Developing Unit Patents (Class 399/119)
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Patent number: 12372914Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit that can be removed from a main body frame by being pulled out in a first direction, a plurality of main body side contacts that are arranged in the first direction and a plurality of unit side contacts, the main body frame includes a guide surface that extends in the first direction, the process unit includes a roller and the guide surface includes an inclination surface that is inclined toward a downstream side from an upstream side in a pulling-out direction. The roller travels on the inclination surface such that the position of the unit side contacts is displaced to an avoidance position where the unit side contacts do not collide with the main body side contacts.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2024Date of Patent: July 29, 2025Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Hiroki Morishita
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Patent number: 12366817Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing; a developing roller extending in a first direction; a developing-roller gear; a coupling including a coupling gear; a first idle gear; a second idle gear; an agitator; a first agitator gear; and a protrusion. The developing-roller gear, the coupling, the first idle gear, the second idle gear, the first agitator gear, and the protrusion may be positioned at an outer surface of the casing. The protrusion may be positioned between a first axis of the coupling and a third axis of the first agitator gear in a second direction connecting the first and third axes. The protrusion may be positioned outside an addendum circle of the developing-roller gear, an addendum circle of the coupling gear, an addendum circle of the first idle gear, and an addendum circle of the second idle gear. The first agitator gear may be spaced apart from the protrusion in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2024Date of Patent: July 22, 2025Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Kazuna Taguchi, Takuya Kanda
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Patent number: 12339616Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a movable drawer, and a process cartridge attachable to the drawer. The process cartridge includes a drum unit, and a developing unit. The drum unit includes a drum housing, and a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction. The photosensitive drum is positioned at one end portion of the drum housing at one side in a second direction. The developing unit includes a developing casing, a developing roller, and a developing handle for detaching the process cartridge from the drawer toward another side in the second direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the developing casing at the one side in the second direction. The developing handle is positioned apart from the drum unit toward the another side in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2023Date of Patent: June 24, 2025Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Yuki Nagashima, Junya Sumida, Sakiho Hayakawa, Marika Ozaki
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Patent number: 12321111Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which includes an accommodating portion that accommodates developer and a replenishment port, an agitation member, an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position and an open position, a drive source for driving the agitation member, and a control portion configured to control the drive source. The apparatus is configured such that image formation is not possible when the opening/closing member is at the open position, and the agitation member is capable of driving in a case where the opening/closing member is at the open position.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2023Date of Patent: June 3, 2025Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Masaaki Sato, Hiroshi Takarada, Koji Fujinaka, Akitoshi Toyota, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida, Susumu Nittani
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Patent number: 12321129Abstract: A cartridge includes a drum unit and a developing unit. The developing unit is mountable in a space between first and second walls of the drum unit. While the developing unit is being mounted to the drum unit, in a posture in which the drum unit is mounted in the main assembly, the handle portion is moved downward in a direction of gravity and the developing unit is rotated so that the developing roller is moved closer to the photosensitive drum. In a state in which the developing unit is mounted to the drum unit, an urged portion of the developing unit is urged by an urging portion of the drum unit so that the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are in contact with each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2024Date of Patent: June 3, 2025Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jun Miyamoto, Masao Uyama, Kenji Matsuda, Ken Kikuchi, Jun Miyazaki
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Patent number: 12321109Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attaching portion including an operation member configured to be movable together with a container shutter, a toner storage portion configured to store toner received from a receiving port, an actuator configured to regulate a movement of the operation member, and a control unit configured to control the actuator. The operation member is configured to open and close the container shutter from an outside in a state in which the toner container is attached to the attaching portion. In a case where a predetermined condition is met, the control unit controls the actuator to release a regulation of the movement of the operation member.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2023Date of Patent: June 3, 2025Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuaki Nogami, Takeo Kawanami, Akinori Mitsumata, Takehiro Miyashita
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Patent number: 12319553Abstract: A positioning system for horizontal and vertical positioning of loads located on a trolley is preferably used to dock containers filled with cleaned and sterilized small parts to a transfer device. For this purpose, a lifting device is arranged on the trolley for vertical movement of the container. A pull-in device causes the trolley to move horizontally to the position required for docking.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2021Date of Patent: June 3, 2025Assignee: Castus Sterile Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Eric Netzhammer
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Patent number: 12313988Abstract: A developing device includes: an image carrier unit including an image carrier; a developing unit including a developer holder that supplies developer to the image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a support unit that supports the developing unit such that the developing unit is movable back and forth toward and away from the image carrier unit; a first positioning unit provided on an end portion of the support unit, the end portion being adjacent to the image carrier unit, the first positioning unit positioning the developing unit; and a second positioning unit that positions the developing unit with a predetermined gap provided between the developer holder and the image carrier when the developing unit is positioned by the first positioning unit and leans toward the image carrier unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2024Date of Patent: May 27, 2025Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Arichika Tanaka, Yutaka Kiuchi
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Patent number: 12282288Abstract: A first cartridge is movable in a first direction through an opening between: a first position inside a housing; and a second position outside the housing. The first cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, and a first handle. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The drum frame supports the photosensitive drum. The first handle is located at a downstream end of the drum frame in a movement direction in which the first cartridge moves from the first position to the second position. A second cartridge is configured to contain toner. The second cartridge is unattachable to and undetachable from the first cartridge in a state where the first cartridge is located at the first position. The second cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the first cartridge in a state where the first cartridge is located at the second position.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2024Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Kazuna Taguchi
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Patent number: 12271121Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a drive coupler and an electrical contact positioned on a first longitudinal end thereof. A first guide post and a second guide post project outward along a longitudinal dimension of the toner container from the first longitudinal end of the body. The first guide post is spaced toward a first side of the body from the drive coupler, and the second guide post is spaced toward a second side of the body from the drive coupler. The first guide post and the second guide post overlap with the drive coupler along a vertical dimension of the toner container such that an imaginary horizontal plane intersects the first and second guide posts and the drive coupler. Bottom surfaces of the first and second guide posts may be positioned lower in the vertical dimension than a rotational axis of the drive coupler.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2024Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Emily Stefano Adams, Brian Lester Boettcher, Brian Lee Hawes, Brittany Nicole Sexton, Glen Alan Reidhaar, Edward Lynn Triplett
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Patent number: 12253820Abstract: A powder collection container that is attachable to and detachable from a mount part of an apparatus and stores powder includes a plurality of walls that form a storage space to store the powder. The plurality of walls include a first wall that faces the mount part of the apparatus and a second wall that does not to face the mount part of the apparatus. A thickness of the first wall is smaller than a thickness of the second wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2023Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Minoru Toyoda, Kentaro Nodera
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Patent number: 12242221Abstract: A locking mechanism (50) is a locking mechanism of a toner container which is replaceable in a state where an opening/closing cover (60) supported by a housing (10) is opened, and the locking mechanism (50) includes a lock member (43) provided in the housing (50) and restricting a detachment of the toner container; an operating lever (63) turnably supported by the opening/closing cover (60) and operating the lock member (43); and a spring member (66) provided in the opening/closing cover (60) and supporting the operating lever (63) elastically, wherein the lock member (43) is turnable between an unlock posture and a lock posture, and the operating lever (63) operates the lock member (43) from the unlock posture to the lock posture according to a movement of the opening/closing cover (60) to a closing direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2022Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Koji Tanio
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Patent number: 12235604Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body having an opening, a door on the body, a unit detachably attached to the body from the opening, a cover inside the door, a spring, and a lock. The door covers the opening at a first closed position. The unit is disposed at a mounting position inside the body. The cover is rotatable between a second closed position and an opening position in an opening direction. At the second closed position, the cover covers the unit at the mounting position. At the opening position, the cover forms an angle of 90 degrees or more with the body. The spring applies a force to the cover in the opening direction. The lock locks the cover at the second closed position. The cover displaced from the second closed position in the opening direction restricts a movement of the door to the first closed position.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Nobuo Kuwabara, Hiroaki Takagi
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Patent number: 12228878Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 16, 2023Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takashi Shimizu, Koji Abe
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Patent number: 12197145Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller rotatable about a rotational axis extending in a first direction; a casing configured to accommodate developer therein; an input gear rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the input gear being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a layer thickness regulating member used to regulate a thickness of a developer layer carried on a surface of the developing roller; and an electrode, the electrode having an electrical contact surface. The developing roller has a developing roller shaft extending in the first direction, a covering layer covering a surface of the developing roller shaft, and an elastic layer rotating synchronously with the developing roller shaft, the electrical contact surface is electrically connected to the layer thickness regulating member, and the covering layer is made of a non-metallic material or insulating material.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2024Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: JIANGXI YIBO E-TECH CO. LTD.Inventors: Jian Peng, Liangliang Hu, Rongli Xu
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Patent number: 12181806Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a developing roller, a casing capable of containing a developer therein, a developing electrode movable with the casing and the developing roller and pivotable about a developing roller shaft of the developing roller in a direction, a first lever movable relative to the casing, and a holder configured to hold the first lever relative to the casing, in case where the developing electrode pivots from one side of the direction to an other side of the direction, the first lever stops the pivotable movement of the developing electrode from one side of the direction to the other side of the direction and the holder prevents the first lever from coming off the holder from the one side of the direction to the other side of the direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2022Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Nao Itabashi
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Patent number: 12174581Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main casing, a belt accommodated in the main casing, developing units arranged along the belt, a drawer configured to detachably support the developing units, the drawer configured to move to a position inside the main casing and to a position outside the main casing, and the drawer having a leading end and a trailing end in a pulling direction from the inside position to the outside position; and a guide configured to guide the drawer and to move between a first position and a second position when the drawer is at the inside position, the second position being farther from the belt than the first position from the belt. When the guide is at the second position, the guide is configured to be tilted downward relative to a horizontal direction such that the leading end is lower than the trailing end.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2023Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Motoaki Mushika, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 12174578Abstract: A housing structure includes a lower housing, an upper housing, and a cover. The upper housing is mounted on the lower housing and includes a recessed hand grip on a side surface of the upper housing. The cover covers at least a part of the recessed hand grip of the upper housing. The cover is attached and secured to the lower housing from a direction perpendicular to the side surface of the upper housing. The cover includes at least a part of a temporary securing structure between the upper housing and the cover. The temporary securing structure temporarily secures the cover to the upper housing when the cover is attached from the direction perpendicular to the side surface of the upper housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Akimitsu Obana
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Patent number: 12164259Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is dType: GrantFiled: September 20, 2023Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Takashi Kimura
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Patent number: 12164260Abstract: A cartridge is used, which has a receptacle with a replenishment port from which a developer is replenished and which is configured to receive the developer replenished from the replenishment port. The receptacle has a transport region that is located lower than the replenishment port in the direction of gravity, where the received developer is transported in a transport direction. The receptacle is provided with a first filter and a second filter downstream and upstream of the replenishment port respectively in the transport direction. The first filter and second filter restrict passage of the developer while allowing passage of air. The first filter or the second filter is located higher than the transport region in the direction of gravity.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2023Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takayuki Yada, Naoki Maeda, Yuuki Nakamura
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Patent number: 12147187Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 1, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 12130567Abstract: A developer container includes a pouch, a communication member, and a cap. A marking including an arrowhead part and a parting line are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cap. A rear end of the arrowhead part is disposed between a first position that is a position 45° upstream from a reference position in a direction of rotation and a second position that is a position 45° downstream in the direction of rotation. The rear end of the arrowhead part overlaps the parting line.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2022Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Mitsuhiro Sato, Shinjiro Toba
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Patent number: 12130578Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum unit, a developing unit, a developing roller bearing, a guide portion, and an urging portion. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum. The developing unit includes a developing roller. The developing roller bearing supports the developing roller and can move radially and rotate axially with respect to the developing unit. The guide portion is formed in the drum unit and guides the developing roller bearing in directions toward and away from the photosensitive drum. The urging portion urges the developing unit in such a direction that it presses the developing roller against the photosensitive drum. The developing unit includes a restriction portion that restricts the rotation of the developing roller bearing with respect to the developing unit within a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2023Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Masahiko Mizuno, Kazuki Yoshioka
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Patent number: 12124189Abstract: A container for accommodating a content of powder or a liquid includes an accommodating portion; an end portion including a rotatable member and a discharging portion which includes a discharge opening and a passage, wherein the end portion is on a side opposite from the accommodating portion with respect to a rotational axis direction; and a flange portion extending in a radial direction of a phantom circle about the rotational axis, wherein as viewed in the rotational axis direction, an outer edge of the flange portion includes an arcuate portion which is on an outermost side of the end portion with respect to the radial direction and which is formed along the phantom circle about the rotational axis and includes a connecting portion which connects a first point and a second point on the phantom circle and which is provided in a region inside the phantom circle.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2022Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinjiro Toba, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Mitsuhiro Sato
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Patent number: 12111608Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 11, 2023Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masao Uyama, Kenji Matsuda, Ken Kikuchi
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Patent number: 12085884Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a housing to accommodate toner and including a fastening boss at a front end; a front cover including a fastening hole aligned with the fastening boss; a fastening member including a fastening portion and a head portion, the fastening portion configured to pass through the fastening hole and be fastened to the fastening boss to couple the front cover to the housing; and a separating portion to allow the fastening hole to be separated from the head portion of the fastening member by an external force acting on the front cover.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2020Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jinsam Park, Jinhong Kim, Gun Heo, Seongwoong Yang
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Patent number: 12072664Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 24, 2023Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Akihiro Fujiwara
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Patent number: 12055887Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing, a drawer, and a toner cartridge. The main body housing includes a first wall arranged at a first direction side of the main body housing and having a first opening, a second wall arranged at a second direction side perpendicular to the first direction and having a second opening, a first door at the first opening, and a second door at the second opening. The drawer supports a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum. When the first door is opened, the drawer is movable between an inner position where the drawer is located inside the main body housing and an outer position where the drawer is located outside the main body housing. When the second door is opened, the toner cartridge is detachable from and is attachable to the main body housing through the second opening in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2023Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasumasa Fujii, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 12055871Abstract: A toner supply device includes a supply pipe, a first conveying pipe, a second conveying pipe, a first conveying member, a second conveying member, and a loosening member. The loosening member is arranged in the supply pipe reciprocatably in the extending direction of the supply pipe. The first and second conveying pipes are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting their extending directions so as to join together at a confluence portion to which the supply pipe is connected. The loosening member is coupled with each of the first and second conveying members at the confluence portion and extends inward of the supply pipe.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2023Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventor: Tomohisa Soda
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Patent number: 12032306Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 14, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasumasa Fujii, Tsutomu Suzuki, Hiroshi Igarashi
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Patent number: 12032325Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 24, 2023Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Akihiro Fujiwara
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Patent number: 11966193Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 22, 2023Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Goshi Ozaki, Ryota Shibuya
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Patent number: 11927895Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 8, 2023Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Koji Ogawa
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Patent number: 11927905Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 26, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jeffrey H. Luke, Gabriel S. McDaniel, Scott K Hymas
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Patent number: 11921440Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shingo Shimada
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Patent number: 11899392Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 5, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takashi Shimizu, Koji Abe
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Patent number: 11874628Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 22, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: JIANGXI YIBO E-TECH CO. LTD.Inventor: Shiping Ao
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Patent number: 11874625Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 30, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Anan, Masato Tanabe, Tsukasa Abe, Kazutaka Sueshige
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Patent number: 11874616Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 10, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventor: Geki Son
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Patent number: 11852989Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 19, 2023Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Osamu Ariizumi
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Patent number: 11846909Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 1, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11835897Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Yuusuke Furuichi
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Patent number: 11829092Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ryuji Hamasaki
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Patent number: 11803154Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 23, 2023Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomoya Ichikawa, Takashi Shimizu, Kazuna Taguchi
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Patent number: 11789379Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 25, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masaki Iwase
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Patent number: 11789382Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 12, 2023Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11782378Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 12, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuaki Nogami, Takeo Kawanami, Akinori Mitsumata
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Patent number: 11782359Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Kazuhiro Okamoto
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Patent number: 11768449Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Yuta Nohara
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Patent number: 11762326Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 8, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Kawakami, Naoya Asanuma, Tetsuya Numata, Noriyuki Komatsu