Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably attachable to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a laser beam applying member, a shutter for shutting off the optical path of a laser beam emitted from the laser beam applying member, a portion for moving the shutter to a retracted position retracted from a shutting-off position for shutting off the optical path, a main body frame provided upstream of the shutter with respect to the attachment direction of the process cartridge, and an opening portion provided in the main body frame. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device for acting on the drum, and a cartridge abutting portion adapted, when the cartridge is to be attached to the main body of an apparatus functionally differing from the main body of the image forming apparatus, to abut against a main body frame provided on the main body of the functionally different apparatus to thereby block the attachment of the process cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a laser beam applying member, a shutter for shutting off the optical path of a laser beam emitted from the laser beam applying member, a main body abutting portion for moving the shutter to a retracted position retracted from a shutting-off position for shutting off the optical path, a main body frame provided upstream of the shutter with respect to the attachment direction of the process cartridge, and an opening portion provided in the main body frame has an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a cartridge abutting portion adapted, when the process cartridge is to be attached to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus functionally differing from the main body of the image forming apparatus, to abut against a main body frame provided on the main body of the functionally different image formi

Abstract: A developing device frame 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, a developing roller for supplying toner to the electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner to be used for development operation of the developing roller, and a stirring member for stirring the toner fed out of the toner accommodating portion, the developing device frame includes a developing roller mounting portion for mounting the developing roller; an antenna member mounting portion for mounting, along a longitudinal direction of the developing roller, an antenna member having a portion opposed to the developing roller and an extension discharging portion extended to a portion not opposed to the developing roller from the opposed portion, wherein the antenna member produces an ele

Abstract: A cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive drum of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes plural holes penetrating a metallic hollow cylindrical base body in a radial direction near its end portion, where the end portion of the base body and the holes are filled with resin, and a flange is formed by outset molding so as to integrate the base body and the flange.

Abstract: A remanufacturing method of a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes disassembling the process cartridge into a first frame having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer and a second frame having a developer carrying member for carrying the developer supplied from the developer accommodating portion toward an image bearing member, thus exposing an opening of the first frame for permitting movement of the developer from the first frame to the second frame; removing residual which is resulted from a covering member having been used for sealing the opening and which remains around the opening, wherein the covering member has a sealing portion for sealing the opening and an extension for permitting the sealing portion to be torn with a part thereof remaining around the opening to open the opening, by pulling the extension, wherein the residual is a part of the sealing portion; mounting a fresh covering member to seal the opening; then supplying the d

Abstract: A developing device holder usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus (the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller, and a developing frame for supporting the developing roller), wherein the developing device holder includes (i) an antenna contact mounting portion for mounting an antenna contact for transmitting an electric signal to a detecting device provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to notify mounting of the process cartridge to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the antenna contact mounting portion mounts the antenna contact so as to be exposed from the developing device holder when the developing device holder is mounted to the developing frame; and (ii) a guiding member for guiding the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming app

Abstract: A toner container for containing toner to be used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member by a developing device, usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge containing the photosensitive member and the developing device, includes: a first frame having a toner supply opening for supplying the toner to the developing device and a mounting portion for mounting a rotatable stirring member for stirring the toner contained in the toner container; a second frame coupled with the first frame and having an outward projection without interference with a rotational region of the stirring member; wherein the toner container is formed by coupling the first frame and second frame.

Abstract: A developing device, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus include a device for successively detecting the toner remaining amount throughout the service life of the process cartridge. A first antenna rod is provided on a rotating agitating member, and an amount of toner between them is detected successively. By using a second fixed antenna provided in a toner container, the toner amount is successively detected when the toner amount is small. A toner scraping-off member contacting the rotating agitating member is provided in the toner container.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, for forming an image on a recording medium, has (a) a mounting member for detachably mounting a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging member for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cartridge charge bias contact for receiving a charging bias to be impressed on the charging member from the main body of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, and a cartridge-earth contact for connecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member to ground with the main body of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, (b) a main-body-charge bias contact to be electrically connected to the cartridge-charge-bias contact when the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting member, (c) a main-body earth contact to be electrically connected to the cartridge-earth contact wh

Abstract: A developing device frame 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, a developing roller for supplying toner to the electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner to be used for development operation of the developing roller, and a stirring member for stirring the toner fed out of the toner accommodating portion, the developing device frame includes a developing roller mounting portion for mounting the developing roller; an antenna member mounting portion for mounting, along a longitudinal direction of the developing roller, an antenna member having a portion opposed to the developing roller and an extension discharging portion extended to a portion not opposed to the developing roller from the opposed portion, wherein the antenna member produces an ele

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; process device actable on the image bearing member; a first frame containing the image bearing member and the process device; and a second frame engageable with and disengageable from the first frame and containing a developer container.

Abstract: A frame structure usable in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material using a laser source, the apparatus includes a first wall; a second wall opposed to the first wall; first and second connecting members bridging between the first wall and the second wall; a scanner supporting member for supporting an optical device between the first connecting member and the second connecting member; a motor supporting member for supporting a motor between the scanner supporting member and the first wall; wherein the walls, connecting members, scanner supporting member and motor supporting member are integrally molded.

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 mechanism 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 enough to be supported by the cartridge frame at one end thereof and at the other end thereof; and a preventing member for preventing the drum shaft from disengaging from the cartridge frame.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a process cartridge actable on the photosensitive member; a cartridge frame; a first projection for positioning the process cartridge relative to the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the first projection being outwardly projected from a first frame of the cartridge frame adjacent an axial end of the photosensitive member; a second projection for positioning the process cartridge relative to the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the second projection being outwardly projected from a second frame of the cartridge frame adjacent another axial end of the photosensitive member; a confining contact portion, in the cartridge frame, for contacting a first fixed portion of the main assembly and cooperating with the first projection and second projection to correctly position the process cartridge

Abstract: A recycling method for a process cartridge and a process cartridge produced thereby are provided.

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 process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electro-photographic image forming apparatus including a cartridge frame; an electro-photographic photosensitive drum; processing device actable on the electro-photographic photosensitive drum; a first projection projecting outward from one of opposite ends of the cartridge frame, coaxial with the electro-photographic photosensitive drum; a second projection projecting outward from the other of the opposite ends of the cartridge frame, coaxial with the electro-photographic photosensitive drum; wherein the first and second projections are different in size.

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 container for containing toner to be used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member by a developing device, usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge containing the photosensitive member and the developing device includes: a first frame having a toner supply opening for supplying the toner to the developing device and a mounting portion for mounting a rotatable stirring member for stirring the toner contained in the toner container; a second frame coupled with the first frame and having an outward projection without interference with a rotational region of the stirring member; wherein the toner container is formed by coupling the first frame and second frame.

Abstract: A process cartridge that is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus contains a photosensitive drum acting as an image bearing member and having opposed first and second ends. A developing roller and a charging roller are also provided in the process cartridge. A developing bias conductive member and a grounding conductive member are supplied at the first end of the drum in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of the drum, and a charging bias conductive member for the charging roller is provided adjacent the second end of the drum.