Patent EP-1621942-A3 (EP)
Inventor: CHADANI KAZUO
IPC: G03G21/18
Filed: 2004-12-01
Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a main assembly electrical contact; a first projection; second projection; a movable supporting member supporting the main assembly electrical contact, the first projection and the second projection; force application member; a first main assembly positioning portion; and a second main assembly positioning portion, the process cartridge includes a first frame; a second frame rotatably connected with the first frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the first frame; a first portion, for being positioned to the first main assembly positioning portion when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly, the first portion being projected outwardly from the first frame substantially coaxially with an axis of the drum at one end of the first frame; a second portion, for being positioned to the second main assembly positioning portion when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly, the second portion being projected outwardly from the second frame substantially coaxially with an axis of the drum at one end of the second frame; a developing roller, contactable to the drum provided in the second frame, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum; a force receiving portion, provided in the second frame, for receiving a force from the force application member to space the drum and the developing roller from each other; a regulating portion for regulating a rotation of the first frame about the first portion and the second portion when the force receiving portion receives the force from the force application member, the regulating portion being provided in the first frame; a memory element for storing information relating to the process cartridge, the memory element being provided at a leading end of the first frame with respect to the mountning direction; a cartridge electrical contact for electrical connection with the main assembly electrical contact when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly, the cartridge electrical contact being the effective to transmit information from the memory element to the main assembly when the cartridge electrical contact is electrically connected with the main assembly electrical contact; a first recess, provided in the first frame, for positioning the cartridge electrical contact relative to the main assembly electrical contact when the process cartridge is being mounted to the main assembly, the first recess being engageable with the first projection when the process cartridge is being mounted to the main assembly; a second recess, provided in the second frame, for positioning the cartridge electrical contact relative to the main assembly electrical contact when the process cartridge is being mounted to the main assembly, the second recess being engageable with the second projection when the process cartridge is being mounted to the main assembly; wherein when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly, the cartridge electrical contact moves integrally with the main assembly electrical contact by the first recess engaging with the first projection and the second recess engaging with the second projection, upon the first frame rotating about the first portion and the second portion by the force receiving portion receiving the force from the force application member.