Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9152124-B2
Application number	US-201414582333-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 24, 2014
Priority date	Dec 27, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2015
Grant date	Oct 6, 2015

Abstract

An image forming apparatus, including a frame, a cartridge attachable to the frame and including a first on-cartridge electrode and a second on-cartridge electrode, a first electrode protruding from the frame toward the cartridge to contact the first on-cartridge electrode when the cartridge is attached to the frame, and a second electrode protruding from the frame toward the cartridge to contact the second on-cartridge electrode when the cartridge is attached to the frame, is provided. The second electrode is on an upstream side of the first electrode with regard to an attaching direction and in a position to be passed through by the first on-cartridge electrode when the cartridge is moved. When the cartridge is detached from the frame, a tip of the second electrode is closer to the frame than a tip of the first electrode with regard to a facing direction of the cartridge and the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a frame;
a cartridge configured to be detachably attached to the frame along an attaching direction and comprising a first on-cartridge electrode and a second on-cartridge electrode;
a first electrode configured to protrude from the frame toward the cartridge and to contact the first on-cartridge electrode when the cartridge is in an attached state with respect to the frame;
a second electrode configured to protrude from the frame toward the cartridge and to contact the second on-cartridge electrode when the cartridge is in the attached state with respect to the frame, and
a conveyer guide configured to guide a recording sheet,
wherein the second electrode is arranged in a position on an upstream side of the first electrode with regard to the attaching direction of the cartridge and in a position to be passed through by the first on-cartridge electrode when the cartridge is moved to be attached to or detached from the frame;
wherein, when the cartridge is in a detached state with respect to the frame, a tip of the second electrode is in a position closer to the frame than a tip of the first electrode with regard to a facing direction, along which the cartridge and the frame face each other;
wherein the frame comprises a guide configured to guide the cartridge to move along the attaching direction;
wherein the guide comprises a first guiding part extending in a first direction and a second guiding part arranged on a downstream side of the first guiding part with regard to the attaching direction, the second guiding part extending in a second direction which is different from the first direction; and
wherein the second guiding part extends from a transitive part, which is between the first guiding part and the second guiding part, toward a downstream along the second direction, the second guiding part extending to approach closer to the conveyer guide toward the downstream of the second direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a wire electrode comprising a ring portion, which is rounded at least twice in loops.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the ring portion of the second electrode is in an arrangement such that, when viewed along the facing direction, a diameter thereof inclines to be in parallel with the second direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the guide further comprises a third guiding part extending from a lower end of the second guiding part in a third direction which is different from the second direction; and
wherein the ring portion of the first electrode is in an arrangement such that, when viewed along the facing direction, a diameter thereof inclines with respect to a horizontal direction at an angle, which is between an angle of the second guiding part with respect to the horizontal direction and an angle of the third guiding part with respect to the horizontal direction.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first electrode is arranged on a downstream side of the transitive part with regard to the attaching direction; and
wherein the second electrode is arranged on an upstream side of the transitive part with regard to the attaching direction.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first electrode comprises a plurality of first electrodes, and the second electrode comprises a plurality of second electrodes;
wherein tips of the plurality of first electrodes are arranged in a same position with regard to the facing direction; and
wherein tips of the plurality of second electrodes are arranged in a same position with regard to the facing direction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the frame comprises a restrictive portion configured to restrict the first electrode and the second electrode from protruding from the frame.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cartridge comprises a first guide and a second guide;
wherein the first guide is arranged on a downstream side of the first on-cartridge electrode with regard to the attaching direction and configured to compress the first electrode; and
wherein the second guide is arranged on a downstream side of the second on-cartridge electrode with regard to the attaching direction and configured to be greater in a dimension along the attaching direction than the first guide, the second guide being configured to compress the second electrode.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Mikuni Atsushi

Classifications

• G03G21/1661 Primary

  means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus (G03G21/1604, G03G21/1642 take precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1652

  Electrical connection means · CPC title

• G03G21/1803 Primary

  Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof · CPC title

• G03G15/00

  Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern (G03G16/00, G03G17/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/02

  for laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices (G03G15/14 takes precedence) · CPC title