Patent ID: 8005398

Claim:
A process cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising: a cylindrical image carrier extending in an axial direction thereof from a first end portion thereof to a second end portion thereof, the image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a column developing roller extending substantially along the axial direction from a first end portion thereof to a second end portion thereof, the developing roller being configured to carry a developer on a peripheral surface thereof so as to develop the electrostatic latent image by the developer when the developing roller contact the image carrier during an image forming operation; a process case configured to store the image carrier and the developing roller such that the image carrier and the developing roller are relatively movable between a contact position in which the image carrier contacts the developing roller and a separated position in which the image carrier is separated from the developing roller; a cover removably fitted to the process case so as to cover the image carrier in a state in which the process cartridge is detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the cover having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in the axial direction when the cover is fitted to the process case; and a first releasing member provided at the first end portion of the cover, the first releasing member being configured to release a contact between the image carrier and the developing roller when the first releasing member is interposed into a first released position between the first end portion of the image carrier and the first end portion of the developing roller; wherein the first releasing member is movable from a first unreleased position, in which the contact between the image carrier and the developing roller is not released, to the first released position in a state in which the cover is fitted to the process case and covers the image carrier.