JP7635608B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge that includes a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge.

Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus that includes a main body housing with contacts, a cover that can open and close an opening in the main body housing, and a process cartridge that includes a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge (see Patent Document 1). The process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the main body housing through the opening in the main body housing. The process cartridge has an IC chip with an electrical contact surface that contacts the contacts on the main body housing. When the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing, the contacts and the electrical contact surface are located near the opening.

JP 2018-146829 A

In the conventional technology, when a user opens the cover and removes the process cartridge from the main body housing, the user's hand comes close to the contact of the main body housing and the electrical contact surface of the IC chip, which may cause discharge between the user's hand and the contact of the main body housing and the electrical contact surface of the IC chip.
Therefore, the present disclosure aims to prevent discharges from occurring between the user's hands and the electrical contact surfaces of the contacts on the main housing and the IC chip when the user opens the cover and removes the process cartridge from the main housing, which may occur when the user's hands come close to the electrical contact surfaces of the contacts on the main housing and the IC chip.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure comprises a main body housing having an opening, the main body housing having contacts, a cover capable of opening and closing the opening, and a process cartridge that is detachable from the main body housing through the opening in a first direction, the process cartridge including a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge.
The developing cartridge includes a developing roller that is rotatable about a developing axis that extends in the second direction, and a developing housing that can accommodate toner.
The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in a second direction, and a drum frame to which the developing cartridge is detachably attached.
The process cartridge has an IC chip having an electrical contact surface that contacts the contacts of the main body housing, the electrical contact surface being located at one end of the process cartridge in the second direction, and a wall that is located closer to the opening in the first direction than the electrical contact surface when the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing, and that overlaps with the contacts and the electrical contact surface in the first direction.

With this configuration, when a user opens the cover and removes the process cartridge from the main body housing, the user's hand comes close to the electrical contact surface of the contacts on the main body housing and the IC chip, which can prevent discharge from occurring between the user's hand and the electrical contact surface of the contacts on the main body housing and the IC chip.

The main body housing may have a first main body side frame and a second main body side frame positioned away from the first main body side frame in the second direction, and when the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing, the electrical contact surface may be positioned between the drum frame and the first main body side frame in the second direction.

It is also desirable that the wall prevents the user's fingers from getting between the drum frame and the first main body side frame in the second direction.

The electrical contact surface may also face a third direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction.

The contact may have a first contact and a second contact, and the electrical contact surface may have a first electrical contact surface that contacts the first contact, the first electrical contact surface being located at one end of the developing housing in the second direction, and a second electrical contact surface that contacts the second contact, the second electrical contact surface being located at one end of the drum frame in the second direction.
When the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing, it is desirable that the second electrical contact surface is located closer to the opening in the first direction than the first electrical contact surface, and that the wall overlaps with the second contact and the second electrical contact surface in the first direction.

The photosensitive drum may be located at one end of the drum frame in the first direction, and the second electrical contact surface may be located in a position in the first direction closer to the other end of the drum frame in the first direction than to the one end of the drum frame in the first direction.

The drum cartridge may further include a drum tip holder that holds the second electrical contact surface and a drum holder cover that movably holds the drum tip holder, and the wall may extend from the drum holder cover.

The wall may also extend from the drum holder cover in a third direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction.

The developing cartridge may further include a developing chip holder that holds the first electrical contact surface, and a developing holder cover that movably holds the developing chip holder.

Furthermore, the first electrical contact surface may face a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and the second electrical contact surface may face the third direction.

The main body housing may have a first main body side frame and a second main body side frame positioned away from the first main body side frame in the second direction, and when the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing, the first electrical contact surface may be positioned between the developing housing and the first main body side frame in the second direction, and when the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing, the second electrical contact surface may be positioned between the drum frame and the first main body side frame in the second direction.

The wall may also extend from the drum frame.

The wall may also extend in the second direction from the other end of the drum frame in the first direction.

The wall may also extend from the developing housing.

The wall may also extend from the developing housing in the second direction.

The electrical contact surface may also be held movably relative to the main body housing.

The developing housing may rotatably hold the developing roller, and the drum frame may rotatably hold the photosensitive drum.

The second direction may also intersect with the first direction.

According to the present disclosure, when a user opens the cover and removes the process cartridge from the main body housing, it is possible to prevent the user's hand from coming close to the electrical contact surfaces of the contacts on the main body housing and the IC chip, resulting in a discharge between the user's hand and the electrical contact surfaces of the contacts on the main body housing and the IC chip.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a process cartridge mounted in a main body of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a process cartridge. FIG. 3A shows the state of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is not attached to the main body housing, and FIG. 3B shows the state of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge showing a wall extending from the drum holder cover. 5 is a view showing the process cartridge of FIG. 4 mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus with the cover open, as viewed along a first direction. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the image forming apparatus in the state shown in FIG. 5 . FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge showing a wall extending from the drum frame. 8A is a diagram showing the process cartridge of FIG. 7 mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus with a cover open, as viewed along a first direction, and FIG. 8B is a partial perspective view. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge, showing a wall extending from the developing housing. 10A is a diagram showing the process cartridge of FIG. 9 mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus with a cover open, as viewed along a first direction, and FIG. 10B is a partial perspective view.

Next, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body housing 10, a cover CV, and a process cartridge 20. The main body housing 10 has an opening OP. The cover CV is movable between an open position where the opening OP is opened and a closed position where the opening OP is closed. For convenience, the main body housing 10 is illustrated in a small size in Fig. 1.

When the cover CV is in the open position, the process cartridge 20 can be attached to and detached from the main body housing 10 through the opening OP in a first direction. The first direction is the left-right direction in FIG. 1, that is, the front-rear direction of the main body housing 10. The process cartridge 20 includes a developing cartridge 30 and a drum cartridge 40. The developing cartridge 30 can be attached to and detached from a drum frame 41 (described later) of the drum cartridge 40.

The developing cartridge 30 includes a developing housing 31 and a developing roller 32. The developing housing 31 is capable of containing toner. The developing housing 31 rotatably holds the developing roller 32. The developing housing 31 has a first outer surface S1 (described below) and a second outer surface S2 (described below) that is located away from the first outer surface S1 in the second direction (see FIG. 2).

The developing roller 32 is a roller that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 42 described later. The developing roller 32 is rotatable around a developing axis X1 that extends in the second direction. The developing roller 32 is located at one end of the developing housing 31 in the first direction.

In this embodiment, the second direction intersects with the first direction. Also, the direction that intersects with the first and second directions is called the third direction. In this embodiment, the third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions.

The drum cartridge 40 includes a drum frame 41 and a photosensitive drum 42. The drum frame 41 rotatably holds the photosensitive drum 42. The photosensitive drum 42 is rotatable about a drum axis X2 that extends in the second direction. The photosensitive drum 42 is located at one end of the drum frame 41 in the first direction.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the developing cartridge 30 further includes a gear cover GC, a developing IC chip C1, and a developing chip holder 50. The gear cover GC is a cover that covers the gear for driving the developing roller 32.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gear cover GC is located on the first outer surface S1 of the developing housing 31. The developing IC chip C1 stores developing information related to the developing cartridge 30. Examples of the developing information include the remaining amount of toner in the developing cartridge 30 and the life of the developing roller 32. The developing IC chip C1 has a developing electrical contact surface C11 as a first electrical contact surface, and a developing board C12 equipped with a developing memory in which the developing information is stored.

The developed substrate C12 has a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface.
As an example, the developer electrical contact surface C11 is located on a first surface of the developer substrate C12. The developer memory is located on a second surface of the developer substrate C12. The developer electrical contact surface C11 is electrically connected to the developer memory via wiring. The developer memory may be located at a position away from the developer substrate C12 and the developer electrical contact surface C11.

The developing electrical contact surface C11 is located at one end of the developing housing 31 in the second direction. When the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main housing 10, the developing electrical contact surface C11 contacts the developing main body contact 13A (see FIG. 3B) described later.

The developer electrical contact surface C11 faces the third direction. The developer electrical contact surface C11 is separated from the first outer surface S1 of the developer housing 31 in the second direction. The developer electrical contact surface C11 is attached to the gear cover GC via the developer substrate C12 and the developer chip holder 50.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the drum cartridge 40 includes a lock lever L, a drum IC chip C2, and a drum chip holder 60. The lock lever L is a member for locking the developing cartridge 30 to the drum frame 41. The drum IC chip C2 stores drum information related to the drum cartridge 40. The drum information includes, for example, the life of the photosensitive drum 42. As shown in Figure 2, the drum IC chip C2 has a drum electrical contact surface C21 as a second electrical contact surface, and a drum substrate C22 equipped with a drum memory in which the drum information is stored.

The drum substrate C22 has a first surface and a second surface located opposite to the first surface.
As an example, the drum electrical contact surface C21 is located on a first surface of the drum substrate C22. The drum memory is located on a second surface of the drum substrate C22. The drum electrical contact surface C21 is electrically connected to the drum memory via wiring. The drum memory may be located at a position away from the drum substrate C22 and the drum electrical contact surface C21.

The drum electrical contact surface C21 is located at one end of the drum frame 41 in the second direction. In the first direction, the drum electrical contact surface C21 is located closer to the other end of the drum frame 41 in the first direction than to one end of the drum frame 41 in the first direction. The drum electrical contact surface C21 faces the third direction.

When the developing cartridge 30 is attached to the drum frame 41, the drum electrical contact surface C21 is aligned with the developing electrical contact surface C11 in the first direction. In other words, when the developing cartridge 30 is attached to the drum frame 41, the drum electrical contact surface C21 and the developing electrical contact surface C11 are located at one end of the process cartridge 20 in the second direction. When the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main body housing 10, the drum electrical contact surface C21 contacts the drum main body contact 13B (see FIG. 9) described below. When the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main body housing 10, the drum electrical contact surface C21 is located closer to the opening OP than the developing electrical contact surface C11 in the first direction.

The drum frame 41 has a first side frame SF1 and a second side frame SF2. The second side frame SF2 is positioned away from the first side frame SF1 in the second direction. When the developing cartridge 30 is attached to the drum frame 41, the developing housing 31 is positioned between the first side frame SF1 and the second side frame SF2 in the second direction.

The drum electrical contact surface C21 is attached to the first side frame SF1 via the drum base plate C22 and the drum chip holder 60. When the developer cartridge 30 is attached to the drum frame 41, the developer electrical contact surface C11 and the drum electrical contact surface C21 are located on the opposite side of the developer housing 31 from the first side frame SF1 in the second direction.

The lock lever L is a member for locking the developing cartridge 30 to the drum frame 41. The lock lever L is located at the other end of the drum frame 41 in the second direction. The lock lever L is attached to the second side frame SF2. When the developing cartridge 30 is attached to the drum frame 41, the developing electrical contact surface C11 and the drum electrical contact surface C21 are located on the opposite side of the lock lever L with respect to the developing housing 31 in the second direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the development chip holder 50 is a holder that holds the development electrical contact surface C11 of the development IC chip C1 so that the development electrical contact surface C11 is movable relative to the development housing 31. The development chip holder 50 includes a development holder 51, a development advance/retract member 52, a development spring 53, and a development holder cover 54. The development holder 51 is a member that holds the development IC chip C1. In addition, the development holder 51 holds the development advance/retract member 52 so that it can move in the third direction.

The development spring 53 is located between the development holder 51 and the development advance/retract member 52. The development spring 53 is a coil spring. The development spring 53 biases the development advance/retract member 52 in a direction away from the development IC chip C1.

The developing holder cover 54 is attached to the gear cover GC. When the developing holder cover 54 is attached to the gear cover GC, the developing holder 51 is positioned between the developing holder cover 54 and the gear cover GC in the second direction. The developing holder cover 54 and the gear cover GC hold the developing chip holder 50 movably in the first direction and the third direction.

The drum chip holder 60 is a holder that holds the drum electrical contact surface C21 of the drum IC chip C2 so that the drum electrical contact surface C21 is movable relative to the drum frame 41. The drum chip holder 60 includes a drum holder 61, a drum advance/retract member 62, a drum spring 63, and a drum holder cover 64. The drum holder 61 is a member that holds the drum IC chip C2. In addition, the drum holder 61 holds the drum advance/retract member 62 so that it can move in the third direction.

The drum spring 63 is located between the drum holder 61 and the drum advance/retract member 62. The drum spring 63 is a coil spring. The drum spring 63 biases the drum advance/retract member 62 in a direction away from the drum IC chip C2.

The drum holder cover 64 is attached to the first side frame SF1. When the drum holder cover 64 is attached to the first side frame SF1, the drum holder 61 is positioned between the drum holder cover 64 and the first side frame SF1 in the second direction. The drum holder cover 64 and the first side frame SF1 hold the drum tip holder 60 movably in the first and third directions.

The main body housing 10 has a first guide 11, a second guide 12, a development main body contact 13A as a first contact, and a drum main body contact 13B as a second contact. The first guide 11 is a guide that contacts the lower end of the development advance/retract member 52 and the lower end of the drum advance/retract member 62 while the process cartridge 20 is being mounted to the main body housing 10, and guides the development advance/retract member 52 and the drum advance/retract member 62. The second guide 12 is a guide that contacts the upper end of the development holder 51 and the upper end of the drum holder 61 while the process cartridge 20 is being mounted to the main body housing 10, and guides the development holder 51 and the drum holder 61. The development main body contact 13A is a contact that contacts the development electrical contact surface C11. The development main body contact 13A electrically connects a control unit (not shown) to the development IC chip C1.

The drum main body contact 13B is a contact that comes into contact with the drum electrical contact surface C21. The drum main body contact 13B electrically connects the control unit (not shown) to the drum IC chip C2.

Figure 3(a) shows the state of the process cartridge 20 when the process cartridge 20 is not attached to the main body housing 10. Also, Figure 3(b) shows the state of the process cartridge 20 when the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main body housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the process cartridge 20 is not attached to the main body housing 10, the developer holder 51 and the developer advance/retract member 52 are separated by the developer spring 53. Also, the drum holder 61 and the drum advance/retract member 62 are separated by the drum spring 63.

As shown in FIG. 3(b), when the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main body housing 10, the developer holder 51 is positioned at a predetermined position by the first guide 11 of the main body housing 10 via the developer advancement/retraction member 52 and the developer spring 53, and the developer electrical contact surface C11 contacts the developer main body contact 13A. Also, the drum holder 61 is positioned at a predetermined position by the first guide 11 of the main body housing 10 via the drum advancement/retraction member 62 and the drum spring 63, and the drum electrical contact surface C21 contacts the drum main body contact 13B.

The developing spring 53 in the state of Fig. 3B is more compressed than the developing spring 53 in the state of Fig. 3A. Therefore, in the state of Fig. 3B, the electrical contact surface C11 is pressed against the developing main body contact 13A of the main body housing 10 by the elastic force of the developing spring 53.
The drum spring 63 in the state shown in Fig. 3B is compressed more than the drum spring 63 in the state shown in Fig. 3A. Therefore, in the state shown in Fig. 3B, the electrical contact surface C21 is pressed against the drum main body contact 13B of the main body housing 10 by the elastic force of the drum spring 63.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drum cartridge 40 has a wall W1 extending from the drum holder cover 64 in the third direction. The wall W1 can be formed integrally with the drum holder cover 64 or separately. Although not shown in detail, the wall W1 is formed in a box shape. The shape of the wall W1 is not particularly limited. The wall W1 may be composed of a rod, a rib, or the like. The wall W1 may also have a slit or a hole. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the wall W1 has a surface W11 facing the second guide 12. The surface W11 extends parallel to a portion of the second guide 12 facing the surface W11. This effectively prevents the user's fingers from entering between the second guide 12 and the wall W1.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main body housing 10, the wall W1 is located closer to the opening OP than the drum electrical contact surface C21 in the first direction. When the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main body housing 10, the wall W1 overlaps with the drum main body contact 13B and the drum electrical contact surface C21 in the first direction.

The main body housing 10 has a first main body side frame F1 and a second main body side frame F2 that is positioned away from the first main body side frame F1 in the second direction. When the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main body housing 10, the developing electrical contact surface C11 is positioned between the developing housing 31 and the first main body side frame F1 in the second direction. In addition, the drum electrical contact surface C21 is positioned between the first side frame SF1 of the drum frame 41 and the first main body side frame F1 in the second direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, the wall W1 prevents the user's fingers from entering between the first side frame SF1 and the first main body side frame F1 of the drum frame 41 in the second direction.

As described above, the following effects can be obtained in this embodiment.
When the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main body housing 10, the wall W1 is located closer to the opening OP than the drum electrical contact surface C21. The wall W1 overlaps with the drum main body contact 13B and the drum electrical contact surface C21 in the first direction. Therefore, when a user opens the cover CV and removes the process cartridge 20 from the main body housing 10, the user's hand approaches the drum main body contact 13B and the drum electrical contact surface C21 of the main body housing 10, and discharge between the user's hand and the drum main body contact 13B and the drum electrical contact surface C21 of the main body housing 10 can be suppressed.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be used in various forms as exemplified below.
In the following description, members having substantially the same structure as those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present disclosure. In the second embodiment, the drum cartridge 40 has a wall W2 extending from the first side frame SF1 of the drum frame 41. The wall W2 extends in the second direction from the other end of the drum frame 41 in the first direction. The wall W2 can be formed integrally with the first side frame SF1 or separately.

Figures 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the present disclosure. In the third embodiment, the developing cartridge 30 has a wall W3 extending in the second direction from the developing housing 31. The wall W3 can be formed integrally with the developing housing 31 or separately.

The elements described in the above embodiments and variations may be implemented in any combination.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming apparatus 10 main body housing 13A development main body contact 13B drum main body contact 20 process cartridge 30 development cartridge 31 development housing 32 development roller 40 drum cartridge 41 drum frame 42 photosensitive drum C1 development IC chip C2 drum IC chip C11 development electrical contact surface C21 drum electrical contact surface CV cover OP opening W1 wall W2 wall W3 wall X1 development shaft X4 drum shaft

Claims (16)

a main body housing having an opening and including a first contact and a second contact;
a cover capable of opening and closing the opening;
an image forming apparatus including a process cartridge that is detachably mountable to the main body through the opening in a first direction, the process cartridge including a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge,
The developing cartridge includes:
a developing roller rotatable around a developing axis extending in the second direction;
a developing housing capable of accommodating toner;
a first IC chip having a first electrical contact surface located at one end of the developing housing in the second direction ,
The drum cartridge is
a photosensitive drum rotatable around a drum axis extending in a second direction;
a drum frame to which the developing cartridge can be detachably attached;
a second IC chip having a second electrical contact surface located at one end of the drum frame in the second direction ;
the first electrical contact surface contacts the first contact and the second electrical contact surface contacts the second contact;
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the process cartridge has a wall that is located closer to the opening in the first direction than the second electrical contact surface when the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing, and that overlaps with the second contact and the second electrical contact surface in the first direction. the main body housing has a first main body side frame and a second main body side frame positioned away from the first main body side frame in the second direction,
When the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing,
the first electrical contact surface is located between the developing housing and the first main body side frame in the second direction,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact surface is located between the drum frame and the first main body side frame in the second direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the wall prevents a user's fingers from entering between the developing housing and the first main body side frame in the second direction and between the drum frame and the first main body side frame in the second direction. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact surface and the second electrical contact surface face a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. When the process cartridge is attached to the main body housing,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact surface is located closer to the opening than the first electrical contact surface is in the first direction. The photosensitive drum is located at one end of the drum frame in the first direction,
6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact surface is located at a position in the first direction closer to the other end of the drum frame in the first direction than to the one end of the drum frame in the first direction . The drum cartridge is
a drum tip holder for holding the second electrical contact surface;
A drum holder cover that movably holds the drum tip holder,
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wall extends from the drum holder cover. The image forming device according to claim 7, characterized in that the wall extends from the drum holder cover in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. The developing cartridge includes:
a developer chip holder for holding the first electrical contact surface;
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a developing holder cover that movably holds the developing chip holder. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wall extends from the drum frame. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the wall extends in the second direction from the other end of the drum frame in the first direction. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wall extends from the developing housing. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the wall extends from the developing housing in the second direction. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact surface and the second electrical contact surface are held movably relative to the main body housing.
the developing housing rotatably holds the developing roller,
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drum frame rotatably holds the photosensitive drum. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second direction intersects with the first direction.

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