Abstract: A process cartridge remanufacturing method including the steps of: (a) separating photosensitive drum and developing units; (b) dismounting a first side cover member; (c) a dismounting a first gear group from a first bearing member; (d) dismounting a supporting member from the first bearing member; (e) dismounting a second gear group from the first bearing member; (f) dismounting the first bearing member; (g) dismounting a developing roller; (h) dismounting a developing blade; (i) filling a developer into a developer accommodating portion; (j) mounting the developing blade; (k) mounting the developing roller; (l) mounting the second gear group, (m) mounting the supporting member; (n) mounting the first gear group; (o) mounting the first side cover member; and (p) rotatably connecting the photosensitive drum and developing units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a first operating mode and a second operating mode, where the second operating mode has an image forming velocity different from that in the first operating mode. The image forming apparatus includes a developing-agent containing portion, which contains a developing agent, an optical developing-agent amount detecting portion, which detects the amount of developing agent in the developing agent containing portion, a processing portion, which obtains the amount of developing agent based on data on the amount of developing agent detected by the developing-agent amount detecting portion, and a storing portion, which stores information for correcting data on the amount of developing agent detected by the developing-agent amount detecting portion in the second operating mode.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, a drum frame, first and second drum frame openings at a different longitudinal ends of the drum frame, first and second end regulating portions at different longitudinal ends of the drum frame, a drum shaft with a through hole, a drum end flange with an end flange opening for receiving the drum shaft, first and second openings provided opposite from each other at a periphery of the end flange opening, and a connecting member penetrating the first opening and the through hole and engaged with the second opening to connect the photosensitive drum with the drum shaft. The regulating portions regulate the position of the drum in its longitudinal direction and the connecting member connects the drum shaft with the drum.

Abstract: A process cartridge which is capable of being carried on a movable guide provided in the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and which is movable from a receiving position toward a mount position in interrelation with movement of the movable guide, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the drum; a cartridge frame supporting the drum and the process means; a first portion to be carried, provided at one longitudinal end of the drum, for being supported by the movable guide; a second portion to be carried, provided at the other longitudinal end of the drum, for being supported by the movable guide; a first positioning portion to be positioned relative to a main assembly, the first positioning portion extending outwardly from the cartridge frame adjacent the one longitudinal end of the drum; a second positioning portion to be positioned relative to the main assembly, the second positioning portion extending outwardly from the cartridge frame adja

Abstract: In the present invention, when a space holding member for holding a photosensitive drum and a developing roller in a spaced-apart state acts on a process cartridge main body, the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are held in the spaced-apart state, and when the holding member is acting on a process cartridge, a storing medium provided in the process cartridge and the communication member of the storing medium are covered and hidden by the holding member. By the above-described construction, the spacing-apart of the developing roller and the protection of the storing medium can be effected by a member, and an improvement in usability and the curtailment of the number of parts can be achieved.

Abstract: A process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus incorporating the same. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a container supplying a developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning member including a blade and a support portion supporting the blade, the blade selectively contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member to remove the developer from the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cartridge frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the support portion, the cartridge frame including a contact portion contacting the support portion under external forces on the cartridge frame to prevent deformation of the cartridge frame.

Abstract: A developer container of a developing device that is provided in an image forming apparatus, includes: a developer container main body provided with a developer containing portion that contains a developer and a developer supply opening; a sealing member that seals the developer supply opening of the developer container main body; and a grip member for pulling out the sealing member in a longitudinal direction of the developer container main body. The developer container main body and the grip member are integrally molded from resin materials having low compatibility to be separable from each other, and the grip member has a longitudinal dimension extending to an outside of a developer container mounting region of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A process cartridge which is detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body and which has a photosensitive drum is provided with a light guide. This light guide guides light from an LED lamp provided in the image forming apparatus main body to the surface of the photosensitive drum, thus forming a charge removing device for the photosensitive drum. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge free from image problems, such as lateral stripes and a drum positive ghost, at a low cost.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor, a driving rotatable member for transmitting a driving force from the motor, and a twisted recess being rotatable integrally with the driving rotatable member. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, a twisted projection being engageable with the recess, and a permitting portion for permitting engagement between the twisted protection and the recess only at a predetermined relative rotational position therebetween to establish the engagement therebetween with the predetermined relative to rotational position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including: a cylinder; and flanges provided on end portions in the axial direction of the cylinder, wherein the flange has an outer peripheral portion, a hole portion and ribs, and the flange is caulked by bending part of the cylinder inwardly in the radius direction at two positions opposing each other across the hole portion, those two positions being other than positions at which the ribs intersect the outer peripheral portion in directions of the extending direction of the ribs.

Abstract: Disclosed are a developing device, a developing cartridge, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus in which image deficiency is prevented by absorbing the tolerance of each component and making the position of the developing roller in the thrust direction constant and which are easy to assemble. A frame member is equipped with an urging unit that axially urges the developing roller, the urging unit urging the developing roller in the direction of movement of the developing roller by the thrust force of a helical gear when driving force is transmitted to the developing roller to thereby make the position of the developing roller in the thrust direction constant.

Abstract: A developer container includes a developer containing unit containing a developer and a sealing member supplied between a plurality of members to prevent leakage of the developer. The sealing member is a liquid elastomer. In an area in which the liquid elastomer is supplied, supply amounts of the sealing member at a start point and end point are larger than a supply amount of the sealing member in an intermediate portion.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a first end cover portion provided at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum; a second end cover portion provided at the other longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum; a first portion to be guided provided on a bottom surface of the process cartridge so as to be guided by a first main assembly guide portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a second portion to be guided provided on a bottom surface of the process cartridge so as to be guided by a second main assembly guide portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a first portion to be posi

Abstract: A developer container of a developing device that is provided in an image forming apparatus, including: a developer container main body provided with a developer containing portion that contains a developer and a developer supply opening; a sealing member that seals the developer supply opening of the developer container main body; and a grip member for pulling out the sealing member in a longitudinal direction of the developer container main body, in which the developer container main body and the grip member are integrally molded from resin materials having low compatibility to be separable from each other, and the grip member has a longitudinal dimension extending to an outside of a developer container mounting region of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developing apparatus and a method for assembling the apparatus is capable of uniformalizing a thickness of a developer carried on a developer carrying body, thereby preventing a nonuniform optical density of an image from being produced. The developing apparatus includes a developing frame, a developer carrying body, and a regulating member, wherein the regulating member includes an elastic blade to be brought into contact with the developer and a supporting member for supporting the elastic blade. The supporting member is supported by the developing frame. The elastic blade is coupled with the supporting member by welding.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process device acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge frame for supporting the photosensitive drum; a first bearing member which is arranged in the cartridge frame and rotatably supports a shaft projected from one end of the photosensitive drum in its longitudinal direction, and has a first exposure portion exposed from the cartridge frame; and a second bearing member which is arranged in the cartridge frame and rotatably supports a shaft projected from the other end of the photosensitive drum in its longitudinal direction, and has a second exposure portion exposed from the cartridge frame;.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process device acting on the photosensitive drum; a cartridge frame for supporting the photosensitive drum; a first bearing member arranged in the frame at one end of the photosensitive drum in its longitudinal direction, and supporting a shaft projected from the one end of the photosensitive drum in its longitudinal direction; a first handle for gripping the cartridge in its mounting to the apparatus main body, and regulating disconnection of the first bearing member from the frame; a second bearing member arranged in the frame at the other end of the photosensitive drum in its longitudinal direction, and supporting a shaft projected from the other end of the photosensitive drum in its longitudinal direction; and a second handle for gripping the cartridge in its mounting to the apparatus main body, and regulating disconnection of the second bearing m

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first frame; a second frame rotatablely coupled with the first frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the first frame; a developing member, provided in the second frame, for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with a developer; a cleaning member, provided in the first frame, for removing the developer remaining on the drum; a removed developer feeding member, provided in the first frame, for transporting the developer removed by the cleaning member; a drum driving force receiving member, provided in the first frame, for receiving, from the main assembly, a driving force for rotating the drum when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; a development driving force receiving member, provided in the second frame, for receiving, from the main assembly, a driving force for rotating the developing member when the process cartridge is m