Patent ID: 7162174

Claim:
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a light emitting portion, a light receiving portion for receiving detecting light emitted from the light emitting portion, and a main assembly electrical contact, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing member configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge frame including a developer accommodating portion configured to accommodate a developer to be used by said developing member to develop the electrostatic latent image; a first light guide disposed adjacent one end of said cartridge frame with respect to the direction of an axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and adjacent a leading end of said cartridge with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, said first light guide including a light entrance portion which is opposed to the emitting portion to receive the detecting light when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, said first light guide being effective to guide the detecting light so as to cross a developer accommodating space in said developer accommodating container; a second light guide disposed adjacent said one end of said cartridge frame and adjacent the leading end, said second light guide including a light exit portion which is opposed to the light receiving portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, said second light guide being effective to direct the detecting light having passed through said developer accommodating space to the light receiving portion; and a memory member communicatable with the main assembly of the apparatus, said memory member being disposed adjacent said one end of said cartridge frame and adjacent the leading end, said memory member including a cartridge electrical contact provided between a horizontal plane passing through said light entrance portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus and a horizontal plane passing through said light exit portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus.