US 6,983,114 B2 | ||
Process cartridge whose drum-shutter supporting portions are outside the optical path of light exposing a photosensitive drum, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably attaching such a process cartridge | ||
Takeshi Arimitsu, Kanagawa (Japan) | ||
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (Japan) | ||
Filed on Oct. 20, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/687,806. | ||
Claims priority of application No. 2002-307332 (JP), filed on Oct. 22, 2002. | ||
Prior Publication US 2004/0081483 A1, Apr. 29, 2004 | ||
Int. Cl. G03G 21/18 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 399—114 | 5 Claims |
1. A process cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a first unit supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller configured and positioned to develop, with a developer, an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum;
a second unit supporting said developing roller and coupled to said first unit;
an optical path provided between said first unit and said second unit and configured and positioned to pass light emitted
from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in order to expose said electrophotographic photosensitive
drum to the light;
a drum shutter movable between a protecting position for protecting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a retracting
position retracted from the protecting position;
a supported portion provided in said drum shutter;
a supporting portion configured and positioned to support said supported portion in order to move said drum shutter between
the protecting position and the retracting position, said supporting portion being positioned outside said optical path in
a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and being positioned between said first unit and
said second unit when said process cartridge is viewed along the longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive
drum; and
an open portion provided in said supporting portion to mount said supported portion to said supporting portion, said open
portion being arranged to pass through said supported portion under a condition that said drum shutter is positioned at a
mount position deviated from and between said protecting position and said retracting position before coupling said first
unit and said second unit, and
wherein when said first unit and said second unit are coupled, said drum shutter is movable between said protecting position
and said retracting position and said drum shutter is restricted not to move to said mount position due to contact between
said drum shutter and said second unit when said drum shutter is moving toward said mount position from between said protecting
position and said retracting position.
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