Cartridge having molded resin electrode

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

• (i) a cartridge to be detachably mounted to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, said cartridge comprising:
• (i-i) process means for effecting image formation;
• (i-ii) a frame for supporting said process means;
• and
• (i-iii) a cartridge electrode integrally molded by injecting an electroconductive resin into said frame, wherein said cartridge electrode comprises:
• a first contact portion, exposed toward an outside of said frame, contacted to a main assembly contact provided in the apparatus main assembly when said cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main assembly;
• a second contact portion provided for being electrically connected to said process means;
• and
• a gate portion at which the resin is injected when said cartridge electrode is molded into said frame, wherein the electroconductive resin injected at said gate portion is branched to mold said first contact portion and said second contact portion so that an electroconductive path for electrically connecting the main assembly contact and said process means is formed;
• and
• (ii) conveying means for conveying the recording medium.

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

• (a) a frame;
• (b) an electroconductive member;
• and
• (c) a cartridge electrode formed by injection molding of an electroconductive resin, wherein said cartridge electrode comprises:
• a first contact portion contacted to a main assembly contact provided in the apparatus main assembly when said cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main assembly;
• a second contact portion contacted to said electroconductive member;
• and
• a branch portion where the injected electroconductive resin is branched to a first connecting portion connected to said first contact portion and a second connecting portion connected to said second contact portion.

An electrode member, formed by injection molding of an electroconductive resin, for use with an image forming apparatus, said electrode member comprising:

• a first contact portion contacted to a first electroconductive member;
• a second contact portion contacted to a second electroconductive member;
• and
• a branching portion where the injected electroconductive resin is branched to a first connecting portion connected to said first contact portion and a second connecting portion connected to said second contact portion.