Abstract: A cartridge detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes: a restriction member provided on a toner cartridge, the restriction member being movable between a restriction position, at which relative movement between (1) the toner cartridge attached to the attachment portion of the process cartridge and (2) the process cartridge is restricted by an engagement of the restriction member and the process cartridge, and a non-restriction position, at which the relative movement is not restricted; and a driving transmission unit for transmitting a driving force from the apparatus body to the toner cartridge by engaging with the apparatus body. The restriction member moves from the restriction position to the non-restriction position when a driving force reception unit receives the driving force from the driving transmission unit.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes: a restriction member provided on a toner cartridge, the restriction member being movable between a restriction position, at which relative movement between (1) the toner cartridge attached to the attachment portion of the process cartridge and (2) the process cartridge is restricted by an engagement of the restriction member and the process cartridge, and a non-restriction position, at which the relative movement is not restricted; and a driving transmission unit for transmitting a driving force from the apparatus body to the toner cartridge by engaging with the apparatus body. The restriction member moves from the restriction position to the non-restriction position when a driving force reception unit receives the driving force from the driving transmission unit.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a recording medium. The apparatus main body includes: a main body guide; a restraining unit movable with respect to the main body guide; and a main body abutting portion. The cartridge includes: a frame; a guided portion protruding from the frame so as to be guided by the main body guide, and abutting on the restraining unit as the cartridge is being mounted in the apparatus main body to be restrained from moving to the downstream side in a mounting direction; and a moving member movable with respect to the frame to abut on the main body abutting portion to be moved to act on the restraining unit to move the restraining unit to an allowable position in which the guided portion is allowed to move to the downstream side.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a recording medium, the apparatus main body having: a main body guide; a restraining unit movable with respect to the main body guide; and a main body abutting portion, the cartridge including: a frame; a guided portion protruded from the frame so as to be guided by the main body guide, and abutting on the restraining unit on the way the cartridge is being mounted in the apparatus main body to be restrained from moving to the downstream side in a mounting direction; and a moving member movable with respect to the frame to abut on the main body abutting portion to be moved to act on the restraining unit to move the restraining unit to an allowable position in which the guided portion is allowed to move to the downstream side.

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 remanufacturing method including: detaching first and second covers, at one and the other longitudinal ends of a process cartridge, from drum and developing frames; detaching a drum supporting member from the drum frame; separating the developing and drum frames; detaching a developing roller from the developing frame; filling a developer containing portion with the developer from a developer supply port provided on the developing frame; mounting a developing roller to a developing frame; mounting a photosensitive drum to a drum frame; securing the drum frame and the developing frame by a first cover; securing the drum and developing frames by a second cover; temporarily mounting a drum supporting member to support the photosensitive; and mounting the drum supporting member and the second cover to the drum frame by mounting a fixation member to a mounting hole provided in the second cover by using the screw.

Abstract: A unit is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a main assembly electrical contact and a rotatable electrical contact supporting member. The unit includes a unit electrical contact for electrically connecting with the main assembly electrical contact when the unit is mounted to the apparatus, and an engaging portion for engagement with the electrical contact supporting member when the unit is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus. The engaging portion causes a rotational motion of the electrical contact supporting member when the unit is inserted into the main assembly, thereby imparting a sliding motion between the unit electrical contact and the main assembly electrical contact.

Abstract: A process cartridge to be detachably attached to an electrophotographic image-forming apparatus body includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a processing unit for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a handle for gripping the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted on a first electrophotographic image-forming apparatus body; and an mounting unit provided in the cartridge frame, to which a handle member is attached for gripping the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted on a second electrophotographic image-forming apparatus body in a case where the second electrophotographic image-forming apparatus body is used on which the process cartridge is mounted in a direction different from that of the first electrophotographic image-forming apparatus.

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 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 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 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: Provided are a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the process cartridge. The process cartridge is constituted as one of at least two types of cartridges, a first cartridge and a second cartridge, and used selectively by being made detachably attachable to a main body of an identical image forming apparatus. The first cartridge includes: a cleaning unit which removes toner remaining on a surface of a medium; a cleaning frame which receives toner recovered by the cleaning unit and has an opening; and a waste toner carrying unit which is provided in the opening and carries the toner in the cleaning frame. The second cartridge includes: a cleaning unit which removes toner remaining on a surface of a medium; a cleaning frame which receives toner recovered by the cleaning unit and has an opening; and a sealing member which seals the opening without the waste toner carrying unit being provided in the opening.

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 process cartridge remanufacturing method including: detaching, at one longitudinal end of a process cartridge, a first cover member from a drum frame and a developing frame; detaching, at the other longitudinal end, a second cover member from the drum frame and the developing frame; detaching a drum supporting member from the drum frame; separating the developing frame and the drum frame; detaching a developing roller from the developing frame; filling a developer containing portion with the developer from a developer supply port provided on the developing frame; mounting a developing roller to a developing frame; mounting, at the one end, a photosensitive drum to a drum frame; securing the drum frame and the developing frame in position at the one end by a first cover member; securing the drum frame and the developing frame in position at the other end by a second cover member; temporarily mounting a drum supporting member to support the photosensitive drum at the other end; and mounting the drum supportin

Abstract: A unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a main assembly electrical contact and a rotatable electrical contact supporting member for supporting the main assembly electrical contact, the unit including a unit electrical contact for electrically connecting with the main assembly electrical contact when the unit is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; and an engaging portion for engagement with the electrical contact supporting member when the unit is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus, the engaging portion being effective to cause a rotational motion of the electrical contact supporting member in a direction crossing with an engaging direction in which the engaging portion is brought into engagement with the electrical contact supporting member, when the unit is being inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein a sliding motion is imparted between the unit ele

Abstract: This process cartridge includes a frame body, a cartridge electrical contact, and a pushed portion provided on the frame body. The process cartridge is detachably attached to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a main body electrical contact, and a main body pusher. When the process cartridge is attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it is possible to achieve an electrically strong connection of the cartridge electrical contact to the main body electrical contact by the pushed portion being pushed by the main body pusher. Owing to this simple structure, it is possible to realize the electrical connection of the cartridge electrical contact to the main body electrical contact.

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.