Patent · US Expired

Process cartridge, assembling method therefor and electrophotographic apparatus

US5589918A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
10References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 30, 1995
Grant dateDec 31, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 30, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2221/1609
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus light emitting means and light receiving means cooperative with the light emitting means to detect amount of toner in a part of the process cartridge, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a toner container, adapted for being mounted in the part, for containing the toner to be used for developing a latent image formed in the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a light transmitting member, provided in the toner container, for transmitting light emitted from the light emitting means to permit detection of the amount of the toner in the toner container when the process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a cover member movable between a protecting position for protecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a retracted position wherein the cover is retracted from the covering position; wherein upon movement of the cover member from the protecting position to the retracted position when the process cartridge is moun…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.