Process cartridge having electrical contact connectable to electrical contact in electrophotographic image forming apparatus

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a main assembly electrical contact and a rotatable electrical contact supporting member configured and positioned to support the main assembly electrical contact, said unit comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a process device actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a cartridge electrical contact configured and positioned to electrically connect to the main assembly electrical contact when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus;
• and
• an engaging portion configured and positioned to engage the electrical contact supporting member when said process cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus, said engaging portion being effective to cause a rotational motion of the electrical contact supporting member in a direction crossing an engaging direction in which said engaging portion is brought into engagement with the electrical contact supporting member, when said process cartridge is being inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus,
• wherein a sliding motion is imparted between said cartridge electrical contact and the main assembly electrical contact as a result of said engaging portion causing the rotational motion of said electrical contact supporting member, with said cartridge electrical contact and the main assembly electrical contact contacting each other, and
• wherein when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the rotational motion of the electrical contact supporting member is effective to move the main assembly electrical contact from a position for electrical connection with a grounding contact provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to a position for electrical connection with a connecting contact provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein the connecting contact is electrically connected with control means provided in the main assembly of the apparatus.

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

• (i) a main assembly electrical contact;
• (ii) a rotatable electrical contact supporting member configured and positioned to support said main assembly electrical contact;
• (iii) a mounting device configured and positioned to detachably mount the unit, the unit including, a cartridge electrical contact configured and positioned to electrically connect with said main assembly electrical contact when the unit is mounted to said main assembly of said apparatus, and an engaging portion configured and positioned to engage said electrical contact supporting member when the unit is inserted into said main assembly of said apparatus, the engaging portion being effective to cause a rotational motion of said electrical contact supporting member in a direction crossing an engaging direction in which the engaging portion is brought into engagement with said electrical contact supporting member, when the unit is being inserted into said main assembly of said apparatus, wherein a sliding motion is imparted between the unit electrical contact and said main assembly electrical contact as a result of the engaging portion causing the rotational motion of said electrical contact supporting member, with the unit electrical contact and said main assembly electrical contact contacting each other;
• and
• (iv) a feeding device configured and positioned to feed the recording material;
• (vi) a control device;
• (vii) a grounding contact which is electrically grounded;
• and
• (viii) a connecting contact electrically connected with said control device, and
• wherein when the unit is mounted to said main assembly of said apparatus, the rotational motion of said electrical contact supporting member is effective to move said main assembly electrical contact from a position for electrical connection with said grounding contact to a position for electrical connection with said connecting contact.

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

• (i) a main assembly electrical contact;
• (ii) a rotatable electrical contact supporting member configured and positioned to support said main assembly electrical contact;
• (iii) a mounting device configured and positioned to detachably mount the process cartridge, the process cartridge including a cartridge electrical contact configured and positioned to electrically connect to said main assembly electrical contact when the process cartridge is mounted to said main assembly of said apparatus, and an engaging portion configured and positioned to engage said electrical contact supporting member when the cartridge is inserted into said main assembly of said apparatus, the engaging portion being effective to cause a rotational motion of said electrical contact supporting member in a direction crossing an engaging direction in which the engaging portion is brought into engagement with said electrical contact supporting member, when the process cartridge is being inserted into said main assembly of said apparatus, wherein a sliding motion is imparted between the cartridge electrical contact and said main assembly electrical contact as a result of by the engaging portion causing the rotational motion of said electrical contact supporting member, with the cartridge electrical contact and said main assembly electrical contact contacting each other;
• and
• (iv) a feeding device configured and positioned to feed the recording material;
• (v) a control device:
• (vi) a grounding contact which is electrically grounded:
• and
• (vii) a connecting contact electrically connected with said control device means, and wherein when the process cartridge is mounted to said main assembly of said apparatus, the rotational motion is effective to move said main assembly electrical contact from a position for electrical connection with said grounding contact to a position for electrical connection with said connecting contact.