Developing cartridge capable of reducing size of image forming apparatus

• US 10,254,681 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Itabashi, Nao, Yokoi, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Aydin, Sevan A
• Application Number:
  US16/031,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20190011853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0867 cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1896 mechanical or optical identification means, e.g. protrusions, bar codes

Abstract

A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.

Claims

1. A developing cartridge comprising:

a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, and extending in a first direction;

a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, and being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction;

a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, and being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and

a circuit chip mount positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.

2. The developing cartridge of claim 1, wherein the circuit chip mount includes a holder covered by a cover;

the holder including at least one boss extending in the first direction.

3. The developing cartridge of claim 2, wherein the boss extends through a through-hole in the cover.

4. The developing cartridge of claim 2, wherein the holder is movable relative to the cover and the casing in a second direction different from the first direction.

5. The developing cartridge of claim 4, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

6. The developing cartridge of claim 4, further comprising a circuit chip having an electric contact surface mounted to the circuit chip mount and oriented in the second direction.

7. The developing cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a circuit chip having an electric contact surface mounted to the circuit chip mount.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the circuit chip is positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the circuit chip is positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the detection gear is rotatable according to rotation of the coupling.

11. The developing cartridge according to claim 10, further comprising:

a first shaft extending in the first direction, and being rotatable according to rotation of the coupling,

wherein the detection gear is rotatable according to rotation of the shaft.

12. The developing cartridge according to claim 11, further comprising:

an agitator including the first shaft, and being rotatable with the first shaft according to rotation of the coupling,

wherein the detection gear is rotatable according to rotation of the agitator.

13. The developing cartridge according to claim 12,

wherein the detection gear is positioned at one side of the first shaft in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and

wherein the coupling is positioned at the one side of the first shaft in the second direction.

14. The developing cartridge according to claim 13,

wherein the coupling further includes:

a coupling gear rotatable with the coupling,

wherein the agitator further includes;

a first agitator gear mounted to the first shaft, and being rotatable with the first shaft and positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction, and

wherein the coupling gear meshes with the first agitator gear.

15. The developing cartridge according to claim 12, further comprising:

a first idle gear positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction,

wherein the coupling further includes;

a coupling gear rotatable with the coupling, and the coupling gear meshing with the first idle gear, and

wherein the agitator further includes;

a first agitator gear mounted to the first shaft, and being rotatable with the first shaft, positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction, and meshing with the first idle gear.

16. The developing cartridge according to claim 12,

wherein the agitator further includes:

a second agitator gear mounted to the first shaft, being rotatable with the first shaft and positioned at the other side of the casing in the first direction, and

wherein the second agitator gear meshes with the detection gear.

17. The developing cartridge according to claim 12, further comprising:

a second idle gear positioned at the other side of the casing in the first direction, and the second idle gear meshing with the detection gear,

wherein the agitator further includes;

a second agitator gear mounted to the first shaft, being rotatable with the first shaft and being positioned at the other side of the casing in the first direction and meshing with the second idle gear.

18. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising:

a developing roller rotatable about a rotational axis extending in the first direction, the developing roller including a roller shaft extending in the first direction; and

an electrode being electrically connected to the roller shaft, and being positioned to the other side of the casing in the first direction.

19. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the detection gear has a shape representing information regarding a specification of the developing cartridge.

20. The developing cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the specification represents a number of pages printable by the developing cartridge.

21. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coupling includes a recessed portion or a concave portion configured to receive driving force.

22. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the detection gear is rotatable between a first position representing the developing cartridge is an unused state and a second position representing the developing cartridge in a used state.

23. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the detection gear includes a plurality of gear teeth provided on a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the detection gear.

24. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the detection gear includes a protrusion extending in the first direction.

25. The developing cartridge according to claim 24, wherein the detection gear includes a plurality of the protrusions.