CARTRIDGE AND IMAGING DEVICE

Abstract

[Problem] Further developing the conventional technique. [Solution] A cartridge includes a photosensitive member 4; a developer member 6 for depositing toner onto the photosensitive member 4; a coupling member 74 capable of receiving a driving force to rotate the developer member 6; a movable portion 510 that can move between a driving force transmission position to allow the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member 74 to the developer member 6 and a driving force interruption position to interrupt the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developer member 6;a clamping portion for holding the movable portion in the driving force interruption position when the movable portion is in the driving force interruption position, wherein the movable portion 510 is capable of assuming the driving force transmission position and the driving force interruption position in a state in which the developing member 6 is in a position in which the toner can be deposited onto the photosensitive member 6.;

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrophotographic imaging apparatus such as a copier or a printer employing an electrophotographic method, and to a cartridge that can be mounted or detached from the electrophotographic imaging apparatus. In this case, an electrophotographic imaging apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as an imaging apparatus) forms an image on a sheet-like recording material, such as paper, using an electrophotographic imaging process. Examples of imaging devices include photocopiers, fax machines, printers (laser printers, LED printers, etc.), and multifunction machines (multifunction printers). A cartridge is a unit that can be assembled and disassembled from the imaging apparatus described above, and is a unit that includes a photosensitive member and / or a processing means (a loading member, a developing member, a cleaning, etc., for example) that can act on the photosensitive member. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, an imaging apparatus employs a process cartridge system wherein a drum and processing means acting on the drum are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be mounted and dismounted from a main assembly of image forming apparatus. Using this process cartridge system, the maintenance operation of the imaging apparatus can be carried out by the user himself without depending on a technician, so that the operability can be greatly improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely usable with imaging apparatuses.

[0003] Here, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-337511, for example, proposes a process cartridge provided with a clutch to carry out the drive change so that the developing roller is driven during The imaging and development roller is isolated from the unit during non-imaging. Furthermore, JP 2015-111221 discloses a structure for switching between transmission and interruption of drive to the developing roller while the surface of the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are kept in contact with each other. d / UU say 1 u BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Problem to be solved

[0004] In JP 2001-337511, a clutch is provided for changing the drive at the end of the developing roller, and a rotating shaft and a crank mechanism are used including an arm connecting the shaft that is misaligned with the rotating shaft to change the drive in interrelation with the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller. However, the conventional techniques described in JP 2001-337511 and JP 2015-111221 still have room for further improvements. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to further develop the conventional technology. d / UU say 1 u Means to solve the problem

[0005] To solve the problems described above, a cartridge comprises: a photosensitive member; a developing member for depositing toner on the photosensitive member; a coupling member capable of receiving a driving force to rotate the developing member; a movable portion that is movable between a driving force transmission position to allow transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member and a driving force interruption position to interrupt the transmission of the driving force of the developing member coupling to the developing member; a holding portion for holding the movable portion in the driving force interruption position when the movable portion is in the driving force interruption position, wherein the movable portion is capable of adopting the driving force transmission position and the position of driving force interruption in a state in which the developing member is in a position in which the toner can be deposited on the photosensitive member. ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u Effect of the invention

[0006] According to the present invention, the prior art can be developed further. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figures 1A-1C are an illustration of a drive interruption operation according to Mode 1.

[0008] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment.

[0009] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 1.

[0010] Figure 4 is a perspective assembly view of the process cartridge according to Mode 1.

[0011] Figure 5 is a sectional view of the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[0012] Figure 6 is a sectional view of the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[0013] Figures 7A and 7B are a perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[0014] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a drive connection portion in Mode 1.

[0015] Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating a coupled part of a coupling in Mode 1.

[0016] Figure 10 is an exploded view of the drive connection portion in Mode 1.

[0017] Figures 11A and 11B are an illustration showing the structure of each part of a drive connection portion during drive transmission in Mode 1.

[0018] Figures 12A and 12B are a perspective view of a regulating member 510 per se in Mode 1.

[0019] Figures 13A and 13B are an illustration that shows a positional relationship of the regulating member 510 at the time of connection and interruption of the drive, in Mode 1.

[0020] Figures 14A and 14B are an illustration showing an assembly operation of the process cartridge in the main assembly of the apparatus, in Mode 1.

[0021] Figure 15 is an illustration showing an arrangement of the regulating member 510 in Mode 1.

[0022] Figures 16A-16C are an illustration showing a drive connection operation in Mode 1.

[0023] Figure 17 is a perspective view of the drive connection portion in Mode 2.

[0024] Figure 18 is a sectional view of a clutch component in Mode 2.

[0025] Figures 19A and 19B are an illustration showing a coupling portion between a clutch component and the coupling in Mode 2.

[0026] Figures 20A and 20B are a perspective view of a regulating member 1510 in Mode 2.

[0027] Figures 21A and 21B are an illustration showing the positional relationship of the regulating member 1510 at the time of connection and interruption of actuation, in Mode 2.

[0028] Figures 22A-22C are an illustration showing a drive interrupt operation in the d / UU di 1 u Modality 2.

[0029] Figures 23A-23C are an illustration showing a drive connection operation in Mode 2.

[0030] Figures 24A and 24B are an exploded view of a drive member 1511 of Mode 2.

[0031] Figures 25A-25D are an illustration showing the drive connection and interruption operations when the driving member is used in Mode 2.

[0032] Figure 26 is a perspective view of the drive connection portion in Mode 3.

[0033] Figure 27 is an exploded view of a locking member 550 in Mode 3.

[0034] Figures 28A and 28B are a perspective view of a regulating member 3510 per se in Mode 3.

[0035] Figures 29A-29D are an illustration showing a drive interrupt operation in Mode 3.

[0036] Figures 30A-30D are an illustration showing a drive connection operation in Mode 3.

[0037] Figure 31 is a perspective view of a drive connection portion in Mode 4.

[0038] Figures 32A and 32B are an illustration showing the position relationship of the drive connection portions during drive transmission in iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu Mode 4.

[0039] Figures 33A and 33B are an illustration showing a positional relationship of the drive connection portion when the transmission is interrupted, in Mode 4.

[0040] Figures 34A-34C are an illustration showing a drive interrupt operation in Mode 4.

[0041] Figures 35A-35C are an illustration showing a drive connection operation in Mode 4.

[0042] Figure 36 is a perspective view of a drive connection portion in Mode 5.

[0043] Figures 37A and 37B are an illustration showing the position relationship at the time of drive connection and drive interruption of the drive connection portion in Mode 5.

[0044] Figures 38A-38C are an illustration showing a drive interrupt operation in Mode 5.

[0045] Figure 39 is an illustration showing the drive connection operation in Mode 5.

[0046] Figures 40A and 40B are a perspective view of a drive connection portion in Mode 6.

[0047] Figures 41A and 41B are an illustration that d / UU di 1 u shows the positional relationship of the drive connection portion when the drive is connected and when the drive is interrupted, in Mode 6.

[0048] Figure 42 is an exploded perspective view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 6.

[0049] Figures 43A-43C are an illustration showing a drive interrupt operation in Mode 6.

[0050] Figures 44A-44C are an illustration showing a drive connection operation in Mode 6.

[0051] Figures 45A-45C is an illustration of the positional relationship of the shutter position restriction pin at the time of connection and interruption of actuation, in Mode 6.

[0052] Figures 46A and 46B are an illustration showing a drive interrupt operation in Mode 7.

[0053] Figures 47A and 47B are a perspective view illustrating the positional relationship at the time of drive connection and interruption of the drive connection portion, in Mode 7.

[0054] Figures 48A-48C are an illustration showing a drive interrupt operation, in Mode 7.

[0055] Figures 49A-49C are an illustration of a drive connection operation, in Mode 7. iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu

[0056] Figure 50 is an exploded view of the process cartridge, in Mode 8.

[0057] Figures 51A-51C are an illustration of the operation of the regulating member in Mode 8.

[0058] Figure 52 is a side view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 8.

[0059] Figure 53 is a side view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 8.

[0060] Figure 54 is a side view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 8.

[0061] Figures 55A and 55B are an exploded view of a regulating member in Mode 9.

[0062] Figures 56A-56C is an illustration showing the operation of the regulating member in Mode 9.

[0063] Figures 57A and 57B are an illustration explaining the operation of the regulating member in Mode 9.

[0064] Figures 58A and 58B are an illustration of the operation of the regulating member in Mode 9.

[0065] Figures 59A and 59B are an exploded view of the regulating member in Mode 10.

[0066] Figures 60A-60E are an illustration of the operation of the regulating member in Mode 10.

[0067] Figures 61A-61C are an illustration to explain the operation of the regulating member of Mode 10. iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu

[0068] Figures 62A-62C are an illustration of the operation of the regulating member in Mode 10.

[0069] Figures 63A and 63B are an illustration to explain the operation of the regulating member in Mode 10.

[0000] Figures 64A and 64B are a side view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 11.

[0071] Figure 65 is an exploded view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 11.

[0072] Figures 66A-66C are an illustration showing the assembly operation of the process cartridge in the main assembly of the apparatus in Mode 11.

[0073] Figure 67 is an exploded view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 12.

[0074] Figures 68A-68C are an illustration of the operation of the regulating member in Mode 12.

[0075] Figures 69A and 69B are an illustration of the operation of the regulating member in Mode 12.

[0076] Figures 70A-70C are an illustration of the operation of the Mode 12 regulating member.

[0077] Figures 71A and 71B are an illustration of the operation of the regulating member in Mode 12.

[0078] Figures 72A and 72B are an illustration of the operation of the regulating member in Mode 12. d / UU say 1 u DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0079] The embodiment implementing the present invention will be described by way of example in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes and relative arrangement of the components described in this embodiment must be changed appropriately according to the structure of the device to which the invention is applied and the various conditions. That is, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the modalities that will be described below. iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu Mode 1

[0080] With reference to Figures 1 to 16, an Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. In the following embodiments, an imaging apparatus wherein four cartridges (hereinafter referred to as process cartridges) can be detachably mounted is exemplified as an imaging apparatus. The number of process cartridges to be mounted in the imaging apparatus is not limited to that of the modalities. It is selected appropriately depending on the situation. Furthermore, in the embodiments described below, a laser printer is exemplified as an aspect of the imaging apparatus. Schematic structure of the imaging apparatus

[0081] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an imaging apparatus 500 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge P according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge P according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from a drive side, which is an end side in an axial direction (hereinafter referred to as longitudinal direction). of a photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as photosensitive drum 4).

[0082] This imaging apparatus 500 is a four-color full-color laser printer that uses an electrophotographic process and forms a color image on a recording material S. The imaging apparatus 500 is of the cartridge type process and forms a color image on a recording material S, wherein the process cartridge P is removably mounted on a main assembly of imaging apparatus 502. Here, with respect to the imaging apparatus 500 , a side on which a front door 111 is provided is a front side, and the side opposite the front side is a rear d / UU side (rear side). Furthermore, the right side of the imaging apparatus 500 is called the drive side, and the left side is called the non-drive side. Furthermore, when the imaging apparatus 500 is viewed from the front side, the upper side is called the upper side and the lower side is called the lower side. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the imaging apparatus 500 viewed from the non-drive side, where the front side of the drawing sheet is the non-drive side of the imaging apparatus 500, the right side of the drawing sheet is the front side of the imaging apparatus 500, the back side of the drawing sheet is the drive side of the imaging apparatus 500.

[0083] In the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502, four process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) are arranged, in particular, a first process cartridge PY, a second process cartridge PM, a third process cartridge PC and a fourth process cartridge PK, in a substantially horizontal direction. Each of the first to fourth P process cartridges (PY, PM, PC, PK) has a similar electrophotographic process mechanism and uses a different color of developer (hereinafter referred to as toner). Rotational drive forces are transmitted from a drive output portion (not shown) of the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 to the first to fourth process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK). A bias voltage (charge bias, development bias, etc.) (not shown) is supplied from the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 to each of the first to fourth process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK).

[0084] As shown in Figure 3, each of the first to fourth process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) of this embodiment includes a drum unit 8 that rotatably supports the photosensitive drum 4 and it includes loading means and cleaning means as process means operable in the photosensitive drum 4. Each of the first to fourth process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) shown in Figure 2 includes a developing unit 9 that includes developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4. The drum unit 8 and the developing unit 9 are coupled to each other. More specific structures of the P process cartridge will be described later.

[0085] The first process cartridge PY contains yellow toner (Y) in the developer container 25 and forms a yellow toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4. The second process cartridge PM contains magenta toner (M) in the developer container 25 and forms a magenta toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4. The third process cartridge PC contains cyan toner (C) in the developer container 25 and forms a cyan toner image. on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4. The fourth PK process cartridge contains black toner (K) in the developer container 25 and forms a black toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4.

[0086] Above the first to fourth process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) a laser scanner unit 114 is provided as an exposure means. This laser scanner unit 114 emits a laser beam U according to the image information. The laser beam U travels through the exposure window 10 of the process cartridge P to scan and expose the surface of the photosensitive drum 4.

[0087] An intermediate transfer belt unit 112 as a transfer element extends below the first to fourth process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK). The intermediate transfer belt unit 112 includes a drive roller 112e, a turning roller 112c and a tension roller 112b, and a flexible transfer belt 112a is stretched around. The bottom surfaces of the photosensitive drums 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) of the first to fourth process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) are in contact with an upper surface of the transfer belt 112a. The contact portion between them is a d / UU portion of 1 u primary transfer. A primary transfer roller 112d is provided within the transfer belt 112a, opposite the photosensitive drum 4. A secondary transfer roller 106a is in contact with the turning roller 112c with the transfer belt 112a between them. A contact portion between the transfer belt 112a and the secondary transfer roller 106a is a secondary transfer portion.

[0088] A feeding unit 104 is provided below the intermediate transfer belt unit 112. The feeding unit 104 includes a sheet feeding tray 104a in which the stacked recording material S is received, and includes a roller sheet feed 104b. A fixing device 107 and a paper discharge device 108 are provided on the upper left portion (Figure 2) of the main imaging apparatus assembly 502. The upper surface of the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 functions as a discharge tray 113. A toner image is fixed on the recording material S by fixing means provided on the fixing device 107, and then the recording material S is discharged to the discharge tray 1 u of paper 113. Imaging operation

[0089] The operation to form a full color image is as follows. The photosensitive drums 4 of the first to fourth process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) are rotatably driven at a predetermined speed (in the direction of arrow A in Figure 3). The transfer belt 112a is also driven in rotation at a speed corresponding to the speed of the photosensitive drum 4 in the forward direction (direction of arrow C in Figure 2) with the rotation of the photosensitive drum. The laser scanner unit 114 is also driven. In sync with the drive of the laser scanner unit 114, the charging roller 5 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 to a potential of a predetermined polarity, in each process cartridge. The laser scanner unit 114 scans and exposes the surface of each photosensitive drum 4 with a laser beam U according to the image signal of each color. By means of this, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the corresponding color image signal is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 6 (6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K) which is rotationally driven (in the direction of arrow D in Figure 3) at a predetermined speed.

[0090] A yellow toner image is formed ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u corresponding to the yellow component of the full color image in the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y) of the first PY process cartridge by the electrophotographic imaging process operation as described above. Then, the toner image is mainly transferred to the transfer belt 112a. Similarly, the magenta toner image corresponding to the magenta component of the full color image is formed in the photosensitive drum 4 (4M) of the second PM process cartridge. Then, the toner image is superimposed on the yellow toner image that has already been transferred to the transfer belt 112a, by primary transfer. Similarly, a cyan toner image corresponding to the cyan component of the full color image is formed on the photosensitive drum 4 (4C) of the third process cartridge PC. The toner image is then superimposed on the yellow and magenta toner images that have already been transferred to the transfer belt 112a, by primary transfer. Similarly, a black toner image corresponding to the black component of the full color image is formed on the photosensitive drum 4 (4K) of the fourth PK process cartridge. The toner image is then superimposed on the yellow, magenta and cyan toner images that have already been transferred to the transfer belt 112a, by primary transfer. In this way, an unfixed full-color toner image of four colors d / UU of 1 u yellow, magenta, cyan and black is formed on the transfer ribbon 112a.

[0091] On the other hand, the recording material S is separated and fed one by one at a predetermined controlled time. The recording material S is introduced into the secondary transfer portion, which is the contact portion between the secondary transfer roller 106a and the transfer belt 112a, at a predetermined controlled time. By this, the four-color superimposed toner image on the transfer belt 112a is collectively transferred to the surface of the recording material S while the recording material S is fed to the secondary transfer portion. d / UU say 1 u General structure of the process cartridge

[0092] In this embodiment, the first to fourth P process cartridges (PY, PM, PC, PK) have the same electrophotographic process mechanisms and contain the toners in different colors and quantities. The process cartridge P shown in Figure 3 includes a photosensitive drum 4 and process means acting on the photosensitive drum 4. Here, the process means includes the charging roller 5 as a charging means for charging the photosensitive drum 4, the developing roller 6 as a developing member for developing a latent image formed by depositing toner on the photosensitive drum 4, and a cleaning sheet 7 as a cleaning means for removing residual toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum 4, and the like. The process cartridge P is divided into drum unit 8 and developing unit 9. The shape of the cartridge that can be used with the main assembly of imaging apparatus is not limited to the shape shown here. For example, the drum unit 8 and the developing unit 9 can be assembled and disassembled independently of the main imaging apparatus assembly, or the drum unit 8 is attached to the main imaging apparatus assembly and only the unit Developing module 9 can be mounted on and detached from the main assembly of imaging apparatus. d / UU say 1 u Drum unit structure

[0093] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the drum unit 8 includes a photosensitive drum 4, a charging roller 5, a cleaning sheet 7, a drum frame 15, a waste toner storage portion 15a, a drive side cartridge cover member 520, a non-drive opposite side cartridge cover member 521. The photosensitive drum 4 is rotatably supported by a drive side cartridge cover member 520 and a Non-drive side cartridge cover member 521 provided at both ends of the process cartridge P in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, a photosensitive member coupling member 43 to which the driving force is applied to rotate the photosensitive drum 4 is provided on one side of the end of the photosensitive drum 4 in the longitudinal direction. The photosensitive member coupling member 43 is coupled with a coupling (not shown) as a drum drive output portion of the main imaging apparatus assembly 502, such that the driving force of the drive motor (not shown) of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 4. The charging roller 5 is supported by the drum frame 15 to be in contact with the photosensitive drum 4 so that it is driven to rotate by the photosensitive drum 4. Furthermore, the cleaning blade 7 is supported by the drum frame 15 to contact the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 with a predetermined pressure. The untransferred residual toner removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 by the cleaning sheet 7 is stored in the residual toner storage portion 15a within the drum frame 15. d / UU say 1 u Development unit structure

[0094] As shown in Figure 3, the developing unit 9 includes the developing roller 6, a developing sheet 30, the developing container 25, etc. The developer container 25 includes a toner storage portion 29 that stores toner to be supplied to the developing roller 6 and a developing sheet 30 that regulates the thickness of the toner layer on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 6. The developing sheet 30 is formed by mounting an elastic member 30b made of metal sheet having a thickness of about 0.1 mm on a support member 30a made of a metallic material having an L-shaped cross section by welding or the like. The developing sheet 30 is mounted on the developer container 25 with fixing screws 30c in two positions, in particular, one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end. The developing roller 6 includes a metal core 6c and a rubber portion 6d. The developing roller 6 is rotatably supported by a drive side bearing 526 and a non-drive side bearing 27 mounted on opposite longitudinal ends of the developer container 25, respectively.

[0095] As shown in Figure 4, a developing coupling member 74 to which a driving force is applied to rotate the developing roller 6 is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 9. The developing coupling member 74 is coupled with a coupling (not shown) as the developing drive output portion of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502, and the driving force of the drive motor (not shown ) of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 is applied to the developing unit 9. The driving force introduced into the developing unit 9 is transmitted by a drive train (not shown) provided in the developing unit 9, so so that the developing roller 6 can rotate in the direction of arrow D in Figure 3. A developing device cover member 533 supporting and covering the developing coupling member 74 and the drive train (not shown) is provided at one end of the developing unit 9 in the longitudinal direction. d / UU say 1 u Assembly of drum unit and developing unit

[0096] With reference to the figure, the assembly of the drum unit 8 and the developing unit 9 will be described. The drum unit 8 and the developing unit 9 are connected by a drive side cartridge cover member 520 and a non-drive side cartridge cover member 521 provided at opposite ends of the process cartridge P in the longitudinal direction. A drive side cartridge cover member 520 provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge P is provided with a support hole 520a for supporting the developing unit 9 in a tiltable (movable) manner. A non-drive side cartridge cover member 521 provided at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge P is provided with a cylindrical support portion 521a for supporting the developing unit 9 in a tiltable manner. Furthermore, the drive side cartridge cover member 520 and the non-drive side cartridge cover member 521 are provided with support holes 520b and 521b for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum 4. Here, on the side At one end, the outer diameter portion of the cylindrical portion 533b of the developer cover member 533 fits into the support hole 520a of the drive side cartridge cover member 520. At the other end, the portion The support hole 521a of the non-drive side cartridge cover member 521 fits into the non-drive side bearing hole 27. Furthermore, opposite end portions of the photosensitive drum 4 in the longitudinal direction fit into the support holes. 520b of the drive side cartridge cover member 520 and the support holes 521b d / UU di 1 u of the non-drive side cartridge cover member 521, respectively. The drive side cartridge cover member 520 and the non-drive side cartridge cover member 521 are attached to the drum frame 15 by screws (not shown), adhesive or the like. That is, the drive side cartridge cover member 520 and the non-drive side cartridge cover member 521 are integrated with the drum frame 15 to provide the drum unit 8. By this, the unit developer 9 is supported by the drive side cartridge cover member 520 and the non-drive side cartridge cover member 521 to be rotatable (movable) with respect to the drum unit 8 (photosensitive drum 4). Here, a shaft connecting the support hole 520a of the drive side cartridge cover member 520 and the support portion 521a of the non-drive side cartridge cover member 521 at the center of rotation of the developing unit 9 is called the oscillating shaft K. The cylindrical portion 533b of the developing device cover member 533 is coaxial with the developing coupling member 74, and the developing unit 9 receives the driving force of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 by means of the revealed d / UU di 1 u coupling member 74 in the rotation axis K. When the driving force is interrupted by a structure to be described later, the repulsive force between the photosensitive drum 4 and the roller of developing 6 causes the developing unit 9 to rotate around the oscillating axis K slightly away from the drum unit 8a. By this, the contact pressure between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6 can be reduced. Process cartridge assembly / disassembly structure

[0097] With reference to Figures 2, 5 and 6, the description will be made in more detail as a cartridge tray (hereinafter referred to as tray) 110 that supports the process cartridges. Figure 5 is a sectional view of the imaging apparatus 500 where the tray 110 is positioned within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 with the front door 111 open. Figure 6 is a sectional view of the imaging apparatus 500 where the tray 110 is located outside the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 with the front door 111 open.

[0098] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the tray 110 is movable with respect to the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 in the direction of the arrow XI d / UU di 1 u (push direction) and the arrow direction X2 (extraction direction) . That is, the tray 110 is provided to be removable and pushed toward the main imaging apparatus assembly 502, and in a state in which the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 is placed in a horizontal plane. , the tray 110 is structured to be able to move in a substantially horizontal direction. Here, in the state where the tray 110 is located outside the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 (the state of Figure 6), the position of the tray 110 is called the outside position. Furthermore, tray 110 is placed inside the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 with the front door open and the photosensitive drums 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C and 4K) are separated from the transfer belt 112a by space TI. (see Figure 5), the position of the tray 110 is called the first internal position.

[0099] The tray 110 has a mounting portion 110a in which the process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) can be removably mounted in the outer position shown in Figure 6. Each of The process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) mounted on the mounting portion 110a of the tray 110 in the outer position are supported on the tray 110 by a d / UU side cartridge cover member di 1 u drive 520 and a cartridge cover member opposite the drive side 521 shown in Figure 4 in contact with the mounting portion 110a. Each process cartridge P moves within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 as the tray 110 moves from the outer position to the first inner position while being transported on the mounting portion 110a. At this time, each process cartridge P moves while maintaining a gap Ti between the transfer belt 112a and the photosensitive drum 4, as shown in Figure 5. Therefore, the tray 110 can move the process cartridge P within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 without the photosensitive drum 4 coming into contact with the transfer belt 112a. When the tray 110 is placed in the first inner position, the space TI is maintained between the photosensitive drum 4 and the transfer belt 112a.

[0100] Here, the direction perpendicular to the X direction of the arrow (XI, The tray 110 can be moved from the first inner position in the direction of arrow Z2 in Figure 5 to the second inner position (state shown in Figure 2) where the photosensitive drum 4 and the transfer belt 112a are in contact with each other. Yes and the d / UU di 1 u image the formation is possible. In this embodiment, the structure is such that the tray 110 positioned in the first internal position moves in the direction of the arrow Z2 in Figure 5 in the direction of the arrow R in Figure 5 to a second internal position, in interrelation with the closing operation of the front door 111.

[0101] As described above, the tray 110 may collectively place the plurality of process cartridges P in a position where imaging operation is possible within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502. d / UU say 1 u Structure of drive connection portion

[0102] With reference to Figures 7A, 7B and 8, the structure of the drive connection portion will be described. Here, the drive connection portion is a mechanism that receives transmission from the development drive output member 62 of the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 shown in Figures 7A and 7B and transmits the drive to the development roller. 6 and stops the drive transmission. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side, showing a state in which the drive side cartridge cover member 520 and the developer cover member have been removed. 533. As described above, the drive side cartridge cover member 520 is provided with openings 520a and 520b. The developing coupling member 74 is exposed from the opening 520a. The development coupling member 74 couples with the development drive output member 62 (62Y, 62M, 62C, 62K) of the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 shown in Figure 7B to transmit the driving force of the engine (not shown).

[0103] At the end of the developing unit 9 shown in Figure 8, the developing coupling member 74 and a rotating member 75 capable of transmitting the driving force by means of the developing coupling member 74 are rotatably provided . As the details will be described below, the developing coupling member 74 and the rotating member 75 are coaxial and engageable with each other in the longitudinal direction, and when coupled, the impulse can be transmitted to the rotating member 75 from the developing coupling. 74. The rotating member 75 is coupled with the gear 801, which in turn is coupled with a developing roller gear 802. The gear teeth are formed on the gear 801 and the developing roller gear 802, and iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu the gear teeth mesh with each other. By means of this, the impulse transmitted to the rotating member 75 is transmitted to the developing roller 6 by means of the developing roller gear 802.

[0104] Between the drive side bearing 526 and the drive side cartridge cover member 520, the gear 801, a spring 70, the rotating member 75, a sliding member 80, the developing coupling member 74 and the developing device cover member 533 are provided in order from the drive side bearing 526. The sliding member 80 is a part of the drive switching mechanism and is a coupling disengagement member. These members are provided coaxially with the developing coupling member 74. Here, the drive side bearing 526 includes a cylindrical support portion 526c projecting in the longitudinal direction parallel to the axis of rotation K, and the cover member of Developing device 533 is provided with an orifice fitting 533c that fits around the support portion 526c. The regulating member 510, which is part of the drive switching mechanism and is a movable member capable of moving between a first position and a second position to be described later, is mounted on the support portion 526c so that it can rotate around. Details will be described later. Although the regulating member 510 is mounted on the support portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526 in this embodiment, it may be mounted on other members, such as the developer cover member 533 or the cartridge cover member on the drive side. drive 520. In this embodiment, the drive connection portion comprises the gear 801, the developing roller gear 802, the spring 70, the rotating member 75, the sliding member 80, the developing coupling member 74 and the developing device cover member 533.

[0105] With reference to Figure 9, the structures of the developing coupling member 74 and the rotating member 75 will be described. Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling portion between the developing coupling member 74 and the rotating member 75. The developing coupling member 74 includes a claw portion 74a as a coupling portion (coupling portion), and the rotating member 75 includes a claw portion 75a as a coupling portion (coupling portion) . The developing coupling member 74 has a surface 74b that contacts a sliding member 80, which will be described later, and the rotating member 75 has a surface 75d that contacts the sliding member d / UU di 1 u 80, which will also be described later. Here, the claw portions 74 and 75 are a plurality of radially extending claws and are arranged at equal intervals circumferentially about the centers of rotation thereof, respectively. The claw portion 74a and the claw portion 75a are structured to engage each other. That is, the developing coupling member 74 is structured to be able to connect with the rotating member 75. By means of this, the developing coupling member 74 that engages with the developing drive output member 62 of the main assembly assembly imaging apparatus 502 and receives the driving force rotates and therefore rotates the coupled rotating member 75. In this embodiment, each of the claw portion 74a and the claw portion 75a has nine claws, but the number is not limited to such an example.

[0106] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, a hole 75m is provided in the center of the rotating member 75. The hole 75m is equipped with a small diameter cylindrical portion 74m of the developing coupling member 74 and penetrates it. By this, the developing engagement member 74 is supported to be rotatable with respect to the rotary member 75 about the axis thereof and slideable with respect to the rotary member 75. d / UU say 1 u

[0107] With reference to Figures 10 and 11, the structures of the developing coupling member 74, the rotating member 75, the spring 70, the gear 801 and the sliding member 80 will be described. Figure 10 is a perspective view exploded view of the drive connection portion. Figure 11A is a view of the gear 801 and the rotating member 75 at the time of the drive transmission viewed from the drive side, and Figure 11B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A shown in the figure 11A. For the sake of better illustration, the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80 are not shown in Figure HA.

[0108] The gear 801 includes a column portion 801a that engages the rotating member 75 and the sliding member 80, and a support portion 801b that supports the spring 70. The column portion 801a extends radially from the center of rotation of gear 801 and extends in direction F2. Here, in this embodiment, four pillars 801a are provided as an example, but the number is not limited to that example. The column portion 801a passes through the adjustment hole 75n, which is the driving transmission portion of the rotating member 75, and the surface 801c of the column portion 801a and the cylindrical inner surface 80c of the sliding member 80 are adjusted ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u to each other outside the mounting hole 75 in the longitudinal direction. One end of the spring 70 is mounted on the supporting portion 801b of the gear 801, and the other end is mounted on the supporting portion 75b of the rotating member 75, such that the rotating member 75 is pushed longitudinally outward along of the axis of rotation K direction in the F1 direction. Here, the support portion 801b is provided coaxially with the center of rotation of the gear 801, extends in the direction F2, and fits one end of the spring 70, thereby supporting the spring 70 from falling. The outer peripheral surface 75c of the rotating member 75 is located within the inner peripheral surface 801e of the gear 801, and the rotating member 75 can slide within the gear 801 in the direction of the axis of rotation K. The cylindrical inner surface 80c of the sliding member 80 is supported by the surface 801c of the column portion 801a to be able to rotate about the axis of rotation K and slide in the direction of the axis of rotation K, and an end surface 80d thereof is in contact with the surface 75d of the rotating member 75. By this, the sliding member 80 receives the driving force of the spring 70 and is constantly driven in the direction F1. The sliding member 80 has a cam surface 80a and a surface 80b facing the surface 74b of the developing coupling member 74, and in the drive transmission state shown in Figure 11B, the distance ratio from the end surface 80d to the opposite surface 80b and a distance L from the surface 74b to the surface 75d is H<L. Therefore, the claw portions 75a and 74a can be engaged with each other, the rotating member 75 being pushed by the spring 70 and moving in the direction F1.

[0109] Referring to Figure 11A, the description will be made of the impulse transmission state when the claw portion 74a and the claw portion 75a are coupled with each other and the developing coupling member rotates with the impulse introduced from the developing drive output member 62 of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502. When the rotating member 75 rotates in the direction V2, the drive transmission surface 75e at the upstream end of the adjustment hole 75n in the direction of rotation contacts the drive transmission surface 801d of the column portion 801a of the gear 801. The gear 801 receives a rotation force in the direction V2 on the drive transmission surface 801d, rotates in the direction V2 and transmits rotation to the coupled developing roller gear 802, thereby driving the developing roller 6. iviA / a / zu¿ó / uuó ι i u Drive connection break structure

[0110] With reference to Figures 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B, the structure for breaking the drive connection will be described. Figures 12A and 12B show a regulating member 510 that regulates the longitudinal position of the sliding member 80 to break the driving connection, and Figure 12A and Figure 12B are perspective views viewed from the opposite side, for better illustration. Figure 13A and Figure 13B show the positional relationship between the regulating member 510 and the aforementioned drive connection portion, in the drive connection state and the broken drive connection state, respectively.

[0111] The regulating member 510 has a supported hole 510a, a regulating lever portion 510b, a foot portion 510c, and a foot portion 510d. The regulating lever portion 510b has a cam surface 510g and an inclined surface 510h, and the foot portions 510c and 510d have respective surfaces 510e and 510f that receive forces from a drive control member 540, which will be described later. The supported bore 510a of the regulating member 510 is equipped with the supporting portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526 described above, such that it can rotate about a d / UU of 1 u axis of the supporting portion 526c.

[0112] Figure 13A shows the positional relationship between the regulating lever portion 510b and the drive connection portion in the drive transmission state. This position of the regulating member 510 is called the first position of the regulating member 510. This position is a driving force transmission position to allow the transmission of driving force from the developing coupling member 74 to the developing roller 6.

[0113] In an interrupted power transmission state shown in Figure 13B, the regulating member 510 rotates about the supporting portion 526c (Figure 8) of the drive side bearing 526, and the regulating lever portion 510b of the regulating lever member 510 is interposed between the inclined surface 74c of the developing coupling member 74 and the cam surface 80a of the sliding member 80. This position of the regulating member 510 is called the second position of the regulating member 510. This position is a driving force interruption position to interrupt the transmission of the driving force of the developing coupling member 74 to the developing roller 6. At this time, the cam surface 510g of the regulating lever portion 510b contacts the cam surface 80a of the sliding member 80, and the force component JK in the d / UU di 1 u direction of the axis of rotation K of the force J applied from the regulating lever portion 510b to the sliding member 80 causes the sliding member 80 to move in the address of F2. By moving the sliding member 80 in the direction F2, the rotating member 75 also moves in the direction F2, such that the claw portions 75a and 74a of the rotating member 75 and the developing coupling member 74 are disengaged from each other. yes, thus breaking the conduction connection. At this time, the regulating lever portion 510b receives the reaction force JS of the spring 70 as a driving means from the surface 80b of the sliding member 80 in the direction El. The regulating lever portion 510b bears against the surface 74b of the developing coupling member 74 and tends to move in the direction Fl, but the surface 74d of the developing coupling member 74 bears against the surface 533d of the cover member of developing device 533 and stops. By this, the regulating lever portion 510b is sandwiched between the sliding member 80 and the developing coupling member 74, receives the reaction force of the spring 70 in the coupling portion and is sandwiched to receive resistance and, therefore, Therefore, its position is restricted to the state of not being subject to an external force. That is, the regulating lever portion 510b as a movable portion is sandwiched d / UU di 1 u between the sliding member 80 and the developing coupling member 74 and is held in the driving force interruption position. Assembly of the main assembly

[0114] With reference to the figure, the operation when the process cartridge P is mounted on the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be described. Figure 14A is an illustration showing a state in which the process cartridge P is placed in the first inner position and the photosensitive drum 4 and the transfer belt 112a are separated from each other, viewed from the drive side. Figure 14B is a view of the state where the process cartridge P is placed in the second internal position and the photosensitive drum 4 and the transfer belt 112a are in contact with each other, seen from the drive side. In Figure 14A and Figure 14B, the drive side cartridge cover member 520 is omitted for better illustration.

[0115] The main imaging apparatus assembly 502 includes the drive control members 540 corresponding to the respective process cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK). The drive control member 540 is arranged below the regulating member 510 (direction Z2 in Fig. 14) of the process cartridge P placed in the first internal position and the second internal position. The drive control member 540 includes a control portion 540a that projects toward the process cartridge P as a main assembly force application portion, and the control portion 540a includes a first force application surface 540b as a first main assembly force application portion and a second force application surface 540c as a second main assembly force application portion. The control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 is positioned below the bottom surface of the space Q1 sandwiched between the surfaces 510e and 510f described in Figure 12. In addition, the drive control member 540 is arranged so that provides a space T5 between itself and the regulating member 510 when the process cartridge P is placed in the first inner position (Figure 14A). That is, as described above, the regulating member 510 of the process cartridge P inserted into the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 by the tray 110 moving from the outer position to the first inner position is inserted into the assembly main of the apparatus 502 without contacting the drive control member 540. When the process cartridge P moves from the first internal position to the second internal position d / UU di 1 u by closing the front door 111 as described above, The control portion 540a enters the space Q1 as shown in Figure 14B.

[0116] Figure 15 shows a view of the process cartridge P installed in the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 viewed in the direction of arrow VW in Figure 14B. For the sake of better illustration, Figure 15 omits the drive control member 540 except for the control portion 540a. In addition, some of the parts of the process cartridge P are omitted. As shown in Figure 15, the foot portion 510c as the retraction force receiving portion of the regulating member 510 and the foot portion 510d as the portion of receiving the insertion force partially overlap in the direction along the rotation axis K of the developing unit 9, so that a gap Q1 is formed. Furthermore, when the process cartridge P is placed in the second inner position (imaging position) and the control portion 540a enters the space Ql, the control portion 540a is arranged to overlap the foot portion 510c and the foot portion 510d in the direction along the rotation axis K. Here, as shown in Figure 14B, when the process cartridge P is placed in the second inner position of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 and the regulatory member d / UU di 1 u 510 is in the first position, there is a space T3 between the surface 510e of the foot portion 510c and the second force application surface 540c, and there is a space T4 between the surface 510f of the foot portion 510d and the first surface of force application 540b, where this position is referred to as an initial position of the actuation control member 540,. iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu Drive connection interruption operation

[0117] With reference to Figures 1A-1C, an operation of moving the regulating member 510 from the first position to the second position within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be described, that is, an operation of breaking the conduction connection described above. Figures 1A-1C are a view of the process cartridge P positioned in the second interior position within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 viewed from the drive side. For the sake of better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover member 520 is omitted therefrom.

[0118] Figure 1A shows a state in which the regulating member 510 is in the first position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position (first main assembly position). Here, as described above, in the initial position of the drive control member 540 in Figure 1, there is the space T4 between the first force application surface and the foot 510d which is the retraction force receiving portion for the process cartridge P located in the second inner position. Furthermore, the space T3 exists between the second force applying surface 540c and the foot portion 510c, which is the insertion force receiving portion. The drive control member 540 of this embodiment is structured to be able to move from the initial position in the direction of arrow W51 in Figure 1A towards the second main assembly position. When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51 from the state of Figure IB in the direction of arrow Bl, the first force application surface 540b and the surface 510f of the foot portion 510d rest against each other. yes, the regulating member 510 oscillates in the direction of arrow Bl in Figure IB on the support portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526. The support portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526 fits coaxially in the hole adjustment 533c of the developing device cover member 533, and the axis thereof is parallel to the axis of rotation K. When the regulating member 510 rotates in the direction of arrow Bl in the d / UU di 1 u 6 Figure IB, the regulating member 510 moves from the first position to the second position. At this time, the regulating lever portion 510b of the regulating member 510 is inserted between the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80 as shown in Figures 13A and 13B, whereby the sliding member 80 moves in the direction F2 to bring the claw portion 75a and the claw portion 74a to disengage from each other, thus breaking the drive connection. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1C, even if the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52 and returns to the initial position, the control portion 540a maintains the space T6 between the surface 510e of the foot portion 510c of the regulating member 510 and the space T6 and does not bring them into contact with each other. That is, the regulating member 510 does not receive external force from the drive control member 540. Furthermore, since the regulating lever portion 510b is sandwiched between the sliding member 80 and the developing coupling member 74 as described above, the Regulatory member 510 remains in second position. By this, the sliding member 80 cannot slide in the El direction, so that the off state of the drive is maintained. d / UU say 1 u Drive connection operation

[0119] With reference to Figures 16A-16C, the operation of moving the regulating member 510 from the second position to the first position within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be described, that is, the operation of connecting the drive. Figures 16A16C are a view of the process cartridge P located in the second interior position within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 viewed from the drive side. For the sake of better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover member 520 is omitted therefrom.

[0120] Figure 16A shows a state in which the regulating member 510 is in the second position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. The drive control member 540 is structured to be able to move from the initial position in the direction of arrow W52 in Figure 16A towards the third main assembly position. When the drive control member 540 of this embodiment moves from the state shown in Figure 16A until the second force applying surface 540c and the surface 510e of the foot portion 510c come into contact with each other, The regulating member 510 rotates in the direction of arrow B2 (Figures 16A-16C) in the initial position d / UU di 1 u in the direction of arrow W52 in Figure 16A towards the third position of the main assembly. As described above, the support portion 526c fits into the adjustment hole 533c of the developer cover member 533, and the axis of rotation of the regulating member 510 is parallel to the axis of rotation K. By rotating the regulating member 510 in the direction of arrow B2, the regulating member 510 moves from the second position to the first position. At this time, the regulating lever portion 510b of the regulating member 510 explained with reference to Figures 13A and 13B moves away from between the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80, so that the rotating member 75 that receives the driving force described with Figures 11A and 11B moves in the direction of arrow Fl, so the connection of the drive is interrupted. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 16C, even if the driving control member 540 moves in the direction W51 and returns to the initial position, the control portion 540a is kept separate from the surface 510f of the foot 510d of the regulating member. 510 through the T9 space, and therefore, they do not support each other. Furthermore, at this time, the control portion 540a is separated, by a space T8, from the surface 510e of the foot portion 510c of the regulating member 510 and, therefore, the control portion 540a and the regulating member 510 d / UU di 1 u stay out of contact state. For this reason, the drive connection state is maintained as long as the regulating member 510 is maintained in the first position.

[0121] As described above, by using the structure of this embodiment, it is possible to switch between the second position and the first position of the regulating member 510 by moving the drive control member 540 from the initial position, thereby changing the connection state drive. By means of this, it is possible to change the drive independently of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6.

[0122] In this embodiment, the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80 are illustrated as an example of the first and second coaxial rotating members that engage each other to carry out transmission and non-transmission of the drive, in the driving force transmission path from the developing coupling member 74 to the developing roller 6. The first rotating member and the second rotating member may be two members that are placed at other points in the transmission path and which may adopt a coupling position in which they can mesh with each other around the axis of rotation to transmit the driving force, and a non-coupling position in which they are spaced d / UU di 1 u from each other in the direction of the axis of rotation and the driving force is not transmitted. That is, the present invention is not limited to the structure of this modality. Mode 2

[0123] With reference to Figures 17 to 25, a process cartridge and an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. The process cartridge of this modality is the same as that of Modality 1, except for the structure of the regulating member and its periphery. Consequently, members that include the same functions and structures are assigned the same reference numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted. d / UU say 1 u Structure of drive connection portion

[0124] Figure 17 is a perspective view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side, showing a state in which the drive side cartridge cover member 520 and the device cover member are removed of development 533. Between the drive side bearing 526 and the drive side cartridge cover member 520, a gear 1801 is provided, a clutch 180 which is a drive transmission switching device that includes an interruption mechanism drive, a developing coupling member 174 and a developing device cover member 533. Furthermore, similar to Embodiment 1, the regulating member 1510 is slidably mounted on the support portion 526c of the side bearing. drive 526. In this embodiment, the drive connection portion comprises the gear 1801, the clutch 180, the developing coupling 174, and the developing device cover member 533. In this embodiment, the transmission switching device Drive mechanism 180 will be described as a spring clutch as an example, and will be referred to as spring clutch 180.

[0125] Referring to Figure 18, a general description of the spring clutch 180 will be made. The spring clutch 180 in this embodiment comprises a control ring 180a, an output member 180b, an inner input ring 180c, a 180d transmission inner ring and a 180e transmission spring. An inner input ring 180c as an input member engages with the developing coupling member 174 and rotates upon receiving a driving force from the upstream side of the transmission path. The inner input ring 180c and the transmission spring 180e wound around its outer periphery d / UU di 1 u are in a state in which the relative rotation is restricted by the clamping force (friction) of the transmission spring 180e as transmission member, and the driving force is transmitted to the transmission spring 180e. The relative rotation between the input inner ring 180c and the transmission spring 180e is also restricted by the clamping force (friction) of the transmission spring 180e. Therefore, the rotation transmitted to the transmission spring 180e is transmitted to the transmission inner ring 180d by the clamping force of the transmission spring 180e. The transmission inner ring 180d engages with the output member 180b, and the output member 180b transmits the driving force in the engagement portion with the gear 1801, which will be described later, in the same manner as in Mode 1. The control ring 180a when the control member is engaged with one end of a transmission spring 180e, and by rotating the control ring 180a in a direction opposite to the spring adjustment direction, the spring adjustment (the degree of contact with each inner ring) can be loosened. As described above, all parts constituting the spring clutch 180 rotate together during transmission of the transmission. To interrupt transmission of the transmission, the transmission spring 180e is loosened from the input inner ring 180c d / UU di 1 u (reducing the friction force between the transmission spring 180e and each inner ring) stopping the rotation of the transmission ring control 180a and the transmission from the input inner ring 180c to the transmission inner ring 180d by the transmission spring 180e is not transmitted to the transmission inner ring 180d, thus interrupting the transmission.

[0126] Furthermore, the structure of the spring clutch 180 is not limited to this example, and the number of inner rings may be one. In that case, the opposite end of the transmission spring 180e to the end that engages the control ring 180a can be directly engaged with the output member 180b to transmit rotation. Furthermore, the drive transmission switching device may have a shape other than that of a spring clutch, and may be a device structured in such a way that upon partially stopping rotation, the rotation transmission portion expands in the direction radial or move in the circumferential direction to disconnect the drive. That is, various conventionally known structures can be used, if it is possible to form a transmission state in which the driving force is transmitted by restricting the relative rotation between the members transmitting the driving force, and form a non-drive state in which the driving force is not transmitted d / UU di 1 u allowing relative rotation.

[0127] With reference to the figure, the assembly of the gear 1801, the spring clutch 180 and the developing coupling member 174 will be described. Figure 19A shows the assembly of the spring clutch 180 and the developing coupling member 174, and Figure 19B shows the assembly of the spring clutch 180 and the gear 1801. The input inner ring 180c of the spring clutch 180 is provided with an input groove 180f, and the developing coupling member 174 is provided with a claw portion 174a . By coupling the claw portion 174a with the input groove 180f, when the developing coupling member 174 rotates, the input inner ring 180c rotates and the impulse can be transmitted. The output member 180b of the spring clutch 180 is provided with an output claw 180g, and the gear 1801 is provided with a transmission groove 1801a. By engaging the output claw 180g with the transmission groove 1801a, when the output member 180b rotates, the gear 1801 rotates and the transmission can be transmitted. By this, the driving force input to the developing coupling member 174 is transmitted to the gear 1801 to rotate the developing roller gear 802, thereby driving the developing roller 6. In this embodiment, three portions of claw 174a, three input d / UU slots 180f, three output claws 180g and three transmission slots 1801a, but the number is not limited to such examples. ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u Drive Disconnect Structure

[0128] Referring to Figures 20A, 20B, 21A and 21B, the structure of the drive disconnection will be described. Figures 20A and 20B show a regulating member 1510 for stopping the rotation of the control ring 180a of the spring clutch 180 to disconnect the drive, and Figures 21A and 21B are a view from the drive side and show a positional relationship between the regulating member 1510 and the spring clutch 180 in the drive transmission state and in the drive interruption state.

[0129] With reference to Figures 20A and 20B, the structure of the regulating member 1510 will be described. The regulating member 1510 has a supported hole 1510a, a regulating lever portion 1510b, a foot portion 1510c and a foot portion 1510d. The regulating lever portion 1510b has a regulating surface 1510g for stopping the control ring 180a of the spring clutch 180 and a contact surface 1510h contacting the outer peripheral surface 180j of the spring clutch 180. Furthermore, similar to In Embodiment 1, the foot portion 1510c and the foot portion 1510d have surfaces 1510e and 1510f, which are surfaces for receiving force of the drive control member 540, respectively. Furthermore, as in Embodiment 1, the supported hole 1510a is equipped with the supporting portion 526c of the drive side bearing 52 6 such that it can rotate about the axis of the supporting portion 526c.

[0130] Referring to Figure 21A, the positional relationship between the regulating member 1510 and the spring clutch 180 in the drive transmission state will be described. A control ring 180a of the spring clutch 180 is provided with a control portion 180 having an engaging portion that engages the regulating member 1510. The control portion 180h is a claw-shaped portion projecting from the surface outer peripheral of the control ring 180a. Here, the reference sign rb indicates a place of movement of the radial free end portion of the control portion 180h at the time when the spring clutch 180 receives the driving force and rotates in the direction V2. When the regulating member 1510 is placed outside the locus rb seen from the center of the spring clutch 180 (axis of rotation K), the control ring 180a can rotate in the direction V2, such that the impulse is transmitted. The position of this regulating member 1510 is called the first position of the d / UU of 1 u regulating member 1510 as non-coupling position.

[0131] Referring to Figure 21B, the positional relationship between the regulating member 1510 and the spring clutch 180 in the disconnected drive state will be described. The regulating member 1510 oscillates about the supporting portion 526c (Figure 17) of the drive side bearing 526 in the direction B1 as a movement about the axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the control ring 180a, and when the surface of regulation 1510g enters the locus rb, the control portion 180h, which rotates in the direction V2 upon receiving the driving force, hits the regulation surface 1510g. Here, the force received by the control surface 1510g from the control portion 180h at the contact surface between the control portion 180h and the control surface 1510g is a rotation force JB. It is desired that the length of the regulating lever portion 1510b and the length of the control portion 180h be adjusted such that the rotation force JB in the direction of rotation V2 occurs in an area Q2 that is perpendicular to a line imaginary connecting the center of the axis N of the supported hole 1510a and the axis of rotation K, which is also the center of rotation of the spring clutch 180. With such an adjustment, the control portion 180h hitting the regulating surface 1510g pulls the restriction lever portion 1510b in the direction of rotation V2, and rotates the regulating member 1510 in the direction B1. By this, the contact surface 1510h provided on the regulating lever portion 1510b of the regulating member 1510 that has rotated in the direction B1 can hit the outer peripheral surface 180j of the spring clutch 180, thereby regulating the position in the direction B1 . At this time, the regulating member 1510 hits the outer peripheral surface 180j of the spring clutch 180, which functions as the second gear portion, on the contact surface 1510, and hits the control portion 180h, which functions as the first gear portion, on the contact surface 1510. regulatory surface 1510g. In the area Q2, which is a region sandwiched between a first imaginary line passing through the axis of rotation K of the spring clutch 180 and a second imaginary line passing through the axial center N of the regulating member 1510, the locus of movement of the control portion 180h and the locus of movement of the regulating member 1510 when the movement portion intersect each other. By this, the position of the regulating member 1510 is fixed while receiving the rotation force JB unless it receives an external force from another. By stopping the control portion 180h of the spring clutch 180 by the regulating member 1510, that is, stopping the rotation of the control ring 180a, the d / UU di 1 u driving force introduced from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 can be disconnected. This position of the regulating member 1510 is called the second position of the regulating member 1510 as the coupling position. Drive connection interruption operation

[0132] With reference to Figures 22A-22C, the operation of moving the regulating member 1510 from the first position to the second position within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be explained, that is, the operation of disconnecting the drive described above. Figures 22A-22C are a view of the process cartridge P positioned in the second interior position within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502, viewed from the drive side. For the sake of better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover member 520 is omitted.

[0133] As shown in Figure 22A, when the regulating member 1510 is in the first position and the drive control member 540 is in the initial position, the control ring 180a can rotate in the direction V2 and the transmission is transmit. When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51 from the state of Figure 22A and the first force application surface 540b and a surface 1510f of the foot portion 1510d of the regulating member 1510 come into contact with each other, the regulator member 1510 oscillates in the direction of arrow B1 in Figure 22B. That is, the regulating member 1510 moves from the first position to the second position. In the second position, as shown in Figure 21B, by inserting the regulating lever portion 1510b of the regulating member 1510 into the locus rb of the free end of the control portion 180h of the spring clutch 180, the regulating surface 1510g stops rotation of the control portion 180h. With this, the rotation of the control ring 180a is stopped and the spring 180e of the spring clutch 180 is loosened, thereby disconnecting the transmission. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 22C, even if the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52 and returns to the initial position, the control portion 540a maintains the space T6 from the surface 1510e in the foot portion 1510c from regulatory member 1510, and do not contact each other. Therefore, as shown in Figures 21A and 21B, the restriction lever portion 1510b is pulled in the direction V2 by the control portion 180h, so that the regulating member 1510 is held in the second position and maintained the status of d / UU di 1 u drive disconnection. d / UU say 1 u Drive connection operation

[0134] With reference to Figures 23A-23C, the operation of moving the regulating member 1510 from the second position to the first position within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be described, that is, the operation of connecting the drive. Figures 23A-23C are a view of the process cartridge P positioned in the second interior position within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 viewed from the drive side. For the sake of better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover member 520 is omitted.

[0135] Figure 23A shows a state in which the regulating member 1510 is in the second position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52 from the state of Figure 23B, it rotates in the direction of the arrow B2 and the second force applying member 540c and the surface 1510e of the foot portion 1510c of the regulating member come into contact with each other, the regulating portion 1510 rotates in the direction of arrow B2 in Figure 23B. That is, the regulating member 1510 moves from the second position to the first position. At this time, as shown in Figures 21A and 21B, the regulating lever portion 1510b rotates in the direction B2 from the state where the control portion 180h pulls it in the direction V2 and, therefore, the Rotational force JB is imparted to the drive control member as a load. Here, the rotational force JB acting as a load is a force that stops (tends to push back) the control ring 180a of the spring clutch 180 and is therefore a force in the same direction as the elastic force of the spring 180e that tends to return the control ring 180a to its original position. Therefore, when it is desired to reduce the rotation force JB, it is preferable to change the spring constant, but it is desirable to determine it to balance it with the necessary transmission performance of the clutch itself. In the state of Fig. 23B, the regulating lever portion 1510b is removed from the locus rb and the drive is transmitted. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 23C, even if the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51 and returns to the initial position, the control portion 540a maintains the space T9 from the surface 1510f in the foot portion 1510d of the regulatory member 1510, and they do not contact each other. Therefore, the drive transmission state is maintained as long as the regulating member 1510 is maintained in the first position. d / UU say 1 u Other structures

[0136] With reference to Figures 24A and 24B and 25A-25D, other structures of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the position of the drive control member 540 at the time when a gap exists between it and the regulating member 1510 is called the initial position, but the structure is not necessarily limited to the structure that includes the gap. As an example of a structure in which the regulating member 1510 and the driving control member 540 are in contact with each other in the initial position, there is a structure in which a driving member 1511 is mounted on the regulating member 1510. Referring to 24 and 25, a structure will be described in which a driving member 1511 is mounted on the regulating member 1510.

[0137] Referring to Figure 24A and Figure 24B, the contour of the drive member 1511 will be described. The drive member 1511 comprises a free end portion 1511a and a spring 1511b which is a helical compression spring. Figures 24A and 24B show a state in which the spring 1511b of the driving member 1511 is removed from the free end portion 1511a and the supporting portion 1510i is provided on the surface 1510e of the regulating member 1510. The spring 1511b of the driving member 1511 is provided with an end turning portion on each of d / UU di 1 u 4 the opposite end portions, and is secured by snapping the support portion 15101 of the regulating member 1510 to the inner diameter of the end turning portion at one end. The end turning portion at the other end is fixed to the free end portion 1511a of the driving member 1511. In addition, a protruding portion 1510j having a diameter smaller than that of the supporting portion 1510i of the regulating member 1510 passes through the inner portion of the elastic portion of the spring 1511b of the driving member 1511 to restrict the contraction direction of the spring 1511b to an arrow direction SI or an arrow direction S2.

[0138] With reference to Figures 25A-25D, the operation of switching the drive transmission state within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be described. In this structure, the second force application surface 540c of the member The drive control section 540 and the free end portion 1511a of the drive member 1511 are in contact with each other in the initial position. Figure 25A shows a state in which the regulating member 1510 is in the first position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. In the state of Figure 25A, the spring 1511b of the driving member 1511 is slightly compressed, and the regulating lever portion 1510k of the regulating member 1510 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 533f of the cover member. developing device 533. Therefore, the regulating member 1510 is fixed in a position in which the regulating lever portion 1510k contacts the outer peripheral surface 533f of the developing device cover member 533, thereby reliably maintaining the drive transmission status.

[0139] Here, when the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51, the regulating member 1510 moves from the first position to the second position as shown in Figure 25B, and the regulating surface 1510g of the member regulator 1510 and the control portion 180h of the spring clutch 180 support each other. By this, the rotation of the control portion 180h of the spring clutch 180 is stopped, and the transmission is disconnected. In the state shown in Figure 25B, the second force applying surface 540c of the driving control member 540 and the free end portion 1511a of the driving member 1511 are separated from each other. The free end portion 1511a of the drive member 1511 may be in slight contact with the second force applying surface 540c of the drive control member 540, as long as it does not affect the control of the regulator member 1510 by the d control member. / UU of 1 u drive 540. That is, the structure may be such that the contact between the driving member 1511 and the driving control member 540 is maintained even in the second position.

[0140] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 25C, when the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52 and returns to the initial position, the second force application surface 540c of the drive control member 540 and The free end portion 1511a of the drive member 1511 abuts each other, and the spring 1511b is compressed. Therefore, the regulating member 1510 receives a moment MB in the direction B1 about the supporting portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526 produced by the force JB applied from the control portion 180h of the spring clutch 180, and a moment MS in the direction B2 on the support portion 526c produced by a force JB applied from the spring 1511b of the driving member 1511. In the state of Figure 25C, MB>MS, and therefore, the regulating member 1510 does not moves from second position. That is, the disconnection state of the drive is maintained.

[0141] Furthermore, when the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52, the moment ratio changes to MB<MS, and as shown in Figure 25D, the regulating member 1510 moves from the second d / UU say 1 u position to the first position, so that the impulse is transmitted.

[0142] As described above, using the structure of this embodiment, it is possible to change the drive transmission state between the first position and the second position of the restriction member 1510 by moving the drive control member 540 from the initial position. By means of this, it is possible to change the drive independently of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6. Mode 3

[0143] With reference to Figures 26 to 30, a process cartridge and an imaging apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. The process cartridge of this embodiment is the same as that of Mode 2 and differs only in the structure of a locking member 550 and the peripheral structures thereof, which will be described below. Consequently, members having the same functions and structures are assigned the same reference numbers, and the detailed description of them is omitted. d / UU 411 u Structure of drive connection portion

[0144] Figure 26 is a perspective view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side, showing a state in which the drive side cartridge cover member 520, the device cover member are removed of development 3533 and the locking member 550. Between the drive side bearing 526 and the drive side cartridge cover member 520, a gear 1801, a spring clutch 180 which is a switching device of the drive transmission including a drive interrupt mechanism, a developing coupling member 174 and a developing device cover 533. In addition, a regulating member 3510 (an example of a movable member) is oscillatingly mounted on the portion support 526c of the drive side bearing 526. In this embodiment, the drive connection portion comprises the gear 1801, the spring clutch 180, the developing coupling member 174, the developing device cover member 3533, the regulating member 3510 and the blocking member 550.

[0145] With reference to the figure, the contour of the locking member 550 as the second driving means will be described. The locking member 550 comprises a free end portion 550a and a spring 550b, which is a helical compression spring. Figure 27 shows a state in which the spring 550b of the locking member 550 is removed from the free end portion 550a and the supporting portion 3533d of the developing device cover member 3533. The spring 550b of the locking member 550 It is provided with end-turn portions at opposite ends, and is secured by snap-fitting the support portion 3533d of the developing device cover member 3533 to the inner diameter of the end-turn portion at one end. The end turning portion at the other end is fixed to the free end portion 550a of the locking member 550. A protruding portion 3533e having a diameter smaller than the supporting portion 3533d of the developing device cover member 3533 passes to through the internal portion of the elastic part of the spring 550b of the locking member 550, and restricts the contraction direction of the spring 550b to the direction of arrow SI or arrow S2. d / UU say 1 u Drive disconnect operation

[0146] With reference to Figures 28A and 28B, the structure of the regulating member 3510 for stopping the rotation of the control ring 180a of the spring clutch 180 to disconnect the transmission will be described. The regulating member 3510 includes a supported hole 3510a, a regulating lever portion 3510b, a foot portion 3510c, and a foot portion 3510d. The lever portion 3510b includes a surface 3510g for stopping the control ring 180a of the spring clutch 180. Additionally, the foot portion 3510c and the foot portion 3510d have surfaces 3510e and 3510f, which receive forces from the drive control member. 540, respectively. Furthermore, the supported hole 3510a is equipped with the supporting portion 526c of the drive side bearing 52 6 so that it can rotate about the axis of the supporting portion 526c (Figure 26).

[0147] With reference to Figures 29A-29D, an operation of interrupting the drive connection within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be described. Here, a locus of movement of the radial free end portion of The control portion 180h at the time when the spring clutch 180 receives the driving force and rotates in the direction V2 is called rb. As shown in FIG. and the unit is transmitted. Furthermore, when the regulating member 3510 rotates about the axis of the supporting portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526 in the direction Bl, the regulating member 3510 is placed in a position where The regulating lever portion 3510b abuts the free end portion 550a. This position of the regulating member 3510 is called the first position of the regulating member 3510.

[0148] Figure 2 9A shows a state in which the regulating member 3510 is in the first position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51 from the state of Figure 29A such that the first force application surface 540b and the foot surface 3510f of the regulating member 3510 contact each other, The regulating member 3510 swings in the direction Bl from the first position around the supporting portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526, and the regulating surface 3510g rests on the free end portion 550a of the locking member 550. In At this time, as shown in Figure 29B, the spring 550b of the locking member 550 is compressed by the force component, in the SI direction, of the force Je acting in the direction Bl from the regulating member 3510, and the free end portion 550a moves in the SI direction. By this, the regulating member 3510 is allowed to oscillate further in the direction Bl, and iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu As shown in Figure 29C, the regulating surface 3510g rests on the peripheral surface outer 180j of the spring clutch 180. Furthermore, the free end portion 550a of the locking member 550 moves in the direction S2 while in contact with the regulating surface 3510g of the regulating member 3510 by the restoring force of the spring 550b. At this time, at the contact surface between the free end portion 550a of the locking member 550 and the regulating surface 3510g of the regulating member 3510, the regulating surface 3510g receives a force JB as a driving force from the free end portion 550a. Here, the direction of the force JB in which the regulating surface 3510g receives from the free end portion 550a is the direction in which a moment acts in the direction B1 centered on the support portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526 Therefore, the position of the regulating member 3510 is fixed with the regulating surface 3510g resting against the outer peripheral surface 180j of the spring clutch 180. In this way, the regulating member 3510 stops the control portion 180h, that is, stops. rotating the control ring 180a, thereby interrupting the driving force introduced from the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 to the developing coupling member 174. This position of the regulating member 3510 is called the second position of the d / UU di 1 u regulatory member 3510.

[0149] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 29D, even if the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52 and returns to the initial position, the control portion 540a is separated, by a space, from the surfaces 3510e and 3510f of the regulatory member 3510, and therefore do not support each other. As in the case shown in Figure 29C, the regulating member 3510 receives the force JB from the free end portion 550a of the locking member 550, and therefore the regulating surface 3510g rests on the outer peripheral surface 180j of the spring clutch 180 and is fixed in its position, such that it cannot oscillate in the direction B2. In other words, the regulating member 3510 remains in the second position, stops the control ring 180a, and maintains the drive-off state. d / UU say 1 u Drive connection operation

[0150] With reference to Figures 30A-30D, the operation of moving the regulating member 3510 from the second position to the first position within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be described, that is, the operation of establishing the drive connection. Figure 30A shows a state in which the regulating member 3510 is in the second position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52 from the state of Fig. 30A, the second force applying surface 540c and the surface 3510e of the foot portion 3510c of the regulating member 3510 come into contact with each other. At this time, as shown in Figure 30B, the spring 550b of the locking member 550 is compressed by the force component, in the SI direction, of the force Je acting in the B2 direction from the regulating member 3510, of such that the free end portion 550a moves in the SI direction. By this, as shown in Figure 30C, the regulating member 3510 is allowed to oscillate further in the direction B2 and moves to the first position, the regulating member 3510 exits the locus rb outwardly and the portion of control 180h of the spring clutch 180 and the regulating surface 3510g of the regulating member 3510 are separated from each other. That is, the control ring 180a becomes rotatable and the impulse is transmitted. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 30D, even if the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51 and returns to the initial position, the control portion 540a is separated, by a space, from the surfaces 3510e and 3510f of regulatory member 3510 and therefore do not support each other. Therefore, the regulating member 3510 that does not produce a rotation force cannot ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u move the free end portion 550a which is pushed in the S2 direction by the spring of the locking member 550 in the SI direction and therefore cannot oscillate in the B1 direction . In other words, the regulating member 3510 remains in the first position and the drive transmission state is maintained.

[0151] As described above, using the structure of this embodiment, it is possible to change the transmission state of the driving force by switching, between the first position and the second position, of the regulating member 3510 by moving the driving control member 540 from the starting position. By means of this, it is possible to change the drive independently of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6. Mode 4

[0152] With reference to Figures 31 to 35, a process cartridge and an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described. In this structure, an alternating structure is used to change the transmission and interruption of the transmission portion of the impulse. The process cartridge of this modality is the same as that of Modality 2, except that the structure of the regulating member and its periphery is different. Consequently, members having the same functions and structures are assigned the same reference numbers, and the detailed description of them is omitted. d / UU say 1 u Structure of drive connection portion

[0153] Figure 31 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side. Between the drive side bearing 526 and the drive side cartridge cover member 520, a gear 1801, a spring clutch 180, a developing coupling member 174 and a developing device cover member 4533 are provided. Furthermore, similar to Embodiment 2, a regulating member 4510 is oscillatingly mounted on the support portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526. An end 4601c of the lever spring 4601, which is a tension spring, is coupled with the protrusion 4533d of the developing device cover member 4533, and the other end 4601d of the tilting spring 4601 is coupled with the protrusion 4510d of the regulating member 4510. The tilting mechanism of this embodiment will be described below. Therefore, in this embodiment, the drive connection portion comprises the gear 1801, the spring clutch 180, the developing coupling member 174, the developing device cover member 4533 and the lever spring 4601. In In this embodiment, the structure of the spring clutch 180 is the same as that of Mode 2, and therefore, its description will be omitted. Furthermore, the assembly of the gear 1801, the spring clutch 180 and the developing coupling member 174 is the same as that of Embodiment 2 and, therefore, its description is omitted. d / UU say 1 u Lever mechanism of this modality

[0154] With reference to Figures 32 and 33, the lever mechanism of this embodiment will be described. Figure 32A is an illustration showing a state in which the regulating member 4510 is not in contact with the spring clutch 180, and Figure 32B is a partially enlarged view of Figure 32A. At this time, on the left side, in the figure, of the line Mi connecting the center of the projection of the revealing device cover member 4533d and the center of the supporting portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526 and Therefore, the regulating member 4510 rotates around the support portion 526c in the direction L1. By means of this, the regulating member 4510 moves away from the spring clutch 180 and, therefore, the drive transmission is interrupted as described in the Mode 2. Furthermore, the regulating member 4510 is held in position by the surface 4510m of the regulating member. 4510 that abuts against the protuberance 4533m of the developing device cover member 4533.

[0155] Referring to Figure 33, a state in which the regulating member 4510 is in contact with the spring clutch 180 will be described. At this time, the line M2 connecting the center of the protuberance 4533d of the cover member of developing device 4533 and the center of the protrusion 4510d of the regulating member 4510 is on the right side, in the figure, of the line MI connecting the center of the projection of the developing device cover member 4533d and the center of the supporting portion 526c of the drive side bearing 526 and, therefore, the regulating member 4510 rotates about the supporting portion 526c of the driving side bearing 526 in the direction L2. This is because the regulating member 4510 moves toward the spring clutch 180, and the surface 4510η of the regulating member 4510 bears against the surface 4533η of the developing device cover member 4533, such that the position is maintained. of the regulating member 4510. Next, the surface 4510g of the regulating member 4510 and the control portion 180h of the spring clutch 180 are brought into contact with each other. The operation of the spring clutch 180 at this time is the same as that of Mode 2 and, therefore, its description is omitted here. The clutch is connected by this, and the drive can be transmitted from the main assembly side. It should be noted that the operation of disconnecting the drive of the spring clutch 180 is also the same as that of Mode 2, so the description is omitted here. Connection operation of drive connection portion

[0156] With reference to Figures 34A-34C, the operation of the process cartridge P will be described from the state in which the imaging apparatus main assembly unit P is disconnected by the operation of the control member of the unit 540 within the main assembly 502 of the imaging apparatus to the state of the drive connection. Figure 34A shows a state in which the drive of the drive control member 540 is in the initial position and the transmission is disconnected, Figure 34B shows a state in which the drive control member 540 moves in the direction w51 from the state of Figure 34A to the first position, and Figure 34C shows a state in which the drive control member 540 moves in the direction w52 from the state of Figure 34B to iviA / a / ¿u ¿ó / uuói iu the initial position and the drive is connected. Descriptions of details and symbols are omitted as long as they are the same as those in Mode 1.

[0157] As shown in Figure 34A, when the drive of the drive control member 540 is disconnected and the drive control member 540 is in the initial position, the drive control member 540 is not in contact with the regulatory member 4510, but is separated therefrom by spaces T43 and T44 between them. When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51 from this state, the first force applying surface 540b and the surface 4510f of the foot portion 4510d of the regulating member 4510 come into contact with each other, and the member Regulator 4510 rotates in the direction L2 shown in Figure 34B. As a result of rotation, the surface 4510g of the regulating member 4510 and the control portion 180h of the spring clutch 180 come into contact with each other. In this way, the clutch connection is established and the drive can be transmitted from the main assembly side. As described above with reference to Figures 33A and 33B, in this state, the surface 4510η of the regulating member 4510 is in contact with the surface 4533η of the developing device cover member 4533 by the action of the lever spring 4601 as the third d / UU di 1 u half impeller, in such a way that the attitude is maintained. Next, as shown in Figure 34C, the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52 and the drive control member 540 returns to the initial position. In this state, the drive control member 540 does not apply force to the regulating member 4510 because there is a gap T46 between it and the regulating member 4510. For this reason, the regulating member 4510 remains in the position shown in Figure 33. , and the unit is connected stably. d / UU say 1 u Discontinuation of operation of the drive connection portion

[0158] With reference to Figures 35A-35C, the operation of the drive control member 540 within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 from the connected state to the disconnected state will be described in relation to the drive of the assembly major. Figure 35A shows a state in which the drive control member 540 is in the initial position and the drive connection is established, Figure 35B shows that the drive control member 540 moves in the direction w52 from the state 35A to the second position, and Figure 35C shows a state in which the drive control member 540 moves in the direction w51 from Figure 35B to the initial position and the unit is turned off. The description of the details and symbols that are the same as those of Modality 1 is omitted.

[0159] When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52, the second force applying surface 540c and the surface 4510e of the foot portion 4510c of the regulating member 4510 come into contact with each other, and the member Regulator 4510 rotates in the direction L1 shown in Figure 33B. Upon rotation, the surface 4510g of the regulating member 4510 separates from the control portion 180h of the spring clutch 180. This disengages the clutch to disengage the transmission from the transmission side of the main assembly. As described above with reference to Figures 32A and 32B, in this state, the surface 4510m of the regulating member 4510 is supported on the projection 4533m of the developing device cover member 4533 by the action of the articulated spring 4601, thereby maintaining the position thereof. Next, as shown in Figure 35C, the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51 and the drive control member 540 returns to the initial position. In this state, the drive control member 540 does not apply force to the regulating member 4510 because a gap T47 is provided between it wiA / a / zuzj / uu Ji i u and the regulating member 4510. Therefore, the regulating member 4510 remains in the position shown in Figures 32A and 32B, and the drive is stably disconnected.

[0160] As described above, when using this embodiment, the switching between contact and separation of the regulating member 4510 is stably carried out by the lever mechanism in interrelation with the operation of the actuation control member 540, such that it is possible to stably change the drive independently of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6. Mode 5

[0161] With reference to Figures 36 to 39, a process cartridge and an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described. This structure is a structure in which the coupling portion uses gear mesh. The process cartridge of this modality is the same as that of Modality 1, except that the structure of the regulating member and its periphery is different. Consequently, members having the same functions and structures are assigned the same reference numbers, and the detailed description thereof is omitted. d / UU say 1 u Structure of drive connection portion

[0162] Figure 36 is a perspective view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side, showing a state in which the drive side cartridge cover member 6520 and the device cover member are removed developing device 6533. A developing coupling gear 6801 and a developing device cover member 6533 are provided between the drive side bearing 526 and the drive side cartridge cover member 6520. A coupling portion is provided 6801a in an end portion of the developing coupling gear 6801, and is exposed through the drive side cartridge cover member 6520, to receive the driving force of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502. Additionally, provided an idler gear 6803 in a position where it meshes with the developing coupling gear 6801 and a distance between the axles is kept constant. The idler gear 6803 is connected to an idler gear 6804 that transmits drive to the developing roller gear 802, using a regulating member 6510 as a supporting member. The regulating member 6510 is provided with rotation axes 6510a and 6510b of the idler gears 6803 and 6804, respectively. That is, the idler gear 6803 is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 6510a, and the idler gear 6504 is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 6510b. It is sandwiched between a plate member 6511 and a regulator member 6510 as a retainer.

[0163] In the regulating member 6510, the rotating shaft 6510a of the idler gear 6803 is rotatably supported by a clamping portion 6520a of the drive side cartridge cover member 6520. In other words, the regulating member 6510 is structured so as to be able to rotate relative to the drive side cartridge cover member 6520 with the rotating shaft 6510a of the idler gear 6803 as the center of rotation. In other words, the idler gear 6804 is structured to rotate about the idler gear 6803 relative to the drive side cartridge cover member 6520. The regulating member 6510 may be supported by another component such as the drum unit 8. In such case, the idler gear 6804 can rotate about the axis of the idler gear 6803 with respect to the drum unit 8. Drive disconnect operation

[0164] With reference to the figure, the operation of changing the transmission state of d / UU di 1 u drive to the interrupt state of drive will be described. Figure 37A shows only the state of the gear and the regulating member when the transmission is transmitted to the gear 802 of the developing roller and shows only the states of the gears and the regulating member when the transmission is disconnected.

[0165] A coupling portion 6801a of the developing coupling gear 6801 receives a driving force from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 to rotate in the direction V2. The driving force is transmitted to the developing roller gear 802 by means of the idler gears 6803 and 6804. At this time, the regulating member 6510 produces a moment in the direction of the arrow V3 about the rotating shaft 6510a by meshing with the gear idler 6803 and idler gear 6804. In addition, idler gear 6804 is pulled in the direction of arrow V3 because it receives force in the direction of pressure angle F6 by meshing with the developing roller gear 802. This is due to that the oscillating fulcrum (rotating shaft 6510a) of the idler gear 6804 is placed on the side W52 of a line connecting the developing coupling gear 6801 and the developing roller gear 802, such that the regulating member 6510 does not receive force in the direction of escape (direction of arrow V4). Therefore, a moment always acts in the direction of the arrow d / UU di 1 u V3 on the regulating member 6510, and the drive transmission is maintained in a state in which the idler gear 6804 and the developing roller gear 802 continue to mesh with each other (Figure 37A). The position of the regulating member 6510 at this time is called the first position (Figure 37B).

[0166] For the interruption of drive drive, the regulating member 6510 moves in the direction W52 to move the idler gear 6804 in the direction of the arrow V4, thereby disconnecting the transmission between the idler gear 6804 and the roller gear. revealed 802. The position of the regulating member 6510 at this time is called the second position. Drive connection and disconnection operations

[0167] With reference to Figures 38A-38C, the operation of moving the regulating member 6510 from the first position to the second position within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be described, that is, the operation of disconnecting the drive described above. Figures 38A-38C are a view of the process cartridge P positioned in the second interior position within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 viewed from the drive side. For the sake of better illustration, drive side cartridge cover member 6520 is omitted. Figure 38A shows a state in which the regulating member 6510 is in the first position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. Figure 38B shows a state in which the regulating member 6510 has moved from the first position to the second position. Figure 38C shows a state in which the regulating member 6510 is in the second position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. Descriptions of details and symbols that are the same as those in Mode 1 are omitted.

[0168] When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52, the second force application surface 540c and the surface 6510e on the foot portion 6510c of the regulating member 6510 come into contact with each other, and the member Regulator 6510 rotates the shaft of the rotary shaft 6510a in Figure 38B in the direction of arrow V4. That is, the regulating member 6510 moves the developing roller gear 802 as the first gear (one gear) and the idler gear 6804 as the second gear (the other gear) from the first position to make them engage with each other at the second gear position to not cause them to engage. In the second position, the idler gear 6804 also rotates in the direction V4 together with the regulating member 6510, and the transmission of the developing roller gear 802 is disconnected as described above (Figures 37B and 63B). .

[0169] Furthermore, the drive control member 540 moves in the direction of arrow W51 in Figure 38B to return to the initial position. At this time, as described above, the regulating member 6510 receives a moment in the direction V3 of the idler gear 6803 as the third gear and tends to return to the first position, but is pushed in the direction V4 by the tension spring 6530 The spring pressure of the tension spring 6530 as the fourth driving means is selected to maintain the regulating member 6510 in the second position and to prevent the regulating member 6510 from moving to the second position when it is in the first position.

[0170] Here, the moment produced by the meshing force between the idler gears 6803 and 6804 is the moment MI, the moment due to the meshing force between the idler gear 6804 and the developing roller gear 802 is the moment M2, and the moment produced by the tension spring 6530 is the moment M3. In the second position, the moments about the axis of rotation 6510a satisfy M3>M1.

[0171] That is, the drive connection state is maintained by M3<M1+M2. For example, assuming that the moment produced by the force applied from the actuating control member 540 is the moment M4 (the moment required to shift the regulating member 6510), the actuating connection is interrupted when the moments become M3+M4>M1+M2. Therefore, due to the disestablishment of the conduction connection, the moment M2 = 0, and M3+M4>M1. By the drive control member 540 it returns to the initial position, the moment M4 = 0 and M3>M1.

[0172] That is, the moment in the direction V4 by the pressure of the tension spring 6530 is greater than the moment in the direction V3 by the meshing force of the idler gears 6803 and 6804. Therefore, the regulating member 6510 is pushed in the V4 direction and held in the second position.

[0173] Therefore, the second force applying surface 540c of the control portion 540a is separated, by a space T60, from the surface 6510e of the foot portion 6510c of the regulating member 6510, and does not contact it (figure 38C). Furthermore, the first force applying surface 540b is separated, by a space T61, from the surface 6510f of the foot portion 6510d of the regulating member 6510. Therefore, the regulating member 6510 is placed in the second position without contacting with the drive control member 540, and the drive disconnection state is maintained (Figure 37B). iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu Drive connection operation

[0174] With reference to Figures 38A-38C and 39, the operation of moving the regulating member 6510 from the second position to the first position within the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 will be described, that is, the operation of connect the drive. Figure 39 is a view of the process cartridge P positioned in the second interior position within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 viewed from the drive side. For the sake of better illustration, drive side cartridge cover member 6520 is omitted. Figure 39 shows a state in which the regulating member 6510 has moved from the second position to the first position.

[0175] When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51, the first force application surface 540b and the surface 6510f the foot portion 1510d of the regulating member 6510 come into contact with each other, and the regulating member 6510 rotates in the direction of arrow V3 in Figure 39. That is, the regulating member 6510 moves from the second position to the first position. Then, as described above, the idler gear 6804 meshes with the developing roller gear 802 to engage the transmission (Figure 37A).

[0176] ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u Even if the drive control member 540 moves in the direction of arrow W52 and returns to the initial position (Figure 38A), the control portion 540a is separated, by a space T62, from the surface 6510f of the foot part 6510d of the regulating member 6510, and are not in contact with each other. Furthermore, the second force applying surface 540c is separated, by a space T63, from the surface 6510e of the foot portion 6510c of the regulating member 6510. Therefore, the regulating member 6510 is placed in the first position without contacting with the drive control member 540, and the connection state of the drive is maintained (Figure 37A). In the first position, the moments about the axis of rotation 6510a satisfy M1+M2>M3. That is, in the first position, the moment in the direction V3 due to the meshing force between the idler gears 6803 and 6804 and the meshing force between the idler gear 6804 and the developing roller gear 802 is greater than the moment in the direction V4 by the spring pressure of the tension spring 6530. Therefore, the regulating member 6510 is pushed in the direction V3 to maintain the first position.

[0177] As described above, when using the structure of this embodiment, the drive control member 540 moves the regulator member 6510 to the first position and the second position, so that the drive transmission sets the d / UU of 1 idler gear 6804 and developing roller gear 802. By means of this, it is possible to change the drive independently of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6. Mode 6

[0178] With reference to Figures 40A and 40B to 45A-45C, a process cartridge and an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention will be described. In the structure of this embodiment, a movable member and a coupling portion are provided in a laser shutter unit (or shutter unit). The process cartridge of this modality is the same as that of Modality 1, with the exception that it differs only in the structure of the regulating member as a mobile member and the periphery thereof. Consequently, members having the same functions and structures are assigned the same reference numbers, and the detailed description of them is omitted.

[0179] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by providing a laser shutter unit in the process cartridge, it is possible to switch between a reachable state (the laser shutter unit does not block the laser beam) and a non-reachable state (the laser shutter unit locks the laser beam) of a laser beam emitted in accordance with an imaging signal iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu of the electrophotographic imaging apparatus is applied to the photosensitive drum as the operation of the imaging process electrophotographic techniques described above. By this, it is possible to switch between enabling and disabling the imaging operation regardless of the structure of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller or the interruption operation of the imaging portion. drive connection or similar, which are described in other embodiments. In another embodiment, if the contact / separation state between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller or the connection state of the drive connection portion cannot be stably controlled, problems may arise in the imaging operation. . For example, there is the possibility of image problems, such as poor image density attributable to contact pressure and banding attributable to the drive connection portion. However, in this embodiment, the switching is carried out between the reachable state and the non-reachable state of the laser beam of the electrophotographic imaging apparatus outside the process cartridge and, therefore, the portions related to the means of Imaging inside the process cartridge (photosensitive drum, development roller, gears, etc.) are less likely to be damaged. By this, it is possible to stably switch between enabling and disabling the imaging operation as an electrophotographic imaging process operation. d / UU say 1 u General structure of process cartridge with laser shutter unit

[0180] With reference to Figures 40A-40B and 41A-41B, the general structure of the process cartridge P will be described. Figures 40A and 40B are a perspective view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side. As shown in Figures 40A and 40B, the process cartridge P has a structure in which the drum unit 8, the developing unit 9 and the laser shutter unit 77 are sandwiched between a cartridge cover member on the side. of drive 7520 and a cartridge cover member of the non-drive side 7521 and with the fixed support thereof. Figures 41A and 41B are a view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side, and do not show the drive side cartridge cover member 7520 shown in Figures 40A and 40B for a better illustration of the structure . Figures 41A and 41B show the photosensitive drum 4, the charging roller 5, the cleaning sheet 7 and a drum frame 7015 without showing a portion of the drum unit 8. The developing unit 9 is shown with a unit of laser shutter 77 as a protective member mounted thereto. The laser shutter unit 77 comprises a movable shutter member 7510 (or a movable member) and a laser shutter 7511 as a protective portion. A shutter side rotation support portion 7510a of the shutter movable member 7510 is rotatably supported by a cover side rotation support portion 7533a of a developing device cover member 7533 provided on the disclosure 9. Centers of rotation of the shutter side rotation support portion 7510a and the cover side rotation support portion 7533a are the same as the axis of rotation K, which is the center of rotation of the drive unit. development 9 and the development coupling gear 7801. That is, the laser shutter unit 77 is rotatably supported about the rotation axis K in the shutter opening direction K71 and the shutter closing direction K72.

[0181] Figure 40A and Figure 41A show a state in which the laser shutter unit 77 is fixed in a position in which the laser beam U is blocked. Figure 40B and Figure 41B show a state in which the laser shutter unit 77 is fixed in a position where the laser beam U is not blocked. A detailed structure for fixing the d / UU di 1 unit or laser shutter 77 in each position will be described below. The movable shutter member 7510 is provided with two phase fixing holes for fixing the position of the laser shutter unit 77, in particular, a closing phase hole 7510c and an opening phase hole 7510d. The laser shutter unit 77 can be fixed at an arbitrary phase by inserting and withdrawing the free end of the shutter position restriction pin 7512 provided on the developing unit 9 into and out of the two-phase fixing holes. Here, the closing phase hole 7510c and the opening phase hole 7510d are arranged on the same circumference Kr centered on the rotation axis K. By this, when the laser shutter unit 77 rotates to an arbitrary phase around of the axis of rotation K, the free end of the plug position adjustment pins 7512 can be inserted and removed from the respective holes.

[0182] Figure 41A shows a state in which the laser shutter unit 77 is fixed in a position to block the laser beam U, that is, the free end of the shutter position restriction pin 7512 enters the hole of closing phase 7510c, and the position of the moving member of the shutter 7510 is in the closing position. The position of the moving member at this time is called the first position. d / UU say 1 u

[0183] Figure 41B shows a state in which the laser shutter unit 77 is fixed in an open position without blocking the laser beam U, that is, the free end of the shutter position restriction pin 7512 enters the phase orifice opening 7510d, and the position of member 7510 is fixed. The position of the moving limb at this time is called the second position.

[0184] Details of the structure and operation of the shutter position restriction pin 7512 will be described below. Furthermore, the movable shutter member 7510 has a pressed surface in the opening direction 7510f and a pressed surface in the closing direction 7510e as external force receiving surfaces for rotating around the rotation axis K. The laser shutter unit 77 can rotate in the opening direction of the shutter K71 upon receiving a rotational force on the pressed surface in the opening direction 7510f, and can rotate in the closing direction of the shutter K72 upon receiving a rotational force on the pressed surface in the closing direction 7510e. By this, even when the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6 are always in contact with each other, the laser beam U can switch between the states of reaching and not reaching the photosensitive drum, regardless of the contact / separation operation. between the photosensitive d / UU di 1 u drum 4 and the developing roller 6, and by switching, it is possible to switch between activating and deactivating the imaging operation as an electrophotographic imaging process operation.

[0185] The first position is not limited to a position in which the laser shutter unit 77 covers the photosensitive drum 4 to substantially completely block the exposure of the photosensitive drum 4 to the outside of the cartridge. For example, it can be positioned to partially cover the photosensitive drum 4 from the outside of the cartridge (the exposed portion can remain to a certain extent) to the extent that exposure to the laser beam U can be sufficiently blocked. As for the second position, if the laser shutter unit 77 exposes the photosensitive drum 4 more than in the first position so that the photosensitive drum 4 can be exposed to the laser beam U, the degree of exposure can be selected arbitrarily. d / UU say 1 u Detailed structure of process cartridge with laser shutter unit

[0186] With reference to Figure 42, the detailed structure of the process cartridge P will be described. Figure 42 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side. The drive side cartridge cover member 7520, the 100 non-drive side cartridge cover member 7521, drum unit 8, developing unit 9 and laser shutter unit 77 have been removed in this figure.

[0187] A drum frame 7015 in the drum unit 8 is structured so as not to hinder the movement of the laser shutter unit 77 and not to interfere with the laser shutter 7511, when the laser shutter unit 77 rotates. The shape of the laser shutter 7511 provided in the laser shutter unit 77 and the shape of the drum frame 7015 can be changed in view of the incident angle of the laser beam U and the width of the incident light. The developer container 7025 provided in the developing unit 9 is structured so as not to hinder the movement of the laser shutter unit 77 and not to interfere with the laser shutter 7511, when the laser shutter unit 77 rotates, similar to the frame of drum 7015. The developing coupling gear 7801 is rotatably held by the drive side bearing 7526 and the developing device cover member 7533 mounted on the developer container 7025, and the shutter position restriction pin 7512 and shutter position adjustment spring 7513 are also attached. Details of the fastening structures for the shutter position restricting pin 7512 and the shutter position regulating spring 7513 will be described below. d / UU say 1 u 101 The laser shutter unit 77 comprises the movable shutter member 7510 and the laser shutter 7511. The laser shutter unit 77 is composed of the screw hole of the movable shutter member 7510b and the screw hole of the laser shutter 7511a and the screws B71. As described above, on the drive side of the laser shutter unit 77, the shutter side rotation support portion 7510a is rotatably supported by the cover side rotation support portion 7533a of the shutter member. developing device cover 7533 provided on the developing unit 9. On the other hand, on the non-drive side of the laser shutter unit 77, the bearing side rotation support portion 7527a of the non-drive side bearing 7527 provided on the non-drive side of the developing unit 9 is fitted and supported by a rotation support hole of the non-drive side cartridge cover member 7521a of the laser shutter rotation support portion 7511b and the non-drive side cartridge cover 7521. By this, the rotation support portion of the laser shutter 7511b is rotatably supported. iviA / a / zu¿ó / uuó ι i u 102 Switching operation between opening and blocking the laser beam

[0188] Referring to Figures 43A-43C to 45A-45C, the operation of switching between opening and closing the laser beam by the operation of the laser shutter unit 77 will be described. Figures 43A-43C show the operation of the laser shutter unit 77 from the laser beam locked state to the laser beam open state. Figures 44A-44C show the operation of the laser shutter unit 77 from the laser beam open state to the laser beam locked state. Figures 45A45C show the operations of the movable shutter member 7510 and the shutter position restriction pin 7512 from the laser beam locked state to the laser beam open state. Figures 43A-43C and 44A-44C are illustrations of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side, and for better illustration of the structure, the drive side cartridge cover member 7520 shown in Figures 40A and 40B, and a transmission control member 540 is shown.

[0189] As shown in Figure 43A, the laser shutter 7511 of the laser shutter unit 77 is in the first position to block the laser beam U, in a state in which the photosensitive drum cannot be irradiated by 103 the laser beam, that is, in a state of blocking the laser beam. At this time, the drive control member 540 is placed in the initial position, and the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 does not contact the movable shutter member 7510. That is, in this state, it is a space T71 is provided between the first force applying surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the pressed surface in the closing direction 7510e of the movable plug member 7510, and a space T72 is provided between the second force applying surface 540c and the surface pressed in the opening direction 7510f.

[0190] Figure 45A is a sectional view taken along a line DA-DA passing through the closing phase orifice 7510c and the opening phase orifice 7510d in Figure 43A. As described above, the plug position restricting pin 7512 and the plug position regulating spring 7513, which is a helical compression spring as the driving means, are held at opposite ends thereof by the cover member. developing device 7533 and the drive side bearing 7526. The shutter position restricting pin 7512 is engaged and supported by the cover side regulating pin support hole 7533b and the cover side regulating pin support hole 7533b. d / UU say 1 u 104 regulation 7526c. The plug position regulating spring 7513 is a compression coil spring, and its opposite ends are supported by the pin side regulating spring supporting portion 7512a and the bearing side regulating spring supporting portion 7526b . The shutter position restriction pin 7512 can be moved in the S71 direction and in the S72 direction (parallel to the rotation axis K). The plug position regulating spring 7513 contacts the force receiving surface of the bearing side regulating spring 7526a and the force receiving surface of the pin side regulating spring 7512b, and pushes to the shutter position restriction pin 7512 in direction S71. An abutment surface of the regulating pin 7512c of the shutter position restriction pin 7512 abuts against the developing device cover member 7533, and movement thereof is restricted in the direction S71. Here, the free end of the plug position restriction pin 7512 enters the closing phase hole 7510c of the plug movable member 7510, and the rotary movement of the plug movable member 7510 can be restricted and fixed. By means of this, the laser shutter unit 77 is fixed in the first position in which the laser beam U is blocked. iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu 105

[0191] Figure 43B shows a state in which the laser shutter unit 77 rotates in the shutter opening direction K71 and moves from the first position in which the laser beam U is blocked to the second position in which it is not blocked. At this time, the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52 from the initial position, and the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 pushes the movable shutter member 7510 in the direction W52. That is, there is a gap T73 between the first force applying surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the pressed surface in the closing direction 7510e of the movable plug member 7510, and there is no gap between the second applying surface of force 540c and the pressed surface of opening direction 7510f.

[0192] Figure 45B is a sectional view taken along a line DB-DB passing through the closing phase orifice 7510c and the opening phase orifice 7510d of Figure 43B. At this time, the shutter position restriction pin 7512 is partly careful with the movement from the closing phase hole 7510c to the opening phase hole 7510d, and moves away from the position shown in Figure 45A in the address of F72. When the moving member of the shutter 7510 moves in the d / UU di 1 u 106 direction W52, the plug position restriction pin 7512 receives an external force in the direction F71, as shown in Figure 43A, when the moving plug member 7510 rotates. The shape of the free end of the plug position restriction pin 7512 is such that the force components occur in the directions of F72 and F73. By means of this, the plug position restriction pin 7512 receives a force in the direction F71 to move in the direction S72, thereby changing the state from that shown in 45A to that shown in Figure 45B. At this time, the shutter position regulating spring 7513 is in a compressed state.

[0193] As shown in Figure 43C, the laser shutter 7511 of the laser shutter unit 77 is in the second position that is not to block the laser beam U, in the state that the photosensitive drum can be irradiated with the laser beam, that is, a laser beam in the open state. At this time, the drive control member 540 moves further in the direction W52 than the position shown in Figure 43B, and the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 is at rest in contact with the drive control member 540. movable shutter 7510. That is, there is a space T74 between the first force application surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the pressed surface of direction of d / UU di 1 u 107 closure 7510e of the moving member of the plug 7510, and there is no gap between the second force application surface 540c and the pressed surface direction opening 7510f, in this state.

[0194] Figure 45C is a sectional view taken along a DC-DC line passing through the closing phase hole 7510c and the opening phase hole 7510d of Figure 43C. As shown in Figure 45C, the free end of the plug position restriction pin 7512 is in the opening phase hole 7510d of the movable plug member 7510, such that the rotational movement of the movable plug member 7510 can restrict and fixate. By means of this, the laser shutter unit 77 is fixed in the second position in which the laser beam U is not blocked.

[0195] Figure 44A shows the position of the process cartridge P when the imaging operation is carried out. As shown in Figure 44A, the laser shutter 7511 of the laser shutter unit 77 is in the second position as in Figure 45C. At this time, the drive control member 540 has moved from the position shown in Figure 43C to the initial position. At this time, the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 does not contact the movable shutter member 7510. That is, there is a gap T75 iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu 108 between the first force applying surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the closing direction pressed surface 7510e of the movable plug member 7510, there is a space T76 between the second force applying surface 540c and the pressed surface in the opening direction 7510f, in this state. Furthermore, the shutter position restriction pin 7512 is in the state shown in Figure 45C.

[0196] Figure 44B shows a state in which the laser shutter unit 77 rotates, after completing the imaging operation, in the shutter closing direction K72, and moves from the second position that does not lock the U laser beam to the first position that locks it. As shown in Figure 44B, the movable shutter member 7510 and the laser shutter 7511 of the laser shutter unit 77 are in the second position as in Figure 43B. At this time, the drive control member 540 is moving in the direction W51 away from the initial position, and the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 pushes the shutter moving member 7510 in the direction W51. That is, there is no gap between the first force applying surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the pressed surface in the closing direction 7510e of the movable shutter member 7510, and there is a d / UU of 1 u 109 space T77 between the second force application surface 540c and the opening direction pressed surface 7510f. Furthermore, the shutter position restriction pin 7512 is in the state shown in Figure 45B described above.

[0197] Figure 44C shows a state in which the laser shutter 7511 of the laser shutter unit 77 moves again after completing the imaging operation, to the first position where the laser beam U is blocked. As shown in Figure 44C, the movable shutter member 7510 and the laser shutter 7511 of the laser shutter unit 77 are in the first position to block the laser beam U, such as in Figure 43A.

[0198] At this time, the drive control member 540 has moved further in the direction W51 beyond the position shown in Figure 44B, and the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 is in rest in contact with the movable shutter member 7510. That is, there is no gap between the first force application surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the closing direction pressed surface 7510e of the movable shutter member 7510, and there is a space T78 between the second force applying surface 540c and the opening direction pressed surface 7510f. Furthermore, the ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u 110 shutter position restriction pin 7512 is in the state shown in Figure 45A.

[0199] As described above, using the structure of this embodiment, the laser shutter unit 77 can be fixed in any phase of the first position and the second position. By this, regardless of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6, the laser beam U can be switched between the state reachable and the state not reachable to the photosensitive drum even when the photosensitive drum 4 and the developer rollers 6 are always in contact with each other, and it is possible to switch between enabling and disabling the imaging operation as an electrophotographic imaging process operation. In this embodiment, the laser shutter unit 77 is structured to switch between the reachable and non-reachable states of the laser beam U by rotating around the rotation axis K, the opening and closing movement of the shutter is not limited to the rotation movement, but It can be sliding movement or folding structure, for example. Furthermore, in this structure, the parts constituting the shutter and the like are supported on the development drive side, but may be supported on the drum drive side. 111

[0200] Although described again, in this embodiment, the closing phase orifice 7510c is recessed in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the moving member of the plug 7510 as the first recess, and the opening phase orifice 7510d is also recessed in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable plug member 7510 as the second recess. The shutter position restriction pin 7512 is structured to move back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable shutter member 7510 as a first projection or a second projection. Depending on the position of the movable member of the plug 7510, the plug position restriction pin 7512 fits into the closing phase hole 7510c or the opening phase hole 7510d, thus functioning as a holding coupling portion the movable shutter member 7510 in predetermined positions. The outer peripheral edge of the free end surface of the plug position restriction pin 7512 is a conical inclined surface, and the closing phase hole 7510c and the opening phase hole 7510d each have a shaped recess shape. of mortar that expands towards the opening. That is, the contact surfaces between the plug position restriction pin 7512 and the hole of d / UU di 1 u 112 closing phase 7510c and the opening phase hole 7510d are inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable shutter member 7510 and the advance / retraction direction of the shutter position restriction pin 7512, respectively. Said structure functions as the force application portion (first force application section, second force application portion) to apply, to the plug position restriction pin 7512, the force to move the plug position restriction pin 7512 in a retracting direction, when the shutter moving member 7510 moves.

[0201] Here, the structures of the shutter position restriction pin 7512, the closing phase hole 7510c and the opening phase hole 7510d are not limited to those described in this embodiment. That is, in this modality, a projection and two recess portions are combined, but various combinations are conceivable. For example, a combined structure is conceivable, in which two projections are provided, one of which is the first projection that fits into the first recess when the movable member (protection member) is in the first position, and the other projection The second projection is made that fits into the second recess when the moving member is in the second position. Alternatively, a 1 u d / UU is provided 113 recess portion for two projections, and one projection fits into a common recess portion when the movable member is in the first position, and the other projection fits into the common recess portion when the movable member is in the second position . In this embodiment, the shutter position restriction pin 7512 as a projection is provided on the frame side of the cartridge, and the closing phase hole 7510c and the opening phase hole 7510d are provided as recess portions in the side of the moving member, but the present invention is not limited to such structure. That is, the projection may be provided on the side of the movable member and the recess portion may be provided on the side of the cartridge frame. Furthermore, the structure may be such that, the frame side of the cartridge is provided with a first projection that adjusts when the movable member is in the first position, the side of the movable member is provided with the first recessed portion, respectively, the second projection the part that fits when the movable member is in the second position is provided on the side of the movable member, and the second recess is provided on the side of the cartridge frame. Alternatively, the reverse combination can be used. 114 Mode 7

[0202] With reference to Figures 46A and 46B to 49A-49C, a process cartridge and an imaging apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 7 of the present invention will be described. The process cartridge of this embodiment is the same as that of Mode 6, and differs only in the structure of an electrical contact shutter unit 87 and its periphery, which will be described below. Consequently, members that include the same functions and structures are assigned the same reference numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0203] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by providing the electrical contact shutter unit 87 in the process cartridge, it is possible to switch between a state in which, a bias voltage applied from the electrical contact 503 (which will be described below continued) of the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 can be supplied to the process cartridge P (the contact shutter unit does not block the bias voltage) and a state in which the bias voltage cannot be supplied (the contact shutter unit blocks bias voltage). Through this, it is possible to switch between enabling and disabling the imaging operation regardless of the structure of the d / UU di 1 u operation. 115 contact / separation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6 and independently of the connection / disconnection operation of the drive connection portion shown in other embodiments. Although this mode employs the laser shutter unit 77 as in Mode 6, it is not necessary to switch between the state where the laser beam can reach the photosensitive drum 4 and the state where the laser beam cannot reach it. General structure of process cartridge with contact shutter unit

[0204] With reference to the figure, the general structure of the process cartridge P will be described. Figures 46A and 46B are a perspective view of the process cartridge P and the electrical contact 503 seen from the opposite side to the drive. As shown in Figures 4 6A and 46B, the contact plug unit 87 is sandwiched between a non-drive side cartridge cover member 8521 and a non-drive side bearing 7527 and is held stationary. A contact 503 as an electrode portion of the body is a helical compression spring and can be contracted in a direction S81 or S82, which is the longitudinal direction. Contact 503 is always compressed with its end in direction S82 fixed, drives the process cartridge P in direction S81. iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu 116 The applied bias voltage from the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 is supplied to the process cartridge P when the contact 503 and the electrode portion 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527 contact each other. Here, Figure 4 6A shows a state in which the contact shutter unit 87 blocks the bias voltage supplied from the contact 503. In the state shown in Figure 46A, the contact 503 is in contact with a shutter contact 8511, which will be described later, such that no bias voltage is supplied to the process cartridge P and imaging is impossible. Figure 46B shows the position in which the contact shutter unit 87 opens without blocking the bias voltage supplied from the contact 503. In the state of Figure 46B, the contact 503 and the electrode portion 7527b of the contact the Non-drive side bearing 7527 are in contact with each other, such that a bias voltage is supplied to the process cartridge P and imaging is possible.

[0205] With reference to the figure, a general description of the contact shutter unit will be made. Figures 47A and 47B are a perspective view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side, and show only parts of the electrical contact shutter unit d / UU di 1 u 117 87, the non-drive side cartridge cover member 8521, the contacts 503 and the laser shutter 7511 for better illustration of the construction. Furthermore, it shows a contact fixing pin 8512 (to be described later) of the contact plug unit 87 in the state of being removed from the support hole 8521c of the non-drive side cartridge cover member 8521. The Contact plug unit 87 comprises a spring 8510 which is a helical torsion spring, the contact plug 8511 (an example of a movable member) and the contact fixing pin 8512. The spring 8510 is fixed to the support portion 8521a of the non-drive side cartridge cover member. 8521. Additionally, the clockwise position of the end 8510a of the spring 8510 as viewed from the drive side is restricted by the restriction surface 8521b of the non-drive side cartridge cover member 8521. The plug Contact 8511 is provided with a fixing hole 8511a for fixing the position of the contact shutter unit 87. A contact fixing pin 8512 is inserted through the fixing hole 8511a of the contact shutter 8511, and the free end of the contact fixing pin 8512 is inserted and fixed through a support hole 8521c of the non-drive side cartridge cover member d / UU di 1 u 118 8521. By this, the contact plug 8511 is rotatably supported in the opening direction of the plug K81 and the closing direction of the plug K82 about the axis of rotation L, which is the axis of the contact fixing pin 8512.

[0206] In the state of Figure 47A, the contact shutter unit 87 is fixed in a position to block the bias voltage supplied from the contact 503. That is, the contact shutter 8511 is fixed between the contact 503 and the electrode portion 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527. The position of the contact plug 8511 at this time is called the first position.

[0207] In Figure 47B, the contact shutter unit 87 is set in the open position without blocking the bias voltage supplied from the contact 503. That is, the contact shutter 8511 is fixed so as not to be placed between the contact 503 and the electrode portion 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527. The position of the contact plug 8511 at this time is called the second position.

[0208] The contact plug 8511 includes an arm portion 8511b as an external force receiving surface for rotating about the rotation axis L in the direction K81. Additionally, the arm portion 8511b of the d / UU di 1 u 119 contact shutter 8511 is in contact with the end portion 8510b of the spring 8510. The laser shutter 7511 as a movable member rotates in the direction K81, and the arm portion 8511b receives a rotation force from the force applying the surface 7511c, rotating thus contact shutter 8511 in the shutter opening direction K81 to the second position. Furthermore, the position of the laser shutter 7511 as a movable member at this time is the second clamping position. Here, when the contact shutter 8511 is in the second position, the spring 8510 receives force in the coil winding direction. Therefore, when the laser shutter 7511 rotates in the direction K82 and the external force applied to the arm portion 8511b of the contact shutter 8511 from the laser shutter 7511 disappears, the arm portion 8511b receives a rotation force by the force Driving the spring 8510 in the direction of increasing the twist angle causes the arm portion 8511b, such that the contact plug 8511 rotates in the closing direction of plug K82 to the first position. Furthermore, the position of the laser shutter 7511 as a movable member at this time is the first clamping position. Maintaining the contact shutter 8511 in the first position and the second position by engaging the laser shutter 751 is accomplished by a d / UU di 1 u moving member engagement mechanism. 120 shutter 7510 described in Mode 6 and, therefore, the description is omitted. By this, even when the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6 are always in contact with each other, the bias voltage application to the process cartridge P can be switched between the enabled state and the disabled state, such that The imaging operation as an electrophotographic imaging process operation can be switched between the on state and the off state, regardless of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6. Switching operation to open and close the laser beam

[0209] Referring to Figures 48A-48C and 49A-49C, the operation of switching between supply and non-supply of the bias voltage by the operation of the contact shutter unit 87 will be described. Figures 48A48C show the operation of the contact shutter unit 87 from the bias voltage non-supply state to the bias voltage supply state. Figures 49A-49C show the operation of the contact shutter unit 87 from the bias voltage supply state to the no wiA / a / zuzj / uu Ji i u state. 121 bias voltage supply. Figures 48A-48C and Figures 49A-49C are illustrations of the process cartridge P viewed from the non-drive side and, for better illustration of the structure, non-drive side cartridge cover member 8521 is not shown. drive shown in Figures 46A and 46B, but the transmission control member 540 of the main assembly is shown.

[0210] Figure 48A shows that the contact shutter 8511 of the contact shutter unit 87 is in the first fixed position between the contact 503 and the electrode portion 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527, and the voltage of Bias cannot be supplied from the contact 503 to the electrode portion 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527. At this time, the drive control member 540 is placed in the initial position, and the control portion 540a of the member The drive control member 540 does not contact the movable plug member 7510. That is, in this state, a gap T71 exists between the first force applying surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the pressed surface in the direction of closure 7510e of the movable shutter member 7510, and a space T72 exists between the second force applying surface 540c and the opening direction pressed surface 7510f. iviA / a / zu¿ó / uuó ι i u 122 Furthermore, as described in Embodiment 6, the free end of the plug position restriction pin 7512 enters the closing phase hole 7510c of the movable plug member 7510, thereby restricting the rotary movement of the movable plug member 7510 to fix it there.

[0211] Figure 48B shows a state in which the contact shutter 8511 moves from the first position for blocking the bias voltage to the second position for not blocking the bias voltage. As shown in Figure 48B, the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52 from the initial position, and the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 pushes the movable shutter member 7510 in the direction W52 . That is, there is a gap T73 between the first force applying surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the pressed surface in the closing direction 7510e of the movable plug member 7510, and there is no gap between the second applying surface of force 540c and the pressed surface of opening direction 7510f. When the movable shutter member 7510 is pushed in the direction W52 and the laser shutter unit 77 rotates in the direction K81, the force applying surface 7511c of the laser shutter 7511 and the arm portion 8511b of the d / UU di 1 u 123 contact shutter 8511 come into contact with each other. When the laser shutter unit 77 continues to rotate in the direction K81 from this state, the contact shutter 8511 receives a rotational force from the laser shutter 7511 to rotate in the shutter opening direction K81. Furthermore, as described in Embodiment 6, the plug position restriction pin 7512 receives an external force in the direction F71 (Figures 45A-45C) when the plug moving member 7510 rotates. At this time, the regulating spring of the shutter position 7513 goes into a compressed state.

[0212] Figure 48C shows the second position in which the contact plug 8511 of the contact plug unit 87 is fixed without being positioned between the contact 503 and the electrode portion 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527. By moving the contact plug 8511 from the first position to the second position, the contact 503, which is a helical compression spring, extends in the direction S81 (Figures 46A and 46B) from the state shown in the figure 48B, such that the contact 503 and the non-drive side bearing 7527 come into contact with each other. By this, a bias voltage of the contact 503 can be supplied to the electrode portion 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527, that is, the d / UU di 1 u is enabled 124 forming operation as an electrophotographic imaging process operation. At this time, the drive control member 540 is moving further in the direction W52 beyond the position shown in Figure 48B, and the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 is at rest while doing so. contact with the movable plug member 7510. That is, a gap T74 exists between the first force application surface 540b of the actuation control member 540 and the closing direction pressed surface 7510e of the movable plug member 7510, and not There is no gap between the second force applying surface 540c and the opening direction pressed surface 7510f. Furthermore, as described in Embodiment 6, the free end of the plug position restriction pin 7512 enters the opening phase hole 7510d of the movable plug member 7510, thereby restricting the rotary movement of the movable plug member 7510 to fix it there.

[0213] Figure 4 9A shows the position of the process cartridge P during the imaging operation. As shown in Figure 49A, the drive control member 540 has moved from the position shown in Figure 48C to the initial position, and the control portion 540a is in a position of not contacting d / UU say 1 u 125 the movable plug member 7510. That is, in this state, there is a gap T75 between the first force applying surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the closing direction pressed surface 7510e of the movable plug member 7510 , and there is a space T76 between the second force applying surface 540c and the opening direction pressed surface 7510f. Even in the state of Figure 49A, as described in Embodiment 6, the free end of the shutter position restriction pin 7512 is in the opening phase hole 7510d of the shutter movable member 7510 and, therefore, The laser shutter 7511 is fixed in the same position as shown in Figure 48C. That is, the contact shutter 8511 is in the second position as in Figure 48C.

[0214] Figure 49B shows a state in which the contact shutter 8511 moves from the second position in which it does not block the bias voltage to the first position in which it blocks the bias voltage, after the imaging operation. As shown in Figure 4 9B, the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51 from the initial position, and the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 pushes the movable shutter member 7510 in the direction W51. That is, in d / UU say 1 u 126 this state, there is no gap between the first force applying surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the closing direction pressed surface 7510e of the movable plug member 7510, and there is a gap T77 between the second force application 540c and the opening direction pressed surface 7510f. When the movable shutter member 7510 is pushed in the direction W51 and the laser shutter unit 77 rotates in the direction K82, the force applying surface 7511c of the laser shutter 7511 and the arm portion 8511b of the contact shutter 8511 are separated each other. At this time, the arm portion 8511b of the contact plug 8511 receives a rotation force by the driving force of the spring 8510 in the direction in which the twist angle increases, and the contact plug 8511 rotates in the closing direction K82 shutter. Furthermore, as described in Embodiment 6, the plug position restriction pin 7512 receives an external force in the reverse direction F71 (Figures 45A-45C) when the plug moving member 7510 rotates. At this time, the plug spring Shutter position regulation 7513 goes into a compressed state.

[0215] Figure 49C shows the first position in which the contact plug 8511 of the contact plug unit 87 is placed between the contact 503 and the d / UU portion of 1 u 127 electrode 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527 after the imaging operation is completed. By moving the contact plug 8511 from the second position to the first position, the contact 503, which is a helical compression spring, contracts in the direction S82 (Figures 46A and 46B) from the state shown in Figure 48B , and moves in the plug 8511. That is, the contact 503 and the electrode portion 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527 are separated. By this, a bias voltage cannot be supplied from the contact 503 to the electrode portion 7527b of the non-drive side bearing 7527, that is, the imaging operation as an imaging process operation. electrophotography becomes impossible. At this time, the drive control member 540 is moving further in the direction W51 beyond the position shown in Figure 49B, the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 is at rest in contact with the movement axis 7510. That is, there is no gap between the first force application surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the closing direction pressed surface 7510e of the moving plug member 7510, and the gap T78 is shape between the second force application surface 540c and the d / UU di 1 u 128 opening direction pressed surface 7510f. Furthermore, as described in Embodiment 6, the free end of the plug position restriction pin 7512 enters the closing phase hole 7510c of the movable plug member 7510, thereby restricting the rotary movement of the movable plug member 7510 to fix it there.

[0216] As described above, using the structure of this embodiment, the contact shutter 8511 can be switched between the first position and the second position in an arbitrary phase by moving the drive control member 540 from the initial position. By this, even when the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6 are always in contact with each other, it is possible to switch between enabling and disabling the imaging operation as an electrophotographic imaging process operation. , switching between enabling and disabling the bias voltage supply, regardless of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6.

[0217] In this embodiment, the contact plug 8511 as an electrode cover member is structured to cover the electrode portion 7527b, but the structure is not limited to such an example. For example, the shutter ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u 129 contact 8511 can move (remove) the electrode portion 7527b in the normal direction of the electrode surface. That is, a retraction mechanism (retractor mechanism) capable of moving the electrode portion 7527b between a predetermined position in which the electrode portion 7527b is electrically connected to the contact 503 of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 and a position retracted in which the electrode portion 7527b is retracted and separated from the contact 503. The contact shutter 8511 as a movable member is structured to move between the second position where the electrode portion 7527b is placed in the predetermined position and a first position where the electrode portion 7527b is placed in the retracted position. The structure for maintaining the contact shutter 8511 in the first position and the second position may be the same as in the previous embodiment. Alternatively, the contact 503 as the body electrode portion and the electrode portion 7527b as the cartridge side electrode portion may be structured to move back and forth.

[0218] Furthermore, the structure for interrupting the electrical connection path is not limited to the structure of this embodiment described above. Not limited to between the contacts of the main imaging apparatus assembly and the contacts of the d / UU di 1 u 130 cartridge, and a path breaking structure similar to that of this embodiment may be provided in the middle of the electrical path within the cartridge. Furthermore, the retractable structure of the electrode portion described above is not limited to the structure in which the electrode portion on the cartridge side can be moved back and forth, and the electrode portion of the imaging apparatus it can be moved from one side to the other, or both are made movable back and forth. Mode 8

[0219] With reference to Figures 50 to 54, a process cartridge and an imaging apparatus will be described according to an Embodiment 8 of the present invention. The process cartridge of this modality is the same as that of Modality 1, and only the structure of the regulating member and the peripheries thereof are different. Therefore, members having the same functions and structures are assigned the same reference numbers, and the detailed description of them is omitted. iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu Regulatory member structure

[0220] Figure 50 is a perspective view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side. 131 Figure 51A is a side view of the process cartridge with the front door 111 open. Figure 51B shows a state in which the regulating member 9510 is in a first position and the driving control member 540 is in an initial position. Figure 51C shows a state in which the regulating member 9510 is in a second position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. For the sake of better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover 9520 and the developer cover member 9533 are omitted. In addition, the drive connection and disconnection operations of the development coupling member 74 and the rotating member 75, and the operation of the drive control member 540 are the same as in Mode 1 and, therefore, their description is omitted.

[0221] As shown in Figure 50, the regulating member 9510 is provided with a support hole 9510a installed in a support portion 9526a of the drive side bearing 9526, and is rotatable about the support portion 9526a. In addition, the tension spring 9511 is installed in the supporting portion 9526a of the drive side bearing 9526 and the supporting portion 9510b of the regulating member 9510. As shown in Figures 51A-51C, the tension spring 9511 pushes the regulating member 9510 in direction Z1 in Figure 51A. The d / UU di 1 u 132 regulating member 9510 is provided with feet 9510e and 9510g that can protrude from the developing unit 9 in the Z2 direction. The foot portion 9510e is provided with a first force receiving portion (insertion force receiving portion) 9510f that receives a force from the drive control member 540, and the foot portion 9510g is provided with a second portion of force receiving (retraction force receiving portion) 9510h receiving a force from the drive control member 540.

[0222] When closing the front door 111, the cartridge pressing member (not shown) in the main apparatus assembly descends in the direction Z2 in Figure 51B to press a pressed portion 9510c, such that the regulating member 9510 move in the Z2 direction. Then, the control portion 540a of the drive control member 540 enters a space Q9 interposed between the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h. At this time, there is a space T93 between the first force receiving portion 9510f of the foot portion 9510e and the second force applying surface 540c, and a space T92 between the second force receiving portion 9510f of the foot portion foot 9510g and the first force application surface 540b. Additionally, the regulating lever portion 9510d iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu 133 is placed in a position where the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80 do not contact each other. The position of this regulating member 9510 is called the first position. At this time, the drive connection state is maintained as long as the regulating member 9510 is maintained in the first position.

[0223] When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52, the second force applying surface 540c contacts the first force receiving portion 9510f of the regulating member 9510, and the regulating member 9510 rotates in the direction of an arrow V91 in figure 51B. Then, the regulating lever portion 9510d of the regulating member 9510 is placed in a position that is between the surface 74b of the developing coupling member 74 and the surface 80b of the sliding member 80. The position of this regulating member 9510 is known as the second position. Therefore, the drive connection remains in an interrupted state.

[0224] When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51, the first force applying surface 540b rests on the second force receiving portion 9510h of the regulating member 9510, and the regulating member 9510 rotates in the direction of an arrow V92 in figure 51B. Then, the regulating lever portion 9510d iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu 134 is separated from the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80, and the drive connection is established.

[0225] As described above, using the structure of this embodiment, it is possible to switch between the second position and the first position of the regulating member 9510 by moving the drive control member 540, thereby changing the drive connection state. By means of this, it is possible to change the drive connection state, regardless of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6. d / UU say 1 u Design Details - Part 1

[0226] Referring to the figure, the arrangement of the regulating member 9510 will be described in detail. Figure 52 is a view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side in the direction of the axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum 4. The Regulatory member 9510 is placed in the first position. For the sake of better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover 9520 and the developer cover member 9533 are omitted.

[0227] As shown in Figure 52, an axis of rotation (center of rotation) of the photosensitive drum 4 is MI, an axis 135 of rotation (center of rotation) of the developing roller 6 is M2 and a line connecting the axis of rotation MI of the photosensitive drum the drum 4 and the axis of rotation of the developing coupling member 74 (center of rotation) K is a line Ni. In this embodiment, the axis of rotation of the coupling member of the photosensitive member 43 is coaxial with the axis of rotation MI. When the area is divided by the line NI, the rotation axis M2 of the developing roller 6, the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h are arranged in the same area divided by the line NI. Furthermore, the distance between the axis of rotation K of the developing coupling member 74 and the axis of rotation M2 of the developing roller 6 is the distance between the axis of rotation K of the developing coupling member 74 and the first portion The force receiving portion 9510f is e2, and the distance between the rotation axis K and the second force receiving portion 9510h is e3. In this case, the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h are arranged so that the distances e2 and e3 are greater than the distance el. By arranging the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h in this way, the force required to move the regulating member 9510 to the first position and the second position can be reduced. d / UU say 1 u 136 Design Details - Part 2

[0228] Referring to the figure, the arrangement of the regulating member 9510 will be described in detail. Figure 53 is a view of the process cartridge P viewed from the drive side in the direction of the rotation axis Mi of the photosensitive drum 4 or the M2 rotation axis of the developing roller. Regulating member 9510 is placed in the first position. For the sake of better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover 9520 and the developer cover member 9533 are omitted.

[0229] As shown in Figure 53, an imaginary straight line connecting the rotation axis MI of the photosensitive drum 4 and the rotation axis M2 of the developing roller 6 is an imaginary line N2. When the areas are divided by the imaginary line N2 (the upper area is an area AU1 and the lower area is an area AD1), at least a portion of the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h They are placed in an area AD1 opposite to an area where the rotation axis K of the developing coupling member 74 is provided. As described in Embodiment 1, a driving member is arranged in the area AU1 to drive the member provided in the developing unit 9. Therefore, the arrangement of at least portion of the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h in 137 area AD1 instead of area AU1 achieves an efficient design that avoids interference between members. This leads to a reduction in the size of the process cartridge P and the main imaging apparatus assembly 502.

[0230] Furthermore, a line perpendicular to the imaginary line N2 and passing through the contact point between the developing roller 6 and the photosensitive drum 4 (the space between the developing roller 6 and the photosensitive drum 4 in a structure in (which the developing roller 6 and the photosensitive drum 4 are not in contact with each other) is an imaginary line N3. When the area is divided by the imaginary line N3, at least portion of the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h are arranged in the area opposite to the area where the rotation axis MI of the photosensitive drum 4. In the above description, the area AU1 and the area AD1 are the area in which the rotation axis K or the developing coupling member 74 is provided and the area in which the rotation axis is not provided K or the developing coupling member 74, when the boundary is divided by the imaginary line N2, seen in the direction of the axis of rotation M2. However, when the area is divided by the imaginary line N2 seen in the direction of the axis of rotation M2, the area AU1 and the area AD1 can be defined as the area where the loading roller 5 or the d / UU di 1 u 138 axis of rotation M5 of the loading roller 5 is provided and the area where it is not provided, respectively, as another definition.

[0231] As a further definition, when the area is divided by the imaginary line N2 seen in the direction of the axis of rotation M2, the area AU1 and the area AD1 can be defined as the area where the developing sheet 30 is provided, the proximity point 30d (see figure 54), or the axis of rotation M7 (see figure 54) of the stirring member 31 and the area where it is not provided, respectively. The proximity point 30d is the position where the developing sheet 30 is closest to the surface of the developing roller 6. In a general electrophotographic cartridge, particularly in a process cartridge used with an imaging apparatus of design in line, it is unlikely that other members of the process cartridge will be provided in the AD1 area. Furthermore, when the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h are arranged in the area AD1, the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 also has the following advantages. That is, the drive control member 540 of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 is arranged at the bottom of the process cartridge P and moves substantially horizontally (in this embodiment, the d / UU di 1 u 139 directions W51 and W52, which are the directions in which the photosensitive drums 4 or the process cartridges P are arranged) to press the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h. With such a structure, the drive control member 540 and its drive mechanism can be made relatively simple or compact. This is particularly notable in the online design imaging apparatus. Therefore, the arrangement of the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h in the area AD1 can be expected to contribute to reducing the size and cost of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 .

[0232] As described above, the arrangement of the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h has been described with reference to Figure 53, it is evident from other figures that the relationship is the same. When the direction perpendicular to the imaginary line N2 is a direction VD1, the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h are arranged in positions protruding from the developing unit 9 at least in the direction VD1. Therefore, the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second receiving portion d / UU di 1 u 140 of force 9510h may be arranged such that the first force applying surface 540b of the drive control member 540 can contact the second force receiving portion 9510h, and the second force applying surface 540c can contact the first force receiving portion 9510f.

[0233] Furthermore, the diameter of the developing roller 6 of this structure is smaller than the diameter of the photosensitive drum 4. By arranging the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h in this way, a Drive transmission portion (not shown) including a gear train and the like for transmitting the driving force of the developing coupling member 74 to the developing roller can be arranged avoiding interference with the photosensitive drum 4 in a space-saving manner. By this, the process cartridge P can be reduced in size. d / UU say 1 u Design Details - Part 3

[0234] With reference to Figure 54, a concept similar to the concept described above of arranging at least a portion of each of the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h in the area AD1 will be described. . Figure 54 is a view of the process cartridge P seen from the side of 141 drive in a direction along the axis of rotation MI, the axis of rotation K or the axis of rotation M2 of the developing unit 9. The arrangement of the regulating member 9510 described below applies substantially in common to both the first position as well as the second position, so only the first position will be described and the description of the second position will be omitted. An axis of rotation of a toner supply roller (developer supply member) 32 is an axis of rotation (center of rotation) M6. Furthermore, the process cartridge P includes a stirring member 31 that rotates and stirs the developer contained in the developing unit 9, and the axis of rotation of the stirring member 31 is a rotation axis (center of rotation) M7.

[0235] An imaginary line connecting the rotation axis MI of the photosensitive drum 4 and the rotation axis M5 of the charging roller 5 as the loading member is the imaginary line N10. Of the intersections between the imaginary line N10 and the surface of the photosensitive drum 4, the intersection furthest from the axis of rotation M5 is an intersection MX1. An imaginary tangent line of the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 passing through the intersection MX1 is a tangent (default tangent) Nll. The area is divided by the tangent line Nll, in which, a resulting area AU2 includes the axis of rotation MI, d / UU di 1 u 142 the charge roller 5, the rotation shaft M5, the development coupling member 74, the rotation shaft K, the development blade 30, the proximity point 30d, the toner supply roller 32, the shaft of rotation M6 and the stirring member 31, the rotation axis M7 or the pressed portion 9510c, and a resulting area AD2 (default area) does not include it. Furthermore, areas AU2 and AD2 can be defined in another way as follows. That is, a direction VD10 is a direction parallel and directed in the same orientation as the direction from the axis of rotation M5 to the axis of rotation MI, the most downstream portion of the photosensitive drum 4 with respect to the direction VD10 is the intersection MX1 . Then, with respect to the direction VD10, the upstream area of ​​the most downstream portion MX1 is an area AU2, and the downstream area thereof is an area (default area) AD2. Areas AU2 and AD2 defined either way are the same.

[0236] At least a part of the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h is arranged in the area AD2. The arrangement in which at least a portion of each of the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h in the area AD2 thereby contributes to reducing the size and costs of the process cartridge P and the main device assembly d / UU di 1 u 143 of imaging 502. This is for the same reason as when at least a portion of each of the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h is arranged in the area AD1. Furthermore, the regulating member 9510, the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h are moved at least in the VD10 direction by movement in the Z1 and Z2 directions. By such a displacement in the direction VD10 it is possible to avoid interference of the regulating member 9510, the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h with the drive control member 540, when the process cartridge P is inserted into or removed from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502.

[0237] When a direction perpendicular to the tangent line Nll is the direction VD10, the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h are placed in a position projected from the developing unit 9 at least in the address VD10 when the regulating member 9510 is in the first position. Therefore, the first force receiving portion 9510f and the second force receiving portion 9510h can be arranged such that the first force applying surface 540b of the d / UU control member di 1 u 144 drive 540 can contact the second force receiving portion 9510h, and the second force applying surface 540c can contact the first force receiving portion 9510f. The positional relationship of each force receiving portion described above is the same in all embodiments described below. Mode 9

[0238] With reference to Figures 55A and 55B to 58A and 58B, the process cartridge and the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention will be described. The process cartridge of this modality is the same as that of Modality 1, and only the structure of the regulating member and its periphery is different. Accordingly, members having the same functions and structures are indicated by the same reference numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Regulatory member structure

[0239] Figures 55A and 55B are illustrations to illustrate the disassembly and assembly of the regulating member 10510. Figure 56A is a perspective view of only the regulating member 10510 and the drive side bearing 10526. Figure 56B is a side view view of only the 10510 regulating member and bearing from the d / UU side di 1 u 145 drive 10526. Figure 56C is a side view of a state in which only the regulating member 10510 and the drive side bearing 10526 are pressed by the pressure member of the cartridge.

[0240] In Mode 9, the regulating member 10510 in Mode 8 is divided into two and connected to each other. Specifically, as shown in Figures 55A and 55B, the regulating member 10510 is divided into an upper regulating member 10510U and a lower regulating member 10510D. A shaft 10510Da is provided in the lower regulating member 10510D. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 56A, the lower regulating member 10510D is provided with feet 10510De and 10510g that can protrude from the developing unit in the Z2 direction. A first force receiving portion (insertion force receiving portion) 10510Df is provided in the foot portion 10510De, and a second force receiving portion (retraction force receiving portion) 10510Dh is provided in the foot portion foot 10510Dg, and receive forces from the drive control member 540. The upper regulating member 10510U has an opening 10510Uj in the surface that faces the lower regulating member 10510D.

[0241] Oblong holes 10510Uk constituting a pair are provided through the opening 10510Uj. A spring clamping portion 10510Dj is provided in the d / UU di 1 u 146 lower regulator member 10510D. One end of the compression spring 10512 is fitted to the holding portion of the spring 0510Dj, the other end is inserted from the opening 10510Uj and held by the holding portion (not shown) behind it, and then each shaft is fitted in each oblong hole 10510Uk. At that time, the regulating member 10510 is preferably made of plastic material because it is assembled while the opening 10510Uj is widened. When a hard material is used, the 10510Da shaft can be a separate member. For example, a parallel pin such as the 10510Da shaft can be used and assembled by press fit.

[0242] The upper regulating member 10510U and the lower regulating member 10510D are connected by an oblong hole 10510Uk and a pair of shafts 10510Da, and the upper regulating member 10510U is pushed away from the lower regulating member 10510D by a compression spring 10512. Furthermore , the lower regulating member 10510D can rotate about the axis 10510Da with respect to the upper regulating member 10510U. Furthermore, it is structured to be able to move in the direction along the oblong hole 10510Uk with respect to the upper regulating member 10510U. The connecting portion connecting the upper regulating member 10510U and the lower regulating member 10510D structured as described above may adopt d / UU di 1 u 147 a first state where elastic deformation is allowed and a second state where elastic deformation is restricted. Details will be described later. d / UU say 1 u Regulatory Member Operation Description

[0243] With reference to Figures 56A to 56C, the operation of the regulating member 10510 will be described. As described in Embodiment 8, after the process cartridge P is fully inserted into the main assembly of forming apparatus Figures 502, the regulating member 10510 is pressed by the cartridge pressure member (not shown) in interaction with the closing operation of the front door 111. Figure 56A and Figure 56B show a state in which the regulating member 10510 is not pushed by the pressure member of the cartridge (free state), and Figure 56C shows a state in which the regulating member 10510 is pushed by the pressure member of the cartridge (locked state).

[0244] As shown in Figure 56A, the lower regulating member 10510D is provided with an arc-shaped guide groove 10526b centered on a support portion 10526a provided on the drive side bearing 10526, in which the shaft 10510Da fits. . As described above, the lower regulating member 10510D can rotate about the portion of 148 support 10526a with respect to the upper regulating member 10510U. Furthermore, the upper regulating member 10510U rotates around the support portion 10526a of the drive side bearing 10526 and can be moved in the Z1 and Z2 directions.

[0245] As shown in Figure 56B, with the structure described above, when the regulating member 10510 is not pushed by the pressure member of the cartridge (free state), the lower regulating member 10510D rotates around the axis 10510Da. Therefore, even if the lower regulating member 10510D receives force from the drive control member 540 and rotates, the force is not transmitted to the upper regulating member 10510U.

[0246] Referring to Figure 56C, the operation in the state (locked state) in which the regulating member 10510 is pushed by the pressure member of the cartridge will be described. The upper regulating member 10510U moves in the Z2 direction against the driving force of the spring 10512, being pushed down by the cartridge pressure member. As shown in Figure 56A, the coupling portion (square shaft portion) 10510Dk fits into the coupling portion (square hole portion) 10510Um, such that the upper regulating member 10510U and the lower regulating member 10510D are integrated. That is, the oscillating movement of the limb is restricted ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u 149 lower regulator 10510D around the axis 10510Da with respect to the upper regulator member 10510U. In this state, the integrated regulating member 10510 can rotate around the supporting portion 10526a as a center of rotation, while the shaft 10510Da moves in the arc-shaped guide groove 10526b shown in Figure 56A. Therefore, in the state of being pushed in the direction Z2 by the pressure member of the cartridge, the regulating member 10510 can move in the same way as the regulating member 9510 in Mode 8. d / UU say 1 u Mounting the process cartridge to the main assembly of the imaging apparatus

[0247] Referring to Figure 57A and Figure 57B, the operation of the regulating member 10510 will be described when the process cartridge is inserted in Mode 9. Figure 57A shows a state in which the process cartridge P is in process of being inserted into the main imaging apparatus assembly 502. Figure 57B shows a state in which the process cartridge P is in the process of being disassembled from the main imaging apparatus assembly 502. For the sake of For better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover 9520 and the developing device cover member 9533 are omitted. As described above, when the 150 upper regulator 10510U is not pushed by the cartridge pressure member (free state), the lower regulator member 10510D can rotate around the axis 10510Da. In this embodiment, the lower regulating member 10510D is in the same position as the first position of the regulating member 9510 (see Figure 51B) in Mode 8. Therefore, as in Mode 8, when the process cartridge P mounted on The tray 110 (not shown) is inserted into the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 in the direction of arrow XI, the drive control member 540 interferes with the lower regulator member 10510D. However, due to the above structure, as shown in Figure 57A, the lower regulating member 10510D can be prevented from rotating around the axis 10510Da, and the driving control member 540 and the lower regulating member 10510D can be prevented from interfering with each other. , and the cartridge cannot be inserted into the main assembly of the imaging apparatus.

[0248] Next, when the process cartridge P is inserted into the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 and the front door 111 is closed, the upper regulating member 10510U is pushed down in the Z2 direction by the cartridge pressure as described above. Then the coupling portion (square shaft portion) 10510Dk shown in the figure d / UU di 1 u 151 56Α fits into mating portion (square hole portion) 10510Um. That is, the upper regulating member 10510U and the lower regulating member 10510D are integrated and perform substantially the same function as the regulating member 9510 of Mode 8. Disassembly of the process cartridge from the main assembly of the imaging apparatus

[0249] On the contrary, as shown in Figure 57B, also when the process cartridge P is removed from the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 (direction lower regulator 10510D. However, since the lower regulator member 10510D is in a free state as described above, it is not integrated with the upper regulator member 10510U and therefore rotates around the axis 10510Da. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drive control member 540 and the lower regulating member 10510D from interfering with each other and being unable to be removed from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502. In this embodiment, a process cartridge that can be used With a color image the training apparatus is described. Therefore, there are four process cartridges and four drive control members. Therefore, depending on the season, the operation that d / UU di 1 u 152 shown in Figures 57A and 57B is repeated a maximum of four times.

[0250] The structure is such that the lower regulating member 10510D returns from the position shown in Figure 57B to the neutral position shown in Figure 56B (the position where the angle is formed between the upper regulating portion 10510U and the lower regulating member 10510D is 0t=0°). d / UU say 1 u Operation of restraining member for drive connection / disconnection

[0251] Referring to Figures 58A and 58B, the operation of the regulating member 10510 at the time of connection and disconnection of the drive will be described. Figure 58A shows a state in which the regulating member 10510 is in the first position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. Figure 58B shows a state in which the regulating member 10510 is in the second position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. For the sake of better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover 9520 and the developing device cover member 9533 are omitted. In addition, the drive connecting operation and the driving disconnecting operation of the developing coupling member 74 and the 153 rotating member 75, and the operation of the drive control member 540 are the same as in Mode 1 and, therefore, their description is omitted. As described above, when the process cartridge P is inserted into the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 and the front door 111 is closed, the upper regulating member 10510U is pushed down in the direction Z2 by the pressure member of the cartridge. Then, the upper regulating member 10510U and the lower regulating member 10510D are integrated.

[0252] At this time, there is a gap T103 between the first force receiving portion 10510Df of the foot portion 10510De and the second force applying surface 540c, and there is a gap ΊΊ02 between the second force receiving portion 10510Dh of the foot portion 10510Dg and the first force application surface 540b. Furthermore, the regulating lever portion 10510Ud as a movable portion is placed in a position where the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80 do not contact each other. The position of this regulating member 10510 is called the first position. At this time, the drive connection state is maintained as long as the regulating member 10510 is maintained in the first position.

[0253] Furthermore, when the control member of d / UU di 1 u 154 drive 540 moves in the direction W52, the second force applying surface 540c rests on the first force receiving portion 10510Df of the lower regulating member 10510D, and the regulating member 10510 rotates around the supporting portion 10526a in figure 58A in the direction of arrow V101. Then, the regulating lever portion 10510Ud of the upper regulating member 10510U is placed between the surface 74b of the developing coupling member 74 and the surface 80b of the sliding member 80. Therefore, the disconnection of the drive is maintained. The position of this regulating member 10510 is called the second position. At this time, as for the lower regulating member 10510D, the space T104 exists between the first force receiving portion 10510DÍ and the second force applying surface 540c, and the space T105 exists between the second force receiving portion 10510Dh of the foot portion 10510Dg and the first force application surface 540b. When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51, the first force applying surface 540b contacts the second force receiving portion 10510Dh of the lower regulating member 10510D, and the regulating member 10510 rotates in the direction of arrow V102 in Figure 58B around the support portion 10526a. Then, the regulating lever portion 10510Ud is separated from the 155 developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80, and the drive connection is established.

[0254] According to the structure of this embodiment described above, the same effect as in Mode 8 can be obtained. In this embodiment, the lower regulating member 10510D including the first force receiving portion 10510Df and the second portion of force receiving portion 10510Dh is made movable with respect to the upper regulating member 10510U and other portions of the process cartridge P. In this embodiment, the movement causes the first force receiving portion 10510Df and the second force receiving portion 10510Dh to be displaced in the Z2 direction, thus moving at least in the VD1 direction (figure 53 and so on) and the VD10 direction (figure 54 and so on). The lower regulating member 10510D can switch between a state in which it can move independently (free state) and a state in which it is fixed to the upper regulating member 10510U (locked state), depending on the position of the upper regulating member 10510U. Accordingly, when the process cartridge P is inserted or detached from the main imaging apparatus assembly 502, the lower regulating member 10510D can be prevented from interfering with the main imaging apparatus assembly 502, especially the member drive control 540, d / UU di 1 u 156 which results in the inability to mount and dismount the process cartridge. Mode 10

[0255] With reference to Figures 59A and 59B to 63A and 63B, Embodiment 10 of the present invention will be described. In this mode, the structure and operation different from those of the mode described above will mainly be described, and the description of the same structure and operation will be omitted. Furthermore, the same reference numbers or numbers of the first parts are changed and the numbers and letters of the last parts are the same for the structures corresponding to those of the embodiment described above. Regulatory member structure

[0256] Figure 59A shows the state of the upper regulating member 11510U and the lower regulating member 11510D before assembly. Figure 59B shows the state of the upper regulating member 11510U and the lower regulating member 11510D after assembly. In Mode 10, the regulating member corresponding to the regulating member 9510 in Mode 8 bypasses the drive control member 540 in the longitudinal direction (directions Y1 and Y2 in Figure 60D in the process of inserting the d / UU di 1 u 157 process cartridge P as shown in figures 59A and 59B. The directions Y1 and Y2 are parallel to the axis of rotation MI of the photosensitive drum 4 and the axis of rotation M2 of the developing roller 6 of Mode 1. The insertion and extraction while the regulating member 11510 bypasses the drive the control member 540 is will describe later.

[0257] As shown in Figures 59A and 59B, the specific structure of the regulating member 11510 is a two-part structure of an upper regulating member 11510U and a lower regulating member 11510D. The upper regulating member 11510U is provided with a pair of oblong holes opposite each other in the directions XI and see Figures 57A and 57B) in relation to the main assembly of imaging apparatus. A shaft 11510Da is provided in the lower regulating member 11510D. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 59A, the lower regulating member 11510D has foot portions 11510De and 11510Dg that can protrude from the developing unit 9 in the Z2 direction. A first force receiving portion (insertion force receiving portion) 11510DÍ is provided in the foot portion 11510De, and a second receiving portion of d / UU di 1 u 158 force (retraction force receiving portion) 11510Dh is provided in the foot portion 11510Dg, and they receive forces from the drive control member. 540. A compression spring 11512 is provided between the upper regulating member 11510U and the lower regulating member 11510D. One end of the compression spring 11512 is supported by the clamping portion (not shown) of the upper regulating member 11510U, the other end is fitted to the clamping portion 11510Dj of the lower regulating member 11510D, such that the shaft 11510Da fits into the oblong hole 11510Uk (figure 59B).

[0258] The regulating member 11510 assembled in this way is preferably made of a plastic material because the free end portion 11510Uj of the upper regulating member 11510U widens when the shaft 11510Da fits into the oblong hole 11510Uk. When the regulating member 11510 made of a hard material is used, the shaft 11510Da and the lower regulating member 11510D may be separate members. For example, the shaft 11510Da may finally be snapped into the lower regulating member 11510D. d / UU say 1 u Regulatory Member Operation Description

[0259] With reference to Figures 60A to 60E, the operation of the regulating member 11510 will be described. 159 Figure 60A shows a state (free state) in which the upper regulating member 11510U is not pushed by the cartridge pressure member in the main assembly of the imaging apparatus. Figure 60B shows only the regulating member 11510 viewed from the drum drive side in Figure 60A. Figure 60C shows the enlarged view showing the lower control member 11510D of Figure 60B. Figure 60D shows a state in which the upper regulating member 11510U is pushed by the cartridge pressure member into the main assembly of imaging apparatus (locked state). Figure 60E shows only the regulating member 11510 viewed from the drum drive side in Figure 60D.

[0260] With reference to Figures 59A and 59B, a state in which the regulating member 11510 is not pushed by the pressure member of the cartridge (free state) will be described. By adjusting the elongated hole 11510Ua to the supporting portion 11526Ua of the drive side bearing 11526, the upper regulating member 11510U can move in the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole 11510Ua and in the directions Z1 and Z2, and can rotate around the portion support 11510Ua. When not pressed by the cartridge pressure member, the lower regulating member 11510D is supported by the shaft 11510Da and can d / UU di 1 u 160 rotate around the axis 11510Da in the directions of arrows Y3 and Y4 (free state) relative to the upper regulating member 11510U. In this free state, by the force of said compression spring 11512, for example, the lower regulating member 11510D supports the shaft 11510Da and is kept tiltable with respect to the upper regulating member 11510U. In the free state, the lower regulating member 11510D needs to avoid interference with the drive control member 540 when the cartridge is inserted or removed from the main assembly of imaging apparatus which will be described later. For example, as shown in FIG. . To do this, the seating surface 11510Dn of the lower regulating member 11510D faces the seating surface 11510Uq of the upper regulating member 11510U in the state that the lower regulating member 11510D is rotated in the Y4 direction. By this, the elastic force of the compression spring 11512 provided between the upper regulating member 11510U and the lower regulating member 11510D causes the lower regulating member 11510D to maintain the state of d / UU di 1 u 161 oscillation, using the moment in the Y4 direction around the axis 11510Da.

[0261] Referring to Figure 59B, 60D and 60E, the operation in the state (locked state) in which the regulating member 11510 is pushed by the pressure member of the cartridge will be described. The upper regulating member 11510U moves in the Z2 direction against the driving force of the spring 11512 by being pushed down by the cartridge pressure member. In the state that the upper regulating member 11510U is pushed by the pressure member of the cartridge, the free end portion 11510 Up of the upper regulating member 11510U shown in Figure 59B fits into the square hole portion 11510Dm of the regulating member lower 11510D. Then, the upper regulating member 11510U and the lower regulating member 11510D are integrated, and the swinging of the lower regulating member 10510D around the axis 10510Da with respect to the upper regulating member 10510U is restricted (locked state). In this state, the integrated regulating member 11510 can rotate in the HIV and V112 directions around the support portion 11526a as the center of rotation. Therefore, in the state of being pushed in the direction Z2 by the pressure member of the cartridge, the regulating member 11510 can move in the same way as the regulating member iviA / a / zu¿ó / uuó ι i u 9510 in Mode 8. 162 Mounting the process cartridge to the main assembly of the imaging apparatus

[0262] Referring to Figures 61A-61C, the operation of the regulating member 11510 when the process cartridge is inserted in Mode 10 will be described. Figure 61A shows a state in which the process cartridge P is in the process of be inserted into the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502. Figure 61B shows the state of Figure 61Ά seen from the development drive side. Figure 61C shows a state in which a process cartridge of Figure 61A is further inserted. For better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover 9520 and the developer cover member 9533 are omitted.

[0263] As described above, when the upper regulating member 11510U is not pushed by the cartridge pressure member (free state), the lower regulating member 11510D can rotate about the axis 11510Da as shown in Figure 60B. When the process cartridge P mounted in the cartridge tray (not shown) is inserted into the imaging apparatus main assembly 502 in the direction of arrow XI or removed from it in the direction of arrow X2 , the lower regulating member 11510D is inserted while further retracted in the longitudinal direction (Y2 direction) relative to the d / UU di 1 u 163 drive control member 540. This is because the lower regulating member 11510D is maintained in the state shown in Figure 60B by the action of the compression spring 11512 described above. Furthermore, an inclined surface 11510Dp is provided on the lower regulating member 11510D, and when it collides with the driving control member 540, the lower regulating member 11510D retracts in the direction Y2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drive control member 540 and the lower regulating member 11510D from interfering with each other with the result that they cannot be inserted into the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502.

[0264] Next, when the process cartridge P is inserted into the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 and the front door 111 is closed, the upper regulating member 11510U is pushed down in the Z2 direction by the cartridge pressure as described above. Then, the free end portion 11510Up of the upper regulating member 11510U shown in Figure 59B fits into the square hole portion 11510Dm of the lower regulating member 11510D. In other words, the upper regulating member 10510U and the lower regulating member 10510D are integrated and perform substantially the same function as the regulating member iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu 9510 of Mode 8. 164 Disassembly of the process cartridge from the main assembly of the imaging apparatus

[0265] Referring to Figure 62A, Figure 62B and Figure 52C, the operation of the regulating member 11510 when the process cartridge is removed will be described. Figure 62A shows a state in which the process cartridge P is in the process of being removed from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502. Figure 62B shows the state of Figure 62A as seen from the drive side drum. Figure 62C shows a state in which the process cartridge is further removed from Figure 62A and Figure 62B. For better illustration, the drive side cartridge cover 9520 and the developing device cover member 9533 are omitted.

[0266] As shown in Figure 62B, when the process cartridge P is disassembled from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 (X2 direction), the lower regulating member 10510D is removed in the longitudinal direction (Y2 direction). Furthermore, the lower regulating member 11510D is provided with an inclined surface 11510Dq, and when it collides with the drive control member 540, the lower regulating member 11510D is further retracted in the Y2 direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the driving control member 540 and the lower regulating member 11510D from interfering with each other with the 165 result of the inability to remove it from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502. In this embodiment, a process cartridge that can be used with a color imaging apparatus is described. Therefore, there are four process cartridges and four drive control members. Therefore, depending on the season, the operations shown in Figures 61A-61C and 62A-62C are repeated a maximum of four times. As described above, when the process cartridge P is inserted or removed from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502, the lower regulating member 11510D is in a free state. d / UU say 1 u Operation of regulating member for drive connection / disconnection

[0267] Referring to the figure, the operation of the regulating member 11510 at the time of connection and disconnection of the drive will be described. Figure 63A shows a state in which the regulating member 11510 is in the first position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. Figure 63B shows a state in which the regulating member 11510 is in the second position and the driving control member 540 is in the initial position. For the sake of better illustration, the cartridge cover of the 6 drive side 9520 and the developing device cover member 9533. In addition, the drive connection operation and the drive disconnection operation of the development coupling member 74 and the rotating member 75, and the operation of the drive control 540 are the same as in Mode 1 and, therefore, their description is omitted.

[0268] As described above, when the process cartridge P is inserted into the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 and the front door 111 is closed, the upper regulating member 11510U is pushed down in the direction Z2 by the cartridge pressure member. Then, the upper regulating member 10510U and the lower regulating member 10510D are integrated (Figure 63A). At this time, there is a space T113 between the first force receiving portion 11510Df of the foot portion 11510De and the second force applying surface 540c, and there is a space T112 between the second force receiving portion 11510Dh of the foot portion foot 11510Dg and the first force application surface 540b. Furthermore, the regulating lever portion 11510Ud is in a position where the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80 do not contact each other. The position of this regulatory member 11510 is called the first position. At this time, the drive connection status is ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u 167 maintains while the regulating member 11510 remains in the first position.

[0269] Furthermore, when the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52, the second force applying surface 540c rests on the first force receiving portion 11510Df of the lower regulating member 11510D, such that the Regulating member 11510 rotates about the center of the support portion 11526a in the direction of the arrow HIV in Figure 62A. Then, the regulating lever portion 11510Ud of the upper regulating member 11510U is placed between the surface 74b of the developing coupling member 74 and the surface 80b of the sliding member 80. Therefore, the disconnection of the drive is maintained. The position of this regulating member 10510 is called the second position. At this time, as for the lower regulating member 11510D, there is a space T115 between the first force receiving portion 11510DÍ and the second force applying surface 540c, and there is a space T114 between them and the second force receiving portion 11510Dh of the foot portion 11510Dg and the first force application surface 540b. When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51, the first force applying surface 540b rests on the second force receiving portion 11510Dh of the member d / UU di 1 u 168 lower regulator 11510D, and the regulator member 11510 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow V112 in Figure 63B about the center of the support portion 11526a. When the regulating lever portion 11510Ud is separated from the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80, the drive connection is established.

[0270] According to the structure of this modality described above, the same effect as in Modality 8 can be provided.

[0271] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lower regulating member 11510D including the first force receiving portion (insertion force receiving portion) 11510Df and the second force receiving portion (extraction force receiving portion) 11510Dh is movable with respect to the upper regulating member 11510U and the other parts of the process cartridge P. In this embodiment, the movement displaces the first force receiving portion 11510f and the second force receiving portion 11510h at least in the Y2 direction (the direction parallel to the rotation axes MI and M2 in Mode 8). Then, it is possible to switch between the state where the lower regulating member 11510D can move independently (free state) and the state where it is fixed to the upper regulating member 11510U (locked state), using the position of the upper regulating member 11510U. Through this, when the d / UU cartridge di 1 u 169 process P is inserted or removed from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502, it is possible to prevent, by taking a free state, that the lower regulating member 11510D and the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502, especially the control member drive 540, interfere with each other resulting in the inability to insert and remove the process cartridge. Mode 11

[0272] With reference to Figures 64A and 64B to 66A-66C, a process cartridge and an imaging apparatus will be described in accordance with an Embodiment 11 of the present invention. The process cartridge of this embodiment is the same as that of Mode 1, and differs only in the structure of the cartridge cover member and its peripheries, which will be described below. Consequently, members having the same functions and structures are assigned the same reference numbers, and the detailed description of them is omitted.

[0273] In this embodiment, as in Embodiment 1, it is possible to change the drive without depending on the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6, the drive control member 540 provided in the assembly main device of d / UU di 1 u 170 imaging and the structure of the component and the operation of the regulating member 510 provided in the process cartridge are the same as in Modality 1. According to the structure of this modality, the same effects as those of the modality can be provided. Mode 1. In addition to the operations described in Mode 1, a structure is provided whereby the process cartridge or developing unit moves further in the vertical direction to the imaging operation. With this operation, when the process cartridge is inserted or removed from the main assembly of the apparatus, it is possible to provide a greater vertical distance from the drive control member than in Mode 1, such that the probability of interference with the Control member actuation with the result of inability to insert and remove the cartridge process can be further reduced. Structure of the process cartridge, including the moving member of the developing unit

[0274] With reference to Figures 64A, 64B and 65, a structure will be described in which the developing unit, which is a process cartridge, moves in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive drum of the drum unit. As described in Mode 1, the perpendicular direction Z in this mode means the direction 171 perpendicular to the direction of the arrow that the drum unit as the first unit and the developing unit as the second unit can move relative to each other in the vertical direction. The directions (Zl, Z2) of said relative movement are directions that intersect with the imaginary line N2 shown in figure 53.

[0275] As shown in Figures 64A and 64B, the drum unit 8 and the developing unit 9 are integrally supported by a cartridge cover member to form a process cartridge. Figures 64A and 64B are a side view of the process cartridge viewed from the drive side.

[0276] Here, as shown in Figure 64A, in this embodiment, the developing unit 9 is kept in an elevated position in the direction of the arrow Zl, in contrast to Mode 1. That is, the positional relationship is such that the drive control member 540 described in Embodiment 1 does not operate the regulating member 510. As shown in Figure 64B, in this embodiment, the vertical position of the developing unit 9 is the same as in Embodiment 1 That is, the positional relationship is such that the drive control member 540 described in d / UU di 1 u 172 Mode 1 can operate the restraining member 510. A detailed structure (structure of the movable member of the developing unit) in which the developing unit 9 moves vertically supported by the movable member of the developing unit, which is a member vertical mobile arranged in the process cartridge, will be described below.

[0277] A structure in which the developing unit 9 is kept movable in the directions of the arrows Z1 and Z2, which are vertical directions, will be described in detail. Figure 65 is a perspective view of the process cartridge viewed from the non-drive side, and is an exploded view of the moving member of the developing unit. Drum unit not shown for better illustration. As shown in Figures 64A, 64B and 65, the moving member of the developing unit, which is a vertical moving member, is an integrated element of the unit that includes a driving side developing unit moving bearing. 1250, the drive side developing unit moving springs 1251A and 1251B, and a side cartridge cover member 1252.

[0278] The drive side developing unit motion bearing 1250 has a cylindrical receiving portion of the drive side developing unit 1250b to axially support the cylindrical portion 533b of the 1 u d / UU 173 developing device cover member to allow adjustment support. Furthermore, the drive side outer cylindrical portion 1250a of the movable bearing of the drive side developing unit 1250 is supported by the sliding portion 1252a of the drive side cartridge cover member so that it can be adjusted. The sliding portion 1252a of the drive side cartridge cover member has an oblong hole shape parallel to the vertical direction (directions of arrows Z1 and Z2), such that the movable bearing of the drive side developing unit Drive 1250 and developing unit can move in the vertical direction.

[0279] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 64A, the moving bearing of the drive side developing unit 1250 and the developing unit 9 are kept in the state of being in contact with the upper side (direction Zl) of the oblong hole of the sliding portion 1252a of the drive side cartridge cover member. As shown in Figure 65, the moving springs 1251A and 1251B of the drive side developing unit are mounted on the fixing projection portions of the driving side moving spring 1250c and 1250e of the moving bearing 1250 of the drive side development, d / UU di 1 u 174 respectively. The moving springs of the driving side developing unit 1251A and 1251B are push springs, and the contact surfaces of the moving spring (moving bearing side) 1251c and 1251e rest on the fixing projection portions of the moving side spring. of the drive side cover member 1252d and 1252f. By this, the moving bearing of the drive side developing unit 1250 and the developing unit 9 are pushed in the direction Z1 with respect to the drive side cartridge cover member 1252 by the force of the spring. pressure of the moving springs of the drive side developing unit 1251A and 1251B.

[0280] As shown in Figure 64B, the moving bearing 1250 of the driving side developing unit and the developing unit 9 are kept in contact with the lower side (Z2 direction) of the oblong hole of the sliding portion of drive side cartridge cover member 1252a. In Figure 64B, the vertical positions of the drum unit 8 including the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing unit 9 are the same as in Mode 1. That is, the member d / UU di 1 u 175 developing coupling 74 of the developing unit 9 is positioned on the axis of the oscillating shaft K. In this state, the driving control member 540 and the regulating member 510 are in mutually operable positions and the image forming operation it's possible. To move the developing unit 9 from the position shown in Figure 64A to the vertical position shown in Figure 64B, a developing unit that moves the pressure force HE (also known as vertical driving force), which is the driving force of the main assembly of imaging apparatus, it is applied in the Z2 direction.

[0281] For example, in conjunction with the operation of closing the front door described in Embodiment 1, the vertical moving member on the main assembly side (not shown) contacts and presses the moving bearing of the developing unit on the side of the main assembly. drive 1250, thus producing a driving force in the vertical direction (Z2 direction). At this time, by designing such that the driving force of the vertical movable member on the main assembly side is greater than the driving force of the pressure spring of the movable springs 1251A and 1251B of the developing unit on the driving side, it is possible to move in the Z2 direction, and it moves to the position of the developing unit shown in Figure 64B. IVIA / a / ¿U¿4 / UU 4Ί 1U 176 On the other hand, by eliminating the contact pressure between the vertical moving member on the main assembly side and the moving bearing of the drive side developing unit 1250, in interrelation with the operation of opening the front door, it is possible to return the position of the developing unit 9 to the state shown in Fig. 64A by the driving force of the pressure spring of the movable springs 1251A and 1251B of the drive side developing unit described above. d / UU say 1 u Process cartridge structure having a movable cartridge member

[0282] Figures 66A-66C show a process in which the drum unit 8 and the developing unit 9, which are integrally supported by the side cartridge cover member to form a process cartridge, and are mounted on the tray and in the main assembly of imaging apparatus. Figures 66A-66C are a view from the drive side.

[0283] Figure 66A shows a state before the tray and the drive side tray member 1211 provided on the tray are removed from the imaging apparatus and the process cartridge is mounted. As shown in Figure 66A, the process cartridge in which the drum unit 8 and the developing unit 9 are 177 integrally held by the side cover member can be mounted and detached from a drive side tray member 1211 provided on the tray, and can be mounted in the direction Z1 and can be removed by lifting it in the direction Zl. Here, the drive side cartridge movement springs 1270A and 1270B are mounted on the drive side cartridge cover member 1262 and secured to the contact surfaces of the cartridge movement spring (on the cartridge side) 1262d and 1262e. Here, the drive side cartridge movement springs 1270A and 1270B are push springs. The drive side cartridge movable springs 1270A and 1270B are secured by any snap-fit ​​and bonding method to the bosses provided on the drive side cartridge cover member 1262.

[0284] Figure 66B shows a state in which the process cartridge is mounted on the drive side tray member 1211 provided on the tray, the tray has been inserted into the imaging apparatus, and the front door In the image the training apparatus is open. As shown in Figure 66B, in the process cartridges mounted in the Z2 direction, the drive side cartridge movement springs 1270A and 1270B provided on the drive side cartridge cover member 1262 contact the d / UU say 1 u 178 contact surface of the drive side (tray side) cartridge movement spring 1211d and 1211e. In the state of Figure 66B, the driving control member 540 provided on the imaging apparatus and the regulating member 510 provided on the process cartridge are in positions vertically separated from each other and, therefore, even if the On the drive side, the tray member 1211 moves in the XI and it moves to the rear side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the drive side tray member 1211, and has a positional relationship without interference during insertion and removal). A design is required such that the spring forces of the drive side cartridge movable springs 1270A and 1270B are sufficient to separate the drive control member 540 and the regulating member 510 from each other to disengage the mutual action, as shown in figure 66B.

[0285] Figure 66C shows a state in which the front door of the imaging apparatus is closed and the process cartridge moves vertically to the imaging position. Here, as in the d / UU method di 1 u 179 described above, the process cartridge is pushed in the Z2 direction by the vertical movable member on the side of the main assembly (not shown) when the front door is closed. As shown in Figure 66C, by contact between the drive side cartridge positioning portions (cartridge side) 1262a and 1262b of a drive side cartridge cover member 1262 provided on the process cartridge and the drive side cartridge positioning portions (cartridge side) 1211a and 1211b provided on the drive side tray member 1211, the movement in the Z2 direction is restricted and the position in the Z2 direction is fixed. Furthermore, the drive side cartridge rotation stop (cartridge side) 1262c of the drive side cartridge cover member 1262 has a cut-out formed recess shape, and the drive side cartridge rotation stop (cartridge side) of the tray) 1211c provided on the drive side tray member 1211 has a projection shape, in which the rotary movement in the XI and X2 directions is restricted by the projection shape portion entering the portion at form of recess.

[0286] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 66C, the positioning positions of the positioning portion of the drive side cartridge 1211a d / UU di 1 u 180 and 1211b are designed on the drive side tray member 1211, such that the drive control member 540 and the regulating member 510 can act with each other in the vertical direction, so that the imaging operation described in Mode 1 can be operated stably. At this time, the springs 1270A and 1270B that move the drive side cartridge are in a more compressed state than the state shown in Figure 66B, and being designed in such a way that the driving force exerted by the moving member vertical of the main shaft assembly side is greater than the driving force of the pressure spring of the drive side cartridge movable springs 1270A and 1270B, it is possible to carry out the movement as shown in Figure 66C.

[0287] In this embodiment, the vertical movable member is provided on the drive side, but by providing a similar structure on the non-drive side, the developing unit can be moved vertically horizontally. Furthermore, from the point of view of cost reduction, a structure can be used in which the moving member of the developing unit is arranged only on the driving side. In such a case, only the drive side of the developing unit or the process cartridge is raised in the Z1 direction and is at a d / UU di 1 u 181 inclined state. Even in the structure in which it is provided only on the drive side, the drive control member 540 provided on the drive side of the imaging apparatus can be separated from the regulating member 510 in the vertical direction and, therefore, Therefore, it is easy to avoid the possibility of the drive control member interfering with insertion or removal when the device is removed with the result of inability to insert or remove the process cartridge. In addition to the imaging operation in Embodiment 1, the structure in which the process cartridge or developing unit moves has been described, but the structure of other embodiments and the structure of the vertical movable member of this embodiment may combine. Mode 12

[0288] With reference to Figures 67 to 72A and 72B, a process cartridge and an imaging apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 12 of the present invention will be described. The process cartridge of this modality is the same as that of Modality 1, except for the structure of the regulating member 13510 and its peripheries. Consequently, members having the same functions and structures are assigned the same reference numbers, and the d / UU di 1 u is omitted 182 detailed description of them. Furthermore, the drive connection operation, the drive disconnection operation, and the operation of the drive control member 540 are the same as in Mode 1, and therefore their description is omitted. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 71A, the regulating member 13510 escapes in the longitudinal direction (direction of arrow Y2) from the drive control member 540 in the process of inserting the process cartridge P and removing it from the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502. When the assembly is completed, the restriction member 13510 is in the same longitudinal position as the drive control member 540, and the drive disconnection operation is possible as in Mode 1. d / UU say 1 u Drive Side Process Cartridge Structure

[0289] Figure 67 shows a perspective view of the process cartridge P seen from the drive side. In this embodiment, the regulating member 13510 is provided with a first round oblong hole 13510x and a second round oblong hole 13510y (see Figure 68C), and the outer diameter of the second support portion 13533k of the cover of the developing device is member 13533 is fitted with the inner walls of the first hole 183 oblong 13510x and the second oblong hole 13510y, by which it is supported to be able to rotate around two rotating axes that will be described later. Furthermore, the tension spring 13511 forces the regulating member 13510 and the developer cover member 13533 to attract each other. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 13533b of the developing device cover member 13533 is equipped with the support hole 520a of the drive side cartridge cover member 520. d / UU say 1 u Description of the structure and operation of the regulatory member

[0290] With reference to Figures 68A-68C to 70A-70C, the structure of the drive side regulating member 13510 in this embodiment will be described in detail. Figure 68A is a front view of the regulating member 13510 per se seen in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge P (in the direction of arrow Y1 in Figure 67), and Figure 68B and Figure 68C are perspective views of the regulatory member 13510 per se. The regulating member 13510 includes a pressed portion 13510c, a regulating lever portion 13510d, a foot portion 13510e, a foot portion 13510g, a first oblong hole 13510x, and a second oblong hole 13510y. Foot portions 13510e and 13510g have 184 surfaces 13510f and 13510h, which receive forces from the drive control member 540. The longitudinal directions LH of the first oblong hole 13510x and the second oblong hole 13510y are the same, and an upward direction (substantially Zl direction) is indicated by the arrow LH1, and a downward direction (substantially Z2 direction) is indicated by arrow LH2. An axis that is perpendicular to the LH direction and perpendicular to the depth direction (Yl direction) of the oblong hole forming the first oblong hole 13510x is called the HX axis. The regulating member 13510 has a cylindrical surface 13510z centered on the axis HX. The direction Yl is parallel to the rotation axes of the developing roller 6 and the photosensitive drum 4 described in Embodiment 1. In this embodiment, the first oblong hole 13510x and the second oblong hole 13510y are arranged so that the vertex is common in the direction of arrow LH1. Furthermore, the first oblong hole 13510x and the second oblong hole 13510y communicate with each other, and the diameter of the first oblong hole 13510x is larger than that of the second oblong hole 13510y. Furthermore, the length of the first slotted hole 13510x is set longer than the length of the second slotted hole 13510y.

[0291] Figure 69A is a perspective view illustrating only the 1 u d / UU device cover member 185 developing device 13533, and Figure 69B is a perspective view illustrating the developing device cover member 13533 and the regulating member 13510. The second support portion 13533k of the developing device cover member 13533 is formed by a first cylindrical portion 13533kb, a second oscillating portion 13533ka having a spherical surface and a second cylindrical portion 13533kc having a diameter smaller than that of the first cylindrical portion 13533kb. Here, the axis passing through the centers of the first cylindrical portion 1923kb and the second cylindrical portion 13533kc is called HY. The axis perpendicular to this HY and passing through the center of the spherical surface of the second oscillating portion 13533ka is the same as the axis HX mentioned above. In this embodiment, the second oscillating portion 13533ka has a spherical surface, but the present invention is not limited to this, as long as it is a surface that is within a range that does not impede movement. Furthermore, the first oblong hole 13510x and the second oblong hole 13510y of the regulating member 13510 are sufficient if they are arranged similarly so as not to hinder the swing in the directions of the arrows YA and YB and the directions of the arrows BA and BB with respect to to the first cylindrical portion 13533kb and the second cylindrical portion 13533kc, and the diameters and positional relationship in the LH direction do not ΜΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u 186 are limited to this example.

[0292] Figures 70A-70C show a state in which the regulating member 13510 and the tension spring 13511 are mounted on the developing device cover member 13533. Figure 70A is a view of the process cartridge P seen in the longitudinal direction (in the direction of arrow Y2 in figure 67). The longitudinal direction of the process cartridge P is parallel to the rotation axis K described in Embodiment 1. The regulating member 13510 is supported by the second supporting portion 13533k of the developing device cover member 13533 to be able to oscillate around the axis HY in the directions of arrows BA and BB. Figure 70B shows a section view taken along a line A-A parallel to the direction LH and passing through the center (HY) of the second support portion 13533k. The regulating member 13510 receives force in the E direction from the tension spring 13511 while the second oscillating portion 13533ka and the inner wall of the first oblong hole 13510x are in contact with each other. Here, the spring coupling portion 13510s of the regulating member 13510 is placed in a position downstream, in the Y2 direction, of the contact between the second oscillating portion 13533ka and the first oblong hole 13510x and, therefore, a moment is produced around the HX axis by the spring force and rotates around the HX axis. The d / UU di 1 u 187 regulating member 13510 rotating in the direction of the YA arrow determines its attitude by contacting the regulating part of the movable member 13533s of the developing device cover member 13533, and the standing parts 13510e and 13510g project in the Y2 direction. This position is a clamping position of the regulating member 13510.

[0293] Next, when the pushed surface 13510f is pushed in the direction of arrow ZA from the position shown in Figure 70B, a moment is produced in the direction of arrow YB about the axis HX, as it is placed downstream, in the Y2 direction, of the contact point between the second oscillating portion 13533ka and the first oblong hole 13510x. By means of this, the foot portions 13510e and 13510g of the regulating member 13510 move in the direction Y1 to the attitude shown in Figure 70C. This position is an operating position of the regulating member 13510. The amount of pressure in the ZA direction is determined by the amount of movement in the ZA direction of the pressure member 130 (see Figures 71A and 71B) of the main pressure apparatus assembly. imaging 502 (not shown). To restrict the rotation of the regulating member 13510 about the HZ axis perpendicular to the HY axis and the HX axis, the cylindrical surface 13510z is arranged to contact the drive side bearing 526 (see Figure 67). Furthermore, the contact between d / UU di 1 u 188 the second cylindrical portion 13533kc and the second oblong hole 13510y also have a similar rotation restriction effect. With the above structure, the regulating member 13510 is supported in such a way that it can oscillate in two directions about the HY axis and the HX axis. iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu Mounting the process cartridge to the main assembly of the imaging apparatus

[0294] Next, with reference to the figure, the operation of the regulating member 13510 of the process cartridge P when the process cartridge P is mounted on the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502 (not shown) will be described. Figure 71A is a view from the side of the front door of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502, when the process cartridge P is mounted in the tray 110 (not shown) and before the front door 111 is closed. Figure 71A omits parts other than the process cartridge P, the pressure member 130 and the drive control member 540 for a better illustration of the structure. In the state of Figure 71A, the foot portions 13510e and 13510g of the regulating member 13510 are positioned in the clamping position rotated in the direction YA as described above, when the tray 110 is mounted. Additionally, the foot portions 13510e and 13510g 189 of the regulating member 13510 are in a position away from the drive control member 540 in the direction of arrow Y2.

[0295] Figure 71B shows a state in which the front door 111 is closed from the state of Figure 71A. As in Mode 9, when the front door 111 is closed, the pressure member 130 within the main imaging apparatus assembly 502 descends in the direction ZA, and the force application portion 130a contacts the pressed portion 13510c of the regulating member 13510. By this, the foot portions 13510e and 13510g of the regulating member 13510 are rotated in the YB direction by the rotating mechanism described above and reach the operating position. When this operation is completed, the first force application surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the surface 13510h (see Figures 72A and 72B) of the regulating member 13510 oppose each other, and the second force application surface 540c and surface 13510f (see figures 72A and 72B) oppose each other. That is, the foot portions 13510e and 13510g of the regulating member 13510 and the control portion 540a of the driving control member 540 are arranged to overlap each other, in the directions of arrows Y1 and Y2. When the process cartridge P is to be removed from the d / UU di 1 u main assembly 190 imaging apparatus 502, the operation is reverse to the operation described above for mounting, and upon opening the front door 111, the foot portions 13510e and 13510g of the regulator member 13510 moves from the operating position to the position fastening. d / UU say 1 u Switching operation between inverter connection and disconnection

[0296] Referring to Figures 72A and 72B, the switching operation between connection and disconnection of the drive will be described. Figure 72A is a view of the state of Figure 71B viewed from the drive side, with the drive side cartridge cover member 520 and the developer cover member 13533 not shown for better illustration. In the state of Figure 72A, there is a gap T131 between the first force application surface 540b of the drive control member 540 and the surface 13510h of the regulating member 13510, and there is a gap T132 between the second force surface applying surface 540c and surface 13510f. Furthermore, the regulating lever portion 13510d is in a position where the developing coupling member 74 (not shown) and the sliding member 80 are not in contact with each other. The position of this regulatory member 13510 is called first 191 position. At this time, the drive connection state is maintained as long as the regulating member 13510 is maintained in the first position.

[0297] Furthermore, when the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W52, the second force application surface 540c rests on the surface 13510f of the regulating member 13510, such that the regulating member 13510 oscillates in the direction BA around the axis HY. Then, the regulating lever portion 13510d of the regulating member 13510 is positioned between the inclined surface 74c of the developing coupling member 74 (not shown) and the cam surface 80a of the sliding member 80 (Figure 72B). The position of this regulatory member 13510 is called the second position. Therefore, the shutdown status of the drive is maintained. When the drive control member 540 moves in the direction W51 from the state of Figure 72B, the first force application surface 540b contacts the surface 13510h of the regulating member 13510, such that the regulating member 13510 rotates in the BB direction about the HY axis as the center of rotation. Then, the regulating lever portion 13510d is separated from the developing coupling member 74 and the sliding member 80, and the driving connection state is established.

[0298] As described above using the d / UU di 1 u 192 structure of this embodiment, it is possible to switch between the first position and the second position of the regulating member 13510 by moving the drive control member 540, thereby changing the drive connection state. By means of this, it is possible to change the drive connection state independently of the contact / separation operation between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 6.

[0299] In this embodiment, the foot portions 13510e and 13510g of the regulating member 13510 are made movable in the YA direction. By doing so, when the process cartridge P is inserted or removed from the main imaging apparatus assembly 502, the foot portions 13510e and 13510g are prevented from interfering with the main imaging apparatus assembly 502, particularly the member drive control unit 540 with the result of preventing insertion or removal of the cartridge. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the foot portions 13510e and 13510g of the regulating member 13510 move from the clamping position to the operating position, the amount of movement of the foot portions 13510e and 13510g in the pressure direction (direction ZA) of the pressure member 130 is small. Therefore, it is possible to select a small amount of movement of the pressure member 130 necessary to move the foot portions 13510e and 13510g of the d / UU di 1 u 193 regulating member 13510 from the holding position to the operating position, thus reducing the size of the main assembly of imaging apparatus 502.

[0300] The structures of the modalities described above can be combined with each other as much as possible, as long as there is no technical contradiction. iviA / a / ¿u¿ó / uuói iu Industrial applicability

[0301] There is provided a cartridge that transmits the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member, and an imaging apparatus that includes the cartridge.

[0302] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Consequently, the following claims are attached to make known the scope of the invention.

[0303] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-156776 filed on September 17, 2020, and the entire contents of the description are incorporated herein.

Claims

1. A cartridge comprising: a photosensitive member; a developer member for depositing toner onto the photosensitive member; a coupling member capable of receiving a driving force to rotate the developer member; a movable portion that can be moved between a driving force transmission position to allow the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developer member and a driving force interruption position to interrupt the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developer member;a clamping portion for holding the moving portion in the driving force interruption position when the moving portion is in the driving force interruption position, wherein the moving portion is capable of assuming the driving force transmission position and the driving force interruption position in a state in which the developing member is in a position in which the toner can be deposited onto the photosensitive member.

2. The cartridge according to claim 195 1, further comprising a first rotating member and a second rotating member provided in a path for transmitting the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member and having a common axis, wherein the first rotating member and the second rotating member are capable of adopting a coupling position in which they are coupled to each other to transmit the driving force and a non-coupling position in which they are separated from each other so as not to transmit the driving force, wherein the movable portion separates, in the driving force interruption position, the first rotating member and the second rotating member from each other by applying a force to break the coupling between the first rotating member and the second rotating member to at least one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member when they are coupled to each other.

3. The cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising driving means for pushing at least one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member to place the first rotating member and the second rotating member in the coupling position, wherein the force applied to at least one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member by the movable portion in the driving force interruption position is against a driving force of the driving means. 196 4. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein in the driving force interruption position, the first rotating member and the second rotating member are placed in the non-coupling position by inserting the movable portion between the first rotating member and the second rotating member when they are in the coupling position, against the driving force of the driving means, and wherein, in the driving force transmission position, the first rotating member and the second rotating member are placed in the coupling position by retracting between the first rotating member and the second rotating member, wherein the movable portion is held in the driving force interruption position by being interposed between the first rotating member and the second rotating member by the driving force of the driving means.

5. The cartridge according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second rotating member receives the driving force from the first rotating member by coupling with the first rotating member about the axis of rotation, and can be moved in the direction of the axis of rotation between a coupling position to engage with the first rotating member and a non-coupling position that does not engage with it, wherein the driving means push the second rotating member into the coupling position, and the clamping portion comprises the first rotating member and the second rotating member.

6. The cartridge according to claim 3 or 5, further comprising a second driving means for applying, to the movable portion placed in the driving force interruption position, a driving force that includes an effective component force for placing the movable portion in the driving force interruption position.

7. A cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the second driving means applies, to the movable portion placed in the driving force transmission position, a driving force that includes an effective component force to place the movable portion in the driving force transmission position.

8. The cartridge according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the clamping portion includes the second driving means.

9. The cartridge according to claim 3 or 5, further comprising a third driving means for applying a force to the moving portion, wherein the third driving means applies to the moving portion, which is moving from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position, an effective force to place the moving portion in the driving force transmission position until the moving portion reaches a predetermined position, and when the moving portion exceeds the predetermined position, the third driving means applies to the moving portion an effective driving force to place the moving portion in the driving force interruption position.

10. The cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the third driving means includes a lever spring having an end portion fixed to a cartridge frame and the other end portion fixed to the moving portion.

11. The cartridge according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the clamping portion includes the third driving means.

12. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a clutch arranged in a transmission path for the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member, wherein the clutch includes an input member that can rotate upon receiving the driving force on an upstream side of the transmission path, an output member that can rotate coaxially with the input member upon receiving the driving force from the input member, a transmission member capable of adopting a transmission state in which the relative rotation between the input member and the output member is restricted to allow simultaneous rotations of the input member and the output member to transmit the driving force from the input member to the output member, and a non-drive state in which relative rotation is permitted to not transmit the driving force from the input member to the output member,and a control member for changing a state between the transmitting state and the non-actuating state, wherein the movable portion placed in the driving force interruption position interrupts the transmission of the driving force from the input member to the output member by acting on the control member to bring the transmitting member to the transmitting state.

13. The cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the transmitting member, in the transmitting state, makes contact with the input member and rotates integrally with the input member by restricting the relative rotation through friction with the input member, and the control member controls the relative rotation by controlling a degree of contact between the input member and the transmitting member, and the movable portion, in the driving force interruption position, interrupts the transmission of the driving force from the input member to the output member by acting on the control member to reduce the frictional force between the input member and the transmitting member. d / UU di 1 u 200 14. The cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the clutch is a spring clutch and the transmission member is a spring wound around an outer periphery of the input member, wherein the control member is coupled to one end of the spring and the clutch transmits the driving force by integral rotation of the input member, the spring, the output member, and the control member, wherein the transmission of the driving force from the input member to the output member is interrupted by facilitating the compression of the spring in the input member, restricting the movable portion of the control member to rotation in the driving force interruption position.

15. The cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the control member includes a coupled portion, and the movable portion has an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the control member, and wherein the movable portion is capable of switching between the coupled position in which it is coupled to the coupled portion and a non-coupled position in which it is not coupled to the coupled portion.

16. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein a rotational movement direction of the control member is opposite to a movement direction of the movable portion from the non-coupling position to the coupling position, and wherein the coupled portion includes a first coupled portion that is coupled to the movable portion placed in the coupling position, opposite to the rotational direction of the control member, and a second coupled portion that is coupled to the movable portion placed in the coupling position, opposite in a direction opposite to the movement direction of the movable portion from the non-coupling position to the coupling position.

17. The cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the second coupled portion is an outer peripheral surface of the control member, and the first coupled portion is a claw-shaped portion protruding from the outer peripheral surface.

18. The cartridge according to claim 16 or 17, wherein, viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation of the control member or the axis of rotation of the movable portion, a place of movement of the first coupled portion and a place of movement of the movable portion intersect each other in an area interposed between a first imaginary line passing through the center of rotation of the control member and a second imaginary line passing through the center of rotation of the movable portion, wherein the imaginary lines are perpendicular to a line connecting the center of rotation of the control member and the center of rotation of the movable portion.

19. The cartridge according to claim 16 or 18, wherein the clamping portion includes the first coupled portion and the second coupled portion.

20. The cartridge according to claim 15 or 19, further comprising a restraint portion for restricting movement from the coupling position of the movable portion to the non-coupling position.

21. The cartridge according to claim 15 or 19, further comprising a second driving means for applying, to the movable portion placed in the coupling position, a driving force that includes an effective component force for placing the movable portion in the coupling position.

22. The cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the second driving means applies, to the movable portion placed in the non-coupling position, a driving force that includes an effective component force to place the movable portion in the non-coupling position.

23. The cartridge according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the clamping portion d / UU di 1 u includes the second driving means. 203 24. The cartridge according to claim 15 or 19, further comprising a third driving means for applying a force to the movable portion, wherein the third driving means applies to the movable portion moving from the non-coupling position to the coupling position, an effective driving force to place the movable portion in the non-coupling position until the movable portion reaches a predetermined position, and wherein when the movable portion exceeds the predetermined position, the third driving means applies to the movable portion an effective driving force to place the movable portion in the coupling position.

25. The cartridge according to claim 24, wherein the third driving means includes a lever spring having an end portion fixed to a cartridge frame and the other end portion fixed to the moving portion.

26. The cartridge according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the clamping portion includes the third driving means.

27. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a first gear and a second gear meshed with each other and provided in a driving force transmission path from the coupling member to the developing member, MΛ / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u 204 wherein the movable portion supports one of the first and second gears, and wherein the movable portion places, in the driving force transmission position, one of the gears in a coupling position in which one of the gears meshes with the other gear, and places, in the driving force interruption position, one of the gears in a non-meshing position in which one of the gears does not mesh with the other gear.

28. The cartridge according to claim 27, further comprising a third gear meshed with the other of the first gear and the second gear in the transmission path, and a fourth driving element for applying a driving force to place the movable portion in the driving force interruption position, wherein when the movable portion is in the driving force interruption position, a moment M3 is produced by the driving force of the fourth driving element and is effective in placing the movable portion in the driving force interruption position, greater than a moment MI produced by the meshing between the other gear and the third gear and which is effective in placing the movable portion in the driving force transmission position, and wherein when the movable portion is in the driving force transmission position,The moment M3 is less than the sum of the d / UU di 1 u 205 moment MI and a moment M2 that is produced by the coupling between the first gear and the second gear and which is effective in placing the moving portion in the driving force transmission position.

29. The cartridge according to claim 28, wherein the fourth driving means is a tension spring having one end portion fixed to a cartridge frame and the other end portion fixed to the moving portion.

30. The cartridge according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the clamping portion is a combination of the first gear and the second gear that are coupled together when the movable portion is in the driving force interruption position.

31. The cartridge according to any of claims 1, 20 and 27-30, further comprising a force-receiving portion for receiving a force to move the movable portion, wherein, viewed in the direction of a rotation axis Mi of the photosensitive member or a rotation axis M2 of the developing member, the force-receiving portion can be moved in a direction that intersects an imaginary line N2 connecting the rotation axis MI and the rotation axis M2.

32. The cartridge according to claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the force-receiving portion d / UU di 1 u 206 is provided in one of the areas provided by the imaginary line N2, wherein one of the areas does not include a rotation axis K of the coupling member.

33. The cartridge according to claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the force-receiving portion is provided in one of the areas provided by an imaginary line N3 perpendicular to the imaginary line N2 and passing between the photosensitive member and the developing member, wherein one of the areas does not include the rotation axis MI.

34. The cartridge according to any of claims 1, 20 and 27-30, further comprising a force-receiving portion for receiving a force to move the movable portion, and a loading member for loading the photosensitive member, wherein, viewed in a direction of the rotation axis MI of the photosensitive member or the rotation axis M2 of the developing member, the force-receiving portion can be moved in a direction that intersects an imaginary line N10 connecting the rotation axis MI and a rotation axis M5 of the loading member.

35. The cartridge according to claim 34, wherein at least a portion of the force-receiving portion is provided in one of the areas divided by a tangent line N11 of a surface of the photosensitive member at one of the intersections between the imaginary line N10 and the surface of the photosensitive member, one of the intersections being farther from the rotation axis M5 than the other intersection, wherein one of the areas does not include the rotation axis M1, the rotation axis M2, or the rotation axis M5.

36. The cartridge according to claim 31 or 35, wherein the moving portion and the force-receiving portion are integral with each other.

37. The cartridge according to claim 31 or 35, wherein the movable portion and the force-receiving portion are connected to each other and are capable of adopting a first state in which the force-receiving portion can move with respect to the movable portion and a second state in which they can move integrally with each other.

38. The cartridge according to claim 37, wherein a connecting portion connecting the movable portion and the force-receiving portion is elastic, wherein the connecting portion is elastically deformable in the first state, and the connecting portion is restricted in elastic deformation in the second state.

39. The cartridge according to any of claims 1, 20 and 27-30, further comprising a first unit including the photosensitive member, a first frame supporting the photosensitive member, and a second unit including the developing member and a second frame supporting the developing member and the coupling member, wherein, viewed in the direction of a rotation axis MI of the photosensitive member or a rotation axis M2 of the developing member, the first unit and the second unit can be moved relative to each other in a direction that intersects the direction of an imaginary line N2 connecting the rotation axis MI and the rotation axis M2.

40. The cartridge according to claim 39, wherein the movable portion is provided in the second unit.

41. The cartridge according to any of claims 1, 20 and 27-30, further comprising a force-receiving portion for receiving a force to move the movable portion, wherein the force-receiving portion can be moved in the direction of a rotation axis of the photosensitive member or a rotation axis of the developing member.

42. The cartridge according to claim 41, wherein the force-receiving portion can oscillate about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the photosensitive member or to the axis of rotation of the developing member. 209 43. A cartridge comprising: a protective member including a protective portion capable of covering a photosensitive member, wherein the protective member is movable between a first position in which the protective portion covers the photosensitive member and a second position in which the protective portion exposes more of the photosensitive member to the outside than in the first position; a first coupling portion that can be coupled with the protective member to maintain the protective member in the first position when the protective member is in the first position; and a second coupling portion that can be coupled with the protective member to maintain the protective member in the second position when the protective member is in the second position.

44. The cartridge according to claim 43, further comprising a first recess provided in one of the protective members and the first coupling portion and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a first projection provided on the other of the protective member and the first coupling portion and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, the first projection engaging with the first recess when the protective member is in the first position, and a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a retraction direction of the first recess.

45. The cartridge according to claim 44, wherein the first force application portion is a contact surface between the first recess and the first projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and a direction of movement of the first projection.

46. ​​The cartridge according to claim 43 or 45, further comprising a second recess provided in one of the protective member and the second coupling portion and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a second projection provided on the other of the protective member and the second coupling portion and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, the second projection engaging with the second recess when the protective member is in the second position, and a second force application portion for applying a force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction d / UU di 1 u 211 of the second recess when the protective member moves from the second position to the first position.

47. The cartridge according to claim 46, wherein the second force application portion is a contact surface between the second recess and the second projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and a direction of movement of the second projection.

48. The cartridge according to claim 43, further comprising a first recess and a second recess provided in the protective member and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the first recess when the protective member is in the first position and engaging with the second recess when the protective member is in the second position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the first recess when the protective member moves from the first position to the second position,and a second force application portion to apply a force to the projection to move the d / UU di 1 u 212 projection in a retraction direction of the second recess when the protective member moves from the second position to the first position.

49. The cartridge according to claim 43, further comprising a first recess and a second recess that are recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a projection provided on the protective member that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and that engages with the first recess when the protective member is in the first position and engages with the second recess when the protective member is in the second position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the first recess when the protective member moves from the first position to the second position,and a second force application portion to apply a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the second recess when the protective member moves from the second position to the first position.

50. The cartridge according to claim 48 or 49, wherein the first force-applying portion is a contact surface between the first recess and the projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and a direction of movement of the projection, and wherein the second force-applying portion is a contact surface between the second recess and the projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and a direction of movement of the projection.

51. The cartridge according to claim 43, further comprising a recess provided in the protective member and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a first projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the protective member is in the first position, a second projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the protective member is in the second position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to retract the first projection from the recess when the protective member moves from the first position to the second position,a second force application portion to apply a force to the second d / UU di 1 u 214 projection to retract the second projection of the recess when the guard member moves from the second position to the first position.

52. The cartridge according to claim 43, further comprising a recess recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a first projection provided on the protective member and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the protective member is in the first position, a second projection provided on the protective member and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the protective member is in the second position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a retraction direction of the recess when the protective member moves from the first position to the second position,and a second force application portion to apply a force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction of the recess, when the guard member moves from the second position to the first position.

53. The cartridge according to claim 51 or 52 of wiA / a / zuzj / uu Ji iu 215, wherein the first force application portion is a contact surface between the recess and the first projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and the direction of movement of the first projection, and wherein it is a contact surface between the recess and the second projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and the direction of movement of the second projection.

54. A cartridge comprising: a frame; a developing member supported by the frame; an electrode portion electrically connected to the developing member; an electrode cover member including an electrode cover portion capable of covering the electrode portion, wherein the electrode cover member is movable with respect to the frame between a first position in which the electrode cover portion covers the electrode portion and a second position in which the electrode is exposed more outwardly by the electrode cover portion than in the first position; a first coupling portion coupled with the electrode cover member to retain the electrode cover member in the first position when the electrode cover member is in the first position;And a second coupling portion coupled with the electrode cover member to maintain the electrode cover member in the second position when the electrode cover member is in the second position.

55. The cartridge according to claim 54, further comprising a movable member that can be coupled with the electrode cover member in a first direction of movement of the electrode cover member between the first position and the second position, a driving member coupled with the electrode cover member in a second direction opposite to the first direction of movement of the electrode cover member, a third coupling portion coupled with the movable member to maintain the movable member in a first clamping position when the movable member is in the first clamping position in which the movable member cooperates with the driving member to maintain the electrode cover member in the first position,a fourth coupling portion coupled with the moving member to maintain the moving member in a second clamping position when the moving member is in the second position of d / UU di 1 u 217 clamping in which the moving member cooperates with the driving member to maintain the electrode cover member in the second position.

56. The cartridge according to claim 55, further comprising a first recess provided in one of the movable member and the third coupling portion, said recess being in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a first projection provided in the other of the movable member and the third coupling portion and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, the first projection being coupled with the first recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position, and applying a first force portion to apply a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a retraction direction of the first recess.

57. The cartridge according to claim 56, wherein the first force application portion is a contact surface between the first recess and the first projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and a direction of movement of the first projection.

58. The cartridge according to claim 55 or 57 of d / UU di 1 or 218, further comprising a second recess provided on one of the movable member and the fourth coupling portion, said recess being in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a second projection provided on the other of the movable member and the fourth coupling portion and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, the second projection being coupled with the second recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, and a second force application portion for applying a force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction of the second recess.

59. The cartridge according to claim 58, wherein the second force application portion is a contact surface between the second recess and the second projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and a direction of movement of the second projection.

60. The cartridge according to claim 55, further comprising a first recess and a second recess provided in the movable member and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a projection that can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member and that engages with the first recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position and engages with the second recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the first recess, and a second force application portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the second recess.

61. The cartridge according to claim 55, further comprising a first recess and a second recess that are recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a projection provided on the movable member that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and that engages with the first recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position and engages with the second recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the first recess when the movable member moves from the first clamping position to the second clamping position,and a second force application portion to apply a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the second recess when the moving member moves from the second clamping position to the first clamping position.

62. The cartridge according to claim 60 or 61, wherein the first force-applying portion is a contact surface between the first recess and the projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and the direction of movement of the projection, and wherein the second force-applying portion is a contact surface between the second recess and the projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and the direction of movement of the projection.

63. The cartridge according to claim 55, further comprising a recess provided in the movable member and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a first projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member and engaging with the recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position, a second projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a retraction direction of the recess when the movable member moves from the first clamping position to the second clamping position,and a second force application portion to apply force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction of the recess when the moving member moves from the second clamping position to the first clamping position.

64. The cartridge according to claim 55, further comprising a recess recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a first projection provided on the movable member that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and that engages with the recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position, a second projection provided on the movable member that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and that engages with the recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a retraction direction of the recess when the movable member moves from the first clamping position to the second clamping position,a second force application portion to apply a force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction of the recess when the moving member moves from the second clamping position to the first clamping position.

65. The cartridge according to claim 63 or 64, wherein the first force-applying portion is a contact surface between the recess and the first projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and the direction of movement of the projection, and wherein the second force-applying portion is a contact surface between the recess and the second projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and the direction of movement of the second projection.

66. A cartridge comprising: a developing member; an electrode portion electrically connected to the developing member and movable between a predetermined position and a retracted position that is retracted from the predetermined position; a movable member that can be moved between a first position for placing the electrode portion in the retracted position and a second position for placing the electrode portion in the predetermined position; a first coupling portion coupled with the movable member to hold the movable member in the first position when the movable member is in the first position; and a second coupling portion coupled with the movable member to hold the movable member in the second position when the movable member is in the second position.

67. A cartridge that can be used with a main assembly of an imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus including a main assembly force application portion, wherein the cartridge comprises: a developing member; a coupling member capable of receiving a driving force to rotate the developing member; a movable portion that can be moved between a driving force transmission position to allow the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member and a driving force interruption position to interrupt the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member; and a clamping portion for restricting the movement of the movable portion to the driving force transmission position and for holding the movable portion in the driving force interruption position.a force-receiving portion capable of receiving a force to move the movable portion from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position, from the main assembly force-applying portion, wherein when the main assembly force-applying portion separates from the force-receiving portion after the movable portion has moved from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position by the force-receiving portion receiving the force from the main assembly force-applying portion, the movable portion is held in the driving force interruption position by the clamping portion.

68. The cartridge according to claim 67, wherein the force receiving portion is also capable of receiving, from the force applying portion of the main assembly, a force to move the movable portion from the driving force interruption position to the driving force transmission position.

69. The cartridge according to d / UU di 1 u 225 claim 67 or 68, wherein the force-receiving portion makes contact with the force-applying portion of the main assembly only when the movable portion moves from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position and when the movable portion moves from the driving force interruption position to the driving force transmission position, and wherein the force-receiving portion is separated from the force-applying portion of the main assembly while the movable portion is held in the driving force interruption position and while the movable portion is held in the driving force transmission position.

70. The cartridge according to claim 67 or 68, wherein the force-receiving portion includes a first force-receiving portion for receiving a force to move the movable portion from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position, from the main assembly force-applying portion, and a second force-receiving portion for receiving a force to move the movable portion from the driving force interruption position to the driving force transmission position, from the main assembly force-applying portion, wherein the first force-receiving portion d / UU di 1 u 226 comes into contact with the main assembly force-applying portion only when the movable portion moves from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position,and the first force-receiving portion separates from the force-applying portion of the main assembly when the moving portion moves from the driving force interruption position to the driving force transmission position, while the moving portion is held in the driving force interruption position, and while the moving portion is held in the driving force transmission position, and wherein the second force-receiving portion makes contact with the force-applying portion of the main assembly when at least the moving portion has moved from the driving force interruption position to the driving force transmission position, while the moving portion is held in the driving force interruption position, and the moving portion is held in the driving force transmission position.

71. The cartridge according to claim 70, wherein the second force-receiving portion is separated from the force-applying portion of the main assembly when the moving portion moves from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position. d / UU di 1 u 227 72. A cartridge that can be used with a main assembly of an imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus includes a main assembly force application portion that can be moved between a first main assembly position and a second main assembly position,wherein the cartridge comprises: a developing member; a coupling member capable of receiving a driving force to rotate the developing member; a movable portion that can move between a driving force transmission position to allow the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member and a driving force interruption position to interrupt the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member; a clamping portion to restrict the movement of the movable portion towards the driving force transmission position to maintain the movable portion in the driving force interruption position; and a force receiving portion capable of receiving, from the main assembly force application portion that moves from the first main assembly position to the second main assembly position,d / UU di 1 u 228 a force to move the moving portion from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position, wherein the moving portion is held by the clamping portion in the driving force interruption position, when the main assembly force application portion moves from the second main assembly position to the first main assembly position after the movement of the moving portion from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position by the force receiving portion receiving a force from the main assembly force application portion moving from the first main assembly position to the second main assembly position.

73. The cartridge according to claim 72, wherein the force-receiving portion is capable of receiving a force to move the movable portion from the driving force interruption position to the driving force transmission position, of the main assembly force-applying portion that moves from the second main assembly position to a third main assembly position that is opposite the second main assembly position with respect to the first main assembly position. 229 74. The cartridge according to claim 73, wherein the force-receiving portion comes into contact with the force-applying portion of the main assembly only when the force-applying portion of the main assembly moves between the first main assembly position and the second main assembly position and when the force-applying portion of the main assembly moves from the first main assembly position and the third main assembly position, and wherein the force-receiving portion is separated from the force-applying portion of the main assembly while the force-applying portion of the main assembly is in the first main assembly position.

75. The cartridge according to claim 73, wherein the force-receiving portion includes a first force-receiving portion for receiving a force to move the movable portion from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position of the main assembly force application portion, and a second force-receiving portion for receiving a force to move the movable portion from the driving force interruption position to the driving force transmission position, wherein the first force-receiving portion contacts the main assembly force application portion only when the main assembly force application portion moves between the first main assembly position and the second main assembly position, and wherein the first force-receiving portion is separated from the main assembly force application portion,while the main assembly force application portion is placed in the first main assembly position, and when the main assembly force application portion moves between the first main assembly position and the third main assembly position.

76. The cartridge according to claim 75, wherein the second force-receiving portion is separated from the main assembly force-applying portion only when the main assembly force-applying portion moves between the first main assembly position and the second main assembly position.

77. The cartridge according to claim 67 or 76, further comprising a first rotating member and a second rotating member having a common axis of rotation and provided in a path for transmitting the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member, wherein the first rotating member and the second rotating member are capable of adopting a coupling position in which they are coupled to each other to transmit the driving force and a non-coupling position in which they are separated from each other so as not to transmit the driving force,wherein the moving portion placed in the driving force interruption position applies a force that breaks the coupling between the first rotating member and the second rotating member to at least one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member placed in the coupling position to separate the first rotating member and the second rotating member from each other.

78. The cartridge according to claim 77, further comprising driving means for driving at least one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member to place the first rotating member and the second rotating member in the coupling position, wherein the force applied by the movable portion placed in the driving force interruption position in at least one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member is against a driving force of the driving member.

79. The cartridge according to claim 78, wherein in the driving force interruption position, the first rotating member and the second rotating member are placed in the non-coupling position by inserting the movable portion between the first rotating member and the second rotating member when they are in the coupling position, against the driving force of the driving means, and wherein, in the driving force transmission position, the first rotating member and the second rotating member are placed in the coupling position by retracting between the first rotating member and the second rotating member, wherein the movable portion is held in the driving force interruption position by being interposed between the first rotating member and the second rotating member by the driving force of the driving means.

80. The cartridge according to claim 78 or 79, wherein the second rotating member receives the driving force from the first rotating member by engaging with the first rotating member about the axis of rotation, and is movable in a direction about the axis of rotation between an engagement position to engage with the first rotating member and a non-engagement position that does not engage with the same, wherein the driving means push the second rotating member into the engagement position, and the clamping portion comprises the first rotating member and the second rotating member.

81. The cartridge according to claim 78 or 80, further comprising a second driving means for applying, to the movable portion placed in the driving force interruption position, a driving force including an effective component force for placing the movable portion in the driving force interruption position.

82. The cartridge according to claim 81, wherein the second driving means applies, to the movable portion placed in the driving force transmission position, a driving force that includes an effective component force to place the movable portion in the driving force transmission position.

83. The cartridge according to claim 81 or 82, wherein the clamping portion includes the second driving means.

84. The cartridge according to claim 78 or 80, further comprising a third driving means for applying a force to the moving portion, wherein the third driving means applies to the moving portion, which is moving from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position, an effective force to place the moving portion in the driving force transmission position until the moving portion reaches a predetermined position, and when the moving portion exceeds the predetermined position, the third driving means applies to the moving portion an effective driving force to place the moving portion in the driving force interruption position.

85. The cartridge according to claim 84, wherein the third driving means includes a lever spring having an end portion fixed to a cartridge frame and the other end portion fixed to the moving portion.

86. The cartridge according to claim 84 or 85, wherein the clamping portion includes the third driving means.

87. The cartridge according to claim 77, further comprising a clutch provided in a driving force transmission path from the coupling member to the developing member, wherein the clutch includes an input member that rotates upon receiving the driving force on an upstream side of the transmission path, an output member that can rotate coaxially with the input member upon receiving the driving force from the input member, a transmission member capable of adopting a transmission state in which the relative rotation between the input member and the output member is restricted to allow simultaneous rotations of the input member and the output member to transmit the driving force from the input member to the output member, and a non-drive state in which relative rotation is permitted to not transmit the driving force from the input member to the output member,and a control member for changing a state between the transmitting state and the non-actuating state, wherein the movable portion placed in the driving force interruption position interrupts the transmission of the driving force from the input member to the output member by acting on the control member to bring the transmitting member to the transmitting state.

88. The cartridge according to claim 87, wherein the transmitting member makes contact, in the transmitting state, with the input member and rotates integrally with the input member by relative rotation restriction due to friction with the input member, and the control member controls the relative rotation and a degree of contact between the input member and the transmitting member, and the movable portion interrupts, in the driving force interruption position, the transmission of the driving force from the input member to the output member by acting on the control member to reduce the friction force between the input member and the transmitting member.

89. The cartridge according to claim 88, wherein the clutch is a d / UU di 1 u 236 spring clutch and the transmission member is a spring wound around an outer periphery of the input member, wherein the control member is coupled to one end of the spring and the clutch transmits the driving force by integral rotation of the input member, the spring, the output member and the control member, wherein the transmission of the driving force from the input member to the output member is interrupted by facilitating the compression of the spring in the input member by restricting the movable portion of the control member's rotation in the driving force interruption position.

90. The cartridge according to claim 89, wherein the control member includes a coupled portion, and the movable portion has an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the control member, and wherein the movable portion is capable of switching between the coupled position in which it is coupled to the coupled portion and a non-coupled position in which it is not coupled to the coupled portion.

91. The cartridge according to claim 90, wherein a rotational movement direction of the control member is opposite to a movement direction of the movable portion from the non-coupling position to the coupling position, and wherein the coupled portion includes a first coupling portion d / UU di 1 u 237 coupled with the movable portion placed in the coupling position, opposite to the rotational direction of the control member, and a second coupling portion coupled with the movable portion placed in the coupling position, opposite to a direction opposite to the movement direction of the movable portion from the non-coupling position to the coupling position.

92. The cartridge according to claim 91, wherein the second coupled portion is an outer peripheral surface of the control member, and the first coupled portion is a claw-shaped portion protruding from the outer peripheral surface.

93. The cartridge according to claim 91 or 92, wherein, viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation of the control member or the axis of rotation of the movable portion, a place of movement of the first coupled portion and a place of movement of the movable portion intersect each other in an area interposed between a first imaginary line passing through the center of rotation of the control member and a second imaginary line passing through the center of rotation of the movable portion, wherein the imaginary lines are perpendicular to a line connecting the center of rotation of the control member and the center of rotation of the movable portion.

94. The cartridge according to claim 91 or 93 of d / UU di 1 or 238, wherein the clamping portion includes the first coupled portion and the second coupled portion.

95. The cartridge according to claim 90 or 94, further comprising a restraint portion for restricting movement from the coupling position of the movable portion to the non-coupling position.

96. The cartridge according to claim 90 or 94, further comprising a second driving means for applying, to the movable portion placed in the coupling position, a driving force that includes an effective component force for placing the movable portion in the coupling position.

97. The cartridge according to claim 96, wherein the second driving means applies, to the movable portion placed in the non-coupling position, a driving force that includes an effective component force to place the movable portion in the non-coupling position.

98. The cartridge according to claim 96 or 97, wherein the clamping portion includes the second driving means.

99. The cartridge according to claim 87 or 94, further comprising a third driving means for applying a force to the movable portion, wherein the third driving means applies to the movable portion moving from the non-coupling position to the coupling position, an effective driving force to place the movable portion in the non-coupling position until the movable portion reaches a predetermined position, and wherein when the movable portion exceeds the predetermined position, the third driving means applies to the movable portion an effective driving force to place the movable portion in the coupling position.

100. The cartridge according to claim 99, wherein the third driving means includes a lever spring having an end portion fixed to a cartridge frame and the other end portion fixed to the moving portion.

101. The cartridge according to claim 99 or 100, wherein the clamping portion includes the third driving means.

102. The cartridge according to claim 67 or 76, further comprising a first gear and a second gear that are coupled to each other and provided in a path for transmitting the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member, wherein the movable portion supports one of the first gear and the second gear, and wherein the movable portion d / UU di 1 u 240 places, in the driving force transmission position, one of the gears in a coupling position in which one of the gears is coupled to the other gear, and places, in the driving force interruption position, one of the gears in a non-coupling position in which one of the gears is not coupled to the other gear.

103. The cartridge according to claim 102, further comprising a third gear meshed with the other of the first gear and the second gear in the transmission path, and a fourth driving element for applying a driving force to place the moving portion in the driving force interruption position, wherein when the moving portion is in the driving force interruption position, a moment M3 is produced by the driving force of the fourth driving element and is effective in placing the moving portion in the driving force interruption position, greater than a moment Mi produced by the meshing between the other gear and the third gear and which is effective in placing the moving portion in the driving force transmission position, and wherein when the moving portion is in the driving force transmission position,The moment M3 is less than the sum of the moment MI and a moment M2 that is produced by the coupling d / UU di 1 u 241 between the first gear and the second gear and that is effective in placing the moving portion in the driving force transmission position.

104. The cartridge according to claim 103, wherein the fourth driving means is a tension spring having one end portion fixed to a cartridge frame and the other end portion fixed to the moving portion.

105. The cartridge according to claim 103 or 104, wherein the clamping portion is a combination of the first gear and the second gear that are coupled together when the movable portion is in the driving force interruption position.

106. The cartridge according to any of claims 67, 95 or 102-105, wherein, viewed in the direction of a rotation axis MI of the photosensitive member or a rotation axis M2 of the developing member, the force-receiving portion can be moved in a direction that intersects an imaginary line N2 connecting the rotation axis MI and the rotation axis M2.

107. The cartridge according to claim 106, wherein at least a portion of the force-receiving portion is provided in one of the areas provided by the imaginary line N2, wherein one of the areas does not include a rotation axis K of the coupling member ML / a / ZUZ d / UU di 1 u 242.

108. The cartridge according to claim 106, further comprising a photosensitive member, wherein at least a portion of the force-receiving portion is provided in one of the areas provided by an imaginary line N3 perpendicular to the imaginary line N2 and passing between the photosensitive member and the developing member, wherein one of the areas does not include the rotation axis Mi.

109. The cartridge according to any of claims 67, 95 or 102-105, further comprising a photosensitive member and a charging member for charging the photosensitive member, wherein, viewed in the direction of the rotation axis Mi of the photosensitive member or the rotation axis M2 of the developing member, the force-receiving portion can be moved in a direction that intersects an imaginary line N10 connecting the rotation axis MI and a rotation axis M5 of the charging member.

110. The cartridge according to claim 109, wherein at least a portion of the force-receiving portion is provided in one of the areas divided by a tangent line N11 of a surface of the photosensitive member at one of the intersections between the imaginary line N10 and the surface of the photosensitive member, wherein one of the intersections is farther from the rotation axis M5 than the other intersection, wherein one of the areas does not include the rotation axis M1, the rotation axis M2, or the rotation axis M5.

111. The cartridge according to claim 106 or 110, wherein the moving portion and the force-receiving portion are integral with each other.

112. The cartridge according to claim 106 or 110, wherein the movable portion and the force-receiving portion are connected to each other and are capable of adopting a first state in which the force-receiving portion can move with respect to the movable portion and a second state in which they can move integrally with each other.

113. The cartridge according to claim 112, wherein a connecting portion connecting the movable portion and the force-receiving portion together is elastic, wherein the connecting portion is elastically deformable in the first state, and the connecting portion is restricted in elastic deformation in the second state.

114. The cartridge according to any of claims 67, 95 or 102-105, further comprising a first unit including the photosensitive member, a first frame supporting the photosensitive member and a second unit including the developing member and a second frame supporting the developing member and the coupling member, wherein, viewed in the direction of a rotation axis MI of the photosensitive member or a rotation axis M2 of the developing member, the first unit and the second unit can be moved relative to each other in a direction that intersects the direction of an imaginary line N2 connecting the rotation axis MI and the rotation axis M2.

115. The cartridge according to claim 114, wherein the movable portion is provided in the second unit.

116. The cartridge according to any of claims 67, 95 or 102-105, wherein the force-receiving portion can be moved in the direction of a rotation axis of the developing member.

117. The cartridge according to claim 116, wherein the force-receiving portion can oscillate about an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the developing member's rotation axis.

118. A cartridge that can be used with a main assembly of an imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus including a first main assembly force application portion and a second main assembly force application portion, wherein the cartridge comprises: a protective member including a protective portion capable of covering a photosensitive member, wherein the protective member can be moved between a first position in which the protective portion covers the photosensitive member and a second position in which the protective portion exposes more of the photosensitive member to the outside than in the first position; a first force-receiving portion for receiving, from the first main assembly force application portion, a force to move the protective member from the second position to the first position;and a second force-receiving portion to receive, from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly, a force to move the protective member from the first position to the second position, wherein the protective member can be held in the first position in a state in which the first force-receiving portion is separated from the first force-applying portion of the main assembly and the second force-receiving portion is separated from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly, and wherein the protective member can be held in the second position in a state in which the first force-receiving portion is separated from the first force-applying portion of the main assembly and the second force-receiving portion is separated from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly.

119. The cartridge according to claim 118, further comprising a first coupling portion that can be coupled with the protective member to retain the protective member in the first position when the protective member is in the first position; a second coupling portion that can be coupled with the protective member to retain the protective member in the second position when the protective member is in the second position;a first recess disposed in one of the guarding member and the first coupling portion and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the guarding member, a first projection disposed in the other of the guarding member and the first coupling portion and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, the first projection engaging with the first recess when the guarding member is in the first position, and a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a retraction direction of the first recess.

120. The cartridge according to d / UU di 1 u 247 claim 119, wherein the first force application portion is a contact surface between the first recess and the first projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and a direction of movement of the first projection.

121. The cartridge according to claim 119 or 120, further comprising a second recess provided on one side of the protective member and the second coupling portion and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a second projection provided on the other side of the protective member and the second coupling portion and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, the second projection engaging with the second recess when the protective member is in the second position, and a second force application portion for applying a force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction of the second recess when the protective member moves from the second position to the first position.

122. The cartridge according to claim 121, wherein the second force application portion is a contact surface between the second recess and the second projection, wherein the contact surface d / UU di 1 u 248 is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and a direction of movement of the second projection.

123. The cartridge according to claim 118, further comprising a first recess and a second recess provided in the protective member and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the first recess when the protective member is in the first position and engaging with the second recess when the protective member is in the second position, a first force-applying portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction from the first recess when the protective member is moved from the first position to the second position,and a second force application portion to apply a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction from the second recess when the protective member moves from the second position to the first position.

124. The cartridge according to claim 118, further comprising a first recess and a second recess that are recessed in a direction d / UU di 1 u 249 perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a projection provided on the protective member that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and that engages with the first recess when the protective member is in the first position and engages with the second recess when the protective member is in the second position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction from the first recess when the protective member moves from the first position to the second position,and a second force application portion to apply a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction from the second recess when the protective member moves from the second position to the first position.

125. The cartridge according to claim 123 or 124, wherein the first force-applying portion is a contact surface between the first recess and the projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and a direction of movement of the projection, and wherein the second force-applying portion is a contact surface between the second recess and the projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and a direction of movement of the projection.

126. The cartridge according to claim 118, further comprising a recess provided in the protective member and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the protective member, a first projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the protective member is in the first position, a second projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the protective member is in the second position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to retract the first projection from the recess when the protective member moves from the first position to the second position,a second force application portion to apply a force to the second projection to retract the second projection from the recess when the guard member moves from the second position to the first position.

127. The cartridge according to claim 118, further comprising a recess recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement d / UU di 1 u 251 of the protective member, a first projection provided on the protective member and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the protective member is in the first position, a second projection provided on the protective member and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the protective member is in the second position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a recess retraction direction when the protective member moves from the first position to the second position,and a second force application portion to apply a force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction of the recess, when the guard member moves from the second position to the first position.

128. The cartridge according to claim 126 or 127, wherein the first force application portion is a contact surface between the recess and the first projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and the direction of movement of the first projection, and wherein the second force application portion is a contact surface between the recess and the second projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the protective member and the direction of movement of the second projection.

129. A cartridge that can be used with a main assembly of an imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus including a main assembly electrode portion, a first main assembly force application portion, and a second main assembly force application portion, wherein the cartridge comprises: a developing member; an electrode portion electrically connected to the developing member, wherein the developing member is electrically connected to the main assembly electrode portion by electrically connecting the electrode portion to the main assembly electrode portion; a movable member that can be moved between a first position for interrupting the electrical connection between the developing member and the main assembly electrode portion and a second position for electrically connecting the developing member to the main assembly electrode portion;a first force receiving portion to receive, from the first force application portion of the main assembly, a force to move the movable member from d / UU di 1 u 253 the second position to the first position;and a second force-receiving portion to receive, from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly, a force to move the movable member from the first position to the second position, wherein the movable member is able to remain in the first position in a state in which the first force-receiving portion is separated from the first force-applying portion of the main assembly and the second force-receiving portion is separated from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly, and wherein the movable member is able to remain in the second position in a state in which the first force-receiving portion is separated from the first force-applying portion of the main assembly and the second force-receiving portion is separated from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly.

130. The cartridge according to claim 129, further comprising a first coupling portion that can be engaged with the movable member to retain the movable member in the first position when the movable member is in the first position; and a second coupling portion that can be engaged with the movable member to retain the movable member in the second position when the movable member is in the second position. d / UU di 1 u 254 131. The cartridge according to claim 129, further comprising a movable member that can be coupled with the movable member in a first direction of movement of the movable member between the first position and the second position, a driving member that can be coupled with the movable member in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the direction of movement to apply a driving force, a third coupling portion that can be coupled with the movable member to hold the movable member in a first clamping position to maintain the movable member in the first position in cooperation with the driving member when the movable member is in the first clamping position,a fourth coupling portion that can engage with the moving member to maintain the moving member in a second clamping position in cooperation with the driving member when the moving member is in the second clamping position.

132. The cartridge according to claim 131, further comprising a first recess provided on one of the movable member and the third coupling portion and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a first projection provided on the other of the movable member and the third coupling portion and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, wherein the first projection engages with the first recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position, and a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a retraction direction of the first recess when the movable member moves from the first clamping position to the second clamping position.

133. The cartridge according to claim 132, wherein the first force application portion is a contact surface between the first recess and the first projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and a direction of movement of the first projection.

134. The cartridge according to claim 131 or 133, further comprising a second recess provided on one of the movable member and the fourth coupling portion, said recess being in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a second projection provided on the other of the movable member and the fourth coupling portion and movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, wherein the second projection engages with the second recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, and a second force application portion for applying a force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction of the second recess when the movable member is moved from the second clamping position to the first clamping position.

135. The cartridge according to claim 134, wherein the second force application portion is a contact surface between the second recess and the second projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and a direction of movement of the second projection.

136. The cartridge according to claim 131, further comprising a first recess and a second recess provided in the movable member and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member and engaging with the first recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position and engaging with the second recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the first recess, and a second force application portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the second recess.

137. The cartridge according to claim 131, further comprising a first recess and a second recess that are recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a projection provided on the movable member that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and that engages with the first recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position and engages with the second recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the first recess when the movable member moves from the first clamping position to the second clamping position,and a second force application portion to apply a force to the projection to move the projection in a retraction direction of the second recess when the moving member moves from the second clamping position to the first clamping position.

138. The cartridge according to claim 136 or 137 of d / UU di 1 u 258, wherein the first force-applying portion is a contact surface between the first recess and the projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and the direction of movement of the projection, and wherein the second force-applying portion is a contact surface between the second recess and the projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and the direction of movement of the projection.

139. The cartridge according to claim 131, further comprising a recess provided in the movable member and recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a first projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position, a second projection movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engaging with the recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a retraction direction of the recess when the movable member moves from the first clamping position to the second clamping position,and a second force application portion to apply force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction of the recess when the moving member moves from the second clamping position to the first clamping position.

140. The cartridge according to claim 131, further comprising a recess recessed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable member, a first projection provided on the movable member that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engages with the recess when the movable member is in the first clamping position, a second projection provided on the movable member that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and engages with the recess when the movable member is in the second clamping position, a first force application portion for applying a force to the first projection to move the first projection in a retraction direction of the recess when the movable member moves from the first clamping position to the second clamping position,a second force application portion to apply a force to the second projection to move the second projection in a retraction direction of the recess when the moving member moves from the second clamping position to the first clamping position.

141. The cartridge according to claim 139 or 140, wherein the first force-applying portion is a contact surface between the recess and the first projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and the direction of movement of the projection, and wherein the second force-applying portion is a contact surface between the recess and the second projection, wherein the contact surface is inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and the direction of movement of the second projection.

142. The cartridge according to claim 129 or 141, wherein the movable member is provided with an electrode cover portion capable of covering the electrode portion, wherein when the movable member is in the first position, the electrode cover portion covers the electrode portion, and when the movable member is in the second position, the electrode cover portion exposes the electrode portion to the outside more than when the movable member is in the first position to allow the electrode portion to electrically connect with the main assembly electrode portion.

143. The cartridge according to claim 129 or 141, wherein the movable member is provided with a retractable portion for retracting at least one of the electrode portion and the main assembly electrode portion from the other, wherein when the movable member is in the first position, the retractable portion retracts at least one of the electrode portion and the main assembly electrode portion from the other more than when the movable member is in the second position, and when the movable member is in the second position, electrical connection of the electrode portion to the main assembly electrode portion is permitted.

144. An imaging apparatus comprising: a main assembly including a main assembly force application portion; and a cartridge detachably mounted on the main assembly, wherein the cartridge includes a developing member, a coupling member capable of receiving a driving force to rotate the developing member, a movable portion movable between a driving force transmission position to permit transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member and a driving force interruption position to interrupt the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member, and a clamping portion for restricting the movement of the movable portion to the driving force transmission position and for maintaining the movable portion in the driving force interruption position.and a force-receiving portion capable of receiving a force to move the movable portion from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position, from the main assembly force-applying portion, wherein when the main assembly force-applying portion separates from the force-receiving portion after the movable portion has moved from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position by the force-receiving portion receiving the force from the main assembly force-applying portion, the movable portion is held in the driving force interruption position by the clamping portion.

145. An imaging apparatus comprising: a main assembly including a force-applying portion movable between a first main assembly position and a second main assembly position; and a cartridge detachably mounted on the main assembly, wherein the cartridge includes a developing member, a coupling member capable of receiving a driving force to rotate the developing member, a movable portion movable between a driving force transmission position to permit transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member and a driving force interruption position to interrupt the transmission of the driving force from the coupling member to the developing member,a clamping portion for restricting the movement of the movable portion to the driving force transmission position to maintain the movable portion in the driving force interruption position, and a force receiving portion capable of receiving, from the main assembly force application portion moving from the first main assembly position to the second main assembly position, a force to move the movable portion from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position, wherein the movable portion is held by the clamping portion in the driving force interruption position,when the force application portion of the main assembly moves from the second main assembly position to the first main assembly position after the movement of the movable portion from the driving force transmission position to the driving force interruption position by the force receiving portion that receives a force from the force application portion of the main assembly that moves from the first main assembly position to the second main assembly position.

146. An imaging apparatus comprising: a main assembly including a first main assembly force-applying portion and a second main assembly force-applying portion; and a cartridge detachably mounted on the main assembly, wherein the cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a protective member including a protective portion capable of covering a photosensitive member, wherein the protective member is movable between a first position in which the protective portion covers the photosensitive member and a second position in which the protective portion exposes more of the photosensitive member to the outside than in the first position, and a first force-receiving portion for receiving, from the first main assembly force-applying portion, a force to move the protective member from the second position to the first position.and a second force-receiving portion to receive, from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly, a force to move the protective member from the first position to the second position, wherein the protective member can be held in the first position in a state in which the first force-receiving portion is separated from the first force-applying portion of the main assembly and the second force-receiving portion is separated from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly, and wherein the protective member can be held in the second position in a state in which the first force-receiving portion is separated from the first force-applying portion of the main assembly and the second force-receiving portion is separated from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly.

147. An imaging apparatus comprising: a main assembly including a main assembly electrode portion, a first main assembly force application portion, and a second main assembly force application portion; and a cartridge detachably mounted on the main assembly, wherein the cartridge includes a developing member, an electrode portion electrically connected to the developing member, wherein the developing member is electrically connected to the main assembly electrode portion by electrically connecting the electrode portion to the main assembly electrode portion,a movable member that can move between a first position to interrupt the electrical connection between the developing member and the electrode portion of the main assembly and a second position to electrically connect the developing member to the electrode portion of the main assembly, 267 a first force-receiving portion to receive, from the first force-applying portion of the main assembly, a force to move the movable member from the second position to the first position, and a second force-receiving portion to receive, from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly, a force to move the movable member from the first position to the second position,wherein the movable member can be held in the first position in a state in which the first force-receiving portion is separated from the first force-applying portion of the main assembly and the second force-receiving portion is separated from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly, and wherein the movable member can be held in the second position in a state in which the first force-receiving portion is separated from the first force-applying portion of the main assembly and the second force-receiving portion is separated from the second force-applying portion of the main assembly.

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