Abstract: A process cartridge is mountable to an image forming system and includes an image bearing member; a developing bias contact for applying a developing bias to a developing device; an earthing contact for earthing the image bearing member; and a charging bias contact for applying a charging bias to a charging device. The developing bias contact, the earthing contact, and the charging bias contact are arranged in an area corresponding to an end portion of the image bearing member in a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, such that (i) the developing bias contact is arranged at a first side of the image bearing member in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, and (ii) the earthing contact and the charging bias contact are arranged at a second side of the image bearing member in the orthogonal direction.

Abstract: An image bearing member, process device acting on the image bearing member, a first frame, a second frame lockable and separable with respect to the first frame, a locking body and a locking member lockable to the locking body, provided to separably interlock the first and second frames, and a recessed portion and a projection fittable into the recessed portion which are provided to separably interlock the first and second frames. With above construction it is possible to provide a process cartridge, an image forming system, and a method for assembling a cleaning device, which can be easily assembled and can sufficiently cope a large when the number of re-cycles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge removably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process device that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member and has a blade member acting on toner and a support member for supporting the blade member, and a seal member provided for preventing the toner from leaking from a predetermined area. The seal member is formed from liquid-foam material to be solidified as an elastomer, and the seal member is contacted with an edge portion of the support member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus, including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process mechanism acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a toner containing portion for containing toner used for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a grip portion provided contiguous with the toner containing portion and disposed between one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end of the toner containing portion. The grip portion has a cavity exposed outside and extending in a longitudinal direction of the toner containing portion and defined between upper and lower surfaces of the grip portion. The process cartridge is mounted and dismounted with respect to the image forming apparatus along a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a development roller for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used by the development roller for development, a photosensitive drum frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a development frame including the toner accommodating portion, and a support frame including a first toner leakage preventing member positioned at one longitudinal end of the development roller and a second toner leakage preventing member positioned at the other longitudinal end of the development roller.

Abstract: A cylindrical structure is formed by a cylinder and a terminal engaging member, such as a gear or flange for rotating the cylinder. The terminal engaging member has a head which is inserted into the cylinder and a plurality of recesses by which the member is fastened to at least one end of the cylinder through bending and cutting the assocrated cylinder at plural parts thereof into the recesses of the terminal engaging member. In this mannaer, the joint between the cylinder and the terminal engaging member can be formed securely in a simple manner. The cylindrical structure may be employed, for example, as a photosensitive drum or a developing sleeve for electrophotography.

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.

Abstract: A toner supply container for supplying toner into a toner accommodating container for accommodating the toner usable for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the toner accommodating container is detachably mountable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, including a guide portion for guiding the toner supply container into the toner accommodating container with engagement with the toner accommodating container; a first portion and a second portion which are opposed to each other; a third portion connecting one longitudinal ends of the first portion and second portion, wherein the third portion are foldable; a fourth portion connecting the other longitudinal ends of the first portion and second portion, wherein the fourth portion are foldable; a toner supply opening, provided along a longitudinal direction between the first portion and the second portion, for supplying into the toner accommodating container the toner a

Abstract: An assembling method of a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a. preparing a drum frame to which an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted; b. preparing a developing frame having a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and also having a developing device mounted thereto, for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, using toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion; c. engaging a portion of the drum frame and a portion of the developing frame; d. coupling a coupling member with a portion where the drum frame and the developing frame are engaged to couple the drum frame and developing frame, wherein the drum frame and the developing frame are rotatable relative to each other about the coupling member; e.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, and which has an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first frame, a second frame and an elastic sealing member interposed between the first and second frames in order to prevent leakage of a toner from a space therebetween when the first and second frames are bonded by engagement between engagement portions, wherein the compression amount of the elastic sealing member interposed between both frames is increased away from the engagement portions.

Abstract: This invention relates to developing agent supply container for supplying a developing agent to a developing agent storage container for storing the developing agent used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive body. The container includes a developing agent storage portion, and an inhibition device for inhibiting supply of the developing agent stored in the developing agent storage portion to the developing agent storage container when the developing agent supply container is removed from a predetermined position, and permitting supply of the developing agent stored in the developing agent storage portion to the developing agent storage container when the developing agent supply container is mounted at the predetermined position with respect to the developing agent storage container so as to supply the developing agent to the developing agent storage container.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized by that a first frame for containing developer used with a developing operation, a second frame for supporting a developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member, and a third frame for supporting the image bearing member are made of the same material.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing sleeve for carrying a developer; a hollow magnet roller in the sleeve; a supporting member inserted into the developing sleeve and the magnet roller to support an inside surface of the developing sleeve and the magnet roller.

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: An image forming apparatus is provided for forming an image on a recording medium. The apparatus has a main body on which a process cartridge, which includes a frame, an image bearing member, a toner carrying member, and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to the frame, is removably mountable. The apparatus also has a supporting device for supporting the process cartridge at the attachment member when the process cartridge is mounted in the apparatus and a feeding device for feeding the recording medium.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first upper and second lower frame, separably engageable to each other, an image bearing member, a process means acting on the image bearing member, and a positioning device for positioning an optical unit of an image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted within the image forming apparatus. With this arrangement, the present invention can provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus capable of mounting the process cartridge, which can form an image with higher quality than that of the conventional techniques, without distorting the image. The positioning member is located on the second lower frame and passes through openings formed on the first upper frame in order to position the optical unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising a rotary member, a holding member for holding the rotary member, and a plurality of rolling members assembled between the rotary member and the holding member independently from the holding member.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first frame in which a toner containing unit for containing toner used for a developing operation and a charger unit are mounted, and a second frame which can be engaged by and disengaged from the first frame, and in which an image bearing member, a developing unit and cleaning unit are mounted. With this arrangement, the assembling ability and disassembling ability are improved remarkably, and the process cartridge is suitable for the re-cycling to contribute to the protection of the earth-environment.

Abstract: A process cartridge mountable within an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge including (a) a frame, (b) an image bearing member provided in the frame, and (c) a blade member including an elastic blade, and a support member for supporting the elastic blade and having a supporting portion for supporting the elastic blade, a protruded portion protruding from the supporting portion in a longitudinal direction, and a hole formed in the protruded portion.

Abstract: A process cartridge removably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member having a photosensitive drum including a cylindrical member having a photosensitive layer thereon, a first gear provided at one end of the cylindrical member in an axial direction thereof, and a helical gear as a second gear provided at the one end of the cylindrical member adjacent to and outside of the first gear in the axial direction of the cylindrical member and having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first gear. The first gear and the helical gear are integrally formed as a gear portion having a through-bore portion with an inner diameter that varies along its axial length. Accordingly, the present invention provides a smoothly rotating image bearing member for producing high quality images.