Information storing medium, unit, process cartridge, developing cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

A unit detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an information storing medium including:
• a substrate;
• a storing element, provided on said substrate and configured to store information;
• an electrical contact point that is provided on said substrate, and is electrically connected to said storing element,
• wherein when said unit is mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• and
• a sliding region that is provided on said electrical contact point,
• wherein in the case that said electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point contacts said electrical contact point with sliding in said sliding region;
• and
• an information storing medium mounting portion in which said information storing medium is mounted,
• wherein, in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, a contact pressure caused by contact of said electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point is regulated by a main body abutting member provided in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

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

• an electrophotographic photosensitive body;
• a process device configured and positioned to act on said electrophotographic photosensitive body;
• an information storing medium including:
• a substrate;
• a storing element provided on said substrate, configured to store information;
• an electrical contact point provided on said substrate, and electrically connected to said storing element,
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the electrographic image forming apparatus;
• and
• a sliding region that is provided on said electrical contact point,
• wherein when said electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point slides on said electrical contact point in said sliding region;
• and
• an information storing medium mounting portion in which said information storing medium is mounted,
• wherein, in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, a contact pressure caused by contact of said electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point is regulated by a main body abutting member provided in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

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

• a developing device configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive body with a developer;
• an information storing medium including:
• a substrate;
• a storing element provided on said substrate, configured to store information;
• an electrical contact point that is provided on said substrate, and is electrically connected to said storing element,
• wherein in the case that said developing cartridge is mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• and
• a sliding region that is provided on said electrical contact point,
• wherein when said electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point contacts said electrical contact point with sliding in said sliding region;
• and
• an information storing medium mounting portion in which said information storing medium is mounted,
• wherein in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, a contact pressure caused by contact of said electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point is regulated by a main body abutting member provided in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable and which forms an image on a recording medium, comprising:

• (i) a main body electrical contact point;
• (ii) a main body abutting member;
• (iii) a mounting device configured and positioned to dismountably mount the process cartridge, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive body, a process device configured and positioned to act on the electrophotographic photosensitive body, an information storing medium having a substrate, a storing element provided on the substrate and configured to store information, an electrical contact point that is provided on the substrate and is electrically connected to the storing the substrate, and is electrically connected to the storing element, wherein when the process cartridge is mounted on a main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrical contact point contacts said main body electrical contact point, and a sliding region that is provided on the electrical contact point, wherein in the case that the electrical contact point and said main body electrical contact point contact each other, said main body electrical contact point contacts the electrical contact point with sliding in the sliding region, and an information storing medium mounting portion in which the information storing medium is mounted;
• and
• (iv) a convey device configured and positioned to convey the recording medium,
• wherein, in the case that the electrical contact point contacts said main body electrical contact point, a contact pressure caused by contact of the electrical contact point and said main body electrical contact point is regulated by said main body abutting member provided in the main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, to which a developing cartridge is detachably mountable and which forms an image on a recording medium, comprising:

• (i) a main body electrical contact point;
• (ii) a main body abutting member;
• (iii) a mounting device configured and positioned to dismountably mount the developing cartridge, the developing cartridge including a developing device configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive body with a developer, an information storing medium having a substrate, a storing element provided on the substrate, configured to store information, an electrical contact point that is provided on the substrate, and is electrically connected to the storing element, wherein when the developing cartridge is mounted on a main body of said electrophotgraphic image forming apparatus, the electrical contact point contacts said main body electrical contact point, and a sliding region that is provided on the electrical contact point, wherein when the electrical contact point and said main body electrical contact point contact each other, said main body electrical contact point slides on the electrical contact point in the sliding region, and an information storing medium mounting portion in which the information storing medium is mounted;
• and
• (iv) a convey device configured and positioned to convey the recording medium, wherein, in the case that the elctrical contact point contacts said main body electrical contact point, a contact pressure caused by contact of the electrical contact point and said main body electrical contact point is regulated by said main body abutting member provided in the main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

An information storing medium to be mounted to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a substrate;
• a storing element, provided on said substrate, configured to store information;
• an electrical contact point electrically connected to said storing element,
• wherein said electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in the case that said information storing medium is attached onto the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• a first sliding area provided within said electrical contact point,
• wherein, in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, the main body electrical contact point slides on said electrical contact point in said first sliding area;
• and
• a second sliding area provided within said electrical contact point substantially parallel to said first sliding area,
• wherein, in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, the main body electrical contact point slides on said electrical contact point in said second sliding area.

A unit to be mounted to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a developing device configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive body with developer;
• an information storing medium including:
• a substrate;
• a storing element, provided on said substrate, configured to store information;
• an electrical contact point electrically connected to said storing element,
• wherein said electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in the case that said unit is attached onto the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• a first sliding area provided within said electrical contact point,
• wherein, in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, the main body electrical contact point slides on said electrical contact point in said first sliding area;
• and
• a second sliding area provided within said electrical contact point substantially parallel to said first sliding area,
• wherein, in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, the main body electrical contact point slides on said electrical contact point in said second sliding area;
• and
• an information storing medium attachment part into which said information storing medium is attached.

A process cartridge to be mounted to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a process device configured and positioned to act on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• an information storing medium including:
• a substrate;
• a storing element, provided on said substrate, configured to store information;
• an electrical contact point electrically connected to said storing element,
• wherein said electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in the case that said process cartridge is attached onto the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• a first sliding area provided within said electrical contact point,
• wherein, in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, the main body electrical contact point slides on said electrical contact point in said first sliding area;
• and
• a second sliding area provided within said electrical contact point substantially parallel to said first sliding area,
• wherein, in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, the main body electrical contact point slides on said electrical contact point in said second sliding area;
• and
• an information storing medium attachment part into which said information storing medium is attached.

A developing cartridge to be mounted to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a developing device configured and positioned to develop an electrophotographic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive body with developer;
• an information storing medium including:
• a substrate;
• a storing element, provided on said substrate, configured to store information;
• an electrical contact point electrically connected to said storing element,
• wherein said electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in the case that said developing cartridge is attached onto the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• a first sliding area provided within said electrical contact point,
• wherein, in the case that said contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, the main electrical contact point slides on said electrical contact point in said first sliding area;
• and
• a second sidling area provided within said electrical contact point substantially parallel to said first sliding area,
• wherein, in the case that said electrical contact point contacts the main body electrical contact point, the main body electrical contact point slides on said electrical contact point in said second sliding area;
• and
• an information storing medium attachment part into which said information storage medium is attached.