FIELD: image forming devices.
SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to the process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in which a replaceable process cartridge can be installed, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum assembly. Disclosed group of inventions includes a process cartridge for use in an electrophotographic image forming device, combination of process cartridge and drive shaft of electrophotographic image forming device and method of installation and use of process cartridge in electrophotographic image forming device. Process cartridge comprises: a housing, a developer contained in the housing, a photosensitive drum rotatably supported in the housing to allow rotation about the axis of the photosensitive drum, developing roller supported in the housing to rotate around the axis of the developing roller, wherein the developing roller is configured to develop a latent image formed by the developer on the photosensitive drum; and a connecting member having an axis about which the connecting member can rotate, and a free end portion which is engaged with the drive shaft in the electrophotographic image forming device to receive a rotational force from the drive shaft, wherein the free end portion includes at least one protrusion which is open to the axis of the connecting member, and connecting element is functionally connected with photosensitive drum and developing roller for transmission of rotational force from drive shaft to photosensitive drum and developing roller, wherein process cartridge is made so that connecting element can receive different angular positions relative to fixed axis of rotation of drive shaft, when process cartridge is installed in electrophotographic image forming device, wherein said different angular positions include (i) a position in which the axis of the connecting member is inclined relative to the fixed axis of rotation of the drive shaft, and (ii) a position in which the axis of the connecting member is substantially coaxial with the fixed axis of rotation of the drive shaft.
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.
62 cl, 112 dwg
