US 2026/0169423 A1Published application

Image forming apparatus

AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsNao Itabashi, Misato Osuka, Keita Shimizu, Go Iwasa, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Ryosuke Hayashi, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Naoya Kamimura, Yuwen Wang, Masaaki Furukawa, Kazuma Hinoue, Kenta Tosuji

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Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a drawer, and a cartridge. The drawer is movable between an inside position inside the main housing and an outside position outside the main housing. The cartridge is installable into and removable from the drawer. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a drum axis. The drawer comprises a lock member movable between a lock position in which the drawer is locked to the main housing, and an unlock position in which the drawer is unlocked from the main housing. The cartridge installed in the drawer is rotatable about the drum axis between a first position and a second position. The lock member is positioned in the lock position when the cartridge is positioned in the first position, and positioned in the unlock position when the cartridge is positioned in the second position.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A process cartridge comprising:

a development roller rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, the first direction being an axial direction of the first axis;
a photosensitive drum;
a frame having a first outer surface and a second outer surface spaced apart from the first outer surface in the first direction,
a first electrode positioned at the first outer surface, the first electrode including a first electrical contact surface facing outward in the first direction;
a second electrode positioned at the first outer surface, the second electrode including a second electrical contact surface facing outward in the first direction;
a third electrode positioned at the first outer surface, the third electrode including a third electrical contact surface facing outward in the first direction;
and
a fourth electrode positioned at the first outer surface, the fourth electrode including a fourth electrical contact surface facing outward in the first direction;
and
a memory positioned at the first outer surface, the memory including a memory contact surface facing outward in the first direction.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/530,045Filed 4 Feb 2026
Priority: JP 2020-12157315 Jul 2020
Published: 18 Jun 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

G03G 15/80
Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern: details relating to power supplies, circuits boards, electrical connections
G03G 21/1853
For guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks: the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of…
G03G 15/0863
Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer: provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use…
G03G 21/1652
For connecting the different parts of the apparatus: electrical connection means

Family

Application18/153,437Continuation · filed 12 Jan 2023
Application18/636,478Continuation · filed 16 Apr 2024
Application19/530,045Continuation
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.