Cartridge including cartridge electrode integrally molded with frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9367025-B2
Application number	US-201414520784-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Aug 20, 2010
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A cartridge is detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a cartridge electrode formed on a frame. The cartridge electrode includes a first contact portion provided for being electrically connected to a main assembly contact of the apparatus main assembly and a second contact portion contacted to an electroconductive member. The cartridge electrode is integrally molded with the frame and further includes a portion that (i) is formed in a buffer portion and (ii) is formed from electroconductive resin.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cartridge detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, said cartridge comprising:
process means for effecting image formation, said process means extending in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge;
a frame for supporting said process means;
a cartridge electrode formed on said frame; and
an electroconductive member for electrically connecting said process means and said cartridge electrode,
wherein said cartridge electrode comprises:
a first contact portion provided for being electrically connected to a main assembly contact of the apparatus main assembly when said cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main assembly;
a second contact portion contacted to said electroconductive member; and
an injection receiving portion for permitting injection of an electroconductive resin into a space between a metal mold, inserted from outside of said frame, and said frame,
wherein said cartridge electrode is integrally molded with said frame and further comprises a projected portion that (i) is formed of the electroconductive resin extruded from the space, (ii) is connected to said second contact portion, and (iii) projects from an end of said second contact portion that is an innermost part of said second contact portion in the longitudinal direction.

2. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said electroconductive member is a spring member for urging said process means.

3. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said process means is a charging member for electrically charging an image bearing member.

4. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said process means is a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member.

5. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said cartridge is a process cartridge including an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed and said process means is actable on said image bearing member.

6. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said cartridge is detachably mountable to a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image.

7. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming apparatus comprising:
(i) a cartridge detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly of said image forming apparatus, said cartridge comprising:
process means for effecting image formation, said process means extending in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge;
a frame for supporting said process means;
a cartridge electrode formed on said frame; and
an electroconductive member for electrically connecting said process means and said cartridge electrode,

wherein said cartridge electrode comprises:
a first contact portion provided for being electrically connected to a main assembly contact of said apparatus main assembly when said cartridge is mounted in said apparatus main assembly;
a second contact portion contacted to said electroconductive member; and
an injection receiving portion for permitting injection of an electroconductive resin into a space between a metal mold, inserted from outside of said frame, and said frame;

(ii) conveying means for conveying the recording material,
wherein said cartridge electrode is integrally molded with said frame and further comprises a projected portion that (i) is formed of the electroconductive resin extruded from the space, (ii) is connected to said second contact portion, and (iii) projects from an end of said second contact portion that is an innermost part of said second contact portion in the longitudinal direction.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said electroconductive member is a spring member for urging said process means.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said process means is a charging member for electrically charging an image bearing member.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said process means is a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said cartridge is a process cartridge including an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed and said process means is actable on said image bearing member.

12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said image forming apparatus is a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image.

13. A cartridge detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, said cartridge comprising:
process means for effecting image formation;
a frame for supporting said process means;
a cartridge electrode formed on said frame; and
an electroconductive member for electrically connecting said process means and said cartridge electrode,
wherein said cartridge electrode comprises:
a first contact portion provided for being electrically connected to a main assembly contact of the apparatus main assembly when said cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main assembly;
a second contact portion contacted to said electroconductive member; and
an injection receiving portion for permitting injection of an electroconductive resin into a space between a metal mold, inserted from outside of said frame, and said frame,
wherein said cartridge electrode is integrally molded with said frame and further comprises a projected portion that (i) is formed of the electroconductive resin extruded from the space, (ii) is connected to said second contact portion, and (iii) projects from, and extends a full length of, an end of an innermost part of said second contact portion relative to the cartridge.

Assignees

• Takarada Hiroshi
• Hirukawa Kuniaki
• Suzuki Akira
• Hoshi Nobuharu
• Fukui Yuichi
• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Takarada Hiroshi
• Hirukawa Kuniaki
• Suzuki Akira
• Hoshi Nobuharu
• Fukui Yuichi

Classifications

• B29K2059/00

  Use of polyacetals {, e.g. POM, i.e. polyoxymethylene or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material · CPC title

• G03G15/0865

  Arrangements for supplying new developer · CPC title

• B29K2507/04

  Carbon · CPC title

• B29L2031/7678

  Ink or toner cartridges · CPC title

• G03G21/1867 Primary

  for electrically connecting the process cartridge to the apparatus, electrical connectors, power supply · CPC title