초록 ▼

A developing cartridge for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, wherein the developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge includes a cartridge frame; a developing member for develo

A developing cartridge for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, wherein the developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge includes a cartridge frame; a developing member for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member; a driving force receiving member for receiving driving force for rotating the developing member from the main assembly of the apparatus when the developing cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the driving force receiving member being exposed from a portion of the cartridge adjacent one longitudinal end of the developing member; a developing bias contact for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing member from the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner to be used for development by the developing member; a first light-transmissive member and a second light-transmissive member, provided at a portion of the cartridge frame corresponding to the toner accommodating portion adjacent the other longitudinal end of the developing member, for detecting that remaining amount of the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion becomes smaller than a predetermined amount, wherein the first light-transmissive member is effective to introduce light emitted from the main assembly into the toner accommodating portion, and the second light-transmissive member is effective to direct the light having passed through the toner accommodating portion toward the main assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A developing cartridge for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein said developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said developing cartridge comprisin

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A developing cartridge for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein said developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said developing cartridge comprising:a cartridge frame;a developing member for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member;a driving force receiving member for receiving a driving force for rotating said developing member from the main assembly of said apparatus when said developing cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the driving force receiving member being exposed from one longitudinal end of said cartridge frame;a developing bias contact for receiving a developing bias to be applied to said developing member from the main assembly when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, said one developing bias contact being exposed from said longitudinal end of said cartridge frame;a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for development of the latent image by said developing member;a first light-transmissive member and a second light-transmissive member, provided at a portion of said cartridge frame corresponding to said toner accommodating portion adjacent the other longitudinal end of said developing member, for detecting, when said developing cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, that a remaining amount of the toner accommodated in said toner accommodating portion becomes smaller than a predetermined amount, wherein said first light-transmissive member is effective to introduce light emitted from the main assembly into said toner accommodating portion, and said second light-transmissive member is effective to direct the light having passed through said toner accommodating portion toward the main assembly.