Image forming apparatus having cartridges

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9696685-B2
Application number	US-201615076838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2016
Priority date	Feb 28, 2013
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a first cartridge; a second cartridge; and a retaining member. The main body includes a first power-supplying part; and a second power-supplying part. The first cartridge includes a first power-receiving part. The second cartridge includes a second power-receiving part. The first and second power-receiving parts are configured to contact with the first and second power-supplying parts respectively. The retaining member is configured to retain the first and second cartridges and includes one side wall having a frame formed of a resin material and a reinforcing member formed of a metal material. A top edge of the frame is positioned lower than top edges of the first and second power-receiving parts. A top edge of the reinforcing member is positioned at a same vertical position as or lower than the top edge of the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main body including a first electrode and having an inner surface and a receiving area, the first electrode being disposed on the inner surface of the main body;
a cartridge having a process body and a second electrode electrically connected to the process body; and
a drawer frame movably engaged with the main body, the drawer frame including a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, the first wall and the third wall extending in a first direction in which the drawer frame is movable into and from the receiving area of the main body, the second wall extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and being disposed between the first wall and the third wall, the first wall including a first frame formed of a first material having a first rigidity and a second frame formed of a second material having a second rigidity different from the first rigidity, the first material being different from the second material, the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall defining a cartridge mounting area, the first frame having a upward cutout,
wherein, when the cartridge is placed in the cartridge mounting area of the drawer frame, the second electrode is disposed along the first frame of the drawer frame, thereby allowing the first electrode to contact with the second electrode through the upward cutout.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second frame is at least partially disposed between the first frame and the main body in the second direction.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a top edge of the second frame is lower than a lowest point of the upward cutout of the first frame.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second rigidity is greater than the first rigidity.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first frame is formed of a resin material.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second frame is formed of a metal material.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the drawer frame is in a mounted position within the receiving area of the main body, the drawer frame is disposed lower within the receiving area in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction than when the drawer frame is not in the mounted position.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main body including a first drive supply part and a second drive supply part and having an inner surface and a receiving area, both the first drive supply part and the second drive supply part being disposed on the inner surface of the main body;
a cartridge including a first process body, a second process body, a first coupling, and a second coupling, the first drive supply part supplying a drive force to the first process body via the first coupling, the second drive supply part supplying a drive force to the second process body via the second coupling; and
a drawer frame movably engaged with the main body, the drawer frame including a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, the first wall and the third wall extending in a first direction in which the drawer frame is movable into and from the receiving area of the main body, the second wall extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and being disposed between the first wall and the third wall, the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall defining a cartridge mounting area, the third wall having a upward cutout and a through hole,
wherein, when the cartridge is placed in the cartridge mounting area of the drawer frame, the first coupling and the second coupling are disposed along the third wall of the drawer frame, thereby allowing the first coupling to connect with the first drive supply part through the upward cutout and thereby allowing the second coupling to connect with the second drive supply part through the through hole, and
wherein the third wall includes a first frame formed of a first material having a first rigidity and a second frame formed of a second material having a second rigidity different from the first rigidity, the first material being different from the second material.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a position of the upward cutout is higher than a position of the through hole.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the drawer frame further includes a fourth wall extending in the second direction, the fourth wall extending between the first wall and the third wall, the first frame and the second frame extending from at least the second wall to at least the fourth wall in the first direction.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the second rigidity is greater than the first rigidity.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the second frame is at least partially disposed between the first frame and the main body in the second direction, and
wherein the first frame includes the upward cutout.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the through hole has a circular shape.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the first process body is a developing roller, and the first coupling is a development coupling connected with the developing roller.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the second process body is a photosensitive drum, and the second coupling is a photosensitive coupling connected with the photosensitive drum.

16. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main body including a first electrode, a first drive supply part, and a second drive supply part and having a first inner surface, a second inner surface, and a receiving area, the first inner surface being opposite to the second inner surface relative to the receiving area, the first electrode being disposed on the first inner surface, both the first drive supply part and the second drive supply part being disposed on the second inner surface of the main body;
a cartridge having a second electrode, a first coupling, and a second coupling; and
a drawer frame movably engaged with the main body, the drawer frame including a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, the first wall and the third wall extending in a first direction in which the drawer frame is movable into and from the receiving area of the main body, the second wall extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and being disposed between the first wall and the third wall, the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall defining a cartridge mounting area, the first wall having a first upward cutout, the third wall having a second upward cutout and a through hole,
wherein the first wall includes a first frame formed of a first material having a first rigidity and a second frame formed of a second material having a second rigidity different from the first rigidity, the first material being different from the second material, and
wherein, when the cartridge is placed in the cartridge mounting area of the drawer frame:
the second electrode is disposed along the first wall of the drawer frame, thereby allowing the first electrode to contact the second electrode through the first upward cutout,
the first coupling and the second coupling are disposed along the third wall of the drawer frame, thereby allowing the first coupling to connect with the first drive supply part through the second upward cutout and allowing the seco

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Okabe Yasushi

Classifications

• G03G2215/0141

  the linear arrangement being horizontal · CPC title

• G03G21/1864 Primary

  associated with a positioning function · CPC title

• G03G21/1871 Primary

  associated with a positioning function · CPC title

• G03G15/80 Primary

  Details relating to power supplies, circuits boards, electrical connections · CPC title