Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming system
First Claim
1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of a first electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a main body of a second electrophotographic image forming apparatus differing in function from the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
(b) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
(c) a developer containing portion containing therein a developer to be used to develop said electrostatic latent image by said developing roller;
(d) a first electrically conductive member disposed along a lengthwise direction of said developing roller and having one end thereof exposed from a cartridge frame, said one end being electrically connected to a first main body contact provided in the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and producing an electrical signal for informing that said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said one end being not electrically connected to an interior of the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and
(e) a second electrically conductive member disposed along the lengthwise direction of said developing roller and electrically connected to a cartridge electrical contact exposed from said cartridge frame, said cartridge electrical contact being electrically connected to a second main body contact provided in the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and producing an electrical signal for the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus to successively detect a remaining amount of said developer, said cartridge electrical contact being not electrically connected to an interior of the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process cartridge detachably mountable to both of an image forming apparatus for the electrode rod detection type and an image forming apparatus for the electrode plate detection type, and an electrophotographic image forming system using the process cartridge. The process cartridge has a photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, and a toner containing portion containing therein a toner to be used to develop the electrostatic latent image by the developing roller. The process cartridge further has an antenna rod having one end thereof exposed from a cartridge frame, and first to third electrodes comprising electrode plates. Thereby, the process cartridge has the interchangeability of being detachably mountable to both of the main body of the image forming apparatus for the electrode rod detection type and the main body of the image forming apparatus for the electrode plate detection type.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of a first electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a main body of a second electrophotographic image forming apparatus differing in function from the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
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(a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
(b) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
(c) a developer containing portion containing therein a developer to be used to develop said electrostatic latent image by said developing roller;
(d) a first electrically conductive member disposed along a lengthwise direction of said developing roller and having one end thereof exposed from a cartridge frame, said one end being electrically connected to a first main body contact provided in the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and producing an electrical signal for informing that said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said one end being not electrically connected to an interior of the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and
(e) a second electrically conductive member disposed along the lengthwise direction of said developing roller and electrically connected to a cartridge electrical contact exposed from said cartridge frame, said cartridge electrical contact being electrically connected to a second main body contact provided in the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and producing an electrical signal for the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus to successively detect a remaining amount of said developer, said cartridge electrical contact being not electrically connected to an interior of the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrophotographic image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium by use of a process cartridge, said electrophotographic image forming system comprising:
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an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
a developer containing portion for containing therein a developer to be used to develop said electrostatic latent image by said developing roller;
a first electrically conductive member disposed along a lengthwise direction of said developing roller and having one end thereof exposed from a cartridge frame, said one end being electrically connected to a first main body contact provided in a main body of a first electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and producing an electrical signal for informing that said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said one end being not electrically connected to an interior of a main body of a second electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and
a second electrically conductive member disposed along the lengthwise direction of said developing roller and electrically connected to a cartridge electrical contact exposed from said cartridge frame, said cartridge electrical contact being electrically connected to a second main body contact provided in the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and producing an electrical signal for the main body of said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus to successively detect a remaining amount of said developer, said cartridge electrical contact being not electrically connected to an interior of the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus when said process cartridge has been mounted to the main body of said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
said process cartridge being selectively mounted to said first electrophotographic image forming apparatus and said second electrophotographic image forming apparatus to thereby form an image on said recording medium. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification