Patent ID: 7366452
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: G03G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A developer supply container for supplying a developer to a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge containing an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with the developer, said developer supply container comprising: a developer accommodating portion configured to accommodate the developer; a container closing member movable between a closing position in which said container closing member closes said developer supply container and an open position in which said container closing member is retracted from the closing position to open said developer supply opening; a first container guide capable of being guided by a first main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a second container guide capable of being guided by a main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; container force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive, when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, a force for opening said developer supply container by movement of said container closing member from the closing position to the open position by engagement with a cartridge engaging portion provided in the process cartridge mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a first container positioning portion, provided at a leading end of said developer supply container with respect to a mounting direction in which said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, said first container positioning portion being engageable with a first main assembly positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein said developer supply container, when it is mounted to the main assembly of apparatus, said first container positioning portion is positioned by the first main assembly positioning portion; a developer feeding member which is provided in said developer accommodating portion and which is rotatable to feed the developer to a developer supply opening; a driving force receiving portion, provided on said leading end, configured and positioned for said developer feeding member to receive a rotational driving force from a driving force transmission member provided in the main assembly of the apparatus; said developer supply opening being configured and positioned to supply the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion to the process cartridge, said developer supply opening being provided in the leading side of said developer supply container and at the bottom surface of said developer supply container when said first container positioning a portion is positioned relative to the first main assembly positioning portion; and an elastic force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive, when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, an elastic force provided by an elastic member which is provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, said elastic force receiving portion being provided on a top surface of said developer supply container when said first container positioning portion is positioned relative to the first main assembly positioning portion by which said developer supply container receives a downward force when said first container positioning portion is positioned relative to the first main assembly positioning portion.