Cartridge and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9612552-B2
Application number	US-201615079829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2010
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus which includes a main body, a driving unit and a detecting unit, includes: a housing that is configured to accommodate a developer therein, and includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall in a longitudinal direction; a passive unit that is configured to receive a driving force from the driving unit, is mounted on the first side wall, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a detected body mounted on the first side wall and including a detected part which is detected by the detecting unit. The detected body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall by the driving force received by the passive unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A developing cartridge comprising:
a casing configured to accommodate developer therein;
a first gear positioned at an outer surface of the casing, the first gear being rotatable about a first axis in parallel with an extending direction of the first gear;
a second gear positioned at the outer surface, the second gear being rotatable about a second axis in parallel with the extending direction, the second gear including an engagement portion provided on a portion of a circumferential surface of the second gear, at least a portion of the engagement portion engaging with the first gear, and the second gear including an inclined surface rotatable with the second gear; and
a detected body positioned at the outer surface, the detected body being slidable along the inclined surface with rotation of the second gear, and the detected body being movable in the extending direction relative to the outer surface from a first position and a second position according to sliding along the inclined surface, wherein the second position is farther from the outer surface of the casing in the extending direction than the first position.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second gear further includes:
a parallel surface extending from the inclined surface in a rotational direction of the second gear,

wherein the detected body is configured to move in the extending direction relative to the outer surface from the second position to a third position after the detected body slides along the inclined surface and the parallel surface, and
wherein the second position is farther from the outer surface of the casing in the extending direction than the third position.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2 further comprising:
a spring configured to press the detected body from the second position to the third position after the detected body slides along the inclined surface and the parallel surface.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the detected body further includes:
a supporting part positioned at a first outer surface of the detected body, the first outer surface facing the second gear in the extending direction, and the supporting part being slidable along the inclined surface; and
a detected part positioned at a second outer surface of the detected body in the extending direction, the second outer surface being opposite to the first outer surface in the extending direction.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 4 ,
wherein the second gear further includes a parallel surface extending from the inclined surface in a rotational direction of the second gear,
wherein the detected body is configured to move in the extending direction relative to the outer surface from the second position to a third position after the supporting part slides along the inclined surface and the parallel surface, and
wherein the second position is farther from the outer surface of the casing in the extending direction than the third position.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the supporting part projects from the first outer surface in the extending direction.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the detected part projected from the second outer surface in the extending direction.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the engagement portion is arranged between a third position and a fourth position in a rotational direction of the second gear, and
wherein the inclined surface is positioned between the third position and the fourth position in the rotational direction.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the engagement portion includes a plurality of gear teeth, and
wherein the second gear is a toothless gear.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the engagement portion includes a rubber surface.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Ukai Masamitsu
• Fukamachi Yasuo
• Mushika Motoaki

Classifications

• G03G21/16

  Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements · CPC title

• G03G21/1896 Primary

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

• G03G15/0867 Primary

  cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening · CPC title

• G03G21/1676

  for the developer unit · CPC title

• G03G15/08

  using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer · CPC title