressing member 803. When thedrive transmission member 881 further rotates from this state, a part of thesurface (the surface 881d) of the drive transmission portion 881a engages withthe projection 801F(f) in the rotational direction. At this time, the surface 881dof the drive transmission member 881 receives a reaction force in the arrow HAdirection, and the drive transmission member 881 tends to move in the arrow HAdirection. At the same time, the other surfaces 881g and 881i of the drivetransmission member 881 abut to a part of the projections 801C and 801D, andthe movement to the outside of the alignment direction is restricted. Therefore,the drive transmission member 881 continues to rotate while moving in the arrowHB direction which is the alignment direction.

[0513] Further, the drive transmission member 881 rotates in the direction ofthe arrow R while moving in the direction of the arrow HB, so that all theprojections 801 abut to the drive transmitting portion, as shown in part (d) ofFigures 58 and part (d) of Figure 59.

[0514] Further, as the drive transmission member 881 rotates, the surfaces881d, 881e, 881f, which are the drive transmission portions, abut to theprojections 801A, 801D, 801F, respectively.

[0515] At this time, since the projections 801A, 801D, and 801F are arrangedat appropriate positions, the drive transmission member 881 engages while beingaligned in the arrow HB direction.

[0516] That is, the projections 801 are placed such that when the rotation axisL3 of the drive transmission member 881 and the rotation axis L1 of the couplingmember 864 are coaxially arranged, the projections 801 abut simultaneously tothe surfaces 881d, 881e, 881f of the drive transmission member 881. By this, acentering effect can be obtained.

[0517] Thus, the alignment of the projection 881 is completed by theprojection 801, and the drive transmission is enabled.

[0518] Since each of the plurality of projections 801 is urged by thecorresponding spring (projection pressing member 803), each projection 801 canmove independently of each other. In accordance with the rotation of the drivetransmission member 881, each projection 801 moves back and forth, andsequentially engages with the drive transmission member 881. That is, thenumber of projections 801 that engage with the drive transmission member 881gradually increases. By this, the inclination angle of the drive transmissionmember 881 gradually decreases, and finally the engagement (coupling,coupling) between the drive transmission member 881 and the coupling member864 is completed. In this state, the inclination angle of the drive transmissionmember 881 with respect to the photosensitive drum can be set to a value close to0 degree. That is, the drive transmission member 881 can be aligned with thephotosensitive drum.

[0519] In addition, when the cartridge B is taken out from the main assemblyA of the apparatus, the support member 802 is moved in the arrow S directionshown in part (a) of Figure 58. Then, the projection 801 is retracted to thepositions shown in parts (a) of Figures 58 and 59, and the engagement with thedrive transmission member 881 is broken.

[0520] In the above description, the inclination direction (V direction) of thedrive transmission member 881 is the gravity direction, but this inclinationdirection may be any direction. For example, the drive transmission member881 may be inclined in the direction shown in Embodiment 3 or the like.

[0521] In addition, in this embodiment, the case where the plurality ofprojections (input members) 801 is six is taken, but if there are at least threeprojections 801, it is possible to engage with the drive transmission member 881while obtaining the centering action.

[0522] Furthermore, as described above, in order for the projection 801 toexhibit the function of centering the drive transmission member 881, thefollowing relationship may be preferably satisfied. That is, it is preferable thatwhen the drive transmission member 881 and the coupling member 864 arecoaxially arranged, at least three of the plurality of projections 801 are providedat positions where they can be engaged with the drive transmission member 881at the same time. If the plurality of projections 801 includes other than theprojections that engage with the rotation loci of the surfaces 881d, 881e, and 881fof the drive transmission member 881, the drive transmission member 881engages first the projections other than the engaging projections, it may bedifficult to obtain the effect of centering. In this embodiment, the plurality of(six) projections 801 of the coupling member 864 are arranged so as to form asubstantially triangular shape (part (e) of Figure 59). In this case, since therecess 81a (part (a) of Figure 59) of the drive transmission member 881 issubstantially triangular, six projections 801 are arranged correspondingly. Byarranging the plurality of projections 801 so as to correspond to the shape of therecess of the drive transmission member 881, the number of projections 801 thatengage with the recess 81a increases in accordance with the rotation of the drivetransmission member 881. (parts (a) - (e) of Figure 59). By this, theinclination amount of the drive transmission member 881 is reduced as shown inparts (a) - (e) of Figure 58, and the connection between the drive transmissionmember 881 and the coupling member 864 can be accomplished.<Embodiment 7>

[0523] Next, Embodiment 7 will be described. The description of the samepoints as those in the above-described embodiment may be omitted. Particularly,among the elements disclosed in the present embodiment, those corresponding tothe members described in the first and second embodiments will be given thesame names as the members in Embodiments 1 and 2, and only the pointsdifferent from the one described above may be described.

[0524] In this embodiment, as in the modification of the Embodiment 1, a casewill be described in which the drive transmission portion 81 is structured to bepivotable (inclinable). In the Embodiment 1, the chamfered portion 64e isprovided so as to be inclined relative to the advancing / retracting direction of thecoupling member 64, so that the angular difference between the drivetransmission member 81 and the coupling member 64 is reduced, and the drivetransmission member 81 and the cup member can be coupled with each other.Engagement with the ring member 64 is now possible. In this embodiment, aswill be described in detail hereinafter, the drive input unit 300 including thealigning member 301 and the drive transmission member 81 can be engaged witheach other. The drive input unit 300 corresponds to the coupling member in thisembodiment.

[0525] As a matter of course, according to this embodiment, even if they canbe engaged with each other even when their respective rotation axes are coaxialbefore the drive transmission member 81 and the drive input unit 300 are engagedwith each other.

[0526] In this embodiment, the operation member (lever member 12) as inEmbodiment 1 is arranged on the driving side of the cartridge B, and theoperation member (lever member 212) as in Embodiment 2 is arranged on thenon-driving side of the cartridge B. As will be described hereinafter, the levermember 12 advances and retracts a pin receiving member 303, and the levermember 212 advances and retracts the aligning member 301. The pin receivingmember 303 and the aligning member 301 can move back and forthindependently from each other.

[0527] Referring to Figures 60, 61, 62 and 63, a drive input unit 300 includingthe aligning member 301, the pins (projections, drive input members, inputportions) 302, and the pin receiving members (support portions, output portions)303 in this embodiment will be described.

[0528] Figure 60 is a perspective view of the aligning member 301 accordingto this embodiment.

[0529] Figure 61 is a perspective view of the pin receiving member 303according to this embodiment.

[0530] Figure 62 is a perspective view of the drive input unit 300 according tothis embodiment.

[0531] Figure 63 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the drive input unit300 according to this embodiment.

[0532] As shown in Figure 60, the aligning member 301 is provided with aninclined surface 301a, a cylindrical portion 301b, a cut-away portion 301c, alongitudinal regulation surface 301d, a connecting member receiving portion301e, and an end surface 301f. At this time, three cut-away portions 301c areprovided at equal intervals along the cylindrical portion 301b.

[0533] In addition, as shown in Figure 61, the pin receiving member 303 isprovided with a pin receiving portion 303a, a drive transmitting portion 303b, acylindrical receiving portion 303c, a hole portion 303d, a groove portion 303e, aspring seat surface 303f, and a longitudinal restriction surface 303h. At thistime, three pin receiving portions 303a are provided at equal intervals along thecylindrical receiving portion 303c.

[0534] As shown in Figures 62 and 63, the drive input unit 300 in thisembodiment includes the aligning member 301, a pin 302, and a pin receivingmember 303. The cylindrical portion 301b of the aligning member 301 isinserted into and engaged with the cylindrical receiving portion 303c of the pinreceiving member 303. In addition, the pin 302 is engaged with the pinreceiving portion 303a of the pin receiving member 303. At this time, the pin302 is inserted to a position in contact with the longitudinal regulation surface303h, and can be securedly fixed by applying an adhesive or the like to thegroove portion 303e from the side of the spring seat surface 303f. In addition,as a means for securedly fixing, a means such as press fitting or a screw may beused. Here, the pin 302 is provided with a flange portion 302a, and the pin 302is engaged with the cut-away portion 301c of the aligning member 301 at theflange portion 302a. When the aligning member 301 is urged in the direction Vby the drive input unit connecting member 304, which will be describedhereinafter, the longitudinal regulating surface 301d of the aligning member 301and the flange portion 302a of the pin 302 come into contact with each other, andthe aligning member 301 is restricted in the longitudinal direction. In addition,as shown in Figure 62, one pin is provided in each of the three cut-away portionsof the aligning member 301.

[0535] In addition, the drive transmission portion 303b is provided on the pinreceiving member 303 as described above. Similarly to the case where the drivetransmission portion 64b of the coupling member 64 of the Embodiment 1 issupported by the driving side flange member 75 and transmits drive to the drivingside flange member 75, the drive transmission portion 303b transmits the drive tothe driving side flange member 75. The structure in which the drivetransmission portion 303b is supported by the driving side flange member 75 andthe structure in which the driving side flange member 75 is supported by thephotosensitive member drum 62 are the same as those in the Embodiment 1.Next, referring to Figures 21, 23, 64, and 65, the driving side flange unit 269 andthe drum unit according to this embodiment, and the operation unit which enablesthe longitudinal movement of the aligning member 301 will be described.

[0536] Figure 64 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drum unit and apartially enlarged view thereof according to the Embodiment 7. Figure 65 is aview illustrating a method of assembling the drum unit according to theEmbodiment 7.

[0537] As shown in Figures 64 and 65, the driving side flange unit 269according to the present embodiment comprises the drive input unit 300 includingthe alignment member 301, the pin 302 and the pin receiving member 303, thedriving side flange member 275, and the lid member 258, and a first pressingmember 259 and the like. The drive input unit 300 is provided in place of thecoupling member 64 of the Embodiment 1 and the coupling member 264 of theEmbodiment 2. Further, the drum unit comprises the driving side flange unit269, the driving input unit connecting member 304, a cushion member 255, anon-driving side flange member 254, and the inner cylindrical cam member 274.The driving side flange member 275 has the same structure as that of theEmbodiment 1, and the inner cylindrical cam member 274, the non-driving sideflange member 254, and the lid member 258 have the same structure as those ofthe Embodiment 2.

[0538] The drive input unit connecting member 304 comprises an aligningmember supporting portion 304a, the cushion member supporting portion 304b, aconnecting portion 304c connecting the drive input unit 300 and the innercylindrical cam member 274, and a supported portion supported by the innercylindrical cam member 274.

[0539] The first pressing member 259 including a compression spring or thelike is provided between the spring seat surface 303f of the pin receiving member303 and the lid member 258.

[0540] As in the Embodiment 1, the driving side flange unit 269 is fixed to thedriving side end portion of the photosensitive drum 62 by means such as pressfitting or clamping. Further, as shown in Figure 65, the drive input unitconnecting member 304 in which the cushion member 255 is supported by thecushion member supporting portion 304b is inserted into the drum from the non-driving side end portion 62b. At this time, the cushion member 255 supportedby the drive input unit connecting member 304 contacts the spring seat surface303f of the pin receiving member 303, and the aligning member support portion304a engages with the connecting member receiving portion 301e of the aligningmember 301. Here, the aligning member support portion 304a of the drive inputunit connecting member 304 and the connecting member receiving portion 301eof the aligning member 301 are securedly fixed by press fitting, screwing,adhesive or the like. Then, the non-driving side flange member 254 is fixed tothe non-driving side drum end portion 62b by means such as clamping as in theEmbodiment 1 in a state where the inner cylindrical cam member 274 is fitted tothe inner peripheral portion 254b. At this time, the drive input unit connectingmember 304 is rotatably supported by the supported member 304d on theconnecting member supporting portion 274b of the inner cylindrical cam member274. The drum unit of the Embodiment 7 is structured as described above.

[0541] In addition, as in the Embodiment 2, the operation unit on the cartridgenon-driving side comprises a outer cylindrical cam member 270, a innercylindrical cam member 274, the lever member (operating member) 212, asecond pressing member 214, and so on (Figure 21, Figure 23). The operationunit on the non-driving side of the cartridge will be referred to as a non-drivingside operation unit. The structure and operation of this non-driving sideoperation unit are the same as those of the operation unit of the Embodiment 2.The difference from the Embodiment 2 is that the cushion member 255 supportedby the connecting member 261 is in contact with the pin receiving member 303instead of the coupling member 264, as described above. The aligning membersupport portion 304a of the drive input unit connecting member 304 is securedlyfixed to the aligning member 301.

[0542] In the Embodiment 2, the outer cylindrical cam member 270, the innercylindrical cam member 274, and the connecting member 261 are structured todetermine the longitudinal position of the coupling member 264. Similarly, inthis embodiment, the longitudinal position of the aligning member 301 isdetermined by the outer cylindrical cam member 270, the inner cylindrical cammember 274, and the drive input unit connecting member 304. At this time, asshown in Figure 64, the aligning member 301 is structured to be located on themost non-driving side in a state before the cartridge pressing member abuts on thelever member 212 of the non-driving side operation unit. The position wherethe aligning member 301 is retracted to the non-driving side is referred to as thealigning member retracted position (the retracted position of the aligning member,the non-acting position). In addition, as will be described hereinafter in detail,when the opening / closing door 13 is completely closed, the cartridge pressingmember 1 contacts the lever member 212 of the non-driving side operation unit.Then, the inner cylindrical cam member 74, the drive input unit 300, and thealigning member 301 are structured to be located on the most driving side by theurging force of the cushion member 255. In this embodiment, the positionwhere the aligning member 301 advances to the driving side is called the aligningmember advancement position (advanced position of the aligning member, theaction position) in this embodiment.

[0543] Referring to Figures64, 66, and 67, an operation unit that enables thepin receiving member 303 to move forward and backward in the longitudinaldirection will be described.

[0544] Figure 66 is a partial perspective view illustrating the structures of theoperation unit and the drive input unit 300 provided in the cleaning unit 60according to this embodiment.

[0545] Figure 67 is a partial perspective view illustrating the operation unitaccording to the present embodiment.

[0546] As shown in Figures 64, 66, and 67, the operating unit similar to that ofthe Embodiment 1 is connected to the pin receiving member 303 and controls themovement (advancing / retracting movement) of the pin receiving member 303(control unit). Here, this operating unit is provided on the driving side of thecartridge as in the Embodiment 1. The driving side operation unit of thiscartridge will be referred to as a driving side operation unit. In addition, as inthe Embodiment 1, the driving side operation unit includes a outer cylindricalcam member 70, the inner cylindrical cam member 74, the lever member 12, thesecond pressing member (elastic member, urging member) 14, and the like.

[0547] The inner cylindrical cam member 74 abuts the cylindrical cam portion70b and the drive input unit 300, so that in the Embodiment 1, the longitudinalposition of the coupling member 64 is restricted by the coupling memberlongitudinal position regulation surface 74d. In this embodiment, instead, theinner cylindrical cam member 74 restricts the longitudinal position of the driveinput unit 300 by the coupling member longitudinal position regulation surface74d.

[0548] The driving side operation unit is connected to the drive input unit 300at the inner cylindrical cam 74, and the pin receiving member 303 can be movedback and forth (moved) by operating the lever member 12. As the pin receivingmember 303 moves, the pin 302 securedly fixed to the pin receiving member 303also moves. The manner of this operation is the same as that of the operatingunit for the coupling member 64 in the Embodiment 1.

[0549] In addition, as shown in Figure 64, when the cartridge is not mountedto the apparatus main assembly A, the inner cylindrical cam member 74 isarranged so as to retract the pin receiving member 303 into the drum against theelastic force of the first pressing member 259. That is, the pin receivingmember 303 is structured to be located on the most non-driving side in a state inwhich the main assembly door 13 is released or in a state before the cartridgepressing member 1 abuts on the lever member 12. The position where the pinreceiving member 303 is retracted to the non-driving side is referred to as a pinreceiving member retracted position. As shown in Figure 64, when the pinreceiving member 303 is at the pin receiving member retracted position, the pin302 and the drive transmitting portion 81a of the drive transmission member 81of the main assembly A of the apparatus are structured not to overlap in thelongitudinal direction. That is, when the aligning member 301 is also in thealigning member retracted position, the process cartridge B can be smoothlymounted and dismounted without interference between the pin 302 and the drivetransmission member 81 of the apparatus main assembly. In addition, as will bedescribed in detail hereinafter, when the opening / closing door 13 is completelyclosed, the cartridge pressing member 1 contacts the lever member 12 of thedriving side operation unit. Then, the structure is such that the inner cylindricalcam member 74, the pin receiving member 303, and the pin 302 are located onthe most driving side by the urging force of the first pressing member 259. Inthis embodiment, the position where the pin receiving member 303 advances tothe driving side is referred to as the pin receiving member advance position.The pin receiving member 303 moves between the retracted position and theadvanced position along the axis of the photosensitive member drum 62.

[0550] Referring to Figure 68, the positional relationship between the levermember 12 of the driving side operation unit and the lever member 212 of thenon-driving side operation unit will be described.

[0551] Figure 68 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus as seenfrom the non-driving side of the cartridge in which the cartridge pressing member1 approaches the lever member 12 and the lever member 212 in the process ofclosing the opening / closing door 13 of the apparatus main assembly A in thedirection H in the Figure. In the Figure, the lever member 12 on the driving sideis indicated by a broken line.

[0552] The two cartridge pressing members 1 are arranged at such positionsthat they can contact the lever member 12 and the lever member 212, respectively.That is, one cartridge pressing member 1 is structured to press the driving side ofthe cartridge, and the other cartridge pressing member 1 is structured to press thedriven side of the cartridge.

[0553] The two cartridge pressing members 1 arranged on the driving side andthe non-driving side in this way are arranged so as to overlap each other whenviewed along the axis of the photosensitive drum. As shown in Figure 68, thearrangement is such that the pressed portion 212a of the lever member 212contacts the cartridge pressing member 1 prior to the pressed portion 12a of thelever member 12 contacts, in the process of closing the opening / closing door 13in the direction H in the Figure. Therefore, in the process of closing theopening / closing door 13, the non-driving side operating unit operates before thedriving side operating unit operates. Therefore, as will be described hereinafter,the advancing / retracting of the aligning member 301 by the non-driving sideoperating unit occurs before the advancing / retracting of the pin receiving member303 by the driving side operating unit.

[0554] Reference to Figures 69, 70, and 71, the description will be made as tohow the drive input unit 300 and the drive transmission member 81 are engagedwith each other when the drive transmission member 81 and the rotation shaftsL3 and L1 of the drive input unit 300 are not coaxial before engaging with eachother.

[0555] Here, part (a) of Figure 69 is a longitudinal sectional view of theapparatus main assembly A and the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted intothe apparatus main assembly A and the opening / closing door 13 is completelyopened. Part (b) of Figure 69 is a longitudinal sectional view when the levermember 212 of the non-driving side operation unit starts to be pushed by thecartridge pressing member 1 in the process of closing the opening / closing door 13after inserting the cartridge into the apparatus main assembly A. Part (c) ofFigure 69 is a longitudinal sectional view when the opening / closing door 13 isfurther closed, the lever member 212 is pushed by the cartridge pressing member1, and the aligning member 301 reaches the aligning member advancing position.Part (d) of Figure 69 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a state where thedrive transmission portion 81a of the drive transmission member 81 and the pin302 of the drive input unit 300 are completely engaged. Part (d) of Figure 69shows the state that the opening / closing door 13 is completely closed, the levermember 12 of the driving side operation unit is pushed by the cartridge pressingmember 1,, the driving force is further inputted to the apparatus main assembly A,and the drive transmission member 81 has been rotated. By this, the drivetransmission portion 81a and the pin 302 are engaged with each other.

[0556] In parts (a), (b), (c) and (d) Figure 69, the inclination angle of the drivetransmission member 81 is reduced as the aligning member 301 of the drive inputunit 300 moves toward the aligning member advancing position. However, theprocess of engaging the drive transmission member 81 is shown.

[0557] Figure 70 is a partially enlarged view of a portion where the inclinedsurface 301a of the aligning member 301 contacts the end surface 81c of the drivetransmission member 81 immediately before the aligning member 301 and thedrive transmission member 81 contact with each other.

[0558] Figure 71 is a cross-sectional view of the drive transmission member81 and the drive input unit 300 in the engaged state, taken along a cross-section Zin part (d) of Figure 69 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of thecartridge.

[0559] The drive transmission member 81 before being engaged with the pin302 is inclined by its own weight in the V direction in the Figure, as shown inpart (a) of Figure 69, as in the case of the first embodiment. At this time, thealigning member 301 and the pin 302 are in the retracted position, and neither isin contact with the drive transmission member 81. Next, in the process ofclosing the opening / closing door 13, the cartridge pressing member 1 and thepressed portion 212a of the lever member 212 come into contact with each other.Then, the outer cylindrical cam member 270 rides on the inner cylindrical cammember 274, so that the inner cylindrical cam member 274, the drive input unitconnecting member 304, and the aligning member 301 start moving to the drivingside of the cartridge.

[0560] At this time, as shown in Figure 70, the slope 301a of the aligningmember 301 contacts the ridge 81d of the drive transmission portion 81a of thedrive transmission member 81. Then, the aligning member 301 moves to thedriving side while displacing the drive transmission member 81. Here, byproviding a sufficiently large pressing force of the cushion member 255, thealigning member 301 can be moved to the driving side against the torque actingin the direction in which the drive transmission member 81 is inclined by its ownweight. Then, as shown in part (b) of Figure 69, the aligning member 301rotates the drive transmission member 81in the W direction, that is, moves towardthe driving side while reducing the inclination angle of the drive transmissionmember 81. Then, after the slope 301a passes the ridge line 81d of the drivetransmission member 81, the cylindrical portion 301b of the aligning member 301and the ridge line of the drive transmission portion 81a next abut to each other.Here, the rotation axis L3 of the drive transmission member 81 and the rotationaxis L1 of the drive input unit 300 are aligned with each other by the engagementof the cylindrical portion 301b and the drive transmission portion 81a.Thereafter, as shown in part (c) of Figure 69, the aligning member 301 moves tothe driving side until the end surface 301f of the aligning member 301 contactsthe drive transmission member 81, that is, moves to the aligning member advanceposition.

[0561] Next, when the opening / closing door 13 is further closed, the cartridgepressing member 1 and the pressed portion 12a of the lever member 12 of thedriving side operation unit come into contact with each other. At that time, asshown in part (d) of Figure 69, the outer cylindrical cam 70 and the innercylindrical cam 74 operate as in the Embodiment 1, and the urging force of thefirst pressing member 259 causes the pin 302 and the pin receiving member 303to move integrally from the retracted position to the driving side.

[0562] At this time, as shown in Figure 71, if the phase of the drivetransmission portion 81a matches the phase of the pin 302 of the drive input unit300, the pin 302 engages with the drive transmission portion 81a at this point oftime. However, in the case of the other phases, the pin 302 and the pinreceiving member 303 move to the driving side at most until the pin 302 contactsthe end surface 81c of the drive transmission member 81. However, even in thatcase, when drive is inputted to the apparatus main assembly, the drivetransmission member 81 rotates, and the phase difference of the pin 302 of thedrive input unit 300 with respect to the phase of the drive transmission unit 81adecreases. When the phases becomes matching each other, the pin 302 isengaged with the drive transmission portion 81a by the urging force of the firstpressing member 59.

[0563] By this, the pin 302 is enabled to receive the driving force from thedrive transmission portion 81a. The pin 302 is an input member (driving inputmember) to which driving force is inputted. At the time of driving, the pin 302and the pin receiving member 303 rotate by the driving force from the drivetransmitting portion 81, and at this time, the aligning member 301 is rotated byreceiving the driving force from the flange portion 302a of the pin 302 to the cutawayportion 301c. At this time, the drive input unit connecting member 304also rotates integrally with the aligning member 301 while sliding on theconnecting member supporting portion 274b of the inner cylindrical cam member274.

[0564] As described above, the inclined surface 301a of the aligning member301 and the cylindrical portion 301b are engaged with the drive transmissionportion 81a. By this, even when the rotation axes of the drive transmissionmember 81 and the drive input unit (coupling member) 300 are deviated fromeach other, the rotation axes of the drive transmission member 81 and the driveinput unit (coupling member) 300 can be accurately aligned.

[0565] In this embodiment, the three pins (input member, input portion) 302and the pin receiving member (output member, output portion, support portion)303 correspond to the coupling member. The driving force inputted to the pin302 is transmitted to the pin receiving member 303 and is outputted from the pinreceiving member 303 toward the photosensitive drum 62. In addition, thecoupling member of this embodiment is also movably supported by the flangemember 75, and is disposed at the end of the photosensitive drum.

[0566] In a broad sense, not only the three pins 202 and the pin receivingmember 303 but also the aligning member 301 may be referred to as a couplingmember. That is, the drive input unit 300 excluding the aligning member 301has been called a coupling member, but the drive input unit 300 as a whole maybe called a coupling member in a broad sense.

[0567] In the modification of the Embodiment 1, the coupling member 64itself engages with the drive transmission member 81 by reducing the inclinationof the drive transmission member 81.

[0568] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the movable member(alignment member) 301 arranged in the neighborhood of the input member (pin302) of the coupling member moves from the retracted position (non-actingposition) toward the drive transmission member 81, that is, moves to the advanceposition (action position). This corresponds to the process shown in part (a), (b)and (c) of Figures 69. As the aligning member 301 moves in this manner, thealigning member 301 urges the drive transmission member 81, thereby reducingthe inclination angle of the drive transmission member 81. By this, the driveinput member (302) and the drive transmission member 81 are brought into theengageable state. This is the state shown in part (c) of Figure 69.

[0569] That is, after the aligning member 301 moves from the retractedposition to the advanced position to reduce the inclination angle of the drivetransmission member 81, the coupling member (pin 302 and pin receivingmember 303) moves from the retracted position to the advanced position (part (d)of Figure 69). By this, the coupling member engages with the drivetransmission member 81. The aligning member 301 and the coupling member(pin 302 and pin receiving member 303) are structured to be movable back andforth at different timings.

[0570] In the case that the rotation axis of the drive transmission member 81ais aligned with the rotation axis of the drum by the chamfered portion 64e of thecoupling member 64 as in the modified example of the Embodiment 1 and theEmbodiment 2, the width of engagement between the member 81 and thecoupling member is reduced by the amount of the chamfered portion 64e.However, according to the method of this embodiment, the component thatdirectly receives the driving force of the drive transmission member 81 is the pin302, and the aligning member 301 aligns the rotation axis of the drivetransmission member 81 with the rotation axis of the drum, and therefore, it is notnecessary to provide chamfers or the like on the pins 302 themselves. Therefore,a sufficient engagement width can be provided, and more reliable drivetransmission can be performed.<Modification of Embodiment 7>

[0571] Hereinafter, a modified example in which the structure of thisembodiment is partially modified will be described. In the foregoing description(Figure 69), the inclined surface 301a of the aligning member 301 and thecylindrical portion 301b are engaged with the ridge 81d of the drive transmissionportion 81. This makes it possible to rotate (swing) the drive transmissionmember 81 and align the rotation axis L3 of the drive transmission member 81with the rotation axis L1 of the drive input unit 300. However, in order to rotatethe drive transmission member 81 to align the rotation axis with the drive inputunit 300, the ridge line 81d of the recess 81a of the drive transmission portion 81does not have to be used, and the drive transmission portion outer periphery 81e(Figure 25) may be used. Hereinafter, a modification will be described in whichinstead of the aligning member 301 of the Embodiment 7, an outer peripheralreceiving alignment member 305 is provided, and the outer peripheral receivingcentering member 305 and the drive transmission unit outer periphery 81e areengaged with each other, and the rotation axis L3 of the drive transmissionmember 81 is aligned with the rotation axis L1 of the drive input unit 300

[0572] First, referring to Figures72 and 73, the outer peripheral receivingalignment member 305 and the drum unit constituted by the same will bedescribed.

[0573] Figure 72 is a perspective view of the drive input unit 300 according tothis modification.

[0574] Figure 73 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the drum unit andthe drum bearing 73 according to this modification.

[0575] As shown in Figures 72 and 73, the outer peripheral receivingalignment member 305 is provided with a sloped surface 305a, a cylindricalportion 305b, a base portion 304c, and a hole portion 305d. A hole 305d isprovided at the center of the base portion 304c on the disk. In addition, threecylinders 305b are provided on the base portion 304c outside the hole portion305d in the radial direction at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Aslope 305a is provided at the end of the cylindrical portion 304b. The slopedsurface 305a is sloped so as to approach the base portion 304c toward the innerside, in the radial direction, of the base portion 304c.

[0576] In addition, the differences of the portions other than the outercircumference receiving alignment member 305 from those of the abovedescribedEmbodiment 7, and the drum unit including the outer circumferencereceiving alignment member 305 will be described. The drive input unit 300 isprovided with an outer circumference receiving alignment member 305 in placeof the alignment member 301.

[0577] As described above, the portion of the drive input unit 300 excludingthe aligning member 305 from corresponds to the coupling member of thisembodiment, but in a broad sense, the entire drive input member 300 may also becalled a coupling member.

[0578] The drive input unit connecting member 304 is provided with a basesupport portion 304e as shown in Figure 73. The hole 305d of the outerperipheral receiving alignment member 305 is inserted into the base supportingportion 304, and is securedly fixed with a screw or an adhesive. At the time ofassembling the drum unit, the outer peripheral receiving alignment member 305is inserted into the drum in the state of being assembled to the drive input unitconnecting member 304.

[0579] In addition, the pin receiving member 303 is provided with an outercylindrical receiving portion 303i. This is provided at a position correspondingto the cylindrical portion 305b of the outer circumference receiving alignmentmember 305, and can be engaged by aligning the phase when the drive input unitconnecting member 304 is inserted. The lid member 258 is also provided with acylindrical receiving portion 258a at a position corresponding to the cylindricalportion 305b of the outer peripheral receiving alignment member 305.Therefore, the cylindrical portion 305b of the outer peripheral receivingalignment member 305 is structured to project from the inside of the drum to theoutside of the drum through the cylindrical receiving portion 258a of the lidmember 258 and the outer peripheral cylindrical receiving portion 303i of the pinreceiving member 303. The drum bearing 73 supports the driving side flange275 instead of the pin receiving member 303.

[0580] Additionally, the first pressing member 259, the outer cylindrical cam70, and the inner cylindrical cam 74 avoid the outer circumference receivingalignment member 305 by increasing the inner diameter, but the basic structure isthe same as that described above. The structures of the pin 302, the cushionmember 255, and the non-driving side flange 254 are the same as those describedabove. In addition, similarly to the above-described aligning member 301, theouter circumference receiving alignment member 305 is movable in the cartridgelongitudinal direction together with the drive input unit connecting member 304with the operation of the non-driving side operation unit. At this time, theposition where the outer circumference receiving alignment member 305 is mostadvanced to the driving side will be referred to as the aligning member advanceposition also in this modification.

[0581] Next, referring to Figures 74 and 75, the description will be made as tohow the drive input unit 300 and the drive transmission member 81 are engagedwith each other in the case that the drive transmission member 81 and the rotationshafts L3 and L1 of the drive input unit 300 are not coaxial before engaging witheach other.

[0582] Here, part (a) of Figure 74 is a longitudinal sectional view of theapparatus main assembly A and the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted intothe apparatus main assembly A and the opening / closing door 13 is completelyopened. Part (b) of Figure 74 is a longitudinal sectional view when the levermember 212 of the non-driving side operation unit starts to be pushed by thecartridge pressing member 1 in the process of closing the opening / closing door 13after inserting the cartridge into the apparatus main assembly A. Part (c) ofFigure 74 is a longitudinal sectional view when the opening / closing door 13 isfurther closed, the lever member 212 is pushed by the cartridge pressing member1, and the outer circumference receiving alignment member 305 reaches thealigning member advance position. Part (d) of Figure 74 is a longitudinalsectional view illustrating a state in which the drive transmission portion 81a ofthe drive transmission member 81 and the pin 302 of the drive input unit 300 arecompletely engaged. Part (d) of Figure 74 shows the state after theopening / closing door 13 is completely closed, the lever member 12 of the drivingside operating unit is pushed by the cartridge pressing member 1, and the drivingforce is input to the main assembly A of the apparatus, and the drive transmissionmember 81 rotated.

[0583] In parts (a), (b), (c) and (d) of Figure 74, the outer peripheral receivingalignment member 305 of the drive input unit 300 is brought into engagementwith the drive transmission member 81, while reducing the inclination angle ofthe drive transmission member 81, while moving to the centering memberadvancing position.

[0584] Figure 75 is a partially enlarged view of a portion where the inclinedsurface 305a of the outer circumference receiving alignment member 305 abutson the end surface 81c of the drive transmission member 81 immediately beforethe outer circumference receiving alignment member 305 and the drivetransmission member 81 abut to each other.

[0585] The drive transmission member 81 before being engaged with the pin302 is inclined by its own weight in the V direction in the Figure, as shown inpart (a) of Figure 74, as in the case of Embodiment 1. At this time, the outercircumference receiving alignment member 305 and the pin 302 are in theretracted position, and neither is in contact with the drive transmission member81. Next, in the process of closing the opening / closing door 13, the cartridgepressing member 1 and the pressed portion 212a of the lever member 212 comeinto contact with each other. Then, the outer circular member 270 rides on theinner cylindrical cam member 274, so that the inner cylindrical cam member 274,the drive input unit connecting member 304, and the outer peripheral receivingalignment member 305 start moving the cylindrical cam to the driving side of thecartridge.

[0586] At this time, as shown in Figure 75, the inclined surface 305a of theouter peripheral receiving alignment member 305 contacts the outer peripheralridge 81f of the drive transmission portion 81a of the drive transmission member81. Thereafter, the aligning member 301 moves to the driving side whiledisplacing the drive transmission member 81 away. Here, by providing asufficiently large pressing force of the cushion member 255, the aligning member301 can move to the driving side against the torque acting in the direction inwhich the drive transmission member 81 is inclined by its own weight. Then, asshown in part (b) of Figure 69, the drive transmission member 81 is rotated in thedirection W in the Figure of the drive transmission member 81, that is, the drivetransmission member 81 moves toward the driving side while the inclinationangle of the drive transmission member 81 is being reduced. Thereafter, theinclined surface 305a passes through the outer peripheral ridge 81f of the drivetransmission member 81, and then the cylindrical portion 305b of the aligningmember 301 and the outer peripheral ridge 81f of the drive transmission portion81 come into contact with each other. Here, the rotation axis of the drivetransmission member 81 and the rotation axis of the drive input unit 300 arealigned by engagement between the three cylindrical portions 305b (Figure 72)and the drive transmission portion 81a. Thereafter, as shown in part (c) ofFigure 74, the outer peripheral receiving alignment member 305 moves to thedriving side until the end surface of the outer peripheral receiving alignmentmember 305 contacts the drive transmission member 81, that is, to the aligningmember advancing position.

[0587] The operation after the outer circumference receiving alignmentmember 305 has moved to the aligning member advance position is the same asdescribed above. When the opening / closing door 13 is further closed, the pin302 and the pin receiving member 303 integrally move from the pin receivingmember retracted position to the driving side by the action of the driving sideoperation unit. When the drive is further inputted to the apparatus mainassembly A, the drive transmission portion 81 and the pin 302 are engaged witheach other.

[0588] During driving, the pin 302 and the pin receiving member 303 rotateby the driving force from the drive transmitting portion 81, and at this time, theouter peripheral receiving alignment member 305 moves from the outercylindrical receiving portion 303i of the pin receiving member 303 to thecylindrical portion 305b by receiving the driving force. At this time, the driveinput unit connecting member 304 also rotates integrally with the outer peripheralreceiving alignment member 305 while sliding relative to the connecting membersupporting portion 274b of the inner cylindrical cam member 274.

[0589] In the manner described above, the inclined surface 301a of thealigning member 301 and the cylindrical portion 301b are engaged with the drivetransmission portion 81a. By this, even when the rotation axes of the drivetransmission member 81 and the drive input unit 300 are deviated from eachother, the rotation axes of the drive transmission member 81 and the drive inputunit 300 can be accurately aligned.

[0590] In this modification, a shape in which the rotation axis of the drivetransmission member 81 is aligned with the rotation axis of the drum is providedat a position different from the drive transmission portion 81a that transmits thedriving force of the drive transmission member 81, that is, at the outer peripheralridge 81f. Therefore, the pin 302 which receives the driving force directly fromthe drive transmission member 81 is less restricted in shape, and it is possible toincrease the diameter of the pin 302 or provide a shape which matches the drivetransmission portion 81a. Therefore, according to this modified example, thereis a possibility that more reliable drive transmission can be performed and thestrength of the pin 302 can be increased, depending on the shape of the pin 302.

[0591] In addition, although the outer peripheral receiving alignment member305 is aligned by three cylindrical portions, it may be in the shape of, for example,a circular tube, and the shape is not limited, provided that it can be aligned.Even in this case, the same effect can be obtained.<Embodiment 8>

[0592] Next, Example 8 will be described. The drive transmission memberof the present embodiment is structured to be inclinable (inclinable) as in thedrive transmission portion 81 shown in the modification of the Embodiment 1.

[0593] The description of the same points as those in the above-describedembodiment may be omitted. In particular, among the elements on the cartridgeside disclosed in this embodiment, those corresponding to the members describedin the Embodiment 2 will be assigned the same names as in the Embodiment 2,and only the part different from those in the Embodiment 2 may be explained.Figures 76 and 77 are perspective views of the process cartridge of embodiment 1.Also in this embodiment, the cartridge is provided with a coupling member (driveinput member) 264 for receiving a driving force from the apparatus mainassembly. In this embodiment, similarly to the Embodiment 2, a lever 212(Figure 21) for moving the coupling member 264 back and forth is provided onthe non-driving side of the cartridge. Therefore, the coupling member 64 canmove back and forth as with the coupling member 264 described in theEmbodiment 2 (parts (a) to (c) of Figure 24).

[0594] As shown in Figure 76, the driving side bearing member 401 isprovided with a control member 402. The driving side bearing member 401 is apart of the frame of the cartridge, and is a member for rotatably supporting thephotosensitive drum on the driving side of the cartridge. The bearing member401 is also a part constituting a side surface of the frame of the cartridge. Inother words, the driving side bearing member 401 is a portion which constitutesan end portion of the frame in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum.

[0595] The control member 402 is arranged on the same side (driving side) ofthe cartridge as the coupling member 64 in the axial direction of thephotosensitive drum. The control member 402 is arranged in the neighborhoodof the end (bearing member 401) of the frame of the cartridge in the axialdirection of the photosensitive drum.

[0596] As shown in Figure 77, the control member 402 is provided with arestricting portion 402a, a contact portion 402b, and an initial contact portion402c. The control member 402 is provided on the driving side bearing member401 so as to be rotatable about the axis MX, and is stationary with the initialcontact portion 402c and the control member contact portion 401a in contact witheach other. The position of the control member 402 at this time is called a nonactingposition (retracted position). As shown in Figure 76, the control member402 is placed on the outer side (arrow LO) side of the free end of the couplingmember 64 in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum.

[0597] Figure 78 is a cross-sectional view of the drive transmission memberand the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted in the apparatusmain assembly. As shown in part (a) of Figure 78, the control member 402 isprovided downstream of the line M1 connecting the rotational axes of the drum62 and the the developing roller 32,, in the direction of gravity. In addition, thecontrol member 402 has a moment acting in the direction of the arrow MA due toits own weight about the axis MX as a rotation center, and a initial contactportion 402c is in contact with the control member contact portion 401a of thedriving side bearing member 401.

[0598] Next, when the process cartridge is inserted as shown in part (b) ofFigure 78, the contact portion (cartridge side guide portion) 402b of the controlmember 402 comes into contact with the main assembly guide portion 403provided in the apparatus main assembly A. When the process cartridge isfurther inserted, the contact portion 402b moves along the main assembly guideportion 403, and the control member 402 rotates about the axis MX in the arrowMB direction. When the process cartridge is further inserted, the restrictingportion 402a comes into contact with the side surface 81f of the drivetransmission member 81 as shown in part (c) of Figure 78. Then, the restrictingportion (urging portion, acting portion) 402a presses and urges the side surface81f of the drive transmission member in the direction of arrow MC.

[0599] By this, in the drive transmission member 81, a moment in the arrowW direction shown in Figure 15 is produced as in the Embodiment 1, so that theinclination angle of the drive transmission member 81 can be reduced. At thistime, the distance L2 between the drum rotation shaft and the restricting portion402a is shorter than the distance L1 between the drum rotation shaft and therestricting portion 402a in part (a) of Figure 78. The position of the controlmember 402 at this time is called an action position (contact position).

[0600] When the control member 402 is in the acting position, the restrictingportion 402a of the control member 402 is adjacent to the peripheral surface(outer peripheral surface) of the photosensitive drum 62 on a plane perpendicularto the axis of the photosensitive drum 62. In other words, when the cartridge isviewed along the axis of the photosensitive drum 62, the restricting portion 402aof the control member 402 is adjacent to the peripheral surface of thephotosensitive drum 62.

[0601] The restricting portion 402a is a portion having a distance to the axis ofthe photosensitive drum variable and constituting the surface of the regulatingmember 402. As viewed along the axis of the photosensitive member drum 62when the control member 402 is in the acting position, the restricting portion402a faces the side where the photosensitive member drum is provided.

[0602] Figure 79 is a perspective view of a structure in which an initializationspring 404 is provided on the control member 402 and the driving side bearingmember 401 of the Embodiment 8. By providing the initialization spring 404,the initial contact portion 402c of the control member 402 can be more reliablycontacted to the control member contact portion 401a of the driving side bearingmember 401. Therefore, the inclination angle of the drive transmission member81 can be reduced more stably.

[0603] By reducing the inclination angle of the drive transmission member 81,the angular difference between the axis of the drive transmission member 81 andthe axis of the coupling member 64 is reduced. That is, the center of the outputcoupling portion 81a (Figure 25) provided at the free end of the drivetransmission member 81 approaches the center of the coupling member 264, andtherefore, the output coupling portion 81abecomes engageable with the couplingmember 264.

[0604] As described above, the coupling member 264 can move back andforth similarly to the coupling member 264 shown in the Embodiment 2.Therefore, similarly to the coupling member 264 shown in part (a) to (c) ofFigure 24, the coupling member 264 can be engaged with the drive transmissionmember 81 by approaching the drive transmission member 81 also in thisembodiment (part (c) of Figure 24).

[0605] The control member 402 is alignment assisting member (auxiliarymember, alignment member, movable member) for assisting alignment of thedrive transmission member 81 relative to the coupling member 264. Therestricting portion 402a is an acting portion (contact portion) that contacts andacts on the drive transmission member 81. The restricting portion 402a is aurging portion which urges the drive transmission member 81 to reduce theinclination angle of the drive transmission member 81.

[0606] Referring to Figure 78, the movement locus of the control member 402will be described. The control member 402 is moveable between two positions.The position of the control member 402 shown by the solid line in part (d) ofFigure 78 is a position where it acts on the drive transmission member 81 (theabove-mentioned acting position: part (c) of Figure 78). The restricting portion402a of the control member 402 is located in the neighborhood of the peripheralsurface of the photosensitive member drum 62 on a plane perpendicular to theaxis of the photosensitive member drum. On the other hand, the position of thecontrol member 402 shown by the broken line in part (d) of Figure 78 is theposition retracted from the acting position (the non-acting position and theretracted position described above: part (a) of Figure 78). When the controlmember 402 is in the non-acting position, the control member 402 is more remotefrom the center (axis) of the photosensitive member drum 462 than the actingposition.

[0607] One of the acting position (part (c) of Figure 78) and the non-actingposition (part (a) of Figure 78) of the control member 402 may be referred to as afirst position of the control member and the other as a second position of thecontrol member. The acting position of the control member 402 is a positionwhere it acts on the drive transmission member 81, more specifically, urges thedrive transmission member 81 to reduce the inclination of the drive transmissionmember 81. The non-acting position is a position retracted from the actingposition.

[0608] Irrespective of in the position of the control member 402, the controlmember 402 is located outside (in the arrow LO direction in Figure 76) in theaxial direction with respect to the free end of the coupling member 264 located atthe retracted position. Although the tension spring 404 (Figure 79) is shown asthe initialization spring (elastic member) for holding the control member 402 inthe initial position (non-acting position, retracted position) in the embodimentdescribed here, any structure can be used as long as it can be initialized. Forexample, a method of providing a compression spring, a torsion coil spring, or thelike as a spring (elastic member) other than the tension spring can be considered.That is, by urging the control member 402 in the direction of the arrow MA bythe elastic member (urging member), the control member 402 is set to apredetermined initial position (non-acting position, retracted position: part (a) ofFigure 78) when the cartridge is mounted. As another method, a structure canbe considered in which a weight member is mounted to the free end of the controlmember and the weight of the weight member holds the control member at theinitial position when the cartridge is mounted. The method is not limited.

[0609] In addition, the control member 402 is arranged so as not to cover thesurface of the photosensitive drum 62 and not to contact the surface thereof forthe purpose of avoiding the interference with the image forming processperformed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 62. At least when thecontrol member 402 is at the acting position (part (c) of Figure 78), the surface ofthe photosensitive drum 62 is not covered or contacted by the control member402.<Modification 1 of Embodiment 8>

[0610] Next, a modified example (modified example 1 of Embodiment 8) ofthe present embodiment in which the above-described structure is partiallymodified will be described. In the modified example 1 as well, the drivetransmission portion 81 is structured to be inclinable (inclinable) similarly to theabove-described structures.

[0611] Figure 80 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge of thismodification.

[0612] As shown in Figure 80, the control member 412 is provided betweenthe cleaning frame 71 and the drum bearing 73 so as to be slidable in thedirections MD and ME.

[0613] The control member 412 is provided on the downstream side in thegravity direction with respect to the line M1 that connects the rotating shafts ofthe drum 62 and the developing roller 32.

[0614] The control member 412 is provided with a restricting portion (actingportion, urging portion) 412a, a contact portion 412b, and an initial contactportion 412c. The control member 412 is urged in the arrow ME direction by itsown weight, and is stationary with the initial contact portion 412c in contact withthe contact portion 73g of the drum bearing 73. This is a state in which thecontrol member 412 is in the non-acting position (retracted position).

[0615] Figure 81 is a cross-sectional view of the drive transmission memberand the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted to the apparatusmain assembly. As shown in part (a) of Figure 81, the initial contact portion412c of the control member 412 is in contact with the contact portion 73g of thedrum bearing 73 by its own weight.

[0616] The control member 412 is provided on the downstream side in thegravity direction with respect to the line M1 connecting the drum 62 and therotation axis of the developing roller 32 with each other.

[0617] When the process cartridge is inserted, the contact portion 412b comesinto contact with the main assembly guide portion 413 as shown in part (b) ofFigure 81.

[0618] When the process cartridge is further inserted, the control member 412receives the reaction force from the main assembly guide portion 413 and movesin the direction of the arrow MD, as shown in part (c) of Figure 81. With thisoperation, the restricting portion 412a comes into contact with the side surface81g of the coupling portion of the drive transmission member 81. When theprocess cartridge is further inserted, the restricting portion 412a presses thecoupling portion side surface 81g in the direction of the arrow MD. By this, inthe drive transmission member 81, a moment in the arrow W direction shown inFigure 15 is produced as in the Embodiment 1, so that the inclination angle of thedrive transmission member 81 can be reduced. This is a state in which thecontrol member 412 is located at the acting position. At this time, the distanceL4 between the drum rotation shaft and the restricting portion 412a is shorter thanthe distance L3 between the drum rotation shaft and the restricting portion 412ain part (a) of Figure 81. At this time, the restricting portion 412a of the controlmember is in the neighborhood of the peripheral surface of the photosensitivedrum on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum.Figure 82 is a sectional view of a structure in which an initialization spring 414 isprovided between the control member 412 and the cleaning frame 71. Byproviding the initialization spring 414, the initialization spring 414 urges thecontrol member 412 in the ME direction. By this, the initial contact portion412c of the control member 412 can be more reliably brought into contact withthe contact portion 73g of the drum bearing 73.

[0619] In the Embodiment 7, the aligning member 301 is disposed at the endof the photosensitive drum 62. That is, the aligning member 301 is arrangednear the pin (drive input member) 301 of the coupling member (Figure 62). Onthe other hand, the control member 412 of this embodiment is not disposed in theneighborhood of the coupling member 264, but is disposed in the frame of thecartridge. Even the control member (centering auxiliary member, movablemember, aligning member) 412 is disposed apart from the coupling member 264in this manner, it can move toward the drive transmission member 81 and theinclination angle of the drive transmission member 81 can be reduced by urgingthe drive transmission member 81. By this, the control member 412 can engageand connect the drive transmission member 81 with the coupling member 264.<Modification 2 of Embodiment 8>

[0620] Next, another modification (Modification 2) in which the structure ofthis embodiment (Embodiment 8) is partially modified will be described. Alsoin this modification, the drive transmission portion 81 is structured to bepivotable (inclinable).

[0621] Figure 83 is a perspective view of the process cartridge of thismodification. In addition, Figure 84 is a cross-sectional view when the processcartridge is mounted to the apparatus main assembly, taken along the line AA inFigure 83. Figure 87 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure of Figure83.

[0622] As shown in Figure 87, the control member 422 is provided on thedownstream side in the gravity direction with respect to the line M1 that connectsthe rotation axes of the drum 62 and the developing roller 32.

[0623] As shown in part (a) of Figure 84, the cleaning frame 71 is providedwith an initial restricting portion 711, a post-insertion restricting portion 771m,and a frame side urging force receiving portion 71n. A control member 422 issupported on the cleaning frame 71 rotatably about an axis MY. In addition, thecontrol member 422 is provided with a restricting portion (acting portion, urgingportion) 422a, a contact portion 422b, an initial contact portion 422c, a postinsertioncontact portion 422d, and a control member side urging force receivingportion 422e. A tension spring 424 as a urging member is provided on thecontrol member side urging force receiving portion 422e and the frame sideurging force receiving portion 71n.

[0624] A force in the direction of the arrow MF acts from the tension spring424 on the control member 422 before being inserted into the apparatus mainassembly. By this, a moment in the MG direction acts on the control member422, so that the control member 422 rotates about the axis MY and is at rest withthe initial contact portion 422c and the initial restricting portion 71l of thecleaning frame 71 in abutment with each other. This is a state in which thecontrol member 422 is in the non-acting position (retracted position).

[0625] Next, when the process cartridge is inserted, the contact portion(cartridge side guide portion) 422b of the control member 422 comes into contactwith the main assembly frame (main assembly side guide portion) 423 as shownin part (b) of Figure 84. The control member 422 rotates in the direction ofarrow MH about the rotation axis MY by the reaction force which the contactportion 422b receives from the main assembly guide portion 423. When theprocess cartridge is further inserted as shown in part (c) of Figure 84, the controlmember 422 rotates in the MH direction by the force in the arrow MF directionreceived from the tension spring 424, comes into contact with the side surface 81f of the drive transmission member 81, and urges the drive transmission member81 in the direction of arrow MI. By this,, a moment in the arrow W directionshown in Figure 15 is produced in the drive transmission member 81, as in theEmbodiment 1, so that the inclination angle of the drive transmission member 81can be reduced. At this time, the control member 422 (control unit) is located atthe acting position.

[0626] At this time, as shown in Figure 87, the distance L6 between the drumrotation axis and the restricting portion 422a in part (c) of Figure 87 is shorterthan the distance L5 between the drum rotation axis and the restricting portion422a in part (a) of Figure 87. As shown in part (c) of Figure 87, the restrictingportion 422a is located in the neighborhood of the peripheral surface of the drumin a plane perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive drum. When thecontrol member 422 is in the acting position (part (c) of Figure 84 and part (c) ofFigure 87), at least a part of the control member (that is, the contact portion 422b)is outside the free end of the coupling member 264 in the axial direction(in theLO direction).

[0627] The control member 402 (Figure 77) and the control member 412 (part(a) of Figure 80) described in the Embodiment 8 and the first modification of theEmbodiment 8 move along the direction perpendicular to the axis of thephotosensitive drum, whereas it is not movable in the axial direction of thephotosensitive drum. That is, the control member 402 rotates about the shaftportion MX (referring to Figure 77) parallel to the axis of the photosensitivemember drum, and the control member 412 is linearly slid in the directionperpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member drum. (part (a) of Figure80).

[0628] On the other hand, in the second modification, when the controlmember 442 moves from the non-acting position (part (a) of Figure 84) to theacting position (part (c) of Figure 84), the restricting portion (acting portion,urging portion) 422a of the control member 442 is displaced in the axial directionof the photosensitive drum. That is, when the control unit 442 moves to theacting position, the restricting unit 422a is displaced toward the outside in theaxial direction, that is, toward the left side in part (c) of Figure 84.<Modification 3 of Embodiment 8>

[0629] Further, another modification (Modification 3) according to thisembodiment will be described. Also in this modification, the drive transmissionportion 81 is structured to be pivotable (inclinable) as in the above-describedstructure.

[0630] As shown in Figure 85, the control member 432 is provided with acompression spring 435 as a pressing unit.

[0631] Figure 86 is a cross-sectional view when the process cartridge is beingmounted into the apparatus main body. As shown in part (a) of Figure 86, thedrum bearing 73 is provided with a contact portion 73g. When the processcartridge is inserted into the apparatus main assembly, the compression spring435 contacts the main assembly guide portion 433 as shown in part (b) of Figure86, and the compression spring 435 urges the control member 432 in a arrow MJdirection. By this, a contact portion 432b of the control member 432 contactsthe side surface 81f of the drive transmission member 81 and presses the drivetransmission member 81 in the arrow MJ direction. By this, the drivetransmission member 81 generates a moment in the direction of the arrow Wshown in Figure 15 as in the Embodiment 1, and the drive transmission member81 comes into contact with the restricting portion 73g provided on the drumbearing 73, so that the inclination angle of the drive transmission member 81 canbe reduced.

[0632] When the mounting of the process cartridge on the apparatus mainassembly is completed and the drive transmission member 81 and the couplingmember 64 are engaged, the rotation axes of the drive transmission member 81and the coupling member 64 are aligned. At this time, the drive transmissionmember 81 moves in the direction of arrow MK as shown in part (c) of Figure 86.

[0633] In addition, although the mechanism of Embodiment 1 or themechanism disclosed in Embodiment 2 was used as the mechanism for advancingand retracting the coupling in Embodiments 3 to 8, the advancing and retractingmethod is not limited to this method, and other methods are usable.<Embodiment 9>

[0634] Next, Embodiment 9 will be described. The description of the samepoints as those in the above-described embodiment may be omitted. Of theelements disclosed in the present embodiment, those corresponding to themembers described in the Embodiment 8 will be assigned the same names asthose in the Embodiment 8, and only the points different from those in theEmbodiment 8 may be described.

[0635] In the following embodiment, the drive transmission portion 1081 isstructured to be pivotable (inclinable) as in the case of the Embodiment 8 (Figure92), and further, a control member (centering auxiliary member, movablemember, urging member, aligning member) 1001 (Figure 88) is provided in thecartridge.

[0636] In each of the above embodiments including the Embodiment 8, thedriving force is transmitted to the developing roller 32 by the developing rollergear 36 meshing with the gear portion 75a provided on the driving side flangemember 75 (Figure 27). That is, the driving force inputted from the apparatusmain assembly to the coupling member (driving input member) of the cartridge istransmitted to not only the photosensitive drum but also the developing roller 32by being branched inside the cartridge. However, the cartridge and the imageforming apparatus main assembly do not necessarily have to have such a structure.That is, a structure in which the developing roller 32 receives a driving forcedirectly from the image forming apparatus main assembly separately from thephotosensitive drum 62 is also conceivable.

[0637] As an example thereof, this embodiment has a structure in which thedeveloping roller gear 36 is exposed to the outside of the cartridge to directlyengage with the drive transmission member 1081 of the apparatus main assemblyA and directly receive the drive force from the drive transmission member 1081.

[0638] In addition, although the coupling member 64 is structured to be ableto advance and retract in the longitudinal direction relative to the drum 62 in theabove-described plurality of embodiments including the Embodiment 8 (Figures6 and 8), it is not always necessary. The coupling member may be fixed to theend of the photosensitive drum. Therefore, in this embodiment, a couplingmember fixed to the photosensitive drum is introduced.

[0639] Furthermore, in the Embodiment 8, the drive transmission member 81is inclined in the direction of arrow V shown in Figure 15 by its own weight, butit is not always necessary. As described in the Embodiment 3 and the like, thedrive transmission member may be inclined by a force other than gravity, and thedrive transmission member may be inclined in a direction different from thegravity direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 92, thedrive transmission member 1081 is inclined in a arrow VV direction by a elasticforce F22. By this, a resistance when the process cartridge B is mounted to anddismounted from the apparatus main assembly A can be reduced (details will bedescribed hereinafter). (Structure of coupling member and control member)

[0640] Referring first to Figures88 to 91 and 98, the structures of the couplingmember 1064 and the control member 1001 will be described.

[0641] Part (a) of Figure 88 is a perspective view of the cartridge B accordingto this embodiment. Part (b) of Figure 88 is an exploded perspective view of thecartridge B according to this embodiment. Part (a) of Figure 89 is a side view ofthe cartridge B according to this embodiment. Part (b) of Figure 89 is asectional view taken along the line XX-XX of the cartridge B driving side end inpart (a) of Figure 89.

[0642] As shown in parts (a) and (b) of Figure 88, a control member 1001which is a member for controlling the attitude of the drive transmission member1081 (Figure 92) is arranged adjacent to the end of the frame of the cartridge.The control member 1001 is a movable member which is movable respect to thephotosensitive drum 62.

[0643] The control member 1001 is provided with a hole 1001c. The hole1001c is supported by a support boss 1071a provided on the cleaning frame 1071.In addition, the drum bearing 1073 is integrally fixed to the cleaning frame 1071.The drum bearing 1073 and the cleaning frame 1071 form a portion of the frameof the cartridge. In particular, the drum bearing 1071 and the cleaning frame1071 are frames which form the cleaning unit 60 (referring to Figure 4). Thecontrol member 1001 is mounted to the drum bearing 1073 rotatably about theaxis AA of the support boss 1071a.

[0644] A urging spring 1002, which is a torsion coil spring, is mounted to thesupport boss 1071a, and one end 1002a of the urging spring 1002 is in contactwith a pressed portion 1001d of the control member 1001. The other end 1002bof the urging spring 1002 is in contact with a contacted portion 1073c of the drumbearing 1073. Therefore, the control member 1001 is urged in a arrow BBdirection by a urging force FF1 of the urging spring 1002.

[0645] On the other hand, the drum bearing 1073 is provided with a controlmember contact portion (stop portion) 1073a which defines the rotation range ofthe control member 1001. The control member 1001 is urged by the urgingspring 1002 in the direction of the arrow BB, and therefore, the contacted portion1001b of the control member 1001 is in the attitude of contacting the controlmember contacting portion 1073a. That is, the movement of the controlmember 1001 is stopped by the control member contact portion 1073a contactingthe control member 1001.

[0646] In addition, as shown in part (a) of Figure 89, the restricting portion(urging portion, acting portion) 1001a of the control member 1001 is disposedadjacent to the surface 62a of the drum 62, that is, at a distance DA therefrom, asviewed in the arrow HH direction (part (a) of Figure 88) parallel to the axis of thedrum 62. The position of the control member 1001 in this state is called theacting position of the control member.

[0647] In addition, as shown in part (b) of Figure 89, the restricting portion1001a of the control member 1001 is disposed at the position of the distance DB,which is the outer side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the driventransmission portion 1064a of the coupling member 1064.

[0648] In addition, as shown in part (a) of Figures 98 and 98 (b), when anexternal force is applied to the restricting portion 1001a of the control member1001, the control member 1001 can rotate about the axis AA in the BB2 direction.At that time, the control member 1001 is rotated in the BB2 direction against theurging force of the urging spring 1002. In this state, the contacted portion1001b of the control member 1001 does not contact the control membercontacting portion 1073a. The control member 1001 can rotate in the directionof arrow BB2 by a predetermined angle.

[0649] As described above, in the Embodiment 8, the coupling member 64 ismounted to the drum 62 by way of the driving side flange member 75 so as to bemovable back and forth and backward in the longitudinal direction (referring toFigures 6 and 8). On the other hand, in this embodiment, the coupling member1064 is integrally fixed to the drum 62 as shown in part (b) of Figure 89.Therefore, the coupling member 1064 does not include a mechanism whichmoves back and forth in the longitudinal direction with respect to the drum 62.In the Embodiment 1, the coupling member 64 transmits the drive to thedeveloping roller gear 36 by way of the gear portion 75a of the driving sideflange member 75 (Figure 27). On the other hand, in this embodiment, thecoupling member 1064 does not have a gear portion and does not transmit thedrive to the developing roller gear 36. In addition, the tooth surface 36a of thedeveloping roller gear 36 is on the outer side in the longitudinal direction withrespect to the coupling member 1064, and the tooth surface 36a is exposed to theouter surface of the cartridge B as shown in Figure 88.

[0650] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 90, the drive transmissionmember 1081 of the apparatus main assembly A has a drive transmission portion(output coupling portion) 1081a and a gear portion (output gear portion) 1081b.Figure 91 shows a state in which the coupling member 1064 according to thisembodiment is engaged with the drive transmission member 1081. At the timeof image formation, as shown in Figure 91, the drive transmission member 1081is arranged coaxially with the drum 62. Then, the drive transmission portion1081a meshes with the driven transmission portion 1064a of the couplingmember 1064, and at the same time, the gear portion 1081b meshes with the toothsurface (drive input portion) 36a of the developing roller gear 36. Accordingly,the drive transmission member 1081 can simultaneously transmit the drivingforce to the coupling member 1064 and the developing roller gear 36.

[0651] Like the coupling member 1064, the developing roller gear 36 is adrive input member (gear member) to which a driving force is inputted from theoutside of the cartridge B (that is, the drive transmission member 1081 of theapparatus main assembly). In particular, the developing roller gear 36 may becalled a drive input gear member.(Structure of drive transmission member)

[0652] Referring to Figures89 and 92, the structure of the drive transmissionmember 1081 of the apparatus main assembly A will be described.

[0653] Similarly to the Embodiment 8, the cartridge B is inserted into themounting portion of the apparatus main assembly A along the guide rails 15h and15g (Figures 10 and 11). At this time, as shown in part (a) of Figure 89, thedirection CC in which the cartridge B is finally mounted to the apparatus mainassembly A is substantially perpendicular to a cutting line XX connecting thecenter PP of the drum 62 and the center QQ of the developing roller 32.

[0654] On the other hand, Figure 92 is a cross-sectional view illustrating thesupport structure of the drive transmission member 1081 according to thisembodiment. Figure 92 shows a state in which the cartridge B is not mounted tothe apparatus main assembly A, and the opening / closing door 13 is open. Asshown in Figure 92, the supported portion 1081f of the cylindrical drivetransmission member 1081 is supported by the support portion 1085a of thespherical drive transmission member support member 1085. Therefore, thedrive transmission member 1081 can be inclined at the center RR of the supportportion 1085a, and at the same time, the drive transmission member 1081 canmove along the cylindrical axis EE of the supported portion 1081f.

[0655] Further, an advancing / retracting member 1003 which is movable in thedirection of arrow KK and in the direction of arrow TT (part (a) of Figure 96) inaccordance with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing door 13 ismounted to the drive transmission member 1081 by means not shown. Theadvancing / retracting member 1003 is provided with a inclined spring 1006 whichis a compression spring, and urges the drive transmission member 1081 with aurging force FF2 in the pressed portion 1081c. By the urging force FF2 of theinclined spring 1006, the contacted portion 1081d of the drive transmissionmember 1081 contacts the projection 1004 provided on the apparatus mainassembly A, and at the same time, the contacted portion 1081e contacts theprojection 1005. As a result, the drive transmission member 1081 takes aattitude inclined in the arrow VV direction.

[0656] At this time, the inclination direction of the drive transmission member1081 as viewed in the arrow HH direction which is a direction parallel to the axisof the drum 62 includes an arrow GG direction component parallel to the cuttingline XX in part (a) of Figure 89. It is preferable that the projection 1004 and theprojection 1005 are provided at positions where the inclination direction of thedrive transmission member 1081 is within a range of ± 45 ° with respect to thearrow GG (part (b) of Figures 93 and 94(b)).(Process of mounting / dismounting cartridge to / from apparatus main assembly)

[0657] Referring to Figures 93 to 96, the process of mounting the cartridge Bin the apparatus main assembly A and the operation of the control member 1001will be described. In these Figures, the control member 1001 is shaded.

[0658] Parts (a) and (b) of Figure 93 show the state immediately before thecontrol unit 1001a of the control member 1001 contacts the gear unit 1081b of thedrive transmission member 1081 in the process of opening the opening / closingdoor 13 and mounting the cartridge B into the apparatus main assembly A.

[0659] Parts (a) and (b) of Figure 94 show a state in which the cartridge B isinserted from the state of parts (a) and (b) of Figure 93 to the mounting portion ofthe apparatus main assembly A.

[0660] Parts (a) and (b) Figure 95 show a state in which the opening / closingdoor 13 is closed from the state of parts (a) and (b) of Figure 94.

[0661] Parts (a) and (b) of Figure 96 show a state after driving is applied fromthe state of parts (a) and (b) of Figure 95.

[0662] Before the control portion 1001a of the control member 1001 contactsthe gear portion 1081b of the drive transmission member 1081, the drivetransmission member is the same as when the cartridge B is not mounted to themain assembly A of the apparatus, that is, the drive transmission member 1081 isinclined to the arrow VV direction, as shown in part (a) of Figure 93. Inaddition, as shown in part (b) of Figure 93, the control member 1001 is urged inthe direction of arrow BB by the urging force FF1 of the urging spring 1002, andthe contacted portion 1001b of the control member 1001 is in contact with themember contact portion (stop portion) 1073a of the drum bearing 1073. That is,the movement of the control member 1001 is stopped by the control memberabutting portion 1073a in the state in which the control member 1001 is located atthe acting position.

[0663] When the cartridge B is further inserted from this position, the controlportion 1001a of the control member 1001 abuts on the gear portion 1081b of thedrive transmission member 1081 as shown in part (a) of Figures 94 and 94(b).As shown in part (a) of Figure 94, the drive transmission member 1081 receivesthe urging force FF3 from the control unit 1001a. In the process from the stateof parts (a) and (b) of Figure 93 to the state of parts (a) and (b) of Figure 94, themoment MM2 (not shown) about the RR in the direction of arrow VV by theurging force FF2 and the moment MM3 (not shown) RR about the arrow WW bythe urging force FF3 satisfy MM2 > MM3. Therefore, the drive transmissionmember 1081 maintains the state of being inclined in the arrow VV direction.Therefore, the gear portion 1081b of the drive transmission member 1081 isseparated from the tooth surface 36a of the developing roller gear 36 with a gapLL. Therefore, the gear portion 1081b of the drive transmission member 1081does not contact with the tooth surface 36a of the developing roller gear 36throughout the process of mounting the cartridge B in the mounting portion of theapparatus main assembly A.

[0664] On the other hand, as shown in part (b) of Figure 94, the control unit1001a receives the reaction force FF4 of the FF3 from the gear unit 1081b. Inthe process from the sate of parts (a) and (b) of Figure 93 to the state of parts (a)and (b) of Figure 94, the moment MM1 about AA in the direction of arrow BB bythe urging force FF1 and the moment MM4 about AA of arrow NN by thereaction force FF4 satisfy MM1 < MM4. Therefore, the control member 1001rotates in the arrow NN direction against the urging force FF1 of the urgingspring 1002, and the contacted portion 1001b is separated from the controlmember contacting portion 1073a. At this time, the control member 1001 is atthe non-acting position (retracted position). As shown in part (a) of Figure 94,the restricting portion 1001a of the control member 1001 is retracted away fromthe axis of the photosensitive drum, allowing the drive transmission member1081 to incline.

[0665] When the opening / closing door 13 is closed here, theadvancing / retracting member 1003 moves in the direction of arrow KK ininterrelation with the operation of the opening / closing door 13 as shown in part(a) of Figure 95. Therefore, the compression amount of the inclined spring 1006decreases, and therefore the urging force FF2 decreases. As a result, therelationship between the moment MM2 about the RR in the arrow VV directionby the urging force FF2 and the moment MM3 about the RR in the arrow WWdirection by the urging force FF3 of the control member 1001 satisfy MM2 <MM3. As a result, the drive transmission member 1081 rotates in the arrowWW direction, and the contact portion 1081e and the projection 1005 areseparated from each other. The gear portion 1081b of the drive transmissionmember 1081 and the tooth surface 36a of the developing roller 36 are broughtinto meshing engagement with each other in the area SS. On the other hand, asshown in Figure 95 (b), a moment MM1 about AA in the arrow BB direction bythe urging force FF1 of the urging spring 1002 and the moment MM4 around AAin the arrow NN by the reaction force FF4 of the urging force FF3 satisfy MM1 >MM4. Therefore, the control member 1001 rotates in the direction of arrow BBfrom the state of part (b) of Figure 94 and moves until the contacted portion1001b contacts the control member contacting portion 1073a of the drum bearing1073.

[0666] The control member 1001 shown in part (a) of Figures 95 and 95(b) islocated at the acting position, and by the restricting portion 1001a of the controlmember 1001 applying a force F33 to the drive transmission member 1081, theinclination angle of the member 1081 is reduced.

[0667] Here, when the drive transmission member 1081 is driven, the drivetransmission member 1081 moves in the direction of arrow KK as shown in part(a) of Figure 96, and the drive transmission portion 1081a and the driventransmission portion 1064a of the coupling member 1064 are brought intoengagement with each other. In this state, the restricting portion 1001a of thecontrol member 1001 does not contact the gear portion 1081b of the drivetransmission member 1081, and there is a gap UU therebetween. Details of theoperation from the state of parts (a) and (b) of Figure 95 to the state of parts (a)and (b) of Figure 96 will be described hereinafter.

[0668] Next, a process of taking out the cartridge B from the apparatus mainassembly A will be described. This process is the reverse of the process ofmounting the cartridge B into the apparatus main assembly A. When the imageformation is completed, the drive transmission member 1081 is in the state shownin parts (a) and (b) of Figure 96. When the opening / closing door 13 is opened inthis state, the advancing / retracting member 1003 moves in the direction of thearrow TT in interrelation with the operation of the opening / closing door 13, andthe state shown in parts (a) and (b) of Figure 94 is reached. The compressionamount of the inclined spring 1006 increases, and therefore the urging force FF2increases. As a result, the drive transmission member 1081 moves to the leftside in the Figure, and the engagement between the output coupling portion1081a (Figure 90) of the drive transmission member 1081 and the couplingmember 1064 is broken. At this time, as described above, the moment MM2 inthe direction of arrow VV by the urging force FF2 and the moment MM3 of thearrow WW by the urging force FF3 satisfy MM2 > MM3. Therefore, the drivetransmission member 1081 becomes in a state of being inclined to the arrow VVdirection. Along with this, the gear portion 1081b of the drive transmissionmember 1081 is spaced from the tooth surface 36a of the developing roller gear36 with a gap LL.

[0669] When the cartridge B is taken out of the main assembly A of theapparatus in this state, the cartridge B can be completely removed from the mainassembly A of the apparatus while maintaining the state in which the drivetransmission member 1081 and the developing roller gear 36 are not in contactwith each other, by way of the states of parts (a) and (b) of Figure 93. That is,before the cartridge B is removed, the gear portion of the drive transmissionmember 1081 and the developing roller gear 36 are disengaged from each other,so that the cartridge B can be removed with a small force.(Engagement of coupling member and drive transmission member by mainassembly drive)

[0670] Next, the detail description will be made as to the operation from thestate shown in parts (...

Claims

1. A cartridge (B) detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, said cartridge (B) comprising: a photosensitive drum (62); and a coupling member (664) provided at an end portion of said photosensitive drum (62) and including a plurality of input portions (610) for receiving a rotational force for rotating said photosensitive drum (62), characterized in that said input portions are movable such that a free end portion of each of said input portions is moved away from an axis of said coupling member.

2. A cartridge (B) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a size of a diameter of a circumscribed circle of the free end portions of said input portions changes by the movement of said input portions.

3. A cartridge (B) as claimed in Claim 1, comprising an operating member operable to move said input portions to bring each of said free end portions away from said coupling member.

4. A cartridge (B) as claimed in Claim 3, wherein as viewed along the axis of said photosensitive drum (62), said operating member extends away from said photosensitive drum (62), and one end portion of said operating member projects from a frame of said cartridge (B).

5. A cartridge (B) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said input portion is inclinably supported.

6. A cartridge (B) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said coupling member is movable between a retracted position retracted inwardly of said photosensitive drum (62) and an advanced position advanced outwardly of said photosensitive drum (62).

7. A cartridge (B) as claimed in Claim 6, wherein with movement of said coupling member from the retracted position to the advanced position, each of said free end portions of said input portions moves away from the axis of said coupling member.

8. A cartridge (B) as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said coupling member includes a supporting portion supporting said input portions, wherein by movement of said supporting portion along the axis of said photosensitive drum (62), said coupling member is movable between the retracted position and the advanced position.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising the main assembly including the drive transmission member (81, 1081) for transmitting the driving force to the cartridge (B), and the cartridge (B) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 - 8.