US 12,436,492 B2
Cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Noriyuki Komatsu, Numazu (JP); Shunsuke Uratani, Mishima (JP); and Toru Oguma, Mishima (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/645,633.
Application 18/645,633 is a division of application No. 17/963,245, filed on Oct. 11, 2022, granted, now 11,994,824.
Application 17/963,245 is a division of application No. 17/378,877, filed on Jul. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,500,324, issued on Nov. 15, 2022.
Application 17/378,877 is a division of application No. 16/739,602, filed on Jan. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,099,518, issued on Aug. 24, 2021.
Application 16/739,602 is a division of application No. 16/253,903, filed on Jan. 22, 2019, granted, now 10,551,790, issued on Feb. 4, 2020.
Application 16/253,903 is a division of application No. 15/690,602, filed on Aug. 30, 2017, granted, now 10,197,967, issued on Feb. 5, 2019.
Application 15/690,602 is a division of application No. 14/063,091, filed on Oct. 25, 2013, granted, now 9,772,598, issued on Sep. 26, 2017.
Application 14/063,091 is a division of application No. 12/766,134, filed on Apr. 23, 2010, granted, now 8,571,445, issued on Oct. 29, 2013.
Claims priority of application No. 2009-111127 (JP), filed on Apr. 30, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2024/0353789 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G03G 21/16 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1647 (2013.01) [G03G 21/1825 (2013.01); G03G 21/1864 (2013.01)] 39 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cartridge comprising:
a casing;
developer contained within the casing;
a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis thereof;
a drum flange provided at one end portion of the photosensitive drum, the drum flange being configured to transmit a driving force to the photosensitive drum, the drum flange being rotatable together with the photosensitive drum about the axis of the photosensitive drum, and the drum flange including a hollow interior portion elongated along the axis of the photosensitive drum and an interior surface;
a coupling member operatively connected to the drum flange, the coupling member being configured to transmit the driving force to the drum flange, the coupling member being coaxially rotatable with the drum flange, the coupling member including (i) at least one projection for receiving the driving force, the at least one projection being provided at an end portion of the coupling member, and (ii) a shaft portion elongated along an axis of the coupling member, the coupling member being movable with respect to the drum flange in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum, with the at least one projection and the shaft portion being movable with the coupling member in the direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum; and
a coil spring urging the coupling member in a direction away from an interior of the casing along the axis of the photosensitive drum,
wherein at least a part of the coil spring is positioned within the hollow interior portion of the drum flange, and
wherein the interior surface of the drum flange includes an abutting portion configured to restrict movement of the coupling member in the direction away from the photosensitive drum along the axis of the photosensitive drum by abutting the coupling member.