US 7,742,709 B2 · Developer cartridge having different communication states with an image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus comprises a cartridge equipped with a toner reservoir, and an apparatus body. The cartridge is attached to the apparatus body when used and developer in the toner reservoir is used for image development. The cartridge comprises a storage unit which is provided inside the toner reservoir and capable of communicating with the apparatus body. The apparatus body comprises a communication unit which is capable of communicating with the storage unit and communication state between the storage unit and the communication unit varies depending on amount of residual developer in the toner reservoir. Thus there is provided a developer cartridge and an image forming apparatus surely capable of carrying out both residual-toner-amount detection and transmission of cartridge information with space saving design.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A developer cartridge comprising:

a developer container, wherein the developer cartridge, when attached to an image forming apparatus for use, supplies a developer in the developer container to the image forming apparatus for development;
a communication unit provided inside the developer container and capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein a communication state between the communication unit and the image forming apparatus varies depending on an amount of the developer in the developer container;
a rotating shaft which rotates in the developer container;
and
a bendable member which rotates together with the rotating shaft with one side being fixed to the rotating shaft,
wherein the communication unit is placed in a location, inside the developer container, which enables the communication unit to get in contact with the bendable member along the rotation of the rotating shaft and to communicate with the image forming apparatus while the developer cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus,
when the amount of the developer in the developer container exceeds a predetermined amount, the bendable member does not get in contact with the communication unit due to intervention of the developer and a preferable communication state of the communication unit is secured, and
when the amount of developer in the developer container is lower than the predetermined amount, the bendable member gets in contact to move the communication unit and the communication state deteriorates due to the movement of the communication unit.

5 more elements

A developer cartridge comprising:

a developer container, wherein the developer cartridge, when attached to an image forming apparatus for use, supplies a developer in the developer container to the image forming apparatus for development;
a communication unit provided inside the developer container and capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein a communication state between the communication unit and the image forming apparatus varies depending on an amount of the developer in the developer container, and the communication unit is arranged at a location which corresponds to a bottom portion inside the developer container when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus with its communicable side facing a communication unit of the image forming apparatus;
a blocking member which blocks communication between the communication unit and the image forming apparatus;
and
a holder which holds the blocking member in front of the communicable side of the communication unit in a state which allows the blocking member to move up and down when the developer cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus,
wherein the developer in the developer container is non-magnetic,
when the amount of the developer in the developer container exceeds a predetermined reference amount, the blocking member is supported by the developer at a location within a movable range provided inside the holder which does not allow the blocking member to block the communicable side of the communication unit and a preferable communication state at the communication unit is secured, and
when the amount of the developer in the developer container is lower than the predetermined reference amount, the blocking member comes down from the location within the movable range provided inside the holder, which does not allow the blocking member to block the communicable side of the communication unit to eventually block the communicable side of the communication unit, and the communication state deteriorates.

5 more elements

An image forming apparatus, comprising a developer cartridge equipped with a developer container, and an apparatus body, the image forming apparatus being used with the developer cartridge attached thereto to supply a developer in the developer container for development,

wherein the developer cartridge comprises a cartridge-side communication unit which is provided inside the developer container and capable of communicating with the apparatus body,
the apparatus body comprises an apparatus-side communication unit which is capable of communicate with the cartridge-side communication unit, and
a communication state between the cartridge-side communication unit and the apparatus-side communication unit varies depending on an amount of the developer in the developer container,
wherein the developer cartridge further comprises:
a rotating shaft which rotates in the developer container;
and
a bendable member which rotates together with the rotating shaft with one side being fixed to the rotating shaft,
wherein the cartridge-side communication unit is placed in a location inside the developer container, which enables the cartridge-side communication unit to get in contact with the bendable member along the rotation of the rotating shaft and to communicate with the apparatus-side communication unit while the developer cartridge is attached to the apparatus body,
when the amount of the developer in the developer container exceeds a predetermined amount, the bendable member does not get in contact with the cartridge-side communication unit due to intervention of the developer and a preferable communication state between the cartridge-side communication unit and the apparatus-side communication unit is secured, and
when the amount of the developer in the developer container is lower than the predetermined amount, the bendable member gets in contact to move the cartridge-side communication unit and the communication state deteriorates due to the movement of the cartridge-side communication unit.

7 more elements

A image forming apparatus comprising a developer cartridge equipped with a developer container, and an apparatus body, the image forming apparatus being used with the developer cartridge attached thereto to supply a developer in the developer container for development,

wherein the developer cartridge comprises a cartridge-side communication unit which is provided inside the developer container and capable of communicating with the apparatus body,
the apparatus body comprises an apparatus-side communication unit which is capable of communicate with the cartridge-side communication unit,
a communication state between the cartridge-side communication unit and the apparatus-side communication unit varies depending on an amount of the developer in the developer container, and
the cartridge-side communication unit is arranged at a location which corresponds to a bottom portion inside the developer container when the developer container is attached to the apparatus body with its communicable side facing the apparatus-side communication unit,
the developer cartridge further comprises:
a blocking member which blocks communication between the cartridge-side communication unit and the apparatus-side communication unit;
and
a holder which holds the blocking member in front of the communicable side of the cartridge-side communication unit in a state which allows the blocking member to move up and down when the developer cartridge is attached to the apparatus body,
wherein the developer in the developer container is non-magnetic,
when the amount of the developer in the developer container exceeds a predetermined reference amount, the blocking member is supported by the developer at a location within a movable range provided inside the holder which does not allow the blocking member to block the communicable side of the cartridge-side communication unit and a preferable communication state between the cartridge-side communication unit and the apparatus-side communication unit is secured, and
when the amount of the developer in the developer container is lower than the predetermined reference amount, the blocking member comes down from the location within the movable range provided inside the holder, which does not allow the blocking member to block the communicable side of the cartridge-side communication unit to eventually block the communicable side of the cartridge-side communication unit, and the communication state deteriorates.

8 more elements

wherein the developer cartridge comprises a cartridge-side communication unit which is provided inside the developer container and capable of communicating with the apparatus body,
the apparatus body comprises an apparatus-side communication unit which is capable of communicate with the cartridge-side communication unit, and
a communication state between the cartridge-side communication unit and the apparatus-side communication unit varies depending on an amount of the developer in the developer container,
wherein the developer cartridge further comprises:
a holder which holds the cartridge-side communication unit at a location which corresponds to a bottom portion inside the developer container when the developer container is attached to the apparatus body with its communicable side facing the apparatus-side communication unit,
the holder segregates the communicable side of the cartridge-side communication unit into an upper communication section and a lower communication section, and prevents the developer from entering around the lower communication section,
the developer in the developer container is magnetic,
when the amount of the developer in the developer container exceeds a predetermined reference amount, the upper communication section of the cartridge-side communication unit is covered with the developer and communication with the apparatus-side communication unit is carried out by only the lower communication section, and
when the amount of the developer in the developer container is lower than the predetermined reference amount, the upper communication section appears out from the developer and the communication with the apparatus-side communication unit is carried out by the upper communication section.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Developer cartridge having different communication states with an image forming apparatus

Life of this patent

Developer cartridge having different communication states with an image forming apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18