Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus having a main assembly electric contact includes: a contact member for receiving pressure by the main assembly electric contact, wherein the contact member has a first surface as a contact portion for receiving the pressure by the main assembly electric contact and has a second surface bent from the first surface toward a side opposite from a side where the main assembly electric contact is provided; a holding member for holding the contact member; a portion to be limited provided at an end of the second surface; and a limiting portion, provided on the holding member, for limiting movement of the portion to be limited.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a rotatable member, including a metal shaft, supported movably in an axial direction of the metal shaft; an electroconductive member, supported movably in the axial direction in contact to an end surface of the metal shaft in one end side of the metal shaft, for constituting an electroconductive path for electrically connecting the metal shaft and a contact member provided in an image forming apparatus main assembly; an urging portion for urging the metal shaft via the electroconductive member in a direction from the one end side to another end side of the metal shaft; and an abutting portion for positioning the rotatable member by being abutted by the metal shaft. The electroconductive member includes a contact portion to the end surface of the metal shaft, at a portion other than a rotation center portion of the metal shaft at the end surface.

Abstract: A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus in which a charging roller is separated from a photosensitive drum by a predetermined distance and in which the separation between the charging roller and the photosensitive drum is released at the time of use without involving an increase in the burden on the user and erroneous releasing of the separation by user is prevented prior to use. The process cartridge, which is detachably mountable to the apparatus main body having an acting portion, includes a process cartridge frame, a locking portion locked with the frame to separate the charging roller from the photosensitive drum, a separation holding member having an acted portion which penetrates the frame and on which the acting portion can act, and a protruding portion provided on the frame and protruding beyond the acted portion at the position where the separation holding member is locked with the frame.

Abstract: A member for performing separation holding of a developing roller of a process cartridge is provided at a position opposite from a photosensitive drum with respect to a swing center. A detachably mountable protective cover is mounted to the process cartridge and a projection of the protective cover is inserted between the photosensitive drum and a developing device frame which supports the developing roller. The projection of the protective cover is inserted in a non-contact state with the photosensitive drum and the developing device frame.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a drum; a rotatable roller including a first shaft end portion and a second shaft end portion; a bearing member for rotatably supporting ends of a shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the rotatable roller via the bearing member in a drum contact direction; a cartridge frame for rotatably supporting the drum and for movably holding the rotatable roller via the bearing member; a movable guide member movable in an axial direction of the shaft of the rotatable roller and including a first contact portion; and a fixed guide member including a second contact portion. At least one of the first contact portion and the first shaft end portion has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotatable roller, and at least one of the second contact portion and the second shaft end portion has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotatable roller.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an image-bearing member on which an electrostatic image is to be formed; a first frame; a bearing member, detachably mountable to the first frame, for rotatably supporting the image-bearing member; a first hole provided in the bearing member; a first wall, provided on the first frame, in which a second hole is provided; a second frame for rotatably supporting a developer carrying member on which a developer for developing the electrostatic image is to be carried; a second wall, provided on the second frame, in which a third hole is provided; and a connecting member including a shaft portion penetrating through the first hole, the second hole and the third hole and tightly engaging in the second hole, and including a flange portion, provided at an end portion of the shaft portion, for preventing the bearing member from being detached from the first frame.

Abstract: A developing device facing an image carrier and including a developer carrier, a developer flying control member, and a development-noise control member. The developing device develops an electrostatic image formed on the image carrier by causing the developer to fly from the developer carrier to the image carrier upon an application of an alternating-current bias to the developer carrier. Noise produced by the development-noise control member vibrated by an oscillating electric field of the alternating-current bias is smaller than a noise produced by the developer flying control member vibrated by the oscillating electric field.

Abstract: A process cartridge in which before use, the separation of a predetermined distance between a charging roller and a photosensitive drum can be maintained, and in use, the separation state of the charging roller can be released without increasing the burden on a user. The process cartridge includes a charging roller separation member moveable between the first position to hold the separation of the charging roller from the photosensitive drum and the second position to abut the charging roller on the photosensitive drum. One of a photosensitive member unit and a developing unit includes a hook portion holding the separation member in the first position, and the other includes a hook portion that releases the separation member from the hook portion to move the separation member to the second position when the developing unit is pivoted.

Abstract: A member for performing separation holding of a developing roller of a process cartridge is provided at a position opposite from a photosensitive drum with respect to a swing center. A detachably mountable protective cover is mounted to the process cartridge and a projection of the protective cover is inserted between the photosensitive drum and a developing device frame which supports the developing roller. The projection of the protective cover is inserted in a non-contact state with the photosensitive drum and the developing device frame.

Abstract: A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus in which a charging roller is separated from a photosensitive drum by a predetermined distance and in which the separation between the charging roller and the photosensitive drum is released at the time of use without involving an increase in the burden on the user and erroneous releasing of the separation by user is prevented prior to use. The process cartridge, which is detachably mountable to the apparatus main body having an acting portion, includes a process cartridge frame, a locking portion locked with the frame to separate the charging roller from the photosensitive drum, a separation holding member having an acted portion which penetrates the frame and on which the acting portion can act, and a protruding portion provided on the frame and protruding beyond the acted portion at the position where the separation holding member is locked with the frame.

Abstract: A developing device facing an image carrier and including a developer carrier, a developer flying control member, and a development-noise control member. The developing device develops an electrostatic image formed on the image carrier by causing the developer to fly from the developer carrier to the image carrier upon an application of an alternating-current bias to the developer carrier. Noise produced by the development-noise control member vibrated by an oscillating electric field of the alternating-current bias is smaller than a noise produced by the developer flying control member vibrated by the oscillating electric field.

Abstract: A developing device facing an image carrier and including a developer carrier, a developer flying control member, and a development-noise control member. The developing device develops an electrostatic image formed on the image carrier by causing the developer to fly from the developer carrier to the image carrier upon an application of an alternating-current bias to the developer carrier. Noise produced by the development-noise control member vibrated by an oscillating electric field of the alternating-current bias is smaller than a noise produced by the developer flying control member vibrated by the oscillating electric field.

Abstract: A cartridge mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a molded resin complex in which a first resin molded product and a second resin molded product are engaged with each other so as to be separable. The first resin molded product is obtained by molding a first resin pervious to laser light, and the second resin molded product is obtained by molding a second resin absorptive to laser light. The first resin molded product and the second resin molded product are engaged with each other so as to be separable, by one or more protrusions of the second resin molded product which is formed by applying laser light from the first resin molded product side while placing the first resin molded product and the second resin molded product either in a close state or in a contact state.

Abstract: A process cartridge in which before use, the separation of a predetermined distance between a charging roller and a photosensitive drum can be maintained, and in use, the separation state of the charging roller can be released without increasing the burden of a user. The process cartridge includes a charging roller separation member moveable between the first position to hold the separation of the charging roller from the photosensitive drum and the second position to abut the charging roller on the photosensitive drum. One of a photosensitive member unit and a developing unit includes a hook portion holding the separation member in the first position, and the other includes a hook portion that releases the separation member from the hook portion to move the separation member to the second position when the developing unit is pivoted.

Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a cartridge detachably mountable in an electrophotographic image-forming apparatus body and composed of styrene-based resin compositions at least in part, characterized by including the steps of: (1) dividing the cartridge into at least two parts; and (2) bonding at least one of the divided parts with another one of the divided parts and/or a component other than the divided parts by use of a terpene solvent.