Patent ID: 8139972
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer to be used for development of the electrostatic latent image by said developing roller, said developer accommodating portion including a first frame having an opening extended in a longitudinal direction of said developing roller for supplying accommodated developer to said developing roller, and a second frame mounted to said first frame by being bonded at a periphery thereof except for a non-bonding portion provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction at one longitudinal end portion; one end portion member, mounted to said one longitudinal end portion, for supporting one end of said developing roller; an another end portion member, mounted to the other longitudinal end portion of said developer accommodating portion, for supporting the other end of said developing roller; a first electroconductive member for providing an electrostatic capacity between itself and said developing roller when a developing bias voltage is applied to said developing roller, said first electroconductive member including an inner side portion provided on said second frame along the longitudinal direction and placed in said developer accommodating portion, and an outer side portion extending from the inner side portion through the non-bonded portion to an outside of said developer accommodating portion where said outer side portion is bent to provide a bent portion; and a second electroconductive member including a contact portion elastically contacting to said bent portion, and a first electrical contact portion, electrically connected to said contact portion, for transmitting, to the main assembly, an electric signal corresponding to a value of the electrostatic capacity provided between said developing roller and said first electroconductive member, wherein said second electroconductive member is mounted to said one end portion member such that contact portion is inside said one end portion member and that first electrical contact portion is outside said one end portion member.