# US 2021/0341874 A1 · Developing cartridge including first and second cams connected by connection member and movable relative to casing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0341874 A1 - Document ID: US20210341874A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/379,094 - Filed: 2021-07-19 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-28 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO; Yasushi OKABE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210341874A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 21/1842: {for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence)} - 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 includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first cam positioned at one end portion of the casing; a second cam positioned at another end portion of the casing; and a connection member connecting the first cam and the second cam to each other. The first cam is movable relative to the casing and the developing roller in the first direction between a first position and a second position, and the second cam is movable relative to the casing and the developing roller in the first direction between a third position and a fourth position. The second cam is movable from the third position to the fourth position due to a tensile force of the connection member in accordance with movement of the first cam from the first position to the second position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A developing cartridge comprising: a casing configured to accommodate developing agent therein, the casing including one end portion and another end portion spaced apart from the one end portion in a first direction; a developing roller rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the first direction; a first cam positioned at the one end portion of the casing, the first cam being movable relative to the casing and the developing roller in the first direction between a first position and a second position, the first cam in the second position being positioned closer to the another end portion of the casing in the first direction than the first cam in the first position is to the another end portion of the casing; a second cam positioned at the another end portion of the casing, the second cam being movable relative to the casing and the developing roller in the first direction between a third position and a fourth position, the second cam in the fourth position being positioned closer to the another end portion of the casing in the first direction than the second cam in the third position is to the another end portion of the casing; and a connection member connecting the first cam and the second cam to each other, wherein the second cam is movable from the third position to the fourth position due to a tensile force of the connection member in accordance with movement of the first cam from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first cam has a first end and a second end, the second end being positioned closer to the another end portion of the casing in the first direction than the first end is to the another end portion of the casing, wherein the second cam has a third end and a fourth end, the fourth end being positioned closer to the another end portion of the casing in the first direction than the third end is to the another end portion of the casing, and wherein the connection member connects the first end of the first cam and the fourth end of the second cam to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing roller has an outer circumferential surface including one end portion and another end portion in a second direction crossing the first direction, the one end portion being exposed to an outside of the casing, the another end portion being positioned inside the casing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the casing has one outer surface and another outer surface, the one outer surface being positioned at one end portion in the second direction of the casing, the another outer surface being positioned at another end portion in the second direction of the casing, wherein the first cam and the second cam are positioned at the one outer surface, and wherein the connection member has at least a portion extending in the first direction along the another outer surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The developing cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the casing further has a groove positioned at the another outer surface and extending in the first direction, and wherein the connection member has at least a portion positioned within the groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the casing has one outer surface and another outer surface, the one outer surface being positioned at one end portion in the second direction of the casing, the another outer surface being different from the one outer surface, wherein the first cam and the second cam are positioned at the one outer surface, and wherein the connection member has at least a portion extending in the first direction along the another outer surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the first cam has a first inclined surface inclined relative to the first direction so as to be distant from the casing as extending from the another end portion to the one end portion of the casing, and wherein the second cam has a second inclined surface inclined relative to the first direction so as to be distant from the casing as extending from the another end portion to the one end portion of the casing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the first cam is movable in the second direction together with the casing and the developing roller, and wherein the second cam is movable in the second direction together with the casing and the developing roller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the developing cartridge is for use with a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and wherein, in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the first cam is movable in the second direction relative to the photosensitive drum together with the casing and the developing roller, and the second cam is movable in the second direction relative to the photosensitive drum together with the casing and the developing roller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The developing cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the first inclined surface gradually approaches the casing in the second direction as extending from the one end portion to the another end portion in the first direction of the casing, and wherein the second inclined surface gradually approaches the casing in the second direction as extending from the one end portion to the another end portion in the first direction of the casing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the connection member is a flexible member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the connection member has a portion extending in the first direction and another portion extending in a direction crossing the first direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The developing cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the connection member is one of a sheet-like member and a wire member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member urging the second cam in a direction from the fourth position toward the third position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The developing cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the elastic member is a spring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The developing cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the spring is a coil spring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The developing cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the casing has a first guide groove and a second guide groove positioned at the one outer surface, the first guide groove guiding movement of the first cam between the first position and the second position, the second guide groove guiding movement of the second cam between the third position and the fourth position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The developing cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the casing includes a frame having a flat plate shape and positioned at the one outer surface, the frame having the first guide groove and the second guide groove. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The developing cartridge according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the first cam includes a retainer for preventing the at least one of the first cam and the second cam from disengaging from corresponding one of the first guide groove and the second guide groove. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the connection member is made from resin. ### Claim 21 (depends on 9) The developing cartridge according to claim 9, wherein, in the state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum in the first position of the first cam and in the third position of the second cam, and the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum in the second position of the first cam and at the fourth position of the second cam. ### Claim 22 (depends on 2) The developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the first end of the first cam has a pressure contact surface for receiving a pressing force, and wherein, when the pressure contact surface receives the pressing force, the first cam moves from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The developing cartridge according to claim 22, wherein the developing cartridge is for use with a drum cartridge, the drum cartridge being attachable to a main body portion of an image forming apparatus in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the main body portion including a drive shaft extending in the first direction, the drive shaft being movable in the first direction between an advanced position and a retracted position in response to receiving a driving force applied from the main body portion, the drive shaft being configured to press the pressure contact surface by the movement of the drive shaft toward the advanced position which is a direction from the one end portion to the another end portion of the casing in the first direction. ### Claim 24 (depends on 3) The developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the casing has one end portion in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the developing roller is positioned at the one end portion in the third direction of the casing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The developing cartridge according to claim 24, wherein the casing further has an outer surface positioned at another end portion in the third direction of the casing, the developing cartridge further comprising a handle configured to be gripped by a user, the handle being positioned at the outer surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the drum cartridge has a first contact surface and a second contact surface, the drum cartridge being attachable to a main body portion of an image forming apparatus in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, and wherein, in the state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the first contact surface is in contact with the first inclined surface, and the second contact surface is in contact with the second inclined surface. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The developing cartridge according to claim 26, wherein the first contact surface is at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of a first cylinder centered on a first rotational axis extending in a third direction crossing the first direction, and wherein the second contact surface is a at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of a second cylinder centered on a second rotational axis extending in the third direction. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The developing cartridge according to claim 27, wherein the first cylinder is rotatable is rotatable about the first rotational axis, and wherein the second cylinder is rotatable about the second rotational axis.