Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes a first frame; a second frame connected with the first frame for rotation about a shaft; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the first frame; a developing member, provided in the second frame, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with a developer; and a development driving force receiving member for receiving a driving force for rotating the developing member from a main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the development driving force receiving member being disposed coaxial with the shaft.

Abstract: In a developing device, a developer carrier carries developer and a control member controls the thickness of the developer on the developer carrier. The control member has an abutting member that abuts against a reference plane of a main body of the developing device and an elastic member that overlaps the abutting member. The elastic member is urged toward the developer carrier and has a center portion of the overlapped sections of the elastic member and the abutting member that is wider than the end portions of the overlapped sections. An overlap member overlaps the elastic member.

Abstract: A process cartridge 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 provided at a central portion of the driving rotatable member and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corners, the recess being rotatable integrally with the driving rotatable member, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the drum; a twisted projection having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corners, the twisted projection being provided at one longitudinal end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and being engageable with the recess; 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 ther

Abstract: A process cartridge (10) which is detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body and which has a photosensitive drum (1) is provided with a light guide (201). This light guide (201) guides light from an LED lamp provided in the image forming apparatus main body to the surface of the photosensitive drum (1), thus forming a charge removing device for the photosensitive drum (1). Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge free from image problems, such as lateral stripes and drum positive ghost, at low cost.

Abstract: A developer container containing a developer has a developer containing unit containing a developer and a sealing member supplied between a plurality of members to prevent a leak of the developer, said sealing member being a liquid elastomer, and, in an area in which said liquid elastomer is supplied, the supply amount in end portions being larger than the supply amount in an intermediate portion.

Abstract: An assembling method of a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus and having a developing device, the method including the steps of: preparing a container unit provided with a developing frame; mounting a toner supplying roller to the developing frame, wherein the toner supply roller is effective to supply the toner to the developing roller, and the developing roller is effective to carry the toner to a developing position; mounting a toner layer thickness regulating member to the developing frame, wherein the toner layer thickness regulating member is effective to regulate a thickness of a layer of the toner applied on the developing roller; supporting a shaft of the developing roller at one longitudinal end thereof and a shaft of the toner supplying roller at the one longitudinal end by a side cover, and mounting the side cover to the container unit, after the step of mounting the supplying roller and after the step of mounting the toner layer thickness regulating mem

Abstract: A shutter pin usable with a developing cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a pin mounting portion for mounting the shutter pin to a cartridge frame of the developing cartridge; a shutter mounting portion for mounting, to the cartridge frame, a shutter member for covering a portion where a developing roller of the developing cartridge is exposed from the cartridge frame; and an electroconductive portion for establishing electric grounding connection with the main assembly of the apparatus when the developing cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus.

Abstract: A developing device frame usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller for supplying toner to the electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner to be used for development operation of the developing roller, and a stirring member for stirring the toner fed out of the toner accommodating portion, the developing device frame includes a developing roller mounting portion for mounting the developing roller; an antenna member mounting portion for mounting, along a longitudinal direction of the developing roller, an antenna member having a portion opposed to the developing roller and an extension discharging portion extended to a portion not opposed to the developing roller from the opposed portion, wherein the antenna member produces an ele

Abstract: In a developing device, a developer carrier carries developer and a control member controls the thickness of the developer on the developer carrier. The control member has an abutting member that abuts against a reference plane of a main body of the developing device and an elastic member that overlaps the abutting member. The elastic member is urged toward the developer carrier and has a center portion of the overlapped sections of the elastic member and the abutting member that is wider than the end portions of the overlapped sections. An overlap member overlaps the elastic member.

Abstract: A developing frame for a developing cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner to be used by the developing roller; an application roller for applying the toner on a peripheral surface of the developing roller, the developing frame includes a toner supply opening for supplying to the developing roller the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion; a developing roller mounting portion for mounting the developing roller along the toner supply opening; connecting surfaces at which the developing frame is connected with the toner frame including the toner accommodating portion, wherein the connecting surfaces extend in a longitudinal direction of the toner supply openi

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus and an assembling method for this apparatus which are capable of uniformalizing a thickness of a developer carried on a developer carrying body, thereby preventing an ununiform optical density of image from being produced. Further object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus that has a developing frame, a developer carrying body, and a regulating member, wherein the regulating member has an elastic blade to be brought into contact with the developer and a supporting member for supporting the elastic blade, and the supporting member is supported by the developing frame, and wherein the elastic blade is coupled with the supporting member by welding.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes a first frame; a second frame connected with the first frame for rotation about a shaft; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the first frame; a developing member, provided in the second frame, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with a developer; and a development driving force receiving member for receiving a driving force for rotating the developing member from a main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the development driving force receiving member being disposed coaxial with the shaft.

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

Abstract: In a developing device, a developer carrier carries developer and a control member controls the thickness of the developer on the developer carrier. A connection member that connects the control member to a main body of the developing device controls lateral movement of the control member and allows longitudinal movement of the control member with respect to the developing device main body.

Abstract: A developing cartridge side cover, which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, has an opening for exposing a drive force receiving member for rotating a developing member with a driving force from the main assembly. The side cover further has a developing bias contact mounting for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing member from the main assembly.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container for accommodating a developer; a developer carrying member, disposed in an opening of the developing container, for carrying a developer; a developer charging member for being contacted to the developer on the developer carrying member and supplied with a voltage of the same polarity as the developer and not less than a discharge start voltage.

Abstract: A developing device holder usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus (the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller, and a developing frame for supporting the developing roller), wherein the developing device holder includes (i) an antenna contact mounting portion for mounting an antenna contact for transmitting an electric signal to a detecting device provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to notify mounting of the process cartridge to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the antenna contact mounting portion mounts the antenna contact so as to be exposed from the developing device holder when the developing device holder is mounted to the developing frame; and (ii) a guiding member for guiding the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming app

Abstract: A toner container for containing toner to be used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member by a developing device, usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge containing the photosensitive member and the developing device, includes: a first frame having a toner supply opening for supplying the toner to the developing device and a mounting portion for mounting a rotatable stirring member for stirring the toner contained in the toner container; a second frame coupled with the first frame and having an outward projection without interference with a rotational region of the stirring member; wherein the toner container is formed by coupling the first frame and second frame.

Abstract: A developing device frame usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller for supplying toner to the electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner to be used for development operation of the developing roller, and a stirring member for stirring the toner fed out of the toner accommodating portion, the developing device frame includes a developing roller mounting portion for mounting the developing roller; an antenna member mounting portion for mounting, along a longitudinal direction of the developing roller, an antenna member having a portion opposed to the developing roller and an extension discharging portion extended to a portion not opposed to the developing roller from the opposed portion, wherein the antenna member produces an ele

Abstract: A side cover for a developing cartridge for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing cartridge being detachably mountable relative to electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge including a developing roller, for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for development by the developing roller, the toner accommodating portion being provided with a toner supply opening for supplying the accommodated toner to the developing roller; and A toner seal for sealing the toner supply opening, the toner seal being pulled out prior to start of use of the developing cartridge, by which the toner supply opening is unsealed to permit supply of the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion to the developing roller, the side cover, includes a shaft support portion for rotatably supporting a shaft at one end of the developing rol