초록 ▼

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a developing member for developing an electrostati

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with the developer; a developer feeding member for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion toward the developing member; and a developer amount detecting member, disposed along a movement path of the developer from the developer accommodating portion toward the developing member, for generating an electric signal for permitting the main assembly to detect substantially real time a remaining amount of the developer in the process cartridge, wherein the developer amount detecting member is disposed at and along an arcuate portion which is provided outside the cartridge frame along a path of rotational motion of the developer feeding member.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a developing member for developing an electro

1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member with the developer; a developer feeding member for feeding, by rotation thereof, the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion toward said developing member; and a developer amount detecting member, disposed along a movement path of the developer from said developer accommodating portion toward said developing member, for generating an electric signal for permitting the main assembly to detect in substantially real time a remaining amount of the developer in the process cartridge, wherein said developer amount detecting member is disposed at and along an arcuate portion of said cartridge frame formed along a path of rotational motion of said developer feeding member, wherein said developer amount detecting member generates the electric signal corresponding to an electrostatic capacity between said developing member and itself when a developing bias is applied to said developing member from the main assembly of the apparatus.