Developing device, process cartridge and electrical contact part

A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer, said developing apparatus comprising:

• (a) a developing roller for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• (b) an electroconductive flange provided at one end portion of said developing roller;
• (c) a driving portion, provided at one end portion of said flange, for rotating said developing roller:
• (d) a developing apparatus side electrode electrically connectable with a main assembly side electrode provided in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus;
• and
• (e) an electrical contact part for supplying a bias voltage to said developing roller, said electrical contact part including:
• (1) a connecting portion electrically connected with said developing apparatus side electrode;
• and
• (2) a projected portion projecting from a side opposite from a side at which said connecting portion is elastically connectable to said developing apparatus side electrode and insertable between said flange and said driving portion.

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

• (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• (b) a developing roller for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• (c) an electroconductive flange provided at one end portion of said developing roller;
• (d) a driving portion, provided at one end portion of said flange, for rotating said developing roller;
• (e) a cartridge-side electrode electrically connectable with a main assembly side electrode provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, when said process cartridge is detachably mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• and
• (f) an electrical contact part for supplying a bias voltage to said developing roller, said electrical contact part including:
• (1) a connecting portion electrically connected to said cartridge-side electrode;
• and
• (2) a projected portion projecting from a side opposite from a side at which said connecting portion is connectable to said cartridge-side electrode and insertable between said flange and said driving portion.

A developing apparatus comprising:

• an electroconductive developer carrying member having a hollow cylindrical shape, for feeding a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• an electroconductive flange fixed to an end of said developer carrying member;
• a supporting member, engaged with said flange, for rotatably supporting said developer carrying member;
• a flange side electrode member electrically connected to said developer carrying member and provided at an outside of said flange;
• a fixed electrode member disposed at a position facing said flange side electrode member and connected with a voltage source;
• wherein said fixed electrode member is provided with an elastic contact portion for electrical connection with said flange side electrode member;
• and
• wherein said flange side electrode member includes a first contact portion for electrical connection with the elastic contact portion and a second contact portion for electrical abutment connection with said flange.

A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing apparatus comprising:

• an electroconductive developer carrying member having a hollow cylindrical shape, for feeding a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• an electroconductive flange member fixed to an end of said developer carrying member;
• a supporting member, engaged with said flange member, for rotatably supporting said developer carrying member;
• a drive transmission gear mounted on an outer surface of said flange member against rotation in a rotational direction of the flange member;
• a flange-member side electrode member disposed at a side of said gear opposite from a side nearer to the developer carrying member and electrically connected therewith;
• and
• a fixed electrode member disposed at a position facing said flange-member side electrode member and connected with a voltage source;
• wherein the fixed electrode member is provided with an elastic contact portion for electrical connection with said flange-member side electrode member;
• and
• wherein said flange-member side electrode member includes a first contact portion for electrical connection with said elastic contact portion of said fixed electrode member and a second contact portion, extended from said first contact portion, for electrical connection by elastic contact with said flange member, and said extended portion is nipped between an outer periphery of said flange member and the gear.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer;
• wherein said developing means includes:
• an electroconductive developer carrying member having a hollow cylindrical shape, for feeding a developer to develop the electrostatic latent image;
• an electroconductive flange member fixed to an end of said developer carrying member;
• a supporting member, engaged with said flange member, for rotatably supporting said developer carrying member;
• a flange-member side electrode member electrically connected to said developer carrying member and provided at an outside of said flange member;
• and
• a fixed electrode member disposed at a position facing said flange-member side electrode member and connected with a voltage source;
• wherein the fixed electrode member is provided with an elastic contact portion for electrical connection with said flange-member side electrode member;
• and
• wherein the flange-member side electrode member includes a first contact portion for electrical connection with said elastic contact portion and a second contact portion for electrical abutment connection with said flange member.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• developing means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer;
• wherein said developing means includes:
• an electroconductive developer carrying a member having a hollow cylindrical shape, for feeding a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• an electroconductive flange fixed to an end of said developer carrying member;
• a supporting member, engaged with said flange, for rotatably supporting said developer carrying member;
• a drive transmission gear mounted on an outer surface of said flange against rotation in a rotational direction of the flange;
• a flange side electrode member disposed at a side of said gear opposite from a side nearer to the developer carrying member and electrically connected therewith;
• and
• a fixed electrode member disposed at a position facing said flange side electrode member and connected with a voltage source;
• wherein the fixed electrode member is provided with an elastic contact portion for electrical connection with said flange side electrode member;
• and
• wherein said flange side electrode member includes a first contact portion for electrical connection with said elastic contact portion of said fixed electrode member and a second contact portion, extended from said first contact portion, for electrical connection by elastic contact with said flange, and said extended portion is nipped between an outer periphery of said flange and the gear.

An electrical contact part for supplying a developing bias to a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, said electrical contact part comprising:

• a circular flat surface portion having a central hole;
• an extended portion extended substantially perpendicularly to said flat surface portion from a part of an edge of said hole;
• and
• wherein said flat surface portion and said extended portion are made of electroconductive material, and the developing bias is supplied from a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to the developing roller through said flat surface portion and said extended portion.

A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing apparatus comprising:

• (a) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer;
• (b) a fixed electrode provided on a frame of said developing apparatus;
• (c) an electrical contact part for supplying a developing bias to said developing roller, said electrical contact part including:
• a circular flat surface portion having a central hole, wherein said flat surface portion is electrically connected to said fixed electrode;
• and
• an extended portion extended substantially perpendicularly to said flat surface portion from a part of an edge of said hole;
• wherein said flat surface portion and said extended portion are made of electroconductive material, and the developing bias is supplied from a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to said developing roller through said flat surface portion and said extended portion.

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

• (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• (b) a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing device comprising:
• a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer;
• a fixed electrode provided on a frame;
• an electrical contact part for supplying a developing bias to said developing roller, said electrical contact part including:
• a circular flat surface portion having a central hole, wherein said flat surface portion is electrically connected to said fixed electrode;
• and
• an extended portion extended substantially perpendicularly to said flat surface portion from a part of an edge of said hole;
• wherein said flat surface portion and said extended portion are made of electroconductive material, and the developing bias is supplied from the main assembly of electrophotographic image forming apparatus to said developing roller through said flat surface portion and said extended portion.