Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving from the main assembly, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being coaxially engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a drum helical gear, disposed adjacent one end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for transmitting rotating force from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to said developing roller, said drum helical gear having a twist direction for producing thrust force toward a side where said cartridge coupling member is disposed;
• a helical developing roller gear, disposed adjacent one end of said developing roller, for receiving the rotating force for rotating said developing roller from said drum helical gear, said helical developing roller gear having a twist direction for producing thrust force in a direction opposite from said thrust direction produced by said drum helical gear;
• and
• a developing bias contact for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing roller from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, wherein said developing bias contact is electrically connected with said developing roller, and said developing bias contact is disposed at a downstream longitudinal end of said developing roller with respect to a direction of the thrust produced by rotation of said helical developing roller gear.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from said motor and a recess defined by twisted surfaces, said recess being substantially coaxial with said gear, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a twisted projection engageable with said twisted surfaces, said projection being provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus and said main assembly gear rotates with said recess and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between said recess and said projection;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said projection is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said opposite longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, said main assembly including a motor, a driving rotatable member for receiving driving force from said motor and a twisted recess having a non-circular cross-section and being substantially coaxial with a rotation axis of said driving rotatable member, said process cartridge comprising:

• a rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a twisted projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, having a non-circular cross section and being substantially coaxial with a rotation axis of said photosensitive drum, wherein said projection of said photosensitive drum has such a dimension and configuration that it can take a first relative rotational position with respect to said recess of said driving rotatable member in which relative rotational movement therebetween is permitted, and a second relative rotational position with respect to said recess of said driving rotatable member in which relative rotational movement is prevented in one rotational direction, while the rotation axis of said driving rotatable member and the rotation axis of said photosensitive drum are substantially aligned;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said projection is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said opposite longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

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

• a. mounting means for detachably mounting the process cartridge, said process cartridge including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to a main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus, said grounding contact having a contact surface for engagement with a corresponding contact in the main assembly;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving, from the main assembly, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus, wherein said cartridge coupling member is coaxially engageable with said main assembly coupling member, and wherein said cartridge coupling member is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said cartridge coupling member is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said other longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said contact surface of said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• said apparatus further comprising:
• b. a main assembly grounding contact for electrical connection with said grounding contact of the process cartridge when it is mounted to said mounting means;
• c. a main assembly developing bias contact for electrical connection with said developing bias contact of said process cartridge when it is mounted to the mounting means;
• d. a main assembly charging bias contact for electrical connection with said charging bias contact of the process cartridge when it is mounted to said mounting means;
• and
• e. feeding means for feeding said recording material,
• wherein said main assembly coupling member is effective to transmit a driving force to said cartridge coupling member when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting means.

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

• a. mounting means for detachably mounting the process cartridge, said process cartridge including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving, from a main assembly of said apparatus, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being coaxially engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a drum helical gear, disposed adjacent one end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for transmitting rotating force from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to said developing roller, said drum helical gear having a twist direction for producing thrust force toward a side where said cartridge coupling member is disposed;
• a helical developing roller gear, disposed adjacent one end of said developing roller, for receiving the rotating force for rotating said developing roller from said drum helical gear, said helical developing roller gear having a twist direction for producing thrust force in a direction opposite from said thrust direction produced by said drum helical gear;
• and
• a developing bias contact for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing roller from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, wherein said developing bias contact is electrically connected with said developing roller, and said developing bias contact is disposed at a downstream longitudinal end of said developing roller with respect to a direction of the thrust produced by rotation of said helical developing roller gear;
• b. a main assembly developing bias contact for electrical connection with said developing bias contact of the process cartridge when it is mounted to the main assembly;
• and
• c. a feeding member for feeding the recording material,
• wherein said main assembly coupling member is effective to transmit a driving force to said cartridge coupling member when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting means.

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

• a. a motor;
• b. a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from said motor;
• c. a hole defined by twisted surfaces, said hole being substantially coaxial with said gear;
• d. a mounting member for detachably mounting the process cartridge to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus, said process cartridge including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a twisted projection engageable with said twisted surfaces, said projection being provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus and said main assembly gear rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between said hole and said projection;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging ember when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said projection is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said opposite longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• e. a main assembly grounding contact for electrical connection with said grounding contact of the process cartridge when it is mounted to said main assembly;
• f. a main assembly developing bias contact for electrical connection with said developing bias contact of the process cartridge when it is mounted to said mounting member;
• g. a main assembly charging bias for electrical connection with said charging bias contact of the process cartridge when it is mounted to said mounting member;
• and
• h. a feeding member for feeding the recording material.

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

• a. a motor;
• b. a driving rotatable member for receiving driving force from said motor;
• c. a twisted recess having a non-circular cross-section and being substantially coaxial with a rotation axis of said driving rotatable member;
• d. a mounting member for detachably mounting the process cartridge to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
• a rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a twisted projection provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, having a non-circular cross-section and being substantially coaxial with a rotation axis of said photosensitive drum, wherein said projection of said photosensitive drum has such a dimension and configuration that it can take a first relative rotational position with respect to said recess of said driving rotatable member in which relative rotational movement therebetween is permitted, and a second relative rotational position with respect to said recess of said driving rotatable member in which relative rotational movement is prevented in one rotational direction, while the rotation axis of said driving rotatable member and the rotation axis of said photosensitive drum are substantially aligned;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said projection is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said opposite longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• e. a main assembly grounding contact for electrical connection with said grounding contact of the process cartridge when it is mounted to said main assembly;
• f. a main assembly developing bias contact for electrical connection with said developing bias contact of the process cartridge when it is mounted to said mounting member;
• g. a main assembly charging bias for electrical connection with said charging bias contact of the process cartridge when it is mounted to said mounting member;
• and
• h. a feeding member for feeding the recording material.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving, from the main assembly, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when the main assembly coupling member is rotated after said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus, and wherein said cartridge coupling member is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said cartridge coupling member is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said other longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and
• wherein said main assembly coupling member has a twisted hole which has a polygonal cross-section and which is rotatable integrally with a gear of the main assembly, and said cartridge coupling member has a twisted projection which has a polygonal cross-section and which is complementary with the hole.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving, from the main assembly, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when the main assembly coupling member is rotated after said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus, and wherein said cartridge coupling member is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said cartridge coupling member is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said other longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and
• wherein said main assembly coupling member has a hole which is defined by twisted surfaces, said hole being substantially coaxial with a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from a motor, wherein said cartridge coupling member has a twisted projection which is engageable with the twisted surfaces, wherein when said main assembly gear rotates with said hole and projection being engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between said hole and said projection.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving, from the main assembly, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when the main assembly coupling member is rotated after said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus, and wherein said cartridge coupling member is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said cartridge coupling member is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said other longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and
• wherein said main assembly coupling member has a hole which is defined by twisted surfaces and which is substantially coaxial with a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from a motor, wherein said cartridge coupling member has a twisted projection having a non-circular cross-section and being substantially coaxial with a rotation axis of said photosensitive drum, wherein said projection of said photosensitive drum has such a dimension and configuration that it can take a first relative rotational position with respect to said hole of said main assembly gear in which relative rotational movement therebetween is permitted, and a second relative rotational position with respect to said hole of said main assembly gear in which relative rotational movement is prevented in one rotational direction, while the rotation axis of said main assembly gear and the rotation axis of said photosensitive drum are substantially aligned.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving from the main assembly, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when the main assembly coupling member is rotated while said cartridge coupling member being attracted to said main assembly coupling member, after said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a drum helical gear, disposed adjacent one end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for transmitting rotating force from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to said developing roller, said drum helical gear having a twist direction for producing thrust force toward a side where said cartridge coupling member is disposed;
• a helical developing roller gear, disposed adjacent one end of said developing roller, for receiving the rotating force for rotating said developing roller from said drum helical gear, said helical developing roller gear having a twist direction for producing thrust force in a direction opposite from said thrust direction produced by said drum helical gear;
• a developing bias contact for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing roller from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, wherein said developing bias contact is electrically connected with said developing roller and is disposed adjacent a longitudinal end of said developing roller toward which the thrust force received by said developing roller by rotation of said helical developing roller gear applies, wherein an electrical connection between said developing roller and developing bias contact is established by contact in a longitudinal direction of said developing roller between a developing roller side contact rotatable with said developing roller and said developing bias contact;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging bias contact, disposed adjacent the same longitudinal side as the side where said developing bias contact is disposed, for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• and
• a grounding contact, disposed adjacent the same longitudinal side as the side having said developing bias contact, for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly,
• wherein said main assembly coupling member has a hole which is defined by twisted surfaces, said hole being substantially coaxial with a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from a motor, wherein said cartridge coupling member has a twisted projection which is engageable with the twisted surfaces, wherein when said main assembly gear rotates with said hole and projection being engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to photosensitive drum through engagement between said hole and said projection.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving from the main assembly, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when the main assembly coupling member is rotated while said cartridge coupling member being attracted to said main assembly coupling member, after said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a drum helical gear, disposed adjacent one end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for transmitting rotating force from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to said developing roller, said drum helical gear having a twist direction for producing thrust force toward a side where said cartridge coupling member is disposed;
• a helical developing roller gear, disposed adjacent one end of said developing roller, for receiving the rotating force for rotating said developing roller from said drum helical gear, said helical developing roller gear having a twist direction for producing thrust force in a direction opposite from said thrust direction produced by said drum helical gear;
• a developing bias contact for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing roller from the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, wherein said developing bias contact is electrically connected with said developing roller and is disposed adjacent a longitudinal end of said developing roller toward which the thrust force received by said developing roller by rotation of said helical developing roller gear applies, wherein electrical connection between said developing roller and developing bias contact are established by contact in a longitudinal direction of said developing roller between a developing roller side contact rotatable with said developing roller and said developing bias contact;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging bias contact, disposed adjacent the same longitudinal side as the side where said developing bias contact is disposed, for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• and
• a grounding contact, disposed adjacent the same longitudinal side as the side having said developing bias contact, for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly,
• wherein said main assembly coupling member has a hole which is defined by twisted surfaces and which is substantially coaxial with a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from a motor, wherein said cartridge coupling member has a twisted projection having a non-circular cross-section and being substantially coaxial with a rotation axis of said photosensitive drum, and wherein said projection of said photosensitive drum has such a dimension and configuration that it can take a first relative rotational position with respect to said hole of said main assembly gear in which relative rotational movement therebetween is permitted, and a second relative rotational position with respect to said hole of said main assembly gear in which relative rotational movement is prevented in one rotational direction, while the rotation axis of said main assembly gear and the rotation axis of said photosensitive drum are substantially aligned.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from said motor and a recess defined by twisted surfaces, said recess being substantially coaxial with said gear, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cleaning chamber frame including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a twisted projection at a first longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum engageable with the recess defined by the twisted surfaces and an electrical conductive grounding contact at a second longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum positioned coaxially with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus, the twisted projection being engageable with said twisted surfaces provided at the first longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus and said main assembly gear rotates with said recess and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force being transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between said recess and said projection;
• a scraping member for removing toner from the photosensitive drum;
• and
• a charging roller for electrically charging said photosensitive drum, and electrically conductive bias contact being connected to the charging roller and positioned adjacent to the second longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum facing downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• an image developing frame joined to the cleaning chamber frame including:
• a developing roller for developing a latent image found on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a development bias contact being connected to the developing roller and positioned adjacent to the second longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum facing downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing roller when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus,
• a helical developing roller gear, disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said developing roller, for receiving a rotating force for rotating said developing roller from a drum helical gear disposed adjacent the first longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for transmitting rotating force from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to said developing roller;
• a developing blade positioned adjacent the developing roller for regulating the amount of toner to be carried on a peripheral surface of the developing roller;
• and
• a toner remainder detecting unit positioned adjacent to the second longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum facing downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly for detecting a remaining toner in the developing frame and whether the process cartridge is installed in the main assembly;
• and
• a toner chamber frame joined to the image developing chamber frame including a toner container and a toner feeding unit for feeding toner from the toner container to the second frame.

A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor and a driving rotatable member for transmitting a rotational driving force from the motor, the driving rotatable member having a twisted hole formed therein at a central portion thereof having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a twisted projection provided at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said twisted projection being engageable with the twisted hole,
• wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between the twisted hole and said twisted projection, and wherein said twisted projection is urged toward the twisted hole when said driving rotatable member is rotated with said twisted projection being in engagement with the twisted hole when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• and
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus,
• wherein said grounding contact, developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed adjacent a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said twisted projection is disposed, said developing bias contact and said charging bias contact are each disposed on a side of said process cartridge that extends in a longitudinal direction of said process cartridge, said developing bias contact is disposed to one side of said photosensitive drum, said charging bias contact is disposed to the other side of said photosensitive drum, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and wherein said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed such that when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, they are faced downward.

A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor and a main assembly gear for transmitting a rotational driving force from the motor, the main assembly gear having a twisted hole formed therein at a central portion thereof having a substantially triangular cross-section, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism provided at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said twisted projection being engageable with the twisted hole,
• wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from the main assembly gear to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between said the hole and said twisted projection, and wherein said twisted projection is urged toward the twisted hole when the main assembly gear is rotated with said twisted projection being in engagement with the twisted hole when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• and
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus,
• wherein said grounding contact, developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed adjacent a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said twisted projection is disposed, said developing bias contact and said charging bias contact are each disposed on a side of said process cartridge that extends in a longitudinal direction of said process cartridge, said developing bias contact is disposed to one side of said photosensitive drum, said charging bias contact is disposed to the other side of said photosensitive drum, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and wherein said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed such that when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, they are faced downward.

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

• a. a motor;
• b. a driving rotatable member for transmitting a rotational driving force from said motor;
• c. a twisted hole, formed in said driving rotatable member at a central portion thereof and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions;
• d. a mounting member for detachably mounting said process cartridge, said process cartridge including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a twisted projection provided at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and having a non-circular cross-section with a plurality of corner portions, said twisted projection being engageable with said twisted hole,
• wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from said driving rotatable member to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between said twisted hole and said twisted projection, and wherein said twisted projection is urged toward said twisted hole when said driving rotatable member is rotated with said twisted projection being in engagement with said twisted hole when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus,
• wherein said grounding contact, developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed adjacent a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said twisted projection is disposed, said developing bias contact and said charging bias contact are each disposed on a side of said process cartridge that extends in a longitudinal direction of said process cartridge, said developing bias contact is disposed to one side of said photosensitive drum, said charging bias contact is disposed to the other side of said photosensitive drum, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and wherein said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed such that when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, they are faced downward;
• e. a main assembly grounding contact for electrical connection with said grounding contact of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member;
• f. a main assembly developing bias contact for electrical connection with said developing bias contact of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member;
• g. a main assembly charging bias for electrical connection with said charging bias contact of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member;
• and
• h. a feeding member for feeding the recording material.

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

• a. a motor
• b. a main assembly gear for transmitting a rotational driving force from said motor;
• c. a twisted hole, formed in said main assembly gear at a central portion thereof and having a substantially triangular cross-section;
• d. a mounting member for detachably mounting said process cartridge, said process cartridge including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism provided at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said twisted projection being engageable with said twisted hole,
• wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from said main assembly gear to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between said twisted hole and said twisted projection, and wherein said twisted projection is urged toward said twisted hole when said main assembly gear is rotated with said twisted projection being in engagement with said twisted hole when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus,
• wherein said grounding contact, developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed adjacent a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said twisted projection is disposed, said developing bias contact and said charging bias contact are each disposed on a side of said process cartridge that extends in a longitudinal direction of said process cartridge, said developing bias contact is disposed to one side of said photosensitive drum, said charging bias contact is disposed to the other side of said photosensitive drum, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and wherein said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed such that when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, they are faced downward;
• e. a main assembly grounding contact for electrical connection with said grounding contact of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member;
• f. a main assembly developing bias contact for electrical connection with said developing bias contact of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member;
• g. a main assembly charging bias for electrical connection with said charging bias contact of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member;
• and
• h. a feeding member for feeding the recording material.

A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor and a main assembly gear for transmitting a rotational driving force from the motor, the main assembly gear having a twisted hole formed therein at a central portion thereof, the twisted hole having a substantially triangular cross section, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• and
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving, from the main assembly, a driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member having a twisted projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism provided at a longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said twisted projection being engageable with the twisted hole,
• wherein the rotational driving force is transmitted from the main assembly gear to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by engagement between the twisted hole and said twisted projection, and wherein said twisted projection is urged toward the twisted hole when the main assembly gear is rotated with said twisted projection being in engagement with the twisted hole when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said cartridge coupling member is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed adjacent said other longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus including a motor and a main assembly gear for transmitting a rotational driving force from the motor, the main assembly gear having a twisted hole formed therein at a central portion thereof, the twisted hole having a substantially triangular cross section, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a ground contact for electrically ground said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a developing bias contact of receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• and
• a plurality of engageable portions engageable to an inner surface of the twisted hole when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, said engageable portions being provided at and supported by a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein when said main assembly gear rotates with the twisted hole and said engageable portions engaged with each other, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the main assembly gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between the twisted hole and said engageable portions,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said plurality of engageable portions is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed adjacent said other longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that faces downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving, from the main assembly, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus, wherein said cartridge coupling member is coaxially engageable with said main assembly coupling member, and wherein said cartridge coupling member is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said cartridge coupling member is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said other longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that extends in a longitudinal direction of said process cartridge, said developing bias contact is disposed to one side of said photosensitive drum, said charging bias contact is disposed to the other side of said photosensitive drum, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and
• wherein said main assembly coupling member has a hole which is defined by twisted surfaces, said hole being substantially coaxial with a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from a motor, wherein said cartridge coupling member has a twisted projection which is engageable with the twisted surfaces, wherein when said main assembly gear rotates with said hole and projection being engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between said hole and said projection.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging member for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of said apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a developing bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• a charging bias contact for receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging member when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus;
• and
• a cartridge coupling member for receiving, from the main assembly, driving force for rotating said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said cartridge coupling member being engaged with a main assembly coupling member of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus, wherein said cartridge coupling member is coaxially engageable with said main assembly coupling member, and wherein said cartridge coupling member is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum at one longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said grounding contact is disposed at the other longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is opposite from the longitudinal end where said cartridge coupling member is disposed, said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are each disposed adjacent said other longitudinal end and provided on a side of said process cartridge that extends in a longitudinal direction of said process cartridge, said developing bias contact is disposed to one side of said photosensitive drum, said charging bias contact is disposed to the other side of said photosensitive drum, and said grounding contact is disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein said main assembly coupling member has a hole which is defined by twisted surfaces, said hole being substantially coaxial with a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from a motor, wherein said cartridge coupling member has a twisted projection which is engageable with the twisted surfaces, wherein when said main assembly gear rotates with said hole and projection being engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between said hole and said projection, and
• wherein said developing bias contact and charging bias contact are disposed such that when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, they are faced downward.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor and a main assembly gear for receiving driving force from the motor and having a recess provided substantially coaxially therewith, the recess being defined by twisted surfaces and being coupled for rotation with the main assembly gear, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum supported in said cartridge frame for rotation about a longitudinal axis;
• a charging roller rotationally supported in the cartridge frame in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller rotationally supported in the cartridge frame in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a twisted, triangular prism projection engageable with the twisted surfaces of the main assembly gear hole when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, said projection being provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum for substantially coaxial rotation with said photosensitive drum,
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly and the main assembly gear rotates with the recess and said projection engaged with each other, the driving force received from the motor is transmitted from the main assembly gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between the recess and said projection;
• a grounding contact for electrically grounding said electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, said grounding contact having a contact surface for engagement with a corresponding main assembly grounding contact in the main assembly, said contact surface being disposed substantially coaxially with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum at an opposite longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum from where said projection is disposed;
• a developing bias contact disposed adjacent said opposite longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, offset to one side of said photosensitive drum, and positioned to face downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, said developing bias contact receiving, from the main assembly, a developing bias to be applied to said developing roller when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• and
• a charging bias contact disposed adjacent said opposite longitudinal end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, offset to another side of said photosensitive drum from said developing bias contact, and positioned to face downward when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, said charging bias contact receiving, from the main assembly, a charging bias to be applied to said charging roller when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly for detecting a remaining toner in the developing frame and whether the process cartridge is installed in the main assembly;
• and
• a toner chamber frame joined to the image developing chamber frame including a toner container and a toner feeding unit for feeding toner from the toner container to the second frame.