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, development roller having an axis L1′, the development roller being configured to develop a latent image formed by a developer on a photosensitive drum, and at the same time, the developing roller is rotatably supported in the housing to allow rotation around the axis L1′, and a connecting element having an axis L2 and comprising (i) a first end portion operatively associated with a photosensitive drum and a developing roller, (ii) a second end portion having the outermost surface, (iii) an axial portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion to each other, and (iv) at least one protrusion extending from the second end portion, for at least part of the said outermost surface of the second end portion, the maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 increases with increasing distance along the axis L2 from the axial portion, 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 creating a process cartridge capable of smoothly rotating the photosensitive drum by installing it in the main unit, not equipped with a mechanism for moving the connecting element on the side of the main unit, in the direction of center line thereof, for transferring the rotational force to the photosensitive drum by opening and closing the main unit cover.
19 cl, 112 dwg
