Exchange unit and image forming apparatus having the same
View Patent ↗An exchange unit to be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus includes an information holding unit for communicating with a communication unit disposed in the image forming apparatus to read or write information; a storage unit for retaining the information holding unit; a housing unit having an opening portion for inserting the information holding unit into the storage unit; and a lid member for opening and closing the opening portion.
1. An exchange unit to be detachably attached to an electric apparatus, comprising:
an information holding unit for communicating with a communication unit disposed in the electric apparatus to read or write information, said information holding unit including a base member with a memory element;
a housing unit having an opening portion in a first surface thereof adjacent to a second surface thereof facing the communication device;
a storage unit for retaining the information holding unit, said storage unit extending from the opening portion along the second surface in parallel to the base member; and
a lid member for opening and closing the opening portion.
2. The exchange unit according to claim 1 , wherein said lid member is detachably attached to the housing unit.
3. The exchange unit according to claim 1 , wherein said housing unit further includes a sidewall adjacent to a surface facing the communication device, said sidewall having the opening portion.
4. The exchange unit according to claim 1 , wherein said base member further includes a circuit pattern formed thereon, said housing unit further including a fixing portion for holding a portion of the base member where the circuit pattern is not formed to fix the information holding unit.
5. The exchange unit according to claim 1 , wherein said lid member includes a deformable member on an inner portion thereof.
6. The exchange unit according to claim 1 , wherein said lid member includes a supporting portion for supporting the information holding unit, said supporting portion having a first engaging portion for engaging a second engaging portion formed on the information holding unit so that the information holding unit is detachably attached to the supporting portion.
7. The exchange unit according to claim 1 , wherein said lid member is formed of a part of the housing unit.
8. The exchange unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a developer storage unit for storing developer so that the exchange unit functions as a toner cartridge.
9. The exchange unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a developer supporting member for supporting developer on a surface thereof and a developer supply member for supplying the developer to the developer supporting member so that the exchange unit functions as an image forming unit.
10. The exchange unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixing device and a heating unit for heating the fixing device so that the exchange unit functions as a fixing unit.
11. An image forming apparatus comprising the exchange unit according to claim 1 detachably attached thereto.
12. The exchange unit according to claim 4 , wherein said storage unit has a height greater than that of the information holding unit.
13. The exchange unit according to claim 4 , wherein said storage unit includes two end portions, said opening portion being situated at one of the two end portions, a rear surface being situated at the other of the two end portions, said fixing portion being formed of a guide rib extending from the opening portion to the rear surface along the second surface so that the information holding unit is inserted into a groove formed between the guide rib and a bottom surface of the storage unit.
14. The exchange unit according to claim 13 , wherein said guide rid has a height i (mm) and said storage unit has a thickness j (mm) so that the following relationship is established:
j≦i≦j+ 0.2 mm.
15. The exchange unit according to claim 13 , wherein said storage unit has a width f (mm) and said information holding unit has a width g (mm) so that the following relationship is established:
g≦f≦g+ 0.5 mm.
16. The exchange unit according to claim 13 , wherein said storage unit has a distance d (mm) between the opening portion and the rear surface equal to or greater than a length e (mm) of the information holding unit.
17. The exchange unit according to claim 16 , wherein said lib unit has a thickness k (mm) so that the following relationship is established:
( d−e )−0.5 mm≦ k ≦( d−e ).
18. The exchange unit according to claim 13 , wherein said circuit pattern is formed in a spiral shape surrounding the memory element.
19. The exchange unit according to claim 18 , wherein guide rib has a width greater than a distance between an end portion of the information holding unit and an outermost portion of the circuit pattern.