Toner container, toner container assembling method, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• (i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (ii) a helical gear, provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, configured and positioned to receive a driving force from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• (iii) a charging member configured and positioned to electrically charge said photsensitive drum;
• (iv) a drum frame configured and positioned to support said photosensitive drum and said charging member;
• (v) a developing roller configured and positioned to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;
• (vi) a developing frame configured and positioned to support said developing roller;
• and
• (vii) a developer accommodating container configured and positioned to accommodate a developer to be used by said developing roller to develop the latent image, said developer accommodating container being connected with said developing frame;
• (viii) a driving force transmission member,
• said developer accommodating container including:
• (a) a developer stirring member configured and positioned to stir the developer that is contained in said developer accommodating container and that is to be fed toward said developing roller, said developer stirring member being driven by said driving force transmission member;
• (b) a first frame including:
• a supporting portion, provided at a longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to support an end of said developer stirring member;
• an end opening, provided at the other longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to permit transmission of a rotational driving force from the driving force transmission member to said developer stirring member;
• a developer supply opening configured and positioned to permit the developer to pass toward said developing roller, the developer supply opening extending in a longitudinal direction;
• and
• a developer filling opening configured and positioned to permit the developer accommodating container to be filled with developer;
• and
• (c) a second frame connected with said first frame so as to close said first frame, thus constituting with said first frame said developer accommodating container for the developer, wherein said developing frame and said developer accommodating container connected with each other are rotatably connected with said drum frame;
• (ix) a removable toner seal configured and positioned to seal said developer supply opening, wherein said toner seal is pulled out of said process cartridge before said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly by which the developer supply opening is opened;
• and
• (x) a gripping portion configured and positioned to permit said process cartridge to be gripped provided in said frist frame and said second frame,
• wherein said end opening and said developer filling opening are provided at the same side in the longitudinal direction of said first frame.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• (i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (ii) a first helical gear, provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, configured and positioned to receive a driving force from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• (iii) a charging roller configured and positioned to electrically charge said photosensitive drum, wherein said charging roller is contacted to said photosensitive drum;
• (iv) a drum frame configured and positioned to support said photosensitive drum and said charging roller;
• (v) a developing roller configured and positioned to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, wherein said developing roller is provided at a longitudinal end thereof with a second helical gear engaged with said first helical gear to receive a driving force for rotating said developing roller;
• (vi) a developing frame configured and positioned to support said developing roller;
• and
• (vii) a developer accommodating container configured and positioned to accommodate a developer to be used by said developing roller to develop the latent image, said developer accommodating container being connected with said developing frame;
• (viii) a driving force transmission member,
• said developer accommodating container including:
• (a) developer stirring member configured and positioned to stir the developer that is contained in said developer accommodating container and that is to be fed toward said developing roller, said developing stirring member being driven by said driving force transmission member;
• (b) a first frame including:
• a supporting portion, provided at a longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to support an end of said developer stirring member;
• an end opening, provided at the other longitudinal end of said first frame, in which said driving force transmission member is supported, configured and positioned to permit transmission of a rotational driving force to said developer stirring member through said second helical gear;
• a developer supply opening configured and positioned to permit the developer to pass toward said developing roller, the developer supply opening extending in a longitudinal direction;
• and
• a developer filling opening configured and positioned to permit the developer accommodating container to be filled with developer;
• and
• (c) a second frame connected with said first frame so as to close said first frame, thus constituting with said first frame the developer accommodating container, wherein said developing frame and said developer accommodating container connected with each other are rotatably connected with said drum frame;
• (ix) a removable toner seal configured and positioned to seal said developer supply opening, wherein said toner seal is pulled out of said process cartridge before said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly by which the developer supply opening is opened;
• and
• (x) a gripping portion configured and positioned to permit said process cartridge to be gripped provided in said first frame and said second frame,
• wherein said end opening and said developer filling opening are provided at the same side in the longitudinal direction of said first frame,
• (xi) a side cover configured and positioned to cover said end opening and side developer filling opening, and wherein said side cover is provided with a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias voltage to be applied to said developing roller when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly,
• wherein said first and second frames are made of plastic resin material.

A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer to be used by a developing member to develop a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member in a process cartridge, said developer accommodating container comprising:

• (a) a developer stirring member configured and positioned to stir the developer which is contained in said developer accommodating container and which is to be fed toward said developing member, said developer stirring member being driven by a driving force transmission member;
• (b) a first name including:
• a supporting portion,provided at a longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to support an end of said developer stirring member;
• an end opening, provided at the other longitudinal end of first frame, configured and positioned to permit transmission of a rotational driving force from a driving force transmission member to said developer stirring member;
• a developer supply opening configured and positioned to permit the developer to pass toward said developing member, the developer supply opening extending in a longitudinal direction;
• and
• a developer filling opening configured and positioned to permit the developer accommodating container to be filled with developer;
• and
• (c) a second frame connected with said said first frame so as to close said first frame, thus constituting with said first frame said developer accommodating container for the developer;
• and
• (d) a gripping portion configured and positioned to permit said process cartridge to be gripped, said gripping portion being constituted by a part of said first frame and a part of said second frame.

A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer to be used by a developing roller supported by a developing frame in a process cartridge to develop a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a helical gear at one end thereof for receiving a driving force a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, being charged by a charging member, and being supported by a drum frame that also supports the charging member, said developer accommodating container comprising:

• (a) a developer stirring member configured and positioned to stir the developer that is contained in said developer accommodating container and that is to be fed toward the developing roller, said developer stirring member being driven by a driving force transmission member;
• (b) a first frame including:
• a supporting portion, provided at a longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to support an end of said developer stirring member;
• an end opening, provided at the other longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to permit transmission of a rotational driving force from the driving force transmission member to said developer stirring member,
• a developer supply opening configured and positioned to permit the developer to pass toward the developing roller, the developer supply opening extending in a longitudinal direction;
• and
• (c) a second frame connected with said first frame so as to close said first frame, thus constituting with said first frame said developer accommodating container developer, wherein the developing frame and said developer accommodating container connected with each other are rotatably connected with the drum frame;
• (d) a removable toner seal configured and positioned to seal said developer supply opening, wherein said toner seal is pulled out of said process cartridge before the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly by which the developer supply opening is opened;
• and
• (e) a gripping portion configured and positioned to permit said process cartridge to be gripped provided in said first frame and said second frame,
• wherein said end opening and said developer filling opening are provided at the same side in the longitudinal direction of said first frame.

A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer to be used by a developing roller supported by a developing frame in a process cartridge to develop a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a first helical gear at one end thereof for receiving a driving force from a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and for transmitting a driving force to the developing roller by engaging a second helical gear at one longitudinal end of the developing roller, being charged by a charging roller, and being supported by a drum frame that also supports the charging roller, said developer accommodating container comprising:

• (a) a developer stirring member configured and positioned to stir the developer that is contained in said developer accommodating container and that is to be fed toward the developing roller, said developing stirring member being driven by a driving force transmission member;
• (b) a first frame including:
• a supporting portion, provided at a longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to support an end of said developer stirring member;
• an end opening, provided at the other longitudinal end of said frist frame, in which the driving force transmission member is supported, configured and posotioned to permit transmission of a rotational driving force to said developer stirring member through the second helical gear;
• a developer supply opening configured and positioned to permit the developer to pass toward the developing roller, the developer supply opening extending in a longitudinal direction;
• and
• a developer filling opening configured and positioned to permit the developer accommodating container to be filled with developer;
• and
• (c) a second frame connected with said first frame so as to close said first frame thus constituting with said first frame the developer accommodating container connected with each said developing frame and said developer accommodating container connected with each other are rotatably connected with said drum frame;
• (d) a removable toner seal configured and positioned to seal said developer supply opening, wherein said toner seal is pulled out of the process cartridge before the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly by which the developer supply opening opened;
• and
• (e) a gripping portion configured and positioned to permit the process cartridge to be gripped provided in said first frame and said second frame,
• wherein said end opening and said developer filling opening are provided at the same side in the longitudinal direction of said first frame,
• (f) a side cover configured and positioned to cover said end opening and said developer filling opening, and wherein said side cover is provided with a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias voltage to be applied to the developing roller when said process cartridge is mounted to the main asembly,
• wherein said first and second frames are made of plastic resin material.

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

• a mounting member for mounting thereon a process cartridge including:
• (i) an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• (ii) a developing member configured and positioned with respect to said electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• (iii) a developer accommodating container configured to accommodate a developer to be used by said developing member to develope the latent image;
• and a driving force transmiossion member, said developer accommodating container including:
• (a) a developer stirring member configured and positioned to stir the developer which is contained in said developer accommodating container and which to be fed toward said developing member, said developer stirring member being driven by said driving force transmission member;
• (b) a first frame including a supporting portion, provided at a longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to support an end of said developer stirring member;
• an end opening, providing at the other longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to permit transmission of a rotational driving force from said driving force transmission member to said developer stirring member;
• a developer supply opening configured and positioned to permit the developer to pass toward said developing member, the developer supply opening extending in a longitudinal direction;
• and a developer filling opening configured and positioned to permit the developer accommodating container to be filled with developer;
• (c) a second frame connected with said first frame so as to close said first frame, thus constituting with said first frame said developer accommodating container for the developer;
• and (d) a gripping portion configured configured and positioned to permit said process cartridge to be gripped, said gripping portion being constituted by a part of said first frame and a part of said second frame;
• a gear engageable with said electrophotographic photosensitive member when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member to transmit a driving force to said electrophotosensitive member;
• and
• a feeding member rotatable to feed the recording material through a path to receive the latent image developed by said developing member.

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

• a mounting member for mounting thereon a process cartridge including:(i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (ii) a helical gear, provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, configured and positioned to receive a driving force from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• (iii) a charging member configured and positioned to electrically charge said photosensitive drum;
• (iv) a drum frame configured and positioned to support said photosensitive drum and said charging member;
• (v) a developing roller configured and positioned to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;
• (vi) a developing frame configured and positioned to support said developing roller;
• and (vii) a developer accommodating container configured and positioned to accommodate a developer to be used by said developing roller to develop the latent image, said developer accommodating container being connected with said developing frame;
• (viii) a driving force transmission member said developer accommodating container including:
• (a) a developer stirring member configured and positioned to stir the developer that is contained in said developer accommodating container and that is to be fed toward said developing roller, said developer stirring member being driven by said driving force transmission member;
• (b) a frist frame including:
• a supporting portion, provided at a longitudinal end of said first frame configured and positioned to support an end of said developer stirring member;
• an end opening, provided at the other longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to permit transmission of a rotational driving force from the driving force transmission member to said developer stirring member;
• a developer supply opening configured and positioned to permit the developer to pass toward said developing roller, the developer supply opening extending in a longitudinal direction;
• and a developer filling opening configured and positioned to permit the developer accommodating container to be filled with developer;
• and (c) a second frame connecting with said first frame so as to close said first frame, thus constituting with said first frame said developer accommodating container for the developer, wherein said developing frame and said developer accommodating container connected with each other are rotatably connected with said drum frame;
• (ix) a removable toner seal configured and positioned to seal said developer supply opening, wherein said toner seal is pulled out of said process cartridge before said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly by which the developer supply opening is opened;
• and (x) a gripping portion configured and positioned to permit said process cartridge to be gripped provided in said frist frame and said second frame,
• wherein said end opening and said developer filling opening are provided at the same side in the longitudinal direction of said first frame;
• a gear engageable with said helical gear when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member to transmit a driving force to the helical gear and said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• a feeding member rotatable to feed the recording material through a path to receive the latent image developed by said developing roller.

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

• a mounting member for mounting thereon a process cartridge including:
• (i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (ii) a first helical gear, provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum , configured and positioned to receive a driving force from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• (iii) a charging roller configured and positioned to electrically charge said photosensitive drum, wherein said charging roller is contacted to said photosnsitive drum;
• (iv) a drum frame configured and positioned to support said photosensitive drum and said charging roller;
• (v) a developing roller configured and positioned to develop a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, wherein said developing roller is provided at a longitudinal end thereof with a second helical gear engaged with said first helical gear to receive a driving force for rotating said developing roller;
• (vi) a developing frame configued and positioned to support said developing roller;
• and (vii) a developer accommodating container configured and positioned to accommodate a developer to be used by said developing roller to develop the latent image, said developer accommodating container being connected with said developing frame;
• (viii) a driving force transmission member, said developer accommodating container including:
• (a) a developer stirring member configured and positioned to stir the developer that is contained in said developer accommodating container and that is to be fed toward said developing roller, said developing stirring member being driven by said driving force transmission member;
• (b) a first frame including:
• a supporting portion, provided at a longitudinal end of said first frame, configured and positioned to support an end of said developer stirring member;
• an end opening, provided at the other logitudinal end of said frist frame, in which said driving force transmission member is supported, configured and positioned to permit transmission of a rotational driving force to said developer stirring member through said second helical gear;
• a developer supply opening configured and positioned to permit the developer to pass toward said developing roller, the developer supply opening extending in a longitudinal direction;
• and a developer filling opening configured and positioned to permit the developer accommodating container to be filled with developer;
• and (c) a second frame connected with said first frame so as to close said first frame, thus constituting with said first frame the developer accommodating container wherein said developing frame and said developer accommodating container connected with each other are rotatably connected with said drum frame;
• (ix) a removable toner seal configured and positioned to seal said developer supply opening, wherein said toner seal is pulled out of said process cartridge before said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly by which the developer supply opening is opened;
• and (x) a gripping portion configured and positioned to permit said process cartridge to be gripped provided in said first frame and said second frame, wherein said end opening and said developer filling opening are provided at the same side in the longitudinal direction of said first frame, (xi) a side cover configured and positioned to cover said end opening and said developer filling opening, and wherein said side cover is provided with a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias voltage to be applied to said developing roller when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, wherein said first and second frames are made of plastic resin material:
• a gear engageable with said first helical gear when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member to transmit a driving force to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• a feeding member rotatable to feed the recording material through a path to receive the latent image developed by said developing roller.