Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Brother Industries, Ltd.

Takuya Kanda

Yasuo Fukamachi

Kazuna Taguchi

Koji Abe

Motoaki Mushika

Masahiro Ishii

Keigo Nakajima

Kenta Tosuji

Kazuma Hojo

Naoki Inoue

Ryohei Nakagawa

A developing cartridge may include: a casing; a developing roller extending in a first direction; a developing-roller gear; a coupling including a coupling gear; a first idle gear; a second idle gear; an agitator; a first agitator gear; and a protrusion. The developing-roller gear, the coupling, the first idle gear, the second idle gear, the first agitator gear, and the protrusion may be positioned at an outer surface of the casing. The protrusion may be positioned between a first axis of the coupling and a third axis of the first agitator gear in a second direction connecting the first and third axes. The protrusion may be positioned outside an addendum circle of the developing-roller gear, an addendum circle of the coupling gear, an addendum circle of the first idle gear, and an addendum circle of the second idle gear. The first agitator gear may be spaced apart from the protrusion in the first direction.

Developing cartridge including protrusion positioned at outer surface of casing

A printing apparatus includes: a frame; a platen roller configured to be rotated; a movable body supported by the frame, to be movable in a first direction and a second direction; an AC motor provided on the frame; a transmission device provided on the frame, transmitting driving force of the AC motor to the movable body, moving the movable body in the first direction in accordance with rotation of the AC motor toward one side, and including at least an electromagnetic clutch; an encoder outputting a rotation signal in accordance with a rotation amount of the platen roller; and a controller. The controller starts the rotation of the AC motor toward the one side, determines whether the rotation amount of the platen roller in accordance with the rotation signal is not more than a predetermined value, and allows the electromagnetic clutch to be in a connected state.

Printing apparatus, printing method and computer-readable medium

Toner cartridge

Photosensitive drum unit

A process cartridge includes a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, a pressing protrusion and an engagement protrusion. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a locking member engageable with the engagement protrusion of the developing cartridge attached to the drum cartridge, and a pressing member disposed between the locking member and the photosensitive drum. The locking member is pivotable between a restricting position engaged with the engagement protrusion to restrict detachment of the developing cartridge from the drum cartridge and a non-restricting position disengaged from the engagement protrusion to allow detachment of the developing cartridge from the drum cartridge. The pressing member is configured to contact the pressing protrusion of the developing cartridge attached to the drum cartridge for pressing the developing cartridge toward the photosensitive drum.

Process cartridge and drum cartridge

A developing device includes: a frame having an opening; a developer carrying member rotatably supported to the frame; and a side seal. The developer carrying member is rotatable about its axis in a rotating direction and has an axial end portion in an axial direction. The side seal is disposed between the frame and a peripheral surface of the axial end portion, and has a contact member contacting the peripheral surface. The contact member includes: a first seal member disposed adjacent to an edge of the opening in the axial direction; and a second seal member disposed adjacent to and upstream of the first seal member in the rotating direction. The first seal member permits developer to move inward in the axial direction and provides a mobility of developer therein higher than that of the second seal member that is made of a material that restricts movement of developer.

Developing device having seal members to restrict toner leakage

A developing device includes: a frame; a developer carrying member rotatably supported to the frame; and a side seal. The developer carrying member is rotatable about its axis in a rotating direction and has an axial end portion and a remaining portion inward of the axial end portion in an axial direction. The side seal is disposed between the frame and a peripheral surface of the axial end portion and includes: a contact member that can contact the peripheral surface; a support member disposed between the contact member and the frame; and a double-sided tape for adhering the contact member to the supporting member. The contact member includes: a first seal member; and a second seal member disposed adjacent to and upstream of the first seal member in the rotating direction. The first seal member and the second seal member are affixed to one adhesive surface of the double-sided tape.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Takuya Kanda