Process cartridge having a particular arrangement of electrical contacts and electrophotographic image forming apparatus using such a process cartridge

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a mounting member for mounting said process cartridge, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging roller for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charging roller being in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a first frame having said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and said charging roller;
• a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be supplied to said developing roller and used for development;
• a second frame having said developing roller and said toner accommodating portion, said second frame and said first frame being swingably coupled with each other;
• and
• a developing bias contact, provided in said second frame, for receiving a developing bias to be applied to said developing roller from the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said developing bias contact has a developing bias region in contact with a main assembly developing bias contact provided in the main assembly,
• wherein said first frame has (a) a charging bias contact for receiving a charging bias to be applied to said charging roller from the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said charging bias contact having a charging bias region in contact with a main assembly charging bias contact provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• (b) a grounding contact projected outwardly from a same side of said process cartridge as a side having said charging bias contact and said developing bias contact in an axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to electrically ground said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, (c) a first positioning portion projected outwardly from a first frame portion at one lateral edge of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second positioning portion disposed away from said first positioning portion;
• and (d) a third positioning portion projected outwardly from said first frame portion at another lateral edge of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a fourth positioning portion disposed away from said third position portion, and
• wherein said charging bias region and said developing bias region are overlapped with each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material and to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, said electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• a. mounting means for mounting a process cartridge that includes:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a charging member for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• developing means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a charging bias contact for receiving a charging bias to be applied to said charging member from the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted in a main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said charging bias contact has a charging bias region in contact with a main assembly charging bias contact provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving a developing bias to be applied to said developing means from the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said developing bias contact has a developing bias region in contact with a main assembly developing bias contact provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• and
• a grounding contact projected outwardly of said electrophotographic photosensitive member from a same side of said process cartridge as a side having said charging bias contact and said developing bias contact in an axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive member to electrically ground said electrophotographic photosensitive member to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
• wherein said charging bias region and said developing bias region are overlapped with each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• b. feeding means for feeding the recording material.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material and to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, said electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• a. mounting means for mounting a process cartridge that includes:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging roller for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charging roller being in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a first frame having said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and said charging roller;
• a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be supplied to said developing roller and used for development;
• a second frame having said developing roller and said toner accommodating portion, said second frame and said first frame being swingably coupled with each other;
• and
• a developing bias contact, provided in said second frame, for receiving a developing bias to be applied to said developing roller from a main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said developing bias contact has a developing bias region in contact with a main assembly developing bias contact provided in the main assembly,
• wherein said first frame has (a) a charging bias contact for receiving a charging bias to be applied to said charging roller from the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said charging bias contact having a charging bias region in contact with a main assembly charging bias contact provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• (b) a grounding contact projected outwardly from a same side of said process cartridge as a side having said charging bias contact and said developing bias contact in an axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to electrically ground said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• (c) a first positioning portion projected outwardly from a first frame portion at one lateral edge of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second positioning portion disposed away from said first positioning portion;
• and (d) a third positioning portion projected outwardly from said first frame portion at another lateral edge of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a fourth positioning portion disposed away from said third position portion, and
• wherein said charging bias region and said developing bias region are overlapped with each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• b. feeding means for feeding the recording material.