Developing cartridge provided with cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9529302-B2
Application number	US-201615078362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Aug 31, 2011
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A developing cartridge comprising:
a developing roller extending in an extending direction, the developing roller being rotatable about a first axis extending in the extending direction, the developing roller including a developing roller shaft extending in the extending direction;
a frame configured to accommodate developing agent therein, the frame extending in the extending direction;
a coupling rotatable about a second axis extending in the extending direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the frame in the extending direction, the coupling including a first gear rotatable with the coupling;
a second gear positioned at another side of the frame in the extending direction;
a first cover covering at least a portion of the first gear, the first cover having an inside surface facing the one side of the frame and an outside surface opposite to the inside surface of the first cover in the extending direction, the first cover having an opening configured to allow at least a portion of a surface of the coupling to be exposed, the first cover including a first engagement portion positioned at the outside surface of the first cover between the developing roller shaft and the coupling, the first cover including a coupling collar extending from the outside surface of the first cover in the extending direction, the coupling collar including the first engagement portion, the coupling collar having the opening, the opening being positioned at a distal end of the coupling collar in the extending direction, the coupling collar covering a peripheral surface of the coupling, the first engagement portion protruding from a portion of an outside surface of the coupling collar; and
a second cover covering at least a portion of the second gear, the second cover having an inside surface facing the another side of the frame and an outside surface opposite to the inside surface of the second cover in the extending direction, the second cover including a second engagement portion, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion being aligned in the extending direction.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion protrudes from the outside surface of the first cover in a radial direction of the first gear.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion protrudes from the outside surface of the first cover toward the developing roller shaft.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling and the first gear are aligned in the extending direction.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the developing roller is positioned toward a side of the coupling,
wherein the coupling collar has an end portion, the end portion being positioned toward the side of the coupling, and
wherein the first engagement portion is positioned at the end portion.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion protrudes from the coupling collar in a radial direction of the first gear.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion protrudes from the coupling collar toward the developing roller shaft.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Itabashi Nao
• Kamimura Naoya
• Yamazaki Ryuya
• Nishiyama Hideshi

Classifications

• G03G21/1857

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

• G03G21/1676

  for the developer unit · CPC title

• G03G15/0896 Primary

  Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894 · CPC title

• G03G21/1821 Primary

  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

• G03G21/1864 Primary

  associated with a positioning function · CPC title