Electrical Connection Patents (Class 399/90)
  • Patent number: 9766588
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a supporting member capable of supporting a plurality of developing rollers and a plurality of photosensitive drums, and a plurality of developing cartridges each having the developing roller. An urging member urges each developing cartridge to urge the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum, and a spacing member spaces the developing roller and the photosensitive drum from each other. The developing cartridges each include an upper surface facing upward when mounted to the supporting member and two recessed portions provided at the upper surface, each extending in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller, wherein the two recessed portions are disposed along an arrangement direction of the developing cartridges and constitute a gripping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Uchida, Takeshi Niimura
  • Patent number: 9764557
    Abstract: In a configuration in which an ink accommodating portion is provided on the outside of an apparatus main body, both improvement of maintenance and suppressing of performance deterioration of the apparatus are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Miyamoto, Satoshi Iwaya, Masaki Shimomura, Tokujiro Okuno
  • Patent number: 9766585
    Abstract: A power line retaining member that houses, in a groove, a power line for connecting two separate components of an image forming device, the power line being a bare metal wire that has elasticity. The power line retaining member includes a guide and a restricting portion. The guide includes two side walls, internal wall surfaces of the two side walls and a bottom surface between the internal wall surfaces being electrically insulative and defining the groove, the guide holding the power line in an elastically deformed shape. The restricting portion is disposed on an internal wall surface that the power line exerts a restoring force against, the restricting portion restricting movement of the power line in a direction away from the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Satomi Uchida
  • Patent number: 9753428
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a rotation body; and an electrode member. The electrode member is configured to supply the rotation body with electric power from an external electrode provided outside of the cartridge. The electrode member includes: a contact portion; and an urging portion. The contact portion is configured to be contacted by the external electrode. The urging portion is in a shape of a coil formed by winding a wire rod and configured to urge the contact portion toward the external electrode such that the contact portion is pivotally moved about the urging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Shota Shinoya, Koji Abe, Yasushi Okabe
  • Patent number: 9746815
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An electrical connector mounted on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. In the retracted position, the electrical connector is tucked into a portion of the housing. In the operative position, the electrical connector is exposed to permit the electrical contact to contact the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. A linkage is operatively connected to the electrical connector and includes an engagement surface accessible on an exterior of the housing to receive an actuation force. Movement of the linkage moves the electrical connector between the retracted position and the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 9733610
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure includes a unit, a high-voltage contact point pin, and a protective member. The unit is mountable/demountable with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus. With the unit mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the high-voltage contact point pin is in contact with a contact point terminal that is provided at the unit. With the unit mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the protective member is disposed at a first position at which a tip end of the high-voltage contact point pin being in contact with the contact point terminal is exposed, and with the unit demounted from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the protective member is disposed at a second position at which the tip end of the high-voltage contact point pin is covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hirohito Konishi
  • Patent number: 9733589
    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: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasumasa Fujii, Tsutomu Suzuki, Hiroshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9720347
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a case having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, and a developing roller disposed between the first sidewall and second sidewall. The developing roller can include a developing roller shaft and a developing roller member configured to carry a developing agent thereon, the developing roller member disposed around the developing roller shaft. Also, the developing cartridge can include an electrode disposed on the first sidewall adjacent to the developing roller shaft, the electrode electrically connected to the developing roller member, and a driven coupling disposed on the second sidewall. The electrode can include, an extending portion extending in a direction away from the first sidewall. An outermost periphery of the driven coupling defines a projection plane projecting in a direction towards the electrode, wherein at least a part of the extending portion is disposed within the projection plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Takeyuki Takagi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9715199
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main assembly having a door, a feeding unit including first and second rotatable members configured to form a nip for feeding a sheet and a moving mechanism configured to move the first rotatable member in a spacing direction relative to the second rotatable member, a power source provided in the apparatus main assembly, and a motor provided in the apparatus main assembly and configured to drive the moving mechanism. The feeding unit is detachably mountable to the apparatus main assembly upon opening of the door. An electric power supplying path is capable of supplying electric power from the power source to the motor via the feeding unit despite the door being in an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Yoshida, Takeshi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9715208
    Abstract: A contact spring is constituted by a bare wire and accommodated in a bent groove of a wire support guide. A non-linear connection is realized via the bare wire between two parts disposed apart from each other within an image forming apparatus. One end of the contact spring is connected with one of the two parts, the other end of the contact spring is connected with the other part via the bent groove, and a coil-shaped or zigzag-shaped elastic portion of the bare wire is in a portion accommodated in the bent groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Satomi Uchida
  • Patent number: 9651897
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a development device and a guide part guiding the development device to the image carrier. The development device includes a magnet roller, which includes a shaft having magnets arrayed circumferentially, and a cover member, which include a bearing part engaged with the guide part as the shaft is inserted thereinto. The shaft and the bearing part include an engaged part and an engaging part restricting a circumferential position of the magnet and including contact faces provided along an action direction of force from the guide part to the bearing part when the bearing part is engaged with the guide part and the development device approaches the image carrier. A clearance is provided between an outer circumferential face of the shaft and an inner circumferential face of the bearing part at an upstream side in the action direction from the contact faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Iketani
  • Patent number: 9625876
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cartridge, a storage medium, a cartridge-side holding device, a body-side holding device, and a reading device. The cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body. Information relating to the cartridge is stored in the storage medium. The cartridge-side holding device is provided in the cartridge and, when the cartridge is in a non-inserted state in which the cartridge is not inserted into the apparatus body, holds the storage medium. The body-side holding device is provided in the apparatus body and, when the cartridge is in an attached state in which the cartridge is disposed at an operation position in the apparatus body, holds the storage medium transferred from the cartridge-side holding device. The reading device reads the information from the storage medium held by the body-side holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9612553
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, a first rotary member having a detected portion and a first abutment portion, and a second rotary member having a second abutment portion. The agitator includes: a rotation shaft having an axial end portion at which the second rotary member is supported; and an agitation blade supported to the rotation shaft and resiliently deformable. The second rotary member is configured such that while the agitation blade is being spaced apart from the housing, the second abutment portion contacts the first abutment portion in accordance with rotation of the second rotary member to move the first rotary member from the first position to the second position, thereby transmitting the driving force from the second rotary member to the first rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9588474
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion, a feed portion, a transfer portion transferring a toner image on a sheet fed by the feed portion, and a switching portion. The switching portion switches the sheet stacking portion between a grounded condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically earthed and an insulated condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically insulated. The sheet stacking portion is switched into the insulated condition in a state in which the transfer bias is applied and the sheet stacking portion is switched into the grounded condition in a state in which no transfer bias is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentarou Tomoe, Takateru Ohkubo, Keita Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9581960
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a rotation body; and an electrode member. The electrode member is configured to supply the rotation body with electric power from an external electrode provided outside of the cartridge. The electrode member includes: a contact portion; and an urging portion. The contact portion is configured to be contacted by the external electrode. The urging portion is in a shape of a coil formed by winding a wire rod and configured to urge the contact portion toward the external electrode such that the contact portion is pivotally moved about the urging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Shota Shinoya, Koji Abe, Yasushi Okabe
  • Patent number: 9563169
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An electrical connector mounted on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. In the retracted position, the electrical connector is tucked into a portion of the housing. In the operative position, the electrical connector is exposed to permit the electrical contact to contact the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. A linkage is operatively connected to the electrical connector and includes an engagement surface accessible on an exterior of the housing to receive an actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 9551974
    Abstract: An image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a first electrical connector mounted on a frame of the image forming device. The first electrical connector is movable between a home position retracted against the frame and an operative position of the first electrical connector. A replaceable unit is removably installable in the image forming device along a direction of insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device. The replaceable unit includes a second electrical connector that is matable with the first electrical connector. The replaceable unit includes a guide on an exterior of the replaceable unit. Insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device along the direction of insertion causes the guide to move the first electrical connector from the home position to the operative position of the first electrical connector aligned with the second electrical connector of the replaceable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Bradley Martin, Jeremy Keith Payne, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 9535395
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a first unit including a first side plate, a second side plate and a photosensitive drum; and a second unit including a developing member and an electrical terminal for supplying power to the developing member. The second unit is pivotally movable relative to the first unit about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position. The electrical terminal is rotatably supported by the first side plate and is positioned on the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Shinoya, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9529302
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9513595
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a case having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, and a developing roller disposed between the first sidewall and second sidewall. The developing roller can include a developing roller shaft and a developing roller member configured to carry a developing agent thereon, the developing roller member disposed around the developing roller shaft. Also, the developing cartridge can include an electrode disposed on the first sidewall adjacent to the developing roller shaft, the electrode electrically connected to the developing roller member, and a driven coupling disposed on the second sidewall. The electrode can include, an extending portion extending in a direction away from the first sidewall. An outermost periphery of the driven coupling defines a projection plane projecting in a direction towards the electrode, wherein at least a part of the extending portion is disposed within the projection plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Takeyuki Takagi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9507310
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium, including: a process unit, which a high voltage is applied to, configured to perform an image forming process; a circuit board configured to generate the high voltage; a holding claw configured to hold the circuit board; a power feed member configured to apply the high voltage to the process unit, the power feed member having an elastic member electrically connected to an output portion of the circuit board from which the high voltage is output in a state in which the circuit board is held by the holding claw; and a silk-printed mark put on the circuit board, the silk-printed mark indicating a portion of the circuit board to be pressed by an operator in order to cause the circuit board to be held by the holding claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirohisa Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9477188
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a film, a heater contacting the film which has a substrate, a first heat generating segment on a first surface of the substrate, and a second heat generating segment on a second surface opposite to the first surface, a pressure member forming the nip portion, a temperature detection unit detecting a temperature of the second surface, and a control unit supplying power to the heater so that the detected temperature becomes a target temperature, wherein the control unit can perform a first heater control so as to supply power only to the first heat generating segment, and a first heater control so as to supply power only to the second heat generating segment, and wherein the target temperature during performing the second heater control is higher than the target temperature during performing the first heater control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 9459582
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a voltage application unit, a target device, a voltage application line, and an electric-current return line. The voltage application unit applies a voltage to the target device through the voltage application line made of a conductor. The electric-current return line made of a conductor connects the target device to the voltage application unit. An electric current that flows upon application of the voltage from the voltage application unit to the target device returns to the voltage application unit through the electric-current return line. The electric-current return line has a length shorter than a path by way of the casing of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hamano, Norio Joichi
  • Patent number: 9459586
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and a contact terminal, and a detachable unit including a holder for holding a circuit board having an electrode terminal which comes into contact with the contact terminal. A state of the detachable unit is changed to an attached state by inserting it in an insertion direction, and is changed to a detached state by withdrawing the detachable unit in a withdrawal direction. The holder includes a first positioning member for positioning a tip end of the circuit board in the insertion direction when the detachable unit holding the circuit board in the holder is slid in the insertion direction. The first positioning member includes a notch configured so that the contact terminal passes through the notch when the detachable unit not holding the circuit board in the holder in the attached state is slid in the withdrawal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keigo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9429907
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include: a process cartridge, an apparatus body and a spacing member. The process cartridge may be detachably mountable to the apparatus body and include a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive member, a developing unit having a developing roller, and a driving input part into which a driving force from the apparatus body is configured to be inputted. The apparatus body may include a driving input member which is configured to input the driving force. Additionally or alternatively, the spacing member may be attached to the process cartridge and configured to space the photosensitive member and the developing roller. The spacing member may include a first cover part which is located between the driving input part and the driving input member and covers at least a portion of the driving input part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Shinoya, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 9423765
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developer-carrying member, a supply member, a developing electrode, a supply electrode, and an insulating member. The casing is configured to accommodate therein developer. The developer-carrying member is configured to rotate about a rotational axis and carry the developer thereon. The supply member is configured to supply the developer to the developer-carrying member. The developing electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the developer-carrying member. The supply electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the supply member. The insulating member insulates the developing electrode and the supply electrode with each other. The developing electrode, the insulating member, and the supply electrode are overlapped in this order in an axial direction of the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasumasa Fujii
  • Patent number: 9417604
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is removably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus, including: a containing member configured to contain the process cartridge, movable between an outside position outside the main body and an inside position inside the main body, and provided with a guided portion to be guided from an outside; and a guiding portion provided in the main body and configured to guide the guided portion, wherein the guiding portion includes: a first guiding part configured to guide the guided portion when the containing member is moved from the outside position to the inside position by being inserted into the main body; and a second guiding part having a shape to return the guided portion toward the inside position when the containing member is further moved downstream of the inside position in an inserting direction of the containing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Noriyuki Komatsu, Tetsuya Numata, Osamu Anan
  • Patent number: 9395681
    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: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasumasa Fujii, Tsutomu Suzuki, Hiroshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9367019
    Abstract: An electric wire member includes at least one bending portion that electrically connects a processing unit for performing an image forming process on a paper to a high voltage board for supplying a high voltage to the processing unit, and the at least one bending portion includes a coil type bending portion having a coil shape of one turn or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Shinobu Ohata
  • Patent number: 9367006
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: an endless belt; a rotatable member configured to cooperate with the endless belt to form the nip; a back-up member including a heater and an electrode portion connected with the heater; an electric energy supply member mounted to the back-up member; a regulating member mounted to the back-up member to regulate movement of the endless belt in a longitudinal direction of the belt; and a covering member for covering the electrode portion when the endless belt is inserted and removed in a longitudinal direction in the state that the electric energy supply member and the regulating member are dismounted from the back-up member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Yoshida, Takatoshi Chiba, Youichi Chikugo
  • Patent number: 9366993
    Abstract: A developer cartridge assembled to a developing device defining therein a developing chamber. The developer cartridge includes a first accommodating portion, and a first agitator. The first accommodating portion accommodates therein a developing agent and is positioned beside the developing device. The first accommodating portion includes a first wall part neighboring the developing device. The first wall part is formed with a first through-hole and a second through-hole. The first through-hole is open diagonally downward from the first accommodating portion to the developing device. The second through-hole is open diagonally upward from the first accommodating portion to the developing device. The first through-hole and the second through-hole allow communication between an interior of the first accommodating portion and the developing chamber. The first agitator is rotatably disposed in the first accommodating portion and in sliding contact with the first wall part in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 9360793
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller with a shaft, a housing with a wall portion, a developing electrode, a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a connecting portion. The developing electrode includes a first contact portion contacting the shaft and has a first surface against which an apparatus electrode of an image forming apparatus body slides, a second contact portion disposed next to the first contact portion, and a second surface configured to contact an electrode of the image forming apparatus. The connecting portion includes a first inclined surface connecting the first surface and the second surface with each other and being contiguous with the first surface. The first inclined surface is inclined toward the second contact portion from the first contact portion such that the first inclined surface extends in a direction away from the wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Soun Kanada, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9354599
    Abstract: A drum unit includes: a photosensitive drum; a side plate; a cleaning member; a support member; a frame; and a connecting member. The photosensitive drum has an axis extending in an axial direction. The photosensitive drum has a surface. The side plate has electrical conductive properties. The side plate is configured to support the photosensitive drum. The side plate includes a contact portion configured to contact an external member having electrical conductive properties. The cleaning member is configured to clean the surface of the photosensitive drum. The support member has electrical conductive properties and is configured to support the cleaning member. The frame has electrical insulating properties. The frame is configured to support the support member and fixed to the side plate. The connecting member is configured to electrically connect the support member to the side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9317000
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members is electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member is electrically connected to the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Okabe
  • Patent number: 9304483
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a receiving recessed portion, a contact portion and a main assembly electrical contact. In a state in which the cartridge is mounted at an image forming position of the main assembly, the cartridge includes a first positioning projection held in the receiving recessed portion; a second positioning projection, provided at a position different from a position of the first positioning projection, contacting the contact portion; and an information storing member including a storing element for storing information and a storing element contact electrically connected with the storing element, wherein the storing element contact contacts the main assembly electrical contact. Moment, about the first positioning projection, applied to the cartridge by a force applied from the main assembly electrical contact to the storing element contact acts in a direction of urging the second positioning projection to the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Yuuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9291984
    Abstract: An image fixing apparatus for heating and fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material, comprising a heater including a substrate, a first electrode provided on one side of the substrate and a second electrode provided on the other side of the substrate; and a connector, connected with the heater, for receiving electric power, the connector including an electrically insulative housing, and a contact terminal provided inside the housing and having first spring contact contacted to the first electrode and a second spring contact contacted to the second electrode, wherein the contact terminal is swingable relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Moriya, Takayuki Mizuta, Hideki Ohta, Yoshisuke Kasuya, Kazushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9274485
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a cassette attaching section and a media cassette. The media cassette includes a loading plate, a pushing up member, a projecting portion and a plate holding portion that engages the loading plate. A release portion engages the plate holding portion. The cassette attaching section has a media supplying roller that supplies media to the image forming apparatus body. The plate holding portion engages the loading plate and holds the loading plate against a pushing up force of the pushing up member. The plate holding portion holds the loading plate when the support section of the media cassette is located outside the cassette attaching section. The media cassette may be inserted into the cassette attaching section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9274451
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a cartridge are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a CPU as a judgment unit, and a main electrode. The cartridge accommodating a toner is attachable to and detachable from the main casing, and has a cartridge electrode electrically connectable to the main electrode. The CPU is configured to judge assembly or non-assembly of the cartridge with respect to the main casing and to judge whether or not the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge. The cartridge electrode is movable by a predetermined moving amount to permit the main electrode to be movable. As a result of a movement of the main electrode in accordance with the movement of the cartridge electrode, the CPU determines that the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9268295
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing configured to hold toner. The cartridge may further include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft, a supply roller including a supply roller shaft, a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode and supply electrode may be configured to guide an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus in one or more directions. In some examples, the developing electrode and supply electrode may have angled surfaces that extend toward one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeyuki Takagi, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 9268296
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a cartridge to be used therein are provided. The image forming device includes a main casing, a CPU as a judgment unit, and a main electrode. The cartridge accommodating therein a toner is attachable to and detachable from the main casing, and has a moving member and a cartridge electrode electrically connectable to the main electrode. The CPU is configured to judge assembly or non-assembly of the cartridge with respect to the main casing and to judge whether or not the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge. The moving member is movable by a predetermined moving amount to permit the cartridge electrode to be movable. As a result of a movement of the main electrode in accordance with the movement of the cartridge electrode, the CPU determines that the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9261857
    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: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasumasa Fujii, Tsutomu Suzuki, Hiroshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9256199
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include: a process cartridge, an apparatus body and a spacing member. The process cartridge may be detachably mountable to the apparatus body and include a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive member, a developing unit having a developing roller, and a driving input part into which a driving force from the apparatus body is configured to be inputted. The apparatus body may include a driving input member which is configured to input the driving force. Additionally or alternatively, the spacing member may be attached to the process cartridge and configured to space the photosensitive member and the developing roller. The spacing member may include a first cover part which is located between the driving input part and the driving input member and covers at least a portion of the driving input part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Shinoya, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 9250607
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus loadable with a cartridge includes a supporting member, carrying the cartridge, movable between an inside position and an outside position. The supporting member is provided with a first regulating portion to limit the cartridge in one of the longitudinal directions and a second regulating portion to limit movement of the cartridge in the other longitudinal directions. In addition, a third regulating portion limits the supporting member in the one longitudinal direction, and a fourth regulating portion limits the supporting member in the other longitudinal direction. The first, second, third and fourth regulating portions are all provided at the one longitudinal end portion side and outside an image forming region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Fukui, Noritomo Yamaguchi, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 9250600
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units in an arrangement direction orthogonal to a rotary axis thereof; a support member configured to support the plurality of image forming units; a frame, which is configured to support the support member, and a plurality of electrodes, which is supported to the frame and is configured to supply power to the plurality of image forming units, wherein the frame comprises: a plurality of support projections, which protrudes inwardly to support the plurality of electrodes, and a projection part, which is arranged at an outer position of the plurality of support projections, at which the projection part overlaps with the support member, as viewed from the direction of the rotary axis, and is contactable to the support member in a case where the support member is moved towards the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Souda
  • Patent number: 9237248
    Abstract: An image reading device is movable between a first position and a second position spaced farther apart from an image forming device than the first position, and a regulating member configured to regulate respective positions of two cables maintains, when the image reading device is at the first position, the two cables, respectively, in a bent state in a direction away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Osawa, Yu Shuhama
  • Patent number: 9229421
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body, at least one developing cartridge, which is disposed inside the body to form an image and is provided at one side thereof with an interface terminal to receive a power, a tray movably coupled to the body while accommodating the at least one developing cartridge, a cover coupled to one side to open/close the body such that the tray moves to outside the body, a link member configured to guide the movement of the tray and to move according to the open/close movement of the cover while being connected to the cover, and a connection terminal configured to make contact with the interface terminal by being pressed by the link member when the cover closes the body and to be separated from being released for pressing force when the cover opens the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mun Hyub Choi, Sung Kyun Lee
  • Patent number: 9217988
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a case having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, and a developing roller disposed between the first sidewall and second sidewall. The developing roller can include a developing roller shaft and a developing roller member configured to carry a developing agent thereon, the developing roller member disposed around the developing roller shaft. Also, the developing cartridge can include an electrode disposed on the first sidewall adjacent to the developing roller shaft, the electrode electrically connected to the developing roller member, and a driven coupling disposed on the second sidewall. The electrode can include, an extending portion extending in a direction away from the first sidewall. An outermost periphery of the driven coupling defines a projection plane projecting in a direction towards the electrode, wherein at least a part of the extending portion is disposed within the projection plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Takeyuki Takagi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9213256
    Abstract: The developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, a gear, a first intermediate gear, a second intermediate gear, a developing roller gear, and a supply roller gear. The supply roller is in contact with the developing roller. The gear is configured to receive a drive force from an outside. The first intermediate gear is provided to a supply roller shaft such that the first intermediate gear is rotatable relative to the supply roller shaft. The developing roller gear is provided to a developing roller shaft such that the developing roller gear is unrotatable relative to the developing roller shaft. The developing roller gear is engaged with the second intermediate gear. The supply roller gear is provided to the supply roller shaft such that the supply roller gear is unrotatable relative to the supply roller shaft. The supply roller gear is engaged with the second intermediate gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Okabe, Hideshi Nishiyama, Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: 9213305
    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: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeyuki Takagi, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 9207567
    Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yasuo Fukamachi, Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Takahiro Nishimoto