Patent classifications
G03G21/1647
Process cartridge including frame having photosensitive drum, drum coupling and flanged fixed to photosensitive drum
The image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a drum drive input member; a developing cartridge configured to be movably mounted to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing roller disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum and a developing drive input member; a drum drive transmission member configured to engage with the drum drive input member and configured to transmit drum driving force to the drum drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drum drive input member within a predetermined range; and a developing drive transmission member configured to engage with the developing drive input member and configured to transmit developing driving force to the developing drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the developing drive input member within a predetermined range.
DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING DEVICE, DEVELOPING DEVICE, CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A developer accommodating device includes a frame extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and an opening portion provided on the frame. The frame includes a guide portion to mount the developer accommodating device on a developing unit along a mounting direction crossing the longitudinal direction, a first portion including first and second chambers arranged in parallel in a first direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and a second portion communicating with the first and second chambers with respect to the longitudinal direction and a volume thereof is larger than that of the first portion. The first chamber, in which the opening portion is formed, does not directly communicate with the second chamber with respect to the first direction but communicates with the second chamber via the second portion. As seen in the longitudinal direction, a cross sectional area of the second chamber is equal to or larger than that of the first chamber.
Cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A cartridge and a drum unit include a drum flange provided at one end portion of a photosensitive drum and a coupling member operatively connected to the drum flange, with the coupling member being configured to transmit a driving force to the drum flange. A coil spring urges the coupling member. At least a part of the coil spring surrounds at least a part of a shaft portion of the coupling member. An extent of the coil spring that surrounds the shaft portion and an extent of the shaft portion that is surrounded by the coil spring are positioned within a hollow interior portion of the drum flange.
Image forming apparatus including guide rails configured to guide process cartridge
A cartridge frame includes a protruding rib protruding toward a first frame, a first bearing supporting one end of a photosensitive drum in an axial direction, and a second bearing supporting an other end of the photosensitive drum in the axial direction. The first frame includes a first guide rail configured to, when a process cartridge is attached to an apparatus main body, guide the protruding rib to slide along the first guide rail. A second frame includes a second guide rail configured to, when the process cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, guide the second bearing to slide along the second guide rail. A size of the first guide rail in a width direction perpendicular to both the axial direction and an attachment direction of the process cartridge is smaller than a size of the second guide rail in the width direction.
Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus
Disclosed is a sheet feeding apparatus configured to be attached to an image forming apparatus. The sheet feeding apparatus includes a frame body and a locking member provided on an upper part of the frame body, the locking member being configured to be movable between a locking position where the frame body is locked to the image forming apparatus and a releasing position where the locking of the frame body is released, wherein in attaching the heating unit to an attaching position of the frame body, the locking member is configured to restrict a movement of the heating unit to the attaching position by interfering with the heating unit when the locking member is located at the releasing position and to allow a movement of the heating unit to the attaching position when the locking member is located at the locking position.
Image forming apparatus including drum cartridge and development cartridge
One of two walls apart from each other in a first direction has an opening. A drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in the first direction when the drum cartridge is attached to a housing. The drum cartridge is movable through the opening between a first position at which an entirety of the drum cartridge is located inside the housing and a second position at which at least part of the drum cartridge is located outside the housing. The development cartridge includes a development roller rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The development cartridge is unattachable to and undetachable from the drum cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge is located at the first position. The development cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge is located at the second position.
DEVELOPER SUPPLY CONTAINER AND DEVELOPER SUPPLYING SYSTEM
With a mounting operation of a supply container, a supported portion 11b of a developer receiving portion 11 is supported by a receipt supporting portion 30c of a lifting portion 30. With further mounting operation, a shutter sliding portion 30b of the lifting portion 30 slides on a shutter inclined portion 4f of a shutter 4. The developer receiving portion 11 is displaced so as to bring a receiving opening into communication with a discharge opening by operating, using the shutter 4, the lifting portion 30 supporting the supported portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11. By this, a load required for movement of the developer receiving portion 11 is reduced to achieve smooth mounting of the supply container.
Sheet conveying device and image processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a roller, a motor, a clutch, and a torque generator. The roller conveys a sheet. The motor is a driving source. The clutch connects or disconnects drive of the motor with respect to the roller. The torque generator applies a torque to the roller.
CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A cartridge for a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a rotatable driving coupling member including a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force and a driving side abutment, wherein the cartridge is demountable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the driving coupling member, includes a rotatable driven coupling member including a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, and a driven side abutment to be abutted by the driving side abutment, the driven coupling member being slidable in a predetermined direction which is substantially parallel with a rotational axis of the receiving coupling member; wherein at least one of the driving side abutment and the driven side abutment is inclined so that the driven coupling member is retractable away from the driving coupling member in the predetermined direction by a force received by driven side abutment from the driving side abutment, and wherein a distance between the rotational axis of the driven coupling member and the abutment of the receiving abutment is not more than a distance between the rotational axis of the driven coupling member and the driving force receiving portion.
TONER CARTRIDGE HAVING POSITIONING FEATURES
A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing and a second latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. Contact surfaces on top portions of the first and second latch-receiving shelves are positioned to contact corresponding first and second latches in an image forming device. The contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than a first rotational axis of a first drive coupler of the toner cartridge and higher than a second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than at least a portion of a first electrical contact of the toner cartridge and higher than at least a portion of a second electrical contact of the toner cartridge.