Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

A process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller movable between a contact position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing frame supporting the developing roller;
• and
• a force receiving member movable relative to the developing frame to move between a projected position in which the force receiving member is projected outwardly from the developing frame and a retracted position in which the force receiving member is retracted from the projected position toward an inside of the developing frame, the force receiving member including (i) a spacing force receiving portion configured to receive a spacing force for moving the developing roller from the contact position to the spacing position when the force receiving member is in the projected position, and (ii) a retracting force receiving portion configured to receive a retracting force for moving the force receiving member toward the retracted position when the force receiving member is in the projected position.

A process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller movable between a contact position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing frame supporting the developing roller;
• and
• a force receiving member including (i) a spacing force receiving portion movable relative to the developing frame to move between a first position and a second position in which the spacing force receiving portion is retracted from the first position toward an inside of the developing frame, the spacing force receiving portion being capable of receiving a spacing force for moving the developing roller from the contact position to the spacing position when the spacing force receiving portion is in the first position;
• and (ii) a retracting force receiving portion capable of receiving a retracting force for moving the spacing force receiving portion toward the second position when the spacing force receiving portion is in the first position.

A process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing frame being rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the drum frame to move between a contact position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• a force receiving member including:
• (i) a first force receiving portion movable relative to the developing frame to move between a first position and a second position closer to the rotational axis than the first position, the first force receiving portion being capable of receiving a first force for moving the developing frame from the contact position to the spacing position when the first force receiving portion is in the first position;
• and (ii) a second force receiving portion capable of receiving a second force for moving the first force receiving portion toward the second position when the first force receiving portion is in the first position.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• a main assembly having a spacing force applying member and a retracting force applying member;
• and
• a process cartridge which is mountable to and dismountable from the main assembly, the process cartridge including:
• (i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (ii) a developing roller movable between a contact position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (iii) a drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (iv) a developing frame supporting the developing roller;
• and
• (v) a force receiving member movable relative to the developing frame to move between a projected position in which the force receiving member is projected outwardly from the developing frame and a retracted position in which the force receiving member is retracted from the projected position toward an inside of the developing frame, the force receiving member including (a) a spacing force receiving portion configured to receive, from the spacing force applying member, a spacing force for moving the developing roller from the contact position to the spacing position in a state that the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly and the force receiving member is in the projected position, and (b) a retracting force receiving portion configured to receive, from the retracting force applying member, a retracting force for moving the force receiving member toward the retracted position, when dismounting the process cartridge in the state that the force receiving member is in the projected position.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• a main assembly having a spacing force applying member and a retracting force applying member;
• and
• a process cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly, the process cartridge including:
• (i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (ii) a developing roller movable between a contact position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (iii) a drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (iv) a developing frame supporting the developing roller;
• and
• (v) a force receiving member including (a) a spacing force receiving portion movable relative to the developing frame to move between a first position and a second position in which the spacing force receiving portion is retracted from the first position toward an inside of the developing frame, the spacing force receiving portion being capable of receiving, from the spacing force applying member, a spacing force for moving the developing roller from the contact position to the spacing position in a state that the spacing force receiving portion is in the first position, and
• (b) a retracting force receiving portion capable of receiving, from the retracting force applying member, a retracting force for moving the spacing force receiving portion toward the second position in the state that the spacing force receiving portion is in the first position.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• a main assembly having a spacing force applying member and a retracting force applying member;
• and
• a process cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly, the process cartridge including:
• (i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (ii) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (iii) a drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (iv) a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing frame being rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the drum frame to move between a contact position in which the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which the developing roller is spaced from the photosensitive drum;
• and
• (v) a force receiving member including (a) a first force receiving portion movable relative to the developing frame to move between a first position and a second position closer to the rotational axis than the first position, the first force receiving portion being capable of receiving, from the first force applying member, a first force for moving the developing frame from the contact position to the spacing position in a state that the first force receiving portion is in the first position, and (b) a second force receiving portion capable of receiving, from the second force applying member, a second force for moving the first force receiving portion toward the second position in the state that the first force receiving portion is in the first position.