Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge removably mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising a cartridge frame, an electrophotographic photosensitive member provided within the cartridge frame, a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a memory means for storing information to be transmitted to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a positioning portion for positioning the cartridge frame with respect to the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, and an exposure opening provided in the cartridge frame and to pass information light from the image forming apparatus to be illuminated on the electrophotographic photosensitive member when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge can removably be mounted. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus may be, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser beam printer and the like), an electrophotographic facsimile system, an electrophotographic word processor or the like. Further, the process cartridge may incorporate therein an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charge means, a developing means or a cleaning means as a unit which can removably be mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, or may incorporate therein an electrophotographic photosensitive member and one of a charge means, a developing means and a cleaning means as a unit which can removably be mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, or may incorporate therein an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least a developing means as a unit which can removably be mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. In conventional image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are incorporated into a process cartridge which can removably be mounted to the image forming apparatus. With such a process cartridge, since the maintenance can be performed by the user itself without any expert person, the operability can greatly be improved. Thus, the process cartridge has widely been used in various image forming apparatus. EP-A-0699978 describes an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge therefor, wherein the apparatus and the cartridge each have a memory means which is incremented when a copying operation is performed, and the totals in both memories are compared. If the totals are different, an operation to determine a process condition is performed. In US 5452059, a rigid process cartridge is provided with an electronic memory at a forward end surface of the cartridge. US-A-5283613 describes a memory mounted to a side of a process cartridge to contact a terminal block and circuit board of an image forming apparatus. US-A-5272503 discloses a memory chip mounted to the top cover of a rigid process cartridge or cassette. US-A-4994853 discloses a process cartridge having a rigid casing and a housing attached to a side of the casing to accommodate an IC card device. The IC card device stores data relating to the operative parts of the cartridge contained within the casing, such as toner colour or colours etc. An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge can removably be mounted, wherein a memory means of the process cartridge can be electrically connected to a body of the image forming apparatus stably. Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge can removably be mounted, wherein, when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, a memory means of the process cartridge does not interfere with conveyance of a recording medium. A further object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge can removably be mounted, wherein the process cartridge can be mounted to the image forming apparatus with high accuracy and a memory means of the process cartridge can electrically connected to a body of the image forming apparatus stably. According to the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge removably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising: a drum frame; a developing frame pivotally connected to said drum frame; a rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided on said drum frame and adapted to receive a rotational driving force from said main body; developing means, disposed on said developing frame, for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and positioning means for positioning said drum frame with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted thereto, said positioning means being disposed on said drum frame, wherein said process cartridge is provided with an exposure opening through which information light emitted from the main body of the image forming apparatus may expose said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is mounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein said process cartridge is movable to a mounted position relative to the main body of the image forming apparatus by a translation in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum such that said developing frame trails said drum frame, and by a rotation about said axis relative to the main body in the rotational direction in which the process cartridge is urged to rotate by said rotational driving force received by the drum from the main body, characterised in that said process cartridge further comprises: a memory for storing information to be transmitted to the main body of the image forming apparatus; and an electrical contact portion adapted to engage with an electrical contact portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus by rotation of the cartridge relative to the body in said direction, wherein the engagement provides an electrical contact for transmitting information between said memory and the main body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the positioning means is adapted to engage with an abutment portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main body, to prevent further rotation of the process cartridge in the said rotational direction beyond said mounted position; and wherein said electrical contact portion of the process cartridge is disposed on said drum frame so that the electrical contact portion of the process cartridge engages the electrical contact portion of the main body when the positioning means of the process cartridge engages the abutment portion of the main body. The present invention further provides an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge can removably be mounted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a process cartridge according to first and second embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the process cartridge of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge of Fig. 2 is mounted; Fig. 5 is an explanatory view showing an electrical connection between a memory means and an image forming apparatus, according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is an explanatory view showing an electrical connection between a memory means and an image forming apparatus, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is an explanatory view showing an electrical connection between a memory means and an image forming apparatus, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an internal construction of a portion of the image forming apparatus; Fig. 9 is a side sectional view of the process cartridge to which the memory is movably attached; Fig. 10A is a side sectional view showing a condition that the memory means is attached to a cartridge frame; Fig. 10B is a plan view showing a condition that the memory means is attached to the cartridge frame; and Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the electric contact shown in Figs. 9, 10A and 10B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be explained in connection with embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. (First Embodiment) A process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be explained concretely with reference to Figs. 1 to 8. First of all, entire constructions of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such a process cartridge is mounted will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, and then, a memory means of the process cartridge and connection between the memory means and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be explained. As shown in Fig. 1, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus (a laser beam printer in the illustrated embodiment) A, a latent image is formed on a photosensitive layer of a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) 7 by illuminating a laser light image from an optical system 1 onto the photosensitive drum in response to image information, and the latent image is visualized with toner as a toner image. In synchronous with the formation of the toner image, a recording medium 2 is supplied from a sheet supply cassette 3a by a convey means 3 comprised of a pick-up roller 3b, a pair of convey rollers 3c and a convey roller 3d. In an image forming portion formed as a process cartridge B, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred onto the recording medium 2 by applying voltage to a transfer roller (transfer means) 4 of the image forming apparatus. The recording medium 2 to which the toner image was transferred is sent to a fixing means 5 while being guided by a guide plate 3f. The fixing means 5 includes a drive roller 5a and a fixing roller 5c having a heater 5b therein, so that heat and pressure are applied to the recording medium 2, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording medium. Thereafter, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by a pair of discharge rollers 3g and a discharge roller 3h to discharge the recording medium onto a discharge portion 6 through a reverse rotation convey path. On the other hand, the process cartridge B has the electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. The process means may be, for example, a charge means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing means for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member or/and a cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the process cartridge B according to the illustrated embodiment, the photosensitive drum 7 having the photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface is rotated, and the surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged by applying voltage to the charge means (charge roller) 8. Then, the image information light from the optical system 1 is illuminated on the photosensitive drum 7 through an exposure opening 9 formed in the process cartridge B, thereby forming the latent image. Then, the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is developed by toner as a toner image. In a developing means 10, the toner contained in a toner containing portion 10a is fed out by a toner feed member 10b and a developing roller 10d having a fixed magnet 10c therein is rotated. A toner layer is formed on a surface of the developing roller 10d while applying frictional charges to the toner layer by a developing blade 10e, and, by transferring the toner on the toner layer to the latent image on the photosensitive drum 7, the toner image is formed. After the toner image was transferred to the recording medium 2 (for example, a recording paper sheet, an OHP sheet, cloth or the like) by applying voltage having polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller 4 of the image forming apparatus, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by a cleaning blade lla. The removed toner is received by a dip sheet 11b and then is collected in a removed toner reservoir 11c. In the illustrated embodiment, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by a cleaning means constituted by the cleaning blade 11a, dip sheet 11b and removed toner reservoir 11c. Incidentally, several member such as the photosensitive drum 7 and the like are contained in a cartridge frame. The cartridge frame has a developing unit 12d and a cleaning unit 12e. That is to say, the developing unit 12d is formed by welding a toner frame 12a1 having a toner container 12a to a developing frame 12b for holding the developing roller 10d and the like. And, the process cartridge is constituted by rockably connecting a cleaning unit 12e having the photosensitive drum 7 and the cleaning means 11 to the developing unit 12d. The process cartridge B can removably be mounted to a cartridge mounting means of a body 13 of the image forming apparatus. When an open/close cover 14 is opened around a shaft 14a (Fig. 1), as shown in Fig. 4, the cartridge mounting means includes opposed cartridge mounting guide members 15 formed on left and right side walls of a cartridge mounting space (only one guide member is shown in Fig. 4), and the mounting guide members 15 have opposed guide portions 15a for guiding the insertion of the process cartridge B. The process cartridge B is mounted to the image forming apparatus A by inserting bosses 12c1 protruded from both longitudinal sides of the cleaning frame 12c as shown in Fig. 3 into the guide portions 15a, by fitting the bosses 12c1 of the cartridge in positioning portions 15b contiguous with the guide portions 15a to position the cleaning unit 12e with respect to the image forming apparatus A and by closing the open/close cover 14. Explaining in more detail, in the illustrated embodiment, above the bosses 12c1, elongated longitudinal guide portions 12c2 are formed on the cleaning frame 12c to protrude outwardly therefrom. When the process cartridge B is mounted to the image forming apparatus A, the cartridge B is inserted into the mounting position while guiding the bosses 12c1 by the guide portions 15a and the longitudinal guide portions 12c2 by the guide portions 15b. In this way, the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A in a condition that the bosses 12c1 are fitted in the positioning portion 15b and the longitudinal guide portions 12c2 are spaced apart from the guide 15b (refer to Fig. 8). In this case, a helical gear G2 provided on an end of the photosensitive drum 7 is engaged by a helical gear G1 provided on the image forming apparatus A. Thereafter, when the helical gear G1 is rotated (in an anticlockwise direction in Fig. 8), the photosensitive drum 7 is rotated (in a clockwise direction Y in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7) via the helical gear G2 (rotated in a clockwise direction in Fig. 8). In this way, a driving force of the image forming apparatus A is transmitted to the process cartridge B. In this case, the process cartridge B is subjected to a biasing force tending to rotate the process cartridge around the bosses 12c1 in the same direction as a rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 7. As a result, an abutment portion (recessed portion) 12c6 (Figs. 3 and 8) abuts against a fixed member 100 (Fig. 8) provided on the image forming apparatus A. Consequently, the cleaning unit 12e of the process cartridge B is positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus A. Incidentally, the developing unit 12d is rockably attached to the cleaning unit 12e. A peripheral surface of the developing roller 10d of the developing unit 12d is biased against a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 of the cleaning unit 12e through spacers (not shown) by an elastic force of springs (not shown). Thus, while the cleaning unit 12e (cleaning frame 12c) is directly positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus A, the developing unit 12d (developing frame 12b and toner frame 12a1) is not directly positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus A but is positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus A by being positioned with respect to the cleaning unit 12e. Incidentally, the bosses are protruded members protruded outwardly from the cleaning frame 12c in a direction coaxial with an axis of the photosensitive drum 7. The protruded members may be drum shaft portions (for supporting the photosensitive drum to the cleaning frame 12c) protruded outwardly of the cleaning frame 12c or may be parts of the cleaning frame 12c protruded outwardly. Next, a memory means 20 of the process cartridge B will be explained with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The memory means 20 has a memory chip 21 such as a RAM or a ROM. Information required to the memory chip 21 is previously stored so that a using condition of the process cartridge is informed to a control portion (not shown) of the image forming apparatus by effecting transmission of information between the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the memory chip 21 is attached to a base plate 22 positioned by bosses 12c2 on an upper portion of the cleaning frame 12c in a convey area C in a direction (longitudinal direction) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7 and is covered by a cover member 12d secured to the cleaning frame 12c by screws (not shown). The cover member 12d is opened at a front portion (12e) in a mounting direction X along which the cartridge B is mounted to the image forming apparatus A, so that the memory means 20 can surely be connected to an electric contact of the image forming apparatus A electrically. Further, the memory chip 21 may be attached to the cleaning frame solely. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, while an example that the memory means 20 is mounted on the upper portion of the cleaning frame was explained, the memory means may be mounted on any portion of the cleaning frame 12c other than a recording medium passing zone 12c3 of the longitudinal convey area C. The convey area C is a portion of an outer peripheral surface area of the cartridge corresponding to a recording medium conveying path when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A. Further, the recording medium passing zone 12c3 is a region where the recording medium is opposed to the recording medium conveying path when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A. As mentioned above, by providing the memory means 20 on the cleaning frame 12c positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A, the electrical connection between the memory means 20 and the image forming apparatus can be stabilized. Further, since the memory means is disposed within the longitudinal convey area, longitudinal dimensions of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus can be shortened. Further, since a lower portion of the removed toner reservoir lic of the cleaning frame 12c has a continuous surface for sending the removed toner toward a rear side when the removed toner is collected within the removed toner reservoir lic, even when the memory means is disposed at the upper portion of the cleaning frame 12c, the memory means does not affect a bad influence upon the collection of the removed toner. (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. This second embodiment is characterized regarding the electrical connection between the memory means and the image forming apparatus. The memory chip 21 mounted on the process cartridge B is attached to the base plate 22, and a cartridge electric portion 23 for electrical connection to the image forming apparatus A is attached to the base plate 22. An electric contact 16 is on the image forming apparatus at a position where the electric contact is opposed to an electric contact 23a provided at a tip end of the electric portion 23, so that the electric contacts are electrically interconnected when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A. Further, as explained in connection with Figs. 3 and 4, the bosses 12c1 of the process cartridge B are fitted in the positioning portions 15b of the image forming apparatus. Thus, when the process cartridge B is subjected to the driving force from the image forming apparatus A, although the force tending the process cartridge to rotate around the bosses 12c1 in the direction D within the image forming apparatus, the rotation of the process cartridge is prevented by the abutment portion 100 (Fig. 8), thereby maintaining the posture of the process cartridge B. Thus, the electric contact 16 can be moved in a plane F where the electric contact is contacted with a circumference E coaxial with a center of rotation (drum center) around which the process cartridge B is rotated when the process cartridge is subjected to the driving force from the image forming apparatus A. In the illustrated embodiment, while an example that the electric contact of the image forming apparatus can be moved was explained, the electric contact of the memory means of the process cartridge may be moved as shown in Figs. 9, 10A and 10B. Further, both electric contacts may be moved. Now, the case where the electric contact of the memory means of the process cartridge B is movable will be explained with reference to Figs. 9, 10A, 10B and 11. In Fig. 9, the memory chip 21 is integrally connected to the cartridge electric portion 23. More particularly, as shown in Figs. 10A and 10B, a flange portion 23b of the cartridge electric portion 23 is attached, by screws 30, to a surface of the cleaning frame 12c aligned with the plane F contacting with the imaginary circle E coaxial with the rotational center around which the process cartridge B is rotated when the process cartridge is subjected to the driving force from the drive gear G1 of the image forming apparatus. Each screws 30 includes a threaded portion 30b, a shank portion 30a and a head portion 30c, and the threaded portion 30b is threaded into the cleaning frame 12c. The shank portion 30a is received in a hole 23b1 of the flange portion 23b of the cartridge electric portion 23 with clearance fit. The head portion 30c serves to prevent the cartridge electric portion 23 from dropping from the cleaning frame 12c. Since a length of the shank portion 30a is selected to be greater than a thickness of the flange portion 23b of the cartridge electric portion, the cartridge electric portion 23 is not secured to the cleaning frame 12c by a tightening force of the screw 30. Further, since there is the clearance between the shank portion 30a and the hole 23b1 of the flange portion 23b, the cartridge electric portion 23 can be moved by an amount corresponding to the clearance in a plane contacting with the imaginary circle coaxial with the rotational center of the process cartridge rotated when the driving force acts on the process cartridge. As shown in Fig. 11, each of the cartridge electric contacts 23a and the main body electric contact 16a are provided at three positions. The cartridge electric contact 23a is cut at an edge portion thereof to be released. So, when an operator grips the grip portion G of the process cartridge B to mount the process cartirdge onto the apparatus main body A, the protrusion-like main body electric contact 16a goes into the groove-like cartridge electric contact 23a, thus both contacts being electrically connected with each other. Thereafter, even if the cartridge electric contact 23a moves in the direction shown by the arrow F, the main body electric contact merely moves within or along the cartridge electric contact with maintaining the electrically connected relation. That is to say, the memory means 20 has the cartridge electric contact 23a adapted to be connected to the electric contact 16 of the image forming apparatus A when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A. The cartridge electric contact 23a can be moved in the plane F contacting with the imaginary circle E coaxial with the rotational center 12c1 of the process cartridge B rotated when the process cartridge is subjected to the driving force from the image forming apparatus A. Alternatively, the electric contact 16 of the image forming apparatus can be moved in the plane contacting with the imaginary circle coaxial with the rotational center of the process cartridge B rotated when the process cartridge is subjected to the driving force from the image forming apparatus A. By using the above-mentioned electrical connection of the memory means, when the process cartridge B is subjected to the driving force within the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge B can positively abut against the abutment member 100 of the image forming apparatus in the rotational direction, and the process cartridge does not affect an influence upon the positioning between the cartridge and the image forming apparatus in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge (transverse to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum). (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Fig. 5. In this third embodiment, the electrical connection between the memory means and the image forming apparatus differs from that of the second embodiment. In the third embodiment, the memory means 20 is disposed a tip end of the process cartridge B in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge (i.e. a cartridge mounting direction). More specifically, boss portions 12c2 are formed on a vertical wall of the cleaning frame 12c, the base plate 22 is secured to the boss portions 12c2, the memory chip 21 is attached to the base plate 22, and the memory chip is covered by the cover member 12d. Incidentally, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the process cartridge B is mounted to the image forming apparatus A from the direction (shown by the arrow X) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum. Further, the electric connection portion (cartridge electric portion) 23 for effecting electrical connection to the image forming apparatus is attached to the base plate 22, and the electric contact 23a is electrically connected with the electric contact 16 of the image forming apparatus through a through hole 12dl formed in the cover member 12d. With this arrangement, the electric contacts are interconnected in synchronous with the mounting operation of the process cartridge B to the image forming apparatus. Also in this third embodiment, the same advantages as those of the previous embodiments. (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Fig. 6. In the fourth embodiment, the electrical connection between the memory means 20 and the image forming apparatus A differs from those of the previous embodiments. In this fourth embodiment, the memory means 20 is attached to the upper portion of the cleaning frame 12c of the process cartridge B in the longitudinal convey area and is secured to the cleaning frame 12c. A contact portion 20a of the memory means 20 is disposed on the upper portion of the cleaning frame 12c, and a contact 17 of the image forming apparatus is opposed to the contact portion. With this arrangement, when the process cartridge is subjected to the driving force within the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge is rotatingly biased to positively interconnect the electric contacts. (Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Fig. 7. In the fifth embodiment, the electrical connection between the memory means 20 and the image forming apparatus A differs from those of the previous embodiments. The memory means 20 is attached to the upper portion of the cleaning frame 12c of the process cartridge B in the longitudinal convey area and is secured to the cleaning frame 12c. A contact portion 20a of the memory means 20 is disposed on the upper portion of the cleaning frame 12c, and a contact 17 of the image forming apparatus is opposed to the contact portion. In the vicinity of the contact, there is provided an abutment member 12c3 of the process cartridge acting as a stopper when the process cartridge is rotatingly biased in the direction shown by the arrow within the image forming apparatus by the driving force from the image forming apparatus, and an abutment portion 18 of the image forming apparatus is opposed to the abutment portion 12c3. With this arrangement, when the process cartridge is subjected to the driving force within the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge is rotatingly biased in the direction shown by the arrow to abut the abutment portion 12c3 against the abutment portion 18. Since the memory means 20 and the contact 17 of the image forming apparatus are disposed in the vicinity of the abutment portions 12c3, 18, the flexion of the cleaning frame is hard to affect an influence upon the memory means and the contact, the parts can be positioned with high accuracy, with the result that the contacts can stably be contacted with each other, thereby improving the reliability of the contacts. As mentioned above, the memory means 20 has the cartridge electric contact 23a (disposed on the upper surface of the cleaning frame 12c) adapted to be connected to the electric contact 16 of the image forming apparatus A when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A. The cartridge electric contact 23a is connected to the contact 16 of the image forming apparatus in the rotational direction (shown by the arrow D) along which the process cartridge B tries to rotate when the process cartridge is subjected to the driving force from the image forming apparatus A. Accordingly, since the cartridge electric contact 23a is connected to the contact 16 of the image forming apparatus in a condition that the rotation of the process cartridge is prevented by the abutment between the abutment portions 12c3 and 18, the electrical connection can be stabilized. The upper surface of the cleaning frame 12c is an upper surface in a condition that the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A. According to the above-mentioned embodiments, the process cartridge (B) is removably mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and comprises a cartridge frame (12c), an electrophotographic photosensitive member (7) provided within the cartridge frame, a process means (8, 10, 11) acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a memory means (20) for storing information to be transmitted to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a positioning portion (12c1, 100, 12c3, 18) for positioning the cartridge frame with respect to the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge (B) is mounted to the image forming apparatus (A), and an exposure opening (9) provided in the cartridge frame and adapted to pass information light from the image forming apparatus to be illuminated on the electrophotographic photosensitive member when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus. Wherein the process cartridge (B) is mounted to the image forming apparatus (A) from a direction transverse to an axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive member (7), and the memory means (20) is provided on a tip end portion of the cartridge frame regarding a mounting direction along which the process cartridge (B) is mounted to the image forming apparatus (A) or on a portion of the cartridge frame near the exposure opening (9). The memory means (20) is disposed an upper surface of the cartridge frame forwardly of the exposure opening (9) in the mounting direction X and the upper surface of the cartridge frame 12c is an upper surface when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus. The upper surface of the cartridge frame is disposed above a removed toner containing portion (11c) for containing toner removed from the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Further, the tip end portion in the mounting direction is a front surface when the process cartridge (B) is mounted on the image forming apparatus (A). The front surface is disposed above a removed toner containing portion (11c) for containing toner removed from the electrophotographic photosensitive member (7). Further, the memory means has a cartridge electric contact (23a) adapted to be connected to the electric contact (16) of the image forming apparatus (A) when the process cartridge (B) is mounted on the image forming apparatus. The cartridge electric contact can be'moved in a plane contacting with an imaginary circle coaxial with a rotational center of the process cartridge rotated when the process cartridge is subjected to a driving force from the image forming apparatus. The rotational center is disposed on a line coaxial with an axis of the drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (7). Further, the memory means has a cartridge electric contact (23a) adapted to be connected to the electric contact (16) of the image forming apparatus (A) when the process cartridge (B) is mounted on the image forming apparatus and the cartridge electric contact is connected to the electric contact of the image forming apparatus in a rotational direction along which the process cartridge tries to rotate when the process cartridge is subjected to the driving force from the image forming apparatus. The cartridge frame (12c) holds the electrophotographic photosensitive member (7) and a charge means (8) as the process means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the cartridge frame (12c) is pivotally connected to a toner developing frame (12a, 12b) including a developing member (10d) as the process means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member (7) and a toner containing portion (10a) for containing toner used by the developing member (10d) for development. The cartridge frame (12c) supports a cleaning member (11a) for removing the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member (7). Further, the memory means (20) comprises a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory is a ROM or a RAM. Further, the information includes a lot number of the process cartridge (B) and/or a feature of the electrophotographic photosensitive member (7) and/or features of the process means (8, 10, 11). Further, the positioning portions (12c1, 100, 12c3, 18) are contact portions provided on an upper surface when the process cartridge (B) is mounted on the image forming apparatus (A), and the contact portions are contacted with fixed members (18, 100) of the image forming apparatus (A), thereby preventing the rotation of the process cartridge. More specifically, the process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7), a charge member (8) for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7), a drum frame (12c) for supporting the photosensitive drum (7) and the charge member (8), a developing member (10d) for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7), a developing toner frame (12a, 12b) supporting the developing member (10d) and having a toner containing portion (10a) for containing toner used by the developing member (10d) for development and pivotally connected to the drum frame (12c), an exposure opening (9) provided in the cartridge frame along a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7) and adapted to pass information light from the image forming apparatus (A) to be illuminated on the electrophotographic photosensitive member (7) when the process cartridge (B) is mounted to the image forming apparatus (A), a projecting member (12cl) protruded from the drum frame (12c) outwardly in a direction coaxial with an axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7) and adapted to be supported by a support member (15b) of the image forming apparatus (A) when the process cartridge (B) is mounted to the image forming apparatus (A), a contact portion (12c1, 12c3) provided on the drum frame (12c) and adapted to be contacted with a fixed member (18, 100) of the image forming apparatus A when the process cartridge (B) is mounted to the image forming apparatus (A) and further adapted to prevent the process cartridge from rotating toward a rotational direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a memory member (20) provided on the drum frame (12c) adapted to store information to be transmitted to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus (A). Wherein the process cartridge (B) is mounted to the image forming apparatus (A) from a direction transverse to an axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive member (7) with the drum frame facing forwardly and with the developing frame facing rearwardly. As apparent from the above explanations, according to the above-mentioned embodiments, the memory means can be mounted without interference with a convey path of the toner, so that a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus having such a process cartridge wherein the removed toner in the cleaning means can be collected efficiently are provided. Further, since the process cartridge can be mounted with high accurate positioning and the electrical connection between the memory means and the image forming apparatus can be stabilized, there can be provided a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus having such a process cartridge wherein reliability is improved. As mentioned above, according to the present invention, the electrical connection between the memory means of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus can be achieved effectively.

Claims: A process cartridge (B) removably mountable to a main body (13) of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (A), said process cartridge comprising: a drum frame (12c, 12e); a developing frame (12a, 12b) pivotally connected to said drum frame; a rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7) provided on said drum frame and adapted to receive a rotational driving force from said main body; developing means (10a, 10d, 10e), disposed on said developing frame, for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and positioning means (12c1, 12c3, 12c6) for positioning said drum frame with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted thereto, said positioning means being disposed on said drum frame, wherein said process cartridge is provided with an exposure opening (9) through which information light emitted from the main body of the image forming apparatus may expose said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is mounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein said process cartridge is movable to a mounted position relative to the main body of the image forming apparatus by a translation in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum such that said developing frame trails said drum frame, and by a rotation about said axis relative to the main body in the rotational direction in which the process cartridge is urged to rotate by said rotational driving force received by the drum from the main body, characterised in that said process cartridge further comprises: a memory (20, 21) for storing information to be transmitted to the main body of the image forming apparatus; and an electrical contact portion (23, 23a) adapted to engage with an electrical contact portion (16) of the main body of the image forming apparatus by rotation of the cartridge relative to the body in said rotational direction, wherein the engagement provides an electrical contact for transmitting information between said memory and the main body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the positioning means (12c3, 12c6) is adapted to engage with an abutment portion (18, 100) of the main body of the image forming apparatus, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main body, to prevent further rotation of the process cartridge in the said rotational direction beyond said mounted position; and wherein said electrical contact portion of the process cartridge is disposed on said drum frame so that the electrical contact portion of the process cartridge engages the electrical contact portion of the main body when the positioning means of the process cartridge engages the abutment portion of the main body. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said memory (20, 21) is disposed on an upper surface of said drum frame (12c) and faces upwardly when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of said image forming apparatus. A process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein said upper surface of said drum frame (12c) is disposed above a removed toner containing portion (11c) for containing toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7). A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said memory means (20, 21) is disposed on a front surface of said process cartridge so that the memory means leads the drum frame when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of said image forming apparatus. A process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said front surface is disposed on a removed toner containing portion (11c) for containing toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7). A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said memory means (20, 21) has a cartridge electrical contact (23a) for connection to an electrical contact (16) of the main body of said image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of said image forming apparatus, and wherein said positioning means cooperates with said main body such that said cartridge electrical contact can be removed relative to the main body in a direction tangential to an imaginary circle (E) coaxial with a rotational center of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is subjected to a driving force from the main body of said image forming apparatus. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said rotational center is coaxial with the rotation axis of the drum. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said frame (12c, 12e) further includes a charging means (8) for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and said developing frame (12a, 12b) further includes a toner containing portion (10a) for containing toner used by said developing means for development. A process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said drum frame supports a cleaning member (11a) for removing the toner remaining on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7). A process cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein said memory (20, 21) comprises a non-volatile memory. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said non-volatile memory (20, 21) is a ROM or a RAM. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the information includes a lot number of the process cartridge and/or a feature of said electrophotographic photosensitive member and/or features of said process means. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes a protruded member (12c1) protruded outwardly from said drum frame in a direction coaxial with the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7). A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said protruded member (12c1) is an outwardly protruded drum shaft portion for supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7) on said drum frame (12c, 12e). A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said protruded member (12c1) is a protruded portion of said drum frame (12c, 12e) protruded outwardly of said drum frame. A process cartridge according to any of claims 13 to 15, where said protruded member also acts as a guiding member when said process cartridge is mounted onto the main body of the image forming apparatus. A process cartridge according to any preceding claim wherein said memory (20, 21) and said electrical contact portion (20a, 23) are integrally formed. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, having a main body (13) to which a process cartridge can removably be mounted, for forming an image on a recording medium, the apparatus comprising: (a) an electrical contact portion (16) of the main body of the image forming apparatus for connecting electrically to the electrical contact portion (23, 23a) of said process cartridge; (b) an abutment portion (18, 100) of the main body of the image forming apparatus; (c) a mounting means capable of removably mounting a process cartridge including a drum frame (12c, 12e), a developing frame (12a, 12b) pivotally connected to said drum frame, a rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum (7) provided on said drum frame and adapted to receive a rotational driving force from said main body, developing means (10a, 10d, 10e), disposed on said developing frame, for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, an exposure opening (9) through which information light emitted from the main body of the image forming apparatus may expose said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is mounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus, positioning means (12c1, 12c3, 12c6) for positioning said drum frame with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted thereto, said positioning means being disposed on said drum frame, wherein said process cartridge is movable to a mounted position relative to the main body of the image forming apparatus by a translation in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum such that said developing frame trails said drum frame, and by a rotation about said axis relative to the main body in the rotational direction in which the process cartridge is urged to rotate by said rotational driving force received by the drum from the main body, a memory (20,21) for storing information to be transmitted to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and, an electrical contact portion (23, 23a) adapted for electrical connection to the electrical contact portion (16) of the main body of the image forming apparatus, for transmitting information between said memory and the main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein the abutment portion is adapted to engage with the positioning means (12c3, 12c6) of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to the main body, to prevent further rotation of the process cartridge in the said rotational direction beyond said mounted position; and wherein said electrical contact portion of the main body is disposed on said main body so that the electrical contact portion of the process cartridge engages the electrical contact portion of the main body when the positioning means of the process cartridge engages the abutment portion of the main body; and (d) conveying means for conveying a recording medium. An image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said electric contact (16a) of the main body of said image forming apparatus can be moved in a plane (F) contacting with an imaginary circle (E) coaxial with a rotational center about which the process cartridge is urged to rotate when the process cartridge is subjected to a driving force from the main body of said image forming apparatus.

Inventors: ITO YOSHIHIRO, NUMAGAMI ATSUSHI, UCHIYAMA SEIJI, WATANABE KAZUSHI, YOKOYAMA KATSUNORI, ITO, YOSHIHIRO, NUMAGAMI, ATSUSHI, UCHIYAMA, SEIJI, WATANABE, KAZUSHI, YOKOYAMA, KATSUNORI
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G03G21
IPC codes: G03G15, G03G21