# US 2021/0278801 A1 · 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 2021/0278801 A1 - Document ID: US20210278801A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/172,512 - Filed: 2021-02-10 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-06 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hirotaka Ishii - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278801A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/1867: {for electrically connecting the process cartridge to the apparatus, electrical connectors, power supply} - G03G 15/0863: {provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory} - G03G 21/1652: {Electrical connection means} - G03G 21/1871: {associated with a positioning function} - 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 2221/166: Electrical connectors - G03G 2221/1684: using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges - G03G 2221/1869: Cartridge holders, e.g. intermediate frames for placing cartridge parts therein - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A developing cartridge includes a storage medium. A first contact portion is provided in a photoconductor unit and configured to be electrically connected to the storage medium. A second contact portion is provided in an apparatus body. The photoconductor unit is configured to, in a case of attaching the photoconductor unit to the apparatus body, move from a first position to a second position while being guided by a guide member and then move from the second position to a third position below the second position. At least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion is capable of being displaced such that engagement between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is performed while the photoconductor unit moves by being guided by the guide member, and the engagement is maintained while the photoconductor unit moves from the second position to the third position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus body comprising a controller; a photoconductor unit comprising a photoconductor and attached to the apparatus body so as to be drawable from the apparatus body; a guide member provided in the apparatus body and configured to guide the photoconductor unit with respect to the apparatus body; a developing cartridge configured to be attachable to and detachable from an attachment portion provided in the photoconductor unit, the developing cartridge comprising: a casing configured to accommodate developer; a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by using the developer; and a storage medium configured to store information about the developing cartridge; a first contact portion provided in the photoconductor unit and configured to be electrically connected to the storage medium in a state in which the developing cartridge is attached to the photoconductor unit; and a second contact portion provided in the apparatus body, electrically connected to the controller, and configured to be in contact with the first contact portion in a state in which the photoconductor unit is attached to the apparatus body, wherein the photoconductor unit is configured to, in a case of attaching the photoconductor unit to the apparatus body, move from a first position to a second position while being guided by the guide member and then move from the second position to a third position, the first position being a position where the developing cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the attachment portion, the third position being a position which is below the second position and in which an image forming operation on a recording medium is executable, wherein a first direction from the first position toward the second position is a horizontal direction or a direction whose inclination with respect to the horizontal direction is smaller than inclination of a second direction from the second position toward the third position with respect to the horizontal direction, and wherein at least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion is capable of being displaced such that engagement between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is performed while the photoconductor unit moves in the first direction by being guided by the guide member, and the engagement is maintained while the photoconductor unit moves from the second position to the third position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus body comprises a rotatable belt member, and wherein the photoconductor unit is configured such that the photoconductor is not in contact with the belt member while the photoconductor unit moves between the first position and the second position and the photoconductor is in contact with the belt member in a state in which the photoconductor unit is in the third position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the belt member is configured to form a nip portion between the belt member and the photoconductor and convey, through the nip portion, the recording medium onto which a toner image is to be transferred from the photoconductor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second contact portion is capable of being displaced in a vertical direction, and wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an urging member configured to urge the second contact portion upward in the vertical direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion is capable of being displaced in a vertical direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are configured such that, in a case of attaching the photoconductor unit to the apparatus body, the engagement between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is performed in a state in which a terminal of the first contact portion and a terminal of the second contact portion are not in contact with each other while the photoconductor unit moves in the first direction, and then the terminal of the first contact portion and the terminal of the second contact portion come into contact with each other while the photoconductor unit moves in the second direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are each a drawer connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first direction is an approximate horizontal direction, and wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are each disposed in an orientation directed in the approximate horizontal direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member includes a guide surface extending in the first direction, and an inclined surface that is continuous with a downstream side of the guide surface in the first direction and extends in the second direction, and wherein the photoconductor unit comprises a guided portion configured to come into contact with the guide surface and the inclined surface, and is configured such that a movement direction of the photoconductor unit between the first position and the second position is restricted to the first direction by the guided portion being guided by the guide surface, and that a movement direction of the photoconductor unit between the second position and the third position is restricted to the second direction by the guided portion being guided by the inclined surface.