Process Cartridge Oblique Detachment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process cartridges for image forming apparatuses face difficulties in smooth attachment and detachment due to complex rotary power transmission mechanisms, irregular rotations of photosensitive drums, and assemblability issues, particularly when moving perpendicular to the axial line direction.
Innovation Solution
A process cartridge design featuring a photosensitive drum unit with an end member including a tubular bearing member and a shaft member, where the shaft member is movable in the axial direction, and an oblique detachment encouraging mechanism that allows the end member to incline between 1.5° to 10°, facilitating easy attachment and detachment by guiding the user to hold the non-drive side portion for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the photosensitive drum is configured to engage with the drive shaft in a direct manner for reliable power transmission, then rotary power transmission is appropriate, but attachment and detachment become difficult when moving perpendicular to the axial line direction
Solution Approach 1:
The end member is designed to be movable relative to the photosensitive drum, allowing it to shift position during attachment and detachment operations. This dynamic configuration enables the engagement portion to clear the drive shaft during perpendicular movement while maintaining reliable engagement during operation, resolving the contradiction between power transmission reliability and ease of attachment/detachment
2Volume of moving object
If the process cartridge is drawn out in a direction different from the axial line direction of the drive shaft for miniaturization, then space for attachment and detachment is ensured, but the drive shaft and photosensitive drum engagement becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism is segmented into the drive shaft, the end member with engagement portion, and the photosensitive drum as separate functional elements. This segmentation allows the end member to independently move and orient the engagement portion, simplifying the overall engagement mechanism while enabling perpendicular attachment/detachment movement for compact apparatus design
3Reliability
If complex rotary power transmission mechanisms are used for reliable power transmission, then the photosensitive drum rotates stably, but attachment and detachment become difficult due to assemblability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement portion is extracted as a separate movable component from the photosensitive drum structure, allowing it to be independently positioned and moved. This extraction simplifies the rotary power transmission mechanism by removing complex intermediate components while maintaining stable rotation through the movable engagement portion that can clear obstacles during attachment and detachment
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Provided is a process cartridge to be mounted in an image forming apparatus body, the process cartridge including: a casing;and a photosensitive drum unit that is arranged inside the casing, wherein the photosensitive drum unit includes a photosensitive drum and an end member which is arranged in at least one end of the photosensitive drum, wherein the end member includes a bearing member and a shaft member which is held by the bearing member, wherein the bearing member includes a bearing member body and a shaft member holding member which is arranged inside the bearing member body in a detachably attached manner and holds the shaft member, wherein the shaft member includes a turning shaft which is movable in an axial line direction, and wherein the casing is provided with an oblique detachment encouraging means which is arranged to be biased toward a side opposite to the end member engaging with a drive shaft of the image forming apparatus body, from a center in a width direction that is a direction extending an axial line of the photosensitive drum unit.