Patent · US Expired

Process cartridge and spacer for same

US6947686B2 · kind B2 · utility

76Cited by
26References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 20, 2003
Grant dateSep 20, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 26, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2221/1861
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum; a first frame supporting the drum; a second frame supporting the developing roller; a coupling member for coupling the first frame and the second frame such that developing roller and the drum contact each other or are spaced from each other; an urging member for urging the drum and the developing roller toward each other; a spacer member for maintaining the drum and the developing roller spaced from each other or the distance between centers of the drum and the developing roller to be larger than the distance therebetween during an image forming operation. The spacer member supports the first frame and second frame at least at longitudinally extending surfaces of the process cartridge, and is detachable from the process cartridge.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.