# US 12,117,763 B2 · Development device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,117,763 B2 - Document ID: US12117763B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/331,076 - Filed: 2023-06-07 - Published: 2023-10-05 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-18 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiroaki Nosho; Toru Oguma; Tetsuya Numata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12117763B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1652: {Electrical connection means} - G03G 15/086: {the level being measured by electro-magnetic means} - G03G 21/1676: {for the developer unit} - 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 21/1871: {associated with a positioning function} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract There are demands for stable connections of contact points between a process cartridge, including a development device, and an image forming device. A development contact point, a first contact point, and a second contact point are disposed in this order on the inside in a perpendicular direction with respect to an insertion direction in which a development device is inserted into an image forming apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a main assembly including a main body contact, wherein the main body contact includes: (i) a first main body contact point, (ii) a second main body contact point, and (iii) a third main body contact point; a cartridge including, a housing configured to store developer, a conveyance member configured to convey the developer, a developer carrying member configured to carry the developer, and a cartridge contact including (i) a first contact point plate configured to be electrically connected to the first main body contact point, (ii) a second contact point plate configured to be electrically connected to the second main body contact point; and (iii) a third contact point plate configured to be electrically connected to the third main body contact point; and a cartridge support member to which the cartridge is removably attached, wherein the cartridge support member is movable, relative to the main assembly, from a first position where the cartridge is attached to the main assembly and the cartridge support member is inside of the main assembly to a second position where the cartridge is capable of being attached to and being removed from the cartridge support member, wherein, in a state where the cartridge support member is at the first position, the first main body contact point is directly below the first contact point plate and presses the first contact point plate, the second main body contact point is directly below the second contact point plate and presses the second contact point plate, and the third main body contact point is directly below the third contact point plate and presses the third contact point plate, wherein the first main body contact point, the second main body contact point, and the third main body contact point are disposed at different positions with respect to a rotation axis direction of the developer carrying member, and wherein the first main body contact point, the second main body contact point, and the third main body contact point are disposed at different positions with respect to a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction of the cartridge support member, and the insertion direction is a direction in which the cartridge support member is moved from the second position to the first position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, as viewed in the rotation axis direction, the cartridge contact is closer to the developer carrying member than the conveyance member is. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, with respect to the insertion direction, the cartridge contact is on a downstream side of the conveyance member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in the state where the cartridge support member is at the first position, the first contact point plate, the second contact point plate, and the third contact point plate face downward. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the conveyance member is configured to rotate, and includes a shaft and a sheet attached to the shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the conveyance member included with the cartridge is a first conveyance member and the cartridge further includes a second conveyance member configured to convey the developer, and wherein, as viewed in the rotation axis direction, the second conveyance member is closer to the developer carrying member than the first conveyance member is. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, with respect to the insertion direction, the cartridge includes a downstream end and an upstream end opposite to the downstream end, and the cartridge contact and the developer bearing member are closer to the downstream end than to the upstream end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, in the state where the cartridge support member is at the first position, a length of the cartridge in a horizontal direction is longer than a length of the cartridge in a vertical direction as viewed in the rotation axis direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, with respect to the insertion direction, the cartridge contact is on a downstream side of the conveyance member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the state where the cartridge support member is at the first position, the first contact point plate, the second contact point plate, and the third contact point plate face downward. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance member is configured to rotate, and includes a shaft and a sheet attached to the shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance member included with the cartridge is a first conveyance member and the cartridge further includes a second conveyance member configured to convey the developer, and wherein, as viewed in the rotation axis direction, the second conveyance member is closer to the developer carrying member than the first conveyance member is. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, with respect to the insertion direction, the cartridge includes a downstream end and an upstream end opposite to the downstream end, and the cartridge contact and the developer bearing member are closer to the downstream end than to the upstream end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the state where the cartridge support member is at the first position, a length of the cartridge in a horizontal direction is longer than a length of the cartridge in a vertical direction as viewed in the rotation axis direction.