IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,687,030
Granted Patent B2
US 11,687,030 · App. 17/716,552 · Granted Jun 27, 2023

Drum cartridge including electrical contact surface positioned at outer surface of drum frame

Inventors: Koji Abe (Okazaki, JP); Naoya Kamimura (Ichinomiya, JP)
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G21/1885G03G21/1867G03G21/1878G03G2221/1823
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,687,030
App. No.
17/716,552
Granted
Jun 27, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable; a photosensitive drum; and a first storage medium. The drum frame has one end portion and another end portion spaced apart from the one end portion in a first direction. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a second direction and is positioned at the one end portion of the drum cartridge. The first storage medium includes a first electrical contact surface. The first storage medium is positioned at an outer surface of the drum frame, the outer surface being exposed in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.

Claims (62)

1. A process cartridge comprising:

a drum cartridge including:

a drum frame having one end portion and another end portion spaced apart from the one end portion in a first direction;

a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a second direction, the photosensitive drum being positioned at the one end portion of the drum frame in the first direction; and

a first storage medium including a first electrical contact surface; and

a developing cartridge detachably attachable to the drum frame, the developing cartridge including:

a developing roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the second direction; and

a second storage medium including a second electrical contact surface,

wherein the drum frame includes:

a first drum side plate;

a second drum side plate spaced apart from the first drum side plate in the second direction, the photosensitive drum being positioned between the first drum side plate and the second drum side plate in the second direction; and

a connecting plate connecting the first drum side plate and the second drum side plate in the second direction, the connecting plate being positioned at the another end portion of the drum frame in the first direction,

wherein the first electrical contact surface is positioned closer to the first drum side plate than to the second drum side plate in the second direction, and the first electrical contact surface is positioned closer to the connecting plate than the photosensitive drum is to the connecting plate in the first direction, and

wherein, in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the second electrical contact surface is positioned closer to the first drum side plate than to the second drum side plate in the second direction, and the second electrical contact surface is positioned closer to the connecting plate than the photosensitive drum is to the connecting plate in the first direction.

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drum cartridge further includes a first handle positioned at the another end portion of the drum frame in the first direction.

3. The process cartridge according to claim 2 ,

wherein the first electrical contact surface is positioned closer to the first handle than the photosensitive drum is to the first handle in the first direction, and

wherein, in the state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the second electrical contact surface is positioned closer to the first handle than the photosensitive drum is to the first handle in the first direction.

4. The process cartridge according to claim 2 ,

wherein the developing cartridge further includes a casing accommodating toner therein, the casing having one end portion and another end portion spaced apart from the one end portion in the first direction,

wherein the developing roller is positioned at the one end portion of the casing, and

wherein the casing includes a second handle positioned at the another end portion of the casing.

5. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drum cartridge further includes a pressing member positioned at the another end portion of the drum frame in the first direction, and the pressing member presses the developing cartridge toward the one end portion of the drum frame in the first direction in the state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.

6. The process cartridge according to claim 5 ,

wherein the first electrical contact surface is positioned closer to the pressing member than the photosensitive drum is to the pressing member in the first direction, and

wherein, in the state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the second electrical contact surface is positioned closer to the pressing member than the photosensitive drum is to the pressing member in the first direction.

7. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first electrical contact surface faces a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

8. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in the state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the second electrical contact surface faces a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

9. The process cartridge according to the claim 1 ,

wherein the developing cartridge further includes a casing accommodating toner therein,

wherein the casing includes a plurality of ribs protruding from an outer surface of the casing, and

wherein the plurality of ribs is arranged in line in the second direction.

10. The process cartridge according to the claim 9 ,

wherein the plurality of ribs protrudes in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

11. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first storage medium includes a plurality of the first electrical contact surfaces.

12. The process cartridge according to claim 11 ,

wherein the plurality of the first electrical surfaces is arranged in line in the second direction.

13. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drum cartridge further includes:

a charging device configured to charge a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum; and

a charging electrode configured to supply power to the charging device, the charging electrode having a charging contact surface.

14. The process cartridge according to claim 13 ,

wherein the charging contact surface is positioned closer to the second drum side plate than to the first drum side plate in the second direction.

15. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drum cartridge further includes a drum gear rotatable with the photosensitive drum, and

wherein the drum gear is rotatable about the first axis.

16. The process cartridge according to claim 15 ,

wherein the drum gear is positioned closer to the first drum side plate than to the second drum side plate in the second direction.

17. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drum frame further includes a notch, and

wherein the developing cartridge further includes a protrusion that fits in the notch in the state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.

18. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,

wherein the developing cartridge further includes:

a supply roller rotatable about a supply-roller axis extending in the second direction; and

a supply electrode configured to supply power to the supply roller, the supply electrode having a supply contact surface.

19. The process cartridge according to claim 18 ,

wherein, in the state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the supply contact surface is positioned closer to the second drum side plate than to the first drum side plate in the second direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2022
From: ABE, KOJI; KAMIMURA, NAOYA
To: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 059547/0355 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-042646 · Mar 7, 2017 · national
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17105723 · Nov 27, 2020
Continuation 16560333 · Sep 4, 2019
Continuation PCTJP2017023028 · Jun 22, 2017
Related Publication 20220229394A1 · Jul 21, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,717,273