Development device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

• US 10,606,210 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2019
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nosho, Hiroaki, Oguma, Toru, Numata, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Curran, Gregory H
• Application Number:
  US16/280,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20190179255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/086 the level being measured by electro-magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1652 Electrical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1676 for the developer unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1821 means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation G03G21/1825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1871 associated with a positioning function

Abstract

There are demands for stable connections of contact points between a process cartridge, including a development device, and an image forming device. A development contact point, a first contact point, and a second contact point are disposed in this order on the inside in a perpendicular direction with respect to an insertion direction in which a development device is inserted into an image forming apparatus.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main assembly including,

a main body contact point, and

a guide rail;

a cartridge including,

a housing configured to store developer,

a developer carrying member configured to carry the developer, and

a contact point plate configured to be electrically connected to the main body contact point, the contact point plate being disposed at a bottom part of the cartridge; and

a cartridge support member for removable insertion of the cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus,

wherein the cartridge support member supports the cartridge placed on the cartridge support member,

wherein the cartridge support member, with the cartridge placed on the cartridge support member, is inserted to the main assembly along the guide rail,

wherein in a state after completion of insertion of the cartridge into the main assembly, a position of the main body contact point in a lengthwise direction of the developer carrying member overlaps with the contact point plate,

wherein in the state after completion of insertion of the cartridge into the main assembly, a position of the main body contact point in an insertion direction of the cartridge overlaps with the contact point plate, and

wherein the main body contact point includes a spring part and presses the contact point plate due to resilience of the spring part in the state after completion of insertion of the cartridge into the main assembly

wherein the main body contact point serves as a first main body contact point and the contact point plate serves as a first contact point plate,

the main assembly further including,

a second main body contact point including a second spring part, and

a third main body contact point including a third spring part,

the cartridge further including,

a second contact point plate disposed at the bottom part of the cartridge, and

a third contact point plate disposed at the bottom part of the cartridge,

wherein the second main body contact point presses the second contact point plate due to resilience of the second spring part in the state after completion of insertion of the cartridge into the main body,

wherein the third main body contact point presses the third contact point plate due to resilience of the third spring part in the state after completion of insertion of the cartridge into the main body, and

wherein the first main body contact point and the second main body contact point and the third main body contact point are disposed at different positions with respect to the lengthwise direction of the developer carrying member.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first main body contact point, the second main body contact point and the third main body contact point are disposed closer to one side than a middle in the lengthwise direction of the developer carrying member.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer carrying member is a development roller.