# US 11,442,398 B2 · Drum cartridge having electrical contact surface positioned at outer surface of drum frame > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,398 B2 - Document ID: US11442398B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/347,860 - Filed: 2021-06-15 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-30 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiroki Mori; Atsushi Fukaya; Tsubasa Kiriyama; Nao Itabashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442398B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1652: {Electrical connection means} - G03G 21/1671: {for the photosensitive element} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; a drum coupling; and an electrical contact surface. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum frame has one end portion in a second direction at which the photosensitive drum is positioned. The drum coupling is rotatable together with the photosensitive drum. The drum coupling is positioned at an outer surface of one side in the first direction of the drum frame. The electrical contact surface is positioned closer to another side in the second direction of the drum frame than the drum coupling is to the another side in the second direction of the drum frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drum cartridge comprising: a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a drum frame having one end portion in a second direction at which the photosensitive drum is positioned; a drum coupling rotatable together with the photosensitive drum, the drum coupling being positioned at an outer surface of one side in the first direction of the drum frame; and an electrical contact surface positioned closer to another side in the second direction of the drum frame than the drum coupling is to the another side in the second direction of the drum frame, the electrical contact surface being positioned at the one side in the first direction of the drum frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drum cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a drum memory including the electrical contact surface, the drum memory storing information regarding the drum cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the drum cartridge is attachable to a main body frame of an image forming apparatus, wherein the drum frame includes a drum collar extending in the first direction at a peripheral portion of the drum coupling, and wherein, in a case where the drum cartridge is attached to the main body frame, the drum frame pivotally moves about the drum collar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drum cartridge according to claim 3, wherein, when the drum cartridge is attached to the main body frame, the drum collar is positioned relative to the main body frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The drum cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the electrical contact surface extends along a pivotally moving direction in which the drum frame pivotally moves about the drum collar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drum cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the electrical contact surface is inclined relative to the first direction and the pivotally moving direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The drum cartridge according to claim 5, further comprising a holder holding the electrical contact surface, the holder being movable in a direction crossing the pivotally moving direction relative to the drum frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drum cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the holder is movable in the second direction relative to the drum frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The drum cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the drum frame has: a first restricting surface facing one end surface in the second direction of the holder in the second direction; and a second restricting surface facing another end surface in the second direction of the holder in the second direction, and wherein a distance between the first restricting surface and the second restricting surface in the second direction is greater than a length between the one end surface and the another end surface of the holder in the second direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The drum cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the electrical contact surface is positioned farther from the outer surface than one end portion in the first direction of the drum collar is from the outer surface in the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the drum frame is configured to receive a toner cartridge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The drum cartridge according to claim 11, wherein, in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the drum frame, the electrical contact surface is positioned at an outer surface of the drum frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The drum cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the toner cartridge includes: a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction; and a toner coupling rotatable together with the developing roller, and wherein, in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the drum frame, the electrical contact surface is positioned between the drum coupling and the toner coupling. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The drum cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the toner cartridge further includes a toner memory having an electrical contact surface, and wherein, in the state where the toner cartridge is attached to the drum frame, the drum coupling, the electrical contact surface of the drum cartridge, the toner coupling, and the electrical contact surface of the toner cartridge are arranged in the second direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The drum cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact surface is positioned at the outer surface of the one side in the first direction of the drum frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus to which the drum cartridge according to claim 1 is attachable, the image forming apparatus comprising: a main body frame to which the drum cartridge is attachable; and an electrical contact in contact with the electrical contact surface in a state where the drum cartridge is attached to the main body frame. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a belt unit configured to press the drum frame toward the another side in the second direction in the state where the drum cartridge is attached to the main body frame.