Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus on which a process cartridge is detachably mountable and for forming an image on a recording medium, having a main body electrical contact electrically connected to a cartridge electrical contact the process cartridge has when the process cartridge is mounted on an apparatus main body, an electrically earthed 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 being movable between a first position located in the entry route of the process cartridge and a second position retracted from the first position and located outside the entry route, and an actuating member for moving the discharge preventing member from the first position to the second posit

Abstract: A developing device usable with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing member for supplying a developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first electrode, and a second electrode. An electrical signal is generated in accordance with an electrostatic capacity between the first electrode and second electrode when the first electrode or the second electrode is supplied with a voltage from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and is measured by the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to detect a remaining amount of the developer.

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, 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 away from the electrical connecting position, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; 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 po

Abstract: The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a first unit frame body supporting the drum, a second unit frame body having a developing device and a developer containing portion, a first connection frame body for connecting one end of the first and second unit frame bodies with respect to the axial direction of the drum, a second connection frame body for connecting the other end of the first and second unit frame bodies with respect to the axial direction, first, second, and third fixation devices for fixing the first and second connection frame bodies to the first and second unit frame bodies through abutment, and a fourth fixation device for fixing the second connection frame body and the second unit frame body to each other by filling a gap between the second connection frame body and the second unit frame body.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing device being mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said developing device includes a developer carrying member for feeding a developer to said electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a first electroconductive portion; a second electroconductive portion for cooperating with said first electroconductive portion to provide an electrostatic capacity; a first electrical contact for receiving a voltage to be applied to said first electroconductive portion from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; a second electrical contact for transmitting, to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electric signal corresponding to an electrostatic capacity between said first electroconducti

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: A developing device that is mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body to be used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which includes a developing sleeve for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first electrode; a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, and an electrical contact portion for receiving a bias applied to the developing sleeve and the second electrode from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, and in which the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in positions to which a developer can be admitted, and a value corresponding to a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode which exists at the time of applying a voltage to the second electrode is detected by the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, thereby detecting a developer amount by the electrophotographic imag

Abstract: A process cartridge has an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing member, a first frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a second frame for supporting the developing member, a coupling pin for coupling the first frame to the second frame to be rotatable relative to each other, a first hole through which the coupling pin penetrates and which is provided in the first frame, a second hole into which the coupling pin is press-fitted and which is provided in the first frame, and a closed portion provided at a leading end of the coupling pin in a press fit direction in order to close the second hole.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging roller for charging the drum; a developing roller for developing an image formed on the drum; an input electrode; an output electrode; a grounding contact for grounding the drum; a charging bias contact receiving a charging bias voltage applied to the charging roller; a developing bias contact receiving a developing bias applied to the developing roller; an input electrical contact for receiving an input bias applied to the input electrode; and an output contact for transmitting, to the main assembly, an output corresponding to electrostatic capacities between the input and output electrodes and between the developing roller and the output electrode to detect in substantially real time a remaining amount of developer in the cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body has a developer storing container with a supplying opening portion through which developer is supplied to a developing member, a developer seal member removably attached to the developer storing container, a grip portion for pulling out the developer seal member, and a contact portion electrically connected to a main body electrical contact of the image forming apparatus main body when the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. In this process cartridge, the grip portion covers the contact portion to cut an electrical connection between the contact portion and the main body electrical contact in the case that the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body without removing the developer seal member. In this way, the developer seal member that is removably attached to the developer storing container can be pulled out without fail.

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 method of reproducing a process cartridge or a developing apparatus has 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 for closing an opening portion for supplying a developer in the separated developer container, 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. Thereby, the reproduction of the developing apparatus or the process cartridge can be effected easily.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developing apparatus comprising a container containing a developing agent and having an opening; a developer bearing member provided at the opening of said container; a magnetic sealing member magnetically restricting leakage of the developing agent out of an end of said developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction of said developer bearing member, said magnetic sealing member being formed at the end in the longitudinal direction of said developer bearing member as extending along a circumferential direction of said developer bearing member; a sheet member preventing the developing agent from leaking out of the opening of said container, said 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 said sheet member entering in a space between said developer bearing member and said magnetic sealing member; and an auxiliary member holding a free end side of said sheet memb

Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a process cartridge includes a step of removing a pin to thereby separate a drum unit and a developing container, a step of separating a developing frame and a developer frame from each other to thereby separate the developing container, a step of resupplying the developer to a developer containing portion of the developer frame, a step of superposing a reseal member on end portion seal members provided at lengthwise one end and other end of a developer supply opening for supplying the developer contained in a developer containing portion to a developing roller, and interposing the reseal member on each of widthwise one end and other end of the developer supply opening along the lengthwise direction of the developer supply opening, and reuniting the developing frame and the developer frame, and a step of reuniting the reconstructed developing container and the drum unit.

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 device to be mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body and used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, includes a developing container, an electrode attached to the inside of the developing container, a conductive member for securing electric conduction from the inside to the outside of the developing container, wherein the conductive member and the electrode are electrically connected by the conductive member being press-fit in a fitting portion provided in the electrode, and an elastic sealing member press-fit in a gap between the conductive member and the developing container.

Abstract: A developer container with an increased capacity that does not enlarge a process cartridge or an apparatus main body used therewith includes flanges on an opposite surface of a developing frame respectively contacting flanges formed on the upper part and the lower part on a wall surface of a container frame, on which a developer feeding opening is formed. To form the developer, container the flanges are welded at their connection portions by ultrasonic welding. Then, a flange of a lid frame is connected to a flange of the container frame by ultrasonic waves, thereby forming a developer container, in which the container frame is connected with the developing frame with the developer feeding opening being put between the frames.

Abstract: A developing device has a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, a developer containing portion for containing therein a developer to be supplied to the developing roller, a first frame for supporting the developing roller, a second frame for movably supporting the first frame, and supporting the developer containing portion, and an urging member for urging the developing roller toward the image bearing member.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging member for charging the drum; a developing member for developing with toner an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum; a first frame supporting the drum and the charging member; a second frame supporting the developing member; a first hole provided in the first frame; a second hole provided in the first frame; a third hole provided in the second frame; a connecting pin extending through the first hole, the second hole, and the third hole to rotatably connect the second frame to the first frame; and a reinforcing portion provided on the downstream side of the first frame with respect to the direction in which the connecting pin is force-fitted so as to restrain deformation of the second hole when force-fitting the connecting pin into the second hole.