Patent ID: 7813670
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developing cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body having main body side guide portions and a developing cartridge mounting portion to which a plurality of developing cartridges are detachably mountable side-by-side, the developing cartridge comprising: a developer containing portion for containing a developer; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member using the developer; first developing cartridge side guide portions provided at one end and the other end, respectively, in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller, for engaging with the main body side guide portions to regulate a movement locus of the developing cartridge when the developing cartridge is mounted to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body; and protruding portions provided at the one end and the other end, respectively, in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller, wherein the developing cartridge is mounted to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body in a mounting direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller with the developing roller being a leading edge, wherein the protruding portions are second developing cartridge side guide portions, which protrude on a downstream side further than the developing roller in the mounting direction, and engage with the main body side guide portions to regulate the movement locus of the developing cartridge when the developing cartridge is mounted to the developing cartridge mounting portion, wherein one of the first developing cartridge side guide portions and a corresponding one of the second developing cartridge side guide portions are an integrated developing cartridge side guide portion, wherein the developing cartridge side guide portion is movable between a protruding position at which the developing cartridge side guide portion protrudes on the downstream side further than the developing roller in the mounting direction and a retracted position at which the developing cartridge side guide portion is retracted on an upstream side further than a leading edge of the developing roller in the mounting direction, wherein the developing cartridge side guide portion is positioned at the protruding position when the developing cartridge is taken out from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, wherein, when the developing cartridge is moved toward the developing cartridge mounting portion while the developing cartridge side guide portion is engaged with a main body side guide portion, an abutting portion provided on the main body side guide portion and an abutted portion of the developing cartridge side guide portion come into contact with each other so that the developing cartridge side guide portion is moved from the protruding position to the retracted position, and wherein, when the developing cartridge reaches the developing cartridge mounting portion, the developing cartridge side guide portion is positioned at the retracted position.