Abstract: A developing apparatus includes magnetic members, which are provided at ends of a developing agent bearing member with gaps therebetween and adapted to form magnetic seals between the magnetic members and the developing agent bearing member, are charged so that leakage between the magnetic seals and magnetic members, such as the developing agent bearing member, disposed in the vicinity of the magnetic seals is prevented.

Abstract: A developing device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus are provided which can suppress and prevent the slipping-through of a developer to the end portions of a developing sleeve and can suppress and prevent the leakage of the developer by a shock or the like. A developer sleeve 31 having a magnet roller 32 therein is disposed in the opening portion of a developing container 30, and magnet seal members 34 for regulating the movement of the toner are disposed in non-contact with the developing sleeve 31 on the outer peripheral surface of the opposite ends of the developing sleeve 31, which is adjacent to the developing container 30. The magnet roller 32 has a plurality of magnetic poles, and N and S poles are magnetized to multiple magnetic poles on the inner peripheral surfaces of the magnet seal members 34.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developing apparatus comprising a developing container for containing magnetic developing agent, a developing agent bearing member provided at an opening portion of the developing container and adapted to bear and convey the magnetic developing agent, an internal magnet provided within the developing agent bearing member, and a magnetic seal member provided along a circumferential direction of the developing agent bearing member and adapted to prevent leakage of the developing agent at ends of the developing agent bearing member, and wherein the internal magnet and the magnetic seal member have magnetic poles of same polarities in the vicinity of a collecting inlet of the opening portion.

Abstract: A magnetic seal mounting method for mounting a magnetic seal member to a developing frame which has a magnetic seal mounting portion extended in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of a developing roller mounting portion for mounting a developing roller at each of one and the other longitudinal ends of the developing roller mounting portion, and a supporting member mounting portion for mounting a supporting member for supporting a developing blade extended along the longitudinal direction of the developing roller mounting portion, the method including the steps of: (a) engaging the magnetic seal member to the magnetic seal mounting portion while an elastic member between the magnetic seal mounting portion and the magnetic seal member is deformed, when the magnetic seal member is mounted to the magnetic seal mounting portion; (b) mounting the supporting member to a developing frame so that position of the magnetic seal member is regulated by the supporting member for supporting the developing bl

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising a photosensitive member, a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, a first frame containing the developing means; and a second frame coupled with the first frame, the second frame including a developer containing portion for containing a developer to be supplied to the developing means to develop the latent image, wherein the second frame is a selected one of plural secondary frames engageable with the first frame and having different developer containing capacities.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recycling a process cartridge removably mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of: (a) dividing a process cartridge into a first frame including an image bearing member, and a second frame including a developing means and a developer containing means for containing developer used by the developing means and having an opening through which the developer is supplied to the developing means; (b) thereafter, removing the developing means from the second frame; (c) thereafter, replenishing developer to the developer containing means through the opening; (d) thereafter, removably attaching a seal for closing the opening to the opening; and (e) thereafter, locking the first and second frames to each other, thereby assembling the process cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprises an image bearing member, a conductive member arranged at one axial end of the image bearing member to contact with an electric contact of the image forming apparatus, thereby electrically earthing the image bearing member, and an opening member abutted against a laser light path blocking means of the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, thereby opening a laser light path. The opening member is arranged at the other axial end of the image bearing member remote from the conductive member.

Abstract: A toner accommodating container usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge contains an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a processing device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the container includes a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a cover member provided to cover an opening of the toner accommodating portion; a grip portion provided on the cover member; a partition wall extending in the toner accommodating portion along a short side thereof with a gap between the partition wall and the cover member, and wherein the partition wall and the cover member are contactable to each other when the toner accommodating container is handled with the grip portion, and the cover member is deformed.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a drum frame for supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame mounted to a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a toner frame having a toner accommodating portion for accommodating a toner to be used by the developing roller, wherein the toner frame is provided with a coupling member for swingably coupling with the drum frame, and is provided with a grip for gripping the process cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising a photosensitive member, a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, a first frame containing the developing means; and a second frame coupled with the first frame, the second frame including a developer containing portion for containing a developer to be supplied to the developing means to develop the latent image, wherein the second frame is a selected one of plural secondary frames engageable with the first frame and having different developer containing capacities.

Abstract: A toner accommodating container usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner usable for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a partition wall extending in the toner accommodating portion in a direction along a short side of the toner accommodating portion to define a plurality of space therein; a toner filling opening, at a longitudinal end of the toner accommodating portion, for permitting toner to be filled into the toner accommodating portion; and a through-passage extending from one longitudinal end to the other longitudinal end along a length of the toner accommodating portion so as to permit the toner to be supplied into the spaces.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a filling opening for filling the toner to the toner accommodating portion, wherein the filling opening is openably sealed by a cap; a transfer opening for permitting transfer of a toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member onto a recording material, wherein the transfer opening is provided on the cartridge frame; a protection cover for protecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a supporting member for supporting the protection cover so that the protection cover is movable between a protection position in which the protection cover covers the transfer opening and a retracted position in which it o

Abstract: A method is disclosed for attaching a sheet for receiving toner removed from an image bearing member to a frame. The method includes the steps of adhering the sheet to the frame, using an adhesive, while bending the frame and releasing the frame after the sheet is adhered to the frame. A toner-guiding sheet for guiding toner removed from an image bearing member to a toner-receiving unit is also disclosed. The sheet is widened near a central portion in a longitudinal direction so that the sheet edge will conform to the bent shape of an attachment surface. A cleaning device is also disclosed. The cleaning device may include a frame and a sheet attached to the frame by an adhesive in a condition that a tension force is applied to the sheet.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a cylinder and a photosensitive layer thereon; a process device actable on the photosensitive drum; a drum shaft for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum on the cartridge frame, the drum shaft extending through the photosensitive drum and having a length sufficient to be supported by the cartridge frame at one end thereof and at the other end thereof wherein the drum shaft is provided on its outer periphery adjacent its one end with projections and recesses, and is engaged with a hole in the cartridge frame; and a preventing member for preventing the drum shaft from disengaging from the cartridge frame.

Abstract: An image bearing member, process device acting on the image bearing member, a first frame, a second frame lockable and separable with respect to the first frame, a locking body and a locking member lockable to the locking body, provided to separably interlock the first and second frames, and a recessed portion and a projection fittable into the recessed portion which are provided to separably interlock the first and second frames. With above construction it is possible to provide a process cartridge, an image forming system, and a method for assembling a cleaning device, which can be easily assembled and can sufficiently cope a large when the number of re-cycles.

Abstract: A developing device includes a container for containing a magnetic developer therein, a developer carrier for carrying and conveying the magnetic developer in the container, a magnetic member for forming a magnetic seal area of a predetermined gap with respect to the surface of the developer carrier in the end portions of the developer carrier along the circumferential direction of the developer carrier. The magnetic member has a plurality of magnetic poles along the circumferential direction of the developer carrier in the magnetic seal area, and an external magnetic pole provided outside the endmost magnetic pole forming the magnetic seal for conveying a magnetic flux travelling from the endmost magnetic pole toward the outside of the magnetic seal area.

Abstract: A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing frame, including a toner receptacle for accommodating a toner used for development by the developing device, for supporting the developing device, a toner supply opening, provided in the developing frame, for supplying the developing device with the accommodated toner, a toner seal, detachably mounted on a mounting portion provided at the circumference of the toner supply opening of the developing frame, for sealing the toner supply opening, and seal members provided in a state of being overlapped on the toner seal at the mounting portion in order to prevent leakage of the toner from the developing frame.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is constituted of a toner frame for containing developer and a developing frame for holding developer carrier, and both frames include plural pairs of connecting faces, one of which is made separable from the other faces, located at their connecting portion for mutual connection. When the apparatus is to be reused, the toner and developing frames are readily separated by removing the connecting face pair even where the connecting face pair formed at the connecting portion of the toner frame and developing frame had been connected by welding or whatever. The toner frame and developing frame can be reconnected by welding again the remaining connecting faces at their connecting portions.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a development roller for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used by the development roller for development, a photosensitive drum frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a development frame including the toner accommodating portion, and a support frame including a first toner leakage preventing member positioned at one longitudinal end of the development roller and a second toner leakage preventing member positioned at the other longitudinal end of the development roller.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a rotatable charging member, contactable to a member to be charged, for charging the member to be charged, the rotatable charging member is provided with a rotation shaft; an electroconductive elastic member for urging the rotatable charging member to the member to be charged, wherein the rotatable charging member is capable of being supplied with a voltage through the elastic member; wherein a part of the elastic member and a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft are contacted to electrically connect the elastic member with the rotation shaft.