Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the apparatus, includes (a) a plurality of mounting portions for detachably mounting process cartridges, respectively, the process cartridges each including, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer for use by the developing roller to develop the electrostatic latent image, a developer supply opening for supplying the developer to the developing roller from the developer accommodating portion, a sealing member for unsealably sealing the developer supply opening, and unsealing means for unsealing the developer supply opening by removing the sealing member from the developer supply opening; (b) a motor; and (c) driving force transmitting means for selectively transmitting a driving f

Abstract: A developing device usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a driving shaft having a rotating force applying portion, and a movable member. The developing device is mounted to the moving member and includes a developing roller, and a coupling member that includes a rotating force receiving portion and a rotating force applying portion. The coupling member is capable of taking (i) a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force to the developing roller, (ii) a pre-engagement angular position taken before the coupling member is engaged with the rotating force applying portion, in which the coupling member is inclined away from the rotational force transmitting angular position, and (iii) a disengaging angular position, which enables the coupling member to disengage from the driving shaft, and inclines the coupling member away from the rotational force transmitting angular position, in a direction opposite to the pre-engagement angular position.

Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that the flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.

Abstract: A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the process cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the process cartridge includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof; ii) process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; iii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to t

Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that the flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.

Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum supporting apparatus for rotatably supporting a photosensitive drum includes a first supporting member having a first hole for supporting one end of the drum, and first and second surfaces on one side and the other side of the first supporting member relative to an imaginary plane passing through the axis of the drum, respectively. The first and second surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the first hole. The apparatus also includes a second supporting member having a second hole for supporting the other end of the drum, and a third and a fourth surfaces on one side and the other side of the second supporting member relative to the plane, respectively. The third and fourth surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the second hole.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a mounting portion in a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes: a cartridge electrical contact supplying electric power to a process device and being electrically connectable to a main assembly electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion; first and second portions to be guided by a main assembly guide to guide the cartridge to the mounting portion when the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion; and a guide portion guiding the main assembly electrical contact to the cartridge electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion. The guide portion is disposed between the first and second portions to be guided, and the cartridge electrical contact is upstream of the guide portion with respect to a direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion.

Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that the flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum supporting apparatus for rotatably supporting a photosensitive drum includes a first supporting member having a first hole for supporting one end of the drum, and first and second surfaces on one side and the other side of the first supporting member relative to an imaginary plane passing through the axis of the drum, respectively. The first and second surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the first hole. The apparatus also includes a second supporting member having a second hole for supporting the other end of the drum, and a third and a fourth surfaces on one side and the other side of the second supporting member relative to the plane, respectively. The third and fourth surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the second hole.

Abstract: A developing device facing an image carrier and including a developer carrier, a developer flying control member, and a development-noise control member. The developing device develops an electrostatic image formed on the image carrier by causing the developer to fly from the developer carrier to the image carrier upon an application of an alternating-current bias to the developer carrier. Noise produced by the development-noise control member vibrated by an oscillating electric field of the alternating-current bias is smaller than a noise produced by the developer flying control member vibrated by the oscillating electric field.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a first cartridge positioning portion abuttable to a first main assembly positioning portion provided in a main assembly of the apparatus to position the cartridge with respect to a direction crossing the longitudinal direction, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; a second cartridge positioning portion abuttable to a second main assembly positioning portion provided in the main assembly to limit rotation of the cartridge about the first cartridge positioning portion, when the cartridge receives a rotational driving force for rotating the roller from the main assembly; and a first drive input gear, for engagement with a main assembly driving gear to transmit a rotational driving force to the roller.

Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that the flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum supporting apparatus for rotatably supporting a photosensitive drum includes a first supporting member having a first hole for supporting one end of the drum, and first and second surfaces on one side and the other side of the first supporting member relative to an imaginary plane passing through the axis of the drum, respectively. The first and second surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the first hole. The apparatus also includes a second supporting member having a second hole for supporting the other end of the drum, and a third and a fourth surfaces on one side and the other side of the second supporting member relative to the plane, respectively. The third and fourth surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the second hole.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus usable with process cartridges. The apparatus includes mounting portions for detachably mounting the cartridges. In each mounting portion, a cartridge is inclined downwardly from an upstream to a downstream side with respect to a mounting direction and a phantom plane passing through axes of the drums is inclined toward a downstream side with respect to the mounting direction from a bottom part to a top part of the phantom plane. Parts of cartridges mounted to a lower one and the next higher one of the mounting portions overlap, as seen along a plane perpendicular to the phantom plane from an upstream side with respect to the mounting direction. The apparatus also has a light projector and a feeder for feeding recording material, and the cartridges are mounted to or demounted from respective mounting portions from above the perpendicular plane.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to an apparatus includes a drum, a developing roller, first and second frames supporting the drum and roller, a coupling member rotatably connecting the frames, a first cartridge positioning portion abuttable to a first main assembly positioning portion positioning the cartridge with respect to a direction crossing the drum axis when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus, a drive input gear engaging a main assembly driving gear, and a second cartridge positioning portion abuttable to a second main assembly positioning portion limiting cartridge rotation about the first cartridge positioning portion. When the cartridge is in the apparatus, the coupling member crosses a phantom line perpendicular to the second main assembly positioning portion and which passes through the second positioning portion, as seen from one end with respect to the axis.

Abstract: A plurality of process cartridges are detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus along a substantially vertical line. The cartridges each have an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means actable on the drum, and a drum shutter movable between first and second positions. The apparatus includes mounting portions for detachably mounting the cartridges, an opening for permitting passage of the cartridges into the apparatus, a covering member for covering the opening, and a pressing member for moving the shutter to the second position thereof when the covering member moves from an open position to a closed position. An angle of rotation of the shutter rotated from the first to the second position in the bottommost cartridge is larger than an angle of rotation of the shutter rotated from the first position to the second position in another one of said process cartridges.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge frame; a drum shutter movable between a close position in which the drum shutter covers an exposed portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is exposed through the cartridge frame and an open position in which drum shutter is retracted from the close position to expose the portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the drum shutter having a first shutter portion rotatably supported on the cartridge frame and a second rotatably supported on the cartridge frame, wherein in the close position, the first shutter portion covers an upstream side of the exposed portion with respect to an opening direction in which the drum shutter moves from the close position to the open position, and the second shutter portion covers a

Abstract: A unit is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a main assembly electrical contact and a rotatable electrical contact supporting member. The unit includes a unit electrical contact for electrically connecting with the main assembly electrical contact when the unit is mounted to the apparatus, and an engaging portion for engagement with the electrical contact supporting member when the unit is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus. The engaging portion causes a rotational motion of the electrical contact supporting member when the unit is inserted into the main assembly, thereby imparting a sliding motion between the unit electrical contact and the main assembly electrical contact.