Developing cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9946190-B2
Application number	US-201615280558-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2016
Priority date	Dec 25, 2015
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A developing cartridge may include: a casing for accommodating developer therein; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one side of the casing in a second direction; a storage medium having an electric contact surface; and a holder movable relative to the casing in the second direction with the electric contact surface between a first position and a second position, the holder having an outer surface at which the electric contact surface is positioned.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A developing cartridge comprising:
a casing for accommodating developer therein;
a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one side of the casing in a second direction;
a storage medium having an electric contact surface; and
a holder movable relative to the casing in the second direction with the electric contact surface between a first position and a second position, the holder having an outer surface at which the electric contact surface is positioned,
wherein the electric contact surface is further movable in a third direction crossing the electric contact surface.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a lever, wherein the holder is movable in the third direction in accordance with operation of the lever.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the holder is movable with the storage medium.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the holder holds the electric contact surface.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the storage medium is positioned at the outer surface of the holder.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the outer surface of the holder holds the storage medium.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the storage medium includes the electric contact surface.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the developing roller is positioned at one side of the casing relative to a center of the casing in the second direction.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the second direction crosses the first direction.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

11. A developing cartridge comprising:
a casing for accommodating developer therein;
a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one side of the casing in a second direction;
a storage medium having an electric contact surface; and
a holder movable relative to the casing in the second direction with the electric contact surface between a first position and a second position, the holder having an outer surface at which the electric contact surface is positioned,
wherein the outer surface is positioned at a side of the holder in a third direction crossing the electric contact surface, and the outer surface is movable relative to the casing in the third direction.

12. The developing cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the holder includes:
a first end portion in the third direction including the outer surface, and
a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the third direction, the first end portion being movable relative to the second end portion in the third direction.

13. The developing cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the holder includes:
an elastic member positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion, the elastic member being configured to be stretched or compressed in the third direction between a first state and a second state, and a length in the third direction of the elastic member in the first state being greater than a length in the third direction of the elastic member in the second state.

14. The developing cartridge according to claim 13 , wherein the holder is movable relative to the casing in the second direction between the first position and the second position in a state where the elastic member is in the second state.

15. The developing cartridge according to claim 14 ,
wherein the elastic member is configured to be changed from the first state to the second state when the developing cartridge is attached to an image forming apparatus, and
wherein the electric contact surface is configured to be in contact with an electric connector of the image forming apparatus in a state where the elastic member is in the second state.

16. The developing cartridge according to claim 13 , wherein a length in the third direction of the elastic member in the second state is smaller than a natural length in the third direction of the elastic member.

17. The developing cartridge according to claim 13 , wherein the elastic member is a spring.

18. The developing cartridge according to claim 17 , wherein the spring is a coil spring.

19. The developing cartridge according to claim 13 , wherein the holder has a remote state in which between the first end portion and the second end portion in the third direction is a first distance and a proximity state in which between the first end portion and the second end portion in the third direction is a second distance which is smaller than the first distance, the holder being urged in a direction such that the first end portion and the second end portion are moved away from each other in a state where the holder is in the proximity state.

20. The developing cartridge according to claim 19 , wherein the holder is movable relative to the casing between the first position and the second position in the second direction in a state where the elastic member is in the second state.

21. The developing cartridge according to claim 20 ,
wherein the holder is changed from the remote state to the proximity state when the developing cartridge is attached to an image forming apparatus,
wherein the electric contact surface is in contact with an electric connector of the image forming apparatus when the holder is in the proximity state, and
wherein the holder is movable relative to the casing between the first position and the second position in the second direction in a state where the holder is in the proximity state.

22. The developing cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the holder is an elastic member configured to be stretched or compressed in the third direction.

23. The developing cartridge according to claim 11 , further comprising:
an elastic member being stretched or compressed in the third direction between a first state and a second state, a length in the third direction of the elastic member in the first state being greater than a length in the third direction of the elastic member in the second state.

24. The developing cartridge according to claim 23 , wherein the holder is movable in the second direction relative to the casing between the first position and the second position in a state where the elastic member is in the second state.

25. The developing cartridge according to claim 24 ,
wherein the elastic member is changed from the first state to the second state when the developing cartridge is attached to an image forming apparatus, wherein the electric contact surface is in contact with an electric connector of the image forming apparatus in a state where the elastic member is in the second state, and
wherein the holder is movable relative to the casing in the second direction between the first position and the second position in a state where the elastic member is in the second state.

26. The developing cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the holder is movable with the storage medium.

27. The developing cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the holder holds the electric contact surface.

28. The developing cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the stora

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Itabashi Nao

Classifications

• G03G15/0863 Primary

  provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory · CPC title

• G03G21/1676

  for the developer unit · CPC title

• G03G21/1652

  Electrical connection means · CPC title

• G03G15/0865 Primary

  Arrangements for supplying new developer · CPC title

• G03G21/1867

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