US 12,405,567 B2
Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit
Takahito Ueno, Mishima (JP); Shigeo Miyabe, Numazu (JP); Masanari Morioka, Numazu (JP); and Masato Hisano, Susono (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/785,232.
Application 18/785,232 is a division of application No. 18/201,265, filed on May 24, 2023.
Application 18/201,265 is a division of application No. 17/528,299, filed on Nov. 17, 2021, granted, now 11,720,054, issued on Aug. 8, 2023.
Application 17/528,299 is a division of application No. 17/104,379, filed on Nov. 25, 2020, granted, now 11,237,517, issued on Feb. 1, 2022.
Application 17/104,379 is a division of application No. 16/815,477, filed on Mar. 11, 2020, granted, now 10,877,433, issued on Dec. 29, 2020.
Application 16/815,477 is a division of application No. 16/421,683, filed on May 24, 2019, granted, now 10,671,018, issued on Jun. 2, 2020.
Application 16/421,683 is a division of application No. 16/113,422, filed on Aug. 27, 2018, granted, now 10,539,923, issued on Jan. 21, 2020.
Application 16/113,422 is a division of application No. 15/171,291, filed on Jun. 2, 2016, granted, now 10,551,793, issued on Feb. 4, 2020.
Application 15/171,291 is a division of application No. 14/068,149, filed on Oct. 31, 2013, granted, now 9,678,471, issued on Jun. 13, 2017.
Application 14/068,149 is a division of application No. 13/570,671, filed on Aug. 9, 2012, granted, now 8,630,564, issued on Jan. 14, 2014.
Application 13/570,671 is a continuation of application No. 11/964,518, filed on Dec. 26, 2007, granted, now 8,280,278, issued on Oct. 2, 2012.
Claims priority of application No. 2006-346190 (JP), filed on Dec. 22, 2006; application No. 2007-042665 (JP), filed on Feb. 22, 2007; and application No. 2007-330303 (JP), filed on Dec. 21, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2024/0419122 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 21/18 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1842 (2013.01) [G03G 15/751 (2013.01); G03G 15/757 (2013.01); G03G 21/1647 (2013.01); G03G 21/1814 (2013.01); G03G 21/1817 (2013.01); G03G 21/1821 (2013.01); G03G 21/185 (2013.01); G03G 21/1853 (2013.01); G03G 21/1857 (2013.01); G03G 21/186 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1657 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis about which the photosensitive drum is rotatable;
a developing roller having a rotational axis about which the developing roller is rotatable;
a developing frame rotatably supporting the developing roller;
a drum flange connected to an end of the photosensitive drum, the drum flange including an inner surface facing the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum and a hollow portion inside of the drum flange; and
a casing including a bearing member rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum, the bearing member being positioned at a first end portion of the casing in a direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, the bearing member including (i) a surface that faces outside of the cartridge and extends perpendicular to a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, (ii) an opening to the hollow portion of the drum flange, with the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum being positioned within the opening, (iii) a supporting projection rotatably supporting the drum flange by contacting the inner surface of the drum flange, the supporting projection being projected in the direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum toward a second end portion of the casing that is opposite to the first end portion of the casing in the direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, and (iv) a projected part projecting in a direction away from the second end portion of the casing in the direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum,
wherein a distance between at least a part of the supporting projection and the second end portion of the casing in the direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum is shorter than a distance between the surface of the bearing member and the second end portion of the casing in the direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum,
wherein a distance between at least a part of the projected part and the second end portion of the casing in the direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum is longer than the distance between the surface of the bearing member and the second end portion of the casing in the direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum,
wherein, as seen in the direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, (i) the projected part extends part way around the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, (ii) the surface of the bearing member extends part way around the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, and (iii) the rotational axis of the developing roller, the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, and a part of the surface of the bearing member are positioned in this order along a first line,
wherein a distance from the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum to at least a part of the projected part as measured along a second line that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum is shorter than a radius of the photosensitive drum that extends from the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum to an outer surface of the photosensitive drum,
wherein a distance from the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum to at least a part of the surface of the bearing member as measured along a third line that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum and is different than the second line is shorter than the radius of the photosensitive drum, and
wherein the surface of the bearing member is adjacent to an open space that extends to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum.