A process cartridge detachably mountable to the main body of an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, at least one process device for acting on the drum, a cartridge frame holding the drum and the process device and exposing a portion of the drum, a shutter member provided for movement between a position to protect and a position to permit exposure the of the drum, and a shutter opening and closing link mechanism for moving the shutter member in operative association with the opening and closing operation of an openable and closable door when the process cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus.
A photoconductive drum device is inserted into and removed from an image forming device main body, horizontally from a side of the image forming device main body. The photoconductive drum device includes a frame, a photoconductive drum and a cover. The photoconductive drum is supported rotatably on the frame under a state in which a part of an outer circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum is exposed. The cover is supported on the frame in a manner capable of swinging. In response to an insertion of the photoconductive drum device into the image forming device main body, the cover swings to an opened position so as not to block off a light path an exposure ray irradiated toward the exposed part of the photoconductive drum. In response to a removal of the photoconductive drum device from the image forming device main body, the cover swings to a closed position to cover the exposed part of the photoconductive drum.
A developing cartridge includes a housing having a photosensitive medium, and a protective cover movable between a first position where the protective cover covers the photosensitive medium and a second position where a part of the photosensitive medium is exposed. A guide unit guides the protective cover to prevent exceeding a range occupied by the housing when the protective cover is moved to the first and second positions.
An image forming apparatus, includes: a mainframe having an opening portion; an electrostatic latent image carrier being loadable in and unloadable from the main frame through the opening portion; a transport path; a first opening and closing member provided openably and closably on the mainframe so as to open and close the opening portion; and a second opening and closing member disposed on a side opposite to the electrostatic latent image carrier with respect to the first opening and closing member and provided openably and closably on the mainframe so as to open and close the transport path. The first opening and closing member and the second opening and closing member are openable and closable integrally with each other. The second opening and closing member is openable and closable independently of the first opening and closing member.
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit for rotatably supporting the drum, first and second portions to be positioned relative to the main assembly, a rotatable developing unit, and first and second portions to be supported on first and second supporting portions to permit a rotation of the developing unit in the crossing direction when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, and a driving force receiving member, rotatably supported on an outer surface of the second portion to be supported, for receiving a driving force for rotating the developing roller from a driving force transmission member provided in the main assembly when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus.
