Patent classifications
G03G2221/183
PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A charging member that contacts an image bearing member and charges the image bearing member has an electrically conductive support and an elastic layer in contact with the image bearing member. The elastic layer includes a semiconductive rubber composition including a matrix and domains having electric conductivity. The semiconductive rubber composition has a sea-island structure in which the domains form an island phase and the matrix forms a sea phase. The matrix has a higher volume resistivity than the domains. The developer includes a toner, and the toner has a Martens hardness of at least 200 MPa and not more than 1100 MPa when measured under a maximum load of 2.010.sup.4 N.
Replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device having a magnetic sensor
A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device and a magnetic sensor electrically connected to the electrical contact. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves from a retracted position to an operative position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the magnetic sensor moves from a misaligned position to an aligned position with a point in a path of movement of a magnet for sensing a magnetic field of the magnet.
DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE INCLUDING HOLDER MOVABLY SUPPORTING ELECTRICAL CONTACT SURFACE
A developing cartridge includes: a housing extending in a first direction; a developing roller; a memory held at the housing; a holder holding an electrical contact surface; and a relay component electrically connecting the memory to the electrical contact surface. The developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the housing in a second direction. The holder is movable relative to the housing in at least one of the second direction and a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. The third direction also crosses the electrical contact surface.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
An apparatus main body includes a main casing and a cover configured to rotatably move about a rotational axis located below an opening between an open position and a closed position. A drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and is configured to be installed into the apparatus main body through the opening. A developing cartridge includes a developing roller and is configured to be installed into the apparatus main body through the opening. A swing plate is attached swingably to the apparatus main body. The swing plate supports the developing cartridge. The swing plate includes a guide configured to guide installation of the developing cartridge into the apparatus main body. The swing plate is configured to swingably move in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are installed in the apparatus main body, thereby causing the developing roller to move relative to the photosensitive drum.
Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus
A process cartridge including a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a waste toner container, is provided. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum including a photosensitive layer and a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, a drum cleaner arranged to contact the photosensitive drum, a cleaner frame configured to accommodate the drum cleaner therein, and a waste toner conveyer tube connected with the cleaner frame. The developing cartridge is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge and includes a developer roller. The waste toner container is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. When the developing cartridge and the waste toner container are attached to the drum cartridge, the waste toner container is connected with the waste toner conveyer tube and is located on an opposite side of the developing cartridge to the photosensitive drum.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A first drawer configured to support a drum cartridge moves in a first direction between a first mount position and a first detachment position. A second drawer configured to support a development cartridge moves in the first direction between a second mount position and a second detachment position. The second drawer is located between the first drawer located at the first mount position and a cover located at a closed position with respect to the first direction in a state where the second drawer is located at the second mount position. A lock member moves between a lock position at which the first drawer and the second drawer are locked together and a lock release position at which a lock state between the first drawer and the second drawer is released. A lock release member causes the lock member at the lock position to move to the lock release position.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A first cartridge support is configured to support a drum cartridge. The first cartridge support is configured to move in a first direction between a first position at which the drum cartridge is mounted on a housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is detachable. A second cartridge support is configured to support a development cartridge. The second cartridge support is configured to move in the first direction between a third position at which the development cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge and a fourth position at which the development cartridge is detachable. In a state where the second cartridge support is located at the third position, the second cartridge support is located between the first cartridge support located at the first position and a cover located at a closed position with respect to the first direction.
IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND DEVICE-SIDE TERMINAL CONFIGURED TO CONTACT PROCESS-SIDE TERMINAL
An image-forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drawer movable in a first direction between a first position inside the main casing and a second position outside the main casing; process cartridges attachable to and detachable from the drawer; a controller; and a device-side terminal connected to the controller. The process cartridges are arranged in the first direction in an attached state to the drawer. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a magnetic roller, a developing container for storing carrier, a conveying member, a toner sensor, a process memory, and a process-side terminal. The toner sensor is configured to output a detection signal corresponding to a concentration of toner in the developing container. The process-side terminal is for both outputting the detection signal of the toner sensor and outputting information about the process cartridge stored in the process memory. The device-side terminal is configured to contact the process-side terminal.
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A process cartridge including a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a waste toner container, is provided. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum including a photosensitive layer and a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, a drum cleaner arranged to contact the photosensitive drum, a cleaner frame configured to accommodate the drum cleaner therein, and a waste toner conveyer tube connected with the cleaner frame. The developing cartridge is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge and includes a developer roller. The waste toner container is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. When the developing cartridge and the waste toner container are attached to the drum cartridge, the waste toner container is connected with the waste toner conveyer tube and is located on an opposite side of the developing cartridge to the photosensitive drum.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a process cartridge, a scanner unit, and a toner cartridge. The process cartridge is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotational axis extending in a first direction; and a development unit configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum. The toner cartridge is configured to store toner. At least part of the photosensitive drum, at least part of the scanner unit, and at least part of the toner cartridge are aligned in a second direction in this order. The second direction is perpendicular to both the first direction and to a vertical direction. The at least part of the photosensitive drum, the at least part of the scanner unit, and the at least part of the toner cartridge overlap one another as viewed from the second direction.