公开(公告)号：US20210294253A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-23

申请号：US17171024

申请日：2021-02-09

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Toshiyuki SANO ,  Yusuke IKEGAMI ,  Junya SUMIDA ,  Chieko MIMURA ,  Shintaro SAKAGUCHI

IPC: G03G15/00 ,  G03G15/01 ,  G03G15/23

Abstract: A controller is configured to: when an inter-sheet time is shorter than or equal to a first time, maintain a developing roller in contact with a photosensitive drum during an inter-sheet time; when the inter-sheet time is longer than the first time and shorter than or equal to a second time longer than the first time, perform, during the inter-sheet time, at least part of temporary separation processing of temporarily separating the developing roller from the photosensitive drum in a state where the photosensitive drum is rotating; and when the inter-sheet time is longer than the second time, perform, during the inter-sheet time, at least part of temporary stop processing of separating the developing roller from the photosensitive drum and then stopping rotation of the photosensitive drum, and subsequently restarting rotation thereof and then bringing the developing roller into contact with the photosensitive drum.

公开(公告)号：US20240103431A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-28

申请号：US18535203

申请日：2023-12-11

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yasuo FUKAMACHI ,  Junya SUMIDA ,  Kazutoshi NAKAMURA ,  Hideshi NISHIYAMA ,  Shinya KUSUDA

IPC: G03G21/18

CPC classification number: G03G21/1878 ,  G03G21/1814 ,  G03G21/1867

Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; a developing cartridge; and a plate. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum; a first holder; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the first holder. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame. The developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a second holder; and a second memory having a second electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the second holder. The plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame. The second holder moves together with the plate in accordance with movement of the first holder in a state where the plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other.

公开(公告)号：US20240103429A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-28

申请号：US18449338

申请日：2023-08-14

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yasuo FUKAMACHI ,  Yuki NAGASHIMA ,  Junya SUMIDA ,  Sakiho HAYAKAWA ,  Marika OZAKI

IPC: G03G21/18

CPC classification number: G03G21/1846 ,  G03G21/1814 ,  G03G2221/1846

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a movable drawer, and a process cartridge attachable to the drawer. The process cartridge includes a drum unit, and a developing unit. The drum unit includes a drum housing, and a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction. The photosensitive drum is positioned at one end portion of the drum housing at one side in a second direction. The developing unit includes a developing casing, a developing roller, and a developing handle for detaching the process cartridge from the drawer toward another side in the second direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the developing casing at the one side in the second direction. The developing handle is positioned apart from the drum unit toward the another side in the second direction.

公开(公告)号：US20240111239A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-04

申请号：US18535272

申请日：2023-12-11

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yasuo FUKAMACHI ,  Shinya KUSUDA ,  Kazutoshi NAKAMURA ,  Junya SUMIDA ,  Hideshi NISHIYAMA

IPC: G03G15/00 ,  G03G15/08

CPC classification number: G03G15/751 ,  G03G15/0863 ,  G03G15/0865 ,  G03G2215/00713 ,  G03G2215/025

Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame and includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction; a second memory having a second electrical contact surface; and a developing holder holding the second electrical contact surface such that the second electrical contact surface is movable relative to the casing. The drum cartridge further includes an elastic member that can expand and contract in a second direction crossing the first direction. The developing holder is connected to the elastic member and is movable in the second direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.

公开(公告)号：US20230375958A1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-23

申请号：US18364635

申请日：2023-08-03

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Naoya KAMIMURA ,  Tomitake ARATACHI ,  Yasuo FUKAMACHI ,  Junichi HASHIMOTO ,  Saya MINOSHIMA ,  Nao ITABASHI ,  Kazutoshi NAKAMURA ,  Misato OSUKA ,  Junya SUMIDA ,  Shinya KUSUDA

IPC: G03G15/08 ,  G03G21/18

CPC classification number: G03G15/087 ,  G03G15/0808 ,  G03G21/1821 ,  G03G21/1864

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing memory having an electrical contact surface, an agitator, an agitator gear rotatable about an agitator axis together with the agitator, a holder holding the electrical contact surface, and a plate movable between a first position and a second position in a second direction crossing the first direction relative to the casing. The holder is movable relative to the casing in a third direction crossing the first and second directions between a retracted position and an advancing position. The holder is movable from the retracted position to the advancing position in response to a movement of the plate from the first position to the second position. The plate is positioned farther away from the developing roller than the agitator gear and the holder are in the second direction.

公开(公告)号：US20220317589A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-06

申请号：US17672323

申请日：2022-02-15

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Naoya KAMIMURA ,  Tomitake ARATACHI ,  Yasuo FUKAMACHI ,  Junichi HASHIMOTO ,  Saya MINOSHIMA ,  Nao ITABASHI ,  Kazutoshi NAKAMURA ,  Misato OSUKA ,  Junya SUMIDA ,  Shinya KUSUDA

IPC: G03G15/08 ,  G03G21/18

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing memory having an electrical contact surface, an agitator, an agitator gear rotatable about an agitator axis together with the agitator, a holder holding the electrical contact surface, and a plate movable between a first position and a second position in a second direction crossing the first direction relative to the casing. The holder is movable relative to the casing in a third direction crossing the first and second directions between a retracted position and an advancing position. The holder is movable from the retracted position to the advancing position in response to a movement of the plate from the first position to the second position. The plate is positioned farther away from the developing roller than the agitator gear and the holder are in the second direction.

公开(公告)号：US20210302857A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-30

申请号：US17159567

申请日：2021-01-27

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Junya SUMIDA ,  Shunsuke ISHII ,  Toshio FURUKAWA ,  Toshiyuki SANO ,  Shintaro SAKAGUCHI

IPC: G03G15/01 ,  G03G15/00 ,  G03G15/02

Abstract: In response to determining that image forming in a color mode is performed on a first sheet and then image forming in a monochrome mode is successively performed on the second sheet, perform charging bias reduction processing gradually reducing a charging bias from first to second charging bias and developing bias reduction processing of gradually reducing a developing bias from first to second developing bias during a first inter-sheet period after the first sheet passes a first photosensitive drum and before the second sheet reaches the first photosensitive drum, and perform separation processing such that an execution period of the separation processing overlaps at least one of an execution period of the charging bias reduction processing and an execution period of the developing bias reduction processing, the separation processing being processing of controlling a moving mechanism to move a first developing roller from a contact position to a separation position.