Patent Publication Number: US-11378914-B2

Title: Process cartridge and image forming apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART 
     The present invention relates to a process cartridge mountable in and dismountable from an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrophotographic printer, and relates to the image forming apparatus. 
     In an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic type, a constitution in which a photosensitive member and a process member actable on the photosensitive member are integrally assembled into a unit as a process cartridge and in which the process cartridge is made mountable in and dismountable from the image forming apparatus has been known. By such a constitution, a maintenance operation in the case where toner is used up or in the case where the process member is broken can be carried out by a user himself (herself), and therefore a maintenance property can be improved remarkably. 
     Further, in recent years, a constitution in which a storing portion for storing information on the process cartridge, such as various pieces of service information and process information is mounted on the process cartridge is also realized. In this constitution, electrical connection is made between an electrical contact portion provided on an apparatus main assembly side of the image forming apparatus and an electrical contact portion which is provided on a position side and which is electrically connected to the storing portion. Then, electrical communication is carried out between the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus and the storing portion of the process cartridge, and the information stored in the storing portion is used, so that an image quality and a maintenance property can be further improved. 
     Further, in a process cartridge disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Application (JP-A) 2004-37876, the electrical contact portion and the storing portion are flushed with each other, and a projection projecting in a mounting direction of the process cartridge is provided. By such a constitution, during falling or the like of the process cartridge, a contact member contacts an external member in advance of the storing portion, and therefore breakage of the storing portion with collision between the external member and the storing portion is suppressed. 
     However, in the constitution disclosed in JP-A 2004-37876, the storing portion and the electrical contact portion are disposed on the same plane, and therefore, a degree of freedom of arrangement is low, so that there is a liability that the constitution cannot meet upsizing of the storing portion. 
     Therefore, a process cartridge which can easily meet the upsizing of the storing portion and which can also suppress the breakage of the storing portion with the collision between the external member and the storing portion has been desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge mountable in and dismountable from an image forming apparatus, comprising: a frame; a storing portion provided on a mounting surface of the frame and configured to store information on the process cartridge; a projection projecting outwardly of the mounting surface in a direction normal to the mounting surface; and an electrical contact portion mounted on the projection and electrically connected to the storing portion. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 1  are schematic perspective views of an image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view of a process cartridge. 
       Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 4  are perspective views of the process cartridge. 
       Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 5  are a perspective view and a side view of a mounted a periphery thereof. 
       Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 6  are exploded perspective views of the connector mechanism. 
       Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 7  are exploded perspective views of the connector mechanism. 
       Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 8  are sectional views of the connector mechanism. 
       Part (a) of  FIG. 9  is a plan view of the connector and a lower connector cover, and part (b) of  FIG. 9  is a plan view of the memory unit and the periphery thereof. 
       Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 10  are perspective views of the connector, the lower connector cover and the process cartridge. 
       Part (a) of  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the memory unit and the electrical contact portion, and part (b) of  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the process cartridge. 
       Part (a) of  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the memory unit and the electrical contact portion, and part (b) of  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a photosensitive member frame. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     &lt;Image Forming Apparatus&gt; 
     In the following, first, a general structure of an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mountable and from which the process cartridge is dismountable will be described together with an operation of the image forming apparatus during image formation while making reference to the drawings. 
     Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 1  are schematic perspective views of an image forming apparatus A.  FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus A. Here, parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 1  show a state in which an openable door  21  of the image forming apparatus A is open, and  FIG. 2  shows a state in which the openable door  21  is closed. Further, parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 1  are the perspective views of the image forming apparatus A as seen from different angles, respectively. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the image forming apparatus A includes an image forming portion for transferring a toner image onto a sheet, a sheet feeding portion for feeding the sheet toward the image forming portion, and a fixing portion for fixing the toner image on the sheet. Further, the image forming apparatus A includes the openable door  21  rotatable about a rotation shaft  21   a  and capable of being opened and closed relative to an apparatus main assembly. 
     The image forming portion includes a process cartridge  1  mountable in and dismountable from the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a laser scanner unit  3 , a transfer roller  9  (transfer portion) and the like. 
     When the process cartridge  1  is mounted, first, the openable door  21  is opened, so that an inside of the image forming apparatus A is exposed. A right-side plate  23   a  and a left-side plate  23   b  which constitute a frame  23  of the image forming apparatus A are provided with guiding grooves  23   a   1  and  23   b   1  for guiding the process cartridge  1 . 
     Then, a grip  103  ( FIG. 4 ) provided on the process cartridge  1  is gripped, and image guide bosses  106   a  and  106   b  and second guide bosses  107   a  and  107   b  ( FIG. 7 ) of the process cartridge  1  are moved while being engaged with the guiding grooves  23   a   1  and  23   b   1 . As a result, movement of the process cartridge  1  is guided, so that the process cartridge  1  is mounted at a predetermined position. 
     On the right-side plate  23   a , below the guiding groove  23   a   1 , a coupling guiding groove  23   a   2  is formed substantially parallel to the guiding groove  23   a   1 . Further, on a downstream side of the coupling guiding groove  23   a   2  with respect to a mounting direction (arrow Y 1  direction) of the process cartridge  1 , a drive output coupling  26  rotatably by a driving force of an unshown motor is provided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the process cartridge  1  includes a photosensitive drum  8 , a charging roller  109 , a developing device  105  and a cleaning blade  107 . The developing device  105  includes a developing sleeve  105   a  incorporating a fixed magnet  105   m , a toner accommodating portion  105   b , a toner feeding member  105   c  and a developing blade  105   d . These members are accommodated in a frame  102  of the process cartridge  1 . 
     The frame  102  of the process cartridge  1  is constituted by a photosensitive member frame  102   s  supporting the photosensitive drum  8  and by a developing frame  102   b , as a frame for the developing device  105 , forming the toner accommodating portion  105   b . The photosensitive member frame  102   a  and the developing frame  102   b  are connected so as to be swingable relative to each other. 
     Next, an image forming operation will be described. First, when a controller (not shown) receives an image forming job signal, a sheet S stacked and accommodated in a sheet stacking portion  4  is sent to a registration roller  7  by a feeding roller  5  and conveying rollers  6  ( 6   a ,  6   b ). Then, the sheet S is sent to the image forming portion at predetermined timing. 
     On the other hand, in the image forming portion, a surface of the photosensitive drum  8  contacting the charging roller  109  is electrically charged by the charging roller  109  under application of a voltage to the charging roller  109 . Then, the laser scanner unit  3  emits laser light L and irradiates the photosensitive drum  8  with the laser light L depending on image information. At this time, the photosensitive drum  8  is irradiated with the laser light-passing through an opening  101  of the process cartridge  1 . As a result, a potential of the photosensitive drum  8  is partially lowered, so that an electrostatic latent image depending on the image information is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  8 . 
     Then, the toner in the toner accommodating portion  105   b  of the developing device  105  is fed by the toner feeding member  105   c  and is carried on the surface of the developing sleeve  105   a  by the action of the fixed magnet  105   m . Thereafter, the developing blade  105   d  contacts the toner carried on the surface of the developing sleeve  105   a , so that the toner is not only regulated to a predetermined film (layer) thickness but also tribe electrically charged and supplied with electric charges. 
     Then, by applying a voltage to the developing sleeve, the toner is deposited from the developing sleeve  105   a  on the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  8 . As a result, a toner image depending on the image information is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  1 . 
     Then, the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  8  is sent to a transfer nip formed by the photosensitive drum  8  and the transfer roller  9 . When the toner image reaches the transfer nip, a voltage of an opposite polarity to a charge polarity of the toner is applied to the transfer roller  9 , so that the toner image is transferred onto the sheet S. 
     Thereafter, the sheet S on which the toner image is transferred is sent to a fixing device  10  (fixing portion) and is heated and pressed in a process in which the sheet S passes through a fixing nip of the fixing device  10 , so that the toner image is thermally melted and is thermally fixed to the sheet S. Thereafter, the sheet S is discharged to a discharge portion  12  by a discharging roller  11 . 
     Incidentally, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum  8  after transfer of the toner image is removed by being scraping off with the cleaning blade  107  and is accommodated in a toner accumulating portion  104 . 
     &lt;Outer Casing of Process Cartridge&gt; 
     Next, a structure of another casing of the process cartridge  1  will be described. 
     Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 4  are perspective views of the process cartridge  1 , in which the process cartridge  1  is seen from different directions from each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the process cartridge  1  is an assembly such that a rotational axis direction (arrow D 2  direction) of the photosensitive drum  8  is its longitudinal direction. A mounting and dismounting direction of the process cartridge  1  is a direction (arrow D 3  direction) perpendicular to the rotational axis direction, in which an arrow Y 1  direction is the mounting direction and an arrow Y 2  direction is the dismounting direction. 
     As described above, the frame  102  of the process cartridge  1  is constituted by the photosensitive member frame  102   a  and the developing frame  102   b . On one surface of the photosensitive drum frame  102   a , a drive input coupling  108  is provided. 
     When the process cartridge  1  is mounted, the drive input coupling  108  is engaged with the coupling guiding groove  23   a   2  ( FIG. 1 ) of the image forming apparatus A, so that movement thereof is guided and thereafter the drive input coupling  108  is engaged with a drive output coupling  26  ( FIG. 1 ). As a result, a driving force of the unshown motor can be transmitted between the drive input coupling  108  and the drive output coupling  26 , so that the photosensitive drum  8  and the developing sleeve  105   a  and the like are rotated by the transmission of the driving force to the drive input coupling  108 . 
     Further, on the other side surface of the photosensitive member frame  102   a , a memory unit  111  (storing portion) incorporating a memory chip (storing element) such as a RAM or a ROM for storing information on the process cartridge  1  is mounted. In the following, a structure of a periphery of the memory unit  111  will be described. 
     Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 5  are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of the periphery of the memory unit  111 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the memory unit  111  is bonded to and mounted on a first wall surface  121  (mounting surface) which is an upper surface of the photosensitive member frame  102   a . Incidentally, a bonding method is, for example, a double-side tape, an adhesive, caulking or the like. 
     Further, a substrate  115  is provided on a substrate bearing surface  123  (projection) projecting in a normal direction (arrow D 1  direction) to the first wall surface  121 . Further, on the substrate  115 , two electrical contact portions  112  ( 112   a ,  112   b ) for establishing electrical connection with those on the apparatus main assembly side of the image forming apparatus A are provided. The memory unit  111  and the electrical contact portions  112   a  and  112   b  are electrically connected by lead wires  114 . 
     That is, the electrical contact portions  12  electrically connected to the memory unit  111  are disposed on the substrate bearing surface  123 . Incidentally, a mounting surface of the substrate  115  on the substrate bearing surface  123  is opposite from the surface where the electrical contact portions  112  are provided. 
     Further, on the first wall surface  121 , a rib  113  projecting in a normal direction to the first wall surface  121  is provided so as to surround a periphery of the electrical contact portions  112   a  and  112   b . The rib  113  is projecting from a position different from the substrate bearing surface  123  on the first wall surface  121  and protects the electrical contact portion  112 . 
     Of the rib  113  provided at the periphery of the electrical contact portions  112   a  and  112   b  as described above, two first ribs  113   y  extend in a direction in which the electrical contact portions  112   a  and  112   b  are adjacent to each other. Further, a second rib  113   z  is provided between the two first ribs  113   y  and connects the two first ribs  113   y . Two third ribs  113   x  extend from the two first ribs  113   y , respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the electrical contact portions are adjacent to each other. 
     When the process cartridge  1  is mounted in the image forming apparatus A, the electrical contact portions  112  are electrically connected to electrical contact portions  51   a  (specifically described later) provided on the apparatus main assembly side of the image forming apparatus A. As a result, electrical communication between a control substrate (not shown) of the image forming apparatus A and the memory unit  111  is established. By this electrical communication, information of the member chip of the memory unit  111  is read or information is written in the memory chip. The image forming apparatus A performs various operations by using the information read from the memory chip. For example, the image forming apparatus A causes an unshown display portion to display information on a use status or the like of the process cartridge  1 . 
     Here, with respect to the normal direction to the first wall surface  121 , the first ribs  113   y  extend to a position more distant from the first wall surface  121  than a position where the electrical contact portions  112  are disposed is. That is, with respect to the normal direction to the first wall surface  121 , a distance between an upper surface S 1  of the memory unit  111  and free ends S 3  of the first ribs  113   y  is longer than a distance between the upper surface S 1  (opposite from the mounting surface of the first wall surface  121 ) of the memory unit  111  and upper surfaces S 2  of the electrical contact portions  112 . 
     By such a constitution, even in the case where the process cartridge  1  collides with an external member, the first rubs  113   y  or the electrical contact portions  112  contact the external member in advance of the mount  111 , and therefore, breakage of the memory unit  111  can be suppressed. Further, the memory unit  111  and the electrical contact portions  112  are not flushed with each other, and therefore, a degree of freedom of arrangement of the memory unit  111  is improved, so that such a constitution can meet upsizing with an increase in capacity of the memory unit  111 . 
     Further, with respect to the direction (arrow D 2  direction) perpendicular to the normal direction (arrow D 1  direction) to the first wall surface  121  and the rotational axis direction (arrow D 3  direction) of the photosensitive drum  8 , a part of the memory unit  111  is disposed at a position between a rotation center  8   a  of the photosensitive drum  8  and the electrical contact portions  112 . By such constitution, downsizing of the photosensitive member frame  102   a  can be realized during installation of the memory unit  111 . Further, an entirety of the memory unit  111  is disposed at the position between the rotation center  8   a  of the photosensitive drum  8  and the electrical contact portions  112 , whereby the downsizing of the photosensitive member frame  102   a  can be further realized. 
     Incidentally, in this embodiment, although the memory unit  111  is mounted on the first wall surface  121 , the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, for example, even in a constitution in which the memory unit  111  is disposed on a second wall surface  122  perpendicular to the first wall surface  121 , an effect similar to the above-described effect can be achieved when a positional relationship among the memory unit  111 , the second wall surface  122 , the electrical contact portions  112  and the first ribs  113   y  is similar to the above-described positional relationship. 
     &lt;Electrical Contact Portions of Image Forming Apparatus&gt; 
     Next, a structure of electrical contact portions on the apparatus main assembly side of the image forming apparatus A will be described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a connector mechanism  50  is principally constituted by a connector  51 , a lower connector cover  60 , an upper connector cover  52 , a lever member  57  and an outer connector cover  54 . The outer connector cover  54  is disposed on a scanner stay  30 . 
     The connector  51  includes the electrical contact portions  51   a  which electrically contact the electrical contact portions  112  of the process cartridge  1  and which have a spring property. The electrical contact portions  51   a  are electrically connected to an unshown control substrate of the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus A by unshown lead wires. 
     Further, the connector  51  includes four positioning ribs  51   b  so as to surround the electrical contact portions  51   a . Each of the positioning ribs  51   b  has an inclined surface  51   b   1  with angles with respect to a longitudinal direction and a widthwise direction of the connector  51 . 
     The connector  51  is supported by the lower connector cover  60  by being inserted into an opening  60   b  of the lower connector cover  60  at an inserting portion  51   c  thereof. The lower connector cover  60  is supported by the upper connector cover  52  by being inserted into an opening  52   b  of the upper connector cover  52  at an inserting portion  60   a  thereof. 
     Here, the connector  51 , the lower connector cover  60  and the upper connector cover  52  are assembled with each other with intervals (gaps) with respect to a front-rear direction, an up-down direction and a left-right direction. As a result, the connector  51  can move relative to the lower connector cover  60  within a range in which the connector  51  does not interfere with the lower connector cover  60 , and the lower connector cover  60  can move relative to the upper connector cover  52  within a range in which the lower connector cover  60  does not interfere with the upper connector cover  52 . 
     Further, the upper connector cover  52  includes round shafts  52   c  and  52   d . The round shafts  52   c  and  52   d  of the upper connector cover  52  rotatably engage with a circular hole  55   a  of a front connector link  55  and a circular hole  56   a  of a rear connector link  56 , respectively. 
     Further, the outer connector cover  55  includes round shafts  54   c  and  54   d . The round shafts  54   a  and  54   b  of the outer connector cover  55  rotatably engage with a round shaft  55   b  of a front connector link  55  and a round shaft  56   b  of a rear connector link  56 , respectively. 
     Thus, the upper connector cover  52  is connected to the outer connector cover  54  by the front connector link  55  and the rear connector link  56 . Further, these four members constitute a quadric link. Here, a distance between the round shafts  52   c  and  52   d  of the upper connector cover  52  and a distance between the circular holes  54   a  and  54   b  of the outer connector cover  54  are set so as to be equal to each other. Further, a distance between the circular hole  55   a  and the round shaft  55   b  of the front connector link  55  and a distance between the circular hole  56   a  and the round shaft  56   b  of the rear connector link  56  are set so as to be equal to each other. For this reason, the upper connector cover  52 , the lower connector cover  60  and the connector  51  move while maintaining their attitudes relative to the outer connector cover  54 . 
     The lever member  57  includes round shafts  57   a  and  57   b . The round shaft  57   a  of the lever member  57  rotatably engages with the circular hole  54   c  of the outer connector cover  54 . The round shaft  57   b  of the lever member  57  rotatably engages with a circular hole  58   b  of a lever link  58 . Further, a circular hole  58   a  of the lever link  58  rotatably engages with the round shaft  56   c  of the rear connector link  56 . 
     Thus, the lever member  56  is not only rotatably supported by the outer connector cover  54  but also is connected to the rear connector link  56  via the lever link  58 . Further, these members constitute a quadric link. 
     Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 8  are schematic sectional views of the connector mechanism  50 , in which part (a) shows a state before the process cartridge  1  is mounted, and part (b) shows a state after the process cartridge  1  is mounted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , between the connector  51  and the upper connector cover  52 , a connector urging spring  532  is provided so as to be sandwiched. The connector urging spring  532  urges the connector  51  in a direction (opposite direction to arrow D 1  direction) in which the connector  51  approaches the memory unit  111  of the process cartridge  1 . 
     Further, between the lower connector cover  60  and the upper connector cover  52 , a cover urging spring  531  is provided so as to be sandwiched. The cover urging spring  531  urges the lower connector cover  60  in a direction (opposite direction to arrow D 1  direction) in which the lower connector cover  60  approaches the memory unit  111  of the process cartridge  1 . 
     Further, between the outer connector cover  54  and a spring bearing  57   d  of the lever member  57 , a lever urging spring  59  is provided so as to be sandwiched. The lever urging spring  59  urges the lever member  57  in an arrow V direction. 
     In a state in which the process cartridge  1  is dismounted from the image forming apparatus A, the inserting portion  60   a  of the lower connector cover  60  is positioned at a lower end portion of the opening  52   b  of the upper connector cover  52  by an urging force of the cover urging spring  531 . Further, the inserting portion  51   a  of the connector  51  is positioned at a lower end portion of the opening  60   b  of the lower connector cover  60  by an urging force of the connector urging spring  532 . 
     In the state in which the process cartridge  1  is dismounted from the image forming apparatus A, the lever member  57  is in a position where the lever member  57  contacts the scanner stay  30  by an urging force of the lever urging spring  59 . Incidentally, in this state, the connector  51  is positioned above the scanner stay  30  and is in a position where the connector  51  is retracted from a movement locus during mounting of the process cartridge  1 . 
     When the process cartridge  1  is mounted in the arrow Y 1  direction, a lever contact portion  1201  (part (a) of  FIG. 4 ) of the process cartridge  1  contacts a cartridge contact portion  57   c  of the lever member  57 . As a result, the lever member  57  is rotated in an arrow Ma direction. 
     Then, with rotation of the lever member  57  in the arrow Ma direction, the front connector link  55  and the lever link  58  are rotated in an arrow Mb direction. With rotation of the links  55  and  58  in the arrow Mb direction, the upper connector cover  52 , the lower connector cover  60  and the connector  51  are rotated in an arrow Mc direction while maintaining attitudes thereof relative to the outer connector cover  54 . At this time, an outer surface of the connector  51  is moved in contact with an inner surface of the lower connector cover  60  while being guided in a movement direction. 
     By this rotation in the arrow Mc direction, the connector  51  approaches the process cartridge  1 , so that the electrical contact portions  51   a  of the connector  51  and the electrical contact portions  112  of the process cartridge  1  contact each other. That is, the lower connector cover  60  is a guiding member for guiding movement of the connector  51  when the connector  51  moves toward the process cartridge  1  with the mounting of the process cartridge  1 . Thereafter, by contact between a surface-to-be-contacted  60   cy  of a portion-to-be-contacted  60   c  of the lower connector cover  60  and a cover contact portion  1202  (part (b) of  FIG. 4 ) of the process cartridge  1 , the rotation in the arrow Mc direction stops. 
     &lt;Positioning Structure of Connector&gt; 
     Next, a positioning structure of the connector  51  relative to the process cartridge  1  will be described. 
     Part (a) of  FIG. 9  is a plan view of the connector  51  and the lower connector cover  60  of the image forming apparatus A as seen in a normal direction (arrow D 1  direction) to the first wall surface  121 . Part (b) of  FIG. 9  is a plan view of the periphery of the memory unit  111  of the process cartridge  1  as seen in a direction opposite to the arrow D 1  direction. Parts (a) and (b) of  FIG. 10  are perspective views of the connector  51 , the lower connector cover  60  and the process cartridge  1 , in which part (b) shows a state in which a part of the connector  51  and a part of the lower connector cover  60  are cut from a state of part (a) of  FIG. 10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , when the process cartridge  1  is mounted, the ribs  113  of the photosensitive member drive  102   a  contact the four positioning ribs  51   b  of the connector  51 . As a result, the position of the connector  51  relative to the process cartridge  1  with respect to the arrow D 2  direction and the arrow D 3  direction. 
     Specifically, by contact between the positioning ribs  51   b  and the third ribs  113   x , the position of the connector  51  with respect to the rotational axis direction (arrow D 3  direction) of the photosensitive drum  8  is determined. Further, by contact between the positioning ribs  51   b  and the first ribs  113   y , the position of the connector  51  with respect to the direction (arrow D 2  direction) perpendicular to the normal direction to the first wall surface  121  and the rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum  8 . 
     Further, by contact between the developing portions  51   z  of the connector  51  and the ribs  113  of the photosensitive member frame  102   a , the position of the connector  51  relative to the process cartridge  1  with respect to the arrow D 1  direction. Specifically, by contact between the positioning portions  51   z  of the connector  51  and the positioning portions  113   y   1  of the first ribs  113   y , the position of the connector  51  relative to the process cartridge  1  with respect to the normal direction (arrow D 1  direction) to the first wall surface  121  is determined. 
     Thus, by the ribs  113 , positioning of the connector  51  relative to the process cartridge  1  is carried out. As a result, contact of the electrical contact portions between both members can be stabilized. 
     Further, the lower connector cover  60  extends in the normal direction (arrow D 1  direction) to the first wall surface  121  and includes an inner wall  60   s  perpendicular to the rotational axis direction (arrow  103  direction) of the photosensitive drum  8 , so that the positioning ribs  51   b  of the connector  51 . As a result, inclination of the connector  51  is suppressed and improper contact between the connector  51  and the ribs  113  is suppressed, so that contact of the electrical contact portions both members can be stabilized. 
     Here, the electrical contact portions  112  of the process cartridge  1  are surrounded at the periphery thereof by the first ribs  113   y  and the second ribs  113   e . In a state in which the process cartridge  1  is mounted in the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus A, the lower connector cover  60  disposed in a space between the electrical contact portions  112  and the memory unit  111  where the ribs are not provided. Further, there is a space between the lower connector cover  60  and the first wall surface  121 . Therefore, the electroconductive wires  114  (electrical wires) pass through the space between the lower connector cover  60  and the first wall surface  121  and is contacted to the electrical contact portions  112  and the memory unit  111 . 
     Incidentally, the memory unit  111  is disposed so as to not to overlap the positioning ribs  51   b  and the lower connector cover  60  as seen in the rotational axis direction (arrow D 3  direction) of the photosensitive drum  8 . By such a constitution, it is possible to suppress breakage of the memory unit  111  due to the contact of the memory unit  111  with the connector  51  and the lower connector cover  60  when the process cartridge  1  is mounted. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment of an image forming apparatus including a process cartridge according to the present invention will be described. Portions of which explanation is redundant will be omitted from description by using the same drawings and by adding the same reference numerals or symbols. 
     Part (a) of  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a memory unit  111  and two electrical contact portions  12  in a process cartridge  1  according to this embodiment. As shown in part (a) of  FIG. 11 , in this embodiment, the memory unit  111  and the two electrical contact portions  112  are provided on a flexible substrate  116  which is bendable, and are electrically connected by an unshown electroconductive foil pattern on the flexible substrate  116 . Other constitutions are similar to those of the first embodiment. 
     Part (b) of  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a periphery of the memory unit  111  of the process cartridge  1 . As shown in part (b) of  FIG. 11 , a surface of the flexible substrate  116  opposite from a surface where the memory unit  111  is mounted is bonded to the first wall surface  121  by a method such as a double-side tape, an adhesive, caulking or the like. Further, a surface of the flexible substrate  116  opposite from a surface where the electrical contact portions  112  are mounted is bonded to the substrate bearing surface  123  of the photosensitive member frame  102   a  by a similar method. 
     Further, a mounting position of the memory unit  111  and a mounting position of the electrical contact portions  112  are different in height. For this reason, the flexible substrate  116  is disposed by being bent at two bent portions  116   a  and  116   b . Incidentally, the positions and the number of these bent portions  116   a  and  116   b  may also be set within a range in which the bent portions do not interfere with the members. 
     Further, the electrical contact portions  112  of the process cartridge  1  is surrounded at a periphery thereof by first ribs  113   y  and second ribs  113   z . Further, in a state in which the process cartridge  1  is mounted in the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus A, in a space where the ribs between the electrical contact portions  112  and the memory unit  111  are not provided, the lower connector cover  60  is disposed. Further, there is a space between the lower connector cover  60  and the first wall surface  121 . Therefore, the flexible substrate  116  is disposed so as to pass through the space between the lower connector cover  60  and the first wall surface  121 . 
     By such a constitution, the memory unit  111  and the electrical contact portions  112  can be integrally assembled, so that compared with the constitution of the first embodiment in which these members are separately mounted and are connected by the electroconductive wires, an assembling property can be improved. 
     Further, as shown in part (a) of  FIG. 12 , a block-shaped spacer  116   s  is provided on a surface of the flexible substrate  116  opposite from a mounting surface of the electrical contact portions  112 . Further, as shown in part (b) of  FIG. 12 , a surface of the spacer  102   a  opposite from a surface where the spacer  116   s  is mounted on the flexible substrate  116  is bonded and fixed to a contact bearing surface  121  of the photosensitive member frame  102   a . As a result, rigidity of a periphery of the electrical contact portions  112  on the flexible substrate  116  becomes high, and assembling of the flexible substrate  116  to the photosensitive member frame  102   a  becomes easy, so that an assembling property can be further improved. 
     According to the present invention, in the process cartridge, it is possible to not only meet an increase in capacity of the storing portion but also suppress breakage of the storing portion with collision between the external member and the storing portion. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention 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. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-224735 filed on Nov. 30, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.