Patent ID: 7907866
Filing Date: 2011-03-15
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus usable with process cartridges detachably mountable to a main assembly of said apparatus, the process cartridges each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said color electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a movable member which is movable between an inside of the main assembly of said apparatus and an outside of the main assembly of said apparatus in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drums while carrying the process cartridges; a main assembly electrical contact provided inside the main assembly of said apparatus along a movement path of said movable member; and an intermediary electrical contact including a first electrical contact portion which is disposed inside said movable member and which is electrically connectable to a cartridge electrical contact of the process cartridge and a second electrical contact portion which is disposed outside said movable member and which is electrically connectable to said main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly of said apparatus, wherein a space is provided between said movable member and said main assembly electrical contact to prevent said movable member from contacting said main assembly electrical contact when said movable member moves from the outside to the inside, wherein said second electrical contact portion is electrically connected to said main assembly electrical contact when said movable member is lowered after said movable member moves linearly from the outside to the inside, and wherein said space is a recess which extends along the moving direction of said movable member at a position opposing said main assembly electrical contact on an outside of a side plate of said movable member and which opens toward said main assembly electrical contact.