Photosensitive member cartridge and process cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11789403-B2
Application number	US-202217702912-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2022
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

A photosensitive member cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus for forming an image, includes a frame; a photosensitive drum on which and which is provided in the frame; a transfer member for transferring an image formed on the drum onto the sheet; a mounting portion for detachably mounting a developing cartridge including a developer carrying member onto the drum and a memory for storing information; a first electrical contact provided on the frame and electrically connectable with a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; and a second electrical contact provided on the frame for electrically connecting the memory and the first electrical contact portion with each other when the developing cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main assembly including a main assembly contact; and
a process device that is installable to and extractable from the main assembly, the process device including:
(i) a photosensitive device including a photosensitive drum, a first casing supporting the photosensitive drum such that the photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis that extends in an axial direction, a first contact, and a second contact electrically connected to the first contact, wherein the first casing includes a first wall, a second wall opposite to the first wall with respect to the axial direction such that a receiving space is formed between the first wall and the second wall, and a third wall connected to the first wall and the second wall, and
(ii) a developing device detachably attached to the receiving space of the photosensitive device, the developing device including a developing roller configured to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, a second casing supporting the developing roller such that the developing roller is rotatable about a second axis, a memory configured to store information, and a memory contact electrically connected to the memory,

wherein, in a state where the developing device is attached to the photosensitive device and the process device is installed to the main assembly, the memory contact is electrically connected to the second contact, and the first contact is electrically connected to the main assembly contact, and
wherein the second contact is located closer to the first wall than the center of the third wall with respect to the axial direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact is located closer to the first wall than the center of the third wall with respect to the axial direction.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the photosensitive device includes a force receiving member configured to receive a force for rotating the photosensitive drum, the force receiving member being located closer to the first wall than the center of the third wall with respect to the axial direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the force receiving member is a first force receiving member, and the developing device includes a second force receiving member configured to receive a force for rotating the developing roller, the second force receiving member being located closer to the first wall than the center of the third wall with respect to the axial direction in a state where the developing device is attached to the receiving space of the photosensitive device.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the developing device includes a force receiving member configured to receive a force for rotating the developing roller, the force receiving member being located closer to the first wall than the center of the third wall with respect to the axial direction in a state where the developing device is attached to the receiving space of the photosensitive device.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first casing includes a first handle, and the second casing includes a second handle, the first handle is a projection partially provided between the first wall and the second wall with respect to the axial direction, the second handle is a projection partially provided between one end of the second casing and the other end of second casing with respect to a direction of the second axis, and
wherein in the state where the developing device is attached to the photosensitive device and the process device is installed to the main assembly, a position of the first handle is lower than a position of the second handle with respect to a vertical direction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein in the state where the developing device is attached to the photosensitive device and the process device is installed to the main assembly, a position of the memory contact is lower than the position of the second handle with respect to the vertical direction.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first casing includes an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion located in a downstream side of the upstream end portion with respect to an installing direction of the process device, and
wherein the upstream end portion includes the first handle.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the developing device is configured to be detached upward from the receiving space of the photosensitive device.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the state where the developing device is attached to the photosensitive device and the process device is installed to the main assembly, the memory contact inclines relative to a horizontal direction when viewed in the axial direction.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second casing incudes a projection projecting toward a direction of the second axis, and the photosensitive drum includes an urging member configured to urge the projection in a state where the developing device is attached to the receiving space of the photosensitive device, and
wherein the urging member is configured to urge the projection such that the developing roller is pressed against the photosensitive drum.

12. A process device being installable to and extractable from a main assembly of an image apparatus, the main assembly including a main assembly contact, the process device comprising:
(i) a photosensitive device including a photosensitive drum, a first casing supporting the photosensitive drum such that the photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending to an axial direction, a first contact, and a second contact electrically connected to the first contact, wherein the first casing includes a first wall, a second wall opposite to the first wall with respect to the axial direction such that a receiving space is formed between the first wall and the second wall, and a third wall connected to the first wall and the second wall; and
(ii) a developing device detachably attached to the receiving space of the photosensitive device, the developing device including a developing roller configured to develop latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, a second casing supporting the developing roller such that the developing roller is rotatable about a second axis, a memory configured to store information, and a memory contact electrically connected to the memory,
wherein, in a state where the developing device is attached to the photosensitive device and the process device is installed to the main assembly, the memory contact is electrically connected to the second contact, and the first contact is electrically connected to the main assembly contact, and
wherein the second contact is located closer to the first wall than the center of the third wall with respect to the axial direction.

13. The process device according to claim 12 , wherein the first contact is located closer to the first wall than the center of the third wall with respect to the axial direction.

14. The process device according to claim 13 , wherein the photosensitive device includes a force receiving member configured to receive force and rotate the photosensitive drum, the force receiving member being located closer to the first wall than the center of the third wall with respect to the axial direction.

15. The process device according to claim 14 , wherein the force receiving member is a first fo

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Miyamoto Jun
• Uyama Masao
• Matsuda Kenji
• Kikuchi Ken
• Miyazaki Jun

Classifications

• G03G21/1814 Primary

  Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/0863

  provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory · CPC title

• G03G21/1652

  Electrical connection means · CPC title

• G03G21/1821

  means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation (G03G21/1825 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1885

  position of the memory; memory housings; electrodes · CPC title