Toner Cartridge, Image Drum Unit and Image Forming Apparatus

Abstract

A toner cartridge extends in a longitudinal direction, and is detachably attached to an image drum unit. A memory element is electrically connected to an electrical terminal. The toner cartridge includes a first end portion on which the electrical terminal is disposed and a second end portion longitudinally opposite to the first end portion. An engagement portion is formed on the outer surface of the toner cartridge in the vicinity of the first end portion. When the toner cartridge is attached into the image drum unit, the second end portion engages the image drum unit, and the engagement portion engages the image drum unit such that the toner cartridge is urged against the image drum unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limiting the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view illustrating an ID unit;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge after it is assembled into an integral unit;

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate the circuit board;

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate the longitudinal end of the toner cartridge before the circuit board;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the longitudinal end of the toner cartridge after the circuit board;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the ID unit to which the toner cartridge is mounted;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a rear side of the ID unit as seen in a direction shown by arrow A in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10A-10D illustrate a receiving portion;

FIG. 11 is a top view illustrating an engageable portion before the toner cartridge is attached to the ID unit;

FIG. 12 is a top view illustrating an engaged portion after the toner cartridge is attached to the ID unit;

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate the positional relation between a lever and a projection of the ID unit;

FIG. 16A and 16B illustrate tolerances of respective dimensions;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a toner cartridge;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view after the toner cartridge has been assembled;

FIGS. 19A-19C illustrates the outer cylinder and the side lid before the side lid is attached to the outer cylinder, FIG. 19A being a top view, FIG. 19B being a front view, and FIG. 19C being a bottom view;

FIGS. 20A-20C illustrates the outer cylinder and the side lid after the side lid has been attached to the outer cylinder, FIG. 20A being a top view, FIG. 20B being a front view, and FIG. 20C being a bottom view;

FIG. 21 is a partial top view illustrating the toner cartridge before it is attached to the ID unit;

FIG. 22 is a partial top view illustrating the toner cartridge after it is attached to the ID unit; and

FIG. 23 illustrates a third embodiment.

Claims

1. A toner cartridge detachably attached to an image drum unit, comprising: a memory element;a first electrical terminal to which said memory element is connected electrically;a first end portion at which said first electrical terminal is disposed;a second end portion at an opposite location to said first end, said second end portion engages the image drum unit when the toner cartridge is attached into the image drum unit;an engagement portion formed in the vicinity of said first end portion;wherein when the toner cartridge is attached into the image drum unit, said engagement portion engages the image drum unit such that the toner cartridge is pressed against the image drum unit.

2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge extends in a longitudinal direction, and includes said first end portion and the second end portion at longitudinal end portions of the toner cartridge, wherein said engagement portion is formed on an outer surface of the toner cartridge.

3. The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the toner cartridge includes a lid fitted to said first end portion of the toner cartridge with a resilient member sandwiched between the lid and said first end portion.

4. The toner cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the resilient member seals a gap between the lid and said first end portion.

5. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge includes a circuit board on which said memory element and said first electrical terminal are mounted, the circuit board being removably attached to said first end portion.

6. An image drum unit to which said toner cartridge according to claim 1 is detachably attached, comprising: a second electrical terminal electrically connected to said first electrical terminal when the toner cartridge is attached into the image drum unit, information being communicated through said first and second electrical terminals between said memory element and the image drum unit; anda receiving member that receives said engagement portion of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is attached into the image drum unit, said receiving member engages said engagement portion such that the toner cartridge is pressed against the image drum unit.

7. The image drum unit according to claim 6, said receiving member includes a guide surface that guides said engagement portion toward second electrical terminal.

8. An image forming apparatus including a toner cartridge and an image drum unit, wherein the toner cartridge including: a memory element;a first electrical terminal to which said memory element is connected electrically;a first end portion at which said first electrical terminal is disposed;a second end portion at an opposite location to said first end, said second end portion engages the image drum unit when the toner cartridge is attached into the image drum unit;an engagement portion formed in the vicinity of said first end portion;wherein the image drum unit includes:a second electrical terminal electrically connected to said first electrical terminal when the toner cartridge is attached into the image drum unit, information being communicated through said first and second electrical terminals between said memory element and the image drum unit; anda receiving member that receives said engagement portion of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is attached into the image drum unit, said receiving member engages said engagement portion such that the toner cartridge is pressed against the image drum unit.