Patent ID: 7149457
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process device actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge frame; a drum shutter movable between a close position in which said drum shutter covers an exposed portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is exposed through said cartridge frame and an open position in which said drum shutter is retracted from the close position to expose the portion of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said drum shutter having a first shutter portion rotatably supported on said cartridge frame and a second shutter portion rotatably supported on said cartridge frame, wherein in the close position, said first shutter portion covers an upstream side of said exposed portion with respect to an opening direction in which said drum shutter moves from the close position to the open position, and the second shutter portion covers a downstream side of the exposed portion with respect to the opening direction, wherein the downstream side of the exposed portion is downstream of the upstream side of the exposed portion, and wherein in the open position, said first shutter portion and said second shutter portion overlap each other in the widthwise direction of said drum shutter.