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: 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.

Abstract: A process unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising a unit frame and a memory member provided in the process cartridge. The memory member includes a base; a storing element, provided on the base, for storing information; and 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. A sending member, provided in the base, sends information stored in the storing element to the memory antenna and an outer casing member covers the base provided with the storing element, the sending member and the memory antenna. When the memory unit is mounted to the main assembly of apparatus, the unit frame is contacted to a main assembly antenna cover provided in the main assembly of the apparatus.

Abstract: This process cartridge comprises 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 comprising a main body electrical contact, and main body pushing means. When the process cartridge is attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it is possible to achieve electrically strong connection of the cartridge electrical contact to the main body electrical contact by the pushed portion being pushed by the main body pushing means. 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: 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 developing device is detachably mountable to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The device is for developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrophotographic photosensitive member and includes a developing member for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer container containing therein a developer to be used to effect the development of the electrostatic latent image by the developing member, a developing frame for supporting the developing member, a welding rib provided along the lengthwise direction of the developing frame to connect the developer container and the developing frame together by-ultrasonic welding, and a plurality of reinforcing members provided on the back of that surface of the developing frame on which the welding rib is provided, along the lengthwise direction of the welding rib, to increase the strength of the developing frame.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus including 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: An electric contact member for applying a development bias voltage to a development sleeve for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum which electric contact member is used by being attached to a flange to be attached to an end portion of the development sleeve.

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: 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: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging roller for electrically charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; an input electrode extended along a longitudinal direction of the developing roller; an output electrode extended along a longitudinal direction of the developing roller; a grounding contact for electrically grounding the photosensitive drum to a main assembly of the apparatus when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the grounding contact being exposed at an end surface of a cartridge frame provided at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum and being disposed across an axis of the photosensitive drum; a charging bias contact for receiving a charging bias voltage to be applied to the charging roller from the

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first electrostatic-capacity generating portion disposed at such a position that the first electrostatic capacity generating portion contacts the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion. The first electrostatic capacity generates portion generating an electrostatic capacity corresponding to an amount of the developer. A second electrostatic-capacity generating portion is disposed at such a position that the second electrostatic-capacity generating portion does not contact the developer accommodated in the developer-accommodating portion. The second electrostatic capacity generating portion generates a reference electrostatic capacity.

Abstract: The 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 so as 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 body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge including: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging member for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing member for developing with toner an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a first frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive 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-fittin

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, including; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process member for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a frame for holding the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; conex portions, which are provided coaxially with an axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and protruded 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: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, an electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer remaining amount detecting device for successively detecting the remaining amount of developer to be used for the development of the electrostatic latent image by the developing device, and a developer remaining amount indicating device for indicating the remaining amount of developer detected by the developer remaining amount detecting device. The developer remaining amount indicating device indicates the remaining amount of developer as a gauge and indicates it with graduations shown on the gauge that are changed over in conformity with the remaining amount of developer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising an image bearing member, at least one process means acting on the image bearing member, and a detection member for detecting the presence/absence of developer supplied to the image bearing member on the basis of electrostatic capacity.

Abstract: A developing device detachably mountable to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and for developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a developing member for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer container containing therein a developer to be used to effect the development of the electrostatic latent image by the developing member, a developing frame for supporting the developing member, a welding rib provided along the lengthwise direction of the developing frame to connect the developer container and the developing frame together by ultrasonic welding, and a plurality of reinforcing members provided on the back of that surface of the developing frame on which the welding rib is provided, along the lengthwise direction of the welding rib, to increase the strength of the developing frame.

Abstract: An electric contact member for applying a development bias voltage to a development sleeve for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum which electric contact member is used by being attached to a flange to be attached to an end portion of the development sleeve.