Abstract: A feeding device includes a first feeding member for feeding the developer in a feeding direction along a first rotational axis direction, the first feeding member being provided in a first feeding path and including a driving shaft and a drive transmitting portion, and a second feeding member for feeding the developer along a second rotational axis direction crossing the first rotational axis direction, and second feeding member being provided in a second feeding path and including a driven shaft and a drive receiving portion. The drive transmitting portion and the drive receiving portion engage with each other to deliver the developer from the first feeding member to the second feeding member. A bearing portion for rotatably supporting the second feeding member is provided in an upstream side with respect to the feeding direction.

Abstract: A developer container includes a conductive member containing a resin configured to detect a developer amount using capacitance, and a frame member having the conductive member configured to store the developer. The conductive member is provided on a first side of the frame member contacting the developer and on a second side of the frame member, the second side is the back of the first side, and the conductive member provided on the first side and the conductive member provided on the second side are connected with each other within the frame member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is removably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus, including: a containing member configured to contain the process cartridge, movable between an outside position outside the main body and an inside position inside the main body, and provided with a guided portion to be guided from an outside; and a guiding portion provided in the main body and configured to guide the guided portion, wherein the guiding portion includes: a first guiding part configured to guide the guided portion when the containing member is moved from the outside position to the inside position by being inserted into the main body; and a second guiding part having a shape to return the guided portion toward the inside position when the containing member is further moved downstream of the inside position in an inserting direction of the containing member.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a developer container including a frame configured to define a developer containing portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on a surface of the frame and having a surface opposed to the first electrode, a developer amount in the developer containing portion being detected based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, the method including: holding a conductive resin member constituting the second electrode on a mold configured to mold the frame, a surface of the conductive resin member being in contact with a surface of the mold configured to mold a surface of the frame on a side of the developer containing portion; injecting a resin to be formed into the frame, into the mold on which the conductive resin member is held; and curing the resin to form the frame to which the second electrode is fixed.

Abstract: A developer container including a frame configured to define a developer containing portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on a surface of the frame and having a surface opposed to the first electrode, a developer amount in the developer containing portion being detected based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A photosensitive cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an attachment region provided to detachably attach a developing cartridge having a developing member for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, and a grip member configured to be gripped at a time when the photosensitive cartridge is attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the grip member being movable between a first position at which the grip member enters the attachment region in a case where the developing cartridge is not attached to the photosensitive cartridge, and a second position at which the grip member retracts from the attachment region in a case where the developing cartridge is attached to the photosensitive cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is removably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus, including: a containing member configured to contain the process cartridge, movable between an outside position outside the main body and an inside position inside the main body, and provided with a guided portion to be guided from an outside; and a guiding portion provided in the main body and configured to guide the guided portion, wherein the guiding portion includes: a first guiding part configured to guide the guided portion when the containing member is moved from the outside position to the inside position by being inserted into the main body; and a second guiding part having a shape to return the guided portion toward the inside position when the containing member is further moved downstream of the inside position in an inserting direction of the containing member.

Abstract: A photosensitive cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an attachment region provided to detachably attach a developing cartridge having a developing member for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, and a grip member configured to be gripped at a time when the photosensitive cartridge is attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the grip member being movable between a first position at which the grip member enters the attachment region in a case where the developing cartridge is not attached to the photosensitive cartridge, and a second position at which the grip member retracts from the attachment region in a case where the developing cartridge is attached to the photosensitive cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a toner accommodating frame including a toner feeding opening communicating with a toner feeding chamber and a toner filling port; a rotatable member; and a toner seal member. The toner seal member includes a first fixed portion and a second fixed portion which are fixed on the toner accommodating frame at an edge of the toner feeding opening along a longitudinal direction of the toner feeding opening, and includes a third fixed portion fixed on the rotatable member. With rotation of the rotatable member, the first fixed portion of the toner seal member is peeled off from a fixing portion to open the toner feeding opening. The toner is filled into said toner accommodating frame through the toner filling port such that the toner is first filled into a recess defined by said toner seal member.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a developer container including a frame configured to define a developer containing portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on a surface of the frame and having a surface opposed to the first electrode, a developer amount in the developer containing portion being detected based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, the method including: holding a conductive resin member constituting the second electrode on a mold configured to mold the frame, a surface of the conductive resin member being in contact with a surface of the mold configured to mold a surface of the frame on a side of the developer containing portion; injecting a resin to be formed into the frame, into the mold on which the conductive resin member is held; and curing the resin to form the frame to which the second electrode is fixed.

Abstract: A developer container includes a conductive member containing a resin configured to detect a developer amount using capacitance, and a frame member having the conductive member configured to store the developer. The conductive member is provided on a first side of the frame member contacting the developer and on a second side of the frame member, the second side is the back of the first side, and the conductive member provided on the first side and the conductive member provided on the second side are connected with each other within the frame member.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a toner accommodating frame including a toner feeding opening communicating with a toner feeding chamber and a toner filling port; a rotatable member; and a toner seal member. The toner seal member includes a first fixed portion and a second fixed portion which are fixed on the toner accommodating frame at an edge of the toner feeding opening along a longitudinal direction of the toner feeding opening, and includes a third fixed portion fixed on the rotatable member. With rotation of the rotatable member, the first fixed portion of the toner seal member is peeled off from a fixing portion to open the toner feeding opening. The toner is filled into said toner accommodating frame through the toner filling port such that the toner is first filled into a recess defined by said toner seal member.

Abstract: A process includes an image bearing member unit; a developing unit; a shaft provided in either the image bearing member unit or the developing unit at an end portion of the process cartridge with respect to an image bearing member axial direction; and an opening, provided in the unit at the end portion, engaged with the shaft to permit movement of the developing unit relative to the image bearing member unit. The opening defines a first contact portion, when the process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly, contacting the shaft to permit movement of the developing unit, and defines a second contact portion, when the second contact portion contacts the shaft when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly and does not receive a driving force from the main assembly, contacting the developing unit so the shaft and the first contact portion are in contact.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a development frame member rotatably supporting first and second longitudinal ends of the developer carrying member; a photosensitive member frame member rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member at the first end and swingably supporting the development frame member at the first end; and a supporting member mounted to the photosensitive member frame member at the second end, the supporting member rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member at the second end and swingably supporting the development frame member at the second end.

Abstract: A remanufacturing method includes dismounting, from one end of a drum frame, a supporting member while rotatably supporting one end of a drum and a developing device frame; separating the two frames; dismounting the drum; mounting one end of a fresh drum to the other end of the drum frame; a refilling developer into a developer accommodating portion of the separated developing device frame; and swingably connecting the developing device frame and the drum frame by mounting the supporting member to one end of the drum frame, while rotatably supporting, by the supporting member, the one end of the drum of the drum frame to which the fresh drum has been mounted and swingably supporting the one end of the developing device frame to the developer accommodating portion of which the developer has been refilled, by the drum frame.

Abstract: A process includes an image bearing member unit; a developing unit; a shaft provided in either the image bearing member unit or the developing unit at an end portion of the process cartridge with respect to an image bearing member axial direction; and an opening, provided in the ether unit at the end portion, engaged with the shaft to permit movement of the developing unit relative to the image bearing member unit. The opening defines a first contact portion, when the process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly, contacting the shaft to permit movement of the developing unit, and defines a second contact portion, when the second contact portion contacts the shaft when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly and does not receive a driving force from the main assembly, contacting the developing unit so the shaft and the first contact portion are in contact.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a development frame member rotatably supporting first and second longitudinal ends of the developer carrying member; a photosensitive member frame member rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member at the first end and swingably supporting the development frame member at the first end; and a supporting member mounted to the photosensitive member frame member at the second end, the supporting member rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member at the second end and swingably supporting the development frame member at the second end.

Abstract: A remanufacturing method includes dismounting, from one end of a drum frame, a supporting member while rotatably supporting one end of a drum and a developing device frame; separating the two frames; dismounting the drum; mounting one end of a fresh drum to the other end of the drum frame; a refilling developer into a developer accommodating portion of the separated developing device frame; and swingably connecting the developing device frame and the drum frame by mounting the supporting member to one end of the drum frame, while rotatably supporting, by the supporting member, the one end of the drum of the drum frame to which the fresh drum has been mounted and swingably supporting the one end of the developing device frame to the developer accommodating portion of which the developer has been refilled, by the drum frame.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided for forming an image on a recording material, to which a unit is detachably mountable. The apparatus is transportable with the unit mounted thereto. The apparatus includes (i) a movable member; (ii) a main assembly electrical contact provided on the movable member; (iii) a mounting member demountably mounting the unit; (iv) a unit mounted to the mounting member. The unit has a unit electrical contact electrically contactable to the main assembly electrical contact during image formation on the recording material; and (v) a separating member for separating the main assembly electrical contact and the unit electrical contact from each other by contacting the movable member and the unit to provide a gap between the main assembly electrical contact and the unit electrical contact when the apparatus is transported with the unit mounted to the apparatus.

Abstract: A toner seal member which is maintainable in contact with a rotating member to seal a toner. The toner seal member has a non-woven fabric sheet on a support layer formed of an elastic member, and the non-woven fabric sheet has a fiber diameter of from 2 ?m to 10 ?m. This toner seal member can prevent fine toner from leaking via a photosensitive drum surface and can also prevent coarse powder toner from adhering to the photosensitive drum surface, and has sufficient toner sealing properties without damaging the functions of the photosensitive drum and image-forming performance.