Mounting member for mounting a flange to an end of a cylindrical member of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum of a process cartridge, such a flange, such a drum, and such a process cartridge

[0002] The present invention relates to a mounting member, a drum flange, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process cartridge.

[0003] Here, the term “electrophotographic image forming apparatus” refers to an apparatus which forms images on a recording medium, using an electrophotographic image forming process. It includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, LED printer, laser beam printer), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, an electrophotographic word processor, and the like.

[0004] The term “process cartridge” refers to a cartridge having, as a unit, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and charging means, developing means and cleaning means, which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. It may include, as a unit, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one of charging means, developing means and cleaning means. It may include, as a unit, developing means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

[0005] An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process is known, which is used with the process cartridge. This is advantageous in that the maintenance operation can be, in effect, carried out by the users thereof without expert service persons, and therefore, the operativity can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this type of device is now widely used.

[0006] In such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is supported on a cartridge frame at opposite longitudinal ends to stably rotate the photosensitive drum.

[0007] It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a further improvement in the prior art structure.

[0008] It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a mounting member, a drum flange using the mounting member, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process cartridge.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting member, a drum flange using the mounting member, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process cartridge wherein the flange can be mounted to a cylindrical member using elastic force.

[0010] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting member for mounting a flange to an end of a cylindrical member of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, comprising: a base plate; a hole provided at a center portion of the base plate; a plurality of first projected portions provided projected outwardly from an edge of the base plate, for elastic contact to an inner surface of the flange; a plurality of second projected portions provided to project outwardly from an edge of the base plate, for elastic contact to an inner surface of the flange.

[0011] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a process cartridge.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a process cartridge usable with the electrophotographic image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a supporting structure for a photosensitive drum.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a drum flange at a non-driving side of a drum unit.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of a body of the drum flange.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a rear view of a body of the drum flange.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a front view of the body of the drum flange.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a front view of a drum grounding plate.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a front view of a drum grounding plate before shaping.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a drum grounding plate.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a side view of a drum grounding plate.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a front view of a clamping plate.

[0024] FIG. 13 is a side view of a clamping plate.

[0025] FIG. 14 is a side view of a drum flange.

[0026] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a drum flange.

[0027] FIG. 16 is an illustration illustrating a mounting method of the drum flange to the main body.

[0028] FIG. 17 is a front view of a drum flange.

[0029] FIG. 18 is a front view showing a painted surface of the photosensitive drum.

[0030] FIG. 19 is an illustration of the relation between the diameters of the drum flange and the photosensitive drum.

[0031] FIG. 20 shows the drum flange inserted into the photosensitive drum.

[0032] FIG. 21 is an illustration when a cylinder clamping pawl of a clamping plate is inserted by a pawl pushing tool.

[0033] FIG. 22 shows a drum flange as seen from the center of the photosensitive drum toward outside.

[0034] FIG. 23 is a sectional view of a drum flange mounted to the photosensitive drum 7.

[0035] FIG. 24 is a side view showing a relation between the clamping plate and the grounding plate in the drum flange after assembling.

[0036] FIG. 25 is a detailed illustration showing a relation between the clamping plate and the grounding plate.

[0037] FIG. 26 illustrates the deterioration of circularity of the photosensitive drum when there is no press-fitting engagement portion, nor flange clamping pawl of the clamping plate.

[0038] FIG. 27 shows a circularity of the photosensitive drum when the drum flange according to the present invention is used, wherein (a) shows an outer diameter circularity of the photosensitive drum at the position where a flange clamping pawl of the clamping plate contacts to the photosensitive drum, (b) shows an outer diameter circularity of the photosensitive drum at a position approximately 3 mm away from the position where the flange clamping pawl of the clamping plate contacts to the photosensitive drum.

[0039] FIG. 28 is a front view of a drum flange according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 29 is a side view of a drum flange shown in FIG. 28.

[0041] FIG. 30 is a front view of a clamping plate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 26 illustrates the deterioration of a circularity of a photosensitive drum 7 when there is no engaging portion 52 of the main body 50 and pawls 92a-92hof the clamping plate 90. In this figure, a thickness of a wall of the photosensitive drum 7 is 1 mm.

[0043] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0044] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (printer) which employs a process cartridge in accordance with the present invention. This electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter, “image forming apparatus”) is a laser beam printer, which is based on an electrophotographic process, and employs a removably installable process cartridge.

[0045] In other words, this image forming apparatus is constituted of the main assembly and a removably installable process cartridge. The main assembly comprises a structural frame constituted of two pieces: a top portion 2 and a bottom portion 1. The top portion 2 is hinged to the rear side (left side in FIG. 1) of the bottom portion 1 with the use of a hinge pin 3, so that it can be rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow mark (I), about the hinge pin 3 to enable it to take two positions: an open position (outlined by double dot chain line) and a closed position (outlined by solid line). When the top portion 2 is at the open position, a process cartridge B (which will be described later in detail) can be installed into, or removed from, the main assembly in the direction indicated by an arrow mark (YO). The top portion 2 is provided with a pair of guides 2aas an installation-removal means along which the process cartridge B is installed or removed in the arrow (YO) direction. The guide 2ais in the form of a long groove, whereas the cartridge frame 12 of the process cartridge B. guided by the guide 2ais provided with a pair of guides (unillustrated) in the form of a tongue, which fit in the pair of guides 2a, one for one. The cartridge frame 12 will be described later in detail.

[0046] As the top portion 2 of the structural frame of the apparatus main assembly is closed, the process cartridge B is placed at a predetermined position in the main assembly. With the process cartridge B at the predetermined position in the main assembly, a laser scanner unit 6, which constitutes the main portion of an exposing apparatus, is located on the front side (right-hand side in FIG. 1) of the process cartridge B, and a sheet cassette 27, in which a plurality of sheets P, that is, image media, are held, is located below the process cartridge B. On the downstream side of the sheet cassette 27 in terms of the direction in which the sheet P is conveyed, a sheet feeder roller 34, a registration roller pair 35, a transfer guide 36, a transfer charger 26 as a transferring means, a sheet conveyer 37, a fixing device 29, and the like are arranged in the listed order. These components are all disposed in the bottom portion 1 of the structural frame of the main assembly, whereas a sheet discharge roller 31, a delivery tray 32, and a reflection mirror 33, which are on the downstream side of the fixing device 29 are disposed, along with the process cartridge B, in the top portion 2 of the structural frame of the main assembly.

[0047] In this embodiment, the sheet feeder roller 34, the registration roller pair 35, the transfer guide 36, the sheet conveyer 37, the sheet discharge roller 31, and the like constitute a conveying means 13 for conveying the sheet P as recording medium.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 2, the process cartridge B comprises a structural frame 12 constituted of a toner frame 12a, a cleaning frame 12b, and a development frame 2c. The toner frame 12astores toner. The development frame 12cis attached to the toner frame 12a, and the cleaning frame 12bis attached to the development frame 12c. This cartridge frame 12 integrally contains four processing devices: a photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive member) 7, a charging means 8, a developing means 10, and a cleaning means 11. The photosensitive drum 7 is a rotative cylindrical member, and the charging member 8 comprises a rotative roller 8a. The developing means 10 rotatively supports a development roller 10c, and the cleaning means 11 comprises a cleaning blade lla and a waste toner bin 11c. The top wall of the cartridge frame 12 is provided with an exposure window 9, which is formed by cutting or drilling. The bottom wall of the cartridge frame 12 is provided with a cover 5, which can be opened to expose, or closed to cover, the opening 4 through which an image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred onto the recording medium. The cover 5 moves to the closed position to cover the opening 4, protecting the photosensitive peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 7 as the process cartridge B is removed from the main assembly of the printer (electrophotographic image forming apparatus), or the top portion 2 of the structure frame of the main assembly is opened.

[0049] Next, an image forming process will described in general terms. Upon reception of a process start signal, the photosensitive drum 7 is rotatively driven in the direction indicated by an arrow mark RI at a predetermined peripheral velocity (process speed). The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is in contact with the charge roller 8aof the charging means 8, to which a bias voltage is applied. Thus, as the photosensitive drum 7 is rotatively driven, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly charged by this charging means 8.

[0050] From the laser scanner unit 6, a laser beam L modulated with sequential digital electric signals, which reflect image data, is outputted. The laser beam L is reflected by the reflection mirror 33, and enters the cartridge frame 12 through the exposure window 9 of the top wall of the cartridge frame 12, exposing the charged peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 in a scanning manner. As a result, an electrostatic latent, image which reflects the image data, is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a layer of developer (toner) coated on the peripheral surface of the development roller 10c. The thickness of the layer of the toner is regulated by the development blade 10bof the developing means 10. The toner is sent from the toner frame 12ainto the development frame 12cby the toner sending member 10adisposed in the toner frame 12a.

[0051] Meanwhile, the plurality of sheets P stored in the sheet cassette 27 are sent out, one by one, from the sheet cassette 27 by the sheet feeder roller 34. Then, the sheet P is delivered to the transfer station, that is, the interface between the peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drum 7 and transfer charger 26, by the registration roller pair 35, through the transfer guide 36, with a timing coordinated with the timing for the outputting of the laser beam L. In the transfer station, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred onto the sheet P starting from the downstream end.

[0052] After the toner image is transferred onto the sheet P, the sheet P is separated from the photosensitive drum 7, and then is conveyed to the fixing device 29 by the sheet conveyer 37. in the fixing device 29, the sheet P is put through the nip formed by the fixing roller 29aand pressure roller 29b. While the sheet P is put through the nip, the toner image is fixed to the sheet P. Then, the sheet P with the fixed toner image is discharged into the delivery tray 32 by the sheet discharge roller 31. After the image transfer, the photosensitive drum 7 is cleaned by the cleaning means; and the toner particles remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 are removed by the cleaning blade 11aof the cleaning means 11. The removed toner particles are guided into the waste toner bin 11cby a scooping sheet 11b. Thereafter, the cleaned portion of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is used for the next cycle of the image forming process, which starts from the charging of the photosensitive drum 7.

[0053] Supporting Structure for Photosensitive Drum 7

[0054] FIG. 3 is a side view of the structure for supporting the photosensitive drum .7.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 3, referential characters 7band 7 designate a drum unit and a photosensitive drum 71 respectively. A referential character 45 designates a drum flange assembly, which is attached to one of the longitudinal ends, that is, the driving side end, of the photosensitive drum 7 (cylindrical drum 600), by crimping or the like method.

[0056] A reference character 41 designates a cover member of the cleaning frame 12b, which is located on the driving side. A reference character 43 designates a means for transmitting a driving force, which is constituted of a certain type of coupler. This driving force transmitting means 43 is engaged with an unillustrated axial member fixed to the drum flange 45 by insert molding or the like method, and transmits the driving force from the printer main assembly to rotate the photosensitive drum 7.

[0057] A reference character 501 designates a drum flange assembly attached to the other end, that is, the end opposite to the driving end, of the photosensitive drum 7. A reference character 50 designates the drum flange of the drum flange assembly 501, and a reference character 42 designates the cover of the cleaning frame 12b, on the side opposite to the driving side.

[0058] The drum unit 7bcomprises the photosensitive drum 7 and drum flange assemblies 45 and 501.

[0059] Structure of Drum Flange 7b

[0060] FIG. 4 is sectional view of one of the longitudinal end portions of the drum unit 7b, on the side opposite to the driving side, adjacent to the drum flange assembly 501.

[0061] In FIG. 4, a reference character 42bdesignates an electrically conductive axial shaft as the central axis, which is fixed to the cover 42 on the side opposite to the driving side by insert molding or the like method. It is made of steel, being formed by turning, and is plated with nickel.

[0062] The electrically conductive shaft 42b, which is the axial member, is put through a hole 12b1 of the cleaning frame 12b, so that it doubles as the member which fixes the positional relationship between the cleaning frame 12band the photosensitive drum 7.

[0063] A reference character 70 designates a plate for grounding the photosensitive drum 7. This drum grounding member 70 is attached to the drum flange 50 of the drum flange assembly 501 with the use of an anchoring or clamping plate 90 which functions as a mounting member for mounting the flange 70, constituted of a piece of elastic plate, being pinched between the drum flange 50 of the drum flange assembly 501 and the clamping plate 90.

[0064] The drum grounding plate 70 is provided with an elastic arm portion 75, or the first springy arm portion, which will be described later. It is electrically connected to the electrically conductive shaft 42b, and grounds the photosensitive drum 7 through the ground contact portions 73aand 73bof cylinder contact springs 77aand 77bas the second plate sprints, which also will be described later.

[0065] Structure of Drum Flange 50 of Drum Flange Assembly 501

[0066] FIG. 5 is a side view of the drum flange 50 of the drum flange assembly 501 illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0067] The drum flange 50 of the drum flange assembly 501 is formed of resin. Its peripheral wall portion comprises a stopper portion 65, and a portion 51, a portion 52, and a guide portion 53, which are to be fitted into the photosensitive drum 7. The stopper portion 65 is portion which fixes the positional relation between the drum flange 50 and the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7. The fitting portion 51 is a portion which is pressed into the photosensitive drum 7, and the fitting portion 52, or the second portion, is a portion which also is pressed into the photosensitive drum 7. The pressure applied to the portion 52 to fit it into the photosensitive drum 7 is lighter than the pressure applied to the portion 51 to insert it into the photosensitive drum 7. The insert guide portion 53 is a portion which is fitted into the photosensitive drum 7, perfectly or with some play.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 19, the external diameter D501 of the fitting portion 51 is 1.0005 to 1.005 times the internal diameter D705 of the photosensitive drum 7. The external diameter D502 of the fitting portion 52 is 0.999 to 1.002 times the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7. The external diameter D503 of the fitting guide portion 53 is exactly matched to the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7 so that it perfectly fits into the photosensitive drum 7, that is, without leaving any gap.

[0069] The fitting portion 52 is provided with an edge portion 52a, which is located on the fitting guide portion 53 side. The edge portion 52ais constituted of a rib which circles the peripheral surface of the drum flange 50. It projects 0.5 mm to 3 mm in the radial direction of the drum flange 50. The internal diameter D502 of the fitting portion 52 is smaller than the diameter D902 of the circumcircle of the flange gripping extensions 92a-92h.

[0070] FIG. 6 is an illustration of the drum flange 50 as seen from the direction indicated by an arrow mark A2 in FIG. 5.

[0071] In FIG. 6, reference characters 55a-55hdesignate through holes for a pressing tool 631 for pressing the cylinder gripping extensions or cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90. Reference characters 56a-56hdesignate holes with which the circular flat wall 62 of the drum flange 50 is provided for positioning the pressing tool 631 in terms of the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 7; the pressing tool 631 is accurately positioned relative to the drum flange 50 by the holes 56a-56h, assuring that the clamping plate 90 is pressed, on the correct points 99.

[0072] A reference character 57 designates a hole through which the electrically conductive shaft 42bis put, as tightly as possible while allowing the photosensitive drum 7 to rotate about the shaft 42b.

[0073] FIG. 7 is a front view of the drum flange 50 of the drum flange assembly 501 illustrated in FIG. 4 as seen from the direction indicated by an arrow mark B21 in FIG. 5.

[0074] In FIG. 7, a reference character 58 designates a rectangular boss that accurately fixes the positional relationship between the drum grounding plate 70 and the clamping plate 90 in terms of the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 7. In other words, with the presence of this boss 58, the pressing tool 631 is accurately aligned with the cylinder gripping rectangular radial extensions 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90, assuring that the correct points 99 of the clamping plate 90 are pressed.

[0075] A reference character 59 designates the inward end surface of the drum flange 50, or the hatched portion in the drawing. This is the surface to which the drum grounding plate 70 is attached. It is precisely formed.

[0076] Reference characters 54a-54hdesignate bosses for holding the drum grounding plate 70 and clamping plate 90 to the drum flange 50. They are melted after these plates 70 and 90 are mounted.

[0077] Reference characters 60a-60hdesignate slots cut in the fitting portion 52 and fitting guide portion 53 of the drum flange 50. As described before, the elastic contact portions 73aand 73bof the grounding plate 70, and the rectangular, radial, cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90, are put through these slots, being placed in contact with the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7.

[0078] A reference character 61 designates a cylindrical boss for centering the drum grounding plate 70 and clamping plate 90 relative to the drum flange 50. This boss 61 makes it possible for the eight cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 to make contact with the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7, on the predetermined points, with uniform pressure.

[0079] A reference character 64 designates a slot for the elastic shaft contact arm portion 75 of the drum grounding plate 70. The slot 64 affords the elastic arm portion 75 of the drum grounding plate 70 a sufficient stroke range, so that an accurate amount of pressure is generated by the elastic shaft contact portion 75.

[0080] A reference character 63 designates a rib, which presses down on the drum grounding plate 70, engaging with the bend portion 76 of the drum grounding plate 70. The bend portion 76 will be described later. More specifically, the rib 63 presses down on the end portion of the bend portion 76 of the drum grounding plate 70, assuring that a proper amount of pressure is applied to the electrically conductive shaft 42bby the elastic arm portion 75 of the drum grounding plate 70, and therefore assuring electrical conductivity.

[0081] Structure of Drum Grounding Plate 70

[0082] FIG. 8 is a front view of the drum grounding plate 70.

[0083] The drum grounding plate 70 is formed of phosphor bronze or the like, which is electrically conductive and also elastic. It comprises the first elastic contact portions 75a, and the second elastic contact portions 73aand 73b, which will be described later. The first elastic contact portion 75amakes contact with the electrically conductive shaft 42bof the cover 42, which is placed in contact with the ground portion (unillustrated) of the printer main assembly. The second contact portions 73aand 73bare placed in contact with the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7. With the presence of the above described structure, the photosensitive drum 7 is grounded to the ground portion of the printer main assembly.

[0084] The contact portion 75ais provided at the end of the elastic arm portion 75 of the drum grounding plate 70 (FIGS. 9 and 10), and the second Lcontact portions 73aand 73bare provided at the end portions of the cylinder springs 77aand 77b, respectively. The first contact portion 75aand the second contact portions 73aand 73bare angularly shaped.

[0085] The springs 77aand 77bare identically shaped, and are symmetrically positioned relative to the center line (750) of the elastic arm portion 75 of the drum grounding plate 70, that is, the line drawn through the point of contact between the contact portion 75aand the electrically conducive shaft 42band the center of the elastic arm portion 75.

[0086] Reference characters 72aand 72bdesignate through holes, which are cut through the springs 77aand 77b. Cutting these holes 72aand 72bthrough the spring portions 77aand 77breduces the widths of the spring portions 72aand 72bin terms of material, reducing thereby their resiliency, without reducing the widths of the spring portions 72aand 72bin terms of structure, maintaining thereby virtually the same structural strength as that provided when no hole is cut.

[0087] Reference characters 71a-71hdesignate holes, through which the aforementioned thermally deformable bosses 54a-54fare put, one for one; they are aligned in a circle, which has the same center and diameter as those of the circle in which the thermally deformable bosses 54a-54hof the drum flange 50 are aligned, and also are aligned with the same pitch as those bosses. The holes 71band 71care symmetrically positioned to each other relative to the center line 77o1 of the spring portion 77a, and the holes 71dand 71eare symmetrically positioned to each other relative to the center line of the spring portion 77b. The thermally deformable bosses 54b, 54c, 54fand 54gare put through these holes 71b, 71c, 71dand 71e, one for one in the listed order, and then, are melted to hold the drum grounding plate 70 to the drum flange 50. As a result, it is assured that pressure is uniformly applied to the spring portions 77aand 77bby the two pairs of deformed bosses 54b, 54c, 54fand 54g. The above arrangement assures that the drum grounding plate 70 remains correctly positioned relative to the drum flange assembly 501 when the drum flange assembly 501 is inserted into the photosensitive drum 7, and that the spring portions 77aand 77bare prevented from being easily twisted.

[0088] The contact portions 73aand 73bof the 701 are angularly shaped as described before, and therefore, the angular tips and finned edges of the contact portions 73aand 73bassure that sufficient electrical conductivity is maintained between the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7 and the contact portions 73aand 73b.

[0089] A reference character 74 designates a slot for fixing the position of the drum grounding plate 70 relative to the drum flange 50 in terms of the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 7. The slot 74 engages with the rectangular positioning boss 58 to fix the angle of the drum grounding plate 70 relative to the drum flange 50.

[0090] FIG. 9 is a development of the drum grounding plate 70. The drum grounding plate 70 is constituted of a single piece of approximately 0.2 mm thick metallic plate. As for the manufacturing method for the drum grounding plate 70, pressing or the like method is used so that a strong drum grounding plate with high strength can be economically manufactured.

[0091] FIG. 10 is a top view of the drum grounding plate 70 as seen from the direction indicated by an arrow mark A31 in FIG. 8.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 9, the drum grounding plate 70 is a single piece of metallic plate formed by pressing or the like method as described above. It is constituted of a portion 701, which is flat and substantially round, and a smaller portion 76, which extends almost perpendicularly from the flat and round portion 701. The flat and round portion 701 is provided with a hole 78, through which the electrically conductive shaft 42bis put, and the slot 701a. It is placed flatly in contact with the drum flange 50. The perpendicular smaller portion 76 is provided with the elastic arm portion 75, which is tilted toward the flat and round main portion 701aso that it makes contact with the electrically conductive shaft 42b. The smaller portion 76, substantially perpendicular to the flat and round main portion 701, also makes contact with the rib 63 of the drum flange 50, assuring that the elastic arm portion 75 of the drum grounding plate 70 generates a contact pressure of 50 g to 100 g.

[0093] With the above described arrangement, it is possible to provide the drum grounding plate 70 with a longer elastic arm portion 75, which has a smaller constant of elasticity.

[0094] The drum grounding plate 70 is formed by pressing so that the fins are created on the side 330 indicated by an arrow mark 330. Therefore, the drum grounding plate 70 makes contact with the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7, by the finned side of the edge, assuring reliable contact.

[0095] FIG. 11 is side view of the drum grounding plate 70 as seen from the direction indicated by an arrow mark B31 in FIG. 4.

[0096] As the drum unit 7bis assembled into the structural frame of the process cartridge B, the elastic arm portion 75 for the first contact point 75ais pressed in the direction indicated by an arrow mark E by the electrically conductive shaft 42b, being elastically bent from the position outlined by a double dot chain line 751 to the position outlined by the solid line 752, causing the contact point 75ato come in contact with the electrically conductive shaft 42b. The contact point 75a, placed in contact with the electrically conductive shaft 42b, is kept in contact with the shaft 42bby the resiliency of the elastic arm portion 75 while being allowed to slide on the peripheral surface of the shaft 42b. When the elastic arm portion 75 is at the position outlined by the solid line 752, the contact point 75ais at a position 75a2, having been moved from a position 75a1 at which it was before the elastic arm portion 75 was pressed by the electrically conductive shaft 42b. Thus, after the assembly, the contact point 75aremains in contact with the rotational center portion of the electrically conductive shaft 42b, and yet, it is prevented from being easily worn by friction.

[0097] Structure of Clamping Plate 90

[0098] FIG. 12 is a front view of the clamping plate 90 as a means for clamping the drum flange 50 to the photosensitive member 7.

[0099] The clamping plate 90 is a plate-like member formed of approximately 0.1 mm-0.5 mm thick plate of SUS (stainless steel), phosphor bronze, or the like material. go Here, an clamping plate 90 formed of 0.2 mm thick SUS304P will be described as an example.

[0100] In FIG. 12, referential characters 91a-91hare radial rectangular, cylinder clamping pawls of the clamping plate 90 as the second extensions. As the drum flange assembly 501 is inserted into the photosensitive drum 7 after the clamping plate 90 is attached to the drum flange 50, the extensions 91a-91hcome in contact with the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7, and firmly anchor themselves to the inside surface 7i. The extensions 91a-91hare tilted toward the bottom end surface 62 of the drum flange 50 so that it becomes easier for the clamping plate 90 to be inserted into the photosensitive drum 7. Further, tilting the extensions 91a-91has described above causes them to bite into the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7 as force applies to the clamping plate 90 in the direction to push the drum flange assembly 501 out of the photosensitive drum 7. Therefore, the clamping plate 90 is prevented from easily coming out of the photosensitive drum 7. The diameter D901 (FIG. 13) of the circumcircle of the extensions 91a-91his made to be 1.01-1.05 times the internal diameter D707 (FIG. 19) of the photosensitive drum 7, assuring that a sufficient amount of force is generated to cause the extensions 91a-91hto come in contact with the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7, and anchor themselves to the inside surface 7i.

[0101] The tip of each of the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91his shaped square, and makes contact with the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7 across its entire edge. In other words, the tip of each extension makes contact with the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7, across the wide area of the surface 7i, preventing thereby the cylinder from deteriorating in terms of circularity. Further, the extensions 91a-91hcause the coating on the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7 to be stripped across the wide area.

[0102] Referential characters 92a-92hdesignate the first rectangular, radial, drum flange clamping pawls of the clamping plate 90. The extensions 92a-92hmake contact with the inside surface 52bof the fitting portion 52 of the drum flange 50. They are tilted in the direction opposite to the tilt of the cylinder clamping pawl 91a-91h. This makes it easier for the clamping plate 90 to be inserted into the drum flange 50, while making it difficult for the clamping plate 90 to come out of the drum flange 50.

[0103] A reference character 93 designates a slot, which engages with the square boss 58 of the drum flange 50; engagement between the slot 93 and the boss 58 fixes the positional relationship between the drum flange 50 and the clamping plate 90 in terms of the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 7. This makes it possible to accurately align the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hwith the through holes 55a-55hfor the pressing tool 631. Therefore, each cylinder clamping pawl 91a-91hcan be pressed, on the precise spot, which will be described later. Further, the cylinder clamping pawl 91a-91hpress themselves upon the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7 in a direction perpendicular to the inside surface 7i, anchoring themselves to the photosensitive drum 7 with maximum effectiveness.

[0104] Reference characters 95a-95hdesignate holes for the thermally deformable bosses 54a-54h. The holes 95a-95hare aligned in a circle with the same diameter as the circle in which the thermally deformable bosses 54a-54hare aligned, at the same pitch as the pitch at which the thermally deformable bosses 54a-54hare aligned.

[0105] FIG. 13 is a side view of the clamping plate 90 as seen from the direction indicated by an arrow mark A41 in FIG. 12.

[0106] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hand the drum flange clamping pawl 92a-92hare tilted in the opposite directions. When the clamping plate 90 is assembled onto the drum flange 50, the clamping plate 90 is lined up so that the extensions 91a-91htilt toward the circular inside surface 62 of the drum flange 50.

[0107] A reference character 96 designates the flat portion of the clamping plate 90. When the clamping plate 90 is assembled onto the drum flange 50, this flat portion 96 is placed in contact with the flat portion of the drum grounding plate 70, and then, the bosses 54a-54hare thermally deformed to retain the clamping plate 90. The flat portion 96 minimizes the deformation of the drum grounding plate 70 which occurs when the drum flange assembly 501 is inserted into the photosensitive drum 7.

[0108] FIG. 14 is a side view of the drum flange assembly 501.

[0109] The drum flange assembly 501 is constituted of the drum flange 50, which has been described so far, the drum grounding plate 70, and the clamping plate 90.

[0110] The clamping plate 90 is attached to drum flange 50 so that the extension 91a-91htilt toward the circular inside surface 62 of the drum flange 50.

[0111] Lining up the clamping plate 90 as described above makes it easier to insert the drum flange assembly 501 into the photosensitive drum 7.

[0112] Internal Structure of Drum Flange Assembly 501

[0113] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the drum flange assembly 501 illustrated in FIG. 14.

[0114] The drum grounding plate 70 is attached to the drum flange 50 so that the bosses 54a-54f(unillustrated) are put through the holes 71a-71f(unillustrated) of the drum grounding plate 70, one for one. Then, the clamping plate 90 is attached to the drum flange 50, through the drum grounding plate 70.

[0115] FIG. 16 is a drawing which depicts how the clamping plate 90 is attached to the drum flange 50.

[0116] As depicted by FIG. 16, the clamping plate 90 is pressed into the drum flange 50 with the use of the pressing jig 521 after the drum grounding plate 70 is placed in the drum flange 50. As for the pressing jig 521, its diameter equals the diameter b52 of the circle drawn by connecting the points at which the extensions 92a-92hare to be bent. The jig surface, which makes contact with the clamping plate 90 when pressing the clamping plate 90, is flat. Therefore, the springiness of the extensions 92a-92hof the clamping plate 90 is not adversely effected as the clamping plate 90 is pressed into the drum flange 50. The bosses 54a-54hfit into the holes 95a-95hof the clamping plate 90 as the clamping plate 90 is pressed into the drum flange 50.

[0117] After the attachment of the clamping plate 90, the bosses 54a-54hof the drum flange 50 are melted to permanently hold the drum grounding plate 70 and clamping plate 90 to the drum flange 50, completing the drum flange assembly 501.

[0118] The clamping plate 90 is attached to the drum flange 50 as described above. Then, the bosses 54a-54hof the drum flange 50 are melted, being positioned so that the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hare positioned on a line drawn through the midpoint between the adjacent two bosses and the center of the clamping plate 90.

[0119] As the drum grounding plate 70 is placed in the drum flange 50 in the above described manner, the tilted portion 76 of the drum grounding plate 70 engages with the rib 63 of the drum flange 50. More specifically, as the drum grounding plate 70 is placed in the drum flange 50, the tilted portion 76 comes in contact with the electrically conductive shaft 42b, and is pushed backward by the shaft 42b, coming in contact with the rib 63, while a certain amount of stress, or resilient pressure, is generated in the elastic arm portion 75. In this state, the tilted arm portion 76 is supported by the lateral surface of the rib 63.

[0120] FIG. 17 is a front view of the flange assembly 501, that is, the completed flange assembly 501, illustrated in FIG. 14, as seen from the side of bosses 54a-54h.

[0121] As illustrated in FIG. 17, the eight bosses 54a-54hof the drum flange 50 are aligned in a circle at the base portions of the drum flange clamping pawls 92a-92h, with the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hbeing positioned on a line drawn through the midpoint between the adjacent two bosses and the center of the clamping plate 90. More specifically, the thermally deformable bosses 54a-54hare aligned in a circle so that any adjacent two bosses are symmetrically positioned relative to the center line of a corresponding clamping extension. For example, the bosses 92aand 92hare symmetrically positioned relative to the center line 91oof the clamping extension 91h. Further, the bosses 54a-54hare aligned in a circle so that they do not align with extensions 91a-91hof the clamping plate 9 in the radial direction of the clamping plate 90, while the adjacent two bosses are positioned symmetrically relative to the center line of the corresponding clamping extension.

[0122] Further, as depicted in FIG. 17, the springy arm portion 77aand 77bof the drum grounding plate 70, which are positioned in symmetrically across the drum grounding plate 70, are held to the drum flange 50 by thermally deforming the pair of bosses 54band 54cand the pair of bosses 54fand 54g. With this arrangement, the elastic arm portion 75 is firmly held down by the clamping plate 90, and therefore, the tilted elastic arm portion 75 is prevented from being pulled in the left or right direction, even though a certain amount of stress is generated in the elastic arm portions 77aand 77bwhen the drum flange assembly 501 is inserted into the photosensitive drum 7. Further, the contact point 75aof the drum grounding plate 70 makes contact with the center portion of the end of the electrically conductive shaft 42b(FIG. 4), and therefore, the wearing of the contact point 75ais minimized. Further, the flat portion 701 of the drum grounding plate 70 is firmly held to the drum flange 70 by the clamping plate 90, being prevented from deforming, and therefore, it is assured that the elastic arm portion 75 reliably generates a pressure of 50 g-100 g.

[0123] Further, according to the present invention, the number of the bosses of the drum flange 50 is eight, or the most appropriate number, so that the stress generated in the drum grounding plate 70 when the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hare pressed is borne by the drum flange clamping pawls 92a-92h, preventing thereby the bosses 54a-54hfrom being damaged.

[0124] In this embodiment, the drum flange 50 is provided with eight bosses 54a-54h. However, it may be provided with only two bosses. In such a case, the two bosses are symmetrically positioned relative to the longitudinal central axis of the photosensitive drum 7, and the clamping plate 90 is easily held to the drum flange 50 by melting the symmetrically positioned bosses.

[0125] FIG. 18 is a front view of the photosensitive drum 7, in particular, the coated peripheral surface thereof.

[0126] In FIG. 18, a reference character 600 designates a hollow aluminum cylinder which constitutes the base member of the photosensitive drum 7. The photosensitive layer is coated on the peripheral surface of this aluminum cylinder 600.

[0127] A reference character 601 designates the photosensitive layer portion (image bearing portion) on the aluminum cylinder 600, and reference characters 602 and 603 each designate a portion of the aluminum cylinder where the peripheral surface of the aluminum cylinder 600 is exposed.

[0128] One of the commonly used methods for coating the photosensitive drum 7 is as follows. The aluminum cylinder 600 is dipped in a pot (unillustrated) which contains a melted photosensitive layer material, so that the aluminum cylinder 600 is dipped as deep as a line 605 between the coated and uncoated areas illustrated in FIG. 18. Then, the photosensitive material having adhered to the inside surface of the aluminum cylinder 600 is removed by solvent, a blade (unillustrated), or the like.

[0129] Next, the photosensitive material having adhered to the outside of the aluminum cylinder 600 is removed from the end portion opposite to the end portion covered with the photosensitive material, up to the line 606 between the portion 603 and the photosensitive layer portion 601, by a blade or the like.

[0130] Hereinafter, a method for assembling the drum unit 7bwill be described.

[0131] The order in which the drum unit 7bis assembled is as follows. First, the drum flange assembly 501 is inserted into the photosensitive drum 7 (FIG. 21). Next, the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 are bent toward the center of the photosensitive drum 7 with the use of a pressing tool 631.

[0132] FIG. 19 is a drawing which shows the dimensional relationship between the drum flange assembly 501 and photosensitive drum 7.

[0133] The dimensional relationship between the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7, and the measurements of the flange assembly 501 to be pressed into the photosensitive drum 7, is as follows. The external diameter D501 of the portion 51 of the drum flange 50 is 1.0005-1.005 times the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7, and the external diameter D502 of the fitting portion 52 of the drum flange 50 is 0.999-1.002 times the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7. The external diameter D503 of the fitting guide portion 53 of the drum flange 50 is perfectly matched with the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7 so that the fitting guide portion 53 perfectly fits in the photosensitive drum 7, that is, without any gap.

[0134] The fitting portion 52 of the drum flange 50 is provided with an edge 52b, which is on the fitting guide portion 53 side of the drum flange 50 (FIG. 5).

[0135] The relationship among the external diameters D501, D502 and D503 of the fitting portions 51 and 52, and fitting guide portion 53, respectively, of the drum flange 50, and the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7, in terms of the central value within a tolerance range is:

[0136] D501>D502>D707>D503.

[0137] Further, the external diameter D501 of the portion 51 of the drum flange 50 is definitely larger in terms of the central value in the tolerance range than the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7.

[0138] The external diameter D503 of the fitting guide portion 53 is definitely smaller in terms of the central value in the tolerance range than the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7.

[0139] The external diameter D502 of the portion 52 is larger than the internal diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7, only in terms of the central value within the tolerance range. Thus, some gap may be present between the portion 52 and the inside surface of the photosensitive drum 7 after the insertion of the drum flange 50 into the photosensitive drum 7.

[0140] FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the drum flange assembly 501 after its insertion into the photosensitive drum 7.

[0141] In this embodiment, the drum flange assembly 502, complete with clamping plate 90, is inserted into the photosensitive drum 7, on the side 602 where the aluminum cylinder is exposed.

[0142] As the drum flange assembly 501 is inserted into the photosensitive drum 7, the insertion stopper 65 of the drum flange 50 functions to stop the insertion of the drum flange assembly 502, accurately positioning the drum flange assembly 502 relative to the photosensitive drum 7 in terms of the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7.

[0143] FIG. 21 is an explanatory drawing which depicts how the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 are inserted into the photosensitive drum 7 up to the predetermined positions with the use of the pressing tool 631.

[0144] The pressing tool 631 presses the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90, on the pressure application points 99 located adjacent to the base portions of the extensions 91a-91h, by its pressing prongs F63, until the extensions 91a-91hsettle in the positions illustrated in FIG. 23, at which they are caused to firmly grip the photosensitive drum 7. With the extensions 91a-91hsettled in the positions illustrated in FIG. 23, the contact points 651 between the extensions 91a-91hand the photosensitive drum 7 are substantially the same as the location of the edge 52aof the fitting portion 52 of the drum flange 50. As the cylinder clamping pawl 91a-91hare pressed inward the photosensitive drum 7, the photosensitive material layer adhering to the inside surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is scraped away by them.

[0145] With the structure described above, the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hand the edge 52aof the fitting portion 52 of the drum flange 50 press upon the photosensitive drum 7 from inside, minimizing the loss of the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 caused by the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91h.

[0146] Further, the extensions 92a-92hare tilted toward the longitudinal center (inward) of the photosensitive drum 7 relative to the inside surface 52bof the fitting portion 52. Therefore, pressing UA the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hcauses the drum clamping pawls 92a-92hto push the fitting portion 52 in the radially outward direction, creating the synergistic effect of preventing the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 from being adversely affected.

[0147] Further, the extensions 91a-91htilt outward of the photosensitive drum 7, that is, in the direction opposite to the extensions 92a-92h, in terms of the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7. Therefore, the synergistic effect is created also in terms of their resilient force generated by being elastically deformed, increasing the force with which the extensions 91a-91hgrip the photosensitive drum 7. In other words, the above described structure improves reliability.

[0148] FIG. 22 is a view of the drum flange assembly 501 as seen from the inward side of the photosensitive drum 7.

[0149] In FIG. 22, the pressing points 99 of the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping pate 90, which are pressed by the pressing tool 631, are illustrated as if they are on the same plane as the plane of this drawing. The pressing prongs F63 of the pressing tool 631 press the back side (in this drawing) of the clamping plate 90 toward the longitudinal center of the photosensitive drum 7. The pressing points 99 are located at the approximate centers of the extensions 91a-91hin terms of the radial direction of the clamping plate 90, and outward of the circles drawn through the bosses 54a-54h, in terms of the radial direction of the clamping plate 90.

[0150] With the above arrangement, the extensions 91a-91hcan be bent perpendicularly to the direction in which they are inserted. Therefore, the photosensitive drum 7 is better in circularity, and the drum flange assembly 501 is more reliably clamped to the photosensitive drum 7.

[0151] Further, as the clamping plate 90 is pressed by the pressing tool 631, on the pressing points 99, the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hare bent at points 91a2-91h2 (FIG. 23) which are adjacent to the original bent points 91a1-91h1 (FIG. 21).

[0152] FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the drum flange assembly 501 after its insertion into the photosensitive drum 7.

[0153] The cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 contact the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7, at the points 651, being bent as illustrated in FIG. 23. These points 651 correspond to the border line 606 between the portion 603 where the aluminum cylinder is exposed, and the photosensitive layer portion, on the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 7. At these points 651, the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 is not a serious concern. Therefore, the drum unit 7bis improved in yield. In other words, productivity is improved along with quality.

[0154] FIG. 24 is a side view of the assembled drum unit 7b. It depicts the relationship between the clamping plate 90 and drum grounding plate 70. More specifically, it is a transparent view of the assembled drum unit 7b, and shows the state of the drum flange assembly 501 in the completed drum unit 7b, through the photosensitive drum 7.

[0155] As the pressing tool 631 illustrated in FIG. 21 is pressed, the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 come in contact with the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7, and wedge themselves against the inside surface 7i, on the spots away from the contact points 73aand 73bof the drum grounding plate 70.

[0156] FIG. 25 is an enlarged view of the portions of the clamping plate 90 and drum grounding plate 70, and shows in detail the relationship between the clamping plate 90 and drum grounding plate 70 illustrated in FIG. 24, in particular, the portions designated by a reference character K66 in FIG. 24. It depicts the contact points 73aand 73bof the drum grounding plate 70, and the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90.

[0157] Referring to FIG. 12, the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 have a square tip. Further, the clamping plate 90 is formed of electrically conductive material, and therefore, the square edge portions 911 of the tips of the extensions 91a-91hfurther assure reliability in terms of electrical conductivity. Also, as the clamping plate 90 is pressed, the distance between the edge portions 911 of the extensions 91a-91hand the contact points 73aand 73bof the drum grounding plate 70 increases, increasing thereby the size of the contact area. Therefore, the reliability of the electrical contact points is drastically improved. In addition, the extensions 91a-91hreliably bite into the inside surface of the photosensitive drum 7, further improving electrical conductivity. The area 911acovered with diagonal lines is the area from which the photosensitive material layer adhering to the inside surface 7iof the photosensitive drum 7 has been scraped away by the cylinder clamping pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90.

[0158] FIG. 26 shows the deterioration of the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 when the flange 501 does not have the clamping pawls 92a-92hand the engaging portion 52. The thickness of the cylinder wall is 1 mm.

[0159] In FIG. 26, the contact portion between the photosensitive drum 7 and the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 is indicated by a chain line. As will be understood from the figure, the outer surface is not smooth, and the circularity is 14.9 μm.

[0160] FIG. 27 shows the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 using the drum flange 501 according to this embodiment. (a) shows the outer diameter circularity of the photosensitive drum at the position where the pawl 92a-92hof the clamping plate 9 contacts to the photosensitive drum 7, and (b) shows the outer diameter circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 at the position approximately 3 mm away from the position where the pawls 92a-92hof the clamping plate 90 contacts to the photosensitive drum.

[0161] In (a) of FIG. 27, chain line indicates the contact portion between the clamping plate 90 of the photosensitive drum and the pawls 91a-91h. As will be understood from the figure, the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is smooth, and the circularity is 10.4 μm because of the provision of the engaging portion 52 of the body 50 of the flange and the pawls 92a-92hof the clamping plate 90.

[0162] In (b) of FIG. 27, chain line indicates the contact portion between the clamping plate 90 of the photosensitive drum and the pawls 91a-91h. As will be understood from the figure, the influence of the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 is removed, and the circularity is 8.8 μm.

[0163] Although not shown here, the contact position of the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 to the photosensitive drum 7 is between an abutment reference position for a spacer for maintaining a gap between the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing roller(developing means) 10cand a printing region (photosensitive layer portion 601 of the aluminum cylinder 600, as described above), and is away from the abutment reference position by not less than 3 mm, and is away from the printing region by not less than 15 mm.

[0164] By doing so, the yield of the drum unit 7bis raised, and the image quality of the formed image is improved, so that quality and productivity of the drum unit 7bis improved.

[0165] (Another Embodiment of the Drum Flange)

[0166] FIG. 28 is a front view of an above-described drum flange 501 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 29 a side view of a drum flange shown in FIG. 28.

[0167] In FIGS. 28 and 29, designated by 801 is an electroconductive clamping plate of stainless steel, Sphosphor bronze or the like having a structure similar to that of the clamping plate 90; 802 is a body of the drum flange press-fitted into the end of the photosensitive drum 7; 803 is an electroconductive center shaft of SUS (stainless steel) or the like unified with the body 802 of the drum flange by insertion molding or the like; 804 is a radial pawl-as a third pawl radially extended from the clamping plate 801 toward the inside of the circle. The flange 800 of this embodiment, similarly to the drum flange 501 of the above-described embodiment, assuredly contacts the inner wall 7iof the photosensitive drum 7, by the cylinder clamping pawls 801a-801hof the clamping plate 801, by way of the conduction shaft 803 from the ground portion of the main assembly of the printer (not shown), which is contacted to the electroconductive center shaft 803.

[0168] By this, there is no need to provide a grounding plate 70 as in the drum flange 501 of the above-described embodiment, so that number of parts is reduced, and the assembling property is improved with cost reduction and improved quality.

[0169] (Another Embodiment of Clamping Plate)

[0170] FIG. 30 is a front view of a clamping plate 90 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0171] In this embodiment, the clamping plate 901 is of electroconductive material such as bronze, stainless steel or the like. The structure is the same as with the clamping plate 901 of the above-described embodiment except that grounding contact 902 is constituted by a center portion of the engaging hole 901aof the conduction shaft 42b. In this figure, designated by 902a-902hare cylinder clamping pawls; and 903a-903hare flange clamping pawls.

[0172] With such structure, similar to the drum flange 501 of the above-described embodiment, there is no need to provide the drum grounding plate 70, so that so that number of parts of the drum flange 501 is reduced, and the assembling property is improved with a cost reduction and improved quality.

[0173] As described in the foregoing, according to this embodiment, each of the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90, secured to the fixing of the engaging portion 51 of the body 50, is provided with bent portion 91a2-91h2 elastically bent toward the longitudinally central portion (inside) of the photosensitive drum 7, and bites into the inner surface of the wall of the photosensitive drum 7. Additionally, it urges the body 50 of the flange toward the longitudinally central portion of the photosensitive drum 7. By this, the connection force between the body 50 of the flange and the photosensitive drum 7 is made firmer, thus improving the quality of the drum unit 7b.

[0174] By limiting the diameter D901 of the circumscribed circle of the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 such that lengths of the pawls 91a-91hare within the range of 1.01-1.05 times the inner diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7, the productivity of the clamping plate 90 is improved, and the connection strength relative to the photosensitive drum 7 is assured, and therefore, the quality of the drum unit 7band the productivity are improved.

[0175] By provision of through-holes 55a-55hin the circular disk surface 62 of the body 50, corresponding to the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90, it can be inspected whether the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 are bent assuredly, that is, whether the connection with the photosensitive drum 7 is satisfactory, so that the quality of the drum unit 7bcan be improved.

[0176] By using eight pawls 91a-91hin the clamping plate 90, the expansion in the radially outward direction can be distributed properly, so that circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 is improved, and therefore, the image quality of the formed image and the quality of the drum unit 7bare improved.

[0177] By using a tool 631 through through-holes 55a-55hformed in the circular disk surface 62 of the body 50 of the drum flange, the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 can be assuredly and easily bent, and therefore, the mass-productivity and the quality of the drum unit 7bcan be improved.

[0178] The body 50 of the drum flange is made of resin material having a low melting point, and the clamping plate 90 is made of a material having a high melting point such as stainless steel, phosphor bronze or the like. At least two bosses 54a-54hprovided in the body 50 of the drum flange are engaged in the holes 95a-95hof the clamping plate 90, and are melted and solidified. Because of these features, the clamping plate 90 can be easily fastened relative to the body 50 of the drum flange, and the mass-productivity and a cost reduction of the drum flange 501 can be accomplished.

[0179] At least two bosses 54a-54hof the body 50 of the drum flange are disposed at a line symmetrical position, that is, equidistant from the center line 91oof the pawls 91a-91h, respectively, by which twisting of the pawl 91a-91hupon elastic deformation can be suppressed, and the connection relative to the photosensitive drum 7 can be stabilized, and therefore, the quality of the drum unit 7bcan be improved.

[0180] At least two bosses 54a-54hof the body 50 of the drum flange are disposed outside the width of the pawl 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90, and are opposed to the center line 91oof the pawls 91a-91h, by which the twisting of the pawls 91a-91hupon the elastic deformation can be further suppressed, and the connection relative to the photosensitive drum 7 is further stabilized, and therefore, the quality of the drum unit 7bcan be improved.

[0181] By using not less than 8 bosses 54a-54h, the connection of the pawl 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 relative to the photosensitive drum 7 is stabilized, and the mass-productivity and the quality of the drum unit 7bis improved, and cost reduction is accomplished.

[0182] The engaging portion 51 of the body 50 of the flange is provided with an engaging portion 52, and is provided with cut-away portions 60a-60hfor contacting the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 to the inner wall 7iof the photosensitive drum 7, and the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 are mounted to the inner wall 7iof the photosensitive drum 7 at a position of the edge portion 52aof the engaging portion 52 of the body 50 of the drum flange. By this, the pawls 91a-91hand the engaging portion 52 are pressed to the photosensitive drum 7. Therefore, the pressing force applies uniformly to the photosensitive drum 7, so that deterioration of the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 is suppressed, and the image quality of the formed image and the quality of the drum unit 7bare improved.

[0183] The outer diameter D501, D502 of the engaging portion 51 and the engaging portion 52 of the body 50 of the flange is within the range of 0.999 times-1.005 times of the inner diameter D707 of the photosensitive drum 7, so that mass-productivity property of the drum unit 7band the quality of the drum unit 7bcan be improved.

[0184] The pawls 92a-92hof the clamping plate 90 are bent toward the central portion (inside) to contacts the inner wall 52bof the engaging portion 52 of the body 50 of the flange, and the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 are pressed toward the center side of the photosensitive drum 7. By doing so, the pawls 92a-92hpress against the inner wall 7iof the photosensitive drum 7 through the inner wall 52bof the engaging portion 52. Thus, the connecting force between the drum flange 501 and the photosensitive drum 7 are further improved, and the deformation of the clamping plate 90 per se by the pawls 91a-91h, can be suppressed, the deterioration of the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 can be further suppressed, and the quality of the drum unit 7band the image quality can be further improved.

[0185] The pawls 92a-92hof the clamping plate 9 are disposed adjacent the at least two bosses 54a-54hof the body 50 of the flange. By doing so, the force in the direction of urging the pawls 91a-91htoward the longitudinally inside of the photosensitive drum 7 (inside), is received by the pawls 92a-92h. Therefore, the load applied on the at least two bosses 54a-54hof the body 50 of the flange can be reduced, so that the heat crimp boss is not easily broken, and therefore, the mass-productivity property of the drum unit 7band the quality of the drum unit 7bcan be improved.

[0186] By using 8 pawls 92a-92hfor the clamping plate 90, the number of the pawls 91a-91hwhich directly urge the photosensitive drum 7, and the number of the pawls 92a-92hwhich urge the photosensitive drum 7 through the inner wall 52bof the engaging portion 52 of the body 50 of the flange, can be increased. Therefore, the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 can be improved, and the number of the bosses 54a-54hof the engaging portion 52 of the body 50 of the flange can be minimized, so that the connection with the photosensitive drum 7 can be stabilized, and the drum-unit mass-productivity and the quality of the drum unit 7bare improved, and the cost reduction can be accomplished.

[0187] The center portions (widthwise) of the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90 are deformed and bent toward the longitudinally inside (inside) of the photosensitive drum 7 by bosses 54a-54hof the body 50 of the flange, using a tool 631. By this, the pawls 91a-91hare easily deformed elastically without twisting, and therefore, the drum-unit mass-productivity and quality are improved.

[0188] The contact portions between the drum and the pawls 91a-91hof the clamping plate 90, which may cause the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 to deteriorate, are disposed adjacent the coating boundary portion 606 between the image carrying portion 601 and the metal exposed portion 603, which does not require high accuracy. Therefore, a cause of deterioration of the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 can be avoided, and the drum-unit mass-productivity and quality can be improved, and the image quality of the formed image can be improved.

[0189] The contact portions between the clamping plate 90 and the cylinder clamping pawl 91a-91h, which may cause the circularity of the photosensitive drum 7 to deteriorate, are sufficiently away from the abutment portion, which is a contact reference between the image region(printing region 601) of the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing roller 10c, by which the quality of the drum unit 7band the image quality of the formed image can be improved.

[0190] As described with respect to another embodiment of the drum flange, when the body 802 of the flange is integrally formed with the electroconductive center shaft 803, the clamping plate 801 is made electroconductive. By doing so, the grounding plate is not required, and a sufficient connection force and assured electroconduction can be accomplished, so that assembling operativity, product quality and the mass-productivity are improved.

[0191] By using an electroconductive material as the material of the clamping plate 90, electroconduction with the conduction shaft 42bis improved, and the quality of the drum unit 7bis improved.

[0192] By using a stainless steel plate, and phosphor bronze, which are readily available, as the material of the clamping plate 90, a drum unit 7bwhich is inexpensive, highly reliable, and which has high quality, can be provided.

[0193] [Other Embodiments].

[0194] In the foregoing embodiments, a description has been provided with respect to the drum flange used for the electrophotographic photosensitive member as a cylindrical member, but the drum flange of the present invention is preferably usable for a developing roller of a developing means wherein the circularity is improved. Therefore, the cylindrical member in the present invention includes a developing roller as well as the photosensitive drum.

[0195] Further, the process cartridge B in the first embodiment was of a type which formed a monochromatic image. However, the present invention is preferably applicable not only to a process cartridge which forms a monochromatic image, but also to a process cartridge which comprises multiple developing means and forms a multi-color image (for example, two-color image, three-color image, or full-color image).

[0196] Also, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is not limited to the photosensitive drum alone. For example, the following may be included. First, as for the photosensitive material, photoconductive material such as amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, or organic photoconductive material may be included. As for the configuration of the base on which the photosensitive material is coated, a rotary configuration, such as a drum shape, or a flat configuration, such as a belt shape, may be included.

[0197] Also, the present invention is preferably usable with various known developing methods such as the magnetic brush developing method using two component toner, the cascade developing method, the touch-down developing method, the cloud developing method.

[0198] The structure of the charging means has been described as a contact charging method, but a conventional structure is usable wherein a tungsten wire is enclosed by a metal shield of a material such as aluminum at three sides, and a high voltage is applied to the tungsten wire to generate positive or negative ions, which are sent to the surface of the photosensitive drum, thus uniformly charging the surface of the drum.

[0199] Further, the charging means may be of a blade type (charge blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, or a wire type, in addition to the aforementioned roller type.

[0200] The means for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum may be of a blade type, a fur brush type, a magnetic brush type, or the like.

[0201] The process cartridge may be the one containing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing means and at least one of process means for example. Therefore, the process cartridge may be the ones disclosed as the embodiment, the one containing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing means and the charging means as a unit which is detachably mountable relative to the image forming apparatus, the one containing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing means, and the cleaning means as a unit, which is detachably mountable relative to the image forming apparatus, or the one containing the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developing means, as a unit, which is detachably mountable relative to the image forming apparatus, for example.

[0202] In the description of the embodiments, the laser beam printer is discussed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is usable with an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, a word processor, or another electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0203] As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, there is provided a drum flange having a plurality of pawls in the form of elastic plate members fixed to a press-fitting engagement portion of the body, and each of the pawls is elastically deformed toward a longitudinally central portion (inside) of the cylindrical member to form bent portions, which bite in the inner wall of the cylindrical member. By this, the body of the flange is urged toward the center side in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical member, so that the connecting force between the flange body and the cylindrical member are made firmer. According to the cylindrical member of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a flange having a plurality of pawls in the form of an elastic plate members fixed to a press-fitting engagement portion of the body, and each of the pawls is elastically deformed toward a longitudinally central portion (inside) of the cylindrical member to form bent portions, which bite in the inner wall of the cylindrical member By this, the body of the flange is urged toward the center side in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical member, so that the connecting force between the flange body and the cylindrical member is firm enough to survive high speed rotation, and a long service life.

[0204] For process cartridge having a drum flange of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum supported on a cartridge frame, there is provided a drum flange having a plurality of pawls in the form of elastic plate members fixed to a press-fitting engagement portion of the body, and each of the pawls is elastically deformed toward a longitudinally central portion (inside) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to form bent portions, which bite in the inner wall of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. By this, the body of the flange is urged toward the center side in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, so that the connecting force between the flange body and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is firm enough to survive high speed rotation, and a long service life.

[0205] As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, the flange can be clamped to a cylindrical member assuredly.

[0206] While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.