Patent ID: 6980759

Claim:
A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, said process cartridge comprising: an image bearing member; a charging member for charging the image bearing member; a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said image bearing member; a first unit having said image bearing member; a second unit swingably supported by said first unit and having said developing member; and a charging member releasing means for reducing a contact pressure of said charging member against said image bearing member or separating said charging member from said image bearing member, upon receiving a force from an acting portion, wherein when the acting portion imparts no force to said charging member releasing means, said charging member is in contact with said image bearing member, wherein said first unit and said second unit can relatively assume a first swinging attitude, a second swinging attitude, and a third swinging attitude with respect to each other in accordance with their swinging angles, wherein when said first swinging attitude is assumed, said developing member is held in contact with said image bearing member, and said charging member releasing means receives no force from the acting portion, wherein when the second swinging attitude is assumed, said developing member is separated from said image bearing member, but said charging member releasing means receives no force from the acting portion, and wherein when said third swinging attitude is assumed, said developing member is separated from said image bearing member, and said charging member releasing means receives a force from the acting portion.