| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20130028635 | COVER MEMBER AND CARTRIDGE - A cover member is mounted on a cartridge including a developer bearing member for providing a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image, and a grip portion to be gripped, and cover an exposed part of the developer bearing member exposed outside a frame member of the cartridge includes a portion configured to partition a space between the grip portion and the exposed part when the cover member is mounted on the cartridge. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20090196650 | Toner cartridge having control board mounted therein and electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same - A toner cartridge has a control board mounted therein and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same. The toner cartridge includes a toner tube having a mounting part on which a control board is mounted, a control board cover for covering the mounting part to mount the control board therein, and a sealing cover for sealing the toner tube. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090123177 | Retaining Devices And Methods For Retaining A Developer Unit Of An Image Forming Device - The present application is directed to retainers and methods of retaining a developer unit within an image forming device. One embodiment may include positioning a retainer attached to a frame at a first position with a second end of the retainer positioned away from the developer unit. A toner cartridge may be inserted into the image forming device in a vertical direction and contact against retainer. The toner cartridge may laterally move the retainer relative to the frame from the first position to a second position with the second end positioned to prevent removal of the developer unit from the frame. Another embodiment features a system to retain a developer unit in an image forming device. The system may include a frame configured to receive the developer unit and the toner cartridge. A retainer may be movably attached to the frame and include a first end with a ramped surface, and a second end spaced away from the first end. The retainer may be movable between a first position prior to insertion of the toner cartridge with the second end positioned away from the developer unit, and a second position after insertion of the toner cartridge with the second end positioned to prevent removal of the developer unit from the frame. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20100119256 | Developing Unit and Image Forming Device - A developing unit is to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming device main body. The developing unit is provided with a developer case, a developing roller coupled with the developer case, and a movement member coupled with the developer case. The movement member is capable of moving between a housing position where the movement member is substantially housed inside the developer case and a protruding position where the movement member protrudes beyond the developer case. The movement member is positioned at the protruding position and pushed by the image forming device main body in a predetermined direction while the developing unit is being attached to the image forming device main body. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100074650 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20120183329 | Image-Forming Device Capable of Positioning Developing Unit and Developer Cartridge Precisely - An image-forming device which may include a casing and a developing unit that is detachably mounted in the casing and formed with a first opening. The developer unit may have a developer carrying member carrying a developer, wherein the developing unit includes one end. The image-forming device may also include a first shutter configured to open and close the first opening and a developer cartridge that is configured to be detachably mounted in the casing, accommodate the developer, and is formed with a second opening. The second opening may be in alignment with the first opening when the developing unit and the developer cartridge are mounted in the casing. The image-forming device may also include a second shutter configured to open and close the second opening. The image-forming device may also include an alignment member between the developing unit and the developer cartridge. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20130051852 | Developer Cartridge Having Developing Roller - The developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, an input gear, a developing roller gear, a supply roller gear, a first intermediate gear, and a second intermediate gear. The input gear is inputted with a drive force from an outside. The developing roller gear rotates about a first axis to drive the developing roller by the drive force. The supply roller gear rotates about a second axis parallel to the first axis to drive the supply roller by the drive force. The first intermediate gear rotates about the second axis. The first intermediate gear engages the input gear to receive the drive force therefrom. The second intermediate gear is engaged with the first intermediate gear and the developing roller gear so as to transmit the drive force from the first intermediate gear to the developing roller gear. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130051853 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing cartridge arranged below the photosensitive body and having a developing roller configured to supply a developing agent to the photosensitive body and to be rotatable about an rotation shaft of the developing roller; a support body configured to removably support the developing cartridge; and a pressing member configured to press the rotation shaft of the developing roller so as to press the developing roller against the photosensitive body. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20090092415 | DEVELOPER SUPPLY CONTAINER - In order to stabilize opening/closing operations of an apparatus shutter of a toner receiving apparatus utilizing rotation of a toner supply container, the toner supply container is provided, at a peripheral surface thereof, with a snap lock portion, which is engaged with the apparatus shutter to effect opening/closing operations of the apparatus shutter by rotation of the toner supply container. A release force F(N) required for releasing snap lock engagement of the snap lock portion with the apparatus shutter and an elastic repulsive force P(N) of the snap lock portion are set to satisfy the following relationship: | 04-09-2009 |
| 20130094882 | CARTRIDGE, MOUNTING METHOD FOR COUPLING MEMBER, AND DISASSEMBLING METHOD FOR COUPLING MEMBER - A cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes coupling member that is provided for receiving a rotational force for rotating a developing roller, with a cylindrical member movably supporting one end portion of the coupling member inside of the cylindrical member, and a cylindrical member side force receiving portion being provided inside the cylindrical member for receiving the rotational force received by the coupling member. The cartridge further includes a first regulating portion for preventing one end portion of the coupling member from disengaging in an axial direction of the cylindrical member; and a second regulating portion for regulating deformation of the first regulating portion in a state in which one end portion of the coupling member is mounted to an inside of the cylindrical member with deformation of the first regulating portion. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130094881 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a cover to open and close a front of the main body, a tray slidably mounted in the main body through the front of the main body, at least one developing cartridge mounted in the main body in a state in which the developing cartridge is received in the tray, at least one driving coupler member provided at one side of the main body to drive the developing cartridge mounted in the main body, a link member operating simultaneously with opening and closing of the cover to move in a first direction, and a guide member to support the at least one driving coupler member, the guide member operating simultaneously with the link member to move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the guide member is pressed by the link member, when the cover opens the main body, to separate the driving coupler member from the developing cartridge. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20120195636 | Developer Unit and Image Forming Device - A developing unit and image formation device in which a developer carrier is reliably pressed towards and separated from an image carrier is described. A separation and pressing mechanism is provided for separating and pressing the developer carriers of developing cartridges installed in a drum unit onto image carriers. This separation and pressing mechanism has a pair of direct cam members. Each direct cam member has a release action portion that engages with the releasing projection of a developing cartridge when the developer carrier is to be separated from the image carrier. Each direct cam member may also have a pressing action portion that engages with the pressing projection of the developing cartridges when the developer carrier is to be pressed onto the image carrier. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20090245862 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, DEVELOPER SUPPLY CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer supply cartridge supplies a developer into a process cartridge, and is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a drum, a developing roller, a receiving-side shutter portion opening and closing a developer receiving opening, a receiving-side movable portion to move the receiving-side shutter portion, and a regulating member for regulating movement of the receiving-side movable portion. The developer supply cartridge includes a supplying-side developer accommodating portion, a developer supply opening supplying the developer from the supplying-side developer accommodating portion into the process cartridge through the developer receiving opening, a supplying-side shutter portion opening and closing the developer supply opening, and a supplying-side movable portion to open the supplying-side shutter portion when the developer supply cartridge enters the main assembly and the process cartridge is set in the main assembly, by engagement with the receiving-side movable portion. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090232546 | DEVELOPER SUPPLYING APPARATUS AND DEVELOPER SUPPLYING SYSTEM - A developer supply system including a developer supply apparatus and a developer supply container which is detachably mountable to the apparatus, the system includes the developer supply container including a rotatable container body having an inner space configured and positioned to contain a developer; a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the developer in the container body to discharge the developer out of the container body with a rotation of the container body; and a hooking portion configured and positioned to engage with the apparatus to receive a rotational force for rotating the container body; the apparatus including a driving member configured and positioned to apply the rotational force; a drive transmitting member configured and positioned to engage with the hooking portion to transmit the rotational force from the driving member to the hooking portion, the drive transmitting member, which has engaged with the hooking portion, being movable between a first position where the drive transmitting member and the driving member are engaged with each other and a second position where the drive transmitting member and the driving member are not engaged with each other; and a displacing member configured and positioned to displace the hooking portion to release an engagement between the hooking portion and the drive transmitting member which is in the second position. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090232545 | Devices And Methods For Retracting A Cartridge In An Image Forming Device - The present application is directed to methods and devices for moving a cartridge between engaged and disengaged positions in an image forming device. The image forming device may include a bias control arm movable between first and second positions. When the bias control arm is in one of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is reduced and the cartridge moves to the disengaged position. When the bias control arm is in the other of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is increased and the cartridge is moved to the engaged position. In one embodiment, the bias control arm moves in a first direction, and the cartridge moves in a second direction different than the first direction. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090010679 | Image forming apparatus and toner cartridge - A toner cartridge is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus and supplies toner to the image forming apparatus. The locking mechanism is positioned either at a locking position or at a non-locking position. Shortly after the toner cartridge has been attached to the image forming apparatus, the locking mechanism is at a non-locking position. When a user operates a driving member of the toner cartridge after the toner cartridge has been attached to the image forming apparatus, the operating lever engages the locking mechanism to cause the locking mechanism to move to a locking position. When the locking mechanism is at the locking position, the locking mechanism limits the driving member to move relative to the engagement portion, so that the toner cartridge is not allowed to be detached from the image forming apparatus. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20130129386 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a drum unit which holds photosensitive drums in parallel, a developing cartridge which is detachably mounted in the drum unit, a translation member which is provided in the apparatus body to be movable linearly, a shaft which is provided on the tandem photosensitive drum unit for each developing cartridge; and a pivoting member which is rotatably supported by the shaft. The pivoting member includes an abutting portion which is provided on one side to abut the translation member, a pressing portion which is provided on the other side, and is configured to press a predetermined portion of the developing cartridge in a direction in which the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum; and a spring portion which applies a biasing force in a direction in which the pressing portion is separated from the predetermined portion. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20090035014 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a housing which comprises a housing side opening through which waste toner passes; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units comprising a first containing unit for containing the toner to be supplied to the toner carrier; wherein at least one of the toner cartridges comprises a second containing unit for containing the waste toner, the second containing unit comprises a cartridge side opening for receiving the waste toner having passed through the housing side opening, and wherein the housing side opening and the cartridge side opening are disposed to be opposite to each other along the substantially horizontal direction. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20100329736 | Developing Cartridge - A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes an input gear which receives an external driving force; a developing roller which carries developer; a supply roller that is in contact with the developing roller and supplies the developer to the developing roller; a supply roller gear that is meshed with the input gear to drive the supply roller using a driving force transmitted from the input gear; and a developing roller gear that drives the developing roller with a driving force transmitted from the supply roller gear. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20120288304 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the cartridge containing a developer for effecting development and including a force receiving portion, wherein the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and an urging member for urging the cartridge; wherein by mounting the cartridge, the force receiving portion receives a force from the urging member to urge the developing roller to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20110286766 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes process units arranged in a predetermined direction to form a process-unit row, each having a photosensitive body and a developer container; a casing accommodating the process units and having a cover opening and closing an opening formed at one side in the predetermined direction, and an exposure member exposing the photosensitive body, and having a laser source, a deflector, and an optical element, and the exposure member is arranged facing the developer container of each process unit in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The process units are detachable from the casing, through the opening of the casing, and the developer container of one process unit arranged at one end of the process-unit row has a protruding portion protruding toward the exposure member to overlap with the exposure member in the orthogonal direction. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20090274485 | Development device comprising process cartridge and image formation apparatus comprising development device - A process cartridge capable of lowering the line pressure of an abutment section of a layer thickness regulating member and thus reducing the stress on toner when the toner passes the abutment section. Toner adhering to the surface of a supply roller is supplied and applied to the surface of a development roller. The development roller is a roller covered with an elastic rubber layer and the elastic rubber layer is set to have a hardness which makes it possible to prevent toner degradation caused by a concentration of pressure exerted on an abutment section which abuts against a layer thickness regulating member. The surface roughness Ra is set at 0.3 to 2.0 μm, whereby the required amount of toner can be held by the surface. The resistance value of the elastic rubber layer is set at 10 | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090162096 | Image Formation Apparatus - An image formation apparatus includes: a casing defining a first direction, a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions; and first and second developer storage members, each having an developer supply port. The first and second developer storage members are disposed in the casing to be juxtaposed substantially in the first direction and to elongate in the second direction so that the developer supply ports of the first and second developer storage members are offset in the second direction. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090142096 | Lift Mechanism For One Or More Developer Members In An Image Forming Device - The present application is directed to devices and methods to position a developer member relative to a photoconductive member in an image forming device. One embodiment includes an elongated lift plate positioned in proximity to a photoconductive member. An elongated opening may be positioned within the lift plate. The opening may include a first section and a second section. The first section may be positioned farther from the photoconductive member than the second section. A positioning member may be positioned within the opening, and be operatively connected to the developer member. A hold down may bias the positioning member towards an edge of the opening. The lift plate may be longitudinally movable between a first position with the positioning member in the first section of the opening that positions the developer member away from the photoconductive member, and a second position with the positioning member in the second section that positions the developer member against the photoconductive member. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20110170907 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device for forming a toner image on the image bearing member while carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, wherein the developing device is mountable and demountable relative to a main assembly of the apparatus in a direction substantially parallel with a radial direction of the image bearing member; an urging mechanism for urging the developing device toward the surface of the image bearing member; and a moving mechanism, movable in a movement path of the developing device, for moving the developing device between a developing position in which development can be effected and a retracted position retracted from the developing position in a state in which the developing device is urged by the urging mechanism. The moving mechanism is temporarily retracted from an inside of the movement path of the developing device to an outside of the movement path of the developing device by a mounting and demounting operation of the developing device. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110200357 | DEVELOPER SUPPLY CONTAINER - A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus, the developer supply container includes an containing portion for containing a developer; a discharge opening, provided in the containing portion, for permitting discharge of the developer; a shutter for opening and closing the discharge opening; an elastic member, provided around the discharge opening, for sealing between the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus; and a film member for unsealably sealing the discharge opening. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20100080624 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member drum; a developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer; a supporting member movable between an inside position and a retracted position in the state that supporting member supports the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge, wherein the inside position is inside the main assembly of the apparatus, and the retracted position is retracted from the main assembly of the apparatus; wherein the supporting member supports the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge independently demountably therefrom, wherein mounting and demounting directions of the drum cartridge relative to the supporting member and mounting and demounting directions of the developing cartridge are different from each other. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20090297220 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing body and a developer apparatus with mutually opposing first and second side faces to supply a developer to the image bearing body. The developer apparatus is installed removably on a frame with first and second wall surfaces opposing the first and second side faces respectively. First and second fulcrum sections project respectively on the first and second side faces. First and second installation grooves are provided respectively on the first and second wall surfaces and have open upper ends that receive the first and second fulcrum sections respectively. First and second supporting structures support the first fulcrum and second fulcrum sections that are fit respectively into the first and second installation grooves. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100124433 | Developer, developer storing body, developing device and image forming apparatus - A developer includes a toner containing toner mother particles and external additives added to the toner mother particles. The toner mother particles contain at least a resin and a coloring agent. 1.5 to 3.0 weight parts of the external additives are added to 100 weight parts of the toner mother particles. The toner has a mean volume diameter in a range from 6.5 to 8.0 μm, and a surface roughness Rzjis in a range from 75.3 to 236.9 nm as measured using a scanning probe microscope. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20120107015 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING DETACHABLE DEVELOPING DEVICE UNIT - An image forming device includes a developing device unit including a plurality of developing devices, and a plurality of sloping members disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of developing devices. Each developing device includes a developing roller defining an axis line and a developer accommodating chamber. Each developing device is movable in a first direction perpendicular to the axis line. Each sloping member has a sloped surface and a biasing member biasing the sloped surface upward in the first direction. Each sloping member is movable between a first position where the developing device is placed on the sloped surface and a second position where the developing device is disengaged from the sloped surface in a predetermined direction different from the first direction. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120107014 | PRESSING MECHANISM FOR A DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a process unit configured to be attached to and removed from the main body, the process unit being configured to integrally hold a plurality of image carriers arranged in a first direction; a plurality of developing cartridges provided in corresponding association with the image carriers, the developing cartridges configured to be attached to and removed from the process unit, each of the developing cartridges including a corresponding developer carrier, each of the developing cartridges being configured to supply developer to a corresponding image carrier; and a pressing mechanism provided in the main body, the pressing mechanism configured to press the developing cartridges, when attached to the process unit, in a direction that the developer carriers contact the image carriers. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20110200359 | Developing Unit and Image Forming Device - A developing unit is to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming device main body. The developing unit is provided with a developer case, a developing roller coupled with the developer case, and a movement member coupled with the developer case. The movement member is capable of moving between a housing position where the movement member is substantially housed inside the developer case and a protruding position where the movement member protrudes beyond the developer case. The movement member is positioned at the protruding position and pushed by the image forming device main body in a predetermined direction while the developing unit is being attached to the image forming device main body. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20090169256 | Process Cartridge, Image Forming Apparatus and Developing Cartridge - A process cartridge, which includes a developing cartridge and a photosensitive cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus including a driving force output part and a feeding part, is provided. The developing cartridge includes a developer carrier, a first electrode provided at one side thereof, and a driving force receiving part provided at another side thereof and aligned with the first electrode such that the driving force receiving part overlaps the first electrode in a side view. The photosensitive cartridge, to which the developing cartridge is removably mounted, includes a photosensitive member, and a second electrode that contacts the first electrode when the developing cartridge is mounted in the photosensitive cartridge and that contacts the feeding part when the photosensitive cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first electrode is pressed toward the driving force receiving part by contact with the second electrode. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20110200358 | IMAGING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an imaging unit including a drum cartridge having an image carrier composed of a photosensitive drum and a development device having a development roller facing the image carrier, the development device developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier to form a toner image. The drum cartridge and the development device are provided so as to be allowed to be connected to and separated from each other. The drum cartridge and the development device, when connected to each other, can be made to pivot relative to each other on a shaft of the development roller of the development device. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20120294651 | Multi-Function Printer - A multi-function printer includes an image forming unit and a scanner unit. The image forming unit includes a body casing, a developing unit having a developing roller extending in a lateral direction, a developer cartridge provided on one side of the axis of the developing roller and detachably attached to the body casing, a discharge tray, a side cover, a support unit for supporting the developer cartridge such that the developer cartridge is detachably attached to a front side of the body casing, a sheet feeding tray detachably attachable to the front side of the body casing, and a discharge unit provided on the front side of the body casing and discharging sheet on which an image is formed to the rear side of the body casing. The scanner unit is provided above the image forming unit having a predetermined space opened on the one side therebetween. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20100111563 | Image Forming Apparatus and Developing Agent Cartridge - An image forming apparatus may include a casing, and a plurality of image carriers parallelly arranged along one direction in the casing and formed with an electrostatic latent image. The apparatus can further include a plurality of developing agent carriers opposed to the image carriers, for visualizing the electrostatic latent image by feeding a developing agent to the image carriers, and a plurality of developing agent cartridges, parallelly arranged in the one direction to be opposed to the developing agent carriers in the longitudinal direction of the developing agent carriers, and configured to be together attachable/detachable to/from the casing along the one direction, for accommodating the developing agent fed to the developing agent carriers. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100278555 | Detachable developer capable of maintaining nip - A detachable developer in which a photosensitive unit and a development unit are separately and independently installed in a main body. The detachable developer includes a first axis connection member extending from one end portion of the photosensitive unit toward a rotation axis of a developing roller and having a first guide slot formed therein in which one end portion of the rotation axis of the developing roller is inserted, and a second axis connection member extending from the other end portion of the development unit toward a rotation axis at the other end portion of a photosensitive drum and having a second guide slot formed therein in which the other end portion of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum is inserted. The first axis connection member and the second axis connection member extend parallel to each other. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20120294650 | Devices and Methods for Retracting a Cartridge in an Image Forming Device - The present application is directed to methods and devices for moving a cartridge between engaged and disengaged positions in an image forming device. The image forming device may include a bias control arm movable between first and second positions. When the bias control arm is in one of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is reduced and the cartridge moves to the disengaged position. When the bias control arm is in the other of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is increased and the cartridge is moved to the engaged position. In one embodiment, the bias control arm moves in a first direction, and the cartridge moves in a second direction different than the first direction. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20080240779 | Developer storage unit and image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a developer storage portion for storing developer. The image forming apparatus further includes a developer supply portion for supplying developer through an opening portion of the developer storage portion. When a closing member is attached to the developer storage portion for closing the opening portion, the developer supply portion is separated from the developer storage portion. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080240778 | Image Forming Apparatus and Developer Cartridge - An image forming apparatus of one aspect of the invention comprises: an image carrier; a developing device configured to hold a developer carrier to supply developer to the image carrier, the developing device movable to a contacting position where the developer carrier contacts the image carrier and to a spaced position where the developer carrier is spaced from the image carrier; and a memory element disposed in the developing device. The developing device comprises: a pressing force input portion configured to receive pressing force to make the developer carrier contact the image carrier; and a spacing force input portion configured to receive spacing force to make the developing device move from the contacting position to the spaced position. At least one of the pressing force input portion and the spacing force input portion comprises a terminal electrically connected to the memory element. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20090035013 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a housing having a first opening and a second opening which are directed in a same direction; a plurality of developing units which are disposed in parallel with each other in the housing along an oblique direction inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, the developing units which are configured to be attached to and detached from the housing along the oblique direction through the first opening; and a plurality of developer cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units, each of the developer cartridges being disposed in parallel with each other in the housing to be opposite to an end of a respective one of the developing units along a substantially horizontal direction in a longitudinal direction of the developing units, the developer cartridges which are configured to be attached to and detached from the housing through the second opening. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090035012 | DEVELOPER SUPPLYING CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer supplying cartridge including a supply developer containing portion, a developer supplying port for supplying the developer in the supply developer containing portion to the developing device via a supplied port of the developing device, and a supplying port shutter unit that opens and closes the developer supplying port and that includes a housing member covering the developer supplying port, a cylindrical member which is rotatably disposed in the housing member, and provided with a through-hole corresponding to the developer supplying port, and which assumes, by its rotation, a developer supply allowing position where the developer supplying port and the through-hole communicate with each other and a developer supply stopping position where the developer supplying port is closed, and a scraping member which is abutted on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member to scrape off the developer adhering to the outer circumferential surface. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20080273895 | TONER SUPPLYING CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner supply container, detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, for supplying toner to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the toner supply container includes a main body for accommodating the toner; a discharging opening for permitting discharging of the toner accommodated in the main body of the container; a container shutter member for opening and closing the discharging opening; a rotatable member rotatably supported by the main body of the container and having a drive transmitting portion for engaging with a rotational force transmitting means provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the rotational force transmitting means; a rotating force receiving portion for receiving the rotating force from the rotating force transmitting means through engagement with the rotating force transmitting means, wherein the container shutter member is given a force for opening and closing the discharge opening by the rotating force received by the rotating force receiving portion; wherein when the toner supply container is not mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the rotatable member is rotatable relative to the main assembly of the container between a first position and a second position away from the first position in a rotational direction of opening the container shutter member by a predetermined rotational angle; the rotatable member being provided with a contact portion which is contacted by the main assembly of the apparatus to direct the rotatable member to the second position when the drive transmitting portion and the rotating force transmitting means are engaged to mount the toner supply container to the main assembly of the apparatus. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090169255 | Developing Cartridge - A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes an input gear which receives an external driving force; a developing roller which carries developer; a supply roller that is in contact with the developing roller and supplies the developer to the developing roller; a supply roller gear that is meshed with the input gear to drive the supply roller using a driving force transmitted from the input gear; and a developing roller gear that drives the developing roller with a driving force transmitted from the supply roller gear. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090169257 | Process Cartridge, Image Forming Apparatus and Developing Cartridge - A process cartridge includes a developing cartridge including a developer carrier, a fitting part, and a pressed part, and a photosensitive cartridge, to which the developing cartridge is removably mounted. The photosensitive cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a positioning part which is fitted into the fitting part for positioning the developing cartridge, and a pressing part which contacts the pressed part for pressing the developing cartridge toward the photosensitive member, wherein the positioning part and the pressing part are provided longitudinally in an area in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive member corresponding to an area on the photosensitive member in which a developer image is formed. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20080279586 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device that supplies developer to an image carrier. In a developing device having a developer carrier that is driven in rotation by drive force applied to a gear provided on the shaft section thereof, the developer carrier being pressed in the direction of the image carrier, the effect of the gear drive force on the pressing force of the developer carrier onto the image carrier can be eliminated. The bearing that supports the shaft section is made slidable and the sliding direction of the bearing with respect to the direction of the drive force is set at about 90°. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080286005 | Developing device and image forming apparatus - A developing device includes a storage portion for retaining developer; a light guide member for forming a plurality of optical paths passing through the storage unit to detect an amount of the developer in the storage portion; a plurality of window members formed in a wall of the storage portion for passing the optical paths therethrough; a blocking member disposed to be movable for blocking the window members; and a drive unit for moving the blocking member. The blocking member is disposed on each of the optical paths. When the drive unit moves the blocking member, the blocking member periodically blocks and opens each of the optical paths in a specific cycle. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080286004 | CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge that can be accurately positioned and stably held with respect to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus without deteriorating operability for mounting and detaching the cartridge from the apparatus main body even if a reduction in cost and a reduction in size of the apparatus main body are realized and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the cartridge. The cartridge is a drum cartridge that has an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and is detachably mountable to the apparatus main body. The drum cartridge has lock portions that lock on both side plates of the apparatus main body at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the drum cartridge such that the apparatus main body follows the drum cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080286003 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus which allows a locking operation to be easily performed even when a lock mechanism for a developing cartridge is provided at a position hard of access for a user. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge door opening and closing an opening portion for allowing mounting and detachment of the developing cartridge, a lock member which locks the developing cartridge mounted to a mounting portion so that the developing cartridge may not be detached from the mounting portion and which is rotatable to release the lock, and a link member which abuts the lock member and which can rotate to effect switching between the lock and lock releasing of the lock member, with an end portion of the link member being situated in the vicinity of the opening portion. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080292357 | Image Forming Apparatus, Computer-Readable Medium, Image Forming System, and Image Forming Method - An image forming system, etc., which provides a user or the like with great convenience is achieved. For example, an image forming apparatus is usable as a color image forming apparatus for forming color images and is usable as a monochrome image forming apparatus for forming monochrome images, and by moving one developing unit among attached developing units to an attach/detach position, a developing unit becomes replaceable. A timing for moving the predetermined developing unit to the attach/detach position when an event occurs in which development cannot be performed with the predetermined developing unit is different for when the image forming apparatus is being used as a color image forming apparatus and for when the image forming apparatus is being used as a monochrome image forming apparatus. See FIG. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080205931 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus comprises: a main unit; and a developer cartridge detachably attached to the main unit. The developer cartridge comprises: a rotational body having a rotational axis and rotatable in a rotation direction; and an extended portion formed on the rotational body to extend along the rotational axis, the extended portion rotatable around the rotational axis. The main unit comprises: a driving unit configured to rotate the rotational body in the rotation direction; a detecting unit configured to detect a movement of the extended portion and an extending amount of the extended portion; and a determining unit configured to: determine whether the developer cartridge is a new product according to a presence of a movement of the extended portion detected by the detecting unit; and determine type of the developer cartridge based on the extending amount of the extended portion detected by the detecting unit. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080267660 | Apparatus And Method For Driving A Machine In A Replaceable Cartridge - An apparatus for driving a machine in a replaceable cartridge, the cartridge supporting a first rotatable element for transferring rotary motion to the machine, includes a housing for accommodating the cartridge at a pre-determined position. A second rotatable element is supported in the housing. A locking mechanism includes a component, provided on a certain one of the first and second rotatable elements, and capable of assuming a state of readiness in which, with the cartridge at the pre-determined position, the component is positioned relative to the other of the rotatable elements such that, upon rotation of the second rotatable element in at least a first direction, the first rotatable element rotates with the second rotatable element, and in which state the first and second rotatable elements are axially decoupled. The certain one of the first and second rotatable elements is provided with a mechanism for exerting a torque on the component tending to establish the state of readiness. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090180802 | Image forming device, toner cartridge, developer cartridge, and image bearing member cartridge - A photosensitive member cartridge | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090129813 | DEVELOPER SUPPLY CONTAINER AND DEVELOPER SUPPLYING SYSTEM - A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus and settable in a developer receiving apparatus by a setting operation including at least a rotation toward a setting position, includes a containing portion for containing the developer; a rotatable discharging member for discharging the developer out of said containing portion; drive transmitting means, engageable with a driving gear provided in said developer receiving apparatus and rotatable in a direction opposite the setting direction, for transmitting a rotating force from said driving gear to said discharging member. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090185823 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus comprises: a housing; a supporter located in the housing, a plurality of developing apparatus attachable to and detachable from the supporter; and a restricting unit that restricts movement of the supporter while at least one developing apparatus supported by the supporter is inside the housing. The supporter is movable relative to the housing. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090136258 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a carriage, a plurality of sub-tanks, a main tank, and a plurality of supply tubes. The carriage includes a plurality of recording heads that jet liquid droplets of a plurality of colored ink. The plurality of sub-tanks supply the plurality of recording heads with the corresponding colored ink. The main tank supplies the corresponding colored ink to each of the sub-tanks. The plurality of supply tubes connect the main tank and the sub-tanks. The plurality of supply tubes are fused in a band-shape at a position between the main tank and the carriage, and a maximum of two of the supply tubes are fused together at a position corresponding to a groove of a tube fixing unit provided to the carriage. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20120070191 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE ATTACHMENT UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus includes a guide member to guide movement of a developing device receiving member, which receives a plurality of developing devices, between the exterior and the interior of an image forming apparatus body. The guide member supports the developing device receiving member to enable rotation of the developing device receiving member within the body. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120070190 | PROCESSING CARTRIDGE - The invention discloses a processing cartridge, which includes a powder tube, a sliding member and a mechanism for holding the sliding member, wherein the powder tube is used for receiving toner and the sliding member is capable of freely sliding in the powder tube. The mechanism for holding the sliding member is driven to close a powder outlet under the non-use state and a powder outlet portion is arranged on the powder tube. The powder outlet is arranged on the powder outlet portion and the sliding member closes the powder outlet under the action of the mechanism for holding the sliding member under the non-use state, and moves under the action of an external force to open the powder outlet under the use state. An internal member provided with an internal powder feeding opening is also arranged inside the powder outlet portion. The internal member and the powder outlet portion form certain space so that the sliding member is capable of sliding in the space formed by the powder outlet portion and the internal member and the internal powder feeding opening of the internal member is butted with the powder outlet. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20080317501 | Developer Cartridge and Developing Device - A developer cartridge and developing device are provided. The developer cartridge is attachable to and detachable from a developing housing, the developing housing comprising a drive gear for transmitting a driving force to the developer cartridge. The developer cartridge includes a cartridge housing that is configured to accommodate developer; a first passage portion provided in the cartridge housing to allow a passage of a detection light for detecting an amount of the developer accommodated in the cartridge housing; an agitator provided in the cartridge housing and configured to agitate the developer by the driving force; a transmission gear configured to mesh with the drive gear to transmit the driving force to the agitator, the transmission gear meshing with the drive gear when the developer cartridge is installed in the developing housing; and a second passage portion provided in the transmission gear to allow the passage of the detection light. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20110142494 | POWDER MATERIAL AGITATOR AND CARTRIDGE - A powder material cartridge includes a shaft and a sheet-holding member. The shaft extends in a longitudinal direction and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The sheet-holding member is formed on the rotatable shaft and holds one end of the sheet member. The sheet-holding member includes a first portion that extends substantially parallel to the shaft and a second portion that extends at an angle with the shaft such that the second portion extends in a direction away from the shaft so that the sheet member includes a third portion that extends substantially parallel to the shaft and a fourth portion that extends at an angle with the shaft. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20090252531 | DEVELOPER SUPPLYING CARTRIDGE, DEVELOPER RECEIVING CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply cartridge and the developer receiving cartridge toward each other in a mounting-and-demounting direction of the developer supply cartridge relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20080260422 | Developer Supply Container and Image Forming Apparatus - A developer supply container detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a developer containing portion for containing a developer; a developer discharge opening disposed at the developer containing portion; a container-side engaging portion for fixing the developer containing portion by being engaged with a main assembly-side engaging portion provided in the main assembly in the mounted state of the container; an operation member capable of performing a moving operation in the mounted state of the container; and a transmitting portion, provided in the operation member, for transmitting a driving force for opening and closing the developer discharge opening to a relay portion provided in the main assembly. In the mounted state of the container, the operation member is capable of opening and closing a main assembly shutter member, provided in the main assembly, for opening and closing the developer discharge opening through the relay portion. The container-side engaging portion is movable by movement of the operation member so that it retains engagement thereof with the main assembly-side engaging portion when the operation member is moved in a opening direction for opening the main assembly shutter member and so that it releases the engagement when the operation member is moved in a closing direction for closing the main assembly shutter member. A position of the operation member when the container-side engaging portion is located in a position to release the engagement is away, in the closing direction, from a position thereof when the container-side engaging portion is located in a position to be engaged with the main assembly-side engaging portion during mounting of the container. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20090245860 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus with a detachable belt unit and supporting frame are described. The detachable belt unit is reliably positioned in the supporting frame. One or more mark sensors are positioned on the supporting frame and are configured to detect alignment marks deposited on an endless belt of the belt unit. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20120141165 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge which is mounted on a pull-out type cartridge tray to enable front access. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an urging unit for urging and moving the cartridge tray toward a front of a main assembly of the apparatus and a clocking member for locking the cartridge tray in a proper position so that the cartridge tray is returned back to an outside position of the apparatus when the cartridge tray is pushed to the proper position. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20090252530 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, and a process cartridge removably mounted to the apparatus body. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge including a photosensitive member, and a developing cartridge including a developer carrying member, which is contactable with the photosensitive member, and which carries developer. The image forming apparatus further includes a first pressing member that presses the photosensitive cartridge in a first direction with respect to a positioning portion that is provided on the apparatus body, and a separating member that includes a second pressing member that acts in a second direction and thereby causes the developer carrying member to separate from the photosensitive member. The first direction and the second direction are substantially the same. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20120195634 | Cartridge Capable of Varying Ratio of Circumferential Speeds of Supply Roller to Developing Roller - A cartridge includes a developing roller, supply roller, input rotary body, developing roller rotary body, and supply roller rotary body. The developing roller/supply roller rotary bodies transmit the drive force inputted from the input rotary body to the developing roller/supply roller, respectively. The developing roller rotary body includes first and second drive input parts having different diameters. The input rotary body includes first and second drive output parts engaged with the first and second drive input part, respectively and having different diameters. The first drive output part is movable between a first position and second position. The first drive input part and the first drive output part are engaged when the first drive output part is in the first position. The second drive input part and the second drive output part are engaged when the first drive output part is in the second position. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20110236064 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge includes: a housing having first and second sidewalls through which respective end portions of a developing roller shaft are rotatably inserted; a developing gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which is fixed to the end portion of the developing roller shaft; a transmission gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which transmits driving force to the developing gear; a first cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the transmission gear; and a second cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the developing gear from an outer side in the axis line direction. The second cover member is formed separately from the first cover member and is arranged side by side with the first cover member outside of the first sidewall. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20100189464 | DEVELOPER, DEVELOPER CARTRIDGE, DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer includes a toner including a toner mother particle having a resin and a colorant and an external additive to be added to a surface of the toner mother particle. The toner has a volume average particle size of greater than or equal to 3.0 μm and smaller than or equal to 7.0 μm and has a surface roughness Rzjis of greater than or equal to 75.3 nm and smaller than or equal to 236.9 nm under observation using a scanning probe microscope. The external additive is titanium oxide having a particle size of greater than or equal to 10 nm and smaller than or equal to 100 nm. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100189463 | Image forming apparatus and toner cartridge - A toner cartridge is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus and supplies toner to the image forming apparatus. The locking mechanism is positioned either at a locking position or at a non-locking position. Shortly after the toner cartridge has been attached to the image forming apparatus, the locking mechanism is at a non-locking position. When a user operates a driving member of the toner cartridge after the toner cartridge has been attached to the image forming apparatus, the operating lever engages the locking mechanism to cause the locking mechanism to move to a locking position. When the locking mechanism is at the locking position, the locking mechanism limits the driving member to move relative to the engagement portion, so that the toner cartridge is not allowed to be detached from the image forming apparatus. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20080205932 | Developing device and image forming apparatus - A developing device is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. The developing device includes a first frame member; a second frame member disposed to face the first frame member; a shaft member for connecting the first frame member and the second frame member; a first engagement member disposed at one end portion of the shaft member for engaging the first frame member; a second engagement member disposed at the other end portion of the shaft member for engaging the second frame member; and a fixing member for fixing at least one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080212996 | Developing cartridge detachable from image forming device - A toner cartridge for use in a printer includes a developing roller and an electrode. The toner cartridge is mountable in the printer by moving in a mounting direction and removable from the printer by moving in a removal direction. The developer roller supplies toner to a photosensitive member of the printer. The electrode is for electrically connecting with a bias supply electrode of the printer to supply a bias to the developing roller. The electrode moves, in a direction from outside the housing toward the interior of the housing and orthogonal to the mounting direction and the removal direction, under contact with the printer while the developing cartridge is being mounted in the printer. The electrode is electrically connected with the bias supply electrode of the printer while the developing cartridge is mounted in the printer. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080212997 | Developer Cartridge and Developing Device - A developer cartridge includes a cartridge cabinet configured to accommodate developer. The cartridge cabinet includes a cartridge-side opening that allows communication between an inside of the cartridge cabinet and an outside of the cartridge cabinet, and a slope provided at a lower edge of the cartridge-side opening, the slope inclining in a direction crossing a horizontal direction when the cartridge-side opening is oriented in a horizontal direction. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080212995 | Detachable developer capable of maintaining nip - A detachable developer in which a photosensitive unit and a development unit are separately and independently installed in a main body. The detachable developer includes a first axis connection member extending from one end portion of the photosensitive unit toward a rotation axis of a developing roller and having a first guide slot formed therein in which one end portion of the rotation axis of the developing roller is inserted, and a second axis connection member extending from the other end portion of the development unit toward a rotation axis at the other end portion of a photosensitive drum and having a second guide slot formed therein in which the other end portion of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum is inserted. The first axis connection member and the second axis connection member extend parallel to each other. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20110110683 | TANDEM PHOTOSENSITIVE-MEMBER UNIT HAVING GRIP PART - An image-forming device includes a main body and a tandem photosensitive-member unit. The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a unit frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a front-side grip part, and a rear-side grip. The unit frame is configured to be slidably installed to and removed from the main body in a predetermined direction. The unit frame has a leading side and a trailing side with respect to the predetermined direction. The plurality of photosensitive members is provided corresponding to a plurality of colors and is supported by the unit frame. The front-side grip part is provided at the leading side of the unit frame. The rear-side grip part is provided at the trailing side of the unit frame. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20120195635 | CARTRIDGE, ASSEMBLING METHOD FOR CARTRIDGE, AND DISASSEMBLYING METHOD FOR CARTRIDGE - A cartridge is detachably mountable to the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge comprises a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer, and a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer. A rotational force receiving member is provided for receiving a rotational force for rotating the developing roller. A side cover is provided with an elastic member and an inclination regulating portion for regulating an inclination of the rotational force receiving member. The side cover is mounted to a cartridge frame by the fastening member, with the rotational force receiving member being mounted to the cartridge frame integrally with the side cover. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20100226685 | Image Forming Device With Holding Unit Engagement Mechanism - An image forming device includes: a main body; a plurality of image forming units; a holding unit; and an engagement mechanism. Each of the plurality of image forming units has a developing portion. The holding unit holds the plurality of image forming units. The plurality of image forming units are aligned in the holding unit in a predetermined drawing direction. The holding unit is configured so as to be drawn out in the predetermined drawing direction from a storage position where the holding unit is stored in the main body. The holding unit sequentially reaches a plurality of different drawing positions while moving in the predetermined drawing direction. The plurality of image forming units are sequentially exposed to the outside while the holding unit sequentially reaches the plurality of drawing positions. The engagement mechanism is configured to engage the holding unit with the main body when the holding unit reaches each of the plurality of drawing positions. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20110236062 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a housing which accommodates developer therein, a receiving member provided which couples with a force output member of an image forming apparatus to receive a driving force, a developing roller which rotates by the driving force received by the receiving member; a detectable rotary member having a first detectable portion and a second detectable portion and rotates by the driving force from a first rotational position where the first detectable portion is detected by a detection member provided in the image forming apparatus to a second rotational position where the second detectable portion is detected by the detection member, and a cut-off mechanism which cuts off a transmission of the driving force from the receiving member to the detectable rotary member in a state where the detectable rotary member is positioned in the second rational position. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20100209141 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER BOTTLE - In an image forming apparatus, a driving force transmitting member includes a protruding portion that can be removably attached to a concave portion of a toner bottle in a shaft line direction of a rotation shaft. The concave portion and the protruding portion can transmit a rotation driving force of the rotation shaft to the toner bottle by being connected with each other such that the concave portion and the protruding portion cannot be rotated relative to each other. A phase detection member includes a pin inserting hole that can select an attachment phase relative to the rotation shaft and can be fixed such that the phase detection member cannot be rotated relative to the rotation shaft. When attaching the protruding portion to the concave portion and removing the protruding portion from the concave portion, a control unit controls a motor to stop a rotation phase of the phase detection member at a prescribed phase. When attaching the protruding portion to the concave portion and removing the protruding portion from the concave portion, a bottle upper surface cover regulates the toner bottle such that a rotation phase of the toner bottle is located at a prescribed phase. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20090074455 | DEVELOPER SUPPLYING CARTRIDGE, DEVELOPER RECEIVING CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply cartridge and the developer receiving cartridge toward each other in a mounting-and-demounting direction of the developer supply cartridge relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20080226342 | Developer Cartridge - A developer cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus and contains developer, the developer cartridge comprising: a first body that has an opening for supplying the developer; a second body that covers the first body, the second body having a conductive portion that can transmit electricity; and a memory unit that is disposed between the first body and the second body, the memory unit can be connected to a terminal of the image forming apparatus through the conductive portion of the second body, wherein the second body and the first body are movable relative to each other, the second body is able to open and close the opening by a relative movement with regard to the first body. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20110129252 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body, and a replaceable part detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body and movable in attaching-and-detaching direction to be attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The replaceable part includes a storage portion, the storage portion including a memory for storing information of the replaceable part and/or the image forming apparatus main body, and a first contact portion electrically connected to the memory. The image forming apparatus main body includes a second contact portion that electrically contacts the first contact portion. The first contact portion has an inclination at a predetermined angle with respect to the attaching-and-detaching direction. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110243606 | Image-Forming Device Having Mechanism for Separating Developing Rollers from Photosensitive Drums - A laser printer includes a contact/separation mechanism that linearly moves developing cartridges between contact positions where the developing cartridges contact corresponding photosensitive drums and separating positions where the developing cartridges separate from the photosensitive drums. The contact/separation mechanism includes a pair of contact/separation members and a synchronous moving mechanism. The contact/separation members are disposed one on one side of the developing cartridges and another on another side of the developing cartridges. The synchronous moving mechanism is for linearly moving the contact/separation members in synchronization with each other. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20090214256 | Preset case, development apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - A developing apparatus has: a developer container including a developer transportation unit that transports, while mixing, a developer containing a toner and a carrier along an axis of rotation by a rotatable mixing transportation member; and a cover member provided in part of the developer transportation unit so as to cover an upper portion of the mixing transportation member. A preset case disposed on top of the developer transportation unit has: a developer feed port provided on that bottom surface of the preset case which lies on a side of the developer container; and a sealing member that seals a developer feed port, the sealing member being mounted so as to be removable, when putting the preset case to use, longitudinally of the mixing transportation member. The developer feed port is provided except for a position that lies opposite to the cover member. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20110044723 | Image-Forming Device Capable of Positioning Developing Unit and Developer Cartridge Precisely - An image-forming device includes a casing, a process unit, a first shutter, a toner cartridge, a second shutter, and a wall. The process unit is detachably mounted in the casing and formed with a first opening, the process unit having a developer roller carrying a toner. The first shutter opens and closes the first opening. The toner cartridge is detachably mounted in the casing, accommodates the toner, and is formed with a second opening, the second opening being in alignment with the first opening. The second shutter opens and closes the second opening. The wall is disposed between the developer unit and the toner cartridge and is formed with a third opening, the third opening being in alignment with the first opening and the second opening. By providing the wall, the process unit and toner cartridge can be detachably mounted in the casing, thereby avoiding a drop in precision for positioning the process unit and toner cartridge relative to the casing. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110211868 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device provided movably in a direction in which the developing device is to be moved away from the image bearing member; a supplying device, provided with a supply port through which a developer is to be supplied, for supplying the developer; a shutter member provided so that the supply port can be covered and uncovered; a first interrelating mechanism for moving the shutter member from an opposing position in which the shutter member opposes the supply port to a retracted position in interrelation with a mounting operation of the developing device; and a second interrelating mechanism for moving the shutter member from the retracted position to the opposing position in interrelation with a demounting operation of the developing device. The second interrelating mechanism includes an engaging portion for engaging the shutter member with the developing device by moving the shutter member to the retracted position and includes a releasing portion for releasing engagement between the shutter member and the developing device by moving the shutter member to the opposing position. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110243605 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH TOP-MOUNTED PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM - An image forming apparatus includes a case, a photosensitive drum, a developing cartridge and a resilient member. The photosensitive drum forms a toner image. The developing cartridge, movably disposed within the case, includes a developing tank and a developing roller. The developing roller, mounted on the developing tank and positioned opposite the photosensitive drum, transfers toners to the photosensitive drum. The resilient member, disposed between the developing tank and the case, provides a restoring force for counteracting a weight of the developing tank and urging the developing roller towards the photosensitive drum. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20100221038 | CLEANING DEVICE, DEVELOPING DEVICE, CARTRIDGE, CLEANING BLADE SECURING METHOD, AND DEVELOPING BLADE SECURING METHOD - A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for removing toner remaining on a surface of an image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a supporting member for supporting the cleaning blade; a mounting hole provided in one of the cleaning blade and the supporting member; a projection which is provided on the other of the cleaning blade and the supporting member and which is inserted in the mounting hole; and a recess provided in the projection and extended from a free end portion of the projection toward a base portion of the projection, wherein the cleaning blade and the supporting member are secured to each other by the projection deformed such that the recess expands outwardly of the mounting hole by resin material in the recess. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20110211867 | Image Forming Device Having Process Unit That Can Be Pulled Out Thereof - The process unit includes a casing, a developer unit, and a switching unit. The developer unit is movable between an image-forming position and a detached position. The developer unit includes a drive force input unit and a drive force transmitting unit. A drive force is inputted into the drive force input unit from outside of the developer unit. The drive force transmitting unit transmits the drive force. The switching member is for switching the drive force transmitting unit between a transmitting state and an interrupting state. The switching member switches the drive force transmitting unit to the transmitting state when the developer unit is at the image-forming position, and the switching member switches the drive force transmitting unit to the interrupting state when the developer unit is at the detached position. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110211866 | Image Forming Device Having Process Unit That Can Be Pulled Out Thereof - An image forming device includes a main body, a support unit, a driving unit, a developer cartridge, a moving member, a transmitting member, and a detection member. The support unit can be pulled out from the main body in a removing direction. The developer cartridge is detachably mounted in the support unit and has a driving member. The driving member is driven by the driving unit when the developer cartridge is mounted in the support unit. The moving member moves when the driving member is driven by the driving unit. The transmitting member is provided to the support unit and is rotatable about a rotational axis which extends perpendicular to the removing direction and a longitudinal direction of a photosensitive member. When the moving member contacts the transmitting member, the transmitting member rotates. The detection member detects a rotation of the transmitting member. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110211865 | Image Forming Device Including Process Unit Provided with Handle - An image forming device includes a main casing, a support member, a plurality of developing cartridges, a handle provided to the support member, and a pair of interfering parts provided at both ends of the support member. Each developing cartridge includes a casing and a developing member supported by the casing. A gap between the pair of interfering parts is narrower than a length of the developing member, and the pair of interfering parts is located between the handle and one of the developing cartridges. Each of the interfering parts has a higher height than the handle. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20090245861 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a body having an opening perforated in one side thereof, a developing unit detachably mounted to the body through the opening, a body cover configured to cover a rear portion of the developing unit in a mounting direction of the developing unit and adapted to open or close the opening, and a memory unit provided at the rear portion of the developing unit and having a developing device terminal. The body cover includes a body terminal to come into contact with the memory unit. Accordingly, an electrical connection between the developing unit and the body can be made less susceptible to vibration, etc. caused during operation of a drive motor. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20100054806 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus forming an image on a recording material includes an image bearing member; a rotary rotatably provided in a main assembly of the apparatus; a locking member; and a developing cartridge detachably mounted to the rotary, wherein the developing cartridge includes a developer carrying member for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member, a demountably mounted covering member for covering a surface of the developer carrying member, and an engaging portion which is movable between a first position in which it is projected beyond an outer surface of the covering member to engage with the main assembly locking member when the rotary is rotated in a forward direction which is a direction of rotation during image formation, and a second position in which it is retracted from the outer surface of the covering member. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100054804 | CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, and an electroconductive developer layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of a developer deposited on the developer carrying member. A part of the developer layer thickness regulating member is directly contactable to the main assembly electrical contact. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100054805 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge and rotatable member having a cartridge mounting portion with an engaging portion engageable with a portion of the cartridge. The cartridge includes a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member. The rotatable member is rotatable for moving the mounting portion between a mounting and demounting position for mounting and demounting the cartridge and another position. The engaging portion is movable between a regulating position, in which disengagement of the cartridge from the mounting portion is suppressed, and a permitting position in which the disengagement of the cartridge from the mounting portion is permitted. When the mounting portion is at the another position, the engaging portion is regulated at the regulating position. When the mounting portion is at the mounting and demounting position, the engaging portion is movable from the regulating position to the permitting position. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100054803 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member; a plurality of rotatable developer carrying members contactable to a surface of the image bearing member to supply developers to electrostatic latent images formed on the surface, respectively; a plurality of developing devices in each of which the developer carrying member is provided; a developing device supporting member rotatable codirectionally with a rotational direction of the image bearing member and integrally supporting the plurality of such developing devices, wherein the developer carrying members is capable of contacting to and spacing from the surface of the image bearing member sequentially by rotation of the developing device supporting member; a peripheral speed of the developing device supporting member divided by a peripheral speed of the image bearing member at the time when the developer carrying member departs from the surface of the developer carrying member after contact of the developer carrying member to the surface of the image bearing member and subsequent development of the electrostatic latent image is larger than 0 and smaller than 1. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20110103835 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a frame; a developer carrying member, provided on the frame, for carrying a developer for developing an electrostatic image; a first portion to be engaged provided on one side of the frame with respect to a direction crossing an axial direction of the developer carrying member; a second portion to be engaged provided on the other side of the frame with respect to the direction crossing the axial direction of the developer carrying member; and a cover member, including a first engaging portion engaging with the first portion to be engaged and including a second engaging portion engaging with the second portion to be engaged, for covering an exposed portion of the developer carrying member by being detachably mounted to the frame. The cover member is detachably mountable to the frame by engaging the first engaging portion with second portion to be engaged and by engaging the second engaging portion with the first portion to be engaged. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110081164 | Image Forming Apparatus and Developing Agent Cartridge - An image forming apparatus may include a casing, and a plurality of image carriers parallelly arranged along one direction in the casing and formed with an electrostatic latent image. The apparatus can further include a plurality of developing agent carriers opposed to the image carriers, for visualizing the electrostatic latent image by feeding a developing agent to the image carriers, and a plurality of developing agent cartridges, parallelly arranged in the one direction to be opposed to the developing agent carriers in the longitudinal direction of the developing agent carriers, and configured to be together attachable/detachable to/from the casing along the one direction, for accommodating the developing agent fed to the developing agent carriers. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20120201569 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided for forming an image on a recording material. An opening is provided to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, with first and second openable members being movable between closed positions in which portions of the opening are closed and open positions in which portions of the opening are opened. A movable member is movable between a set position inside the main assembly and an outward position in which the movable member, having passed through the opening, is located at an outermost position. The movable member is capable of supporting a plurality of cartridges, side by side, with each of the cartridges including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20110052257 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVENIENT REPLACEMENT OF DEVELOPER CONTAINER - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image, at least one developer container replaceably provided in the image forming apparatus for containing developer, a housing for housing the image forming mechanism and the at least one developer container, and an operation device provided on the housing. The housing includes at least one openable portion opened for replacement of the at least one developer container. The operation device includes an instruction display part for indicating a message prompting opening of the at least one openable portion, and at least one developer-end display part for indicating depletion or near-depletion of the developer contained in any one of the at least one developer container. The at least one developer-end display part and the instruction display part are placed adjacent to each other and are viewable from a front side of the image forming apparatus. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110150528 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a tandem type photosensitive unit, retaining photosensitive drums, mounted in the body and movable along the arrangement direction of the drums; and a developer cartridge provided for each drum, retaining a developing roller and detachably mounted on the unit. The apparatus also includes a translation member provided in the body and movable in the arrangement direction; and a link member corresponding to each cartridge and displaced to a position where a first end portion opposed to a prescribed portion of each cartridge, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion and pressed by the translation member so the first end portion presses the prescribed portion to separate the roller from the drum and a position where the translation member is released from pressing the second end portion and the first end portion is released from pressing the prescribed portion. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20090324283 | Image-Forming Device - A plurality of developing units is disposed beneath photosensitive drums for supplying toner to the photosensitive drums. A mounting member detachably mounts the developing units and is configured to be pulled out from the main casing. A supporting member has an upstream end portion in a pulling direction that the mounting member is pulled outward from the main casing and is pivotably supported on the main casing about the upstream end portion. The mounting member is slidably supported on the supporting member in the pulling direction. The supporting member is configured to pivot with the mounting member between a first position where the developing units are capable of supplying toner to the photosensitive drums and a second position where the developing units separate from the photosensitive drums. The mounting member is configured to be pulled out from the main casing if the support member is in the second position. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090317134 | CARTRIDGE, ASSEMBLING METHOD FOR CARTRIDGE, AND DISASSEMBLYING METHOD FOR CARTRIDGE - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion; a cartridge frame extended in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller; a bearing member, provided at one longitudinal end portion of the cartridge frame, for supporting a developing roller shaft portion at one longitudinal end portion of the developing roller; a rotational force receiving member for receiving, from the main assembly, a rotational force for rotating the developing roller, in a state in which the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; a side cover provided outside the bearing member with respect to a longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame; a first fastening member fastening the bearing member to the cartridge frame to mount the bearing member to the cartridge frame; and a second fastening member fastening the side cover to the cartridge frame to mount the side cover to the cartridge frame. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090317133 | Image Forming Device Having Detachable Developing Device Unit - An image forming device includes a main casing, a photosensitive drum unit and a developing device unit. The photosensitive drum unit includes a plurality of photosensitive drums that forms electrostatic images thereon, each photosensitive drum having an axis, the plurality of photosensitive drums being juxtaposed along a line extending in a first direction orthogonal to the axis. The developing device unit includes a plurality of developing devices and a supporting member. The developing devices are disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of photosensitive drums, each developing device including a developing roller that supplies toner to corresponding photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic images formed thereon and having a shaft extending in a second direction parallel to the axis of the photosensitive drum. The supporting member supports the plurality of developing devices to be movable between a first position for supplying toner to corresponding photosensitive drums and a second position retracted from the first position. The developing device unit is detachable from the main casing by moving the plurality of developing devices to the second position and drawing the supporting member. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090317135 | CARTRIDGE, MOUNTING METHOD FOR COUPLING MEMBER, AND DISASSEMBLING METHOD FOR COUPLING MEMBER - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion; a coupling member for receiving a rotational force for rotating the developing roller from the main assembly, in a state in which the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; a cylindrical member movably supporting one end portion of the coupling member inside of the cylindrical member; a cylindrical member side force receiving portion, provided inside the cylindrical member, for receiving the rotational force received from the main assembly by the coupling member; a gear, provided on an outer periphery of the cylindrical member, for transmitting the rotational force received by the cylindrical member side force receiving portion to the developing roller; a first regulating portion, provided inside of the cylindrical member and deformable in a radial direction of the cylindrical member, for preventing one end portion of the coupling member from disengaging in an axial direction of the cylindrical member; and a second regulating portion for regulating deformation of the first regulating portion in a state in which one end portion of the coupling is mounted to an inside of the cylindrical member with deformation of the first regulating portion. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20110255901 | Developing Device and Image Forming Apparatus - A developing device comprising: a developing roller; a casing that includes a developer storage unit; a roller supporting unit and an opening; and a seal member that is mounted on the casing outside the opening in the central axis direction and faces an end portion of the developing roller, the seal member configured to rub against the end portion of the developing roller when the seal member is elastically deformed, wherein the casing includes: an outer projection that is provided along a moving direction of the developing roller to abut on an outer end portion of the seal member, the outer projection protruding in a position which is inside the roller supporting unit; and an inner projection provided along the outer projection so as to abut on an inner end portion of the seal member, the inner projection protruding in a position which is outside the opening. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20080253804 | Image forming apparatus and intermediate transfer unit - An intermediate transfer unit of an image forming apparatus is provided between a plurality of developer containers for containing developer and a plurality of developing devices. The intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer unit for secondarily transferring primarily transferred developed images from the plurality of image carriers onto a paper, an intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism for driving the intermediate transfer unit, and a housing for supporting the intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism. One end of the housing includes a plurality of developer inlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer supply ports of the developer containers respectively, a plurality of developer outlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer receiving ports of the developing devices respectively, and a plurality of developer supply paths connecting between the developer inlet ports and the developer outlet ports respectively. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080226341 | Developer Cartridge - A developer cartridge has: a first body having an opening; a memory unit that has a contact terminal, the memory unit is provided at the first body; and a second body that covers the first body, the second body having a exposure hole; wherein the second body and the first body are movable relative to each other, the second body is able to open and close the opening by a relative movement with regard to the first body, and wherein the contact terminal of the memory faces to outside of the developer cartridge through the exposure hole when the second body is positioned at a first position in which the opening is opened, and the contact terminal of the memory unit is covered with the second body when the second body is positioned at a second position and the opening is closed by the second body. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20110164898 | DEVELOPER SUPPLY CASE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer supply case which is detachably attachable to an inserted portion of an image forming apparatus body includes a case body which stores a developer in its inside; an engaging portion which causes an inserting load W when engaged with an engaged portion provided in the image forming apparatus at completion of insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion; and a load causing portion which is provided so as to abut part of the inserted portion in insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion and causes an inserting load P | 07-07-2011 |
| 20080199214 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE WITH COMPONENT GEOMETRY SUITABLE FOR RECYCLE OF SAME - A process cartridge is disclosed which is detachably mounted on an apparatus for forming an image using toner, and which has a process cartridge housing. The process cartridge housing includes: a smoothed surface portion including an inner face and an outer face; at least one protruding portion formed on the smoothed surface portion so as to protrude therefrom; and a structure having a surface configured for physically facilitation removal of the toner form the process cartridge housing, once attached thereto. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20110020032 | Image Forming Device and Cartridge - An image forming device is described according to an aspect comprises: a photoconductive drum; a developing roller opposed to the photoconductive drum; a developer container; a cartridge; a second portion; and a second terminal. The cartridge comprises: a cartridge frame; a memory unit; a first portion disposed at an upstream portion in a vicinity of an upstream end in an attachment direction of the cartridge frame; and a first terminal disposed at least a part of the first portion and electrically connected to the memory unit. The second terminal is disposed at least a part of the second portion to contact with the first terminal and electrically connected to a controller disposed in the main body. One of the first portion and second portion receives the other of the first portion and second portion. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20100284707 | Image Forming Apparatus with Translation Cam Member - An image forming apparatus includes a detaching and pressing mechanism for releasing developing rollers of developer cartridges mounted in a drum unit from photosensitive drums and pressing the developing rollers on the photosensitive drums. The detaching and pressing mechanism includes a pair of translation cam members, intermediate members provided on the translation cam members, cam holders for holding the translation cam members in such a manner as to be linearly movable in an anteroposterior direction, and a synchronous movement mechanism for allowing the pair of translation cam members to linearly move in synchronization. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100329734 | Developing Unit Having Guide That Stably Supports Toner Cartridge - A developing device includes a developer cartridge and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a first guide and a second guide. The second is movable with respect to the developing frame between a first position where the second guide is in continuous with the first guide and a second position where a continuous state of the second guide with the first guide is interrupted. The developer cartridge includes a developer frame that accommodates a developer and a first guided member movable with respect to the developer frame. The first guide and the second guide at the first position guide the first guided member in the course of attaching the developer cartridge to the developing unit. When an attachment of the developer cartridge to the developing unit completes, the first guide receives the first guided member, and the second guide is at the second position. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110097109 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A developing cartridge that maintains a pressing condition to press a developer carrier against the image carrier is described. The developing cartridge may include a coil spring that presses the developer carrier against the image carrier. The coil spring may include a handle that transmits a pressing force to the coil spring via the contacting member. By doing so, every time the developing cartridge is replaced, a new coil spring and handle can be provided for the color laser printer with the developing cartridge attached. Therefore, a constant pressure by the coil spring can be continuously maintained. Thus, a preferable pressure condition of the developer carrier against the image carrier can be continuously maintained. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20100215401 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A development device to develop a latent image with two-component developer includes a developer carrier disposed facing the image carrier, to carry the developer, a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer carrier, to form multiple magnetic poles around the developer carrier, an interior wall dividing the interior of the development device into a first transport chamber and a second transport chamber parallel to the first transport chamber, a first transport member disposed in the first transport chamber, facing the developer carrier, to supply the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer longitudinally, a second transport member disposed in the second transport chamber, facing the developer carrier, to transport the developer separated from the developer carrier longitudinally, a partition disposed between the developer carrier and the second transport member to prevent resupply of the used developer in the second transport chamber from to the developer carrier. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100166458 | Developing Device - A developing device includes a developing unit having a developing frame defining therein a developing chamber and a developing roller rotatably disposed in the developing chamber, and a developing agent unit including a developing agent container that accommodates therein a developing agent, and an agitator disposed in the developing agent container and rotatable about a rotation axis in a rotational direction to agitate the developing agent. The developing agent container includes an arcuate bottom wall whose center of radius of a curvature is coincident with the rotation axis, and an arcuate protruding wall protruding from the bottom wall toward the developing chamber and positioned downstream of the bottom wall in the rotational direction. The protruding wall is formed with an opening providing a fluid communication between an interior of the developing agent container and the developing chamber. The opening has a downstream end in the rotational direction in an operational state. The bottom wall and the protruding wall have inner surfaces extending diagonally upward from a lowermost point of the bottom wall to the downstream end in the operational state. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100166459 | DEVELOPER SUPPORTING MEMBER, DEVELOPING ROLLER, DEVELOPING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer supporting member includes a supporting layer for supporting developer. The supporting layer has a corona discharge resistivity of a specific value. The supporting layer is formed of an elastic layer and a surface layer. The surface layer includes a surface treated with a urethane solution. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100166460 | TONER SUPPLYING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner supplying device is provided with a container body formed with a toner replenishment opening and adapted to contain toner, a shutter for opening and closing the toner replenishment opening, and an opening/closing structure for causing the shutter to perform opening and closing operations as the container body is mounted into and detached from the apparatus body. The opening/closing structure includes an arm projecting from the shutter in a mounting direction of the container body into the apparatus body and a locking portion attached to the arm. The locking portion includes a first locking claw engageable with and disengageable from a first engageable portion for locking formed at the guiding portion and a second locking claw engageable with and disengageable from a second engageable portion for locking formed at the container body. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100067947 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge includes a developer carrying member for supplying a developer to an image bearing member; a protecting member provided movably between a closing position where the protective member covers the carrying member and an opening position where the protective member exposes the carrying member; a shifting member for shifting the cartridge, mounted to the mounting portion, between a operable position where the carrying member operably opposes the image bearing member and a separation position where the carrying member is moved away from the operable position; a grip portion provided movably between a first position and a second position; and an interrelating member for interrelating the cartridge with the grip portion. In a state where the cartridge is mounted to mounting portion, the interrelating member shifts the cartridge from the separation position to the operable position by the shifting member while moving the protecting member from the closing position to the opening position in interrelation with movement of the grip portion from the first position to the second position, and shifts the cartridge from the operable position to the separation position by the shifting member while moving the protecting member from the opening position to the closing position in interrelation with movement of the grip portion from the second position to the first position. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20110188889 | CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge includes: a rotational body; a joint member having a first joint-side engagement part configured to be engaged to a rotational body-side engagement part with a predetermined moving range in a rotational direction, and a press member, wherein the joint member has a second joint-side engagement part configured to be engaged with a transfer-side engagement part with central axes of the joint member and the driving force transfer member being substantially matched, and wherein when the second joint-side engagement part is contacted to the driving force transfer member at a position at which the central axes of the joint member and the driving force transfer member are not matched, the joint member is rotated within the predetermined range and the second joint-side engagement part is thus moved, so that the second joint-side engagement part is engaged with the transfer-side engagement part in the rotational direction. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20100021203 | Image Forming Apparatus - There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a plurality of developing devices each including a developing roller; a support member detachably supporting the plurality of developing devices; and a developing device move mechanism that moves each of the developing devices to a close position and a distant position. Each of the developing devices includes a cover member that is movable between a cover position and an exposure position. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover member move mechanism, which moves the cover member from the cover position to the exposure position in association with movement of the developing roller from the distant position to the close position, and which moves the cover member from the exposure position to the cover position in association with movement of the developing roller from the close position to the distant position. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20120308264 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing roller for contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The developing cartridge also includes a force receiving portion, projected in an axial direction of the developing roller, for receiving a force for spacing the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive member. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120308263 | Image Forming Apparatus - The present invention provides a configuration in which an electrically connected condition can further be stabilized in electrical-connection zones between a body of an image-forming apparatus, and an image-forming unit and a plurality of image-forming cartridges. Developing electrode members and wire power-feed electrodes are attached to a slide frame. Each of the developing electrode members has a first body-side contact. The developing electrode members are electrically connected with the developing-roller output terminals. The wire power-feed electrodes are electrically connected with wire output terminals through contact with the wire output terminals. The developing electrode members are elastically deformed as a result of their first body-side contacts being pressed in a direction, which is along a slide direction, by the developing-roller output terminals. The wire power-feed electrodes are pressed in a paper width direction by the wire output terminals. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120148297 | DEVELOPER CARTRIDGE WITH COUNTING MECHANISM - The invention provides a developer cartridge with a counting mechanism. The developer cartridge comprises a developer and the counting mechanism, wherein the counting mechanism is provided with protrusions which come in contact with a contact lever on an electronic photographing device so as to count the developer cartridge; and each protrusion has a first position and a second position in the direction perpendicular to a side wall of the developer cartridge, and is, in the first position, in contact with the contact lever, but is not, in the second position, in contact with the contact lever. The working principle of the developer cartridge adopting the counting mechanism is greatly different from the prior art. Therefore, the structure of the counting mechanism of the developer cartridge is simpler and more convenient and reliable; the production precision and the production cost are reduced; and the market competitiveness of the developer cartridge is improved. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20090232547 | TONER CARTRIDGE, AND SHUTTER STRUCTURE FOR THE SAME - A toner cartridge includes a container main body includes a toner outlet, a shutter mechanism for opening and closing the toner outlet, a lever for operating the shutter mechanism, a lever locking mechanism, a lock releasing mechanism, and a prevention mechanism. The lever locking mechanism locks the lever so as to be inoperative while the toner outlet is closed. The lock releasing mechanism unlocks the lever locked by the lever locking mechanism in conjunction with installment of the container main body into the image forming device. The prevention mechanism prevents the container main body from being taken out of the image forming device while the container main body is installed in the image forming device, and the lever operates to open the toner outlet. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20120148298 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a developing unit, a drawer movably installed at the main body and including a tray and a cover. The cover includes a first operation section and a second operation section, an interlocking member to be moved along with the drawer in the first operation section of the cover, and a lift member to be vertically moved according to movement of the interlocking member, wherein the developing unit is provided with a first connection terminal. The lift member is arranged with a second connection terminal, and the tray is arranged with a third connection terminal connected to the second connection terminal according to the position of the second connection terminal so that the second and third connection terminals are disconnected prior to extraction of the tray from the main body. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20110318056 | DETACHABLE BODY AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A detachable body includes: a detachable body main body that is to be attached to an attachment/detachment subject apparatus in a detachable manner, the detachable main body having an internal space and a connection hole which connects the internal space and an external space; and an opening/closing member that is attached to the detachable body main body, the opening/closing member being movable between an opening position where the connection hole is exposed and a closing position where the connection hole is closed. The opening/closing member includes: an opening/closing member main body that is curved parallel with a movement direction of the opening/closing member between the opening position and the closing position; and a plane portion that has a flat surface, the plane potion being formed in an outer surface of the opening/closing member main body. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120045244 | CAP, POWDER CONTAINER, DEVELOPER SUPPLY DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cap is configured to be attached to a developer container that discharges developer contained in the container body out of the container body through a discharge port defined in a portion of the container body. The cap includes a first attaching member and a second attaching member that are detachably assembled into one piece. When the first attaching member or the second attaching member receives a rotary force, the first attaching member and the second attaching member are separated from each other, and only the first attaching member is released from the container body. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120114377 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND DEVELOPING DEVICE - A developing device is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus and includes a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The developing roller includes an elastic roller portion and a core metal portion for supporting the roller portion; a developing device frame for rotatably supporting the developing roller; a developer layer thickness regulating member, for regulating a layer thickness of a developer carried on the developing roller; and a movement preventing portion for preventing movement of the developing roller in an axial direction, wherein the movement preventing portion is detachably mounted in the developing device and is inserted into a spacing between an end portion of the core metal portion and an opposing portion of the developing device frame. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120014713 | DEVELOPER SUPPLY CONTAINER AND DEVELOPER SUPPLYING SYSTEM - In the case that a developer supply container is provided with a feeding portion for feeding a developer by receiving a rotational force and a pump portion for discharging the developer by reciprocation, and the rotational force and a reciprocating force are received from a main assembly side of an image forming apparatus, there is a liability that a driving connection is not properly established between a portion of the developer supply container for receiving the reciprocating force and a portion of the main assembly side for applying the reciprocating force. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20110064463 | Developer Cartridge - A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20120301185 | Image Forming Apparatus, Image Forming Cartridge Supporter, and Image Forming Unit - An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members is electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member is electrically connected to the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120301184 | Imaging Cartridge With Venting Fill Port - An imaging cartridge for use with an imaging machine comprises an opening in the toner chamber having an oblong shape, such that when a circular toner dispensing device is used to fill the toner chamber through the opening, a gap external of the circular toner dispensing device remains so air is able to escape the imaging cartridge through the gap while the toner chamber is being filled with toner. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120027458 | CLEANING DEVICE, DEVELOPING DEVICE, CARTRIDGE, CLEANING BLADE SECURING METHOD, AND DEVELOPING BLADE SECURING METHOD - A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for removing toner remaining on a surface of an image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a supporting member for supporting the cleaning blade; a mounting hole provided in one of the cleaning blade and the supporting member; a projection which is provided on the other of the cleaning blade and the supporting member and which is inserted in the mounting hole; and a recess provided in the projection and extended from a free end portion of the projection toward a base portion of the projection, wherein the cleaning blade and the supporting member are secured to each other by the projection deformed such that the recess expands outwardly of the mounting hole by resin material in the recess. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120155917 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is provided with guide portions to be used to mount a cartridge group including plural cartridges in the image forming apparatus. Some of the guide portions are used also to mount an alternative cartridge, which is configured to occupy two or more of plural mounting spaces, in the image forming apparatus. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20110091242 | DEVELOPER UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A developing unit and image formation device in which a developer carrier is reliably pressed towards and separated from an image carrier is described. A separation and pressing mechanism is provided for separating and pressing the developer carriers of developing cartridges installed in a drum unit onto image carriers. This separation and pressing mechanism has a pair of direct cam members. Each direct cam member has a release action portion that engages with the releasing projection of a developing cartridge when the developer carrier is to be separated from the image carrier. Each direct cam member may also have a pressing action portion that engages with the pressing projection of the developing cartridges when the developer carrier is to be pressed onto the image carrier. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110103834 | DEVELOPMENT CARTRIDGE - A cartridge attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body includes a rotating member, a supporting member configured to rotatably support the rotating member, a regulating portion configured to abut against an end surface of the rotating member in a rotational axis direction to regulate movement in the rotational axis direction, a hole portion configured to expose a portion of the end surface so as to enable a contact portion provided on the image forming apparatus main body to contact the end surface, a concave portion configured to retain grease, and a wall surface in the concave portion located at a downstream side in a rotation direction and provided such that an area of the wall surface that is farther from the hole portion than an area thereof that is closer to the hole portion is located at the downstream side of the rotation direction. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110103833 | DEVELOPMENT CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a plurality of development cartridges each having a developer bearing member bearing a developer for developing an electrostatic image and a developer container accommodating the developer, a rotary configured to rotate and move the attached development cartridges toward a development position, an opening defined in an apparatus main body and allowing the development cartridge to pass through for attachment and detachment to and from the rotary, and an indicator provided on a second development cartridge arranged adjacent to a first development cartridge passing through the opening and detached from the rotary being stopped, wherein the indicator indicates an attachment method usable to attach the first development cartridge to the rotary, and wherein the indicator is located at such a position on the second development cartridge as to be visible from outside of the apparatus main body via the opening. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110103832 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a supporting member provided on the frame in a state in which the supporting member supports an end of the regulating member at a first end portion thereof; a grip portion, provided with a spacing from a second end portion of the supporting member opposite from the first end portion of the supporting member, for gripping the developing cartridge; and a sheet member, provided on the supporting member so as to extend from the second end portion toward the grip portion, for covering the second end portion by being bent by an operation for gripping the grip portion. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20100092211 | SYSTEM TO PRODUCE A LOCKING CONNECTION BETWEEN A TONER RESERVOIR AND A COVER SEALING THE TONER RESERVOIR - In a method or system to produce a locking connection between a toner reservoir and a cover sealing the toner reservoir, first and second locking units are provided that are locked with one another after sealing the toner reservoir with the cover. The first locking unit is arranged at an inside of the cover and the second locking unit is arranged on an outside of the toner reservoir. At least one of the two locking units has a run-in slope over which the other locking unit slides. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20120121292 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND PROCESS UNIT - A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller configured to rotate about an first axis extending in a first direction, the developing roller having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in the first direction; a case including a first wall disposed at the first side of the developing roller and a second wall disposed at the second side of the developing roller; an arm configured to be supported by the first wall of the case and configured to swing between a first posture and a second posture about an second axis extending the first direction, the arm including a first protrusion projecting from the arm in the first direction. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120163862 | Image Forming Apparatus and Developing Agent Cartridge - An image forming apparatus may include a casing, and a plurality of image carriers arranged in parallel along one direction in the casing and formed with an electrostatic latent image. The apparatus can further include a plurality of developing agent carriers opposed to the image carriers, for visualizing the electrostatic latent image by feeding a developing agent to the image carriers, and a plurality of developing agent cartridges, arranged in parallel in the one direction to be opposed to the developing agent carriers in the longitudinal direction of the developing agent carriers, and configured to be together attachable/detachable to/from the casing along the one direction, for accommodating the developing agent fed to the developing agent carriers. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120213550 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a transfer member for transferring a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a mounting portion for demountably mounting a cartridge, the image formation unit being movable, in a state that the cartridge is demountably mounted, between a transfer position for transferring the developed image, and a mounting and demounting position, different from the transfer position, and a regulating member for limiting movement of the cartridge mounted to the mounting portion, when the unit moves between the transfer position and the mounting and demounting position, the regulating member being movable between a regulating position for limiting the movement of the cartridge, and a permitting position for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge, and the regulating member being in a regulating position when the unit moves between the transfer position and the mounting and demounting position. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20100329735 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing unit is pivotally supported by a pivot pin so as to be swingable, and a forcing lever forces a developing roller towards a photosensitive drum so that an outer circumferential surface of a DS roller makes contact with an outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. This maintains, at a specified value, a developing gap between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller. A sympathetic vibration prevention member in which an elastic member is provided on an upper surface of the base member is inserted between a lower portion of a housing of the developing unit and a guide rail provided under the lower portion. This prevents the developing unit from vibrating in sympathetic with vibration during the transportation of the image forming apparatus, which prevents the toner from spilling out. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20120237256 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a casing, photosensitive members arranged along an arrangement direction, and developing cartridges. Each developing cartridge includes a developer carrying member configured to supply a developer to a corresponding one of the photosensitive members. Each photosensitive member is configured to move between an image formation position where an image is formed on the photosensitive member and a retracted position where the photosensitive member is retracted from the developer carrying member. When the photosensitive member is in the image formation position, the photosensitive member is configured to close a path through which a corresponding one of the developing cartridges is attached to and removed from the casing. When the photosensitive member is in the retracted position, the photosensitive member is configured to open the path. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120251173 | Image-Forming Device - A plurality of developing units is disposed beneath photosensitive drums for supplying toner to the photosensitive drums. A mounting member detachably mounts the developing units and is configured to be pulled out from the main casing. A supporting member has an upstream end portion in a pulling direction that the mounting member is pulled outward from the main casing and is pivotably supported on the main casing about the upstream end portion. The mounting member is slidably supported on the supporting member in the pulling direction. The supporting member is configured to pivot with the mounting member between a first position where the developing units are capable of supplying toner to the photosensitive drums and a second position where the developing units separate from the photosensitive drums. The mounting member is configured to be pulled out from the main casing if the support member is in the second position. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120076537 | Image Forming Device and Cartridge - An image forming device is described according to an aspect comprises: a photoconductive drum; a developing roller opposed to the photoconductive drum; a developer container; a cartridge; a second portion; and a second terminal. The cartridge comprises: a cartridge frame; a memory unit; a first portion disposed at an upstream portion in a vicinity of an upstream end in an attachment direction of the cartridge frame; and a first terminal disposed at at least a part of the first portion and electrically connected to the memory unit. The second terminal is disposed at at least a part of the second portion to contact with the first terminal and electrically connected to a controller disposed in the main body. One of the first portion and second portion receives the other of the first portion and second portion. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120076536 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A developing cartridge that maintains a pressing condition to press a developer carrier against the image carrier is described. The developing cartridge may include a coil spring that presses the developer carrier against the image carrier. The coil spring may include a handle that transmits a pressing force to the coil spring via the contacting member. By doing so, every time the developing cartridge is replaced, a new coil spring and handle can be provided for the color laser printer with the developing cartridge attached. Therefore, a constant pressure by the coil spring can be continuously maintained. Thus, a preferable pressure condition of the developer carrier against the image carrier can be continuously maintained. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20090103945 | TONER CARTRIDGE - The present invention provides an exchangeable toner cartridge which can be attached to or detached from an apparatus main body. The toner cartridge includes the toner transfer member which is provided along a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge and which can rotate. At the first range of the upstream side in a toner transfer direction the toner transfer member is formed into a substantially spiral shape, and at the second range of the downstream side in the toner transfer direction on a side of a toner supply port, toner transfer member has a shape different from that of the first range. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20120177405 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a partition wall which is provided in the housing along a substantially vertical direction, the partition wall partitioning an inner space of the housing into a first space and a second space; developing units which are disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the first space, each of the developing units comprising a first reception opening and a return opening; and developer cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units, the developer cartridges being disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the second space, each of developer cartridges comprising a supply opening and a second reception opening. The first reception openings of the developing units communicate with the supply openings of respective ones of the developer cartridges, and the return openings of the developer units communicate with the second reception openings of respective ones of the developer cartridges. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20100008698 | DEVELOPER STORAGE CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A developer storage container includes a container body, an opening formed in the container body, an opening-and-closing cover, a cover holding frame that holds the cover so that the cover is movable between opening and closing positions, a protrusion portion, a blocking portion and a position regulating protrusion. When the opening-and-closing cover moves in the opening-and-closing direction toward the opening position and reaches a certain intermediate position, the blocking portion contacts with the protrusion portion. When the opening-and-closing cover moves from a position where the protrusion portion and the blocking portion are in contact with each other to the closing position, the position regulating protrusion causes the opening-and-closing cover to move in a intersecting direction and regulates a position of the opening-and-closing cover in the intersecting direction so that the blocking portion is overlapped, along the opening-and-closing direction, with the position of the distal end of the protrusion portion. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20120219323 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120263496 | DEVELOPER CASE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS TO WHICH DEVELOPER CASE IS APPLIED - A developer case that contains developer and supplies the developer to another device in a specified replenishing position includes a main body and a rotating unit. The main body includes a bottom wall, a top wall, and first and second side walls. The rotating unit includes a rotation shaft, a transportation member, and a drive input member. The first and second side walls respectively have first and second linear inner surfaces. When the developer case is in the replenishing position, when a line perpendicular to a horizontal line that passes through an axis of the rotation shaft is defined as a reference line, a first angle θ | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120263495 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a developing device for supplying toner to a circumferential surface of the image bearing member, a toner container for supplying the toner to the developing device, a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet, and a housing. The housing accommodates the image bearing member, the developing device and the toner container. The housing has a first surface and a second surface different from the first surface. The toner container is taken out from the interior of the housing to the outside of the housing through the first surface. The developing device is taken out from the interior of the housing to the outside of the housing through the second surface. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20090016770 | ARRANGEMENT FOR CONVEYING TONER FROM A TONER SUPPLY CONTAINER INTO A TONER RECEIVING CONTAINER - In an arrangement to convey toner from a toner bottle of a toner reservoir into a toner receiving container, the toner bottle has a cover to close an output opening thereof. The cover has an upper cover part to accept the toner bottle and a lower cover part to close the outlet opening. A first locking unit provided within the cover arresting the lower cover part to the upper cover part such that it cannot be displaced before placement of the toner reservoir onto the toner receiving container. The cover is receivable on the toner receiving container so that the outlet opening of the toner reservoir is positioned above a filling opening of the toner receiving container. A slider has an outlet opening, the slider closing or opening the filling opening of the toner receiving container. The slider has an unlocking unit that unlocks the first locking unit upon placement of the toner reservoir on the toner receiving container so that the lower cover part is no longer arrested to the upper cover part. The lower cover part and the slider have a latching unit that engages in an active connection upon placement of the toner reservoir onto the toner receiving container so that the lower cover part moves with movement of the slider. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20120230730 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge having a developer container, and an operation member; a remainder detector for detecting the developer remainder in the container when an image forming operation is not carried out while the operation member is in operation; an operation amount detector for detecting a cumulative operation amount of the operation member, wherein an end of life of the cartridge is discriminated when the remainder detector detects that the remaining amount of the developer becomes less than a predetermined amount, and the end is also discriminated when the operation amount detector detects an end of life of operation member; a setting device for setting, on the basis of outputs of the remainder detector and the operation amount detector, timing of subsequent detection of the remainder detector. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20080298838 | Image Forming Apparatus and Developing Cartridge - In a developing cartridge, the contact plate of the electrode member is disposed to contact the developing bias terminal within a plane of projection when a driven coupling part is projected in a first direction. A first axis line, which is an axis of the developing roller shaft, and a second axis line, which is an axis of the input gear, are disposed in parallel and equidistant in the front-rear direction. A part of the contact plate is disposed on the second axis line. A first line connecting an axis about which the input gear rotates and the developing roller shaft and a second line connecting the contact plate and the developing roller shaft are disposed parallel to each other. The distance between the first axis line and the second axis line equals the distance between the first axis line and the contact plate. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080298837 | Developing Device and Image Forming Apparatus - A developing device includes a cabinet, a developer carrier, a transport member rotating around a transport member shaft, and a developer cartridge attachable to and detachable from the cabinet. The developer cartridge includes a cartridge side first opening and a cartridge side second opening. The cabinet includes a cabinet side first opening located in a position opposed to the cartridge side first opening and a cabinet side second opening located in a position opposed to the cartridge side second opening. The cartridge side first opening, the cartridge side second opening, the cabinet side first opening and the cabinet side second opening extend in a vertical direction. The transport member transports a developer from the cabinet side first opening to the cabinet side second opening. A lower end of the cabinet side second opening is located upper than a center of the transport member shaft in the vertical direction. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080298836 | Image Forming Apparatus and Toner Cartridge - An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a toner cartridge detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus, including a toner casing accommodating a developing agent, an opening/closing member which opens/closes an opening formed in the toner casing to discharge the developing agent, and an operation member operating the opening/closing member; and a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image by the developing agent discharged from the opening. The operation member can move between an open position for operating the opening/closing member to open the opening, and a close position for operating the opening/closing member to close the opening, and the operation member forms a part of a transport path of a recording medium in the image forming apparatus at the open position in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20110002709 | Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A cartridge set in a main body of an image forming apparatus including a developer roller positioned opposite a photosensitive member and a frame including the developer roller and in contact with an urging unit, wherein the urging unit is structured to urged the developer roller towards the photosensitive member, also the urging unit is structured to transfer a voltage from a power supply unit to the developer roller. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110038649 | CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WHICH USES CARTRIDGE - A cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the cartridge including i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and ii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the developing roller, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the developing roller to the developing roller and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein when the cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the developing roller, the coupling member moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110236063 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller main body; a developing roller shaft, which is arranged along a central axis line of the developing roller main body, and which protrudes from both end portions of the developing roller main body along the central axis line, wherein the developing roller shaft includes a small diameter part located at a first end portion in the axis line direction, the small diameter part having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a second end portion opposite to the first end portion; and a developing gear that is fixed to the first end portion of the developing roller shaft. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110236066 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a housing which accommodates developer therein, a receiving member which receives a driving force output member provided in an image forming apparatus, a developing roller which rotates by the driving force received by the receiving member, and a detectable rotary member including a detectable portion, which is a detection target to be detected by a detection member provided in the image forming apparatus, and a contact portion which is provided away from the detectable portion. The detectable rotary member rotates from a retreat position to an initial position where the detectable rotary member is rotated by the driving force received by the receiving member, by the contact portion contacting an interference member fixed in the image forming apparatus in a process of mounting the developing cartridge into the image forming apparatus. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110236065 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge includes a receiving member which receives a driving force from outside; a first rotary member which rotates by the driving force; a second rotary member which takes a driven position where the second rotary member rotates by the driving force from the first rotary member and a non-driven position where transmission of the driving force from the first rotary member is cut off; a detectable member which moves as the rotation of the second rotary member, and a first portion which rotates by the driving force. The second rotary member includes a second portion. When the second rotary member is in the non-driven position, the second portion is provided on a rotating locus drawn by the first portion. The first portion engages with the second portion as the first portion rotates, so that the second rotary member rotates from the non-driven position to the driven position. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20100232832 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body having main body side guide portions and a cartridge mounting portion, including: a developer containing portion; a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member with developer; first cartridge side guide portions provided at one end and the other end in a longitudinal direction of the roller, for engaging with the main body side guide portions to regulate a movement locus of the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted to the main body; and protruding portions provided at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction, wherein the cartridge is mounted to the main body in a mounting direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction with the roller being a leading edge, and the protruding portions protrude on a downstream side further than the roller in the mounting direction. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20120275825 | Image Forming Device Having Detachable Process Unit - An image forming device facilitating fluid communication between developer cartridges supported in a main body frame and a process unit in which developing units are accommodated in a drawer movable in a first direction and second direction opposite to the first direction. The developing units are arrayed in the first and second direction, and the process unit is formed with communication ports displaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the first and second direction. An inlet shutter mechanism is provided to open the communication ports when the drawer is assembled to an operable position for image formation. The main body has abutment portions to open each shutter of the inlet shutter mechanism in accordance with the movement of the drawer to the operable position. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20110274462 | SEPARATABLE DEVELOPING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A developing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus body, a developing unit which is removably mounted in the image forming apparatus body to develop an image formed on a printing medium, and which includes a handle, and a toner supply unit which is removably mounted in the image forming apparatus body to supply toner to the developing unit. The handle is movable between a first position in which the handle is pressed by the toner supply unit when the toner supply unit is mounted in the image forming apparatus body, thereby yielding part of a occupying space to the toner supply unit, and a second position in which the occupying space yielded to the toner supply unit is restored when the handle is free from a pressure of the toner supply unit. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20120321345 | Cartridge - A cartridge including: a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall which are opposed to each other; a driving input member provided to the first side wall and is configured to rotate; and a first rotary member provided at an outer side of the first side wall and is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis in response to a rotational driving force from the driving input member, wherein the first rotary member includes a protrusion protruding to the outer side, wherein the first rotary member is configured to be moved relative to the first side wall in a direction along the first rotational axis, and wherein an end portion of the first rotary member at an opposite side of the first side wall is configured to be displaced in a direction crossing the first rotational axis. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120321346 | Developing Cartridge - A developing cartridge is provided for use with an image forming apparatus and may include a housing, a developing roller rotatably provided in the housing, and a developing roller gear configured to rotate integrally with the developing roller. Further, the developing cartridge can include a driving input gear configured to receive an external driving force and apply the received driving force to the developing roller gear. The driving input gear can be meshed with the developing roller gear or an intermediate gear can be provided to mesh with the developing roller gear and the driving input gear. Such an intermediate gear can be configured to apply the received driving force to the developing roller gear. Also, the developing cartridge can include a receiving member which is disposed between the housing and the developing roller gear and between the housing and the driving input gear. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120328330 | CLEANING DEVICE, DEVELOPING DEVICE, CARTRIDGE, CLEANING BLADE SECURING METHOD, AND DEVELOPING BLADE SECURING METHOD - A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for removing toner remaining on a surface of an image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a supporting member for supporting the cleaning blade; a mounting hole provided in one of the cleaning blade and the supporting member; a projection which is provided on the other of the cleaning blade and the supporting member and which is inserted in the mounting hole; and a recess provided in the projection and extended from a free end portion of the projection toward a base portion of the projection, wherein the cleaning blade and the supporting member are secured to each other by the projection deformed such that the recess expands outwardly of the mounting hole by resin material in the recess. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120288305 | Developer Cartridge - A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20130016995 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSAANM Hiramatsu; DaisukeAACI Numazu-shiAACO JPAAGP Hiramatsu; Daisuke Numazu-shi JPAANM Miyamoto; JunAACI Mishima-shiAACO JPAAGP Miyamoto; Jun Mishima-shi JPAANM Nishiuwatoko; TsutomuAACI Numazu-shiAACO JPAAGP Nishiuwatoko; Tsutomu Numazu-shi JPAANM Kikuchi; KenAACI Mishima-shiAACO JPAAGP Kikuchi; Ken Mishima-shi JPAANM Suzuki; KensukeAACI Tagata-gunAACO JPAAGP Suzuki; Kensuke Tagata-gun JP - A toner storage unit provided in an image forming apparatus that enables a user to replace the toner storage unit when the user opens the door of the image forming apparatus, moves a developing cartridge in a direction corresponding to removal of the developing cartridge, and places the developing cartridge in the toner storage unit replacement position where the toner storage unit can be removed and replaced. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20110158688 | DEVELOPING DEVICE - A developing device is provided. The developing device includes: a rotatable developer carrier which is configured to carry developer; a housing including a first resin frame which includes a pair of sidewalls supporting both end portions of the developer carrier in a rotational axial direction thereof, and a second resin frame which is connected to the first resin frame; and a receiving-side coupling member which is provided rotatably to one of the sidewalls and is configured to couple with a driving-side coupling member in the rotational axial direction to transmit driving force to the developer carrier. The receiving-side coupling member is overlapped with a connection part between the first frame and the second frame as viewed from the rotational axial direction. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158687 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a first frame and a second frame and a layer thickness regulating member. The first frame and the second frame include a first welding surface formed at a periphery of the developer accommodating part correspondingly to a developer accommodating part; and a second welding surface extending continuously from the first welding surface correspondingly to a roller support part. The first welding surface extends in a direction orthogonal to an overlapping direction of the first frame and the second frame. The second welding surface extends to be inclined toward a side of the first frame in the overlapping direction as extending toward the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member is provided to cover the second welding surface from a side of the second frame in the overlapping direction. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158686 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge includes: a housing; a developing roller; a supply roller including a supply roller shaft; a bearing member, which rotatably holds the supply roller shaft, and which allows the supply roller shaft to move in an axial direction thereof; a supply electrode, which is disposed opposite to an end face of the supply roller shaft at a first end side of the supply roller shaft, and which is electrically connected to the supply roller shaft; a supply gear, which is attached to the supply roller shaft so as to not be rotatable relative to the supply roller shaft, and which is arranged at an outer side of the sidewall of the housing at a second end side of the supply roller shaft; and a gear cover which covers the supply gear. The supply roller shaft is axially restrained by the supply electrode and the gear cover. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158685 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge includes: a housing including a developing chamber and a developer accommodating chamber; a developing roller including a developing roller shaft; a supply roller including a supply roller shaft; a developing electrode, which is provided on an outer side of one sidewall of the housing, which is electrically connected to the developing roller shaft, and which includes a developing protrusion protruding parallel to the developing roller shaft at a position different from the developing roller shaft; and a supply electrode, which is provided on the outer side of the one sidewall, which is electrically connected to the supply roller shaft, and which includes a supply protrusion protruding parallel to the supply roller shaft at a position different from the supply roller shaft. The developing protrusion and the supply protrusion are arranged in an arrangement direction of the developing chamber and the developer accommodating chamber. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158684 | DEVELOPER CARTRIDGE AND DEVELOPING UNIT INCLUDING THE SAME - A developer cartridge includes a developer container, an agitating member, a first shutter, and a first rotatable member. The developer container includes a first arc-shaped wall having an arc shape that is concave inward in a cross-sectional view. A first opening is formed in the first arc-shaped wall. The agitating member is positioned in the developer container and configured to agitate the developer. The first shutter has an arc shape in the cross-sectional view and is configured to rotate along a periphery of the first arc-shaped wall between a first position to open the first opening and a second position to close the first opening. The first rotatable member is positioned at at least one axial end of the first shutter. The first shutter is configured to rotate in response to rotating of the first shutter. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20130022369 | Component Movement Mechanism for an Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus may include a photosensitive member, a plurality of developing devices each including a developing roller, a support member detachably supporting the plurality of developing devices, and a developing device move mechanism that moves each of the developing devices to a close position and a distant position. Each of the developing devices includes a cover member that is movable between a cover position and an exposure position. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover member move mechanism, which moves the cover member from the cover position to the exposure position in association with movement of the developing roller from the distant position to the close position, and which moves the cover member from the exposure position to the cover position in association with movement of the developing roller from the close position to the distant position. | 01-24-2013 |
