Patent ID: 8712284

Claim:
A process cartridge comprising: an electrophotograpbic photosensitive drum; a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being movable between (i) a contact position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image and (ii) a spaced position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a housing supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the developing roller; and a force receiving unit movably supported by the housing, the force receiving unit including: (a) a spacing force receiving portion movable between (i) a projected position in which the spacing force receiving portion is projected from the housing and is capable of receiving a spacing force to move the developing roller from the contact position to the spaced position and (ii) a standby position in which the spacing force receiving portion is retracted from the projected position toward an inside of the housing, (b) a projecting force receiving portion capable of receiving a projecting force to move the spacing force receiving portion from the standby position to the projected position, and (c) an elastic portion that is (i) elastically deformed when the protecting force receiving portion receives the projecting force while the spacing force receiving portion is prevented from moving to the projected position and (ii) elastically restored from the elastically deformed state when the projecting force receiving portion receives the projecting force while the spacing force receiving portion is no longer prevented from moving to the projected position, wherein the force receiving unit is configured to make a first distance through which the spacing force receiving portion moves from the standby position to the projected position larger than a second distance through which the projecting force receiving portion is moved by the projecting force.