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 including an opening and an arcuate protrusion on the outer part of the housing near the opening, photosensitive drum having an axis L1, the photosensitive drum rotatably supported in the housing to allow rotation around the axis L1, and a connecting element having an axis L2, and the connecting element includes (i) a first end portion connected to a photosensitive drum, (ii) a second end portion including at least one protrusion that is open to the axis L2, and (iii) a connecting part connecting the first end part and the second end part, the maximum distance of at least part of the connecting part, when measured from the axis L2, in a direction perpendicular to the axis L2, less than the distance between the at least one protrusion and the axis L2, and at least part of the second end portion extends beyond the limits of the said hole in the direction of the axis L1, 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) the second position, in which the end point of said at least one protrusion is at a second distance from the photosensitive drum, when measured in the direction of the axis L1, with the first distance greater than the second distance, and said arcuate protrusion extends only partially around the connecting element.
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.
9 cl, 112 dwg
