Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable within an image forming system, includes 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 closed position where the image bearing member is protected and an open position where the cover is retracted from the protecting position. The cover is spaced apart from the housing at least in the retracted position and is provided with a protruded portion at its inner surface. An image forming system includes a mounting device for mounting a process cartridge, an air flow generating device for generating an air flow passing between the protruded portion 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 a recording medium.

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: 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: 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 developing device includes a container for containing a magnetic developer therein, a developer carrier for carrying and conveying the magnetic developer in the container, a magnetic member for forming a magnetic seal area of a predetermined gap with respect to the surface of the developer carrier in the end portions of the developer carrier along the circumferential direction of the developer carrier. The magnetic member has a plurality of magnetic poles along the circumferential direction of the developer carrier in the magnetic seal area, and an external magnetic pole provided outside the endmost magnetic pole forming the magnetic seal for conveying a magnetic flux travelling from the endmost magnetic pole toward the outside of the magnetic seal area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge removably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process device that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member and has a blade member acting on toner and a support member for supporting the blade member, and a seal member provided for preventing the toner from leaking from a predetermined area. The seal member is formed from liquid-foam material to be solidified as an elastomer, and the seal member is contacted with an edge portion of the support member.

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 cylindrical structure is formed by a cylinder and a terminal engaging member, such as a gear or flange for rotating the cylinder. The terminal engaging member has a head which is inserted into the cylinder and a plurality of recesses by which the member is fastened to at least one end of the cylinder through bending and cutting the assocrated cylinder at plural parts thereof into the recesses of the terminal engaging member. In this mannaer, the joint between the cylinder and the terminal engaging member can be formed securely in a simple manner. The cylindrical structure may be employed, for example, as a photosensitive drum or a developing sleeve for electrophotography.

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: A coating apparatus for coating liquid-form material to be solidified as an elastomer on a coated member in order to form a seal member for preventing toner leakage, includes an injection member for injecting the liquid-form material on the coated member, a holder for holding the coated member, a driver for causing relative movement between the injection member and the holder, and a controller for controlling the driver to change the relative movement between the injection member and the holder.

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 developing apparatus includes a developing sleeve for carrying a developer; a hollow magnet roller in the sleeve; a supporting member inserted into the developing sleeve and the magnet roller to support an inside surface of the developing sleeve and the magnet roller.

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: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; processing device actable on the image bearing member; an electroconductive grounding member which is in electric connection with the image bearing member, for grounding the image bearing member to the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; and a removing member for removing a material deposited on the image bearing member; the removing member is in contact with a region of the image bearing member contactable to the grounding member.