Process Cartridge Unit Patents (Class 399/111)
  • Patent number: 12055872
    Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a pivotable handle. The handle includes a front segment extending along a front of a body of the toner container when the handle is in a first position for contacting a corresponding pry surface in an image forming device when the handle moves from the first position to a second position. The handle includes a rear segment extending along a rear of the body when the handle is in the first position permitting a user to actuate the rear segment to move the handle from the first position to the second position. The handle includes a first side segment extending along the first side of the body and a second side segment extending along the second side of the body. The first and second side segments connect the front segment and the rear segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Stefano Adams, Brian Lester Boettcher, Patrick Lawrence Ransom
  • Patent number: 12055868
    Abstract: A conductive member includes: a substrate; an elastic layer provided on the substrate; and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer, in which the surface layer contains a conductive agent and has a sea/island structure that consists of a sea portion containing a first resin and an island portion containing a second resin, and a distance R between the island portions and a radius r of the island portion in a cross-section of the surface layer satisfy the following Expression (1-1), ?0.20?R?2r?0.40??Expression (1-1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenta Yamakoshi, Yukimi Kawabata
  • Patent number: 12045004
    Abstract: A cartridge including: a first unit including an image bearing member and a first portion, and configured to take a removal posture when the cartridge is to be removed from a main body; a second unit including a developer bearing member and a second portion, the second unit being movable between a first position where the developer bearing member is in contact with the image bearing member and a second position where the developer bearing member is separated from the image bearing member and where the second portion is in contact with the first portion, wherein when the first unit takes the removal posture, the second unit is located at the second position, and when the second unit is located at the second position, movement of the second unit in a direction, in which the developer bearing member is separated from the image bearing member, is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takeuchi, Koichi Ooishi, Hiroki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11977344
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a toner container is detachably mountable includes a mounting portion to which the toner container is detachably mountable and which includes a receiving port for receiving toner supplied from the toner container, a passage for permitting passing of the toner received through the receiving port and provided with a through hole, and a filter portion provided so as to cover the through hole and for permitting passing of air; and an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the toner received through the receiving port. At least a part of the through hole overlaps with the receiving port as viewed in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a direction of gravitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Hiroshi Takarada, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Goshi Ozaki, Sohta Sugimoto, Mitsuhiro Sato, Shinichi Nishida, Yuichi Fukui, Yukio Kubo
  • Patent number: 11966192
    Abstract: A first side frame is apart from a second side frame in a first direction. A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in the first direction. The photosensitive drum is rotatably supported between the first side frame and the second side frame. A grip portion extends in the first direction. A first connector extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first connector connects the first side frame and a first end portion of the grip portion. The second connector extends in the second direction. The second connector connects the second side frame and a second end portion of the grip portion. A scanner unit is configured to expose the photosensitive drum to light. The scanner unit is located between the photosensitive drum and the grip portion as viewed in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11947277
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The main body casing has an opening and a slot extending in from the opening toward an inside of the main body casing along a first direction. The drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the slot. The main body casing includes a drum guide groove configured to guide movement of the drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a drum protrusion configured to be engaged with the drum guide groove. A width of the drum guide groove in the second direction is decreased toward the inside of the main body casing from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11927912
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a drum cartridge, and a development cartridge. The drum cartridge is movable in a first direction through the opening between a first position at which the drum cartridge is located inside the housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is located outside the housing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction and a first handle located at a downstream end of the drum cartridge in a movement direction in which the drum cartridge moves from the first position to the second position. The development cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The development cartridge includes a development roller and a second handle located upstream of the first handle in the movement direction in a state where the development cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11892798
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; drum cartridge attachable to the housing; a toner cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge at an attachment position; and a contacting portion positioned at a side wall of the housing positioned at one end thereof in a first direction. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum frame. The toner cartridge includes a toner casing, a toner memory, a memory holder holding the toner memory, and a memory holder cover movably holding the memory holder. The memory holder cover has a protrusion protruding in a direction crossing the first direction. In a case where the drum cartridge is to be attached to the housing while the toner cartridge is lifted up from the drum frame than the attachment position, the protrusion is configured to contact the contacting portion to move the toner cartridge to the attachment position from the lifted-up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuji Noda, Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11782355
    Abstract: A charging member of a contact charging system that applies only a direct-current voltage to the charging member includes a conductive substrate, an elastic layer disposed on the conductive substrate, and a surface layer disposed on the elastic layer. When measured by an alternating-current impedance method within a range of 1 MHz to 1 mHz in an environment at a temperature of 28° C. and a humidity of 85%, a resistance component R of an impedance within a range of 1 Hz to 100 Hz is 4.0×104 ? or more and 1.0×106 ? or less and an impedance Z within a range of 1 Hz to 100 Hz is over 3.6×104 ? and 3.5×105 ? or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yukimi Kawabata, Fuyuki Kano, Kenta Yamakoshi
  • Patent number: 11762322
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an optical box, a housing having a discharge opening, a cover provided downstream of the optical box in a discharge direction in which a recording material is discharged through the discharge opening and forming a part of the housing, and a circuit board, wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components and a wiring board configured to electrically connect the plurality of electronic components, the circuit board is disposed in such a direction that a surface of the wiring board on which the plurality of electronic components is mounted intersects the discharge direction, and the wiring board is provided between the cover and the optical box in the discharge direction, and wherein, when viewed in a vertical direction, the optical box and the plurality of electronic components partially overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Okawa, Kohei Koguchi
  • Patent number: 11754970
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion for mounting a process cartridge, the process cartridge including a first unit having an image bearing drum, and a second unit having a developing roller, the second unit being movable between a contact position in which the roller contacts the drum and a spaced position in which they are mutually spaced; an engageable member engageable with a force receiving portion provided on the second unit; wherein the engageable member is movable between a first position for maintaining the second unit in the spaced position by engaging with the force receiving portion, a second position for permitting movement of the second unit from the spaced position to the contact position; and a third position for permitting the process cartridge to be mounted, by being pressed by the process cartridge to retract, when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Tomio Noguchi, Yukio Kubo, Masaaki Sato, Satoshi Nishiya, Yosuke Kashiide
  • Patent number: 11747255
    Abstract: The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) is used in the design of a formula of a water-based printing ink and selection of the water-based printing ink or a wetting agent. The water-based printing ink or the wetting agent is quickly selected through the inversion data of an LF-NMR transverse relaxation time (T2). By using LF-NMR to detect the distribution of water in the water-based printing ink or wetting agent, the water-based printing ink is quickly detected in real-time and a high-quality water-based printing ink is selected, which contributes to the design and development of water-based printing inks. The state of water in the ink also is adjusted based on the relationship between the distribution state of water in the printing ink and the definition of the printed pattern, thereby ensuring the definition of the printed pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: NANTONG TEXTILE & SILK INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Guoqiang Chen, Chengyong Gao, Tieling Xing
  • Patent number: 11747746
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a housing; a cartridge including an image bearing member and capable of being attached/detached to/from the housing; a discharging exposure unit having a light source member and a light guide member, which forms a light guide path guiding light from the light source member so as to be emitted to the image bearing member, and exposing the image bearing member; and an opening/closing member capable of being opened/closed and provided on a surface on which an opening portion, through which the cartridge is inserted/removed in the housing, is provided so as to cover the opening portion, wherein the light source member is provided so as to be exposed to a surface of the housing opened/closed by the opening/closing member and be capable of being attached/detached to/from the light guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomomichi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11733636
    Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum in a coupling member. The coupling member includes an engageable member having a driving force receiving portion which is capable of entering a recess of a driving shaft to receive a driving force for rotating photosensitive drum. The coupling member includes a holding member configured to hold said engageable member so as to be slidable at least in a radial direction of said drum unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomonori Mori, Tetsuo Uesugi
  • Patent number: 11726426
    Abstract: The process unit is configured to be rotatable relative to the frame about a rotation axis extending in a rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum between a first position at which the photosensitive drum comes into contact with the transfer member and forms the transfer nip portion and a second position at which the photosensitive drum is separated from the transfer member, and a direction in which the process unit rotates from the first position to the second position is a direction in which the replenishing port of the process unit moves away when the process unit is viewed from the front surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Fujinaka
  • Patent number: 11726428
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an opening/closing member, a cartridge configured to be inserted into and pulled out from the apparatus body, a supporting member configured to support the cartridge, a moving mechanism configured to support the supporting member and move the supporting member from a second position to a first position in accordance with a movement of the opening/closing member from an open position to a closed position, and an urging member configured to urge the supporting member or the moving mechanism so that the supporting member is retained at the second position by the moving mechanism in a state where the opening/closing member is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 11720045
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an optical box, a housing having a discharge opening, a cover provided downstream of the optical box in a discharge direction in which a recording material is discharged through the discharge opening and forming a part of the housing, and a circuit board, wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components and a wiring board configured to electrically connect the plurality of electronic components, the circuit board is disposed in such a direction that a surface of the wiring board on which the plurality of electronic components is mounted intersects the discharge direction, and the wiring board is provided between the cover and the optical box in the discharge direction, and wherein, when viewed in a vertical direction, the optical box and the plurality of electronic components partially overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Okawa, Kohei Koguchi
  • Patent number: 11720053
    Abstract: Provided is a processing cartridge, which is detachably installed in an imaging device provided with a separation mechanism; the processing cartridge includes: a first unit and a second unit connected with each other in a movable manner; a separating force receiving mechanism, which is arranged at a first end in a length direction of the processing cartridge; an abutment portion, which is located in the second unit; a sliding groove, located at the first end of the processing cartridge; the separating force receiving mechanism includes: a separating force receiving member, movably installed on the sliding groove, including a force receiving portion, a force transmitting portion and a restricting portion; an elastic member having elastic force on the separating force receiving member; under an action of a force of the imaging device, at least a part of the separating force receiving member is able to retract into the processing cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ZHUHAI UN-TERN IMAGING PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Honghui Zhou
  • Patent number: 11714375
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a drum unit and a developing unit attachable to or detachable from an apparatus body, when the drum unit is inserted into or removed from the apparatus body, operation in the following first to third sections occurs in order or reverse. The first section is a predetermined section on a removal side from the innermost position of the drum unit. In the first section, the developing unit is inserted/removed integrally with the drum unit. In the second section, only the drum unit is inserted or removed. Meanwhile, the developing unit gradually rotates to switch the contact or separated states in conjunction with the insertion or removal of the drum unit. In the third section, only the drum unit is inserted into or removed from the apparatus body while the developing unit is separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11675308
    Abstract: A cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, a rotatable member for transmitting a rotational force to the developing roller, a coupling member, and a frame. The coupling member is capable of moving between a first coupling member position in which the coupling axis is substantially coaxial with the rotational axis of the rotatable member and a second coupling member position in which the coupling axis is not coaxial with the rotational axis of the rotatable member. When the frame is in a first frame position, the coupling member is in the first coupling member position and a rotational force receiving portion of the coupling member engages with a rotational force applying portion of the apparatus, and, when the frame is in the second frame position, the coupling member is in the second coupling member position and the rotational force receiving portion engages with the rotational force applying portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 11669044
    Abstract: An apparatus body of an image forming apparatus has a first guide portion having an inlet shape corresponding to an outer shape of an engagement portion provided in a cartridge when seen in an attachment direction of the cartridge to the apparatus body and guiding the engagement portion, a second guide portion for guiding a positioning target portion which is provided on the cartridge for positioning an attachment completion position of the cartridge with respect to the apparatus body, and a movable member being at a regulation position at which a guiding path of the positioning target portion by the second guide portion is blocked is immovable from the regulation position unless being pressed by the engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kimura, Isao Koishi, Daisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11662686
    Abstract: An Oldham coupling having play in a rotational direction and being capable of transmitting a driving force. The Oldham coupling includes a developing drive gear as a first hub, a drive coupling as a second hub, and an intermediate member that transmits a driving force between the developing drive gear and the drive coupling. The developing drive gear includes a protruded portion that is fitted to a recessed portion of the intermediate member to transmit a driving force between the developing drive gear and the intermediate member. When seen in a rotational axis direction of the Oldham coupling, the shape of a protruded portion is a substantially rhombic shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Tanabe, Keita Shigihara
  • Patent number: 11650538
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a first unit including a photosensitive member, and a second unit including a developer bearing member and a force receiving portion, the second unit being configured to be rotatable about a first axis to move with respect to the first unit between a first position and a second position. In a state where the first unit is in a same posture as when an image forming operation is performed, the second unit is disposed at the second position by its own weight. The developer bearing member is configured to be rotatable about a second axis. When seen in the direction of the first axis, a first distance between the force receiving portion and the second axis is smaller than a second distance between the first axis and the second axis and a third distance between the first axis and the force receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kakuta, Toshiaki Takeuchi, Yu Akiba, Shuichi Gofuku, Tomofumi Kawamura, Yusuke Atsu, Joji Goto
  • Patent number: 11635707
    Abstract: Toner cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, an auger, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The housing includes a first toner accommodating portion having and a second toner accommodating portion. The auger is rotatable about a second axis extending in a first direction and is configured to convey toner from a first toner accommodating portion to the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion is positioned at a first side of the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion extends in the first direction. The second protrusion is positioned at a second side of the second toner accommodating portion and extends in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11618245
    Abstract: Metallic paper for electrophotography is provided. The metallic paper comprises a substrate, a metallic luster layer over the substrate, and a polyester at a surface of the metallic paper. A ratio B/A is 0.90 or less, where A and B respectively represent peak area A and a peak area B in an infrared spectrum of the metallic paper obtained by an ATR method with a crystal of Ge, an incident angle of 45°, and one time of reflection. The wavenumber range of peak area A ranges from 1709.586 to 1741.406 cm?1, the wavenumber range of peak area. B ranges from 1630,519 to 1670.052 cm1, and a baseline wavenumber range of the peaks ranges from 1593.878 to 1850.364 cm?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kabata
  • Patent number: 11619907
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a drum shape; a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with toner; and a cleaning blade for removing the toner on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the cleaning blade being in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises wrinkles on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and wherein the toner has a fluidity torque E of 320 mJ or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Hiyama, Shuhei Iwasaki, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Nobuhiro Nakamura, Tomohito Ishida, Shuntaro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11579558
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, a first photoconductive drum and a second photoconductive drum, a first exposing head having a first boss and rotatably coupled to the cover, a second exposing head having a second boss and rotatably coupled to the cover, and a cam rotatably coupled to each of the first exposing head and the second exposing head. The cam is configured to rotate each of the first exposing head and the second exposing head. The cam includes (i) a first elongated hole into which the first boss fits and extending a direction intersecting a movement direction in which the cam moves and (ii) a second elongated hole into which the second boss fits and extending in a direction intersecting the movement direction of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hiraoka, Yohei Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11573525
    Abstract: To provide a process cartridge, a drum unit capable of receiving a driving force from the main assembly, and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge. A cartridge is provided with a movable member having a driving force receiving portion. The movable member moves between an advanced position and a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Abe
  • Patent number: 11567449
    Abstract: A first cartridge support is configured to support a drum cartridge. The first cartridge support is configured to move in a first direction between a first position at which the drum cartridge is mounted on a housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is detachable. A second cartridge support is configured to support a development cartridge. The second cartridge support is configured to move in the first direction between a third position at which the development cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge and a fourth position at which the development cartridge is detachable. In a state where the second cartridge support is located at the third position, the second cartridge support is located between the first cartridge support located at the first position and a cover located at a closed position with respect to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Tomoya Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11567443
    Abstract: An electrical contact according to one example embodiment includes a body composed of an electrically conductive material. The body has an axially inboard side and an axially outboard side. An opening through the body is configured to closely receive a shaft of a rotatable component. A mounting tab extends from the axially outboard side of the body for attaching the body to a rotatable gear to rotatably couple the electrical contact to the gear. A contact arm extends in a cantilevered manner from the axially inboard side of the body for contacting a bushing that rotatably supports the shaft to provide an electrical connection between the bushing and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lester Boettcher, Bartley Charles Gould, II
  • Patent number: 11513452
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a developing roller, a casing capable of containing a developer therein, a developing electrode movable with the casing and the developing roller and pivotable about a developing roller shaft of the developing roller in a direction, a first lever movable relative to the casing, and a holder configured to hold the first lever relative to the casing, in case where the developing electrode pivots from one side of the direction to an other side of the direction, the first lever stops the pivotable movement of the developing electrode from one side of the direction to the other side of the direction and the holder prevents the first lever from coming off the holder from the one side of the direction to the other side of the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 11513467
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller extending in a first direction; a boss movable with the casing; and a first lever movable relative to the casing. The first lever includes: one end portion functioning as a point of effort; another end portion functioning as a point of load; a shaft functions as a fulcrum and positioned between the one end portion and the another end portion; and a first hole into which the boss is fitted. By the one end portion receiving a driving force, the first lever is pivotally movable about the shaft. A dimension of the first hole in a second direction crossing the first direction is greater than a dimension in the second direction of the boss. In a case where the casing moves in the second direction relative to the first lever, the boss moves in the second direction within the first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuhei Hatano
  • Patent number: 11493878
    Abstract: A cartridge including: a first unit including an image bearing member and a first portion, and configured to take a removal posture when the cartridge is to be removed from a main body; a second unit including a developer bearing member and a second portion, the second unit being movable between a first position where the developer bearing member is in contact with the image bearing member and a second position where the developer bearing member is separated from the image bearing member and where the second portion is in contact with the first portion, wherein when the first unit takes the removal posture, the second unit is located at the second position, and when the second unit is located at the second position, movement of the second unit in a direction, in which the developer bearing member is separated from the image bearing member, is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takeuchi, Koichi Ooishi, Hiroki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11487240
    Abstract: A photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member, a transfer roller, a mounting portion capable of mounting a development unit including a development roller, a first gear and a second gear each provided at one end of the photosensitive member in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, and a third gear provided at one end of the transfer roller in an axial direction of the photosensitive member and configured to engage with the second gear. The first gear, the second gear, and the third gear are helical gears. A direction in which helical teeth of the first gear are inclined is opposite to a direction in which helical teeth of the second gear are inclined, and the direction in which the helical teeth of the first gear are inclined matches a direction in which helical teeth of the third gear are inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Uyama, Kenji Matsuda, Ken Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11480909
    Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum in a coupling member. The coupling member includes an engageable member having a driving force receiving portion which is capable of entering a recess of a driving shaft to receive a driving force for rotating photosensitive drum. The coupling member includes a holding member configured to hold said engageable member so as to be slidable at least in a radial direction of said drum unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomonori Mori, Tetsuo Uesugi
  • Patent number: 11467531
    Abstract: A developing unit and a photosensitive unit respectively have engaging mechanism parts that fit in each other in the longitudinal direction so as to integrate the developing unit and the photosensitive unit. The developing unit includes, as the engaging mechanism part, a first holding member to hold the front end part of a drum shaft. The photosensitive unit includes, as the engaging mechanism part, a second holding member to hold the rear end part of a roller shaft. The first holding member and the second holding member are provided in a slidable manner in a direction in which the developing roller and the photosensitive drum separate from each other, and furthermore are biased toward a direction in which the developing roller and the photosensitive drum come close to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11460802
    Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Kazunari Murayama, Susumu Nittani, Atsushi Numagami
  • Patent number: 11442398
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; a drum coupling; and an electrical contact surface. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum frame has one end portion in a second direction at which the photosensitive drum is positioned. The drum coupling is rotatable together with the photosensitive drum. The drum coupling is positioned at an outer surface of one side in the first direction of the drum frame. The electrical contact surface is positioned closer to another side in the second direction of the drum frame than the drum coupling is to the another side in the second direction of the drum frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Mori, Atsushi Fukaya, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 11442400
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an LED unit, and a housing. The LED unit is configured to expose the photosensitive drum. The LED unit has a light emitting surface. The housing includes a discharge portion and a discharge tray. The discharge portion has a discharge opening configured to discharge a sheet. The sheet discharged from the discharge opening is placed on the discharge tray. The discharge tray has a cleaning opening for cleaning the light emitting surface of the LED unit. The LED unit is configured to move between: a first position at which the LED unit exposes the photosensitive drum; and a second position at which the light emitting surface is closer to the cleaning opening than a state where the LED unit is located at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Koji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11422500
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a drawer and a main body. The drawer includes a frame holding a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction and a drawer-side connector including a drawer-side electrical contact part. The main body includes: a housing including a main body-side electrical contact part; a shaft extending in the first direction; a unit removably insertable to the housing; and a connection member. One end in a third direction intersecting with the first and second directions of the unit is fitted to the housing and the other end is supported to the shaft via the connection member. The main body-side connector is supported to the unit. The drawer-side electrical contact part and the main body-side electrical contact part are interconnected when the drawer is accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Shinoya
  • Patent number: 11409230
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first cam positioned at one end portion of the casing; a second cam positioned at another end portion of the casing; and a connection member connecting the first cam and the second cam to each other. The first cam is movable relative to the casing and the developing roller in the first direction between a first position and a second position, and the second cam is movable relative to the casing and the developing roller in the first direction between a third position and a fourth position. The second cam is movable from the third position to the fourth position due to a tensile force of the connection member in accordance with movement of the first cam from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Yasushi Okabe
  • Patent number: 11409226
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit that is movable to a first inside position of the main assembly. The first unit includes a first shutter provided with a first contacting portion. The apparatus also includes a second unit movable to a second inside position of the main assembly. The second unit includes a second shutter provided with a second contacting portion. The main assembly includes a first contacted portion causing the first shutter to move from a first position toward a second position by contacting of the first contacting portion while moving the first unit to the first inside position, and a second contacted portion causing the second shutter to move from a third position toward a fourth position by contacting of the second contacting portion while moving the second unit to the second inside position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11409232
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing configured to hold toner. The cartridge may further include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft, a supply roller including a supply roller shaft, a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode and supply electrode may be configured to guide an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus in one or more directions. In some examples, the developing electrode and supply electrode may have angled surfaces that extend toward one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeyuki Takagi, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 11402796
    Abstract: A developing cartridge for use with a drawer including a photosensitive drum and an electric terminal. The developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a storage medium and a holder. The casing is configured to accommodate developing agent therein. The developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The developing roller is movable with the casing. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface. The holder holds the electrical contact surface and is movable with the casing. The casing is movable relative to the drawer in accordance with movement of the drawer from a first position in which developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum and the electrical contact surface is separated from the electric terminal to a second position in which the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum and the electrical contact surface is in contact with the electric terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuwen Wang
  • Patent number: 11392074
    Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive drum that achieves both of a reduction in torque of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum at the time of its cleaning and an improvement in image transferability. The electrophotographic photosensitive drum includes: a support; and a photosensitive layer arranged on the support, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum having arranged on an outer surface thereof at least two structure groups having different appearance periods, wherein when, out of the two structure groups, a group including structures having a smaller appearance period is defined as a first structure group, and a group including structures having a larger appearance period is defined as a second structure group, a height of the first structure group is lower than a height of the second structure group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ishida, Nobuhiro Nakamura, Shuhei Iwasaki, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Tatsuya Yamaai, Yuka Ishiduka, Yota Ito, Takeshi Murakami
  • Patent number: 11385592
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing having an opening; a drawer movable, through the opening, between a housing position in which the drawer is housed in the housing and a drawn position in which the drawer is drawn from the housing; a first drum cartridge including a first photosensitive drum, and mountable to and removable from the drawer; a first developing cartridge including a first developing roller, and mountable to and removable from the first drum cartridge; and a transfer device configured to transfer toner on the first photosensitive drum to a sheet and located above the first drum cartridge in a state where the first drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located in the housing position. In a state where the first drum cartridge is removed from the drawer, the first developing cartridge is mountable to and removable from the first drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11372365
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing frame body rotatably supporting a developing roller. A first end member is attached to the first end of the developing frame and a second end member is attached to the second end of the developing frame body. The first end member and the second end member are rotatable independently of each other and relative to the developing frame body about a rotational axis common to the first end member and the second end member, and with rotation of the developing frame body relative to the first end member and the second end member, the developing roller moves from a first position to a second position in a direction that crosses a position of an axis of the developing roller when the developing roller is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Kazutaka Sueshige, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tsukasa Abe, Osamu Anan
  • Patent number: 11366422
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. The toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11360428
    Abstract: An organic photoconductor includes a cylindrical body having a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, and an optical tag provided on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body. The organic photoconductor may be included in a development cartridge for an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Justin Pettingill, Gabriel McDaniel, Juan Guzman
  • Patent number: 11351798
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing portion configured to perform printing on a printing surface of a medium, a transporting portion configured to transport the medium in a transport direction, a medium supporting portion located upstream of the printing portion in the transport direction, the medium supporting portion including a medium supporting surface configured to support the medium, a preprocessing portion configured to perform preprocessing on the medium supported by the medium supporting portion, and a mount portion facing the medium supporting surface, the mount portion being configured such that the preprocessing portion is detachably mounted thereto. The mount portion includes a position-setting mechanism configured to set a position of the preprocessing portion with respect to the medium supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke Ban, Naoki Oki, Yuki Moriya