US 12,287,600 B2
Drum unit, drive transmission unit, cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Akihiro Fujiwara, Ibaraki (JP); and Ryuta Murakami, Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/381,284.
Application 18/381,284 is a division of application No. 17/532,021, filed on Nov. 22, 2021.
Application 17/532,021 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/023319, filed on Jun. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-109671 (JP), filed on Jun. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0045364 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/757 (2013.01) [G03G 21/1853 (2013.01); G03G 21/186 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drum unit for a cartridge, the drum unit comprising:
a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis;
a flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum coaxially with the photosensitive drum, the flange including an engaging portion; and
a coupling supported by the flange such that the coupling is inclinable relative to the flange and the photosensitive drum, the coupling including an engaging portion engageable with the engaging portion of the flange, and the coupling having a rotational axis,
wherein the coupling is configured such that (i) the engaging portion of the coupling engages with the engaging portion of the flange in response to rotation of the coupling relative to the flange about the rotational axis of the coupling, and (ii) an inclination angle of the coupling relative to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum is reduced in response to engagement between the engaging portion of the coupling and the engaging portion of the flange, and
wherein the coupling is configured to transmit a driving force to the photosensitive drum through the engaging portion of the coupling and the engaging portion of the flange.