Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080240773 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the apparatus, includes (a) a plurality of mounting portions for detachably mounting process cartridges, respectively, the process cartridges each including, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer for use by the developing roller to develop the electrostatic latent image, a developer supply opening for supplying the developer to the developing roller from the developer accommodating portion, a sealing member for unsealably sealing the developer supply opening, and unsealing means for unsealing the developer supply opening by removing the sealing member from the developer supply opening; (b) a motor; and (c) driving force transmitting means for selectively transmitting a driving force from the motor to the unsealing means to unseal the developer supply openings of the process cartridges mounted to the mounting portions. | 10-02-2008 |
20090074454 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the apparatus, includes (a) a plurality of mounting portions for detachably mounting process cartridges, respectively, the process cartridges each including, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer for use by the developing roller to develop the electrostatic latent image, a developer supply opening for supplying the developer to the developing roller from the developer accommodating portion, a sealing member for unsealably sealing the developer supply opening, and unsealing means for unsealing the developer supply opening by removing the sealing member from the developer supply opening; (b) a motor; and (c) driving force transmitting means for selectively transmitting a driving force from the motor to the unsealing means to unseal the developer supply openings of the process cartridges mounted to the mounting portions. | 03-19-2009 |
20100329732 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING DRUM AND SHAFT COUPLING MEMBERS TRANSMITTING DRIVING FORCES TO A PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM AND A DEVELOPING ROLLER, RESPECTIVELY - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes first and second rotatable main assembly drive transmission members. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum coupling member, provided on one axial end of the drum, for engaging the first m transmission member and transmitting a first rotational driving force to the drum, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and a shaft coupler provided on one axial end of the developing roller, for transmitting a second rotational driving force with a deviation permitted between an axis of the second transmission member and an axis of the developing roller. The shaft coupler includes an engaging portion for engaging the second transmission member and receiving the second rotational driving force, when the cartridge is mounted to the main. | 12-30-2010 |
20110097108 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a first rotatable main assembly drive transmission member, and a second rotatable main assembly drive transmission member, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer; a drum coupling member, provided on one axial end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for engaging with the first main assembly drive transmission member and transmitting a first rotational driving force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus along an axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a shaft coupling member, provided on one axial end of the developing roller, for transmitting a second rotational driving force with a deviation permitted between an axis of the second main assembly drive transmission member and an axis of the developing roller, wherein the shaft coupling member includes an engaging portion for engaging with the second main assembly drive transmission member and receiving the second rotational driving force, when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; and the engaging portion is movable in a direction crossing with the axial direction of the developing roller when the process cartridge enters the main assembly of the apparatus. | 04-28-2011 |
20110123224 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a drum unit containing a movably connected to a developing unit containing a developing roller between a contact position where the roller contacts the drum and a spaced position where the roller is spaced from the drum, a drum coupler engaging a first main assembly drive transmitter transmitting a first rotational driving force to the drum, when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, a shaft coupler transmitting a second rotational driving force with a deviation permitted between an axis of a second main assembly drive transmitter and an axis of the roller, from the second main assembly drive transmission member to the roller when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. | 05-26-2011 |
20120063810 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion. | 03-15-2012 |
20120128388 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion. | 05-24-2012 |
20120189343 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion. | 07-26-2012 |
20120189344 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion. | 07-26-2012 |
20120230726 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion. | 09-13-2012 |
20120281999 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion. | 11-08-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090297208 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ASSEMBLING, DISASSEMBLING REMANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR - An assembling method for a process cartridge the assembling method includes a step of preparing a drum unit supporting a electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a step of preparing a developing unit supporting a developing roller for developing a electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum a developer supplying roller for supplying a developer to the developing roller and a developer accommodating portion having a developer supply opening; a unit coupling process of coupling the drum unit and the developing unit with each other; a first-end developing-device spacing member mounting step after the unit coupling process of engaging with a opening provided at a first end portion of the drum unit a first-end developing-device spacing member provided rotatably about a shaft at a first end portion of the developing unit to regulate rotation of the developing unit relative to the drum unit; and a second-end developing-device spacing member mounting step of engaging, with a projection provided at a second end portion of the drum unit, a second-end developing-device spacing member provided rotatably about a shaft at a second end portion of the developing unit to regulate rotation of the developing unit relative to the drum unit. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297214 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes a drum unit supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive member and having a process cartridge positioning portion which is engageable with a main assembly positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a developing unit supporting a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer, wherein the developing unit is movable relative to the drum unit between a contacting position in which the developing roller is contacted to the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a spaced position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a space maintaining member movable between an engaging position for maintaining the developing unit in the spaced position and a releasing position for permitting the developing unit to move to the contacting position, wherein the space maintaining member is moved to the releasing position by being abutted by the main assembly positioning portion when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297215 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a drum unit containing said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing unit swingably supported by said drum unit and containing said developing roller; an urging member for urging said drum unit and said developing unit to each other so as to press said developing roller against said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a space keeping member for keeping space between said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and said developing roller by engaging with said developing unit and limiting swing of said developing unit against an urging force of said urging member, wherein said space keeping member is movable by being contacted by the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction crossing with a swing plane perpendicular to an axis of the swing, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction of an axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum. | 12-03-2009 |
20110280620 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes a first unit provided with a photosensitive drum; and a second unit provided with a developer carrying member and connected with the first unit so as to be movable between a contact position in which the developer carrying member is contacted with the drum and a spacing position in which the developer carrying member is spaced from the drum, and the second unit including a first contact portion for contacting to a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly and for receiving a first contact force therefrom when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly and the second unit is positioned in the spacing position, and a second contact portion for contacting to the main assembly electrical contact and for receiving a second contact force therefrom to electrically connect with the main assembly electrical contact when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly and the second unit is positioned in the contact position; wherein the second contact force has a component oriented in a moving direction of moving the second unit away from the spacing position toward the contact position, and the component is greater than that of the first contact force. | 11-17-2011 |
20110280621 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a charging roller for charging a surface of the photosensitive drum by being urged and contacted to a photosensitive drum; a link engaged with an end of a rotation shaft of the charging roller; a locking member, locked with the link in a state that charging roller is spaced from the drum, for holding a spaced state of the charging roller from drum; the developing unit including, a gear train for transmitting an externally inputted driving force to a member provided in the developing unit: a space releasing member for contacting and moving the link to release the link from the locking member, thereby to cease the spaced state of the charging roller, the space releasing member being provided with a drive receiving portion; a connecting member including an input gear portion for receiving a driving force from the gear train, and a drive transmitting portion engageable with the drive receiving portion; wherein a play is provided between the drive receiving portion and the drive transmitting portion in a direction of movement of the drive transmitting portion, wherein when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus and is operated, the space releasing member is moved by the driving force from the gear train through the connecting member, and the space releasing member releases locking between the link and the locking member, thereby ceasing the spaced state of the charging roller, wherein the play provides a movable distance of the space releasing member which is larger than a movement distance through which the space releasing member moves at the time when the developing unit is swung relative to the drum unit. | 11-17-2011 |
20120170953 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ASSEMBLYING, DISASSEMBLYING REMANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR - A process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum unit, and a developing roller. The apparatus further comprises a developer supplying roller, and a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer. A developing unit is swingably coupled with the drum unit and supporting the developing roller, the developer supplying roller, and the developer accommodating portion. A first-end developing-device spacing member is provided rotatably about an axis of a shaft at a first end portion of the developing unit to limit rotation of the developing unit relative to the drum unit to maintain spacing between the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A second-end developing-device spacing member is provided rotatably about an axis of a shaft at a second end portion of the developing unit to limit rotation of the developing unit relative to the drum unit to maintain spacing between the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. | 07-05-2012 |
20120275815 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A support member disposed in a photosensitive member unit for supporting a photosensitive drum to be movable between an acting position, at which the photosensitive drum is brought into contact with a process unit, and a non-acting position, at which the photosensitive drum is separated from the process unit or is brought into contact with the process unit with a pressure lower than a pressure with which the photosensitive drum contacts the process unit at the acting position is included, and when the developing unit is located at a development position, the photosensitive drum secures the acting position, and when the developing unit is located at a non-development position, the photosensitive drum secures the non-acting position. | 11-01-2012 |
20120328324 | CARTRIDGE - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: an accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a recess provided in an outer wall of a frame for forming the accommodating portion; and a sheet member provided so as to cover the recess. The sheet member and the recess are configured so that an amount of flexure of the sheet member is larger than that of the recess when the cartridge is griped on the sheet member. | 12-27-2012 |
20130223853 | CARTRIDGE - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording material, the cartridge includes: a frame for accommodating a developer; and a discriminating member molded of a material having a similar color to a color of the developer. The discriminating member is marked with discriminating information for discriminating the cartridge. | 08-29-2013 |
20130272753 | DEVELOPING UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing unit for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, having a shaft member, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer; and a bearing for rotatably supporting the shaft member, the bearing including a bearing base portion of a first resin molded material and a bearing portion of a second resin molded material different from the first resin molded material, the bearing portion having a through-hole, wherein the bearing portion includes a contact portion contacting a stepped abutting portion of the shaft member, and a retaining portion overlapping with the bearing base portion in a direction crossing with an axial direction of the shaft member. | 10-17-2013 |
20130287439 | CLEANING UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning unit including: frame abutment portions each including a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion; support portions each including a first support portion which abuts against the first abutment portion, and a second support portion which abuts against the second abutment portion so as to support a cleaning member in a pivotable manner about the frame abutment portions as a pivot axis; and an urging member configured to urge the cleaning member in a direction in which an elastic member is brought into contact with a photosensitive drum by pivoting the cleaning member. | 10-31-2013 |
20140050503 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a first unit provided with an image bearing member and a second unit that is provided with a developer carrying member for carrying a developer, with the second unit being connected with the first unit so as to be movable between a contact position in which the developer carrying member is contacted with that image bearing member and a spacing position in which the developer carrying member is spaced from the image bearing member. The second unit includes a recess or opening into which a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to apply a voltage to the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus and second unit is positioned in the spacing position. | 02-20-2014 |
20140086627 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS SYSTEM - A cartridge for an image forming apparatus including a movable member is provided with a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion movable between a first position and a second position, the cartridge includes a first engaged portion engageable with the first engaging portion; and a second engaged portion engageable with the second engaging portion, wherein by the first engaged portion being engaged with the first engaging portion in the process of mounting, the movable member is moved from the first position to the second position to permit the second engaged to pass the second engaging portion in a mounting direction. | 03-27-2014 |
20140376953 | CLEANING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning device for a printer includes a cleaning member including a blade and a supporter having first and second surfaces, and a bent portion connecting them, the blade extending in a longitudinal direction at an end of the first surface opposite from the bent portion; and a resin sealing member provided between the cleaning member and the frame, the sealing member including a first portion between the cleaning member and the frame in a region from the blade to the second surface by way of the first surface along the crossing direction at each of one and the other longitudinal ends of the cleaning member, and a second portion sealing between the second surface and the frame in a region between the first portions at the one and the other ends along the longitudinal direction. The second portion is contacted to the second surface with an inclination. | 12-25-2014 |