Patent ID: 7085516
Filing Date: 2006-08-01
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a first frame; a second frame, coupled with said first frame, wherein said first and second frames are configured and positioned to rotate about a shaft relative to each other, wherein said second frame comprises: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in said first frame; a photosensitive drum charging member, provided in said first frame, configured and positioned to electrically charge said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing member, provided in said second frame, configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum with a developer; a developer feeding member, provided in said second frame, configured and positioned to supply a developer onto a peripheral surface of said developing member; a regulating member, provided in said second frame, configured and positioned to regulate an amount of the developer deposited on the peripheral surface of said developing member; an electrical contact, provided in said first frame, configured and positioned to receive, from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a bias voltage to be supplied to said photosensitive drum charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an electrical contact, provided in said second frame, configured and positioned to receive, from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a bias voltage to be supplied to said developing member, said developer feeding member, and said regulating member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; and a ground electrical contact, provided in said first frame coaxially with said photosensitive drum, configured and positioned to electrically ground said photosensitive drum to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, wherein said first frame has one and the other longitudinal ends, and said second frame has one and the other longitudinal ends adjacent said one and the other longitudinal ends of said first frame, respectively, and wherein said electrical contact configured and positioned to receive a bias voltage to be supplied to said photosensitive drum charging member and said electrical contact configured and positioned to receive a bias voltage to be supplied to said developing member, said developer feeding member, and said regulating member are disposed adjacent to said one longitudinal ends of said first frame and said second frame, respectively, and said ground electrical contact is disposed adjacent to the other longitudinal end of said first frame, and wherein said electrical contacts are disposed such that when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said image forming apparatus, said electrical contact configured and positioned to receive a bias voltage to be supplied to said photosensitive drum charging member takes a higher position than said electrical contact configured and positioned to receive a bias voltage to be supplied to said developing member, said developer feeding member, and said regulating member.