US 7,346,293 B2
Process cartridge having light guides and memory member, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which such cartridge is mountable
Tatsuya Suzuki, Shizuoka-Ken (Japan); Nobuharu Hoshi, Shizuoka-Ken (Japan); and Kazunari Murayama, Shizuoka-Ken (Japan)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Dec. 05, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/566,878.
Application 11/566878 is a division of application No. 10/878610, filed on Jun. 29, 2004, granted, now 7,162,174.
Claims priority of application No. 2003/349466 (JP), filed on Oct. 08, 2003; application No. 2003/398939 (JP), filed on Nov. 28, 2003; and application No. 2004/161219 (JP), filed on May 31, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2007/0092286 A1, Apr. 26, 2007
Int. Cl. G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 399—111 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. 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 and a light receiving portion, said process cartridge comprising:
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing member configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a driving force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus;
a cartridge frame comprising:
a first frame configured and positioned to support said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a second frame rotatably connected with said first frame and supporting said developing member, said second frame further having a developer accommodating portion configured to accommodate a developer to be used for development of an electrostatic latent image by said developing member;
a memory member provided in said first frame;
a cartridge electrical contact disposed at such a position as is adjacent one end of said cartridge frame with respect to the direction of an axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and as is adjacent a leading end of said cartridge frame with respect to a mounting direction in which said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, said cartridge electrical contact being contactable with a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to transmit information stored in said memory member to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus;
a light entrance portion of a first light guide, said light entrance portion being disposed at such a position as is adjacent said one end and as is adjacent the leading end of said cartridge frame, said light entrance portion being opposed to said emitting portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus;
a light exit portion of a second light guide, said light exit portion being disposed at such a position as is adjacent said one end and as is adjacent the leading end of said cartridge frame, and said light exit portion being opposed to said light receiving portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus;
a first cartridge positioning portion, disposed at such a position as is adjacent said one end, configured and positioned to engage with a first main assembly positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to position said process cartridge relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus;
a second cartridge positioning portion, disposed at such a position as is opposite said one end, configured and positioned to engage with a second main assembly positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to position said process cartridge relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; and
a cartridge limiting portion configured and positioned to abut a regulating portion of the main assembly provided in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to limit rotation of said process cartridge which otherwise would occur about said first cartridge positioning portion and said second cartridge positioning portion when said driving force receiving portion receives a driving force from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.