Process cartridge and image forming apparatus with indicating means

An image forming apparatus having at least one reusable part, including a shaft, and onto which a process cartridge can removably be mounted and which forms an image on a recording medium, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• a mounting means for mounting a process cartridge including a frame, an image bearing member, and process means provided within said frame for contributing to an image formation;
• indicating means integrally formed with said shaft of said reusable part for indicating the number of usages of said reusable part, wherein said indicating means remains integral with said shaft after said image forming apparatus is disassembled;
• a transfer means for transferring an image formed on said image bearing member included in said process cartridge mounted on said mounting means onto the recording medium;
• and
• a convey means for conveying the recording medium.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, said image forming apparatus having at least one reusable part, including a shaft, and comprising:

• an image bearing means;
• an image forming means for forming a latent image on said image bearing means;
• a developing means for developing the latent image formed on said image bearing means as a toner image;
• a transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on said image bearing means onto the recording medium;
• a cleaning means for removing residual toner from said image bearing means;
• a fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium by said transfer means to said recording medium;
• a convey means for conveying the recording medium;
• and
• indicating means integrally formed with said shaft of said reusable part for indicating the number of usages of said reusable part, wherein said indicating means remains integral with said shaft after said image forming apparatus is disassembled.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatably attached to said cartridge frame;
• and
• a charge roller for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charge roller being rotatably attached to said cartridge frame and having an elastic layer disposed around a metallic roller shaft thereof,
• wherein an indicating mark is provided directly on said roller shaft of said charge roller for indicating a number of usages of said charge roller.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatably attached to said cartridge frame;
• a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a cleaning blade for removing toner remaining on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• a charge roller for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charge roller being rotatably attached to said cartridge frame and having an elastic layer disposed around a metallic roller shaft thereof, said elastic layer having a conductive first resilient layer provided around said roller shaft and a high resistance second resilient layer provided around said first resilient layer and having a protection layer on a surface thereof,
• wherein an indicating mark is provided directly on said roller shaft of said charge roller for indicating a number of usages of said charge roller, and wherein said indicating mark is provided on said roller shaft by coating a coating material on said roller shaft.

A charge roller, used for a process cartridge including a cartridge frame and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatably attached to the cartridge frame and being removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charge roller comprising:

• a metallic roller shaft;
• and
• an elastic layer provided around said roller shaft, said elastic layer having a conductive first elastic layer provided around said roller shaft, and a high resistance second elastic layer disposed around said first elastic layer and having a protection layer on a surface thereof,
• wherein an indicating mark is provided directly on said roller shaft for indicating a number of usages of said charge roller.

A charge roller, used for a process cartridge including a cartridge frame, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatably attached to the cartridge frame, a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a cleaning blade for removing toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and being removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charge roller comprising:

• a metallic roller shaft;
• and
• an elastic layer provided around said roller shaft, said elastic layer having a conductive first elastic layer provided around said roller shaft, and a high resistance second elastic layer disposed around said first elastic layer and having a protection layer on a surface thereof,
• wherein an indicating mark is provided directly on said roller shaft for indicating a number of usages of said charge roller, said indicating mark being provided on said roller shaft by coating a coating material on said roller shaft.