Patent classifications
G03G21/1878
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.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a first unit, a second unit, a cover, and a restrictor. The apparatus body includes a body-side connection terminal. The first unit is detachably attached to the apparatus body. The second unit detachably attached to the first unit and includes a unit-side connection terminal. The cover covers the body-side connection terminal disposed in the apparatus body and is movable between a covering position at which the cover covers the body-side connection terminal and a retracted position at which the cover is retracted from the covering position. The restrictor restricts movement of the cover from the covering position to the retracted position in a state in which the first unit is detached from the apparatus body.
Image forming apparatus capable of calculating deterioration quantity of photosensitive drum based on the number of rotations in contact and separation states
An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a separation mechanism configured to switch a state of the photosensitive drum and the developing roller between a contact state and a separation state; a main memory storing therein a first rotation number and a second rotation number; and a controller configured to perform calculating a deterioration quantity of the photosensitive drum based on the first rotation number and the second rotation number in the main memory. A surface of the developing roller contacts a surface of the photosensitive drum in the contact state, whereas the surface of the developing roller is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum in the separation state. The first rotation number is the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum in the contact state, and the second rotation number is the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum in the separation state.
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.
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 rewriting usage status information to information indicating that cartridge is old cartridge
An image forming apparatus includes a main casing and a controller. A cartridge is to be attached to the main casing. The cartridge includes a memory stores usage status information indicating whether the cartridge is a new cartridge or an old cartridge which indicates a used product. The controller reads the usage status information stored in the memory in a case that attachment of the cartridge to the main casing is detected. The controller determines, based on the usage status information, whether the cartridge is the new cartridge or the old cartridge. The controller rewrites the usage status information to information indicating that the cartridge is the old cartridge in a case that the cartridge is determined to be the new cartridge. The rewriting is performed before the controller receives a print instruction and before the material or the part of the cartridge is consumed.
Logic circuitry
Replaceable print material supply cartridges for printers are disclosed herein. An example replaceable print material supply cartridge includes logic circuitry that is to determine a position of the replaceable print material supply cartridge by initiating a first voltage on a data contact during a time period, monitoring a timer without reference to a clock signal at a clock contact from a serial data bus, and maintaining a first voltage on the data contact for a duration of time. After expiration of the duration, the logic circuitry is to cause the data contact to assume a second voltage, different than the first voltage, and the logic circuitry is to read data from the memory and cause transmission of a data signal via the serial data bus interface.
CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A MEMORY MOUNTING PORTION AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE CARTRIDGE
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.
Cartridge, image forming apparatus, and method for manufacturing cartridge
Disclosed is a cartridge detachably attachable to a body of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge including: a memory member; and a support member supporting the memory member, wherein the memory member has a memory-side electric contact electrically connected to a body-side electric contact of the body when the cartridge is installed in the body, a first surface on which the memory-side electric contact is provided, and a second surface on an opposite side to the first surface, the support member has a memory mounting portion on which the memory member is mounted, the memory mounting portion has a first opposing portion that opposes the second surface of the memory member and is provided with a groove portion, and the memory member is mounted on the memory mounting portion, with the second surface being bonded to the first opposing portion by an adhesive.
Image forming apparatus and method for controlling image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, to which a replaceable unit with a nonvolatile memory is mounted, including: a storage portion configured to store data related to the replaceable unit read from the memory and hold stored contents even when the image forming apparatus is not activated; a door to be opened when the replaceable unit is replaced; a detector configured to detect whether the door is open or closed; a latch circuit configured to hold a specific state when the detector detects that the door is open when the image forming apparatus is not activated; and a controller configured to, when activating the image forming apparatus, read the data from the memory when the latch circuit is in the specific state, read the data from the storage portion when the latch circuit is not in the specific state, and perform an activation process based on the read data.