PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC G03G21/18 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: process cartridge, which is detachably mounted in the main unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing a latent electrostatic image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a drum housing which holds said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developer housing which holds said developing roller, wherein said developing roller can move relative said drum housing between a contact position and a position at a distance where said developing roller lies at a distance from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a force receiving element which is movable relative said developer housing for receiving an external force, wherein said force receiving element is capable of occupying a working position for moving said developer housing from the contact position to the position at a distance by receiving an external force, and a waiting position away from the working position; a forcing part for forcing said force receiving element to move from the waiting position to the working position; and an interacting part for interacting with said force receiving element for holding said force receiving element in the waiting position relative the forcing force of said forcing part.

EFFECT: reduced size of the cartridge, reducing possibility of damage to the force receiving part of the cartridge.

29 cl, 44 dwg