Patent ID: 7310489
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
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 configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said process cartridge is detachably mountable along a longitudinal direction of said developing roller; a drum unit configured and positioned to rotatably support said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a first portion to be positioned relative to the main assembly of the apparatus to position said drum unit relative to the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is set in said main assembly of the apparatus, said first portion to be positioned being provided at a rear side of said drum unit with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a second portion to be positioned relative to the main assembly of the apparatus to position said drum unit relative to the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is set in said main assembly of the apparatus, said second portion to be positioned being provided at a front side of said drum unit with respect to the mounting direction; a rotatable developing unit configured and positioned to rotatably support said developing roller, said developing unit being rotatable in a direction crossing the mounting direction to permit relative movement between said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive drum toward and away from each other; a first portion to be supported on a first supporting portion provided in said drum unit and being disposed at a rear side of said developing unit with respect to the mounting direction so as to permit a rotation of said developing unit in the crossing direction when said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus; a second portion to be supported on a second supporting portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus so as to permit a rotation of said developing unit in the crossing direction when said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said second portion to be supported being disposed at a front side of said developing unit with respect to the mounting direction; and a driving force receiving member, rotatably supported on an outer surface of said second portion to be supported, configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating said developing roller from a driving force transmission member provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus.