| US 7,366,440 B2 | ||
| Process cartridge feeding developer from first to second removed developer accommodating portions and image forming apparatus to which the cartridge is mountable | ||
| Tadashi Horikawa, Numazu (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 31, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/94,371. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2004-360033 (JP), filed on Dec. 13, 2004; and application No. 2005-073115 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0127128 A1, Jun. 15, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G03G 21/16 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 399—111 [399/119; 399/120; 399/358; 399/360] | 7 Claims |
| 1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:
i) a developer cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of said apparatus; and
ii) a process cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly of said apparatus, including:
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum;
a first developer accommodating portion configured and positioned to accommodate a developer to be used for development of
the electrostatic latent image by said developing roller;
a developer receiving port configured and positioned to receive the developer from said developer cartridge into said first
developer accommodating portion when said process cartridge is mounted to said image forming apparatus, wherein said developer
receiving port faces upwardly when said process cartridge is mounted to said image forming apparatus;
a cleaning member configured and positioned to remove the developer from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a first removed developer accommodating portion configured and positioned to accommodate the developer removed from said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum by said cleaning member;
a second removed developer accommodating portion configured and positioned to accommodate the developer fed from said first
removed developer accommodating portion, said second removed developer accommodating portion being disposed above said first
removed developer accommodating portion when said process cartridge is mounted to said image forming apparatus,
wherein said second removed developer accommodating portion is projected upwardly beyond said developer receiving port with
respect to a vertical direction when said process cartridge is mounted to said image forming apparatus;
a developer feeder configured and positioned to feed the developer from said first removed developer accommodating portion
to said second removed developer accommodating portion;
a developing unit; and
a photosensitive drum unit,
wherein said developer cartridge includes:
a second developer accommodating portion configured and positioned to accommodate the developer to be supplied to said process
cartridge; and
a developer supply port configured and positioned to supply the developer to said first developer accommodating portion through
said developer receiving port, said developer supply port facing downwardly when said developer cartridge is mounted to said
main assembly of the apparatus, and
wherein when said process cartridge and said developer cartridge are mounted to said apparatus, said developer cartridge is
disposed above said first developer accommodating portion and at a side of said second removed developer accommodating portion;
wherein said developing unit rotatably supports said developing roller, and contains said first developer accommodating portion
and said developer receiving port, and
wherein said photosensitive drum unit supports said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and said cleaning member, and
contains said first removed developer accommodating portion, and said second removed developer accommodating portion.
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