# US 11,740,574 B2 · Lubricant replacement case > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,740,574 B2 - Document ID: US11740574B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/672,105 - Filed: 2022-02-15 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2023-08-29 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-16 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Katsushi Higashida; Takeshi Uchitani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11740574B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/2025: {with special means for lubricating and/or cleaning the fixing unit, e.g. applying offset preventing fluid} - G03G 21/0094: {fatigue treatment of the photoconductor} - G03G 21/1609: {for space saving, e.g. structural arrangements} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 21/1685: {for the fixing unit} - G03G 21/169: {for the cleaning unit} - G03G 21/1814: {Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence)} - G03G 21/1828: {Prevention of damage or soiling, e.g. mechanical abrasion (G03G21/1839 takes precedence)} - G03G 2221/1606: for the photosensitive element - G03G 2221/1609: protective arrangements for preventing damage - G03G 2221/1669: Details about used materials - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A lubricant replacement case for an image forming apparatus includes a housing including a plurality of storage compartments to accommodate at least one lubricant unit. The plurality of storage compartments include at least one storage compartment for unused lubricant to be inserted into the image forming apparatus and at least one storage compartment for used lubricant to be retrieved from the image forming apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lubricant replacement case for an image forming apparatus, the lubricant replacement case comprising: a housing including a plurality of storage compartments to accommodate at least one lubricant unit, wherein the plurality of storage compartments include at least one storage compartment for unused lubricant to be inserted into the image forming apparatus and at least one storage compartment for used lubricant to be retrieved from the image forming apparatus, wherein the housing includes a guiding support forming the plurality of storage compartments and an end forming an opening to slide a lubricant unit into one of the plurality of storage compartments in the longitudinal direction, wherein the housing includes an end cover forming the opening and an outer shell to cover the guiding support, wherein the outer shell forms a slit extending in the longitudinal direction at a position that is adjacent to the opening of the end cover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lubricant replacement case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage compartments extend in a longitudinal direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lubricant replacement case of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of storage compartments of the guiding support includes a guiding rail to limit a movement of an accommodated lubricant unit in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The lubricant replacement case of claim 2, wherein the plurality of storage compartments are arranged in an arrangement direction, and wherein the guiding support is movable relative to the end cover in the arrangement direction, to align the opening with any one of the plurality of storage compartments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lubricant replacement case of claim 4, wherein the guiding support is coupled to the end cover by a click stop coupling to position the end cover so that the opening is aligned with any one of the plurality of storage compartments, wherein the click stop mechanism includes a recess for each of the plurality of storage compartments and a biased projection to releasably fit into the recess. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lubricant replacement case of according to claim 1, wherein the guiding support is rotatably coupled with the outer shell, and wherein the plurality of storage compartments are arranged in a rotational direction of the guiding support relative to the outer shell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lubricant replacement case of claim 6, wherein the guiding support is coupled with the outer shell to rotate in a first direction relative to the outer shell, and to prevent a rotation of the guiding support in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lubricant replacement case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage compartments are arranged in a linear direction, and wherein the guiding support is slidably coupled with the outer shell. ### Claim 9 A lubricant replacement case for an image forming apparatus, the lubricant replacement case comprising: a housing including a plurality of storage compartments to accommodate at least one lubricant unit, wherein the housing has an opening adjacent to one of the plurality of storage compartments to accommodate the at least one lubricant unit, wherein the housing includes an end cover forming the opening and an outer shell to cover a guiding support, wherein the outer shell forms a slit extending in the longitudinal direction at a position adjacent to the opening of the end cover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lubricant replacement case of claim 9, wherein the plurality of storage compartments include a first storage compartment to receive a used lubricant unit from the image forming apparatus, and a second storage compartment to accommodate a replacement lubricant unit to be inserted into the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lubricant replacement case of claim 10, wherein the plurality of storage compartments include one or more additional storage compartments, wherein each of the one or more additional storage compartments accommodates an additional replacement lubricant unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The lubricant replacement case of claim 9, wherein the lubricant replacement case accommodates the at least one lubricant unit, and wherein each of the at least one lubricant unit includes: a solid lubricant; and a frame that supports the solid lubricant, wherein the frame includes a grasping portion to slide the lubricant unit along the slit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lubricant replacement case of claim 12, wherein each of the at least one lubricant unit includes: a support disposed between the solid lubricant and the frame, wherein the support is biased away from the frame, and wherein each of the plurality of storage compartments of the lubricant replacement case includes a guiding rail to set the support at a fixed position relative to the frame of the lubricant unit accommodated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The lubricant replacement case of claim 9, wherein the housing extends in a longitudinal direction, wherein the opening is located at a longitudinal end of the housing, and wherein the longitudinal end of the housing includes a position guide to position the opening adjacent to a lubricant compartment of the image forming apparatus so as to move the at least one lubricant unit between the lubricant replacement case and the image forming apparatus in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The lubricant replacement case of claim 9, wherein the guiding support is rotatably coupled with the outer shell, and wherein the plurality of storage compartments are arranged in a rotational direction of the guiding support relative to the outer shell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The lubricant replacement case of claim 15, wherein the guiding support is coupled with the outer shell to rotate in a first direction relative to the outer shell, and to prevent a rotation of the guiding support in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The lubricant replacement case of claim 9, wherein the plurality of storage compartments are arranged in a linear direction, and wherein the guiding support is slidably coupled with the outer shell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The lubricant replacement case of claim 9, wherein the guiding support is coupled to the end cover by a click stop coupling to position the end cover so that the opening is aligned with any one of the plurality of storage compartments. , wherein the click stop mechanism includes a recess for each of the plurality of storage compartments and a biased projection to releasably fit into the recess. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The lubricant replacement case of claim 18, wherein the click stop mechanism includes a recess for each of the plurality of storage compartments and a biased projection to releasably fit into the recess. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The lubricant replacement case of claim 9, wherein the guiding support forms the plurality of storage compartments.