Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer is detachably mountable includes an image bearing member, an exposure unit for exposing the image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, a light receiving portion provided in the cartridge and for receiving the light emitted from the exposure unit, and a detecting portion for detecting vibration of the cartridge from a light reception value of the light received by the light receiving portion.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes a frame that has an opening for discharging a developer, and a sealing unit that has a sealing portion for sealing the opening, in which a state of the sealing unit is capable of changing from a first state in which the sealing portion seals the opening to a second state in which the opening is opened. A tip of a first part is positioned on a downstream side of the base of the first part in a first direction if the sealing unit is in the first state, and the first part is deformed such that the tip of the first part is positioned on an upstream side of the base of the first part in the first direction if the state of the sealing unit changes from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge frame member including a developer accommodation portion, an image bearing member rotatably provided to the cartridge frame member, an end sealing provided to the cartridge frame member and abutting on an end of the image bearing member in a longitudinal direction, a cleaning unit for acting on the image bearing member, a sealing portion integrally provided with the cartridge frame member and abut on an end of the cleaning unit in the longitudinal direction, a sheet member provided along the longitudinal direction and abut on the image bearing member at an end of the sheet member in a direction that crosses the longitudinal direction, and a fixing portion for fixing the sheet member and the cartridge frame member. The sealing portion and the fixing portion are integrally formed with the cartridge frame member.

Abstract: A developer container unit to be mounted in an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming operation comprises a frame and a sealing unit. The frame is provided with a developer containing chamber containing developer and an opening for discharging the developer from the developer containing chamber. The sealing unit includes a shaft member rotatable about a rotational axis and a sealing portion attached to the shaft member and compressed by the shaft member and the frame to seal the opening. The sealing unit is rotatable to a close position at which the sealing portion seals the opening, a first open position at which the opening is open, and a second open position at which the opening is open. The sealing unit agitates the developer by executing a reciprocating motion between the first and second open positions during the image forming operation.

Abstract: A rotatable member includes a hollow cylindrical rotation shaft formed with a curved plate-like member. The rotation shaft includes a seam where end surfaces of the plate-like member are contacted to each other. The rotation shaft includes a rotational drive transmitting portion which is provided at an axial end portion thereof and which includes a contact surface contactable to a driver for driving the rotation shaft and configured to receive the driving force from the driver. In a coordinate system with the rotational axis as an origin, the contact surface is provided at a position away by 90° or more from the seam in a normal rotational direction which is a direction in which the rotatable member rotates to form an image.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes a frame that has an opening for discharging a developer, and a sealing unit that has a sealing portion for sealing the opening, in which a state of the sealing unit is capable of changing from a first state in which the sealing portion seals the opening to a second state in which the opening is opened. A tip of a first part is positioned on a downstream side of the base of the first part in a first direction if the sealing unit is in the first state, and the first part is deformed such that the tip of the first part is positioned on an upstream side of the base of the first part in the first direction if the state of the sealing unit changes from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: A developer container unit to be mounted in an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming operation comprises a frame and a sealing unit. The frame is provided with a developer containing chamber containing developer and an opening for discharging the developer from the developer containing chamber. The sealing unit includes a shaft member rotatable about a rotational axis and a sealing portion attached to the shaft member and compressed by the shaft member and the frame to seal the opening. The sealing unit is rotatable to a close position at which the sealing portion seals the opening, a first open position at which the opening is open, and a second open position at which the opening is open. The sealing unit agitates the developer by executing a reciprocating motion between the first and second open positions during the image forming operation.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge frame member including a developer accommodation portion, an image bearing member rotatably provided to the cartridge frame member, an end sealing provided to the cartridge frame member and abutting on an end of the image bearing member in a longitudinal direction, a cleaning unit for acting on the image bearing member, a sealing portion integrally provided with the cartridge frame member and abut on an end of the cleaning unit in the longitudinal direction, a sheet member provided along the longitudinal direction and abut on the image bearing member at an end of the sheet member in a direction that crosses the longitudinal direction, and a fixing portion for fixing the sheet member and the cartridge frame member. The sealing portion and the fixing portion are integrally formed with the cartridge frame member.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge frame member including a developer accommodation portion, an image bearing member rotatably provided to the cartridge frame member, an end sealing provided to the cartridge frame member and abutting on an end of the image bearing member in a longitudinal direction, a cleaning unit for acting on the image bearing member, a sealing portion integrally provided with the cartridge frame member and abut on an end of the cleaning unit in the longitudinal direction, a sheet member provided along the longitudinal direction and abut on the image bearing member at an end of the sheet member in a direction that crosses the longitudinal direction, and a fixing portion for fixing the sheet member and the cartridge frame member. The sealing portion and the fixing portion are integrally formed with the cartridge frame member.

Abstract: A rotatable member for use with a rotatable driving member provided in a process cartridge or an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a hollow cylindrical rotation shaft engageable with the rotatable driving member. The rotation shaft includes a seam extending from one end to the other end thereof in an axial direction thereof. The rotation shaft includes a transmitting surface engageable with the driving member and configured to receive a driving force for rotating the rotation shaft about the axial direction. The transmitting surface is twisted or inclined with respect to the axial direction.

Abstract: The engagement between a fixing member and a resin member is released and the resin member is separated from a frame thereby separating a bearing member from the frame. Parts to be used in a developing device are replaced or the developing device is replenished with a developer. The resin member is connected to the frame to connect the bearing member to the frame. The fixing member is inserted into a through hole to engage with the resin member and fix the resin member to the frame, thereby fixing the bearing member to the frame.

Abstract: One end portion and the other end portion of a rotating member, which face each other and form a joint portion, have a shape with projections and recesses. Projections of one end portion fit in recesses of the other end portion, while projections of the other end portion fit in recesses of the one end portion, so that the one end portion and the other end portion are interlocked. The projections have a first corner portion rounded in an arc, while the recesses have a second corner portion rounded in an arc in which the first corner portion fits. The first corner portion has a larger radius of curvature than that of the second corner portion.

Abstract: A rotatable member includes a hollow cylindrical rotation shaft formed with a curved plate-like member. The rotation shaft includes a seam where end surfaces of the plate-like member are contacted to each other. The rotation shaft includes a rotational drive transmitting portion which is provided at an axial end portion thereof and which includes a contact surface contactable to a driver for driving the rotation shaft and configured to receive the driving force from the driver. In a coordinate system with the rotational axis as an origin, the contact surface is provided at a position away by 90° or more from the seam in a normal rotational direction which is a direction in which the rotatable member rotates to form an image.

Abstract: A rotatable member for use with a rotatable driving member provided in a process cartridge or an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a hollow cylindrical rotation shaft engageable with the rotatable driving member. The rotation shaft includes a seam extending from one end to the other end thereof in an axial direction thereof. The rotation shaft includes a transmitting surface engageable with the driving member and configured to receive a driving force for rotating the rotation shaft about the axial direction. The transmitting surface is twisted or inclined with respect to the axial direction.

Abstract: A cylindrical shaft of a roller has facing surfaces which form a depression-protrusion-shaped portion of a joint of the cylindrical shaft and which face or make contact with each other and moreover which extend in a direction non-parallel to an axial direction of the cylindrical shaft, and the facing surfaces are inclined at a predetermined engagement angle with respect to a circumferential direction. A generating line of a circumferential surface of a coating layer that coats an outer circumference of the cylindrical shaft and a generating line of a circumferential surface of a photosensitive drum cross each other at a crossing angle smaller than the engagement angle.

Abstract: A cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a rotatable member, a blade member contacted to the rotatable member, and a frame configured to support the blade member and the rotatable member. The cartridge also includes a seal member configured to fill a gap between the frame and the blade member at a longitudinal end portion of the blade member.

Abstract: The engagement between a fixing member and a resin member is released and the resin member is separated from a frame thereby separating a bearing member from the frame. Parts to be used in a developing device are replaced or the developing device is replenished with a developer. The resin member is connected to the frame to connect the bearing member to the frame. The fixing member is inserted into a through hole to engage with the resin member and fix the resin member to the frame, thereby fixing the bearing member to the frame.

Abstract: A cylindrical shaft of a roller has facing surfaces which form a depression-protrusion-shaped portion of a joint of the cylindrical shaft and which face or make contact with each other and moreover which extend in a direction non-parallel to an axial direction of the cylindrical shaft, and the facing surfaces are inclined at a predetermined engagement angle with respect to a circumferential direction. A generating line of a circumferential surface of a coating layer that coats an outer circumference of the cylindrical shaft and a generating line of a circumferential surface of a photosensitive drum cross each other at a crossing angle smaller than the engagement angle.

Abstract: One end portion and the other end portion of a rotating member, which face each other and form a joint portion, have a shape with projections and recesses. Projections of one end portion fit in recesses of the other end portion, while projections of the other end portion fit in recesses of the one end portion, so that the one end portion and the other end portion are interlocked. The projections have a first corner portion rounded in an arc, while the recesses have a second corner portion rounded in an arc in which the first corner portion fits. The first corner portion has a larger radius of curvature than that of the second corner portion.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes: a rotatable member; a blade member contacted to the rotatable member; a frame, formed of a resin material, for supporting the blade member; and a seal member provided on the frame to be contacted to a portion of the blade member, opposite from a portion where the blade member is contacted to the rotatable member, in each of one end side and anther end side of the blade member with respect to an axial direction of the rotatable member, wherein the seal member is formed on the frame by injection molding for sealing a gap between the blade member and the frame.