# US 12,117,745 B2 · Developing cartridge having coupling and developing roller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,117,745 B2 - Document ID: US12117745B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/067,827 - Filed: 2022-12-19 - Published: 2023-04-20 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-31 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Nao Itabashi; Naoya Kamimura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12117745B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0889: {for agitation or stirring} - G03G 15/065: {Arrangements for controlling the potential of the developing electrode} - G03G 15/0865: {Arrangements for supplying new developer} - G03G 21/1676: {for the developer unit} - G03G 21/1864: {associated with a positioning function} - G03G 21/1896: {mechanical or optical identification means, e.g. protrusions, bar codes} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## 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 ### Claim 1 A cartridge comprising: a developing roller rotatable about a developing axis extending in a first direction; a frame configured to accommodate developing material therein, the frame having a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in the first direction, the frame having a third end portion and a fourth end portion separated from the third end portion in a second direction, the developing roller being positioned at the third end portion; a coupling rotatable about a coupling axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at the first end portion, the coupling including a coupling gear; an electrode electrically connected to the developing roller, the electrode being positioned at the second end portion; an idle gear rotatable about an idle gear axis extending in the first direction, the idle gear meshing with the coupling gear, the idle gear being positioned at the first end portion; an agitator rotatable about an agitator axis extending in the first direction; an agitator gear rotatable with the agitator, the agitator gear meshing with the idle gear, the agitator gear being positioned at the first end portion, and a slide plate linearly movable relative to the frame in association with rotation of the agitator gear, the slide plate linearly movable between a first position and a second position in the second direction, wherein a first distance between the developing roller and the slide plate in the second direction in a state where the slide plate is positioned at the first position is greater than a second distance between the developing roller and the slide plate in the second direction in a state where the slide plate is positioned at the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the slide plate linearly moves from the second position to the first position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the slide plate linearly moves in a direction defined from the third end portion to the fourth end portion in the second direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the slide plate linearly moves away from the developing roller in the second direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the slide plate is positioned at the second end portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a rail configured to support a portion of the slide plate, the rail extending in the second direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the agitator has an agitator shaft extending in the first direction, and wherein the agitator gear is mounted to one end portion of the agitator shaft in the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is positioned between the developing roller and the agitator gear in the second direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coupling is positioned between the developing roller and the agitator gear in the second direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second direction is crossing the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is made of metal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electrode has a rectangular plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing roller has a developing roller shaft extending in the first direction, and wherein the electrode is electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cartridge according to claim 13, further comprising: a developing gear rotatable with the developing roller, the developing gear being mounted to the developing roller shaft, the developing gear being positioned at the first end portion, the developing gear meshing with the coupling gear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing roller is rotatable in association with rotation of the coupling. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a supply roller rotatable about a supply axis extending in the first direction, and wherein the electrode is electrically connected to the supply roller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the supply roller has a supply roller shaft extending in the first direction, and wherein the electrode is electrically connected to the supply roller shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The cartridge according to claim 17, further comprising: a supply gear rotatable with the supply roller, the supply gear being mounted to the supply roller shaft, the supply gear being positioned at the first end portion, the supply gear meshing with the coupling gear. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the supply roller is rotatable in association with rotation of the coupling. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the idle gear includes: a large-diameter gear; and a small-diameter gear positioned between the first end portion of the frame and the large-diameter gear in the first direction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The cartridge according to claim 20, wherein the large-diameter gear of the idle gear meshes with the coupling gear, and wherein the small-diameter gear of the idle gear meshes with the agitator gear. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The cartridge according to claim 20, wherein the large-diameter gear of the idle gear is integral with the small-diameter gear of the idle gear. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the agitator gear includes: a large-diameter gear; and a small-diameter gear. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the small-diameter gear of the agitator gear is positioned between the first end portion of the frame and the large-diameter gear of the agitator gear in the first direction. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the large-diameter gear of the agitator gear is integral with the small-diameter gear of the agitator gear. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the slide plate is linearly movable relative to the electrode in association with rotation of the agitator gear. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the slide plate linearly moves relative to the coupling in association with rotation of the agitator gear. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The cartridge according to claim 27, wherein the slide plate linearly moves relative to the idle gear in association with rotation of the agitator gear. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The cartridge according to claim 28, wherein the slide plate linearly moves relative to the agitator in association with rotation of the agitator gear. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The cartridge according to claim 29, wherein the slide plate linearly moves relative to the agitator gear in association with rotation of the agitator gear.