IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,609,536
Granted Patent B2
US 11,609,536 · App. 17/464,347 · Granted Mar 21, 2023

Drum cartridge including movable electrical contact surface, and image-forming apparatus using the same

Inventor: Nao Itabashi (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G21/1867G03G15/0865G03G21/1814G03G21/1885
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,609,536
App. No.
17/464,347
Granted
Mar 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first drum frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable; and a second drum frame having an outer surface; and a memory having an electrical contact surface. The first drum frame is at one end portion of the drum cartridge in a second direction and the second drum frame is at another end portion of the drum cartridge in the second direction. The electrical contact surface is positioned at the outer surface of the second drum frame and is movable in a predetermined direction relative to the second drum frame.

Claims (17)

1. A process cartridge comprising:

a developing cartridge including a developing roller;

a drum cartridge including:

a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; and

a drum frame to which the developing cartridge is attachable;

a memory having an electrical contact surface, the electrical contact surface being positioned at one end portion of the process cartridge in the first direction; and

a lock lever configured to fix the developing cartridge to the drum frame, the lock lever being positioned at the one end portion of the process cartridge in the first direction, the lock lever being positioned farther from the photosensitive drum than the electrical contact surface is from the photosensitive drum in a second direction crossing the first direction.

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact surface faces a third direction crossing the first direction and second direction.

3. The process cartridge according to claim 2 ,

wherein the process cartridge is attachable to an image forming apparatus, and

wherein the electrical contact surface contacts an electrical terminal of the image forming apparatus in the third direction in a state where the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus.

4. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the lock lever is pivotably movable about an axis extending in the first direction.

5. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the lock lever is positioned on the drum frame.

6. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact surface is movable relative to the drum frame in the first direction.

7. The process cartridge according to claim 1 further comprising a holder holding the electrical contact surface.

8. The process cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the holder is movable in the first direction relative to the drum frame.

9. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises a plurality of the electrical contact surfaces arrayed with one another in the first direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2021
From: ITABASHI, NAO
To: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 057360/0136 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-158772 · Aug 30, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17002037 · Aug 25, 2020
Related Publication 20210397123A1 · Dec 23, 2021