Patent Publication Number: US-2022221819-A1

Title: Cartridge, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/089,572, filed on Nov. 4, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/930,057, filed on Jul. 15, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,859,971, issued on Dec. 8, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/850,666, filed on Apr. 16, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,747,172, issued on Aug. 18, 2020 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/704,928, filed on Dec. 5, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,656,593, issued on May 19, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/531,657, filed on Aug. 5, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,635,046, issued on Apr. 28, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/978,706, filed on May 14, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,416,608, issued on Sep. 17, 2019, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 15/423,487, filed on Feb. 2, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,996,052 issued on Jun. 12, 2018, which claims the benefit of and priority to, Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-023481, filed Feb. 10, 2016, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-005846, filed Jan. 17, 2017, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a cartridge, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus. Suitable examples of image forming apparatuses include a copier, a printer (such as a laser beam printer or a light emitting diode (LED) printer), a fax machine, a word processor, and a multi-function printer having functions of these, employing electrophotography to form an image on a recording medium. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Image forming apparatuses, such as printers employing electrophotography (electrophotographic process), uniformly charge electrophotographic photosensitive members serving as image bearing members. Then, the charged photosensitive members are selectively exposed, whereby electrostatic images are formed on the photosensitive members. Then, the electrostatic images formed on the photosensitive members are visualized as toner images with toner used as a developer. The toner images formed on the photosensitive members are transferred onto a recording medium such as a recording sheet or a plastic sheet. Then, the toner images that have been transferred on the recording medium are heated and pressed to be fixed on the recording medium. Thus, image recording is completed. 
     Generally, such image forming apparatuses require maintenance for various process units including the photosensitive member, a charging device, a developing device, and a cleaning device. Thus, there have been attempts to facilitate the maintenance for the processing units. More specifically, it has been a common practice to contain various process units in a cartridge, that is, a process cartridge that can be detachably attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus. With this system employing the process cartridge, an image forming apparatus offering high usability can be provided (see, U.S. Pat. No. 8,737,863). 
     The cleaning device, in the process cartridge described above, includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller that charges the photosensitive drum, a cleaning member that scrapes off the developer remaining on the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning frame that supports these members. The photosensitive drum is rotatably supported by the cleaning frame via a bearing member. 
     The cartridge is provided with a storage element storing therein service information and process information. With the information stored in the storage element, the image forming apparatus offers higher image quality and better maintenance performance. The image forming apparatus has an apparatus main body provided with an electrical contact for establishing an electrical connection with a storage element contact provided to the cartridge, and thus electrical communications can be performed between the image forming apparatus and the cartridge. 
     There have been configurations developed to achieve a stable contact between the storage element contact of the cartridge and the main body electrical contact provided to the apparatus main body. More specifically, one such configuration includes a backup member that presses the cartridge in a direction opposite to a direction in which the apparatus main body presses a connector (see Japanese Patent No. 3809402). Another such configuration includes a rotation stopper for the cartridge arranged such that counter force can be obtained in a direction of offsetting a moment generated in the cartridge by pressing force from the main body electrical contact (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-14632). Thus, these configurations can achieve the contact between the electrical contact of the image forming apparatus and the storage element contact of the cartridge. 
     In this context,  FIG. 9  illustrates a conventional configuration in which a storage element is disposed on a side surface on a rear side of a main body of a process cartridge that can be inserted in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus by moving along the axial direction of a photosensitive drum. In this configuration, the process cartridge receives force from a main body electrical contact in a direction in which the cartridge is pulled out from the apparatus main body. Thus, large retaining force is required for preventing the process cartridge from falling out, meaning that a user has to apply large force to insert and pull out the cartridge. 
     What is needed is a cartridge, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus offering high usability with the cartridge being easily insertable by a user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a cartridge according to the present disclosure is a cartridge that is capable of being inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus by moving along an axial direction of an image bearing member, and includes the image bearing member, a frame configured to support the image bearing member, a storage member configured to store therein information on the cartridge, and include an electrical contact that is configured to contact a main body contact provided to the apparatus main body, a first pressed section configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body in such a manner that the cartridge is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body, and a second pressed section configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body in such a manner that the cartridge is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body. The storage member is provided to the frame. The electrical contact is disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section in the axial direction, and is configured to be able to be in contact with the main body contact on a lower side in a state where the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body. 
     Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a detailed cross-sectional view illustrating how a storage member is arranged in a cartridge according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus in which the cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment is installed. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view illustrating how the cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment is attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are each a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of the storage member in the cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are each an exploded perspective view illustrating how the storage member is fixed in the cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating how the cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment is positioned with a positioning section of the main body of the image forming apparatus by pressing force from the main body of the image forming apparatus. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are each a diagram illustrating how the storage member is arranged in a recess in a frame in the cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are each a diagram illustrating a conventional example. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are each a diagram illustrating a cartridge guide according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating the cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a storage member and a slit according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. 
     (Image Forming Apparatus) 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that has a main body to which a process cartridge according to a first exemplary embodiment can be attached.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge. The process cartridge (hereinafter, referred to as a cartridge) at least includes an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum. Typically, the cartridge includes the image bearing member and process units that are integrally formed. The process units perform processes on the image bearing member. The main body of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as an apparatus main body) corresponds to a portion of the image forming apparatus excluding the cartridge. The cartridge can be attached to the apparatus main body in an inserting manner (detachable manner). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , four detachable cartridges  70  ( 70 Y,  70 M,  70 C, and  70 K) are attached to an apparatus main body  100  with a lower guide rail  52  and an upper guide rail  53  that are described later ( FIG. 1 ). An upstream side and a downstream side of the apparatus main body  100 , in the insertion direction of the cartridges  70 , are respectively defined as a front surface side and a rear surface side. In the apparatus main body  100 , the cartridges  70  are arranged side by side in a direction inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     Each of the cartridges  70  includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter, referred to as a photosensitive drum)  1  ( 1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d ) configured to carry a developer image. Process units such as a charging roller  2  ( 2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c ,  2   d ) serving as a charging member, a developing roller  25  ( 25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c ,  25   d ), and a cleaning member  6  ( 6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c ,  6   d ) are integrally formed to be arranged around the photosensitive drum  1 . 
     The charging roller  2  uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum  1 . The developing roller  25  develops a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum  1  into a visible image with a developer (toner). The cleaning member  6  removes toner remaining on the photosensitive drum  1 , after a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum  1  has been transferred onto a recording medium. 
     A scanner unit  3  is provided below the cartridges  70 . The scanner unit  3  selectively exposes the photosensitive drums  1  based on image information so that the latent image is formed on the photosensitive drums  1 . A cassette  17  is installed in a lower portion of the apparatus main body  100  and accommodates a recording medium S. In the present exemplary embodiment, recording paper is described as the recording medium. However, the recording medium in the present disclosure is not limited to paper. Generally, the recording medium is a sheet member on which a toner image is formed by the image forming apparatus. Examples of the recording medium include normal paper of a standard or special size, thick paper, thin paper, an envelope, a postcard, a sticker, a resin sheet, an overhead projector (OHP) sheet, and glossy paper. 
     A recording medium conveyance unit is provided such that the recording medium S is conveyed to an upper portion of the apparatus main body  100  through a secondary transfer roller  69  and a fixing unit  74 . More specifically, a feed roller  54  is provided to separate recording media S in the cassette  17  into individual sheets and feed the sheet. Conveyance rollers  76  are provided to convey the recording medium S thus fed. Registration rollers  55  are provided to synchronize the timing between the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum  1  and the recording medium S. 
     An intermediate transfer unit  5  onto which the toner image formed on each photosensitive drum  1  ( 1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d ) is transferred is provided above the cartridges  70  ( 70 Y,  70 M,  70 C, and  70 K). The intermediate transfer unit  5  includes a driving roller  56 , a driven roller  57 , primary transfer rollers  58  ( 58   a ,  58   b ,  58   c , and  58   d ) each facing a different one of the photosensitive drums  1  of a corresponding color, an in-belt roller  59  at a position to face the secondary transfer roller  69 , and a transfer belt  9  spanning across these members. 
     The transfer belt  9  rotationally moves while facing and being in contact with all the photosensitive drums  1 , whereby primary transfer from the photosensitive drums  1  onto the transfer belt  9  is achieved with voltage applied to the primary transfer belts  58  ( 58   a ,  58   b ,  58   c , and  58   d ). Then, voltage is applied to the in-belt roller  59  disposed in the transfer belt  9  and to the secondary transfer roller  69 , whereby toner on the transfer belt  9  is transferred onto the recording medium S. 
     Image forming is performed as follows. The photosensitive drums  1  are rotated, uniformly charged by the charging roller  2 , and then selectively exposed by the scanner unit  3 . Thus, electrostatic latent images are formed on the photosensitive drums  1 , and then are developed by the developing rollers  25 . Thus, toner images of respective colors are formed on the photosensitive drums  1 . 
     The registration rollers  55  convey the recording medium S to a secondary transfer position where the in-belt roller  59  and the secondary transfer roller  69  are in contact with each other with the transfer belt  9  in between, in synchronization with the image forming. Then, transfer bias voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller  69 , whereby the toner images of the respective colors on the transfer belt  9  are secondary transferred onto the recording medium S. Thus, a color image is formed on the recording medium S. The recording medium S on which the color image is formed is heated and pressed in the fixing unit  74  disposed in an upper portion of the apparatus main body  100 , whereby the toner images are fixed. Then, the recording medium S is discharged to a discharge portion  75  by discharging rollers  72 . 
     (Cartridge) 
     Next, the cartridge  70  according to the exemplary embodiment is described with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a main cross-sectional view of the cartridge  70  containing toner. The cartridge  70 Y containing yellow toner, the cartridge  70 M containing magenta toner, the cartridge  70 C containing cyan toner, and the cartridge  70 K containing black toner have the same configuration. The cartridge  70  ( 70 Y,  70 M,  70 C,  70 K) includes a cleaning unit  26  ( 26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c ,  26   d ) and a developing unit  4  ( 4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d ). 
     (1. Cleaning Unit  26 ) 
     The cleaning unit  26  includes the photosensitive drum  1  ( 1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d ) as an image bearing member, a charging roller  2  ( 2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c ,  2   d ), a cleaning member  6  ( 6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c ,  6   d ), a cleaning frame  27  (frame), and a storage member  60  described below. The cleaning frame  27  has a predetermined thickness and a cross-sectional shape covering a range illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The charging roller  2  and the cleaning member  6  are disposed on the circumference of the photosensitive drum  1 . The cleaning member  6  includes an elastic member  7  formed of a rubber blade and a cleaning supporting member  8 . The elastic member  7  as the rubber blade is disposed to have a distal end portion  7   a  in contact with the photosensitive drum  1  while being directed in a counter direction with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . Thus, the residual toner is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum  1  by the cleaning member  6  to fall into a removed-toner chamber  27   b . A scoop sheet  21  that prevents the residual toner from leaking from the removed-toner chamber  27   b  is in contact with the photosensitive drum  1 . 
     Driving force from a main body driving motor (not illustrated) serving as a driving source is transmitted to the cleaning unit  26 , whereby the photosensitive drum  1  is drivingly rotated in accordance with the image forming operation. The charging roller  2  is rotatably attached to the cleaning unit  26  via a charging roller bearing  28 . The charging roller  2  is pressed against the photosensitive drum  1  by a charging roller pressing member  48 , and thus is rotated following the rotation of the photosensitive drum  1 . 
     (2. Developing Unit  4 ) 
     The developing unit  4  illustrated in  FIG. 3  includes the developing roller  25  serving as a developer-carrying member which is in contact with the photosensitive drum  1  that rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow P, and which rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow Q. The developing unit  4  further includes a developer container  31  serving as a developer frame that supports the developing roller  25  and a developer container chamber  31   a  serving as a container that contains toner to be supplied to the developing roller  25 . 
     The developing roller  25  is rotatably supported by the developer container  31  via developer front and rear bearings (not illustrated) attached to both sides of the developer container  31 . A toner supplying roller  34  and a developing blade  35  are disposed on the circumference of the developing roller  25 . The toner supplying roller  34  is in contact with the developing roller  25 , and rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow R. The developing blade  35  regulates the thickness of a toner layer on the developing roller  25 . 
     A blowout prevention sheet  20  serving as a developing contact sheet is in contact with the developing roller  25  and prevents toner from leaking from the developer container  31 . The developer container chamber  31   a  of the developer container  31  is provided with a developer stirring unit  36  that stirs the contained toner and conveys the toner to the toner supplying roller  34 . 
     (Configuration for Inserting Cartridge into Apparatus Main Body) 
     Next, a configuration for inserting the cartridge  70  ( 70 Y,  70 M,  70 C,  70 K) into the apparatus main body  100  is described with reference to  FIG. 4 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the cartridge  70  is inserted into an opening  101  ( 101   a ,  101   b ,  101   c ,  101   d ) in the apparatus main body  100 . The cartridge  70  is inserted in an insertion direction (a direction indicated by an arrow F in the figure) from a front side to a rear side in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the axial direction is defined as a direction in parallel with a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum  1  and the developing roller  25 . An upstream side and a downstream side of the insertion direction of the cartridge  70  are respectively defined as the front side and the rear side. 
     The apparatus main body  100  is provided with guide sections that guide the cartridge  70  that moves between positions in and out of the apparatus main body  100 . More specifically, a main body attached upper guide section  103  ( 103   a ,  103   b ,  103   c , and  103   d ) and a main body attached lower guide section  102  ( 102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c , and  102   d ) are respectively disposed on an upper side and a lower side in the apparatus main body  100 . The main body attached upper guide section  103  serves as a first main body guide section. The main body attached lower guide section  102  serves as a second main body guide section. 
     The main body attached upper guide section  103  and the main body attached lower guide section  102  each have a guiding shape extending along the insertion direction F of the cartridge  70 . The cartridge  70  is inserted in the apparatus main body  100  as follows. More specifically, the cartridge  70  is placed on an insertion direction front side of the main body attached lower guide section  102 , and then is moved in the insertion direction F along the main body attached upper guide section  103  and the main body attached lower guide section  102 . 
     (Configuration of Arranging Information Storage Member) 
     The cartridge  70  is provided with the storage member (information storage member)  60 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the storage member  60  (described in detail below) is provided on a lower surface of the cleaning frame  27  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     In the description in this specification, the lower surface of the cleaning frame  27  not only includes a lower outer circumference surface of the cleaning frame  27 , but also includes a surface of a recess recessed from the lower outer circumference surface as described in detail below. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the lower outer circumference surface of the cleaning frame  27  has positions with different levels along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . More specifically, a position (pressed section  27   a ) of the lower outer circumference surface at an end of the cleaning frame  27  in the axial direction is lower than a position (surface  27   c ) of the lower outer circumference surface at a center of the cleaning frame  27  in the axial direction, in a gravitational direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the lower guide rail  52  and the upper guide rail  53 , with which the cartridge  70  is inserted, are provided on left and right inner side surfaces of the apparatus main body  100 . As described in detail below, upward pressing by a pressing member  50  provided in the apparatus main body  100  causes an upward movement of a main body electrical contact (electrode)  65  corresponding to a movement of the guide rail  52 . Thus, the main body electrical contact  65  comes into contact with an electrical contact (electrode) of the storage member  60 . In this process, the main body electrical contact  65  moves more than the pressing member  50 . 
     The storage member  60  has a substrate  61  with one surface side provided with a storage element  63  that stores information as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , and the other surface side provided with storage element contacts (electrical contact of the storage member)  62  that are in electrical communication with the storage element as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . 
     In a state where the cartridge  70  is at an attachment position to be attached to the apparatus main body  100 , the storage element contact  62  of the cartridge  70  is in contact with the main body electrical contact  65  of the apparatus main body  100 . Thus, communications are established so that the information (for example, the number of printed sheets) in the cartridge  70  can be detected by the apparatus main body  100 . 
     How the storage member  60  is attached to the cartridge  70  is described. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the storage member  60  is inserted into a slit  41  (supporting section) provided on a lower surface side of the cleaning frame  27 , in a direction indicated by an arrow, with the side of the storage element contacts  62  facing outward. 
     The storage member  60  includes a plurality of the storage element contacts  62  arranged in a direction crossing the axial direction and the gravitational direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . The arranged direction of the plurality of storage element contacts  62  is preferably orthogonal to each of the axial direction and the gravitational direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . The cartridge can move in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum only by an extremely small amount, and thus more stable connection with the electrical contact of the apparatus main body can be achieved. 
     The storage member  60  fits between a slit guide sections  45  and  46  ( FIG. 6A ) of the slit  41  to be positioned in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge  70 . When a distal end portion of the storage member  60  comes into contact with a contact portion  42  of the slit  41 , the storage member  60  is prevented from moving by an elastic claw (temporary joint member)  44  and thus is positioned in the lateral direction. In this state, a welded rib  43  (a distal end of the lower silt guide section  46 ) at an inlet of the slit  41  is thermally welded by ultrasonic welding or the like. The welded rib  43  in a state of being welded to prevent the storage member  60  from falling out (a state of the welded rib  43  in  FIG. 8B ) is cooled and solidified. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the cartridge  70  is pressed upward (C direction) by the pressing member  50  provided in the apparatus main body  100  (the pressing direction of the pressing member  50  is opposite to the gravitational direction in the present exemplary embodiment). A bearing  29  as a bearing member (that engages with the cleaning frame  27  and rotatably supports the photosensitive drum  1 ) is brought into contact with a positioning section  51   a  (first positioning section) of a rear side plate  51  provided to the apparatus main body  100 , whereby positioning is achieved. Thus, the bearing  29  includes a first positioned section that comes into contact with the positioning section  51   a . The first positioning section  51   a  and the first positioned section are disposed on one end side of the photosensitive drum  1  in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . In other words, the first positioning section  51   a  and the first positioned section are disposed on the downstream side of the photosensitive drum  1  in the insertion direction F. 
     Thus, the cleaning frame  27  includes a pressed section  27   a  that receives pressing force from the pressing member  50  toward the positioning section  51   a  in the apparatus main body  100  (in the present exemplary embodiment the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1  matches a direction connecting between the pressed section  27   a  and the storage member  60 ). The pressed section  27   a  is disposed on the upstream side of the first poisoned portion in the insertion direction F. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a plurality of the pressed sections  27   a  is provided on the rear side and the front side in the present exemplary embodiment. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the apparatus main body  100  includes a second positioning section  51   b . The cartridge  70  includes a second positioned section that is provided on the bearing  30  and comes into contact with the second positioning section  51   b . The bearing  30  cooperates with the bearing  29  to rotatably support the photosensitive drum  1 . The second positioning section  51   b  and the second positioned section are disposed on the other end side in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . In other words, the second positioning section  51   b  and the second positioned section are disposed on the upstream side of the photosensitive drum  1  in the insertion direction F. 
     The plurality of pressed sections  27   a  is disposed on the inner side of the first positioned section and of the second positioned section in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . 
     The guide for the cartridge  70  according to the present exemplary embodiment is described more in detail with reference to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10A  is a side view of the guide for the cartridge  70  as viewed in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction.  FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view of the guide for the cartridge  70  taken along a line V-V in  FIG. 10A  in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction (insertion direction). 
     As described above, the lower surface  27   c  is disposed in the lower portion of the cleaning frame  27  of the cartridge  70 . The lower surface  27   c  is provided with the plurality of pressed sections  27   a  and the slit  41 . The lower guide rail  52  of the apparatus main body  100  extends in the insertion direction. In  FIG. 10A , the lower guide rail  52  is illustrated with a broken line. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the plurality of pressed sections  27   a  and side surfaces ( 27   c   1  and  27   c   2 ) of the lower surface  27   c  serve as cartridge guides that comes into contact with the lower guide rail  52  to be guided. More specifically, the pressed sections  27   a  and the side surfaces of the lower surface  27   c  serve as the cartridge guides that extend in the axial direction (insertion direction) of the photosensitive drum  1 . The plurality of pressed sections  27   a  and the side surfaces of the lower surface  27   c  protrude beyond the cleaning frame  27  in a direction crossing the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1  (orthogonal direction in the present exemplary embodiment). 
     The pressed sections  27   a  and the side surfaces of the lower surface  27   c  are cartridge guides disposed on both sides of the slit  41  and the storage member  60  in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . In other words, the slit  41  and the storage member  60  (storage element contact  62 ) are disposed in an intermediate portion  27   f  of the cartridge guide in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . The pressed sections  27   a  and the side surfaces of the lower surface  27   c  do not need to be entirely in contact with the lower guide rail  52 , and may be separated from the lower guide rail  52  in the intermediate portion  27   f  for example. 
     The slit  41  and the storage member  60  are disposed at positions overlapping the cartridge guide in a direction crossing the axial direction and the gravitational direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . Thus, the slit  41  and the storage member  60  are disposed at positions overlapping the cartridge guide in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . 
     Thus, the slit  41  and the cartridge guides can be provided in a small space, whereby the cartridge  70  can be downsized. 
       FIG. 9B  illustrates a conventional configuration in which the storage member  60  is disposed on a side surface on a rear side of a cartridge that is detachably attachable to the apparatus main body by moving in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . In this configuration, the cartridge receives force from the main body electrical contact  65  in a direction in which the cartridge is pulled out from the apparatus main body (B direction). Thus, large retaining force is required for preventing the cartridge from falling out, meaning that a user needs to apply large force to insert and remove the cartridge. 
     In view of this, the present exemplary embodiment features the configuration where the storage member  60  is disposed on the lower surface of the cartridge  70  (the lower surface of the cleaning frame  27 ) (see  FIG. 7 ). With the configuration, the retaining force can be designed to be smaller than that required in the conventional configuration, whereby the cartridge  70  can be detached and attached with smaller force. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the direction(A direction) of the force from the main body electrical contact  65  to the storage member  60  matches the positioning direction (C direction) of the cartridge  70 , that is, the direction of the force from the pressing member  50 . Thus, the cartridge can be positioned more accurately. Thus, the cartridge  70  receives force acting upward from the pressing member  50  on the pressed sections  27   a  on both end sides in the axial direction, and further receives force acting upward from the main body electrical contact  65  on the side of the center portion in the axial direction (mechanical contact between the storage member  60  and the main body electrical contact  65  is achieved). Thus, stronger pressing force is applied to the positioning section  51   a  to achieve higher positioning accuracy. 
     In the conventional configuration exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 9B , contact pressure for electrical connection is difficult to increase without increasing the retaining force for preventing the cartridge from falling out. In the present exemplary embodiment, the contact pressure for the electrical connection can be increased. 
     The storage member  60  is disposed at a portion around the center of the cleaning frame  26  in the longitudinal direction. Thus, upward force received by the cartridge is dispersed, whereby the cleaning frame  27  can be prevented from deforming. More specifically, when the cartridge  70  (cleaning frame  26 ) is hypothetically equally divided into three divided areas, the storage member  60  is disposed in the center one of the divided areas. Thus, the cleaning frame  27  can be prevented from deforming. As illustrates in  FIG. 11 , in the present exemplary embodiment, the first pressed section and the second pressed section are disposed between the first positioned section and the second positioned section. The storage member  60  and the storage element contact  62  are disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section. Thus, the first positioned section and the second positioned section of the cartridge  70  can be stably in contact with the positioning sections  51   a  and  51   b  of the main body. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8A , in the present exemplary embodiment, the storage member  60  is disposed more on the inner side than both end portions of the charging roller  2  (both end portions of the charging area) in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the storage member  60  and the storage element contact  62  are disposed more on the inner side than both end portions of an area Z, where the latent image is formed, of the surface of the photosensitive drum  1 . The storage member is disposed outside an optical path of a laser beam emitted from the scanner unit  3  in a cross-sectional direction (direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 ). Thus, the storage member  60  disposed as described above does not hinder the exposure operation performed by the scanner unit  3 . Thus, the cartridge  70  can be downsized. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the storage member  60  is disposed in a recess with a bottom portion disposed more on a side of the photosensitive drum  1  than a plane G connecting between the plurality of pressed sections  27   a  (the first pressed section and the second pressed section). More specifically, the storage member  60  is disposed on a plane (surface of the recess)  27   e  disposed more on the side of the photosensitive drum  1  than the plane G. The storage member  60  arranged as described above is difficult to be touched by the user, and thus is effectively prevented from breaking by being in contact with the user. 
     The plane  27   e  as the lower surface of the cleaning frame on which the storage member  60  is disposed is separated from the plane G by a distance H in a direction opposite to the gravitational direction. More specifically, the distance H is preferably equal to or larger than 3 mm and is equal to or smaller than 20 mm (for example, 5 mm). The lower limit of the preferable range is set to be 3 mm as a distance long enough to prevent the contacting of a finger of the user despite its bulging shape. The higher limit of the preferable range is set to 20 mm so that the contact with the main body contact  65  can be easily achieved, with the recess form maintained without being a through hole. 
     An angle θ between the plane including the plurality of storage element contacts  62  and the horizontal plane illustrated in  FIG. 3  is preferably 5° to 10°, and is more preferably 7°. 
     (Modification) 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the preferred exemplary embodiments described above, and can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. 
     (First Modification) 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the configuration of the exemplary embodiment described above in which the storage member  60  is disposed on the lower surface of the cleaning frame  27  in the process cartridge (including the cleaning unit  26  and the developing unit  4 ). 
     More specifically, a configuration may be employed in which the cleaning unit and the developing unit are separately provided and are detachably attachable to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, instead of being integrated to be the process cartridge. In other words, a dual configuration may be employed in which the cleaning cartridge serving as the cleaning device and the developing cartridge serving as the developing device are individually detachably attached. 
     In this configuration, the cleaning cartridge and the developing cartridge may each include the storage member. In such a case, the storage members may be disposed on lower surfaces of both cartridges to achieve inserting and removing with much smaller force. 
     It is to be noted that a certain level of advantage can be achieved with the storage member disposed not on the lower surfaces of both cartridges, but disposed on the lower surface of only one of the cartridges. For example, the cleaning cartridge may have the lower surface provided with the storage member, whereas the developing cartridge may have a side end surface in the axial direction provided with the storage member as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     This configuration can be employed for the following reason. As can be seen in the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 3 , the cleaning unit corresponding to the cleaning cartridge has a small cross-sectional area. Thus, when a driving force receiving member is disposed on a side surface, there is only a small space left for the storage member, and thus a design freedom is compromised. Thus, the storage member is disposed on the lower surface to achieve a much higher design freedom. As can also be seen in the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 3 , the developing unit corresponding to the developing cartridge has a large cross-sectional area. Thus, the side end surface in the axial direction has a relatively large area, and thus is likely to have an enough area to provide the storage member. 
     As another alternative configuration, in addition to the dual configuration, the developing device may be built in the apparatus main body, and the cleaning cartridge, having the storage member  60  provided on the lower surface of the cleaning frame  27 , alone may be detachably attachable to the apparatus main body. Also in this configuration, preferably, the cleaning frame  27  includes the pressed section  27   a  that receives the pressing force from the pressing member of the apparatus main body, and a direction connecting between the pressed section  27   a  and the storage member  60  matches the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 , so that larger pressing force can be applied to achieve more accurate positioning. 
     Similarly, the photosensitive drum serving as the image bearing member may be built in the apparatus main body, and the developing cartridge, having the storage member  60  disposed on the lower surface of the developer container  31  as the developing frame, alone may be detachably attachable. Also in this configuration, preferably, the developer container  31  includes the pressed section that receives the pressing force from the pressing member of the apparatus main body toward the positioning section of the apparatus main body, and the direction connecting between the pressed section and the storage member  60  matches the axial direction of the developing roller  25 , so that larger pressing force can be applied to achieve more accurate positioning. 
     In the process cartridge (including the cleaning unit  26  and the developing unit  4 ), the storage member  60  may be disposed on the lower surface of the developer container  31  serving as the developing frame. Also in this configuration, preferably, the developer container  31  includes the pressed section that receives the pressing force from the pressing member of the apparatus main body toward the positioning section of the apparatus main body, and the direction connecting between the pressed section and the storage member  60  matches the axial direction of the developing roller  25 , so that larger pressing force can be applied to achieve more accurate positioning. 
     A second exemplary embodiment is described below. Generally, the portions that are described in the first exemplary embodiment will not be described. Still, a configuration according to the present exemplary embodiment may be combined with the configuration according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic view of a configuration around the storage member  60  and the slit  41  according to the present exemplary embodiment. The slit  41 , having the configuration described in the first exemplary embodiment, is simplified in  FIG. 12 . 
     The apparatus main body according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a holder  147  that holds main body electrical contacts  165 . The holder  147  includes a first restricted member  147   a  and a second restricted member  147   b.    
     Restricting sections  47  are provided on both sides of the slit  41  in the axial direction (insertion direction) F of the photosensitive drum  1 . The restricting sections  47  restrict a position of the holder  147  (the position of the main body electrical contacts  165 ). The restricting sections  47  each include a first restricting section  47   a . A first inclined surface  47   a   1  is formed on a distal end of the first restricting section  47   a . The restricting sections  47  each include a second restricting section  47   b . A second inclined surface  47   b   1  is formed on a distal end of the second restricting section  47   b.    
     The holder  147  moves along the direction of the force from the main body electrical contacts  165  to the storage member  60  (A direction). The first restricted member  147   a  engages with the first restricting section  47   a . Thus, the position of the holder  147  (the position of the main body contacts  165 ) is restricted in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1 . The second restricted member  147   b  engages with the second restricting section  47   b . Thus, the position of the holder  147  (the position of the main body contacts  165 ) is restricted in the direction crossing the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1  (orthogonally in the present exemplary embodiment). As described above, the first restricting section  47   a  and the second restricting section  47   b  can engage with the holder  147  in a direction crossing the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  1  (from the lower side in the gravitational direction in the present exemplary embodiment). As described above, the position of the main body contact  165  is restricted with respect to the storage element contact  62 . The first inclined surface  47   a   1  and the second inclined surface  47   b   1  facilitate the engagement with the holder  147 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the first restricted member  147   a  and the second restricted member  147   b  are recesses (grooves). The first restricting section  47   a  and the second restricting section  47   b  are protrusions (walls). If the first restricting section  47   a  and the second restricting section  47   b  are recesses, wall surfaces need to be provided around the recesses. All things considered, the configuration according to the present exemplary embodiment can be achieved with the restricting section of a small size, and thus the cartridge  70  can be downsized. The slit  41  according to the present exemplary embodiment is provided on the cartridge guide, as in the first exemplary embodiment. 
     The present disclosure can provide a cartridge, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus offering high usability with the cartridge being easily insertable by a user. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.