G03G2221/1823

DRUM CARTRIDGE INCLUDING ELECTRICAL CONTACT SURFACE POSITIONED AT OUTER SURFACE OF DRUM FRAME
20190391529 · 2019-12-26 · ·

A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable; a photosensitive drum; and a first storage medium. The drum frame has one end portion and another end portion spaced apart from the one end portion in a first direction. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a second direction and is positioned at the one end portion of the drum cartridge. The first storage medium includes a first electrical contact surface. The first storage medium is positioned at an outer surface of the drum frame, the outer surface being exposed in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.

Image forming apparatus capable of controlling extension of use of drum cartridge

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a toner cartridge, a replaceable part, an apparatus body memory, and a controller. The replaceable part includes a replaceable part memory storing therein extended-use allowance-and-restriction information. The extended-use allowance-and-restriction information indicates one of allowance information and restriction information. The extended use is defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory. The apparatus body memory stores life information indicating remaining life of the replaceable part. In a case where the controller determines that the extended-use allowance-and-restriction information indicates the restriction information, the controller is configured to restrict the extended use of the replaceable part. In a case where the controller determines that the extended-use allowance-and-restriction information indicates the allowance information, the controller is configured to allow the extended use of the replaceable part.

Cartridge unit

A cartridge unit includes: a first unit which includes a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion; and a second unit which includes a first supported portion, a second supported portion, and a storage member, the storage member including a memory contact, and a contact arrangement surface on which the memory contact is disposed. The second unit rotates from a first position to a second position in a state in which the first supported portion is supported by the first supporting portion and the second supported portion is supported by the second supporting portion to be positioned with respect to the first unit. A normal direction of the contact arrangement surface faces toward a direction in which the memory contact is exposed. The normal direction faces toward a direction opposite to a direction in which the second unit is directed from the first position to the second position.

CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A MEMORY MOUNTING PORTION AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE CARTRIDGE
20240061373 · 2024-02-22 ·

Disclosed is a cartridge attachable to an image forming apparatus body, the cartridge including: a memory member storing information relating to the cartridge; and a supporting body having a memory mounting portion on which the memory member is mounted, the memory member having a first surface, a second surface, and a lateral surface, the first surface is provided with a contact portion connected to a body electrode portion of the body of the image forming apparatus when the cartridge is installed in the body of the image forming apparatus, the memory mounting portion has a first opposing portion opposing the second surface and a second opposing portion opposing the lateral surface when the memory member is mounted, the memory member is mounted by adhesive between the second surface and the first opposing portion and between the lateral surface and the second opposing portion.

Image forming apparatus including development cartridge having a development memory storing toner amount information

An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a development cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a controller. The development cartridge includes a development roller, a development chamber, and a development memory. The toner cartridge includes a case in which toner is stored, a toner supply unit configured to supply toner from the case into the development chamber, and a toner memory. The controller stores, in the development memory, information regarding a cumulative received toner amount and a cumulative toner consumption amount. The controller subtracts the cumulative toner consumption amount from the cumulative received toner amount to find a difference, and causes the toner supply unit to supply a first predetermined amount of toner into the development chamber when the difference is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value. The controller stores, in the toner memory, information regarding the cumulative supplied toner amount.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING CONTROLLER CAPABLE OF DETERMINING WHETHER DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, DRUM CARTRIDGE AND BELT UNIT ARE REACHED THEIR LIFETIMES
20240045362 · 2024-02-08 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a main memory and a controller. The controller is configured to perform determining whether the developing cartridge is reached a lifetime on a basis of: at least one of s developing maximum printable number of sheets which corresponds to developing identification information, a maximum developing roller rotation number which corresponds to the developing identification information, and a maximum dot count which corresponds to the developing identification information; and at least one of a developing cumulative number of printed sheets, a cumulative developing roller rotation number and a cumulative dot count.

Method for error handling in the toner refill process

A toner cartridge includes a customer replaceable unit monitoring (CRUM) apparatus to store error information of a toner injection process of the toner cartridge using a toner refill apparatus. Based on the error information not being stored in the CRUM apparatus, an availability of a refill operation of the toner cartridge is identified based on a predetermined first reference value and an amount of toner detected in the toner cartridge, and, based on the error information being stored in the CRUM apparatus, the availability of the refill operation of the toner cartridge is identified based on a predetermined second reference value and the amount of toner detected in the toner cartridge.

Image forming apparatus capable of making toner cartridge completely attached to drum cartridge during attachment of drum cartridge to housing

An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; drum cartridge attachable to the housing; a toner cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge at an attachment position; and a contacting portion positioned at a side wall of the housing positioned at one end thereof in a first direction. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum frame. The toner cartridge includes a toner casing, a toner memory, a memory holder holding the toner memory, and a memory holder cover movably holding the memory holder. The memory holder cover has a protrusion protruding in a direction crossing the first direction. In a case where the drum cartridge is to be attached to the housing while the toner cartridge is lifted up from the drum frame than the attachment position, the protrusion is configured to contact the contacting portion to move the toner cartridge to the attachment position from the lifted-up position.

Electric apparatus that determines type of attachment unit and performs operations using the attachment unit
10509362 · 2019-12-17 · ·

An electronic apparatus includes an attachment mechanism to which an attachment unit is detachably attachable and a processor. The processor is configured to perform a determination operation to determine whether or not an attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is of a specific type, and transmit a determination result of the determination operation.

METHOD TO PREVENT CLONING OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS USING PUBLIC KEY INFRASTRUCTURE SECURE HARDWARE DEVICE
20190372964 · 2019-12-05 ·

An electronic component includes a processor and a memory. The electronic component has a secure platform capable of storing at least one dual key pair and a corresponding digital signature. There is also a system including a host machine and an electronic component capable of being operated by the host machine. The electronic component has a processor, a memory, and a secure platform capable of storing at least one dual key pair and a corresponding digital signature. Another aspect describes a method, which includes reading a public key from an electronic component by a host machine, verifying the public key against a stored key in the host machine, digitally signing data using a private key from the electronic component, verifying the signed data against the stored key, and using the electronic component by the host machine only if the signed data and the public key are verified.