# US 12,761,600 B2 · Adapter, 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 12,761,600 B2 - Document ID: US12761600B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/767,697 - Filed: 2024-07-09 - Published: 2025-01-16 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-07-10 - Assignees: Zhuhai Pantum Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Zhuhai Pantum Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Feng Chen; Shujia Hou; Peng Liu; Kezheng Ou; Shun Qian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761600B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1871: {associated with a positioning function} - G03G 21/181: {Manufacturing or assembling, recycling, reuse, transportation, packaging or storage} - G03G 21/1814: {Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence)} - G03G 2221/1884: Projections on process cartridge for guiding mounting thereof in main machine - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An adapter is provided. The adapter is installed on a cartridge that is detachably arranged on a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including an accommodation cavity, a conductive unit, a matching unit, and an electric signal responding unit. The adapter includes an electric signal triggering assembly configured to electrically connect with the conductive unit and trigger the electric signal responding unit to obtain a predetermined responding signal, when the electric signal triggering assembly is installed on the cartridge and the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity. The predetermined responding signal is configured to determine whether an installation of the cartridge meets an expectation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adapter, installed on a cartridge that is detachably arranged on an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising an accommodation cavity, a conductive unit, and an electric signal responding unit, wherein the adapter comprises an electric signal triggering assembly; and the electric signal triggering assembly is configured to electrically connect with the conductive unit and trigger the electric signal responding unit to obtain a predetermined responding signal, when the electric signal triggering assembly is installed on the cartridge and the cartridge is installed to a predetermined position in the accommodation cavity; a voltage of the predetermined responding signal is different from a voltage obtained by the electric signal responding unit from the conductive unit when the cartridge is not installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity; and the predetermined responding signal is configured to determine whether the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a matching unit and the adapter further includes an assembly unit configured to cooperate with the matching unit, making the cartridge to be installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity; or the cartridge comprises the assembly unit, the electric signal triggering assembly is installed on the assembly unit of the cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined responding signal is a high-level signal or a low-level signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the conductive unit comprises a first conductive component and a second conductive component; and when the cartridge is not installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, the first conductive component and the second conductive component are electrically isolated; and when the electric signal triggering assembly is installed on the cartridge and the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, the electric signal triggering assembly is electrically connected to the first conductive component and the second conductive component respectively, triggering the electric signal responding unit to obtain the predetermined responding signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The adapter according to claim 4, wherein the electric signal triggering assembly comprises a first conductive sheet and a second conductive sheet; the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet are electrically connected; when the electric signal triggering assembly is installed on the cartridge and the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, the first conductive sheet is configured to be electrically connected to the first conductive component, and the second conductive sheet is configured to be electrically connected to the second conductive component; and the first conductive component is electrically connected to the second conductive component, for triggering the electric signal responding unit to obtain the predetermined responding signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The adapter according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet comprises a metal conductive sheet or a plurality of metal conductive sheets electrically connected to each other. ### Claim 7 A cartridge, detachably arranged on an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises an accommodation cavity, a conductive unit, and an electric signal responding unit; and the cartridge comprises: an electric signal triggering assembly, configured to electrically connect with the conductive unit and trigger the electric signal responding unit to obtain a predetermined responding signal, when the cartridge is installed to a predetermined position in the accommodation cavity; a voltage of the predetermined responding signal is different from a voltage obtained by the electric signal responding unit from the conductive unit when the cartridge is not installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity; and the predetermined responding signal being configured to determine whether the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined responding signal is a high-level signal or a low-level signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the conductive unit comprises a first conductive component and a second conductive component; and when the cartridge is not installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, the first conductive component and the second conductive component are electrically isolated from each other; and when the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, the electric signal triggering assembly is electrically connected to the first conductive component and the second conductive component respectively, triggering the electric signal responding unit to obtain the predetermined responding signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the electric signal triggering assembly comprises a first conductive sheet and a second conductive sheet; the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet are electrically connected; when the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, the first conductive sheet is configured to be electrically connected to the first conductive component, and the second conductive sheet is configured to be electrically connected to the second conductive component; and the first conductive component is electrically connected to the second conductive component, for triggering the electric signal responding unit to obtain the predetermined responding signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet comprises a metal conductive sheet or a plurality of metal conductive sheets electrically connected to each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the cartridge includes an assembly unit and the image forming apparatus includes a matching unit, and wherein the assembly unit is a first protrusion; the matching unit is a first groove matching the first protrusion; and the electric signal triggering assembly is arranged on the first protrusion; or the assembly unit is a second groove; the matching unit is a second protrusion matching the second groove; and the electrical signal triggering assembly is arranged in the second groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein a protective component is further provided in the accommodation cavity; the protective component is configured to cover at least a portion of the conductive unit to protect the conductive unit, when the cartridge is not installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity; and an opening component is also provided on the cartridge; the opening component is configured to trigger the protective component to release a covering of the conductive unit when the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the protective component comprises a blocking component and an elastic component; the blocking component comprises a blocking part and a matching part; the blocking part is configured to cover at least the portion of the conductive unit under an elastic force of the elastic component when the cartridge is not installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity; and the opening component comprises a pressing part; the pressing part matches the matching part; the pressing part is configured to push the matching part to drive the blocking part to move, when the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, to release the covering of the conductive unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The cartridge according to claim 14, further comprising an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is provided with a groove for accommodating the assembly unit and the pressing part. ### Claim 16 An image forming apparatus comprising an accommodation cavity to accommodate a cartridge; a conductive unit; and an electric signal responding unit, configured to electrically connect with the cartridge to obtain a predetermined responding signal, when the cartridge is installed to a predetermined position in the accommodation cavity; a voltage of the predetermined responding signal is different from a voltage obtained by the electric signal responding unit from the conductive unit when the cartridge is not installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity; and the predetermined responding signal is configured to determine whether the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the conductive unit includes a first conductive component and a second conductive component, and wherein when the cartridge is not installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, the first conductive component and the second conductive component are in an electrically isolated state, when the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, the first conductive component and the second conductive component are in an electrically connected state, and the electric signal responding unit obtains the predetermined responding signal and determines whether the installation of the cartridge meets the expectation based on the predetermined responding signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a frame, the conductive unit includes a first conductive component and a second conductive component, and wherein the frame includes a top plate and a side plate, the first conductive component and the second conductive component are arranged on the top plate, and the electric signal responding unit is arranged on the side plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a protective component is further provided in the accommodation cavity, the protective component is configured to cover at least a portion of the conductive unit, when the cartridge is not installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the protective component also includes an elastic component, when the cartridge is installed to the predetermined position in the accommodation cavity, the elastic component is compressed.