Patent ID: 7457569
Filing Date: 2008-11-25
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said process cartridge is capable of receiving a supply of a developer from a developer supply cartridge, wherein the developer supply cartridge includes a supplying-side developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, a supplying-side shutter portion movable between a developer-supply-permitting position for opening a developer supply opening for supplying the developer from the supplying-side developer accommodating portion into the process cartridge and a developer-supply-preventing position for closing the developer supply opening, a supplying-side movable portion movable to interrelatedly move the supplying-side shutter portion between the developer-supply-permitting position and the developer-supply-preventing position, and an engageable member, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer; a receiving-side developer accommodating portion that accommodates the developer; a developer receiving opening that receives the developer into said receiving-side developer accommodating portion; a receiving-side shutter portion movable between a developer-reception-permitting position for opening said developer receiving opening and a developer-reception-preventing position for closing said developer receiving opening; a regulating member; and a receiving-side movable portion movable to interrelatedly move said receiving-side shutter portion between the developer-reception-permitting position and the developer-reception-preventing position, said receiving-side movable portion including a first receiving-side operating portion which takes an operating position when said receiving-side shutter portion is at the developer-reception-preventing position and a second receiving-side operating portion which takes the operating position when said receiving-side shutter portion is at the developer-reception-permitting position, wherein when said process cartridge enters the main assembly of the apparatus with said regulating member regulating movement to place said first receiving-side operating portion at the operating position in a state that the developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said regulating member contacts the engageable member to release said receiving-side movable portion, thus permitting movement of said receiving-side movable portion, then said receiving-side movable portion moves said receiving-side shutter portion to the developer-reception-permitting position in interrelation with said first receiving-side operating portion being moved by contacting the engageable member, and then said receiving-side movable portion moves the supplying-side shutter portion to the developer-supply-permitting position in interrelation with the supplying-side movable portion being moved by engagement of said second receiving-side operating portion with the supplying-side movable portion while being regulated by said regulating member in a state that said second receiving-side operating portion is placed at the operating position, and