Abstract: A process cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging member for charging the drum; a developing member for developing with toner an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum; a first frame supporting the drum and the charging member; a second frame supporting the developing member; a first hole provided in the first frame; a second hole provided in the first frame; a third hole provided in the second frame; a connecting pin extending through the first hole, the second hole, and the third hole to rotatably connect the second frame to the first frame; and a reinforcing portion provided on the downstream side of the first frame with respect to the direction in which the connecting pin is force-fitted so as to restrain deformation of the second hole when force-fitting the connecting pin into the second hole.

Abstract: A developing device is detachably mountable to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The device is for developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrophotographic photosensitive member and includes a developing member for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer container containing therein a developer to be used to effect the development of the electrostatic latent image by the developing member, a developing frame for supporting the developing member, a welding rib provided along the lengthwise direction of the developing frame to connect the developer container and the developing frame together by-ultrasonic welding, and a plurality of reinforcing members provided on the back of that surface of the developing frame on which the welding rib is provided, along the lengthwise direction of the welding rib, to increase the strength of the developing frame.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body has a developer storing container with a supplying opening portion through which developer is supplied to a developing member, a developer seal member removably attached to the developer storing container, a grip portion for pulling out the developer seal member, and a contact portion electrically connected to a main body electrical contact of the image forming apparatus main body when the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. In this process cartridge, the grip portion covers the contact portion to cut an electrical connection between the contact portion and the main body electrical contact in the case that the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body without removing the developer seal member. In this way, the developer seal member that is removably attached to the developer storing container can be pulled out without fail.

Abstract: The configuration of a developer container unnecessary for being provided with a flange of a welding receiving portion at the time of the ultrasonic welding thereof increases the capacity of the developer container without enlarging a process cartridge or an apparatus main body. Flanges on an opposite surface of a developing frame are respectively touched to flanges formed on the upper part and the lower part on a wall surface, on which a developer feeding opening is formed, of a container frame constituting the developer container, and the flanges are welded at their connection portions by ultrasonic welding. Then, a flange of a lid frame is connected to a flange of the container frame on a welding plane by ultrasonic waves, and thereby a developer container, in which the container frame is connected with the developing frame with the developer feeding opening being put between the frames, is formed.

Abstract: A developing device including a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying a developer thereon, the developer bearing member having at a lengthwise end portion thereof a spacer for keeping a spacing between it and an image bearing member, a sealing member for preventing the leakage of the developer from the lengthwise end portions of the developer bearing member, a conductive member disposed in the vicinity of the sealing member, and an insulation member provided between the sealing member and the conductive member for electrically insulating the sealing member from the conductive member, the insulation member having a cleaning portion for cleaning the spacer.

Abstract: In a developing device, process cartridge, and the like, including a developer amount detector for detecting a developer amount by detecting a change in capacitance among a plurality of electrodes, a developer is circulated and supplied in an optimal manner among the electrodes constituting the developer amount detector. The lower end portion on the upper side of an opening is above the lower end portion of a second electrode. With the opening formed in this manner, when toner in a developer frame is fed among the electrodes by a toner feeding member, the toner is urged into the developing frame without being interfered with by the lower end portion on the upper side of the opening. Ideal toner circulation and toner supply can be performed, and a detection error can be decreased.

Abstract: The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a first unit frame body supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a second unit frame body having a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer and a developer containing portion for containing the developer, a first connection frame body for connecting the first unit frame body and the second unit frame body at one ends of the first unit frame body and the second unit frame body with respect to the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a second connection frame body for connecting the first unit frame body and the second unit frame body at the other ends of the first unit frame body and the second unit frame body with respect to the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a first fixation device for fixing the first connection frame body to the first unit frame body through abutment,

Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a process cartridge includes a step of removing a pin to thereby separate a drum unit and a developing container, a step of separating a developing frame and a developer frame from each other to thereby separate the developing container, a step of resupplying the developer to a developer containing portion of the developer frame, a step of superposing a reseal member on end portion seal members provided at lengthwise one end and other end of a developer supply opening for supplying the developer contained in a developer containing portion to a developing roller, and interposing the reseal member on each of widthwise one end and other end of the developer supply opening along the lengthwise direction of the developer supply opening, and reuniting the developing frame and the developer frame, and a step of reuniting the reconstructed developing container and the drum unit.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging roller for electrically charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; an input electrode extended along a longitudinal direction of the developing roller; an output electrode extended along a longitudinal direction of the developing roller; a grounding contact for electrically grounding the photosensitive drum to a main assembly of the apparatus when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the grounding contact being exposed at an end surface of a cartridge frame provided at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum and being disposed across an axis of the photosensitive drum; a charging bias contact for receiving a charging bias voltage to be applied to the charging roller from the

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first electrostatic-capacity generating portion disposed at such a position that the first electrostatic capacity generating portion contacts the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion. The first electrostatic capacity generates portion generating an electrostatic capacity corresponding to an amount of the developer. A second electrostatic-capacity generating portion is disposed at such a position that the second electrostatic-capacity generating portion does not contact the developer accommodated in the developer-accommodating portion. The second electrostatic capacity generating portion generates a reference electrostatic capacity.

Abstract: The process cartridge has an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing member, a first frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a second frame for supporting the developing member, a coupling pin for coupling the first frame to the second frame so as to be rotatable relative to each other, a first hole through which the coupling pin penetrates and which is provided in the first frame, a second hole into which the coupling pin is press-fitted and which is provided in the first frame, and a closed portion provided at a leading end of the coupling pin in a press fit direction in order to close the second hole.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, including: a developer container; and a pressure regulating device for regulating an air pressure in the developer container, the pressure regulating device including a hollow portion having a vent and an elastic filter being compressed into the hollow portion.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge including: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging member for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing member for developing with toner an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a first frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the charging member; a second frame supporting the developing member; a first hole provided in the first frame; a second hole provided in the first frame; a third hole provided in the second frame; a connecting pin extending through the first hole, the second hole, and the third hole to rotatably connect the second frame to the first frame; and a reinforcing portion provided on the downstream side of the first frame with respect to the direction in which the connecting pin is force-fitted so as to restrain deformation of the second hole when force-fittin

Abstract: A developing device including a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying a developer thereon, the developer bearing member having at a lengthwise end portion thereof a spacer for keeping a spacing between it and an image bearing member, a sealing member for preventing the leakage of the developer from the lengthwise end portions of the developer bearing member, a conductive member disposed in the vicinity of the sealing member, and an insulation member provided between the sealing member and the conductive member for electrically insulating the sealing member from the conductive member, the insulation member having a cleaning portion for cleaning the spacer.

Abstract: A developing device detachably mountable to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and for developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a developing member for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer container containing therein a developer to be used to effect the development of the electrostatic latent image by the developing member, a developing frame for supporting the developing member, a welding rib provided along the lengthwise direction of the developing frame to connect the developer container and the developing frame together by ultrasonic welding, and a plurality of reinforcing members provided on the back of that surface of the developing frame on which the welding rib is provided, along the lengthwise direction of the welding rib, to increase the strength of the developing frame.

Abstract: In a developing device, process cartridge, and the like, including a developer amount detector for detecting a developer amount by detecting a change in capacitance among a plurality of electrodes, a developer is circulated and supplied in an optimal manner among the electrodes constituting the developer amount detector. The lower end portion on the upper side of an opening is above the lower end portion of a second electrode. With the opening formed in this manner, when toner in a developer frame is fed into among the electrodes by a toner feeding member, the toner is urged into the developing frame without being interfered with by the lower end portion on the upper side of the opening. Ideal toner circulation and toner supply can be performed, and a detection error can be decreased.

Abstract: A developing device to be mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body and used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, including a developing container, an electrode attached to the inside of the developing container, a conductive member for securing electric conduction from the inside to the outside of the developing container, wherein the conductive member and the electrode are electrically connected by the conductive member being press-fit in a fitting portion provided in the electrode, and an elastic sealing member press-fit in a gap between the conductive member and the developing container.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing member, a developing device frame including a first frame portion supporting the developing member and a second frame portion having a developer accommodating portion, first and second spaced apart electroconductive portions to permit the main assembly to detect a remaining amount of developer in the process cartridge, a cartridge contact disposed in the second frame portion and electrically connectable to the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, a contacting electrode disposed in the second frame portion and electrically connected with the cartridge contact, and a first electroconductive portion contact disposed in the first frame, electrically connected with the first electroconductive portion, and electrically contacting the contacting electrode at a connecting portion between the first and second frame