JPH0944057A - Process cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly fit a process cartridge at the time of fitting a process cartridge to an image forming device main body, by preventing a contact point member from causing any catch and deformation. SOLUTION: The process cartridge provided with plural contact point members 22 for electrically connecting an electrophotographic photoreceptor or processing means, and the image forming device main body, is constituted so that at least one among the plural contact point members 22 is provided with first contact point plane 22a and second contact plane 22b being continuous in the direction of inserting the process cartridge into the image forming device main body, and an angle θ formed by the first contact point plane 22a and the second contact point plane 22b is formed as an obtuse angle or a curbed surface, and moreover the rear end of the second contact point plane 22b is prevented from rising up by a preventive part 31 formed on the cartridge frame body 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be mounted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is used as an image forming apparatus. A process cartridge system detachable from the main body is employed. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without relying on a service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge method,
Widely used in image forming apparatuses.

Such a process cartridge applies a charging bias, a developing bias and the like when it is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus to form an image. To this end, the process cartridge is provided with a contact member made of a conductive plate or the like electrically connected to the charger and the developing device, and when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the contact member is an electric contact on the apparatus main body side. It is generally configured to come into contact with.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a further development of the above process cartridge, and its object is to prevent the contact member from being caught and deformed when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. It is intended to provide a process cartridge or the like that can be smoothly mounted without causing it.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a typical structure according to the present invention is a process cartridge detachable from the main body of an image forming apparatus, which includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Process means that work,
A cartridge frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the process unit, and a plurality of contact members for electrically connecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member or the process unit and the image forming apparatus main body, At least one of the plurality of contact members has a first contact surface and a second contact surface that are continuous in the direction in which the process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body, and has at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface. It is characterized in that the angle formed is an obtuse angle or a curved surface, and that the rear end of the second contact surface is regulated by the regulation portion formed in the cartridge frame.

In the above structure, since the first contact surface and the second contact surface forming the contact member are not bent at a right angle or an acute angle, the apparatus is mounted when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The spring-like contact on the main body side smoothly contacts from the first contact surface to the second contact surface.

Further, the rear end of the second contact surface is regulated by the regulation portion of the cartridge frame body, and the floating is prevented.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, one embodiment of a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. 1 is a structural explanatory view of the image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is mounted, FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory view of the process cartridge, FIG. 3 is an explanatory drawing of the cartridge mounting structure, and FIGS. It is a structure explanatory view of an electric contact member for applying a charging bias and the like.

Here, as the order of the description, the overall structure of the image forming apparatus and the process cartridge will be described first, and then the structure of the electrical contact member will be described.

{Overall Configuration} This image forming apparatus A is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, laser light L based on image information is emitted from the optical system 1 to form an image of a developer (hereinafter referred to as “toner”) on a photoconductor drum which is an electrophotographic photoconductor. Then, in synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium 2 is conveyed from the sheet feeding cassette 3a by the conveying means 3 including a pickup roller 3b, a pair of registration rollers 3c, and the like, and an image forming unit is formed as a process cartridge B into a cartridge. In the above, the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 4 as a transfer means, and the recording medium 2 is transferred to the guide plate 3d.
And is conveyed to the fixing means 5.

The fixing means 5 comprises a driving roller 5a and a fixing roller 5b containing a heater, and applies heat and pressure to the recording medium 2 passing therethrough to fix the transferred toner image. Then, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 3e and discharged to the discharge section 6.

On the other hand, in the process cartridge B constituting the image forming section, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a photosensitive drum 7 having a photosensitive layer on a cylindrical surface of aluminum which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated, The surface thereof is uniformly charged by applying a voltage to a charging roller 8 as a charging means, and the optical image from the optical system 1 is passed through the exposure section 9 to the photosensitive drum 7.
Is exposed to form a latent image and is developed by developing means 10. The developing means 10 feeds the toner in the toner reservoir 10a with a toner feeding member 10b, rotates a developing roller 10d having a fixed magnet 10c therein, and develops a blade 10e.
Toner layer with triboelectric charge applied by developing roller
The toner image is formed on the surface of 10d, and the toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 according to the latent image to form a toner image and visualize it.

After a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image is applied to the transfer roller 4 to transfer the toner image to the recording medium 2, the cleaning blade 11a is used for the photosensitive drum 7.
Scraping off the toner remaining on the
The residual toner on the photoconductor drum 7 is removed by the cleaning means 11 which collects the waste toner in the waste toner reservoir 11c.

Each component such as the photosensitive drum 7 holds a toner container 12a forming a toner reservoir 10a, a developing frame 12b holding a developing roller 10d, a photosensitive drum 7, a charging roller 8 and a cleaning means 11. Cleaning frame
12c and a drum shutter member 12d for protecting the photosensitive drum 7 are housed in a cartridge frame 12 configured to be a cartridge and made into a cartridge, which is attachable to and detachable from a cartridge mounting means provided in the apparatus main body 13. It is installed.

The cartridge is mounted by opening the front unit 14 of the apparatus body 13 as shown in FIG. That is, a front unit 14 that can be opened and closed by a hinge 14a is attached to the front portion of the apparatus body 13, and when the front unit 14 is opened, a cartridge mounting space is provided in the apparatus body 13, and both side surfaces of the space are provided. The cartridge mounting means is provided in the.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge mounting means has a structure in which drum pins 15 axially supporting both sides of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction and guide portions 16 formed outside the cleaning frame 12c are provided on both side surfaces. It is provided. On the other hand, the device body 13
On both sides of the cartridge mounting space
Guide holes 18 for guiding 16 and positioning portions 20 for positioning the photosensitive drum 7 are formed on both side surfaces. Therefore, the guide portion 16 of the process cartridge B is connected to the guide hole portion.
The process cartridge B is positioned and mounted in the image forming apparatus A by being inserted along the line 18. When the process cartridge B is mounted, the drum driving gear 21 axially supported on the side surface of the apparatus main body 13 meshes with a drum gear (not shown) mounted on the photosensitive drum 7, and the driving force is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 7. It will be possible.

The drum shutter member 12d is opened and closed centering on the shaft 12d1 (see FIG. 2) along with the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge B by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown), and the cartridge B is attached to the image forming apparatus A. Open and close when the cartridge B is removed from the image forming apparatus A.

{Structure of Electric Contact Member} Next, the structure of the electric contact member for electrically connecting the charging roller 8, the developing roller 10d and the like to the apparatus main body 13 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the process cartridge includes a charging contact member 22 electrically connected to the charging roller 8, a developing contact member 23 electrically connected to the developing roller 10d, and toner storage. Toner residual detection contact member electrically connected to an antenna member (not shown) formed of a rod-shaped conductor provided in the toner storage portion 10a in parallel with the developing roller 10d to detect the remaining amount of toner in the portion 10a. 24, and further, a drum contact member electrically connected to the photosensitive drum 7.
Each of the process cartridges 25 is attached so as to be exposed from one side surface in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B.

The charging contact member 22 is for applying a charging bias voltage to the charging roller 8, and the developing contact member 23 is for applying a developing bias voltage to the developing roller 10d. The residual toner detection contact member 24 is used to detect the electrostatic capacity between the antenna member and the developing roller 10d to detect the residual toner amount. The drum contact member 25 connects the photosensitive drum 7 to the main body 13 of the apparatus. It is for electrically connecting and electrically grounding the drum 7.

Each of the charging contact member 22, the developing contact member 23, and the residual toner detecting contact member 24 is constructed by bending a conductive sheet metal or the like so as to come into contact with each member, and the ends thereof are cartridges. It is exposed from the frame. Further, the drum contact member 25 is constituted by the drum pin 15 which is in electrical contact with the inner surface of the aluminum cylinder forming the photosensitive drum 7.

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus A, as shown in FIG. 4, when the process cartridge B is mounted, the charging contacts are respectively placed at positions where the contact members 22, 23, 24 and 25 can come into contact with each other. 26, a developing contact 27, a residual detection contact 28, and a drum contact 29 are provided. The charging contact 26, the developing contact 27, and the residual detection contact 28 are electrically connected to a power source (not shown) provided in the apparatus body 13, and the drum contact 29 is electrically connected through a frame of the apparatus body 13. It is grounded.

Each of the contacts 26, 27, 28, 29 is made of a conductive plate member having a spring property and protrudes toward the process cartridge to be mounted. When the cartridge B is mounted, the contact members 22 to 25 correspond to each other. The image forming apparatus A and the process cartridge B are electrically connected to each other by contacting the contacts 26 to 29.

Here, the structure of the charging contact member 22 will be described more specifically. As shown in FIG. 6, a conductive member (metal, conductive material) is provided at the thrust direction end of the core metal 8a of the charging roller 8. Although there is a conductive resin or the like, it is preferable to use a conductive resin from the viewpoint that no abnormal noise or noise is generated and the cost is low. One side a of the charging contact member 22 formed by bending a sheet metal is in contact with the cap 30, and the other side b is exposed from the cartridge frame as described above.

The charging contact member 22 exposed from the cartridge frame is, as shown in FIG. 7 (a view taken along the line CC in FIG. 4), a first continuous contact member in the direction of inserting the process cartridge into the main body of the image forming apparatus. Contact surface 22a and second contact surface 22b
And is bent and formed such that an angle θ formed by the first contact surface 22a and the second contact surface 22b is an obtuse angle. The second contact surface 22b is a surface substantially parallel to the direction in which the process cartridge is inserted into the apparatus main body 13, and the first contact surface 22a is inclined inward in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B with respect to the second contact surface 22b. Is formed.

The rear end of the second contact surface 22b is pressed by a rib-shaped restricting portion 31 formed on the cartridge frame. Therefore, the rear end of the second contact surface 22b does not float up from the cartridge frame.

Further, at the tip of the first contact surface 22a, an insertion guide portion 32 which is tapered in the cartridge insertion direction is formed in the cartridge frame, and the tip of the first contact surface 22a is the insertion guide portion 32. It is mounted so that it is in a lower position than. When the process cartridge B is inserted into the apparatus main body 13, the insertion guide portion 32 pushes up the spring-type charging contact 26 provided in the apparatus main body 13 so that the contact 26 smoothly comes into pressure contact with the first contact surface 22a. It is something to do.

As described above, by providing the insertion guide portion 32, when the process cartridge B is mounted in the image forming apparatus A, the tip of the first contact surface 22a smoothly moves to the charging contact 26 of the apparatus main body 13. In addition, the rubbing resistance is reduced and the rubbing is performed. Therefore, the process cartridge B can be easily mounted.

Further, when the process cartridge is mounted, the charging contact 26 on the apparatus main body side is moved from the first contact surface 22a to the second contact surface 22a.
The contact surface 22b is rubbed and comes into pressure contact with the second contact surface 22b. At this time, since the first contact surface 22a and the second contact surface 22b are continuous in an obtuse angle state, Charging contact
26 does not get caught at the boundary between the first contact surface 22a and the second contact surface 22b, and slides smoothly. For example, if the first contact surface 22a and the second contact surface 22b are bent at a right angle, the charging contact 26 is unlikely to be smoothly rubbed from the first contact surface 22a to the second contact surface 22b, and is not easily caught. May cause deformation. Such a fear is eliminated in the present embodiment.

Further, since the rear end of the second contact surface 22b is pressed by the restricting portion 31, the charging contact member 22 does not lift from the cartridge frame, and when the process cartridge B is mounted in the image forming apparatus A, Charged contact member
This ensures that the contact 22 comes into contact with the charging contact 26.

The tip 22a1 of the first contact surface 22a is bent at the insertion guide portion 32 as shown in FIG.
When it is configured to be inserted into the boundary of the cartridge frame,
The tip of the first contact surface 22a can also be prevented from rising, and the deformation of the contact member 22 can be prevented more reliably. [Second Embodiment] In the above-described first embodiment, an example is shown in which the first contact surface 22a and the second contact surface 22b of the charging contact member 22 are formed to be bent so as to be continuous at an obtuse angle. As described above, the first contact surface 22a and the second contact surface 22b are configured to be continuous in a curved shape, and the curved first contact surface 22a is hooked and fixed to the seat surface formed on the cartridge frame. Even in this case, the same effect as that of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 31 is a restricting portion that performs the same operation as in the first embodiment, and 32 is an insertion guide portion.

In this embodiment, the charging contact member 22
Since this is the work of assembling the tip curved surface portion to the seat surface, there is an advantage that the assembly work is easier than in the case of the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a mode in which a contact shutter member for protecting the contact members 22, 23, 24 in the process cartridge of the first embodiment described above is provided with reference to FIG. 10 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 10, a shutter member 33 capable of covering the contact members 22, 23, 24 is attached to one side surface of the process cartridge B in the longitudinal direction, and the shutter member 33 is a guide rail. Along 34, contact members
Closed position to cover 22, 23 and 24 (Fig. 10 (a)) and contact member 2
It is slidable to the open position (FIG. 10 (b)) that exposes 2, 23, 24, and is always biased in the closing direction by the shutter spring 35. A shutter pin 33a is provided at a predetermined position above the shutter member 33, and a shutter lock means 36 for fixing the shutter member 33 at the closed position.
Is provided.

When the process cartridge B is not attached to the apparatus main body 13, the shutter member 33 is in the closed state by the urging of the spring 35 as shown in FIG. 10 (a), and the contact members 22, 23, It is locked to cover 24 and protects the contact members.

On the other hand, the process cartridge B is installed in the main body of the apparatus.
When it is inserted into the device body 13, it interferes with the inner wall of the device body 13 to unlock the lock means 36, and the shutter pin 33a.
Is locked at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body 13 and the shutter member 33 is
Open as shown in 10 (b). As a result, each contact member 2
2, 23, 24 are exposed, and the contacts 262 on the device body 13 side described above
It is possible to contact with 7 and 28. The process cartridge B
When the shutter member 33 is taken out from the apparatus body 13, the shutter member 33 is closed by the biasing force of the spring 35, and the locking means is
36 locks the shutter member 33 in the closed state.

In this way, by providing the shutter member 33 which opens and closes according to the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge B, the contact members 22, 23, 24 are not exposed particularly during the transportation and storage of the process cartridge B. The contact members 22, 23, 24 are protected.

[Other Embodiments] Next, another example of each part of the process cartridge B and the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment will be described.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the charging contact member 22 is described as an example of the contact member having the first contact surface 22a and the second contact surface 22b which are continuous by an obtuse angle or a curved surface.
The developing contact member and the residual detection contact member may be similarly configured.

Although the process cartridge B described above is for forming a monochromatic image, the process cartridge is not limited to the case of forming a monochromatic image, but a plurality of developing means are provided and a multicolor image (for example, two colors) is provided. It can also be suitably applied to a cartridge that forms an image, a three-color image, a full-color image, or the like.

As the developing method, various known developing methods such as a two-component magnetic brush developing method, a cascade developing method, a touchdown developing method and a cloud developing method can be used.

The electrophotographic photoconductor is not limited to the photoconductor drum, but includes the followings. First, a photoconductor is used as the photoconductor, and examples of the photoconductor include amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and an organic photoconductor (OP).
C) and the like. The shape on which the photoconductor is mounted includes, for example, a rotating body such as a drum or a belt, and a sheet. In general, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped one is used. For example, in the case of a drum-type photoconductor, a photoconductor is deposited or coated on a cylinder of an aluminum alloy or the like. It is.

As for the structure of the charging means, the so-called contact charging method is used in the first embodiment described above, but a metal shield such as aluminum is provided around the three sides of the tungsten wire which has been conventionally used as another structure. It goes without saying that a configuration may be used in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage to the tungsten wire are moved to the surface of the photosensitive drum to uniformly charge the surface of the drum.

The charging means may be of a blade type (charging blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, a wire type or the like other than the roller type.

Further, as a method for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, the cleaning means may be constituted by using a blade, a fur brush, a magnetic brush or the like.

The above-mentioned process cartridge is
For example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one of the process means
It is equipped with one. Therefore, as the mode of the process cartridge, in addition to the embodiment described above, for example, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging unit are integrally made into a cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. The electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developing means are integrated into a cartridge,
A device that can be attached to and detached from the device body. An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a cleaning means are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, there is a type in which an electrophotographic photoreceptor and two or more of the above-mentioned process means are combined into a cartridge to be integrally detachable from the apparatus main body.

That is, the above-mentioned process cartridge is one in which the charging means, the developing means or the cleaning means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. . Further, at least one of the charging means, the developing means, and the cleaning means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge so that it can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body.

Further, although the laser beam printer is exemplified as the image forming apparatus in the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and other examples such as an LED printer, an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a word processor can be used. Of course, it can be used in an image forming apparatus.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the first contact surface and the second contact surface constituting the contact member are not bent at a right angle or an acute angle, the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. Sometimes, the contact having the spring property on the apparatus body side is smoothly contacted from the first contact surface to the second contact surface, and the contact member can be prevented from being caught and deformed.

Further, since the rear end of the second contact surface is regulated by the regulation portion of the cartridge frame, the contact member can be prevented from rising.

Further, if the insertion guide portion of the contact member is provided, the contact with the contact on the apparatus main body side can be performed more smoothly.

Further, by providing a shutter member capable of covering the contact member, the contact member can be effectively protected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view of an image forming apparatus with a process cartridge attached.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a process cartridge.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a cartridge mounting configuration.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a contact member on the process cartridge side and a contact on the apparatus main body side.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a contact member on the process cartridge side.

FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory view of a charging contact member for applying a charging bias or the like.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an exposed portion of the charging contact member.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an exposed portion of the charging contact member.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a first contact surface and a second contact surface are continuous by a curved surface.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a protective shutter member for a contact member is provided.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical system, 2 ... Recording medium, 3 ... Conveying means, 4 ... Transfer roller, 5 ... Fixing means, 6 ... Ejecting section, 7 ... Photosensitive drum,
8 ... Charging roller, 8a ... Core bar, 9 ... Exposure opening, 10 ... Developing means, 10a ... Toner storage section, 10b ... Toner feeding member, 10
c ... Magnet, 10d ... Developing roller, 10e ... Developing blade, 11
... cleaning means, 12a ... toner container, 12b ... developing frame, 12c ... cleaning frame, 12d ... shutter member, 12
d1 ... Shaft, 13 ... Device body, 14 ... Front unit, 14a ... Hinge, 15 ... Drum pin, 16 ... Guide part, 18 ... Guide hole part,
20 ... Positioning part, 21 ... Drive gear, 22 ... Charging contact member, 22
a ... 1st contact surface, 22b ... 2nd contact surface, 23 ... development contact member, 24 ... residual detection contact member, 25 ... drum contact member, 26 ... charging contact, 27 ... development contact, 28 ... residual detection contact, 29 … Drum contacts,
30 ... Cap, 31 ... Regulator, 32 ... Insertion guide, 33 ... Shutter member, 33a ... Shutter pin, 34 ... Guide rail,
35 ... Shutter spring, 36 ... Shutter lock means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cartridge frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the process unit. And a plurality of contact members for electrically connecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member or process means to the main body of the image forming apparatus, at least one of the plurality of contact members forming a process cartridge image. It has a first contact surface and a second contact surface that are continuous in the direction of insertion into the main body of the forming apparatus, and an angle formed by the first contact surface and the second contact surface is an obtuse angle or a curved surface, and the second contact surface is formed. A process cartridge characterized in that the rear end of the contact surface is configured to be restrained from rising by a regulating portion formed on the cartridge frame. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge frame body has an insertion guide portion that serves as a guide for the first contact surface when the process cartridge is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus. . 3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge has a contact shutter member that can be opened / closed in association with attachment / detachment of the process cartridge to / from the image forming apparatus main body in order to protect the contact member. cartridge. 4. The contact shutter member has lock means fixed in a closed state, and the lock means is configured to be released when the process cartridge is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein 5. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein 6. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit as the process unit, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge and is attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to claim 1, which is made possible. 7. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least a developing unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. 1. The process cartridge according to 1. 8. An image forming apparatus for detachably mounting a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, wherein the process cartridge according to claim 1 is removably mounted. An image forming apparatus comprising: a mounting unit; a contact electrically connectable to a contact member of the mounted process cartridge; and a transport unit for transporting a recording medium. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the contact has a spring property and is configured to come into contact with a contact member of a mounted process cartridge. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer, or a facsimile machine.