Patent ID: 6968146
Filing Date: 2005-11-22
Classification: G03G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A developer supply container for supplying a developer to a process cartridge detachably mounted to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge containing an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a charging member configured and positioned to charge the photosensitive drum, said developer supply container comprising: a developer accommodating portion configured to accommodate the developer; a developer supply opening for supplying the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion to the process cartridge; a container closing member movable between a closing position in which said container closing member closes said developer supply opening and an open position in which said container closing member is retracted from the closing position to open said developer supply opening; a first container guide extending along one longitudinally extending outer surface of said developer supply container, said first container guide being capable of being guided by a main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a second container guide extending along the other longitudinally extending outer surface of said developer supply container on the opposite side of said developer supply container from the one longitudinally extending outer surface with respect to a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of said developer supply container, said second container guide being capable of being guided by the main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a container force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive, when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, a force for opening said developer supply opening by movement of said container closing member from the closing position to the open position by engagement with a cartridge engaging portion provided in the process cartridge mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a first container positioning portion, provided at a leading end of said developer supply container with respect to a mounting direction in which said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, said first container positioning portion being engageable with a first main assembly positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of apparatus, said first container positioning portion is positioned by the first main assembly positioning portion, and said developer supply container is positioned relative to the main assembly of the apparatus by said first container guide and said second container guide being supported by the main assembly guide at a trailing side of said developer supply container with respect to the mounting direction; and an elastic force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive, when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, an elastic force provided by an elastic member which is provided in the main assembly of apparatus, said elastic force receiving portion being provided on a top surface of said developer supply container when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, by which said developer supply container receives a downward force when said developer supply container is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus.