Developing Cartridge Having Coupling and Developing Roller

• US 20170082950A1
• Filed: 11/29/2016
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Itabashi, Nao, Kamimura, Naoya
• Granted Patent: US 9,846,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/065 Arrangements for controlling the potential of the developing electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0889 for agitation or stirring
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1676 for the developer unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1864 associated with a positioning function
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1896 mechanical or optical identification means, e.g. protrusions, bar codes

Abstract

In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.

Claims

1. A cartridge comprising:

a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction;

a coupling gear rotatable with the coupling about the first axis;

a developing roller including a developing roller shaft extending in the first direction, the developing roller being rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction and the developing roller shaft including a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the first direction;

a developing gear meshing with the coupling gear, the developing gear being mounted to the first end portion of the developing roller shaft, and the developing gear being rotatable with the developing roller shaft about the second axis;

an agitator including an agitator shaft extending in the first direction, the agitator shaft including a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion of the agitator shaft in the first direction, the agitator being rotatable with the agitator shaft about a third axis extending in the first direction;

a first gear mounted to the first end portion of the agitator shaft and rotatable with the agitator shaft;

a second gear mounted to the second end portion of the agitator shaft and rotatable with the agitator shaft; and

an idle gear meshing with the coupling gear and the first gear.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing configured to accommodate developer therein,

wherein the agitator is configured to agitate the developer.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1,

wherein the developing roller shaft and the agitator shaft are aligned in a second direction, and

wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a developing electrode for providing electric power to the developing roller shaft, at least a portion of the developing electrode being positioned between the second end portion of the developing roller shaft and the second gear in the second direction.

4. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the developing electrode is electrically connected to the developing roller shaft.

5. The cartridge according to claim 3,

wherein the developing electrode includes a projection projecting in the first direction, and

wherein the projection is positioned between the second end portion of the developing roller shaft and the second gear in the second direction.

6. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the projection projects from the developing electrode.

7. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the developing electrode is made of conductive material.

8. The cartridge according to claim 3, further comprising:

a third gear rotatable with the second gear.

9. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the third gear is positioned between the second end portion of the developing roller shaft and the second gear in the second direction.

10. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the third gear includes a plurality of gear teeth on a portion of a circumference of the third gear, at least one of the plurality of gear teeth meshing with the second gear.

11. The cartridge according to claim 8,

wherein the developing roller shaft and the agitator shaft are aligned in a second direction, and

wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a developing electrode for providing electric power to the developing roller shaft, the developing electrode including a projection projecting in the first direction, and the projection being positioned between the second end portion of the developing roller shaft and the second gear in the second direction,

wherein the third gear is rotatable about the projection.

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

a cover extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the projection, the cover rotatable with the third gear.

13. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third gear engaging with the second gear.

14. The cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the third gear includes a plurality of gear teeth on a portion of a circumference of the third gear, at least one of the plurality of gear teeth engaging with the second gear.

15. The cartridge according to claim 13,

wherein the developing roller shaft and the agitator shaft are aligned in a second direction, and

wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a developing electrode for providing electric power to the developing roller shaft, the developing electrode including a projection projecting in the first direction, and the projection being positioned between the second end portion of the developing roller shaft and the second gear in the second direction,

wherein the third gear is rotatable about the projection.

16. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the third gear is positioned between the second end portion of the developing roller shaft and the second gear in the second direction.

17. The cartridge according to claim 16, further comprising:

a cover extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the projection, the cover rotatable with the third gear.

18. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the developing electrode and at least a portion of the coupling are aligned in the first direction.