Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including an output contact movable between an electrical connecting position and a retracted position retracted from the electrical connecting position. The process cartridge includes a movable operation member movable relative to a cartridge frame, wherein when the process cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus, the movable operation member is engageable with a fixed engageable member fixed in the main assembly of the apparatus to move relative to the cartridge frame, and is engageable with a displaceable engaging portion of the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted position to the electrical connecting position; and an input electrical contact for receiving a voltage for enabling the process device by engagement with the output contact moved to the electrical connecting position.

Abstract: A disassembling tool pushes first and second coupling members out of a process cartridge that also has an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and first and second coupling members for rotatably coupling first and second frames of the cartridge together. The disassembling tool includes first and second base bodies, first and second engagement portions provided on the first and second base bodies respectively, and engageable with the cartridge to position the cartridge when the tool is mounted on the cartridge, and first and second pushing-out portions provided for movement relative to the first and second base bodies, respectively, for pushing out the first and second coupling members, respectively. The first and second engagement portions are provided at a location opposed to the first and second pushing-out portions, respectively, in a movement direction in which the first and second pushing-out portions are moved, respectively.

Abstract: A process cartridge has an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a charging roller for charging the drum, a spacer movable between a separation position for separating the roller from the drum and a contact position for contacting the roller to the drum, a rotatable receiving gear for receiving a driving force produced by rotation of the drum to move the spacer from the separation position to the contact position, and a rotatable transmission gar engaged with the receiving gear and the spacer to transmit the force from the receiving gear to the spacer to move the spacer from the separation position to the contact position, wherein play is provide in the engagement portion between the receiving gear and the transmission gear so that they can be freely rotated relative to each other by a predetermined angle, whereby the drum is not reversely rotated when the roller is separated from the drum.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus on which a process cartridge is detachably mountable forms an image on a recording medium, and has a main body electrical contact electrically connected to a cartridge electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted on an apparatus main body, an electrically grounded electrically conductive discharge preventing member for effecting discharge between it and a charged foreign substance to thereby prevent discharge from occurring between the foreign substance and the main body electrical contact when the foreign substance has entered the apparatus main body on which the process cartridge is not mounted. The discharge preventing member is movable between a first position located in the entry route of the cartridge and a second position retracted from the first position and located outside the entry route. The apparatus also has an actuating member for moving the discharge preventing member from the first to the second position.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes an output contact movable between electrical connecting and retracted positions, a displaceable member for moving the output contact, and an elastic function member for elastically urging the displaceable member to urge the output contact toward the retracted position. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, and a movable operation member engageable with a main-assembly fixed engageable member and with the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted to the electrical connecting position against the bias of the elastic function member, in interrelation with the movement of the displaceable member, after the engagement with the fixed engageable member when the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly. The cartridge also includes an input electrical contact.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including an output contact movable between an electrical connecting position and a retracted position retracted from the electrical connecting position. The process cartridge includes a movable operation member movable relative to a cartridge frame, wherein when the process cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus, the movable operation member is engageable with a fixed engageable member fixed in the main assembly of the apparatus to move relative to the cartridge frame, and is engageable with a displaceable engaging portion of the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted position to the electrical connecting position; and an input electrical contact for receiving a voltage for enabling the process device by engagement with the output contact moved to the electrical connecting position.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including an output contact movable between an electrical connecting position and a retracted position retracted from the electrical connecting position. The process cartridge includes a movable operation member movable relative to a cartridge frame, wherein when the process cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus, the movable operation member is engageable with a fixed engageable member fixed in the main assembly of the apparatus to move relative to the cartridge frame, and is engageable with a displaceable engaging portion of the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted position to the electrical connecting position; and an input electrical contact for receiving a voltage for enabling the process device by engagement with the output contact moved to the electrical connecting position.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes an output contact movable between electrical connecting and retracted positions, a displaceable member for moving the output contact, and an elastic function member for elastically urging the displaceable member to urge the output contact toward the retracted position. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, and a movable operation member engageable with a main-assembly fixed engageable member and with the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted to the electrical connecting position against the bias of the elastic function member, in interrelation with the movement of the displaceable member, after the engagement with the fixed engageable member when the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly. The cartridge also includes an input electrical contact.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes an output contact movable between electrical connecting and retracted positions, a displaceable member for moving the output contact, and an elastic function member for elastically urging the displaceable member to urge the output contact toward the retracted position. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, and a movable operation member engageable with a main-assembly fixed engageable member and with the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted to the electrical connecting position against the bias of the elastic function member, in interrelation with the movement of the displaceable member, after the engagement with the fixed engageable member when the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly. The cartridge also includes an input electrical contact.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus on which a process cartridge is detachably mountable forms an image on a recording medium, and has a main body electrical contact electrically connected to a cartridge electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted on an apparatus main body, an electrically grounded electrically conductive discharge preventing member for effecting discharge between it and a charged foreign substance to thereby prevent discharge from occurring between the foreign substance and the main body electrical contact when the foreign substance has entered the apparatus main body on which the process cartridge is not mounted. The discharge preventing member is movable between a first position located in the entry route of the cartridge and a second position retracted from the first position and located outside the entry route. The apparatus also has an actuating member for moving the discharge preventing member from the first to the second position.

Abstract: A developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The developing device is mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The disassembling tool for a process cartridge has a base body, an engagement portion provided on the base body and adapted to be engaged with the process cartridge to thereby position the process cartridge, a pushing-out portion provided for movement relative to the base body for pushing out a coupling member, and a grip portion adapted to be gripped when the pushing-out portion is to be moved, and connected to the pushing-out portion, and the engagement portion is provided at a location opposed to the pushing-out portion in a movement direction in which the pushing-out portion is moved. Thereby, a process cartridge having a frame can be simply disassembled.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus on which a process cartridge is detachably mountable forms an image on a recording medium, and has a main body electrical contact electrically connected to a cartridge electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted on an apparatus main body, an electrically grounded electrically conductive discharge preventing member for effecting discharge between it and a charged foreign substance to thereby prevent discharge from occurring between the foreign substance and the main body electrical contact when the foreign substance has entered the apparatus main body on which the process cartridge is not mounted. The discharge preventing member is movable between a first position located in the entry route of the cartridge and a second position retracted from the first position and located outside the entry route. The apparatus also has an actuating member for moving the discharge preventing member from the first to the second position.

Abstract: A simple method for remanufacturing a process cartridge which includes removing a first cover, removing a second cover, separating frames, removing a fixing pin, removing a developing roller, refilling developer, positioning provisionally a supporting frame to a developing frame, attaching the developing roller, attaching the supporting frame, connecting a first frame and connecting a second frame.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including an output contact movable between an electrical connecting position and a retracted position retracted from the electrical connecting position. The process cartridge includes a movable operation member movable relative to a cartridge frame, wherein when the process cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus, the movable operation member is engageable with a fixed engageable member fixed in the main assembly of the apparatus to move relative to the cartridge frame, and is engageable with a displaceable engaging portion of the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted position to the electrical connecting position; and an input electrical contact for receiving a voltage for enabling the process device by engagement with the output contact moved to the electrical connecting position.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including an output contact movable between an electrical connecting position and a retracted position retracted from the electrical connecting position. The process cartridge includes a movable operation member movable relative to a cartridge frame, wherein when the process cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus, the movable operation member is engageable with a fixed engageable member fixed in the main assembly of the apparatus to move relative to the cartridge frame, and is engageable with a displaceable engaging portion of the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted position to the electrical connecting position; and an input electrical contact for receiving a voltage for enabling the process device by engagement with the output contact moved to the electrical connecting position.

Abstract: The disassembling tool for a process cartridge has a base body, an engagement portion provided on the base body and adapted to be engaged with the process cartridge to thereby position the process cartridge, a pushing-out portion provided for movement relative to the base body for pushing out a coupling member, and a grip portion adapted to be gripped when the pushing-out portion is to be moved, and connected to the pushing-out portion, and the engagement portion is provided at a location opposed to the pushing-out portion in a movement direction in which the pushing-out portion is moved. Thereby, a process cartridge having a frame can be simply disassembled.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a container containing a developing agent and having an opening; a developer bearing member provided at the opening of the container; a magnetic sealing member magnetically restricting leakage of the developing agent out of an end of the developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member the magnetic sealing member being formed at the end in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member as extending along a circumferential direction of the developer bearing member; a sheet member preventing the developing agent from leaking out of the opening of the container, the sheet member being attached along the longitudinal direction of the container forming the opening, the end in the longitudinal direction of a free end of the sheet member entering in a space between the developer bearing member and the magnetic sealing member; and an auxiliary member holding a free end side of the sheet member around the magnetic sealing member.

Abstract: A method of reproducing a process cartridge or a developing apparatus includes the step of removing a supporting member from a developing frame body, the step of separating a developer container and the developing frame body from each other in a joint portion wherein the developer container and the developing frame body are joined together, the sticking step of sticking a seal member on an opening portion for supplying a developer in the separated developer container to close the opening portion, the developer refilling step of refilling the developer container with the developer, the step of recoupling the developer container and the developing frame body together thereafter, and the step of reattaching the supporting member onto one of the developer container and the developing frame body. As a result, the recycling of the developing apparatus or the process cartridge can be effected easily.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes an output contact movable between electrical connecting and retracted positions, a displaceable member for moving the output contact, and an elastic function member for elastically urging the displaceable member to urge the output contact toward the retracted position. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, and a movable operation member engageable with a main-assembly fixed engageable member and with the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted to the electrical connecting position against the bias of the elastic function member, in interrelation with the movement of the displaceable member, after the engagement with the fixed engageable member when the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly. The cartridge also includes an input electrical contact.