Developer cartridge having developing roller and electrode
In a developing cartridge, a developing roller including a developing roller shaft is configured to rotate around a first rotational axis extending in predetermined extending direction and to carry developer thereon. The cartridge also includes a developing electrode formed of a conductive material and to be electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The developing electrode includes a main part and a protrusion protruding from the main part in the extending direction. The protrusion has a first portion, which corresponds to a circumferential surface of the protrusion. The cartridge further includes a gear having gear teeth on circumferential portion of the gear. The gear rotates about the protrusion and includes a covering portion covering the first portion and being rotatable with the gear.
1. A developer cartridge comprising:
a developing roller including a developing roller shaft extending in an extending direction;
an electrode electrically connected to the developing roller shaft, the electrode including a protrusion protruding in the extending direction, the protrusion having a first portion, the first portion being a portion of a circumferential surface of the protrusion; and
a gear including a plurality of gear teeth on a portion of a circumference of the gear, the gear being rotatable about the protrusion, the gear including a first covering portion covering the first portion, the first covering portion being rotatable with the gear.
2. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the protrusion has a second portion, the second portion being a portion of the circumferential surface of the protrusion, and the second portion being different from the first portion in a rotation direction of the gear,
wherein the developer cartridge further comprises:
a gear cover covering at least a portion of the gear, the gear cover having an opening, and
wherein the second portion is exposed via the opening.
3. The developer cartridge according to claim 2 ,
wherein the gear is rotatable from a first position to a second position and from the second position to a third position,
wherein, in the first position, the second portion is exposed via the opening,
wherein, in the second position, the first covering portion is positioned at the opening and the first covering portion covers the second portion, and
wherein, in the third position, the second portion is exposed via the opening.
4. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the gear further includes a second covering portion, the second covering portion being rotatable with the gear,
wherein the protrusion has a second portion, the second portion being a portion of the circumferential surface of the protrusion, and the second portion being different from the first portion in a rotation direction of the gear, and
wherein the second portion is exposed between the first covering portion and the second covering portion.
5. The developer cartridge according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a gear cover covering at least a portion of the gear, the gear cover having an opening,
wherein the second portion is exposed via the opening.
6. The developer cartridge according to claim 5 ,
wherein the gear is rotatable from a first position to a second position and from the second position to a third position,
wherein, in the first position, the second portion is exposed via the opening,
wherein, in the second position, one of the first and second covering portions is positioned at the opening and covers the second portion, and
wherein, in the third position, the second portion is exposed via the opening.
7. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the electrode has a hole, and
wherein the developing roller shaft includes a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the extending direction, one of the first end portion and the second end portion being supported in the hole, and the developing roller shaft being rotatable relative to the hole.
8. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the developer cartridge is configured to accommodate toner therein,
wherein the developer cartridge further includes:
a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the developing roller, the supply roller including a supply roller shaft including a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the extending direction,
wherein the electrode has a hole, and
wherein one of the first end portion and the second end portion is supported in the hole, and the supply roller shaft being rotatable relative to the hole.
9. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an agitator including an agitator shaft extending in the extending direction, the agitator shaft including one end portion and another end portion separated from the one end portion in the extending direction; and
an agitator gear attached to the one end portion, the agitator gear being rotatable with the agitator, and the agitator gear engaging with at least one of the plurality of gear teeth.
10. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode is formed of a conductive material.
11. The developer cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the conductive material is a conductive resin.
12. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode includes a main part, the protrusion protruding from the main part in the extending direction.
13. The developer cartridge according to claim 12 ,
wherein the main part has a hole, and
wherein the developing roller shaft includes a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the extending direction, one of the first end portion and the second end portion is supported in the hole, and the developing roller shaft is rotatable relative to the hole.
14. The developer cartridge according to claim 12 ,
wherein the developer cartridge is configured to accommodate toner therein,
wherein the developer cartridge further includes:
a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the developing roller, the supply roller including a supply roller shaft including a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the extending direction,
wherein the main part has a hole, and
wherein one of the first end portion and the second end portion is supported in the hole, and the supply roller shaft is rotatable relative to the hole.
15. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the developing roller shaft includes a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the extending direction, and
wherein the electrode includes:
a main part having a hole into which one of the first end portion and the second end portion of the developing roller shaft is inserted.
16. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the developer cartridge is configured to accommodate toner therein,
wherein the developer cartridge further includes:
a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the developing roller, the supply roller including a supply roller shaft including a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the extending direction, and
wherein the electrode includes:
a main part having a hole into which one of the first end portion and the second end portion of the supply roller shaft is inserted.
17. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the developing roller shaft includes a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the extending direction, and
wherein the electrode has a hole into which one of the first end portion and the second end portion of the developing roller shaft is inserted.
18. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the developer cartridge is configured to accommodate toner therein,
wherein the developer cartridge further includes:
a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the developing roller, the supply roller including a supply roller shaft including a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the extending direction, and
wherein the electrode has a hole into which one of the first end portion and the second end portion of the supply roller shaft is inserted.