Process Cartridge Unit Patents (Class 399/111)
  • Patent number: 10983477
    Abstract: A process cartridge configured to be detachably installed to a main body of the imaging device includes a housing, and a photosensitive drum arranged in the housing. A drive coupler configured to receive a driving force from a drive head of the main body of the imaging device is provided at an end of the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge can be installed to the main body of the imaging device or be detached from the main body of the imaging device in a manner that the photosensitive drum rotation axis forms a variable included angle with respect to the drive head rotation axis. The installation of the process cartridge is facilitated, and the engagement of the drive coupler with the drive head of the imaging device is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: NINESTAR CORPORATION, ZHUHAI FAST IMAGE PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chuanjiang Lin
  • Patent number: 10983476
    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: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeyuki Takagi, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 10969728
    Abstract: A cleaning device for a surface of a cylinder of a printer and/or a copier includes a cylindrical cleaning element which can be rotated by at least one drive and which includes a cleaning fitting on its outer periphery, and a suction or suctioner conducting at least one suction medium with at least one suction channel aligned towards the outer periphery of the cleaning element and extending along the longitudinal alignment of the cleaning element. In order to achieve a simple technical structure and a low maintenance effort apart from a good cleaning result and reliable dirt removal, a suction slit extending longitudinally of the suction channel is aligned towards the cleaning element opens into the suction channel tangentially to the suction channel cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: IDEEGO GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Goebel, Peter Ueberfuhr
  • Patent number: 10962928
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drum cartridge to which one of a first toner cartridge and a second toner cartridge is attachable; a frame including a first slot and a second slot; and a controller including a control memory and a processor. The drum cartridge to which the one of the first toner cartridge and the second toner cartridges is attached is attachable to one of the first slot and the second slot. The control memory stores first color information allocated to the first slot, and second color information allocated to the second slot. In a state where the drum cartridge is attached to one of the first slot and the second slot and when the drum memory does not store any color information, the processor is configured to perform: writing, into the drum memory, one of the first color information and the second color information which is appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Tomoyasu Yabuki, Tadao Kyotani, Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 10962922
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an electrically conductive and grounded frame, an image forming unit, a print head, a holder that supports the print head, an electrically conductive urging member between the print head and the holder for urging the print head toward the image forming unit, and an electrically conductive arm extending from the urging member and electrically connected to the urging member. The arm floats when the print head moves away from the image forming unit and is electrically connected to the frame when the print head contacts the image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiro Matsushima
  • Patent number: 10935926
    Abstract: A technique enabling downsizing of an image forming apparatus is provided. A cleaning unit 13 attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus 100 that forms an image on a recording material 12 is provided, with this cleaning unit 13 including: a photosensitive drum 1; and a cleaning frame body 14 that supports the photosensitive drum 1 and that includes an opening 14c through which laser light 3c for exposing the photosensitive drum 1 can pass, wherein the opening 14c is configured such that a width of the opening 14c in a scanning direction in an irradiation range of the light for exposing the photosensitive drum 1 becomes greater toward a side of the photosensitive drum 1 from a side of a light source of light for exposing the photosensitive drum 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takeuchi, Takahito Ueno, Yuuki Nakamura, Kensuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10935921
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drawer, a drawer-side electrical contact, a cover, a main body-side electrical contact and an elastic member interposed between a base and a panel. The main body-side electrical contact and the panel are held to be movable relative to the base in a third direction as being an extension and contraction direction of the elastic member. The image forming apparatus takes: a first state where the cover is open, the drawer-side electrical contact contacts the main body-side electrical contact, and the elastic member has a first length; and a second state where the cover is closed, the drawer-side electrical contact contacts the main body-side electrical contact, and the elastic member in the third direction has a second length shorter than the first length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Shinoya
  • Patent number: 10928752
    Abstract: A method of production or reproduction of an assembly is provided. The assembly includes: a storage medium having an electrical contact surface; and a holder holding the electrical contact surface. The holder has: first and second outer surfaces; and an elastic member positioned between the first and second outer surfaces. A separation distance in a first direction between the first and second outer surfaces is changeable in accordance with expansion and contraction of the elastic member. The method includes: reducing the separation distance to a prescribed distance by compressing the elastic member in the first direction; maintaining the separation distance at the prescribed distance; and performing at least one of writing information to, deleting information from, and updating information in the storage medium by bringing a probe into contact with the electrical contact surface in a state where the separation distance is maintained at the prescribed distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10921749
    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: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Abe
  • Patent number: 10915059
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier unit, a developing device, a unit support frame, and a developing holder. The developing holder is provided on the unit support frame, and holds the developing device such that the developing device is swingable in a direction that allows the developer carrier to get nearer to or further separate from the image carrier. The developing holder includes a driving gear and a pair of swinging shaft parts. The driving gear transmits motive power to the developing device. The pair of swinging shaft parts have a rotational axis extending parallel to an axial direction of the developer carrier and are supported rotatable relative to the unit support frame. An axial distance between the pair of swinging shaft parts is longer than a distance from a rotational center of the driving gear to a rotational center of the swinging shaft parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10915060
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing unit, swingably supported, for supplying a developer to an image bearing member, and including an inwardly extending wall portion. In an attitude during use, when against an urging force of an urging member configured to urge the developing unit in a first direction toward the image bearing member, the developing unit is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the inwardly extending wall portion is contactable to a restricting member for restricting an amount of movement of the developing unit in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tachio Kawai, Shigemi Kamoshida, Goshi Ozaki, Shohei Katsuya, Ryota Shibuya, Daisuke Makiguchi
  • Patent number: 10901361
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 10901357
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus enables communication with an image forming apparatus and includes a controller configured to acquire data related to a consumption amount of a consumable in the image forming apparatus, determine, based on the data, a future change of a remaining amount of the consumable, output a delivery request for a replacement consumable based on the future change of the remaining amount of the consumable, and detect an abnormality from the data. Information is displayed for prompting to stock a spare replacement consumable based on a result of the detection of the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Kawaguchi, Jiro Shirakata
  • Patent number: 10895841
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a link mechanism for mounting a cartridge on an apparatus main body, includes a pivot link and an intermediate link that moves from a first position for mounting the cartridge to a second position for image forming. A connecting portion to connect the intermediate link and the pivot link includes a boss with a protruded portion and a hole portion. When the intermediate link is at the second position, the protruded portion presses an inner surface of the hole portion such that a rotation moment in a direction in which the pivot link pivots, acts on the pivot link, and in a state where a portion-to-be-pressed of the cartridge is pressed by a pressing portion of the apparatus main body, a portion-to-be-positioned of the cartridge comes in contact with a positioning portion of the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Murasaki, Motoyasu Muramatsu, Takashi Yano, Jiro Moriya
  • Patent number: 10894417
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a frame having (i) a resin-molded bottom surface and (ii) a side surface (a) resin-molded integrally with the bottom surface and (b) extending upward from the bottom surface; an internal structure capable of supporting an image forming portion for forming an image on a recording material; and a screw for fixing the internal structure to the bottom surface of the frame, wherein the side surface is provided to surround the internal structure, at least one of the frame and the internal structure includes at least one restricting portion which restricts relative movement between the internal structure and the frame in a vertical direction to the bottom surface, and the at least one restricting portion is provided in a position at a smaller distance from an end of the side surface than from the bottom surface in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daigo Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 10890873
    Abstract: A process unit includes a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, a charger that charges an outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum to a predetermined polarity and a predetermined potential, a cleaner that removes residual toner from the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum, a process frame that holds the photosensitive drum and is provided with the cleaner, and a charger cover that holds the charger and is rotatably supported on the process frame so as to move the charger away from or closer to the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Hori
  • Patent number: 10877435
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exhaust unit. The exhaust unit includes a first duct. The first duct includes a plurality of communication ports, and an exhaust fan for discharging air of the first duct to an outside. The plurality of communication ports are each formed such that distances to the exhaust fan are different from each other. Further, the first duct includes an inflow port which is formed on an upstream of flow of air from the communication port formed on the most upstream side of the flow of the air among the plurality of communication ports, and to which the auxiliary air is supplied from a first exhaust fan provided in the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi Sakamoto, Hideaki Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 10877432
    Abstract: A powder container is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus or a removable component in the image forming apparatus. The powder container includes an operation device and a rotation portion to rotate with operation of the operation device. The rotation portion is configured to contact a wall of the image forming apparatus or the removable component in a state in which the rotation portion maintains a posture in a direction of attachment of the powder container to the image forming apparatus or the removable component and is rotatable together with an engagement portion, which is opposed to the wall, of the image forming apparatus or the removable component while engaging the engagement portion, without hindering the powder container from moving in the direction of attachment, to restrain the powder container from moving in a direction of detachment from the image forming apparatus or the removable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Saito, Hiroaki Nieda
  • Patent number: 10859972
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable; a photosensitive drum; and a first storage medium. The drum frame has one end portion and another end portion spaced apart from the one end portion in a first direction. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a second direction and is positioned at the one end portion of the drum cartridge. The first storage medium includes a first electrical contact surface. The first storage medium is positioned at an outer surface of the drum frame, the outer surface being exposed in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Abe, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 10859971
    Abstract: A cartridge that can be inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus by moving along an axial direction of an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, a frame configured to support the image bearing member, a storage member configured to store therein information on the cartridge, and include an electrical contact, and a first pressed section and a second pressed portion configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body. The electrical contact is disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section, and is configured to be in contact with the main body contact on a lower side in a state where the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Shimizu, Osamu Anan, Kazuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10831130
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier, a sheet-shaped insulating seal member, and an electroconductive film. The developer carrier holds a developer with which an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier is developed. The seal member is disposed above the developer carrier and at a portion that is not in contact with the held developer. The seal member has a first end portion fixed and a second end portion in contact with the image carrier. The electroconductive underlies an undersurface of the seal member at a portion that is not in contact with the developer held by the developer carrier. The electroconductive film has a first end portion connected to the first end portion of the seal member and a second end portion not in contact with the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10816928
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum, a process roller to rotate in a state where the process roller elastically contacts a surface of the photoconductive drum, and a connecting member to allow the process roller to follow a movement of the photoconductive drum in an axial direction of the photoconductive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ji Won Moon, Yong Il Moon, Yong Nam Ahn, Yong Kwan Cho
  • Patent number: 10809662
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a first positioning slot positioned on a first side of a housing of the toner cartridge for receiving a first corresponding positioning rib in an image forming device for defining an axial position of a photoconductive drum relative to the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. A second positioning slot is positioned on a second side of the housing for receiving a second corresponding positioning rib in the image forming device for defining an axial position of a developer roll relative to the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The first and second positioning slots extend upward from a bottom of the housing near a longitudinal end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Lester Boettcher, David Lee Merrifield
  • Patent number: 10802439
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable in an image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge for accommodating a developer; a developer roller; and a driving force receiving assembly for receiving a driving force of the image forming apparatus and driving the developer roller to rotate; and further includes a first stopper and a second stopper provided at a bottom of the toner cartridge, and the first stopper and the second stopper being movable relative to the toner cartridge in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving force receiving assembly; and when the first stopper and/or the second stopper move, a driving force receiving head of the driving force receiving assembly is movable in an axial direction of the driving force receiving assembly. The process cartridge can realize separation and contact between a developer roller and an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: HUIWEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chuanjiang Lin
  • Patent number: 10795306
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning member formed by an elastic body, and a member to be cleaned in which toner added with an external additive adheres to a surface, and the toner is to be cleaned by the cleaning member being in contact with the surface, wherein the cleaning member has a protrusion disposed on a cleaning surface extending from a contact part with the member to be cleaned, and facing a side where the toner is to be cleaned, of the member to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Nakane, Takenobu Kimura, Kei Okamura, Hiroshi Morimoto, Natsuko Minegishi
  • Patent number: 10795311
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cartridge which is dismountable from the main assembly without deteriorating usability performance in a predetermined direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of an image bearing member, the main assembly being not provided with the mechanism for moving the main assembly side engaging portion in the rotational axis direction in response to the opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover of the main assembly. With the movement of the cartridge in such a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the image bearing member in the dismounting of the cartridge from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the coupling member movable in a direction parallel with the rotational axis of the image bearing member enters a inside of a recess of the main assembly side engaging portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to receive a rotational force from the main assembly side engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemi Kamoshida, Takuya Kawakami, Hiroki Ogino, Kazuhiko Kanno
  • Patent number: 10782643
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing and a second latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. Contact surfaces on top portions of the first and second latch-receiving shelves are positioned to contact corresponding first and second latches in an image forming device. The contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than a first rotational axis of a first drive coupler of the toner cartridge and higher than a second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than at least a portion of a first electrical contact of the toner cartridge and higher than at least a portion of a second electrical contact of the toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II
  • Patent number: 10775733
    Abstract: A holding mechanism to be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first metal plate provided with a through-hole communicating a first side and a second side, and a second metal plate including a first protruding portion, a second protruding portion, and a third protruding portion being inserted into the through-hole from the first side of the first metal plate, a rim of the through-hole being provided with a first end face and a second end face for regulating movement of the second metal plate in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction and a through-thickness direction, regulation portions for regulating movement of the second metal plate in the through-thickness direction, and a slope which elastically deforms the first protruding portion to rotate the first protruding portion with the insertion direction as a rotation axis to engage an engagement portion with the second side of the first metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Kobayashi, Takashi Yahagi, Tomoo Akaba, Yoshiharu Irei, Shoji Sasaki, Makoto Nishino
  • Patent number: 10775735
    Abstract: Disclosed is a developing apparatus including: a developer bearing member that bears a developer; a developing frame body that rotatably supports the developer bearing member; a one-end side end member that supports one-end side in an axis direction of the developer bearing member of the developing frame body; and another-end side end member that supports the other-end side in the axis direction of the developer bearing member of the developing frame body. Each of the one-end side end member and the other-end side end member is independently movable with respect to the developing frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Kazutaka Sueshige, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tsukasa Abe, Osamu Anan
  • Patent number: 10754289
    Abstract: A drawer includes: a photosensitive drum; and a frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a rotational axis extending in an axial direction. The photosensitive drum has an outer circumferential surface. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller having an outer circumferential surface. The developing cartridge is attachable to the frame in a state where the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller faces the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. The frame is configured to move the developing roller in a separation direction in response to movement in the axial direction of at least a portion of the developing cartridge attached to the frame. The separation direction is a direction in which the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller separates from the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Kazuaki Ooka
  • Patent number: 10754292
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge and developing cartridge, which are detachably mounted to a main assembly, and an urging mechanism for urging the cartridges to position them. The urging mechanism 60 includes a single elastic member, a first urging member for transmitting the force of the elastic member to the drum cartridge and a second urging member for transmitting the force to the developer cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyoshi, Shunsuke Hijikata
  • Patent number: 10747170
    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: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Uyama, Kenji Matsuda, Ken Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10747172
    Abstract: A cartridge that can be inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus by moving along an axial direction of an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, a frame configured to support the image bearing member, a storage member configured to store therein information on the cartridge, and include an electrical contact, and a first pressed section and a second pressed portion configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body. The electrical contact is disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section, and is configured to be in contact with the main body contact on a lower side in a state where the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Shimizu, Osamu Anan, Kazuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10739722
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process cartridge detachably mounted in an imaging device having a driving head. The imaging device includes a force applying assembly that includes a force applying part. The process cartridge includes a developer bearing member that rotates about an axis extending in a first direction; a developing cartridge frame supporting the developer bearing member; a driving force receiving assembly arranged on one side of the developing cartridge frame, the driving force receiving assembly having a power receiving part extending and retracting substantially in the first direction; and a control mechanism controlling the power receiving part to extend and retract, the control mechanism receiving the force of the force applying part to control the extension and retraction of the power receiving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: JIANGXI YIBO E-TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingsheng Zhao, Liangliang Hu, Shiping Ao, Xiaobing Liu, Mei Yan
  • Patent number: 10739724
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body housing; a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge, which is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge and includes a memory having an electrical contact surface; a connector, which is configured to be in contact with the electrical contact surface, and a controller is configured to execute: connection determination processing of determining whether electrical connection with the memory is made, electrical conduction determination processing of determining whether the applying circuit is electrically conducted with the charger, and notification processing of notifying information indicating whether the drum cartridge is mounted to the main body housing and information indicating whether the toner cartridge is mounted to the main body housing, in accordance with results of the connection determination processing and the electrical conduction determination processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Tanaka, Masahito Hamaya
  • Patent number: 10725423
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drawer movable between an inner position and an outer position and supporting a first cartridge including a first photosensitive drum and a first discharge part and a second cartridge including a second photosensitive drum and a second discharge part; and a waste toner box including a first coupling part coupled with the first discharge part and a second coupling part coupled with the second discharge part, in a state where the first cartridge and the second cartridge are supported by the drawer at an inner position and the waste toner box is mounted to the apparatus main body, the waste toner box being movable between a first/second position where the first coupling part and the first discharge part are coupled/decoupled and the second coupling part and the second discharge part are coupled/decoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Naomichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10725425
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including an opening portion, a cover configured to cover the opening portion in a state being closed, a cartridge configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body through the opening portion, a sheet discharge portion including a first rotary member and a second rotary member configured to nip and discharge the sheet, and a supporting portion configured to rotatably support the first rotary member and move to a first position where the first rotary member overlaps with a movement locus of the cartridge and to a second position where the first rotary member does not overlap with the movement locus, the movement locus being a passage area through which the cartridge passes while being attached to and detached from the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Fujinaka, Shinji Kubo
  • Patent number: 10725422
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than the second electrical contact. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned higher than a first rotational axis of the first drive coupler. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than a second rotational axis of the second drive coupler and the second electrical contact is positioned lower than the second rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger
  • Patent number: 10712711
    Abstract: A drum cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus in a mounting direction, the drum cartridge including: a frame having an opening, the frame allowing a toner cartridge to be attached, and the frame including a housing configured to accommodate therein a toner and a first storage medium including a first electric contact; a photosensitive drum; and a second storage medium including a second electric contact and located at an outer surface of the frame, and in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted to the frame, the first storage medium is exposed via the opening and the second storage medium is aligned with the first storage medium in the mounting direction of the drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahito Saeki
  • Patent number: 10705453
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner container attaching unit to which a toner container is to be attached, the toner container attaching unit including an apparatus-side terminal that comes into contact with a container-side terminal of the toner container and an apparatus-side coupling that engages with a container-side coupling of the toner container, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to execute a first process to acquire information of the toner container via the apparatus-side terminal, and cause the apparatus-side coupling to be rotated based on a result of the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 10691061
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a cartridge, a rotationally movable member, an engaging portion, and a flexible member integrally including a first supported portion, a second supported portion, and a regulating portion. A position of the regulating portion of the flexible member relative to the engaging portion is changeable by a change in a flexed state of a portion of the flexible member between the first supported portion and the second supported portion, in interrelation with a change in relative position between the first supported portion and the second supported portion with rotational movement of the rotationally movable member When the rotationally movable member is in the first position, the regulating portion is in a regulating position to limit the elastic deformation of the engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryota Yasui
  • Patent number: 10684567
    Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image includes toner particles that each include a binder resin and a release agent. The ratio B/A of a half-width B of an exothermic peak Tc resulting from the release agent which is determined in a first cooling step by differential scanning calorimetry to a half-width A of an endothermic peak Tm resulting from the release agent which is determined in a first heating step prior to the first cooling step by differential scanning calorimetry is 1.5 or more and 4 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sugawara, Kana Yoshida, Tsuyoshi Murakami, Masaki Iwase
  • Patent number: 10678182
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in an axial direction; a first helical gear and a second helical gear positioned at an outer surface of the housing; a cover covering part of the second helical gear; and an engaging member movable with the second helical gear. The second helical gear meshes with the first helical gear and is rotatable in first and second rotational directions. The second helical gear is movable in the axial direction between a first position and a second position farther away from the outer surface than the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the first rotational direction to move to the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the second rotational direction to move to the second position whereby the engaging member engages part of the cover to terminate rotation of the second helical gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomitake Aratachi
  • Patent number: 10670986
    Abstract: At ends of a frame in an axial direction of a developing roller, a first end portion member and a second end portion member are provided so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to the axial direction, and at least one of them has one side in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis on which a force receiving portion is provided, and another side in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis on which a regulating portion is provided. The force receiving portion receives a biasing force in a mounting direction of the developing apparatus to the apparatus main body from a biasing member. The regulating portion is brought into contact with the apparatus main body to regulate movement of the other side relative to the apparatus main body in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, with a fulcrum being the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi Gofuku, Hideki Maeshima, Soichi Ishii
  • Patent number: 10670989
    Abstract: The present application provides a developer replenishment cartridge including a housing, a first rotating shaft connected to a first end portion of the housing via a sealing bearing, a wiper blade connected to a bracket beside the first rotating shaft via at least one bolt. The present application further provides a method for replenishing developer, including pressing a button inward to move the push rod forward in such a way that a front end of the push rod firstly contacts a baffle provided at an inlet of the toner cartridge for the developer in the equipment, aligning the sealing gear with the discharge port communicating with the middle of the outlet, opening the developer container, driving the wiper blade to rotate by the driving wheel of the driving unit, mixing up the developer inside the container, and feeding the developer toward the region of the second rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: JIANGXI KILIDER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinjun Zhu, Zhongxi Li, Jiabing He
  • Patent number: 10663914
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member unit; a developing unit; an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the image bearing member unit and the developing unit and provided with an inserting opening; a door for the opening; a pressing mechanism for pressing and releasing the image bearing member unit and the developing unit relative to each other in interrelation with the openable member; and a contact surface provided on the openable member, the contact surface is contactable with an upstream end portion of one of the units, when the openable member is closed in a state that the upstream end portion is projected out of the opening, wherein an angle formed between a normal line of the contact surface and the inserting direction in a downstream side is not less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Go Katsumata
  • Patent number: 10663919
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, if a path for transferring heat generated by a drive integrated circuit to a frame (a heat dissipation plate) of an apparatus main body has a point that divides the path, foreign matter such as dirt and dust can be caught at the point, so that heat dissipation efficiency can decrease due to presence of such foreign matter. Therefore, a configuration is provided in which a drive integrated circuit and a frame (a heat dissipation plate) provided in a cover are connected by a heat transfer member, so that a heat transfer path from the drive integrated circuit to the frame has no point that divides the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumi Sato
  • Patent number: 10656593
    Abstract: A cartridge that can be inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus by moving along an axial direction of an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, a frame configured to support the image bearing member, a storage member configured to store therein information on the cartridge, and include an electrical contact, and a first pressed section and a second pressed portion configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body. The electrical contact is disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section, and is configured to be in contact with the main body contact on a lower side in a state where the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Shimizu, Osamu Anan, Kazuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10656592
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a first positioning slot positioned on a first side of a housing of the toner cartridge for receiving a first corresponding positioning rib in an image forming device for defining an axial position of a photoconductive drum relative to the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. A second positioning slot is positioned on a second side of the housing for receiving a second corresponding positioning rib in the image forming device for defining an axial position of a developer roll relative to the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The first and second positioning slots extend upward from a bottom of the housing near a longitudinal end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Lester Boettcher, David Lee Merrifield
  • Patent number: 10653043
    Abstract: A two-phase liquid immersion cooling system is described in which heat generating computer components cause a dielectric fluid in its liquid phase to vaporize. The system includes a vapor management system which can condense the vapor back into a liquid phase to cool the computer components. Using a pressure controlled vessel and pressure controller, the disclosed system may be operated at less than ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TMGCore, LLC
    Inventors: John David Enright, Jacob Mertel