Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor and a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein the projection is non-twisted, and when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, for forming an image on a recording medium, has (a) a mounting member for detachably mounting a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging member for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cartridge charge bias contact for receiving a charging bias to be impressed on the charging member from the main body of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, and a cartridge-earth contact for connecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member to ground with the main body of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, (b) a main-body-charge bias contact to be electrically connected to the cartridge-charge-bias contact when the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting member, (c) a main-body earth contact to be electrically connected to the cartridge-earth contact wh

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a main assembly positioning member, a hole which is substantially coaxial with the gear, and a process cartridge mounting portion for mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanism(s) actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the hole, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum; wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; a cartridge positioning portion for abutting to the main assembly positioning portion to stop a movement of the process cartridge beyo

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container containing magnetic particles; a developer holding unit formed at an opening portion of the developer container, the developer holding unit rotating while holding a developer; a magnetic field generating unit placed in the developer holding unit; a magnet placed along a circumferential direction of the developer holding unit to form a magnetic seal between the magnet and the developer holding unit; and a magnetic unit placed to be adjacent to the magnet. The developing device attains a reduction in driving torque and a high magnetic sealing performance.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; process device actable on the image bearing member; a first frame containing the image bearing member and the process device; and a second frame engageable with and disengageable from the first frame and containing a developer container.

Abstract: A developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, includes a developing member for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with developer, a developer containing member for containing the developer, a supply opening provided in the developer containing member and adapted to supply the developer contained within the developer containing member to the developing member, a seal member for sealably sealing the supply opening, a grip member connected to the seal member and to be gripped when the supply opening is unsealed, a support portion for supporting the grip member, the grip portion being capable of being separated from the support portion by bending the grip member with respect to the support portion, and first and second abutment portions which can abut against each other when the grip member is bent with respect to the support portion to locally generate great stress along a longitudinal direction of a separa

Abstract: A process cartridge which can detachably be mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and which includes a cartridge frame, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process device acting on the photosensitive member, a shutter for covering a portion of the photosensitive member exposed from the cartridge frame, a support member for supporting one longitudinal end of the shutter to the cartridge frame for shifting movement between an operation position where the photosensitive member is covered by the shutter and a retract position retracted from the operation position, a support member engagement portion provided on the support member to attach the support member to the cartridge frame, and a frame engagement portion provided on the cartridge frame to attach the support member engagement portion to the cartridge frame.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a cartridge coupling member, provided coaxially with the photosensitive member, for engaging with a main assembly coupling member to receive driving force for rotating the photosensitive member when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; a developing roller for supplying toner to the photosensitive member to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive member; a driving force transmission member, disposed at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive member to transmit the driving force from the photosensitive member to the developing roller; a driving force receiving member, engaged with the driving force transmission member and disposed at one longitudinal end of the developing roller, for receiving the driving force for rotating the developing roller; and a magnetic seal member, disposed with a gap from the developing rol

Abstract: A toner container for containing therein toner used for development by a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided. The developing device is supported by a developing frame, and the toner container is mounted in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The toner container having a toner frame has a toner containing portion containing the toner therein, a toner supply opening for supplying the toner contained in the toner containing portion to the developing device, and a toner seal for openably sealing the toner supply opening. A take-up member, disposed in a space formed by the developing frame and the toner frame being coupled together, is provided for taking up the toner seal. A drive force imparting device is provided for imparting a drive force to the take-up member.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from said motor and a hole defined by twisted surfaces, said hole being substantially coaxial with said gear, said process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on said photosensitive drum; a projection engageable with said twisted surfaces, said projection being provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein said projection is non-twisted, and when said main assembly side gear rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between said hole and said projection; and a resilient member for urging said process cartridge in a longitudinal direction of said photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is mounted to the ma

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor and a non-twisted recess which is substantially coaxial with the gear, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process device actable on the photosensitive drum; and a non-twisted projection engageable with the recess, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the recess and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the recess and the projection.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising a photosensitive member, a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, a first frame containing the developing means; and a second frame coupled with the first frame, the second frame including a developer containing portion for containing a developer to be supplied to the developing means to develop the latent image, wherein the second frame is a selected one of plural secondary frames engageable with the first frame and having different developer containing capacities.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recycling a process cartridge removably mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of: (a) dividing a process cartridge into a first frame including an image bearing member, and a second frame including a developing means and a developer containing means for containing developer used by the developing means and having an opening through which the developer is supplied to the developing means; (b) thereafter, removing the developing means from the second frame; (c) thereafter, replenishing developer to the developer containing means through the opening; (d) thereafter, removably attaching a seal for closing the opening to the opening; and (e) thereafter, locking the first and second frames to each other, thereby assembling the process cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seal for openably closing a toner supply opening of a toner container containing toner used in an image forming apparatus, the seal member comprising a seal portion for openably closing the toner supply opening, a grip provided at one end of the seal portion and adapted to be gripped when the toner supply opening is unsealed, the grip having a hole, and an attachment portion for detachably attaching the grip to a frame of the toner container.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum includes a cylindrical member having a photosensitive body disposed thereon, and first and second helical gears arranged axially side-by-side on one end of the cylindrical member. The first helical gear is disposed axially outward of the second helical gear, and the first helical gear has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the second helical gear. The first helical gear meshes with a drive gear to rotatingly drive the drum. A sleeve gear of a developing sleeve is selectively engaged with one of the first and second helical gears, depending upon a kind of toner used.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a drum frame for supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame mounted to a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a toner frame having a toner accommodating portion for accommodating a toner to be used by the developing roller, wherein the toner frame is provided with a coupling member for swingably coupling with the drum frame, and is provided with a grip for gripping the process cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising a photosensitive member, a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, a first frame containing the developing means; and a second frame coupled with the first frame, the second frame including a developer containing portion for containing a developer to be supplied to the developing means to develop the latent image, wherein the second frame is a selected one of plural secondary frames engageable with the first frame and having different developer containing capacities.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a filling opening for filling the toner to the toner accommodating portion, wherein the filling opening is openably sealed by a cap; a transfer opening for permitting transfer of a toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member onto a recording material, wherein the transfer opening is provided on the cartridge frame; a protection cover for protecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a supporting member for supporting the protection cover so that the protection cover is movable between a protection position in which the protection cover covers the transfer opening and a retracted position in which it o

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used by the developing device to develop the latent image; a first toner feeding member for feeding the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion toward the developing device; a second toner feeding member for feeding the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion toward the developing device; wherein the second toner feeding member starts to operate in response to detection of decrease of a remaining amount of the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion to feed the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion toward the developing device.

Abstract: A method of supplying toner into a toner accommodation container for accommodating the toner to be used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes opening a cover member for covering an opening provided in a toner accommodation container; mounting a first toner supply container containing the toner to be supplied to the toner accommodation container, to the opening; pushing the first toner supply container into the toner accommodation container in interrelation with closing of the cover member; closing the cover member; supplying the toner from the first toner supply container to the toner accommodation container by opening a toner supply port of the first toner supply container pushed in the toner accommodation container; wherein a volume of the first toner supply container can be reduced in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the toner supply container.