Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor and a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein the projection is non-twisted, and when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection.

Abstract: A developing device includes a rotatable developer carrying member for carring a developer; a magnet roller provided in the developer carrying member; a first electrode portion connected electrically with the developer carrying member, the first electrode portion being rotatable with the developer carrying member; a second electrode portion provided with a contact portion in sliding contact with the first electrode portion, the contact portion being disposed outside a longitudinal end portion of the magnet roller substantially at a center of rotation of the developer carrying member.

Abstract: A cleaning frame used in a process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and which includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a cleaning member for removing developer adhered to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the process cartridge including a drum attaching portion for attaching the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a cleaning member attaching portion for attaching the cleaning member, one end wall provided at one longitudinal end of the cleaning frame, the other end wall provided at the other longitudinal end of the cleaning frame, an exposure opening for receiving information light to be illuminated onto the electrophotographic photosensitive drum attached to the drum attaching portion when the process cartridge is mounted to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a reinforcing member provided between the one end wall and the other end wall along the longitudinal direction of

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 apparatus includes a developer bearing body, a drive transmission gear, a support member, and a developing frame body, and the support member has an engaging portion for engaging with the developing frame body in a position opposite to a position where the drive force is transmitted to the drive transmission gear with respect to a rotating center of the developer bearing body.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a toner, a toner containing portion for containing the toner used by the developing unit, and a recess formed in an outer surface of the toner containing portion over an entire area thereof substantially in parallel with an axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for gripping the process cartridge.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a cylindrical rotatable developer carrying member for carrying a developer to a developing position. A non-rotary insulating magnet roller, provided in the cylindrical developer carrying member. A electroconductive member provided on the magnet roller, the electroconductive member partly constituting a voltage supplying path for supplying a voltage to the developer carrying member. A sliding contact, provided on inside of the developing sleeve, for establishing electric connection between the electroconductive member, and an inside surface of the developer carrying member in the voltage supplying path.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; process device actable on the image bearing member; a first frame containing the image bearing member and the process device; and a second frame engageable with and disengageable from the first frame and containing a developer container.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable within an image forming system, includes an image bearing member, a process device for processing the image bearing member, a housing for supporting the image bearing member and the process device, and a cover shiftable between a protecting position where the image bearing member is protected and a retard position where the cover is retarded from the protecting position. The cover is spaced apart between 20-50 mm from the housing at least in the retard position. An image forming system includes mounting equipment for mounting such a process cartridge, an airflow generator for generating an airflow passing through between the housing and the cover, a transfer mechanism for transferring a developed image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording medium, and a conveying mechanism for conveying the recording medium.

Abstract: A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the process cartridge is detachably mountable to the main assembly in the direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of an electrophotograpic photosensitive drum; process device actable on the photosensitive member; a connector having a memory; a positioning member disposed coaxially with the photosensitive member and engageable with a positioning groove provided in the main assembly; a regulating portion contactable to a fixed portion of the main assembly to regulate rotation of the the process cartridge about the positioning member when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; wherein the connector is disposed above the positioning member.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable within an image forming system, including an image bearing member, a processing device for acting on the image bearing member, a housing for supporting the image bearing member and the processing device, and a cover shiftable between a protecting position where the image bearing member is protected and a retard position where the cover is retarded from the protecting position. The cover is spaced apart from the housing at least in the retard position and contacts a housing guide member. An image forming system includes a mounting device for mounting such a process cartridge, an air flow generating device for generating an air flow passing between the housing guide member and the cover, a transfer device for transferring a developed image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording medium, and a conveying device for conveying the recording medium.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging roller, contactable to an object to be charged, for charging the object to be charged, the charging roller being provided with a rotation shaft, an electroconductive bearing for supporting the rotation shaft, a contact member for urging the bearing to press-contact the charging roller to the object to be charged, wherein a first electric energy supply path is established from the contact member to the rotation shaft through the bearing to supply electric energy from the contact member to the rotation shaft, a power supply contacted to a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft, wherein the contact member urges the power supply to press-contact the power supply to the peripheral surface of the rotation shaft, wherein a second electric energy supply path is established to supply electric energy from the contact member to the rotation shaft through the power supply member, and the power supply member is movable in a direction of urging of the contact member independently

Abstract: A toner container for containing therein toner used for development by a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided. The developing device is supported by a developing frame, and the toner container is mounted in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The toner container having a toner frame has a toner containing portion containing the toner therein, a toner supply opening for supplying the toner contained in the toner containing portion to the developing device, and a toner seal for openably sealing the toner supply opening. A take-up member, disposed in a space formed by the developing frame and the toner frame being coupled together, is provided for taking up the toner seal. A drive force imparting device is provided for imparting a drive force to the take-up member.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the amount of developer includes an agitation member for agitating developer contained in a developer container, and a detection member for detecting the position of the upper surface of the developer contained in the developer container, and interlocked with the agitating operation of the agitation member, the detection member is made movable above the upper surface of the developer. With the structure thus arranged, the remaining of the developer can be detected exactly even when the remaining developer become very small. Also, with the structure thus arranged, the operation of the detection member is finished in a position not to hinder the agitating operation of the agitation member, thus enabling the agitation member to continue its normal operation after the detection of the remaining developer is finished.

Abstract: A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process device actable on the photosensitive member, a memory element, and a cartridge connector for electrically connecting the memory with the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. The cartridge connector is electrically connectable with a main assembly connector provided in the main assembly. The cartridge also includes a contact portion for moving a shutter for protecting the main assembly connector from a protecting position to a retracted position in response to mounting of the process cartridge to the main assembly.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor and a non-twisted recess which is substantially coaxial with the gear, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process device actable on the photosensitive drum; and a non-twisted projection engageable with the recess, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the recess and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the recess and the projection.

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: A photosensitive drum includes a cylindrical member having a photosensitive body disposed thereon, and first and second helical gears arranged axially side-by-side on one end of the cylindrical member. The first helical gear is disposed axially outward of the second helical gear, and the first helical gear has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the second helical gear. The first helical gear meshes with a drive gear to rotatingly drive the drum. A sleeve gear of a developing sleeve is selectively engaged with one of the first and second helical gears, depending upon a kind of toner used.

Abstract: A developer-remaining-amount notifying device for notifying a remaining amount of a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating unit and used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided. The device includes a position detection member positionable near an upper surface of an accumulated layer of the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit, a regulating member, and a notification device. The regulating member regulates a moving direction of the position detection member such that the position detection member moves substantially linearly in accordance with a gradual decrease of the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit as the developer is used for development. The notification device notifies a remaining amount of the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit in accordance with a position of the position detection member.

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.