G03G2221/1892

Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes a casing, an image forming unit movable between an accommodated position and a shifted position, an actuator, an urging member, a cam, and a contact portion. The actuator includes a pivot shaft and a protrusion protruding therefrom. The protrusion at a standby position crosses a conveyance path and is contactable with a sheet conveyed along the conveyance path. When the image forming unit is at the accommodated position, the contact portion and the cam contact each other and maintain the protrusion at the standby position against an urging force of the urging member. As the image forming unit moves from the accommodated position to the shifted position, the contact portion and the cam move away from each other such that the protrusion pivots from the standby position, by the urging force, to a retracted position at which the protrusion is retracted from the conveyance path.

Image forming apparatus that controls regulation unit
11762329 · 2023-09-19 · ·

The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge replaceable by detachably mounting to the image forming apparatus, a door that takes a closed state or an open state, a locking pin that switches a state of the regulation unit between a regulating state in which the replacement unit is prevented to be detached from the image forming apparatus and a release state in which the replacement unit is to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, and a lock control unit (a control unit) that makes a determination as to whether or not the state of the regulation unit is to be switched from the release state to the regulating state, at a predetermined timing when initial processing is completed after a power source is turned on or a state of the door becomes the closed state from the open state.

Developing cartridge capable of releasing meshing between gear and rack gear
RE049689 · 2023-10-10 · ·

A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a developing electrode; a gear; a rack gear including a protrusion; and a cam having first and second cam surfaces. The rack gear meshes with the gear and is movable in a direction from one end toward another end of the casing. The cam is movable from a first position to a second position. The first cam surface of the cam at the first position contacts the protrusion, and causes the cam to move to the second position as the rack gear moves in the direction in a state where the first cam surface is in contact with the protrusion. A second cam surface moves the developing electrode in a direction away from the cam different from moving directions of the rack gear and the cam while contacting the developing electrode as the cam moves to the second position.

Image forming apparatus capable of detecting attachment state of toner container
11754942 · 2023-09-12 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a motor, a container detection sensor, and a controller. When a toner container is attached, the motor generates a driving force for rotating a toner conveying member in the toner container. The container detection sensor is arranged at a position where the container detection sensor comes into contact with an outer periphery of a cam connected to the toner conveying member when the toner container is attached. The controller distinguishes between at least three attachment states of the toner container based on a sensor signal of the container detection sensor.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT CONTROLS REGULATION UNIT
20230015778 · 2023-01-19 ·

The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge replaceable by detachably mounting to the image forming apparatus, a door that takes a closed state or an open state, a locking pin that switches a state of the regulation unit between a regulating state in which the replacement unit is prevented to be detached from the image forming apparatus and a release state in which the replacement unit is to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, and a lock control unit (a control unit) that makes a determination as to whether or not the state of the regulation unit is to be switched from the release state to the regulating state, at a predetermined timing when initial processing is completed after a power source is turned on or a state of the door becomes the closed state from the open state.

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, a controller and an apparatus body memory. An operating mode of the controller is set to one of a subscription mode and a normal mode. The controller is configured to perform processes in accordance with the set operating mode. The apparatus body memory is configured to store life information indicating a remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body. The controller is configured to switch a control between: a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part; and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the set operating mode. 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.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20220252999 · 2022-08-11 ·

An image forming apparatus includes a container that can store developer; an apparatus body by which the container is detachably supported; a detection portion, for determining an installed state of the container, provided for the apparatus body; and a control portion determining whether the container is unused based on a detection result by the detection portion. The container includes a displaceable member displaced between an initial position where the displaceable member is not detected by the detection portion and a detection position where the displaceable member is detected by the detection portion. When the container is in an initial installation state immediately after being installed in the apparatus body, the control portion determines the container is unused in a case where the displaceable member is not detected by the detection portion, and determines the container is used in a case where the displaceable member is detected by the detection portion.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT CONTROLS REGULATION UNIT
20210240132 · 2021-08-05 ·

The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge replaceable by detachably mounting to the image forming apparatus, a door that takes a closed state or an open state, a locking pin that switches a state of the regulation unit between a regulating state in which the replacement unit is prevented to be detached from the image forming apparatus and a release state in which the replacement unit is to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, and a lock control unit (a control unit) that makes a determination as to whether or not the state of the regulation unit is to be switched from the release state to the regulating state, at a predetermined timing when initial processing is completed after a power source is turned on or a state of the door becomes the closed state from the open state.

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, a controller and an apparatus body memory. An operating mode of the controller is set to one of a subscription mode and a normal mode. The controller is configured to perform processes in accordance with the set operating mode. The apparatus body memory is configured to store life information indicating a remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body. The controller is configured to switch a control between: a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part; and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the set operating mode. 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.

Image-forming apparatus that prevents attachment of toner cartridge to drawer without mounting of process cartridge on the drawer

An image-forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drawer movable in a first direction relative to the main casing; a process cartridge detachably mountable on the drawer; and a toner cartridge. The drawer includes a first drawer side plate and a second drawer side plate spaced apart from each other in a second direction crossing the first direction. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in the second direction when the process cartridge is mounted on the drawer; and a developing device for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum. When the process cartridge is mounted on the drawer and the toner cartridge is attached to the process cartridge, the toner cartridge has a length in the second direction greater than a distance in the second direction between the first drawer side plate and the second drawer side plate.