Process cartridge and image forming apparatus

1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:

a photosensitive member;

a developing roller movable between a developing position for developing a latent image on the photosensitive member and a spaced position where the developing roller is more remote from the photosensitive member than in the developing position;

a drive transmission member movable between a transmission position capable of transmitting a driving force toward the developing roller and a blocking position capable of blocking the transmission of the driving force to the developing roller;

an elastic member for urging the drive transmission member toward the blocking position from the transmission position; and

a maintaining member movable between a maintenance position for maintaining the drive transmission member in the transmission position against an elastic force of the elastic member and a permitting position for permitting the drive transmission member to move to the blocking position by the elastic force.

2. A process cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a first intervening member sandwiched between the elastic member and the drive transmission member and rotatable relative to the drive transmission member.

3. A process cartridge according to claim 2 , wherein an area in which the intervening member is in contact with the drive transmission member is larger than an area in which the elastic member is in contact with the intervening member.

4. A process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the process cartridge is constituted by a photosensitive member unit including the photosensitive member, and a developing unit including the developing roller, and

wherein the developing roller is movable between the developing position and the spaced position by movement of the developing unit relative to the photosensitive member unit.

5. A process cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the developing unit is rotatable relative to the photosensitive member unit.

6. A process cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the maintaining member is rotatable relative to the developing unit.

7. A process cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the maintaining member is restricted in rotation thereof relative to the photosensitive member unit.

8. A process cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a second elastic member for urging the developing roller toward the developing position from the spaced position.

9. A process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the drive transmission member, the elastic member and the maintaining member are arranged along an axis of the drive transmission member.

10. A process cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising an upstream side transmission member for transmitting the driving force to the drive transmission member,

wherein the drive transmission member is coupled with the upstream side transmission member in the transmission position and is not coupled with the upstream side transmission member in the blocking position.

11. A process cartridge according to claim 10 , further comprising an intervening member sandwiched between the elastic member and the upstream side transmission member and rotatable relative to the upstream side transmission member.

12. A process cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein an area in which the intervening member is in contact with the upstream side transmission member is larger than an area in which the elastic member is in contact with the intervening member.

13. A process cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a downstream side transmission member for receiving the driving force from the drive transmission member,

wherein the drive transmission member is coupled with the downstream side transmission member in the transmission position, and is not coupled with the downstream side transmission member in the blocking position.

14. A process cartridge according to claim 13 , further comprising an intervening member sandwiched between the elastic member and the downstream side transmission member and rotatable relative to the downstream side transmission member.

15. A process cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein an area in which the intervening member is in contact with the downstream side transmission member is larger than an area in which the elastic member is in contact with the intervening member.

16. A process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the drive transmission member is capable of receiving the driving force from a main assembly side transmission member provided in the main assembly, and

wherein the drive transmission member is coupled with main assembly side transmission member in the transmission position and is not coupled with main assembly side transmission member in the blocking position.

17. A process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the maintaining member is moved from the permitting position to the maintaining position in response to movement of the developing roller from the spaced position to the developing position.

18. A process cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a cam portion for moving the maintaining member from the blocking position to the maintaining position in response to movement of the developing roller from the spaced position to the developing position.