Patent ID: 6064843
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising:an electrophotographic photosensitive member;process means actable on said photosensitive member;a cartridge frame;a first projection for positioning said process cartridge relative to the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, said first projection being outwardly projected from a first portion of said cartridge frame adjacent an axial end of said photosensitive member; anda second projection for positioning said process cartridge relative to the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, said second projection being outwardly projected from a second portion of said cartridge frame adjacent another axial end of said photosensitive member,said cartridge frame including a confining contact surface for contacting a first fixed portion of said main assembly and cooperating with said first projection and second projection to correctly position said process cartridge relative to said main assembly, when said process cartridge is mounted to said main assembly,said cartridge frame including a releasing contact surface for contacting a second fixed portion of said main assembly when said process cartridge is rotated for demounting from said main assembly, wherein said confining contact surface is provided adjacent a front side of said process cartridge with respect to a mounting direction thereof and in such a side of said process cartridge as is faced substantially upwardly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly,wherein said releasing contact surface is provided adjacent a front side of said process cartridge with respect to the mounting direction thereof and in such a side of said process cartridge as is faced substantially upwardly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly,wherein said releasing contact surface is disposed upstream of said confining contact surface with respect to the mounting direction, the mounting direction crossing with an axis of said photosensitive member andwherein said releasing contact surface and said confining contact surface are substantially aligned in the mounting direction.