G03G21/1817

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20230244182 · 2023-08-03 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; a process cartridge including a photoconductive drum and a developing roller; a toner cartridge containing toner; and a drawer movable between an inner position and an outer position. The process cartridge includes a lock member movable between a lock position at which the lock member locks the process cartridge to the drawer, and a release position at which a lock between the process cartridge and the drawer is released. The lock member is located at the lock position in a state in which the process cartridge is mounted to the drawer, and the toner cartridge is mounted to the process cartridge. The lock member is located at the release position in a state in which the process cartridge is mounted to the drawer, and the toner cartridge is removed from the process cartridge.

Cartridge, member constituting cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Movement and/or urging of a developer carrying memer is carried out with high precision. A cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame and movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part. The movable part includes a first force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a second force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position. When the movable part receives force from the apparatus main assembly at the first force receiving part and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging force from the elastic part in a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to the first position.

Image forming apparatus including first and second guide frames for guiding attachment of drum cartridge to which developing cartridge is attached

An image forming apparatus includes: a developing cartridge including a casing, a first electrical contact surface, and a holder movable relative to the casing; a drum cartridge including a drum frame, a second electrical contact surface, and a holder movable relative to the drum frame; and a main frame having an opening and including first and second guide frames facing in a facing direction, a first main electrical contact capable of being electrically connected to one of the first and second electrical contact surfaces, and a second main electrical contact positioned closer to the opening in an attachment direction and capable of being electrically connected to the remaining one of the first and second electrical contact surfaces. A distance in the facing direction between the first and second guide frames is reduced as the first and second guide frames extend toward the first main electrical contact in the attachment direction.

PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER UNIT AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT
20210364982 · 2021-11-25 ·

A photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member, a transfer roller, a mounting portion capable of mounting a development unit including a development roller, a first gear and a second gear each provided at one end of the photosensitive member in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, and a third gear provided at one end of the transfer roller in an axial direction of the photosensitive member and configured to engage with the second gear. The first gear, the second gear, and the third gear are helical gears. A direction in which helical teeth of the first gear are inclined is opposite to a direction in which helical teeth of the second gear are inclined, and the direction in which the helical teeth of the first gear are inclined matches a direction in which helical teeth of the third gear are inclined.

PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE

A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member unit including a photosensitive drum; a sheet configured to remove a deposited matter from a surface of the drum, the sheet being in contact with the surface of the drum at an end portion of the drum with respect to a rotational axis direction of the member; and a developing unit detachably mounted to the member unit, the developing unit including a developing roller configured to supply toner to the drum, and a storage portion configured to store the deposited matter removed from the surface of the drum by the sheet.

Toner cartridge

A toner cartridge includes a housing capable of accommodating toner and having six peripheral walls, a first shutter, and a second shutter. The housing includes (i) a first surface formed on a first peripheral wall and having a first circumferential surface and (ii) a second surface and having a second circumferential surface, the first peripheral wall having a first hole, the second peripheral wall having a second hole. The first shutter is movable relative to the housing along the first circumferential surface between a first closed position at which the first opening is closed and a first open position at which the first opening is opened. The second shutter is movable relative to the housing along the second circumferential surface between a second closed position at which the second opening is closed and a second open position at which the second opening is opened.

Process cartridge

A process cartridge, comprising: a drum cartridge; and a waste toner case, the drum cartridge comprising: a development roller; a first side wall to support one end of a shaft of the development roller; a second wall to support the other end of the shaft; a photosensitive drum; a cleaner; and a conveying tube, the conveying tube comprising: a first part disposed on an opposite side of the second side wall with respect to the first side wall in an axis direction, the first part being connected to the cleaner; a second part disposed closer to the second side wall relative to the first part and connected to the waste toner case; and a third part connecting the first part with the second part, wherein a direction in which the waste toner case is attached is equal to a direction in which the second part extends.

Drum unit attachable to image forming apparatus and including toner cartridge having toner memory including three terminals

A drum unit detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a photosensitive drum; a toner cartridge including a toner casing and a toner memory; a connector electrically connected to the image forming apparatus; and a relay board electrically relaying the toner memory and the connector. The toner memory performs communication according to a standard that sets a value of data on a basis of a voltage for data communication at a timing when a prescribed period of time has elapsed since the voltage has made a prescribed change. The toner memory consists of three terminals as electrical contacts. The three terminals are a power supply terminal for supplying a supply voltage to the toner memory, a ground terminal, and a data terminal for communication of data to be written into the toner memory and data to be read from the toner memory.

PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT
20230297023 · 2023-09-21 ·

A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis thereof and a drum flange provided at one end portion of the photosensitive drum. The cartridge also includes a coupling member operatively connected to the drum flange, with the coupling member being configured to transmit a driving force to the drum flange. The coupling member includes at least one projection for receiving the driving force, with the at least one projection being movable with the coupling member in the direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum. A spring is provided to urge the coupling member along the axis of the photosensitive drum. At least a part of the spring and at least a part of the coupling member are positioned within a hollow interior portion of the drum flange.

CARTRIDGE, MEMBER CONSTITUTING CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20230297024 · 2023-09-21 ·

A cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame and movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part. The movable part includes a first force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a second force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position. When the movable part receives force from the apparatus main assembly at the first force receiving part and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging force from the elastic part in a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to the first position.