Patent classifications
G03G21/1867
DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE HAVING ELECTRODE
A developing cartridge includes a casing, a rotating member, and an electrode member. The casing may be configured to accommodate therein developer. The rotating member has a rotational shaft extending in an axial direction. The rotating member is configured to rotate about the rotational shaft and carries the developer thereon. The electrode member is configured to be electrically connected to the rotating member. The electrode member covers at least part of the rotational shaft from an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is arranged to confront the casing in the axial direction. The electrode member is configured to move in the orthogonal direction in accordance with a movement in the axial direction.
DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE HAVING ELECTRODE CONTACTABLE WITH ANOTHER ELECTRODE BY PIVOT MOTION OF THE CARTRIDGE
A developing cartridge includes a casing having an outer surface, a developing roller, a first electrode, and a boss. The developing roller is movable together with the casing and includes a developing roller shaft extending along a first axis extending in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about the first axis. The first electrode is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the developing roller shaft, and electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The boss is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the outer surface. The boss extends in the first direction and is engageable with the drum unit. A part of the first electrode is configured to contact with a second electrode of the drum unit as a result of pivotal movement of the developing cartridge about the boss relative to the drum unit.
DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE PROVIDING LAYOUT OF ELECTRODES AND DETECTION GEAR
A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
Image forming apparatus, image forming cartridge supporter, and image forming unit
An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members is electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member is electrically connected to the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame.
Drum cartridge including electrical contact surface positioned at outer surface of drum frame
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
A developing cartridge includes a storage medium. A first contact portion is provided in a photoconductor unit and configured to be electrically connected to the storage medium. A second contact portion is provided in an apparatus body. The photoconductor unit is configured to, in a case of attaching the photoconductor unit to the apparatus body, move from a first position to a second position while being guided by a guide member and then move from the second position to a third position below the second position. At least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion is capable of being displaced such that engagement between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is performed while the photoconductor unit moves by being guided by the guide member, and the engagement is maintained while the photoconductor unit moves from the second position to the third position.
Image forming apparatus capable of reading data of drum cartridge and data of toner cartridge through board of toner cartridge
An image forming apparatus includes: a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge; a toner data electrical contact surface; a drum data electrical contact surface; and a controller. The drum cartridge includes: a drum memory storing data relating to the drum cartridge; and a first drum electrical contact for communication of data stored in the drum memory. The toner cartridge includes a board having: a first relay electrical contact for relaying the data stored in the drum memory; a toner memory storing data relating to the toner cartridge; and a first toner electrical contact for communication of data stored in the toner memory. The controller is configured to: read the data stored in the drum memory through the drum data electrical contact surface contacting the first relay electrical contact; and read the data stored in the toner memory through the toner data electrical contact surface contacting the first toner electrical contact.
Replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device having positioning features for electrical contacts
A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an electrical contact positioned on a first side of a housing of the replaceable unit for contacting an electrical contact in the image forming device. A guide on the first side of the housing is positioned closer to a front of the housing than the electrical contact and leads rearward toward the electrical contact. The guide includes an inside surface that faces inward sideways toward a second side of the housing. At least a portion of the inside surface is angled inward sideways from front to rear permitting contact between the inside surface and an electrical connector in the image forming device to draw the electrical connector in the image forming device inward sideways relative to the replaceable unit during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.
DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE PROVIDING LAYOUT OF ELECTRODES AND DETECTION GEAR
A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a main contact, and a main guide, and a cartridge including a memory contact, a moving unit moving into and out of the apparatus body in a first direction and including a frame to which the cartridge is attached, first and second protrusions protruding in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction from the end surface of the frame, an intermediate contact being in electrical contact with the memory contact, an unit contact being in electrical contact with the main contact, and a line conductor, the first protrusion being supported by the main guide of the apparatus body, the second protrusion being located above the first protrusion. At least part of the line conductor connecting the intermediate contact and the unit contact is located in a recess formed by the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the end surface.