Process cartridge, assembling method therefor and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

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

• (a) a drum mounting step of mounting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum to a drum frame;
• (b) a frame coupling step of swingably coupling a developing frame and a toner accommodation frame with each other;
• (c) a developing member mounting step of mounting a developing member to the developing frame, wherein said developing member is effective to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (d) a developer filling step of filling the developer into the toner accommodation frame;
• (e) a first end cover coupling step of coupling a first end cover to said drum frame and said developing frame at one longitudinal end of each of said drum frame and said developing frame;
• and
• (f) a second end cover coupling step of coupling a second end cover to said drum frame and said developing frame at the other longitudinal end of each of said drum frame and said developing frame.

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 mounting portion for detachably mounting the process cartridge, which includes:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a toner accommodation frame having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used by said developing member to develop the electrostatic latent image;
• a drum frame for supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing frame for supporting said developing member, said developing frame being swingably coupled with said toner accommodation frame;
• a first end cover connected with said drum frame and said developing frame at one longitudinal end of each of said drum frame and said developing frame;
• and
• a second end cover connected with said drum frame and said developing frame at the other longitudinal end of said drum frame and said developing frame;
• (b) a main assembly side driving force transmitting member for transmitting a driving force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the process cartridge mounted to said mounting portion;
• and
• (c) feeding means 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 developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a toner accommodation frame having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used by said developing member to develop the electrostatic latent image;
• a drum frame for supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a drum shaft supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum on said drum frame, wherein said drum shaft is positioned relative to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus adjacent one longitudinal end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• a developing frame for supporting said developing member, said developing frame being swingably coupled with said toner accommodation frame;
• a first end cover connected with said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame at one longitudinal end of each of said drum frame and toner accommodation frame, wherein a portion of said drum shaft adjacent said one longitudinal end extends outwardly through a hole formed in said first end cover;
• and
• a second end cover connected with said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame at the other longitudinal end of said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame.

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

• (a) a drum mounting step of mounting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum to a drum frame;
• (b) a frame coupling step of swingably coupling a developing frame and a toner accommodation frame with each other;
• (c) a developing member mounting step of mounting a developing member to the developing frame, wherein said developing member is effective to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (d) a developer filling step of filling the developer into the toner accommodation frame;
• (e) a first end cover coupling step of coupling a first end cover to said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame at one longitudinal end of each of said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame;
• and
• (f) a second end cover coupling step of coupling a second end cover to said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame at the other longitudinal end of each of said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame.

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 mounting portion for mounting the process cartridge, which includes:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a toner accommodation frame having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used by said developing member to develop the electrostatic latent image;
• a drum frame for supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a drum shaft supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum on said drum frame, wherein said drum shaft is positioned relative to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus adjacent one longitudinal end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• a developing frame for supporting said developing member, aid developing frame being swingably coupled with said toner accommodation frame;
• a first end cover connected with said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame at one longitudinal end of each of said drum frame and toner accommodation frame, wherein a portion of said drum shaft adjacent said one longitudinal end extends outwardly through a hole formed in said first end cover;
• and
• a second end cover connected with said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame at the other longitudinal end of said drum frame and said toner accommodation frame;
• (b) a main assembly side driving force transmitting member for transmitting a driving force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the process cartridge mounted to said mounting portion;
• and
• (c) feeding means for feeding the recording material.