Patent ID: 7127194
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A process cartridge which is capable of being carried on a movable guide which is movable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and which is provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge being movable between a receiving position at which the movable guide receives said process cartridge and a mount position where said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, said process cartridge being movable from the receiving position toward the mount position in interrelation with movement of the movable guide, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum while being in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a drum unit supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing unit supporting said developing roller, wherein said developing unit and said drum unit are connected at a connecting portion about which said developing unit and said drum unit are rotatable relative to each other; an elastic member configured and positioned to apply an elastic force between said drum unit and said developing unit so as to cause said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and said developing roller to contact each other; a first positioning portion to be positioned relative to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said first positioning portion extending outwardly from said drum unit adjacent one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a second positioning portion to be positioned relative to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said second positioning portion extending outwardly from said drum unit adjacent the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a first portion to be supported, provided at said one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, configured and positioned to be supported by the movable guide; a second portion to be supported, provided at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, configured and positioned to be supported by the movable guide; a force receiving portion, provided on said developing unit and configured and positioned to receive, from the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an external force to separate said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which contact to each other, from each other against the elastic force of said elastic member; a third positioning portion provided on a leading side of said process cartridge with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said third positioning portion has a first rotation stopper surface configured and positioned to prevent rotation of said process cartridge about said first positioning portion and said second positioning portion by abutting to the movable guide when said process cartridge receives a driving force from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; and a second rotation stopper surface configured and positioned to stop rotation, by the external force, of said drum unit about said first positioning portion and said second positioning portion by abutment to the movable guide when said force receiving portion receives the external force, wherein said first rotation stopper surface and said second rotation stopper surface are disposed opposed to each other.