# US 11,112,755 B2 · Drum cartridge including movable electrical contact surface, and image-forming apparatus using the same

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- Number: US 11,112,755 B2
- Document ID: US11112755B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/002,037
- Filed: 2020-08-25
- Published: 2021-03-04
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-30
- Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Nao Itabashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112755B2

## CPC

- G03G 21/1867: {for electrically connecting the process cartridge to the apparatus, electrical connectors, power supply}
- G03G 15/0865: {Arrangements for supplying new developer}
- G03G 15/0867: {cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening}
- G03G 21/1676: {for the developer unit}
- G03G 21/1814: {Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence)}
- 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)}
- G03G 21/1885: {position of the memory; memory housings; electrodes}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first drum frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable; and a second drum frame having an outer surface; and a memory having an electrical contact surface. The first drum frame is at one end portion of the drum cartridge in a second direction and the second drum frame is at another end portion of the drum cartridge in the second direction. The electrical contact surface is positioned at the outer surface of the second drum frame and is movable in a predetermined direction relative to the second drum frame.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drum cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction;
a first drum frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable; and
a second drum frame having an outer surface, the first drum frame being at one end portion of the drum cartridge in a second direction and the second drum frame being at another end portion of the drum cartridge in the second direction;
a memory having an electrical contact surface, the electrical contact surface being positioned at the outer surface and movable in a predetermined direction relative to the second drum frame; and
a holder holding the electrical contact surface and movable in the predetermined direction relative to the second drum frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second direction crosses the first direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is the first direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The drum cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the memory comprises a plurality of the electrical contact surfaces arrayed with one another in the first direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact surface is positioned at one end portion of the outer surface in the first direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The drum cartridge according to claim 5, further comprising a lock lever configured to fix the developing cartridge to the first drum frame, the lock lever being positioned at one end portion of the first drum frame in the first direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact surface is positioned at one end portion of the outer surface in a third direction crossing the second direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a hook extending in a third direction crossing the second direction, and
wherein the outer surface has a slot extending in the predetermined direction, the hook being inserted in the slot.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is the first direction,
wherein the second direction crosses the first direction, and
wherein the holder has an end portion in the second direction, the end portion having a width in the first direction that is reduced as extending toward another side in the second direction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact surface is sloped toward another side in a third direction crossing the second direction as extending toward another side in the second direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An image-forming apparatus comprising:
the drum cartridge according to claim 1; and
a main body to which the drum cartridge is attachable, the main body comprising an electrical terminal configured to contact the electrical contact surface in an attached state of the drum cartridge to the main body.