Patent ID: 6937834
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A spacing member to be attached to a process cartridge, which includes: a photosensitive drum; a charging roller adapted to contact the photosensitive drum positioned and configured to charge the photosensitive drum; and a shutter member configured and positioned to cover an exposure portion, where the photosensitive drum is exposed from a cartridge frame, and which can be mounted in and demounted from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said spacing member comprising: a spacing portion configured and positioned to space the photosensitive drum and the charging roller apart when said spacing member is attached to the process cartridge; a stopper portion configured and positioned to prevent the shutter member from retracting from a protection position for covering the exposure portion, when said spacing member is attached to the process cartridge; and a protective portion configured and positioned to cover a positioning portion, which positions the process cartridge in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, when said spacing member is attached to the process cartridge.