# US 12,216,429 B2 · Developing cartridge including first frame supporting developing roller and having load receiving surface, and second frame fixed to first frame > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,216,429 B2 - Document ID: US12216429B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/489,079 - Filed: 2023-10-18 - Published: 2024-05-30 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-11-28 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Koji Abe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216429B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 15/0896: {Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894} - 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: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A developing cartridge attachable to a drum cartridge includes: a developing roller; a casing including a first frame supporting the developing roller and a second frame fixed to the first frame; and a separation member movable in a first direction relative to the casing. The separation member includes: a separation shaft; and a first inclined surface positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the separation member. The first frame has a load receiving surface facing the separation shaft in a second direction crossing the first direction. The load receiving surface makes contact with the separation shaft to receive a load directed in the second direction from the separation shaft when the separation member moves in the first direction and the first inclined surface makes contact with the drum cartridge in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A developing cartridge attachable to a drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising: a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a casing configured to accommodate developing agent therein, the casing having one end portion in a second direction at which the developing roller is positioned, the second direction crossing the first direction, the casing including: a first frame supporting the developing roller; and a second frame fixed to the first frame; and a separation member movable in the first direction relative to the casing, the separation member including: a separation shaft extending in the first direction; and a first inclined surface positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the separation member, the first inclined surface extending away from the developing roller in the second direction as extending toward another end portion in the first direction of the separation member, wherein the first frame has a load receiving surface facing the separation shaft in the second direction, the load receiving surface making contact with the separation shaft to receive a load directed in the second direction from the separation shaft when the separation member moves in the first direction and the first inclined surface makes contact with the drum cartridge in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first frame includes a first developing guide roller rotatable about an axis extending in a third direction crossing both the first direction and the second direction, the first developing guide roller making contact with the separation shaft, the first developing guide roller rotating in response to movement in the first direction of the separation shaft, and wherein the load receiving surface includes an outer surface of the first developing guide roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the first frame further has a support groove supporting one end portion in the third direction of the first developing guide roller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the first frame further includes a second developing guide roller positioned apart from the first developing guide roller in the first direction, the second developing guide roller being rotatable about an axis extending in the third direction, the second developing guide roller making contact with the separation shaft, the second developing guide roller rotating in response to the movement in the first direction of the separation shaft, and wherein the load receiving surface further includes an outer surface of the second developing guide roller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the separation member further includes a spring seat extending away from the first inclined surface in the second direction, the developing cartridge further comprising a return spring configured to expand and contract in the first direction, the return spring having one end portion in the first direction in contact with the spring seat and another end portion in the first direction in contact with the casing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The developing cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the another end portion in the first direction of the return spring is in contact with the first frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The developing cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the load receiving surface is positioned closer to the another end portion in the first direction of the separation member than the return spring is to the another end portion in the first direction of the separation member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The developing cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the return spring is positioned apart from and further radially outward than an outer peripheral surface of the separation shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The developing cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the casing has one end portion and another end portion in the first direction, and wherein, of the one end portion and the another end portion in the first direction of the casing, the return spring is positioned only at the one end portion in the first direction of the casing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The developing cartridge according to claim 9, further comprising: a gear positioned at the one end portion in the first direction of the casing; and a gear cover attached to the one end portion in the first direction of the casing and covering the gear, wherein the return spring is also covered with the gear cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The developing cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the return spring is a compression coil spring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the casing further includes a rib protruding from an outer surface of the casing and covering a part of the separation shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The developing cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the rib is positioned at a center in the first direction of the casing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The developing cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the second frame includes the rib. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The developing cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the second frame has a guide groove extending in the first direction, the separation shaft being positioned in the guide groove, and wherein the rib covers a part of the separation shaft that is positioned in the guide groove. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The developing cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the separation shaft has a small diameter portion whose diameter is smaller than a diameter of a remaining part of the separation shaft, and wherein the rib covers the small diameter portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The developing cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the casing includes: a first rib which is the rib; and a second rib which is the rib positioned apart from the first rib in the second direction, and wherein the part of the separation shaft is positioned between the first rib and the second rib in the second direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a gear positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the casing; a gear cover attached to the one end portion in the first direction of the casing and covering the gear; a memory having an electrical contact surface; a holder positioned at another end portion in the first direction of the casing and holding the electrical contact surface; and a holder cover attached to the another end portion in the first direction of the casing and covering at least a part of the holder, wherein the separation member is supported by the gear cover and the holder cover. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the separation shaft has a recessed portion recessed away from the developing roller in the second direction, the recessed portion being juxtaposed with the first inclined surface in the first direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The developing cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the recessed portion is positioned closer to the another end portion in the first direction of the separation member than the first inclined surface is to the another end portion in the first direction of the separation member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The developing cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the recessed portion is positioned between the load receiving surface and the first inclined surface in the first direction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the separation member further includes a protrusion protruding outward in a radial direction of the separation shaft, the protrusion making contact with the drum cartridge in the first direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the separation shaft is made of resin. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, and wherein the developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum in the second direction when the separation member moves in the first direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.