Electrophotography – Machine operation – Electrical connection
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-02-06
Beatty, Robert (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Machine operation
Electrical connection
C399S111000, C399S167000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185390
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a process cartridge which can be removably mounted in the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which such a process cartridge can be removably mounted.
In this specification, the term image forming apparatus refers to an apparatus which forms an image on a piece of recording medium with the use of an electrophotographic image formation process. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, LED printer, laser beam printer, and the like), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, an electrophotographic word processor, and the like.
A process cartridge can be mounted in, or removed from, the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus by an operator him/herself, and therefore, it simplifies the maintenance of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
When the use of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic copying machine, lasts for an extended length of time, it becomes necessary during the usage to exchange the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and/or development device of the apparatus, to replenish the apparatus with toner, or the developer, to clean the charger, to replace the cleaning means container in which the waste toner is collected, to make adjustments on the peripheral components of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and/or to perform like procedures.
Thus, in order to make it easier to perform the above-described maintenance, a process cartridge system has been employed in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which employs an electrophotographic image formation process. According to this process cartridge system, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and various processing means, which act on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, are integrated in the form of a cartridge, which can be removably mounted in, or removed from, the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The employment of this process cartridge system makes it possible for a user him/herself to maintain the apparatus, drastically improving the operational efficiency of the apparatus. Thus, the process cartridge system has been widely in use in electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
With the wide usage of the process cartridge system, demand has been increasing for simplification of mounting and removal of a process cartridge into and out of the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Demand has been also increasing for improvement in reliability and precision in terms of the electrical connection between a process cartridge and the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which occurs when an process cartridge is mounted in the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge which is reliable in terms of the electrical connection which occurs between a process cartridge and the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the former is mounted in the main assembly of the latter, and also an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which accommodates such a process cartridge.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge, a charge bias contact electrode, an development bias electrode, and a remaining toner amount detection contact electrode which are positioned on the same side as the side on which the driving force transmission coupler on the process cartridge side is positioned, in terms of the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and are exposed from the cartridge frame surface which faces downward after the process cartridge is properly mounted in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which accommodates such a process cartridge.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Higeta Akira
Noda Shinya
Sato Minoru
Beatty Robert
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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