US 11,720,055 B2
Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Ryuta Murakami, Suntou-gun (JP); Tadashi Horikawa, Numazu (JP); Shunsuke Uratani, Mishima (JP); and Yuichiro Inaba, Chigasaki (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/686,550.
Application 17/686,550 is a division of application No. 17/331,758, filed on May 27, 2021.
Application 17/331,758 is a division of application No. 16/219,207, filed on Dec. 13, 2018, granted, now 11,169,483, issued on Nov. 9, 2021.
Application 16/219,207 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2017/022763, filed on Jun. 17, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 2016-118181 (JP), filed on Jun. 14, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0187758 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G03G 21/18 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/186 (2013.01) [G03G 15/757 (2013.01); G03G 21/1647 (2013.01); G03G 21/18 (2013.01); G03G 21/1864 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1657 (2013.01); G03G 2221/183 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process cartridge comprising:
a frame;
a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including (i) a first end and (ii) a second end opposite to the first end;
a developing roller supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof;
a coupling operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof, the coupling being positioned (i) at the first end of the photosensitive drum, (ii) coaxial with the photosensitive drum, and (iii) at a side of the process cartridge, and the coupling including a projection;
a helical gear positioned at the side of the process cartridge, the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof, the helical gear having a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge, and with a tip of at least one of the exposed teeth facing the axis of the photosensitive drum; and
a stopper positioned at the side of the process cartridge, the stopper having a surface extending in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum and facing the axis of the photosensitive drum,
wherein, as measured in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, at least a part of the exposed teeth of the helical gear is positioned farther from the second end of the photosensitive drum than a tip of the projection of the coupling is positioned from the second end of the photosensitive drum.