FIELD: image forming devices.
SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to a process cartridge, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a replaceable process cartridge can be installed, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum assembly. Claimed group contains variants of process cartridges. Process cartridge contains: housing, developer contained in the housing, photosensitive drum having an axis L1, the photosensitive drum rotatably supported in the housing to allow rotation around the axis L1, drum flange provided at the end of the photosensitive drum and a coupling element having an axis L2 and including (i) a first end portion connected to the drum flange, (ii) a second end portion comprising at least one protrusion having an inclined surface relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis L2, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion, when measured along a line perpendicular to the axis L2, the maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outermost surface of the connecting part is less than the distance between the axis L2 and said at least one protrusion, and wherein the connecting element is movable between (i) a first position in which the end point of said at least one protrusion is at a first distance from the photosensitive drum, when measured in the direction of the axis L1, and (ii) a second position in which the end point of said at least one protrusion is at a second distance from the photosensitive drum, as measured in the direction of the axis L1, with the first distance greater than the second distance.
EFFECT: technical result consists in producing a process cartridge that can rotate the photosensitive drum smoothly by installing it in a main assembly that does not have a mechanism for moving the connecting member on a side of the main assembly, in the direction of its centerline, for transferring the rotation force to the photosensitive drum by the operation of opening and closing the lid of the main assembly.
30 cl, 112 dwg
