Developing Unit Patents (Class 399/119)
  • Patent number: 12032306
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a rotating member, and an electrode member. The casing may be configured to accommodate therein developer. The rotating member has a rotational shaft extending in an axial direction. The rotating member is configured to rotate about the rotational shaft and carries the developer thereon. The electrode member is configured to be electrically connected to the rotating member. The electrode member covers at least part of the rotational shaft from an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is arranged to confront the casing in the axial direction. The electrode member is configured to move in the orthogonal direction in accordance with a movement in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasumasa Fujii, Tsutomu Suzuki, Hiroshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 12032325
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing roller, with the developing roller being configured to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with toner. The cartridge also includes a first electrical contact electrically connected to the charging roller and the second electrical contact electrically connected to the developing roller. As viewed along the axis of the photosensitive drum, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned on opposite sides with respect to a line that passes through an axis of the photosensitive drum and an axis of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Akihiro Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11966193
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis of the photosensitive drum and a gear at least a part of which is uncovered to outside of the cartridge and faces an axis of the photosensitive drum, with the gear being positioned at a first side of the cartridge in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. A lever is movable between a first position and a second position such that an end of the lever is movable toward and away from the gear and the axis of the photosensitive drum. The cartridge also includes a frame supporting the photosensitive drum, the lever, and the development roller, with the frame including a first projecting portion and a second projecting portion at the first side of the cartridge, and the first projecting portion and the second projecting portion projecting away from a second side of the cartridge that is opposite to the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Goshi Ozaki, Ryota Shibuya
  • Patent number: 11927895
    Abstract: A drum cover is movable relative to a photosensitive drum between a first position at which the drum cover covers a part of a circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum, and a second position at which the drum cover does not cover the part of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. A toner cartridge includes a toner storage portion configured to store toner to be supplied to the photosensitive drum. A drum cartridge includes a toner cartridge guide extending in a second direction crossing a first direction. The toner cartridge guide guides the toner cartridge to move in the second direction when the toner cartridge is being attached to the drum cartridge. A distance from the toner cartridge guide to the drum cover at the second position is longer than a distance from the toner cartridge guide to the drum cover at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Koji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11927905
    Abstract: In response to detecting that a remaining supply of print material of a first cartridge has reached a first threshold, a printing device transmits a request. In response to detecting that a second cartridge has replaced the first cartridge, the printing device determines whether the remaining supply had reached a second threshold and whether a token permitting usage of the second cartridge was received responsive to the request. In response to determining that the remaining supply had reached the second threshold and that the token was received, the printing device prints with print material from the second cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Luke, Gabriel S. McDaniel, Scott K Hymas
  • Patent number: 11921440
    Abstract: A developer supply device according to an embodiment may include: a developer container; and a developer container holder to which the developer container is to be attached in a first direction. The developer container includes: a shutter movable between a closing position to close a supply port of a housing thereof and an opening position to open the supply port; and a sealing member provided between the housing and the shutter. The shutter includes: a cover portion including a cover surface configured to close the supply port; and a protruding portion projected in the first direction from the cover portion and provided at a position spaced apart from the cover surface to a side of the developer container holder. The developer container holder includes an engagement portion to be engaged with the protruding portion in a state where the developer container is attached to the developer container holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shingo Shimada
  • Patent number: 11899392
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge including a storage medium having an electrical contact surface is detachably attachable; a photosensitive drum; a transfer roller; and a conveying roller. The drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one end portion of the frame in a second direction. The transfer roller is rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction and in contact with the drum. The conveying roller is rotatable about a third axis extending in the first direction and separated from the transfer roller in the second direction. A first opening of the frame is positioned between the transfer roller and the conveying roller in the second direction. The electrical contact surface is exposed to an outside through the first opening in a case where the developing cartridge is attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Koji Abe
  • Patent number: 11874628
    Abstract: A developing cartridge for an imaging device may include: a housing; a developer roller supported by the housing and configured to rotate about an axis of the developer roller; and a coupling gear on a first side of the housing and configured to rotate; a transmission rod configured to move in response to a rotation of the coupling gear, a first part of the transmission rod on the first side of the housing; a first protrusion movably mounted on a second side of the housing, and configured to move in response to a movement of the transmission rod; and a second protrusion on the first side of the housing, extending toward the second side of the housing, and the second protrusion comprising a guide surface configured to cause the transmission rod to move toward the second side of the housing in response to the rotation of the coupling gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: JIANGXI YIBO E-TECH CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Shiping Ao
  • Patent number: 11874625
    Abstract: A second unit includes a restricted portion that comes into contact with a restricting portion provided to a body of an apparatus, the restricted portion coming into contact with the restricting portion, in order to restrict the movement of a developer carrier in a direction to make contact with an image carrier, when a developing cartridge has not reached a predetermined attachment position, and not coming into contact with the restricting portion when the developing cartridge is in the predetermined attachment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Anan, Masato Tanabe, Tsukasa Abe, Kazutaka Sueshige
  • Patent number: 11874616
    Abstract: A developer conveying mechanism includes a pipe-shaped conveying path that conveys developer and includes a discharge port formed in part of a side surface thereof, a shutter that is slidably attached to the pipe-shaped conveying path and that is selectively arranged at a closing position overlapping with the discharge port and an opening position retreated from the discharge port, a seal member that is fixed to a seal affixing surface of the shutter, and a biasing member that biases the shutter toward the closing position. The shutter includes the seal affixing surface, which is a flat surface, and a pair of engagement portions that are opposite to each other across the seal affixing surface in a circumferential direction of the pipe-shaped conveying path. The pipe-shaped conveying path includes a pair of guide ribs with which the pair of engagement portions slidably engage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Geki Son
  • Patent number: 11852989
    Abstract: A developing device includes first and second chambers, a partition wall, first and second feeding screws, a developing roller, a supplying roller, a first magnet including a first magnetic pole, a second magnet including second to fourth magnetic poles, and a guiding portion. With respect to a supplying roller rotational direction, in a position downstream of the third magnetic pole, a magnetic flux density of the fourth magnetic pole in a normal direction is 20% of a maximum value thereof is a first position positioned downstream of a second position where a line connecting a lowermost end of the guiding portion and a supplying roller center crosses an outer peripheral surface of the supplying roller, and upstream of a third position where a line connecting an uppermost end of the first feeding screw and the supplying roller center crosses the outer peripheral surface of the supplying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Ariizumi
  • Patent number: 11846909
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drum cartridge; and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis. The drum cartridge is drawable from the main casing in a first direction where the axis of the photosensitive drum extends. The developing cartridge is drawable from the main casing in the first direction. The developing cartridge includes: a developing roller; a front wall; and a first developing-device frame. The front wall is disposed at a downstream end of the developing cartridge in the first direction. The front wall has a first hole. The first developing-device frame supports the developing roller. The first developing-device frame includes a first boss extending in the first direction. The first boss goes through the first hole of the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11835897
    Abstract: A rotator driver includes an endless rotator having an end face in a longitudinal direction thereof. A slide aid contacts an inner circumferential face of the endless rotator. A lubricant is applied between the slide aid and the inner circumferential face of the endless rotator. An end face contact member contacts the end face of the endless rotator and has an end face opposed face contacting the end face of the endless rotator and an opposite face being opposite to the end face opposed face. A helical gear is mounted on the opposite face of the end face contact member. The helical gear has teeth being oriented to generate a force that moves the end face contact member toward the end face of the endless rotator as the helical gear rotates. The helical gear has an outer diameter being not greater than an outer diameter of the endless rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuusuke Furuichi
  • Patent number: 11829092
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion; a first metal side plate and a second metal side plate; an antenna; and a housing on which a discharging port is disposed, wherein the housing includes a top cover that is disposed at a position vertically higher than the first metal side plate, wherein in a region on a downstream side with respect to the antenna in a discharging direction where a recording material is discharged from the discharging port, an upper end of the first metal side plate is located at a position vertically lower than the antenna, and a resin support portion connected to the first metal side plate is disposed in the region such that the resin support portion supports the top cover, wherein the antenna and the resin support portion are disposed along the upper end of the first metal side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuji Hamasaki
  • Patent number: 11803154
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomoya Ichikawa, Takashi Shimizu, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11789379
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge including a toner container with a supplying outlet and an engaged portion, and a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position, and an apparatus main body to and from which the toner cartridge is mounted and detached, the apparatus main body including a toner accommodation unit, a guide portion for guiding the toner cartridge, a pressing member pressing the toner cartridge in the detaching direction, an engaging member movable between an engaging position and an engagement release position, the engaging member allowing movement of the toner cartridge from the first position toward the second position in a case where the engaging member is at the engagement release position, and a damping force applying mechanism applying damping force to the toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Iwase
  • Patent number: 11789382
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a toner cartridge including a toner casing having a toner outlet for discharging toner in the toner cartridge and a toner shutter for opening and closing the toner outlet; a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum and a developing unit including a developing casing having a toner inlet for receiving the toner from the toner cartridge, a developing shutter for opening and closing the toner inlet, and a cushion member positioned between the developing casing and the developing shutter. When the developing casing is moved relative to the photosensitive drum while the drum cartridge and the toner cartridge are attached to the main casing, the developing shutter opens the toner inlet, and the toner shutter opens the toner outlet, the cushion member allows movement of the developing casing relative to the developing shutter while the developing shutter engages with the toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11782359
    Abstract: A developer storing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a developer container and a container supporting portion that holds the developer container at a predetermined attachment position. The developer container includes a container body, an inlet, a first handle portion, and a second handle portion. The inlet is provided at a container upper portion of the container body, at a position near a first end portion on a side of an insertion direction of the developer container. From the inlet, the developer is caused to flow inside the container body. The first handle portion is provided at the container upper portion of the container body. The second handle portion is provided at a second end portion of the container body on a side of a draw-out direction opposite to the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11782378
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including an opening portion, and an opening-and-closing member, a process unit detachably attached to and supported by the apparatus body, the process unit including an image bearing member, a toner storage portion, and a supply portion, a sheet supporting portion, and a rotary feeding member. When viewed in a gravity direction, the supply portion is disposed on a same side as a side on which the sheet supporting portion is disposed with respect to the image bearing member, and the opening portion is disposed on a side opposite to the side on which the sheet supporting portion is disposed with respect to the image bearing member. In a case where the opening-and-closing member is positioned at an opening position, the process unit is configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body through the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nogami, Takeo Kawanami, Akinori Mitsumata
  • Patent number: 11768449
    Abstract: A developer storage container includes a storage portion, a communication portion, a scooping portion, and a guide portion. The storage portion conveys developer stored therein in a conveying direction along a rotation axis by being rotated around the rotation axis in a specific direction. The communication portion connects the storage portion to an opening portion facing the conveying direction. The scooping portion includes a scooping surface facing the specific direction at an end of the storage portion on a downstream side in the conveying direction and radially outside the communication portion to scoop up the developer in contact with the scooping surface as the storage portion rotates. The guide portion lies radially inside the scooping portion to be contiguous with the scooping surface and an inner peripheral surface of the communication portion, and guides the developer scooped up by the scooping portion to the communication portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuta Nohara
  • Patent number: 11762326
    Abstract: A cartridge is mountable in and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, in which the main assembly includes an opening and an openable member including a discriminating portion. The cartridge includes a process unit including a rotatable photosensitive member and a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive member, and a developer storage unit configured to store a developer. The developer storage unit is provided with a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the stored developer to the process unit and is mountable to and dismountable from the process unit. The developer storage unit is provided with a portion-to-be-discriminated provided so as to be engaged with the discriminating portion of the openable member when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly and the openable member is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Kawakami, Naoya Asanuma, Tetsuya Numata, Noriyuki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11754949
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a developing chamber, a first conveyance path, a second conveyance path, a first air passage and a second air passage. A developing roller located in the developing chamber carries a developer to a developing region where the developing roller is closest to an image carrier. A first stirring-conveying portion is located in the first conveyance path adjacent the developing roller to supply the developer to the developing roller. A second stirring-conveying portion is located in the second conveyance path adjacent the first conveyance path to circulate the developer between the second conveyance path and the first conveyance path. The first air passage has an inlet coupled to the developing chamber and an outlet coupled to the second conveyance path, and the second air passage has an inlet coupled to the second conveyance path and an outlet coupled to the developing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Satoshi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 11754946
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attachment portion to which to attach a supply container for supplying a developer, a housing including a discharge portion for discharging a sheet in a discharging direction, a discharge tray including a first stack portion for stacking the sheet thereon, in which the first stack portion is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position, a top portion fixed to the housing, and a display portion and an operation portion arranged on the top portion. The top portion includes a first region, a first extension portion, and a second extension portion. As viewed along a vertical direction, the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend from the first region in the discharging direction, and at least a part of the first stack portion is located between the first extension portion and the second extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi, Katsuhiko Oba
  • Patent number: 11747752
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer that forms a toner image on an endless belt that is suspended over outer portions of a plurality of rollers, a driver that rotates at least one driving roller out of the plurality of rollers, a position adjustment mechanism that corrects relative positions of the plurality of rollers relative to one another, and a hardware processor, wherein the hardware processor controls the position adjustment mechanism to correct a relative position between the belt and the driving roller with tension applied to the belt being a second tension smaller than a first tension that is applied in a developing state in which a toner image is formed on the belt by the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Noguchi, Kazuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11740583
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge may include a first handle positioned at a first end of a frame of the drum cartridge. The developing cartridge may include a second handle positioned at a first end of a developing casing the developing cartridge. The main casing may include a first edge surface in the axial direction and a second edge surface opposite the first edge surface in the axial direction. The second handle may extend farther from the second edge surface than the first handle extends from the second edge surface in the axial direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the main casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nakamura, Yasuo Fukamachi, Masaaki Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11733642
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a photoreceptor housing, a developing roller, a development housing, first contact members and second contact members. The first contact members are provided in end portions of the photoreceptor housing in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The second contact members are provided in end portions of the development housing in the axial direction, and come into contact with the first contact members by a force in which the development housing is pushed toward the photoreceptor housing. A position of at least one of the first contact member and the second contact member which come contact with each other can be adjusted in a direction in which the first contact member and the second contact member come close to each other or separate away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuzo Harada
  • Patent number: 11733638
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatably supported in a main body. A developing cartridge is detachably mountable on the main body in a state where the photosensitive drum is supported in the main body. The developing cartridge includes a developing device and a frame. The developing device includes a developing roller disposed in confrontation with the photosensitive drum to supply developer to the photosensitive drum when the developing cartridge is mounted in the main body, and a developer-accommodating portion configured to accommodate developer. The frame includes a waste-developer-accommodating portion configured to accommodate waste developer and supports the developing device that is movable relative to the frame. The frame is disposed on an opposite side of the developing roller from the photosensitive drum. An urging member is disposed between the frame and the developing device to urge the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Hirotaka Mori, Makoto Souda
  • Patent number: 11726429
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a toner cartridge, and a process cartridge. The toner cartridge detachably attached to the casing stores toner therein. The process cartridge detachably attached to the casing includes a developing unit and a drum unit. The developing unit includes a developer roller and a toner conveyer tube. The toner conveyer tube has a first opening, through which the toner from the toner cartridge is acceptable into the toner conveyer tube while the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the casing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum supporting the toner conveyer tube by contacting a circumferential surface of the toner conveyer tube. The developing unit is pivotable with respect to the drum unit with the toner conveyer tube and the drum unit being slidable on each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Atsushi Fukaya
  • Patent number: 11662684
    Abstract: A cartridge couplable to a printing apparatus may include a driver coupler movable in a first direction toward an engaging position to engage with a power driver of the printing apparatus to drive the cartridge and a power transfer member including a power transfer part to transfer power moving the driver coupler in the first direction toward the engaging position, as the power transfer part moves in a second direction different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Justin Pettingill, Jeffrey H. Luke
  • Patent number: 11662685
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, including a housing; a drum cartridge; a developing cartridge; a drawer movable between an inner position and an outer position; and a lock member provided on the drawer and movable between a lock position at which the lock member locks the drum cartridge to the drawer, and a release position at which a lock between the drum cartridge and the drawer is released. The lock member includes an operation portion for moving the lock member between the lock position and the release position. The developing cartridge includes a cover member that covers at least a portion of the operation portion in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer, and the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11656572
    Abstract: A second unit includes a restricted portion that comes into contact with a restricting portion provided to a body of an apparatus, the restricted portion coming into contact with the restricting portion, in order to restrict the movement of a developer carrier in a direction to make contact with an image carrier, when a developing cartridge has not reached a predetermined attachment position, and not coming into contact with the restricting portion when the developing cartridge is in the predetermined attachment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Anan, Masato Tanabe, Tsukasa Abe, Kazutaka Sueshige
  • Patent number: 11640124
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a developing case, and a support. The developing roller includes a sleeve and a magnetic field generator. The sleeve is rotatable and includes a hollow shaft at an axial end of the sleeve. The magnetic field generator is irrotationally disposed inside the sleeve and includes a non-rotating shaft at an axial end of the magnetic field generator. The non-rotating shaft penetrates through the hollow shaft and projects outward. The developing case is configured to store developer and rotatably supports the hollow shaft. The support includes a fitting portion into which the non-rotating shaft of the magnetic field generator is irrotationally fitted. The support is supported on the developing case using the fitting portion as a main-positioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kentarou Matsumoto, Yuki Oshikawa
  • Patent number: 11624999
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier unit, a developing unit, a supporting frame, a retainer and a sheet member. The image carrier unit includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing unit develops the electrostatic latent image with toner. The supporting frame supports the image carrier unit and the developing unit in an attachable and detachable manner. The retainer is supported by the supporting frame in a turnable manner, and positions the image carrier unit and the developing unit to the supporting frame by being turned upward. The sheet member closes a gap between the supporting frame and the retainer. The sheet member has an upper section supported by the retainer and a lower end section supported by the supporting frame, and at least one of the upper end section and the lower end section is configured to be detachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 11609535
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first guide that is provided in an apparatus housing and configured to suspend and hold a first unit including an image holder so that the first unit is movable in an insertion and removal direction; a second guide that is provided in the apparatus housing and configured to suspend and hold a second unit including a developer holder so that the second unit is movable in an insertion and removal direction; and a pedestal that is disposed on a front side in the insertion and removal direction with respect to the first guide and the second guide, supports, from below in a gravity direction, the first unit and the second unit while the first unit and the second unit are inserted into the apparatus housing, and does not contact with the first unit and the second unit located in the apparatus housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yuta Hoshino, Kiyohito Horii, Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11609524
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: a body; a developing cartridge having a memory medium and a developer bearing member; a tray including a frame which is movable between a housed position and a drawn-out position and has side portions extending in the moving direction and to which the developing cartridge is attachable, an image bearing member that faces the developer bearing member when the developing cartridge is attached, a tray-side metal terminal provided on the side portion and electrically connected to the memory medium when the cartridge is attached, and a tray guide portion extending along the moving direction; a body-side metal terminal that faces the tray-side metal terminal when the tray is housed, wherein the tray-side metal terminal is provided below the tray guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Kubo, Yu Fukasawa, Daisuke Abe
  • Patent number: 11579542
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner cartridge; a drum cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attachable; and a controller. The toner cartridge is configured to accommodate toner therein. The toner cartridge includes a toner memory. The drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; and a drum memory. The controller is configured to perform: a first determination process to determine whether communication with the drum memory is established; and after determining in the first determination process that the communication with the drum memory is established, a second determination process to determine whether communication with the toner memory is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadao Kyotani
  • Patent number: 11573522
    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: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11567428
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a toner cartridge including a toner casing having a toner outlet for discharging toner in the toner cartridge and a toner shutter for opening and closing the toner outlet; a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum and a developing unit including a developing casing having a toner inlet for receiving the toner from the toner cartridge, a developing shutter for opening and closing the toner inlet, and a cushion member positioned between the developing casing and the developing shutter. When the developing casing is moved relative to the photosensitive drum while the drum cartridge and the toner cartridge are attached to the main casing, the developing shutter opens the toner inlet, and the toner shutter opens the toner outlet, the cushion member allows movement of the developing casing relative to the developing shutter while the developing shutter engages with the toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11567446
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge. The developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about a developing axis extending in a first direction; and a development-side IC chip having a development-side electrical contact surface. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in the first direction; a drum-side IC chip having a drum-side electrical contact surface; and a lock lever configured to lock the developing cartridge to the drum frame. The development-side electrical contact surface and the drum-side electrical contact surface are positioned opposite to the lock lever with respect to the casing in the first direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Shinya Kusuda
  • Patent number: 11567425
    Abstract: The developing device includes a development container, a developer carrier, and a cover member. The development container has an opening. The developer carrier has a development area. The cover member, including a front face portion, an upper face portion, a lower face portion, a side face portion, and reinforcing ribs, is removably fitted to the development container such that the developer carrier is covered with at least the front face portion and the upper face portion. With the cover member fitted to the development container, a gap is formed between each reinforcing rib and the development container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Takuya Kawasumi, Masakazu Uehara, Rei Yamagishi, Hiroaki Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 11561489
    Abstract: A toner sealing system is described including a seal having first and second alignment features. The seal is selectably installable on one of a first toner container of a first type and a second toner container of a second type. The first alignment feature is matable with a first corresponding alignment feature on the first toner container when the seal is installed on the first toner container for aligning the seal to the first toner container. The second alignment feature is matable with a second corresponding alignment feature on the second toner container when the seal is installed on the second toner container for aligning the seal to the second toner container. Embodiments include those wherein the first alignment feature does not align the seal to the second toner container, and the second alignment feature does not align the seal to the first toner container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lester Boettcher, David Lee Merrifield
  • Patent number: 11531299
    Abstract: An image carrier unit includes an image carrier including a cylindrical main body portion and a pair of flange portions attached to both ends of the main body portion, a first cleaning member that rotates in contact under a prescribed pressure with an outer circumferential surface of the main body portion, a unit frame that rotatably supports the image carrier and the first cleaning member, and an image carrier protective cover that includes a cover main body extending in an axial direction of the image carrier and a side surface portion that is disposed on one end side of the cover main body. On the side surface portion, an image carrier holding portion is formed that performs positioning of the image carrier with respect to the unit frame and releases a pressure contact state between the image carrier and the first cleaning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hayato Mori, Kazuhisa Hirahara
  • Patent number: 11526099
    Abstract: An attached portion of an image forming apparatus includes a rotating member of which at least a part is exposed outside the image forming apparatus when the developer container is attached, and a rotation restricting mechanism that is movable between a restricting position to restrict rotation of the rotating member and an allowable position to allow rotation of the rotating member, and includes a restricting member that is at the restricting position when the developer container is not attached. The developer container is attached to the attached portion so that the discharging portion engaging portion and the shutter engaging portions are engaged with the frame engaged portions and the rotating member engaged portions respectively when the container shutter is in the close state, and the restricting member moves from the restricting position to the allowable position when the developer container is attached to the attached portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nogami, Takeo Kawanami, Akinori Mitsumata, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Goshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 11500326
    Abstract: One of two walls apart from each other in a first direction has an opening. A drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in the first direction when the drum cartridge is attached to a housing. The drum cartridge is movable through the opening between a first position at which an entirety of the drum cartridge is located inside the housing and a second position at which at least part of the drum cartridge is located outside the housing. The development cartridge includes a development roller rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The development cartridge is unattachable to and undetachable from the drum cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge is located at the first position. The development cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge is located at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11493876
    Abstract: An assembly for an image forming device includes an electrical connector movable relative to a frame of the image forming device between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position the electrical connector is disengaged from a first corresponding electrical connector of a first replaceable unit and a second corresponding electrical connector of a second replaceable unit when the first and second replaceable units are installed in the image forming device. In the extended position the electrical connector is engaged with the first corresponding electrical connector of the first replaceable unit and the second corresponding electrical connector of the second replaceable unit when the first and second replaceable units are installed in the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil Johnson, Jr., Darren Adam Keese, James Richard Leemhuis
  • Patent number: 11493877
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes a body housing, a drawer movable between an accommodated position and a drawn position, a drum cartridge including a photoconductor drum, a developing cartridge including a developing roller, and a belt located above the photoconductor drum, and the drawer is located at the accommodated position. The drum cartridge includes a moving member movable, with respect to the photoconductor drum, between (i) a first position which is a position at which the moving member is not opposed to the developing cartridge mounted on the drum cartridge and is opposed to a circumferential surface of the photoconductor drum and (ii) a second position which is a position at which the moving member is not opposed to the circumferential surface of the photoconductor drum and is opposed to the developing cartridge mounted on the drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11480914
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge including a portion-to-be-positioned, and an apparatus main body on which the cartridge is mounted in a mounting direction. The apparatus main body includes a positioning portion and a regulating portion. The positioning portion positions the cartridge by engaging with the portion-to-be-positioned. The regulating portion is provided on an upstream side of the positioning portion in the mounting direction. The cartridge includes a portion-to-be-regulated provided on an upstream side of the portion-to-be-positioned in the mounting direction. The portion-to-be-positioned engages with the regulating portion before engaging with the positioning portion, to regulate movement of the cartridge in the direction orthogonal to the mounting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuji Suzuki, Daisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11474452
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attachment portion to which to attach a supply container for supplying a developer, a housing including a discharge portion for discharging a sheet in a discharging direction, a discharge tray including a first stack portion for stacking the sheet thereon, in which the first stack portion is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position, a top portion fixed to the housing, and a display portion and an operation portion arranged on the top portion. The top portion includes a first region, a first extension portion, and a second extension portion. As viewed along a vertical direction, the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend from the first region in the discharging direction, and at least a part of the first stack portion is located between the first extension portion and the second extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi, Katsuhiko Oba
  • Patent number: 11467516
    Abstract: The powder container includes a container body containing a powder for image formation, the powder being to be supplied to a powder replenishing device; a conveyor configured to convey the powder from one end in a longitudinal direction to the other end at which a cylindrical container opening is formed, the conveyor being provided inside the container body; a gear configured to rotate the conveyor with an external driving force; a container cover configured to cover the gear, the container cover having a gear exposing hole for partially exposing a gear tooth; and a nozzle receiver configured to guide the conveying nozzle inside of the container body, the nozzle receiver being provided on the container opening. The container cover includes a container engaged portion provided outer than the tooth of the gear in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Tsukuru Kai, Junichi Matsumoto, Makoto Komatsu, Tadashi Hayakawa, Yuzuru Ozawa, Shinji Tamaki, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11460801
    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: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeyuki Takagi, Hiroki Mori