IP Library Granted Patent US 11,067,944
Granted Patent B2
US 11,067,944 · App. 17/028,189 · Granted Jul 20, 2021

Developing cartridge including holder movably supporting electrical contact surface

Inventor: Junichi Yokoi (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G21/1676G03G15/0806G03G15/0863G03G21/1647G03G21/1871G03G21/1821G03G2221/183
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,067,944
App. No.
17/028,189
Granted
Jul 20, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A developing cartridge includes: a housing extending in a first direction; a developing roller; a memory held at the housing; a holder holding an electrical contact surface; and a relay component electrically connecting the memory to the electrical contact surface. The developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the housing in a second direction. The holder is movable relative to the housing in at least one of the second direction and a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. The third direction also crosses the electrical contact surface.

Claims (45)

1. A developing cartridge comprising:

a housing configured to accommodate developing agent therein;

a developing roller;

a memory positioned at the housing;

a holder holding an electrical contact surface, and the holder being movable relative to the housing; and

a relay component electrically connecting the memory to the electrical contact surface.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the housing extends in a first direction,

wherein the developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the housing in a second direction crossing the first direction, and

wherein the electrical contact surface is positioned at one end portion of the holder in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction, the third direction crossing the electrical contact surface.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2 , wherein the holder has a first end portion in the third direction and a second end portion positioned away from the first end portion in the third direction, the first end portion holding the electrical contact surface, the first end portion being movable in the third direction relative to the second end portion.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 3 , further comprising a resilient member positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion, the resilient member being configured to expand and contract in the third direction between a first state and a second state, a length of the resilient member in the third direction being greater in the first state than in the second state.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the holder is movable relative to the housing in the second direction and the third direction, the holder being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing in the second direction in a state where the resilient member is in the second state.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the holder is positioned at one end portion of the housing in the first direction, the holder including a first boss extending in the first direction,

the developing cartridge further comprising a holder cover positioned at the one end portion of the housing in the first direction, the holder cover coving at least a part of the holder, the holder cover having one of a first through-hole and a first recess in which the first boss is inserted, the first boss being movable in the second direction within one of the first through-hole and the first recess in accordance with movement of the holder between the first position and the second position in the second direction relative to the housing.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein one of the first through-hole and the first recess has a dimension in the second direction greater than a dimension of the first boss in the second direction.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the memory is fixed to the housing.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the memory is positioned at an outer surface of the housing.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the housing extends in a first direction,

wherein the developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the housing in a second direction crossing the first direction, and

wherein the memory is positioned at a portion of the outer surface, the portion being positioned at another end portion of the housing in the second direction.

11. The developing cartridge according to claim 10 , further comprising a handle positioned at the portion of the outer surface,

wherein the memory is at one of positions between the handle and one end portion of the housing in the first direction, and between the handle and another end portion of the housing in the first direction.

12. The developing cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the holder is positioned at the one end portion of the housing in the first direction; and

wherein the memory is positioned between the handle and the one end portion of the housing in the first direction.

13. The developing cartridge according to claim 10 , further comprising a handle positioned at the portion of the outer surface,

wherein the memory is at a position between one end of the handle in the first direction and another end of the handle in the first direction.

14. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the housing extends in a first direction and comprises:

a casing in which the developing agent is configured to be accommodated; and

a gear cover positioned at one end portion of the casing in the first direction; and

wherein the memory is positioned between the casing and the gear cover in the first direction.

15. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the housing extends in a first direction and comprises:

a casing in which the developing agent is configured to be accommodated; and

a gear cover positioned at one end portion of the casing in the first direction;

wherein the memory is positioned at an inner surface of the casing.

16. The developing cartridge according to claim 15 , further comprising an agitator positioned in an interior of the casing and rotatable about an agitator axis extending in the first direction,

wherein the inner surface of the casing includes a first inner surface and a second inner surface positioned farther away from the agitator axis than the first inner surface is from the axis in a second direction crossing the first direction; and

wherein the memory is positioned at the second inner surface.

17. The developing cartridge according to claim 16 , wherein the agitator comprises:

an agitator shaft extending in the first direction and defining the agitator axis; and

a blade extending from the agitator shaft toward the inner surface of the casing; and

wherein the memory is positioned radially outside of a rotational locus of the blade.

18. The developing cartridge according to claim 15 , wherein the inner surface has a recessed portion; and

wherein the memory is positioned in the recessed portion.

19. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the relay component is a harness including a plurality of electrically conductive wires.

20. The developing cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory cover covering the memory and at least a part of the relay component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2020
From: YOKOI, JUNICHI
To: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 053845/0369 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-030236 · Feb 23, 2018 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16737395 · Jan 8, 2020
Continuation 16225706 · Dec 19, 2018
Related Publication 20210003960A1 · Jan 7, 2021