Patent ID: 7756441
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a first main assembly side positioning portion, a second main assembly side positioning portion, a first main assembly side guide, a second main assembly side guide, a first main assembly side regulating portion, a second main assembly side regulating portion, a resilient member that urges the process cartridge to one of the first and second main assembly side positioning portions by an urging force, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process device actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a first cartridge side portion-to-be-guided to be guided by the first main assembly side guide when said process cartridge enters the main assembly along an axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a second cartridge side portion-to-be-guided to be guided by the second main assembly side guide when said process cartridge advances in the main assembly in an advancing direction along the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in mounting it to the main assembly; a first cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated, provided at a leading side of said process cartridge with respect to the advancing direction, being regulated by the first main assembly side regulating portion in upward movement thereof when said process cartridge advances in the main assembly while being guided by the first main assembly side guide and the second main assembly side guide being urged upwardly by the urging force of said resilient member; a second cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated, provided at a trailing side of said process cartridge with respect to the advancing direction, being regulated by the first main assembly side regulating portion in upward movement thereof when said process cartridge is advancing in the main assembly while being guided by the first main assembly side guide and the second main assembly side guide being urged upwardly by the urging force of said resilient member; a first cartridge side portion to be positioned, to be positioned at the first main assembly side positioning portion by the urging force of said resilient member after said first cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated, advancing in the main assembly while being regulated in upward movement by said first main assembly side regulating portion, passes the first main assembly side regulating portion; and a second cartridge side portion to be positioned, to be positioned at the second main assembly side positioning portion by the urging force of said resilient member after said second cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated, advancing in the main assembly while being regulated in upward movement by said second main assembly side regulating portion, passes the second main assembly side regulating portion, wherein said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly with said first cartridge side portion to be positioned at the first main assembly side positioning portion by the urging force of said resilient member and with said second cartridge side portion to be positioned at the second main assembly side positioning portion by the urging force of said resilient member, wherein said first cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated is disposed at a position different from said first cartridge side portion to be positioned as seen in a direction perpendicular to an axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and said second cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated is disposed at a position different from said second cartridge side portion to be positioned as seen in the direction perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and wherein said first cartridge side portion to be positioned is juxtaposed at one and the other sides of said first cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated as seen in the perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and said second cartridge side portion to be positioned is juxtaposed at one and the other sides of said second cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated as seen in the perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.