Patent ID: 7209677

Claim:
An electrophotographic imaging apparatus with a detachable process unit having at least an image carrier device, comprising: a pair of side plates with guide grooves for guiding said process unit to a prescribed position and for supporting said process unit at said prescribed position; an electrical conductive shaft projected from both sides of said process unit for moving said process unit along said guide grooves; a conductive cylinder substrate of the image carrier device on which one or more surface photosensitive layers are formed, wherein the conductive cylinder substrate is supported by the electrical conductive shaft along an axis of rotation; a charge eliminating member for discharging said process unit; and a grounding member for grounding said electrical conductive shaft, wherein said charge eliminating member is placed at an entrance of at least one of said guide grooves or contacts of at least one end of said electrical conductive shaft for discharging said process unit, when said process unit is detached from or attached to said electrophotographic imaging apparatus.