Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is usable with a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The apparatus includes a transfer member contactable to the photosensitive member to transfer a toner image from the photosensitive member thereonto, a tray carrying the cartridge and movable between a contact position where the photosensitive member contacts the transfer member and a spaced position spaced from the transfer member, a supporting member supporting the tray for movement parallel with a tangent line between the photosensitive member and the transfer member between a first position positioning the tray at the contact position and a second position retracted from the first position away from the transfer member in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the photosensitive-member axial direction and to the tangent line to position the tray at the spaced position, and engageable and engaging portions engageable with each other.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus usable with process cartridges detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridges each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and means actable on the drum, includes a movable member which is movable between an inside of the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the drum while carrying the cartridges; a main assembly electrical contact provided inside the main assembly along a movement path of the movable member; and an intermediary electrical contact including a first electrical contact portion which is disposed inside the movable member and which is electrically connectable to a cartridge electrical contact of the cartridge and a second electrical contact portion which is disposed outside the movable member and which is electrically connectable to a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly, wherein

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a movable member movable from an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus to an inside thereof while carrying the process cartridge. The cartridge includes a drum, charging and developing rollers, rotatably connected first and second frames supporting different rollers, drum and developing roller driving force receiving portions, first and second portions-to-be-supported, on one and the other ends of the first frame, first and second portions-to-be-positioned, on one and the other ends of the first frame positioned to first and second main assembly side positioning portions during a lowering movement of the movable member toward a transfer belt, charging and developing bias contacts exposed at the other end, and a portion-to-be-urged, on the first frame upper surface for receiving an elastic force to position the process cartridge relative to the main assembly.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a movable member movable from an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus to an inside thereof while carrying the cartridge. The cartridge includes a drum, charging and developing rollers, rotatably connected first and second frames supporting different rollers, drum and developing roller driving force receiving portions, first and second portions-to-be-supported, on one and the other ends of the first frame, first and second portions-to-be-positioned, on one and the other ends of the first frame positioned to first and second main assembly side positioning portions during a lowering movement of the movable member toward a transfer belt, charging and developing bias contacts exposed at the other end, and a portion-to-be-urged, on the first frame upper surface for receiving an elastic force to position the process cartridge relative to the main assembly.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is usable with a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The apparatus includes a transfer member contactable to the photosensitive member to transfer a toner image from the photosensitive member thereonto, a tray carrying the cartridge and movable between a contact position where the photosensitive member contacts the transfer member and a spaced position spaced from the transfer member, a supporting member supporting the tray for movement parallel with a tangent line between the photosensitive member and the transfer member between a first position positioning the tray at the contact position and a second position retracted from the first position away from the transfer member in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the photosensitive-member axial direction and to the tangent line to position the tray at the spaced position, and engageable and engaging portions engageable with each other.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus is usable with process cartridges detachably mountable to the apparatus. The cartridges include an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The apparatus includes: a movable member movable between the inside and outside of the apparatus while carrying the cartridges; a first electrical contact inside the apparatus along a movement path of the movable member; and a second electrical contact including a first portion inside the movable member and connectable to a cartridge electrical contact and a second portion outside the movable member and connectable to an electrical contact provided in the apparatus. A space is provided between the movable member and the first contact to prevent the movable member from contacting the first electrical contact when moving from outside to inside. The second portion is connected to the first electrical contact when the movable member is lowered after moving linearly from the outside to the inside.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is usable with a process cartridge having a photosensitive member. The apparatus includes a transfer member contactable to the photosensitive member to transfer a toner image from the photosensitive member thereonto, a tray carrying the cartridge and movable between a contact position where the photosensitive member contacts the transfer member and a spaced position spaced from the transfer member, a supporting member supporting the tray for movement parallel with a tangent line between the photosensitive member and the transfer member between a first position positioning the tray at the contact position and a second position retracted from the first position away from the transfer member in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the photosensitive-member axial direction and to the tangent line to position the tray at the spaced position; and engageable and engaging portions engageable with each other. The engaging portion regulates movement of the tray.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus usable with process cartridges detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridges each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and means actable on the drum, includes a movable member which is movable between an inside of the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the drum while carrying the cartridges; a main assembly electrical contact provided inside the main assembly along a movement path of the movable member; and an intermediary electrical contact including a first electrical contact portion which is disposed inside the movable member and which is electrically connectable to a cartridge electrical contact of the cartridge and a second electrical contact portion which is disposed outside the movable member and which is electrically connectable to a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly, wherein

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mounts a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The apparatus includes a frame, a door, and a tray carrying the cartridge. The tray is movable among a first position inside the frame when the door is closed and the drum forms a latent image, a second position when the door is open and the tray protrudes from the frame to permit cartridge mounting and demounting, and a third position between the first and second positions where the tray is movable to the first position with closing of the door. Also, a regulating member moves between a regulating position regulating movement of the door from an opening position to a position where the tray is beyond the third position, and a permitting position permitting movement of the door from the opening to the closing position when the tray is at the third position.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a main assembly, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, for forming a color image on a recording material. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The apparatus includes an opening provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, a movable member which is linearly movable between an inside and an outside of the opening in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum while carrying plurality of such process cartridges, an accommodating portion for accommodating the process cartridges and an urging member, provided above a movement path of the process cartridges, while being carried on the movable member, from the opening to the accommodating portion, for contacting the process cartridge passing therebelow to urge the process cartridge toward the movable member.

Abstract: The present invention includes two side-plates configured to be opposed to each other and to form a frame of a main body of the apparatus, a cartridge with an image bearing member, a moving member configured to support and move the cartridge, a connecting member configured to connect the two side-plates, and a positioning member configured to be held by the connecting member, wherein the moving member, which is movable between the two side-plates, the cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the moving member when the moving member is withdrawn to the outside of the main body of the apparatus, and the cartridge is positioned by the positioning member when the moving member is moved and the cartridge is contained in the main body of the apparatus.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mounts a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The apparatus includes a frame, a door, and a tray carrying the cartridge. The tray is movable among a first position inside the frame when the door is closed and the drum forms a latent image, a second position when the door is open and the tray protrudes from the frame to permit cartridge mounting and demounting, and a third position between the first and second positions where the tray is movable to the first position with closing of the door. Also, a regulating member moves between a regulating position regulating movement of the door from an opening position to a position where the tray is beyond the third position, and a permitting position permitting movement of the door from the opening to the closing position when the tray is at the third position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mounts a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and includes a frame having an opening; a door movable between closing and opening positions; a cartridge-carrying tray movable among a latent image formation position, a mounting and demounting position, and a movable position therebetween; and a regulating member movable between a regulating position for regulating movement of the door from the opening position to the position when the tray is beyond the movable position, and a permitting position for permitting movement of the door from the opening position to the closing position when the tray is at the movable position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge which is mounted on a pull-out type cartridge tray to enable front access. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an urging unit for urging and moving the cartridge tray toward a front of a main assembly of the apparatus and a clocking member for locking the cartridge tray in a proper position so that the cartridge tray is returned back to an outside position of the apparatus when the cartridge tray is pushed to the proper position.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a movable member movable from an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus to an inside thereof while carrying the process cartridge. The cartridge includes a drum, charging and developing rollers, rotatably connected first and second frames supporting different rollers, drum and developing roller driving force receiving portions, first and second portions-to-be-supported, on one and the other ends of the first frame, first and second portions-to-be-positioned, on one and the other ends of the first frame positioned to first and second main assembly side positioning portions during a lowering movement of the movable member toward a transfer belt, charging and developing bias contacts exposed at the other end, and a portion-to-be-urged, on the first frame upper surface for receiving an elastic force to position the process cartridge relative to the main assembly.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a main assembly, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, for forming a color image on a recording material, wherein the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the apparatus includes an opening provided in the main assembly of the apparatus; a movable member which is linearly movable between an inside and an outside of the opening in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum while carrying plurality of such process cartridges; an accommodating portion for accommodating the process cartridges; and an urging member, provided above a movement path of the process cartridges, while being carried on the movable member, from the opening to the accommodating portion, for contacting the process cartridge passing therebelow to urge the process cartridge toward the movable member.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a movable member movable from an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus to an inside thereof while carrying said process cartridge, said process cartridge includes 1) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; 2) a charging roller for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; 3) a first frame for supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and said charging roller; 4) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer; 5) a second frame for supporting said developing roller, said second frame being rotatably connected with said first frame; 6) a drum driving force receiving portion, provided on one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for receiving a driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the main assembly of

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus with which a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member is usable, the apparatus includes a transfer member contactable to the photosensitive member to transfer a toner image from the photosensitive member thereonto; a tray for carrying the cartridge, the tray being movable between a contact position in which the photosensitive member is contacted to the transfer member in a state that tray carries the cartridge and a spaced position in which the photosensitive member is spaced from the transfer member in the state that tray carries the cartridge; a supporting member for supporting the tray for movement in a tangent line direction which is parallel with a tangent line between the photosensitive member and the transfer member as seen in an axial direction of the photosensitive member between a first position for positioning the tray at the contact position and a second position which is retracted from the first position away from the tra

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus usable with process cartridges detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridges each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and means actable on the drum, includes a movable member which is movable between an inside of the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the drum while carrying the cartridges; a main assembly electrical contact provided inside the main assembly along a movement path of the movable member; and an intermediary electrical contact including a first electrical contact portion which is disposed inside the movable member and which is electrically connectable to a cartridge electrical contact of the cartridge and a second electrical contact portion which is disposed outside the movable member and which is electrically connectable to a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly, wherein

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is detachably mountable, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main assembly frame having an opening; a main assembly door movable between a closing position for closing the opening and an opening position for opening the opening; a tray for carrying the cartridge, the tray is movable among a latent image formation position which is inside the main assembly frame and is taken when the main assembly door is at the closing position and in which a latent image can be formed on the drum, a mounting and demounting position which is taken when the main assembly door is at the opening position in which the tray is protruded out of the main assembly frame through opening to permit mounting and demounting of the cartridge thereto, and a movable position which is between the mounting and demounting position and the latent image formation position in which the tray is mova