Developing cartridge providing layout of electrodes and detection gear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12204275-B2
Application number	US-202318486004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2023
Priority date	Jul 15, 2016
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A developing cartridge comprising:
a casing configured to accommodate toner therein;
a developing roller including a developing roller shaft extending in an axial direction;
a coupling rotatable about a rotational axis extending in the axial direction, the coupling being positioned at a first side of the casing in the axial direction;
a cover positioned at a second side of the casing in the axial direction, the cover having an opening;
an electrode electrically connected to a component of the developing cartridge, the electrode including:
a first electrical contact in contact with the component of the developing cartridge; and
a side electrical contact surface facing outward in the axial direction, the side electrical contact surface being positioned at the second side of the casing in the axial direction, the side electrical contact surface being positioned farther from the component of the developing cartridge than the first electrical contact is from the component of the developing cartridge, the first electrical contact and the side electrical contact surface being electrically connected to the component of the developing cartridge; and

a protrusion movable according to the rotation of the coupling, the protrusion being positioned at the second side of the casing, a distal end of the protrusion being positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the side electrical contact surface is from the developing roller shaft, the distal end of the protrusion being exposed through the opening,
wherein the side electrical contact surface is fully exposed.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the electrode is fully exposed.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein a first distance between the distal end of the protrusion and the side electrical contact surface is greater than a second distance between the first electrical contact and the side electrical contact surface.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a gear rotatable about a rotational axis extending in the axial direction, the gear being positioned at the second side of the casing in the axial direction,
wherein the protrusion extends in a radial direction of the gear.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 4 ,
wherein the protrusion protrudes from the gear.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 4 ,
wherein the protrusion extends radially outward in the radial direction of the gear.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the electrode is positioned at the second side of the casing in the axial direction.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the protrusion is movably supported by the cover.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cover is fixed to the casing by a screw.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the component of the developing cartridge is the developing roller shaft.

11. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the side electrical contact surface is closer to the developing roller shaft than the cover is to the developing roller shaft.

12. The developing cartridge according to claim 11 ,
wherein the cover includes a wall extending in the axial direction, the wall is positioned between the protrusion and the side electrical contact surface in a first direction crossing the axial direction, and the side electrical contact surface is not exposed through the opening.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Shimizu Keita
• Ichikawa Tomoya
• Shimizu Takashi
• Taguchi Kazuna

Classifications

• G03G2221/166

  Electrical connectors · CPC title

• G03G21/1857

  for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms · CPC title

• G03G21/1652

  Electrical connection means · CPC title

• G03G21/1896

  mechanical or optical identification means, e.g. protrusions, bar codes · CPC title

• G03G15/0868

  Toner cartridges fulfilling a continuous function within the electrographic apparatus during the use of the supplied developer material, e.g. toner discharge on demand, storing residual toner, acting as an active closure for the developer replenishing opening · CPC title