Abstract: A material for an optical element is accommodated between a first mold and a second mold, and is pressurized by relatively moving the first mold and the second mold while the material is heated to a predetermined temperature, thereby molding the optical element having a predetermined shape. This method determines, as a molding-reference distance, a distance between the first mold and the second mold of when a molding pressure which is generated between the first mold and the second mold applied to the material reaches a predetermined pressure, and moves either one of the first mold and the second mold from the molding-reference distance by a predetermined distance, thereby finishing molding of the optical element. Therefore, it is possible to reduce errors in the shapes of the final molding space easily and surely.

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.

Abstract: A material for an optical element is accommodated between a first mold and a second mold, and is pressurized by relatively moving the first mold and the second mold while the material is heated to a predetermined temperature, thereby molding the optical element having a predetermined shape. This method determines, as a molding-reference distance, a distance between the first mold and the second mold of when a molding pressure which is generated between the first mold and the second mold applied to the material reaches a predetermined pressure, and moves either one of the first mold and the second mold from the molding-reference distance by a predetermined distance, thereby finishing molding of the optical element. Therefore, it is possible to reduce errors in the shapes of the final molding space easily and surely.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing terpolymer with distinguished transparency and strength at ordinary temperature and at elevated temperatures when heated, which comprises 20–98% by weight of tetrafluoroethylene, 1–40% by weight of perfluoro(ethyl vinyl ether) and 1–40% by weight of perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) and has a specific melt viscosity of 0.1×103–110×103 Pa·s (372° C.). The fluorine-containing terpolymer preferably has a comonomer ratio of perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) to perfluoro(ethyl vinyl ether) of 1.0 or more by weight.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a process device; and a first contact portion provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame provided at one longitudinal. The first contact portion is guided by a first assembly side guide when the cartridge is mounted. The cartridge also includes a cartridge coupling disposed above the first portion, the coupling being engageable with an assembly side coupling to receive a rotational force from the assembly; and a second contact portion disposed behind the first portion with respect to the mounting direction. The second portion limits rotation of the cartridge. The cartridge also includes; a positioning portion projected outwardly and provided at the other longitudinal end of the drum, the positioning portion being guided by a second assembly side guide, and being positioned to a second assembly side receiving portion.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing terpolymer with distinguished transparency and strength at ordinary temperature and at elevated temperatures when heated, which comprises 20-98% by weight of tetrafluoroethylene, 1-40% by weight of perfluoro(ethyl vinyl ether) and 1-40% by weight of perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) and has a specific melt viscosity of 0.1×103-110×103 Pa·s (372° C.). The fluorine-containing terpolymer preferably has a comonomer ratio of perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) to perfluoro(ethyl vinyl ether) of 1.0 or more by weight.

Abstract: In a toner seal member which is to be kept in contact with a rotating member to seal a toner, the toner seal member has a nonwoven-fabric sheet on a support layer formed of an elastic member, and the nonwoven-fabric sheet has a fiber diameter of from 2 &mgr;m to 10 &mgr;m. This toner seal member can prevent fine toner from leaking via a photosensitive drum surface and also prevent toner coarse powder from adhering to the photosensitive drum surface, and has sufficient toner sealing properties without damaging functions of the photosensitive drum and performances concerned with image formation.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic apparatus, said cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; process means; a first contact portion provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame provided at one longitudinal end, the first portion being guided by a first assembly side guide when the cartridge is mounted, wherein the first portion is disposed at a leading portion with respect to a cartridge mounting direction, and the first portion is mounted to a first assembly side receiving portion when the cartridge is mounted; a cartridge coupling disposed above the first portion, the coupling being engageable with a assembly side coupling to receive a rotational force from the assembly; a second contact portion provided on a bottom surface of a cartridge frame provided at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, the second portion being disposed behind the first portion with respect to the mounting direction, wherein the second portion is effective to limit ro

Abstract: A cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive drum of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes plural holes penetrating a metallic hollow cylindrical base body in a radial direction near its end portion, where the end portion of the base body and the holes are filled with resin, and a flange is formed by outset molding so as to integrate the base body and the flange.

Abstract: A toner-guiding sheet for guiding toner removed from an image carrying member. The sheet includes a free end portion for contacting a surface of the image carrying member, and a fixed portion, fixable on a fixing member, for fixing the toner-guiding sheet in a state in which the free end portion contacts the surface of the image carrying member. The toner-guiding sheet includes a film having a creep-deformation resisting property such that, when the film, fixed on the fixing member so that a distance &bgr; from a central portion in a longitudinal direction of the fixed portion of the sheet to a central portion in a longitudinal direction of the free end portion of the sheet is substantially 3.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a development member for conveying developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer storing portion for storing the developer used by the development member to develop the latent image; a developer supplying opening for supplying the developer stored in the developer storing portion, to the development member; and a developer remainder amount reporting member disposed within the developer storing portion, away from the internal surface of the developer storing portion, for reporting the developer remainder amount within the developing apparatus on the basis of the electrostatic capacity between the developer remainder amount reporting member and the development member.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning blade urged against an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cleaning frame to which the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a cleaning blade holding member and a dip sheet are attached, and wherein an area having a small gap is formed between an inner wall of the cleaning frame and the other end of the cleaning blade holding member opposite to one end to which the cleaning blade is attached.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates the work for filling developer into a developer containing portion. An end member, used for a process cartridge, has a detachable handle member, which connects with one end in a longitudinal direction of a sealing member, for being held when the sealing member is unsealed, and is mounted on one end in a longitudinal direction of the developer containing portion to cover a developer filling port.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developing member for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for development of the latent image by the developing member; a toner stirring member for stirring the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion; a driving force transmission member for transmitting rotational driving force to the toner stirring member to rotate the stirring member; wherein the driving force transmission member is penetrated through an opening provided in the toner accommodating portion; a locking member, provided inside of the toner accommodating portion to prevent the driving force transmission member from dropping out of the toner accommodating portion through the opening; a driving member for driving the driving force transmission member, wherein the driving member

Abstract: A process cartridge remanufacturing method for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes the steps of providing a new photosensitive drum; providing a new toner-development frame including a new toner frame having a toner containing portion for containing toner, a new development frame having a roller mounting portion for mounting a developing roller for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum, wherein the toner frame and the development frame are welded with a new removable toner seal therebetween for preventing the toner in the toner containing portion from leaking out; preparing a drum frame to be reused having a drum mounting portion for mounting the photosensitive drum; supplying toner into the toner containing portion; mounting the developing roller to the new development frame; mounting the photosensitive drum to the drum frame to be reused; and rotatably engaging the new toner-development frame and the drum frame to be reused.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a rotatable charging member, contactable to a member to be charged, for charging the member to be charged, the rotatable charging member is provided with a rotation shaft; an electroconductive elastic member for urging the rotatable charging member to the member to be charged, wherein the rotatable charging member is capable of being supplied with a voltage through the elastic member; wherein a part of the elastic member and a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft are contacted to electrically connect the elastic member with the rotation shaft.