Electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable and process cartridge having a supporting member for rotatably supporting a developing roller at a position away from the center of rotation thereof

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer;
• a frame for rotatably supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a supporting member, rotatably mounted in said frame, for rotatably supporting said developing roller at a position away from a center of rotation thereof;
• an urging member for elastically urging said supporting member to urge said developing roller toward said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• means for limiting movement of said developing roller in a direction of urging of said urging member when said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is dismounted from said frame, wherein said means for limiting movement of said developing roller limits rotation of said supporting member to limit the movement of said developing roller;
• a fixing member for blocking movement of said supporting member by the urging force of said urging member by abutment to said supporting member in a position for limiting rotation of said supporting member;
• and
• spacer rollers provided at each of the opposite ends of said developing roller, and wherein said spacer rollers are press-contacted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum outside a developing zone.

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 member for detachably mounting the process cartridge, said process cartridge including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer;
• a frame for rotatably supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing blade, provided in said frame, for regulating the amount of the developer applied on a peripheral surface of said developing roller;
• a supporting member, journaled in said frame for rotation about a center of rotation, for rotatably supporting said developing roller at a position away from the center of rotation thereof;
• an urging member for elastically urging said supporting member to urge said developing roller toward said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• means for limiting movement of said developing roller in a direction of urging of said urging member when said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is dismounted from said frame, wherein said means for limiting movement of said developing roller limits rotation of said supporting member to limit the movement of said developing roller;
• and
• a fixing member for blocking movement of said supporting member by an urging force of said urging member by abutment to said supporting member in a position for limiting rotation of said supporting member;
• and
• (b) 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 mounting member for detachably mounting the process cartridge, said process cartridge including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer;
• a frame for rotatably supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a supporting member, rotatably mounted in said frame, for rotatably supporting said developing roller at a position away from a center of rotation thereof,
• an urging member for elastically urging said supporting member to urge said developing roller toward said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• means for limiting movement of said developing roller in a direction of urging of said urging member when said electrophotographic photosensitive drum is dismounted from said frame, wherein said means for limiting movement of said developing roller limits rotation of said supporting member to limit the movement of said developing roller;
• a fixing member for blocking movement of said supporting member by the urging force of said urging member by abutment to said supporting member in a position for limiting rotation of said supporting member;
• and
• spacer rollers provided at each of the opposite ends of said developing roller, and wherein said spacer rollers are press-contacted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum outside a developing zone;
• and
• (b) a feeding member for feeding the recording material.