# US 9,436,157 B2 · Image forming apparatus provided with process cartridge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,157 B2 - Document ID: US9436157B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/874,907 - Filed: 2015-10-05 - Published: 2016-08-11 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-06 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kazuna Taguchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436157B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1803: {Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof} - G03G 15/50: {Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control (sequencing control G03G21/14)} - G03G 21/181: {Manufacturing or assembling, recycling, reuse, transportation, packaging or storage} - G03G 21/1832: {Shielding members, shutter, e.g. light, heat shielding, prevention of toner scattering} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a process cartridge; and a protective member. The process cartridge is detachably attached to the housing and includes a drum unit; and a developing unit. The drum unit includes a photosensitive member. The developing unit includes a developing roller; and a first wall. The developing roller defines a first axis extending in an axial direction and is configured to rotate about the first axix. The first wall has a first surface; and a second surface opposite thereto. The first surface extends in the axial direction and faces the developing roller. The protective member is detachably attached to the process cartridge and includes a spacer. The drum unit includes a second wall. The second wall has a third surface. The third surface extends in the axial direction and faces the second surface. The spacer is disposed between the second surface and the third surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a housing; a process cartridge detachably attached to the housing, the process cartridge comprising: a drum unit including a photosensitive member; and a developing unit including a developing roller, an accommodating portion configured to accommodate developing agent, and a first wall, the developing roller defining a first axis extending in an axial direction and being configured to rotate about the first axis and supply the developing agent to the photosensitive member, the first wall having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto, the first surface extending in the axial direction and facing the developing roller; a protective member detachably attached to the process cartridge and including a spacer, the drum unit including a second wall having a third surface extending in the axial direction and facing the second surface, the spacer being disposed between the second surface and the third surface; a sensing member configured to detect presence of the spacer when the process cartridge is attached to the housing; a malfunction reporting unit configured to report malfunction when the sensing member detects the presence of the spacer; and a registration roller configured to convey an image recording sheet to the photosensitive member in a conveying direction, the sensing member being further configured to detect presence of the image recording sheet being conveyed between the registration roller and the photosensitive member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spacer has an exposed part protruding from between the first wall and the second wall so as to be visible from an outside of the process cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective member further includes a first separating part configured to maintain the developing roller in a position separated from the photosensitive member; and wherein the developing roller is configured to supply the developing agent to the photosensitive member when the developing roller contacts the photosensitive member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first roller, wherein the process cartridge further comprises a second roller to convey an image recording sheet in cooperation with the first roller; and wherein the protective member further includes a second separating part configured to maintain the second roller in a position separated from the first roller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second roller is supported in the process cartridge and is configured to be moved between a first position and a second position; and wherein the second separating part is configured to maintain the second roller in a third position between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second separating part is configured to hold the second roller such that the second roller is elastically movable from the third position to the first position and from the third position to the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective member further includes a retaining part protruding from the spacer in a protruding direction; and wherein, when the protective member is attached to the process cartridge, the spacer is inserted between the first wall and the second wall in an insertion direction crossing the protruding direction and the retaining part engages the drum unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the spacer has a wedge shape that grows narrower toward a downstream side in the insertion direction when viewed in the axial direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wall and the second wall form walls of a path for guiding an image recording sheet from outside the process cartridge toward the photosensitive member; and wherein, when the protective member is attached to the process cartridge, the spacer is inserted between the first wall and the second wall along the path in an insertion direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the spacer has a wedge shape that grows narrower toward a downstream side in the insertion direction when viewed in the axial direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge further comprises a boss protruding outward in the axial direction; wherein the housing includes a boss contact part that contacts the boss when the process cartridge is attached to the housing; wherein the protective member further includes a boss engaging part configured to engage the boss when the protective member is attached to the process cartridge; and wherein, when the process cartridge is attached to the housing and the protective member is attached to the process cartridge, the boss engaging part is arranged between the boss and the boss contact part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drum unit further includes a positioning roller defining a second axis in the axial direction and rotatably supported on the drum unit about the second axis; and wherein the developing unit is detachably attached to the drum unit, and when the developing unit is attached to the drum unit, the developing unit is positioned relative to the drum unit by contacting the positioning roller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the protective member further includes a retaining part configured to maintain the developing unit in a state of contact with the positioning roller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a drive input member configured to be moved between an advanced position and a retracted position in the axial direction, and configured to input a drive force into the process cartridge when the process cartridge is attached to the housing; wherein the process cartridge further comprises a drive receiving unit configured to engage the drive input member to receive the drive force from the drive input member; and wherein the protective member further includes a covering part positioned between the drive input member and the drive receiving unit so as to cover the drive receiving unit when the protective member is attached to the process cartridge. ### Claim 15 An image forming apparatus comprising: a housing; a process cartridge detachably attached to the housing, the process cartridge comprising: a drum unit including a photosensitive member; and a developing unit including a developing roller, an accommodating portion configured to accommodate developing agent, and a first wall, the developing roller defining a first axis extending in an axial direction and being configured to rotate about the first axis and supply the developing agent to the photosensitive member, the first wall having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto, the first surface extending in the axial direction and facing the developing roller; and a protective member detachably attached to the process cartridge and including a spacer, the drum unit including a second wall having a third surface extending in the axial direction and facing the second surface, the spacer being disposed between the second surface and the third surface, wherein the first wall and the second wall form walls of a path for guiding an image recording sheet from outside the process cartridge toward the photosensitive member, and wherein, when the protective member is attached to the process cartridge, the spacer is inserted between the first wall and the second wall along the path in an insertion direction. ### Claim 16 An image forming apparatus comprising: a housing; a process cartridge detachably attached to the housing, the process cartridge comprising: a drum unit including a photosensitive member; and a developing unit including a developing roller, an accommodating portion configured to accommodate developing agent, and a first wall, the developing roller defining a first axis extending in an axial direction and being configured to rotate about the first axis and supply the developing agent to the photosensitive member, the first wall having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto, the first surface extending in the axial direction and facing the developing roller; and a protective member detachably attached to the process cartridge and including a spacer, the drum unit including a second wall having a third surface extending in the axial direction and facing the second surface, the spacer being disposed between the second surface and the third surface, wherein the housing further includes a drive input member configured to be moved between an advanced position and a retracted position in the axial direction, and configured to input a drive force into the process cartridge when the process cartridge is attached to the housing, wherein the process cartridge further comprises a drive receiving unit configured to engage the drive input member to receive the drive force from the drive input member, and wherein the protective member further includes a covering part positioned between the drive input member and the drive receiving unit so as to cover the drive receiving unit when the protective member is attached to the process cartridge.