Abstract: A process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which both a developing member and a charging member are separable from an electrophotographic photosensitive member by changing the swinging attitudes of a photosensitive member unit and a developing unit, thereby making it possible to obtain, with a simple construction, a stable image free from unevenness or transversal streaks.

Abstract: A developing unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used by the developing member, the developer accommodating portion having a supply opening for supplying the developer to the developing member; a sealing member movable between a sealing position in which the supply opening is sealed and an unsealing position in which the supply opening is unsealed; a sealing member moving means for moving the sealing member from the sealing position to the unsealing position to unseal the supply opening by a driving force transmitted from a driving motor provided in a main assembly; and a memory for storing sealing showing indicative of a sealed state of the supply opening with the sealing member, wherein when the main assembly detects the sealing information upon mounti

Abstract: In an X-Y address type solid state image pickup device represented by a CMOS image sensor, a back side light reception type pixel structure is adopted in which a wiring layer is provided on one side of a silicon layer including photo-diodes formed therein, and visible light is taken in from the other side of the silicon layer, namely, from the side (back side) opposite to the wiring layer. Wiring can be made without taking a light-receiving surface into account, and the degree of freedom in wiring for the pixels is enhanced.

Abstract: In an X-Y address type solid state image pickup device represented by a CMOS image sensor, a back side light reception type pixel structure is adopted in which a wiring layer is provided on one side of a silicon layer including photo-diodes formed therein, and visible light is taken in from the other side of the silicon layer, namely, from the side (back side) opposite to the wiring layer. Wiring can be made without taking a light-receiving surface into account, and the degree of freedom in wiring for the pixels is enhanced.

Abstract: The information storing medium has a substrate, a storing element, provided on the substrate, for storing information, a protecting portion, covering the storing element, for protecting the storing element, an electrical contact point that is provided beside the protecting portion on a side of the substrate, on which the storing element is provided, and is electrically connected to the storing element, and a sliding region that is provided on the electrical contact point. In the information storing medium, when the storing medium is mounted on the apparatus main body, the electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the apparatus main body. Also, when the electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point slides on the electrical contact point in the sliding region.

Abstract: The information storing medium has a substrate, a storing element, provided on the substrate, for storing information, a protecting portion, covering the storing element, for protecting the storing element, an electrical contact point that is provided beside the protecting portion on a side of the substrate, on which the storing element is provided, and is electrically connected to the storing element, and a sliding region that is provided on the electrical contact point. In the information storing medium, when the storing medium is mounted on the apparatus main body, the electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the apparatus main body. Also, when the electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point slides on the electrical contact point in the sliding region.

Abstract: A remanufacturing method for remanufacturing a process cartridge includes (i) a pin removing step of removing a pin which connects the transfer member unit and the drum unit at each of one and the other longitudinal ends of the process cartridge; (ii) a drum unit removing step of removing the drum unit from the transfer member unit; (iii) a one-end cover removing step of removing an end cover from one longitudinal end of the transfer member unit; (iv) a screw unit removing step of removing a screw unit, wherein the screw unit integrally includes a screw disposed in a removed developer accommodating portion, provided in the transfer member unit, for accommodating a developer removed from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a gear for transmitting a rotational driving force to the screw, and an inlet opening for feeding a developer from the drum unit into the removed developer accommodating portion, and wherein when the screw unit is removed from the transfer member unit frame, the screw disposed in th

Abstract: The information storing medium has a substrate, a storing element, provided on the substrate, for storing information, a protecting portion, covering the storing element, for protecting the storing element, an electrical contact point that is provided beside the protecting portion on a side of the substrate, on which the storing element is provided, and is electrically connected to the storing element, and a sliding region that is provided on the electrical contact point. In the information storing medium, when the storing medium is mounted on the apparatus main body, the electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the apparatus main body. Also, when the electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point slides on the electrical contact point in the sliding region.

Abstract: In an X-Y address type solid state image pickup device represented by a CMOS image sensor, a back side light reception type pixel structure is adopted in which a wiring layer is provided on one side of a silicon layer including photo-diodes formed therein. and visible light is taken in from the other side of the silicon layer, namely, from the side (back side) opposite to the wiring layer. wiring can be made without taking a light-receiving surface into account, and the degree of freedom in wiring for the pixels is enhanced.

Abstract: A cartridge which is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus is provided with non-volatile storing medium. In this non-volatile storing medium, a predetermined value is stored. The predetermined value is used for controlling the image forming apparatus together with the count value which is counted when forming images. The count value for counting images formed in a first image formation mode is different from the count value that is counted when forming images in a second image formation mode whose maximum amount of waste toner contained in a cleaning container is different from that of the first image mode. With the structure thus arranged, the number of printable sheets is made greater before the waste toner is filled in the cleaning container up to its limit, hence enabling the user to secure a longer period of time for preparing the cartridge.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a brush roller, contactable to an image bearing member, for removing toner from the image bearing member and a brush driving force transmission path, which is different from a driving force transmission path for the image bearing member. The brush roller is rotated through the brush driving force transmission path with a speed of rotation smaller than that of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A cleaning container having a highly durable drum in which removed toner is efficiently accumulated by toner conveyance having a backflow preventive function and upward conveyance. Optical fill-up detection is provided for detecting that the container is full of removed toner before a malfunction is caused. The cleaning container is divided into three chambers, a cleaning chamber, a removed toner accumulating chamber and an intermediate conveying chamber by one partition plate. In the cleaning chamber, toner is conveyed with a screw, and in the intermediate conveying chamber, toner is conveyed upward by a cylindrical impeller having ribs, guide. In removed toner small chambers partitioned with partition ribs, toner is stored from the upstream side with a screw partially having a reversed helical configuration, and in the small chamber at the most downstream side, the fill-up is optically detected.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning member for removing residual toner from an image bearing member. A supporting portion for supporting the cleaning member, the supporting portion being of a material different from that of the cleaning member. A reinforcing member, wherein the reinforcing member and the cleaning member sandwich the supporting portion.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum mounting method for mounting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum to a frame of a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the method including the steps of (a) a first inserting step of inserting a first drum shaft provided at one end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum into a first frame hole provided in a first projected portion at one end portion which is projected in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of a frame of the process cartridge at one longitudinal end of the frame of; (b) facing step of facing, while the first drum shaft is inserted into the first frame hole, the other end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to a second projected portion projected from the frame in a direction crossing with the longitudinal direction of the frame at the other longitudinal end of the frame, by moving the other end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for an image carrier includes a cleaning member for removing remaining developer left on the image carrier; and a sealing member disposed on each opposite end of the cleaning means for preventing the developer removed by the cleaning member from leaking out. The sealing member cleans a surface to which a distance-ensuring device for maintaining a prescribed distance between the image carrier and another electrophotographic process means, extends, and contacts with the image carrier.

Abstract: A cartridge which is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus is provided with non-volatile storing medium. In this non-volatile storing medium, a predetermined value is stored. The predetermined value is used for controlling the image forming apparatus together with the count value which is counted when forming images. The count value for counting images formed in a first image formation mode is different from the count value that is counted when forming images in a second image formation mode whose maximum amount of waste toner contained in a cleaning container is different from that of the first image mode. With the structure thus arranged, the number of printable sheets is made greater before the waste toner is filled in the cleaning container up to its limit, hence enabling the user to secure a longer period of time for preparing the cartridge.

Abstract: In a method of mounting a cleaning member in a process cartridge, the cleaning member to be mounted in the process cartridge has in the opposite ends thereof screw-cramping holes for fixing a supporting plate to the frame of the cartridge, and cut-away portions for fitting and inserting thereinto pins for adjustably moving the supporting plate in a direction for adjustment when the mounting position is adjusted before the supporting plate is fixed to the frame, and during the adjustment of the mounting, the pins are fitted in the cut-away portions and the cleaning member has its mounted position adjusted by the pins being moved, and after the cleaning member has been moved to a predetermined position, the opposite sides of the supporting plate are screw-cramped to thereby effect the positioning of the cleaning member.