Patent ID: 6804476
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, comprising:an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing member configured and positioned to develop a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developer storing container which stores developer for developing the latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and which has a supplying opening portion configured and positioned to supply the developer to said developing member; a developer seal member removably attached to said developer storing container so that the developer is sealed in said developer storing container by blocking said supplying opening portion with said developer seal member and is supplied to said developing member by removing said developer seal member from said supplying opening portion; a grip portion placed on one end in the longitudinal direction of said developer seal member in order to pull out said developer seal member and open said supplying opening portion; a measuring electrode member configured and positioned to detect the amount of the developer in said process cartridge; and a contact portion electrically connected to a main body electrical contact of the image forming apparatus main body when said process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, said contact portion relaying, to the main body electrical contact, a signal sent from said measuring electrode member in accordance with the amount of the developer so that the image forming apparatus main body can detect the developer amount, wherein, when said process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body without removing said developer seal member, said grip portion covers said contact portion to cut an electrical connection between said contact portion and the main body electrical contact.