Abstract: A 4-wheel drive vehicle has a driving force control method in which a portion of a driving force for front wheels is distributed to rear wheels through clutches. In a 4-wheel drive state in which a driving force T.sub.p is distributed to rear wheels, for example, if the vehicle is turned leftwards to generate a difference W.sub.R -W.sub.L between left and right rear wheel speeds, it is ensured that a driving force T.sub.R distributed to the right rear wheel, which is an outer wheel during turning of the vehicle, is larger than a driving force T.sub.L distributed to the left rear wheel, which is an inner wheel during turning of the vehicle, thereby providing an enhancement in turning performance. As the difference W.sub.R -W.sub.L between the left and right rear wheel speeds is increased as a result of decreasing of the turning radius of the vehicle, the driving force T.sub.P (=T.sub.L +T.sub.R) distributed to the rear wheels is decreased to avoid an increase in travel resistance.

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.

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: 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: A toner supply container for supplying toner to a toner accommodation container for containing toner to be used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a flexible toner accommodating portion having side walls at longitudinal opposite ends, the side walls having respective inward projected portions so that the toner accommodating portion is collapsed when external force is applied thereto; an opening, provided in the toner container, for permitting supply of the toner from the toner accommodating portion to the toner accommodation container; a sealing member for removably sealing the opening; wherein when the external force is applied, the toner accommodating portion is collapsed while the projected portion being folded, so that a volume of toner accommodating portion is reduced in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is constituted of a toner frame for containing developer and a developing frame for holding developer carrier, and both frames include plural pairs of connecting faces, one of which is made separable from the other faces, located at their connecting portion for mutual connection. When the apparatus is to be reused, the toner and developing frames are readily separated by removing the connecting face pair even where the connecting face pair formed at the connecting portion of the toner frame and developing frame had been connected by welding or whatever. The toner frame and developing frame can be reconnected by welding again the remaining connecting faces at their connecting portions.

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: 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: 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: A toner accommodation container for containing toner to be used for developing a latent image formed on a electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the toner accommodation container is supplied with toner from a toner supply container includes a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner; a toner supply opening for supplying toner; a cover member for covering the toner supply opening, wherein the cover member is movable between a closing portion for covering the toner supply opening and an open position for permitting supply of the toner therethrough; a blocking member, provided inside the covering member, for preventing the toner from scattering from the toner accommodating portion to outside, the blocking member is locked by a first locking member and a second locking member; wherein the blocking member is movable to the open position by the first locking member being released by the toner supply container and the second locking member being released by the cover 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.

Abstract: The present invention includes an image bearing member, a first attachment surface to which a cleaning device for removing toner from the image bearing member is attached. The present invention also includes a second attachment surface which is in parallel with or substantially in parallel with the first attachment surface and to which a developing device for developing an image formed on the image bearing member is attached. With the above construction, it is possible to provide a process cartridge, a method for assembling a process cartridge, and an image forming system mountable and in the process cartridge, which can remarkably improve the assembling ability.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized by an image bearing member, a toner carrying member for directing toner to the image bearing member and a magnet disposed within the toner carrying member, and in that the image bearing member and the magnet are positioned by a common positioning member. With above construction, it is possible to provide a process cartridge and an image forming system, which can remarkably the accuracy of attachment positions of an image bearing member and a magnet, thus remarkably enhancing the image quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image bearing member comprising an image bearing layer capable of bearing an image, a substrate for supporting the image bearing layer, and a weight portion arranged with the substrate asymmetrically with respect to a center of said substrate in a generatrix direction thereof.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a process cartridge having an image bearing member, processing structure acting on the image bearing member, a toner container containing toner used in a developing operation, and a gripper used when the process cartridge is mounted within the image forming system. The gripper also serves as an aiding member for removing a seal sealingly closing an opening of the toner container. With the foregoing construction, it is possible to provide a process cartridge and an image forming system capable of removably mounting a process cartridge therein, which can prevent an operator from forgetting to remove a seal prior to using a new process cartridge.

Abstract: A blade member, mountable onto an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as copier, printer, facsimile, word processor, and the like, for removing residual matter from an electrophotographic photosensitive member, includes an elastic blade one side surface of which is flat in a longitudinal direction thereof and the other side surface of which has a vertical portion perpendicular to an end surface of the elastic blade, and an inclined portion inclined with respect to the vertical portion, the inclined portion having a larger thickness than the vertical portion, and a support member for supporting the elastic blade. A thickness (f) of a portion of the elastic blade, which is engaged by the support member at a side of the one side surface, is greater than a thickness (g) of a portion of the elastic blade which is engaged by the support member at a side of the other side surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning apparatus for removing adhered matter from a member to be cleaned. The apparatus includes a cleaning device abutted against the member to be cleaned and adapted to remove the adhered matter from the member to be cleaned. In addition, the apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving the adhered matter removed from the member to be cleaned, a guide member for directing the removed matter to the receiving unit, an adhesive member for adhering the guide member to the receiving unit, and an end seal member provided on the guide member at an end portion. The adhesive member protrudes from a longitudinal end edge of the guide member.