PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USABLE THEREWITH

Abstract

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developing roller contactable to the electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a photosensitive member unit supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive member exposed; a developing unit supporting the developing roller and movable relative to the photosensitive member unit between a contact position for contacting the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive member with each other to develop the electrostatic latent image and a spaced position for spacing the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive member from each other; a movable member for moving the developing unit between the contact position and the spaced position; and a protection cover for covering the part to protect the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the protection cover being engageable with the movable member to regulate movement of the movable member with the developing unit positioned in the spaced position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a general arrangement of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a view of outer appearance illustrating a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional perspective view of the process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, at the time of the image formation, of the process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, at the time of the non-image formation, of the process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing attachment of a protecting cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the protecting cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the mount state of the protecting cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of a cam shape according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a detailed view showing another embodiment of a cam member rotation preventing member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member;a developing roller contactable to said electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;a photosensitive member unit supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive member with a part of said electrophotographic photosensitive member exposed;a developing unit supporting said developing roller and movable relative to said photosensitive member unit between a contact position for contacting said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive member with each other to develop the electrostatic latent image and a spaced position for spacing said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive member from each other;a movable member for moving said developing unit between the contact position and the spaced position; anda protection cover for covering said part to protect said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said protection cover being engageable with said movable member to regulate movement of said movable member with said developing unit positioned in said spaced position.

2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein one end of said movable member is exposed through an end surface of a main assembly of said process cartridge with respect to a longitudinal direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive member.

3. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said protection cover is detachably mountable to a main assembly of said process cartridge.

4. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said movable member transmits a driving force to said developing unit.

5. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is a rotatable cam member.

6. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member;a developing roller contactable to said electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;a photosensitive member unit supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive member with a part of said electrophotographic photosensitive member exposed;a developing unit supporting said developing roller and movable relative to said photosensitive member unit between a contact position for contacting said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive member with each other to develop the electrostatic latent image and a spaced position for spacing said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive member from each other; anda movable member for transmitting a driving force for moving said developing unit between the contact position and the spaced position, wherein one end of said movable member is provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus, and the other end of said movable member is provided with a portion to be locked for regulating movement of said movable member with said developing unit positioned in said spaced position.

7. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said movable member transmits a driving force to said developing unit.

8. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is a rotatable cam member.

9. A process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said portion to be locked is engageable with an engageable member.

10. A process cartridge claim 9, wherein said engageable member is provided with a protection cover for covering said part to protect said electrophotographic photosensitive member.

11. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said protection cover is detachably mountable to a main assembly of said process cartridge.

12. A process cartridge according to claim 11, wherein a mounting direction of said process cartridge relative to the main assembly of the apparatus is the same as a direction from the other end of said movable member toward said one end thereof, and wherein in interrelation with mounting of said process cartridge to the main assembly of the apparatus, engagement between said portion to be locked and said protection cover is released to permit separation between a main assembly of said process cartridge and said protection cover.

13. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member;a developing roller contactable to said electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;a photosensitive member unit supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive member with a part of said electrophotographic photosensitive member exposed;a developing unit supporting said developing roller and movable relative to said photosensitive member unit between a contact position for contacting said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive member with each other to develop the electrostatic latent image and a spaced position for spacing said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive member from each other; anda movable member for transmitting a driving force for moving said developing unit between the contact position and the spaced position, wherein one end of said movable member is provided with a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein said driving force receiving portion function as a portion to be locked for regulating movement of said movable member with said developing unit positioned in the spaced position.

14. A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said portion to be locked is engageable with an engageable member.

15. A process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said engageable member is provided with a protection cover for covering said part to protect said electrophotographic photosensitive member.

16. A process cartridge according to claim 15, wherein said protection cover is detachably mountable to a main assembly of said process cartridge.