FIELD: physics, photography.
SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to a process cartridge, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge can be detachably installed and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit. The disclosed group of inventions includes a photosensitive drum unit used in a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is detachably installed. The main unit of the process cartridge for the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an engaging part of the main unit, wherein the process cartridge is installed in the main unit in an installation direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the engaging part of the main unit. The process cartridge comprises: i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum which can rotate around its own axis (L1); ii) process means capable of acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and iii) a connecting element rotatable around its own axis (L2) by a rotary force received from the engaging part of the main unit,wherein the connecting element includes a rotary force receiving part which is engaged with the engaging part of the main unit for receiving a rotary force from the engaging part of the main unit, and a rotary force transmitting part for transmitting the rotary force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum through the rotary force receiving part, wherein the connecting element can move between a first position in which the axis (L2) of the connecting element is parallel to the axis of the drum and a second position in which the side of the axis (L2) of the connecting element, situated on the side of the rotary force receiving part, is located before the side of the axis (L2) of the connecting element situated on the side of the rotary force transmitting part, relative to the installation direction, and the connecting element is engaged with the engaging part of the main unit by moving from the second position into the first position.
EFFECT: design of a process cartridge capable of smoothly rotating a photosensitive drum by installation thereof in a main unit, which is not provided with a mechanism for moving a connecting element at the side of the main unit in the direction of its axial line in order to transmit a rotary force to the photosensitive drum through an operation for opening and closing the cover of the main unit; and designing a photosensitive drum unit used in the process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge can be detachably installed, ie, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge can be installed and removed.
120 cl, 112 dwg
