# US 2021/0341876 A1 · Developing cartridge including first arm pivotally movable along with pivotal movement of cam and along with rotation of first shaft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0341876 A1 - Document ID: US20210341876A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/379,135 - Filed: 2021-07-19 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-28 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Go IWASA; Yuwen WANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210341876A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/1857: {for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection 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 21/1825: {Pivotable subunit connection} - G03G 21/1842: {for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence)} - G03G 2221/1654: Locks and means for positioning or alignment - G03G 2221/1657: transmitting mechanical drive power - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller; a casing having an outer surface; a first shaft rotatable about a rotational axis; a first arm; and a cam. The first arm and the cam extend radially outward from an outer periphery of the first shaft and pivotally movable along with rotation of the first shaft. The cam has: one end connected to the first shaft; another end positioned farther from the rotational axis than the one end is farther from the rotational axis; and a pressure contact surface inclined so as to approach the outer surface of the casing as extending from the one end toward the another end. When a pressing force is applied to the pressure contact surface, the first arm pivotally moves from a first position to a second position along with: pivotal movement of the cam; and the rotation of the first shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A developing cartridge comprising: a developing roller rotatable about a developing roller-axis extending in a first direction; a casing configured to accommodate developing agent therein, the casing having an outer surface positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the casing; a first shaft positioned at the outer surface of the casing and rotatable about a rotational axis extending in the first direction, the first shaft having an outer periphery; a first arm extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the first shaft, the first arm being pivotally movable about the rotational axis along with rotation of the first shaft; and a cam extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the first shaft in a direction different from a direction in which the first arm extends, the cam being pivotally movable about the rotational axis along with the rotation of the first shaft, the cam having: one end connected to the first shaft; another end positioned farther from the rotational axis than the one end is farther from the rotational axis; and a pressure contact surface inclined so as to approach the outer surface of the casing as extending from the one end toward the another end, wherein, when a pressing force is applied to the pressure contact surface, the first arm pivotally moves from a first position to a second position along with pivotal movement of the cam and along with the rotation of the first shaft. ### Claim 2 (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 3 (depends on 2) The developing cartridge according to claim 2, 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 developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum in the second direction in accordance with the pivotal movement of the first arm from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein, when the first arm is at the first position, the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum, and wherein, when the first arm is at the second position, the developing roller is in separation from the photosensitive drum. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the casing further has another end portion spaced away from the one end portion in the first direction, and wherein, when the pressure contact surface receives a pressing force directed in a direction from the one end portion toward the another end portion in the first direction of the casing, the first arm pivotally moves from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The developing cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the drum cartridge is attachable to a main body portion of an image forming apparatus in the 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 movable toward the advanced position in the direction from the one end portion toward the another end portion in the first direction of the casing to press the pressure contact surface, and wherein, when the drive shaft presses the pressure contact surface, the first arm pivotally moves from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a first elastic member urging the first arm in a direction from the second position toward the first position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The developing cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the first elastic member is a tension spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the pressure contact surface is inclined so as to approach the casing as extending away from the first arm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first arm has a distal end portion having a flat surface extending in parallel to the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The developing cartridge according to claim 7, further comprising: a developing roller gear positioned at the outer surface of the casing and rotatable together with the developing roller; a coupling rotatable about a coupling axis extending in the first direction and configured to transmit a driving force to the developing roller gear, the coupling having an outer periphery; and a gear cover covering at least a portion of each of the outer periphery of the coupling and the developing roller gear from one side in the first direction of the casing, the gear cover having a notch recessed toward one end portion thereof in the second direction, wherein the first shaft, the first arm, the cam, and at least a portion of the first elastic member are positioned inside the notch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The developing cartridge according claim 11, wherein the first elastic member has one end connected to the first arm and another end connected to the outer surface of the casing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The developing cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the first elastic member has one end connected to the first arm and another end connected to an inner edge of the notch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The developing cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the first arm and the first elastic member are positioned between the outer surface of the casing and the cam in the first direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The developing cartridge according to claim 13, wherein, when the first arm is at the first position, the cam has a portion that does not overlap the first elastic member in the first direction, and wherein, when the first cam is at the second position, the cam has a portion overlapping the first elastic member in the first direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the casing further has a second outer surface positioned at another end portion in the first direction of the casing, the developing cartridge further comprising: a second shaft positioned at the second outer surface and rotatable about the rotational axis along with the rotation of the first shaft, the second shaft having an outer periphery; and a second arm extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the second shaft, the second arm being pivotally movable about the rotational axis along with rotation of the second shaft, wherein, when a pressing force is applied to the pressure contact surface, the second arm pivotally moves from a third position to a fourth position along with the rotation of the second shaft in accordance with the pivotal movement of the first arm from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The developing cartridge according claim 16, further comprising a connection bar extending in the first direction, the connection bar being positioned between the first shaft and the second shaft in the first direction and connecting the first shaft and the second shaft to each other, the connection bar being rotatable about the rotational axis along with the rotation of the first shaft and the second shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The developing cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the connection bar has one end and another end in the first direction, wherein the first shaft is fixed to the one end in the first direction of the connection bar, and wherein the second shaft is fixed to the another end in the first direction of the connection bar. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The developing cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the casing further has a third outer surface positioned at one end portion in the second direction of the casing, and wherein the connection bar is rotatably supported by the third outer surface of the casing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The developing cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the casing further has a groove positioned at the third outer surface and extending in the first direction, and wherein the connection bar has a portion positioned inside the groove. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The developing cartridge according to claim 20, wherein the casing includes a frame having a flat plate shape and positioned at the one end portion in the second direction of the casing, the frame having an outer surface, and wherein the groove is positioned at the outer surface of the frame. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The developing cartridge according to claim 17, further comprising a second elastic member positioned at the second outer surface of the casing, the second elastic member urging the second arm in a direction from the fourth position toward the third position.