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: 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 cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning member for cleaning off toner from an image bearing member, a support member for supporting the cleaning member, and a receiving portion for receiving the toner cleaned off by the cleaning member, the receiving portion having a cleaning frame, and a connecting portion for connecting both end surfaces of the cleaning frame in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, in which the support member is provided with a bent portion bent on a deeper side of the cleaning frame, and the connecting portion is below an upper portion of the receiving portion and above a lower surface of the bent portion.

Abstract: A memory member usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a base; a storing element, provided in the base, for storing information; a memory antenna, provided in the base, for sending the information stored in the storing element to a main assembly antenna provided in a main assembly of the apparatus, when the memory member is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; a sending member, provided in the base, for sending the information stored in the storing element to the memory antenna; and an outer casing member covering the base provided with the storing element, the sending member and the memory antenna.

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 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 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 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: 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: A memory member usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a base; a storing element, provided in the base, for storing information; a memory antenna, provided in the base, for sending the information stored in the storing element to a main assembly antenna provided in a main assembly of the apparatus, when the memory member is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; a sending member, provided in the base, for sending the information stored in the storing element to the memory antenna; and an outer casing member covering the base provided with the storing element, the sending member and the memory antenna.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image formation system forms an image on a recording material The system includes a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge is detachably mountable. The apparatus includes a main assembly and a main assembly antenna covered with a main assembly antenna outer casing member. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a storing element storing information, a memory antenna for communication with the main assembly antenna, and a memory antenna outer casing member for covering the storing element and the memory antenna. Positioning is effected for a gap between the memory antenna and the main assembly antenna by contact between an outer surface of the memory antenna outer casing member and an outer surface of the main assembly antenna outer casing member of the main assembly antenna.

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 an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process member for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a frame for holding the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; convex portions, which are provided coaxially with an axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and protrude from one side and from the other side of the frame, for positioning the process cartridge in the apparatus main body when the process cartridge is mounted to the apparatus main body, and a concave portion provided in the upper part of the frame and recessed in the one side, in which the concave portion allows the process cartridge to be inserted into the apparatus main body without abutting against a protrusion provided in the apparatus main body in an inserting process of the process cartridge.

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: An unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, including: (a) a unit frame; and (b) a memory member supported by the unit frame, the memory member including: a base; a storing element, provided on the base, for storing information; a memory antenna, provided in the base, for sending the information stored in the storing element to a main assembly antenna provided in a main assembly of the apparatus, when the memory member is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a sending member, provided in the base, for sending the information stored in the storing element to the memory antenna; and an outer casing member covering the base provided with the storing element, the sending member and the memory antenna.