Developing cartridge unit

Abstract

To provide a technique, in an image forming apparatus in which a developing cartridge provided with a memory medium is mounted on a cartridge tray, to prevent an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus or ensure a larger capacity of a developer in the developing cartridge.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: a main body; a developing cartridge having a housing, a memory medium, a memory medium unit, a developer carrier, and a projection in a longitudinal direction of the developer carrier; and a tray having a frame body, an image carrier, an electric contact between a guide member provided at one end in the longitudinal direction and the memory medium, and a memory unit support part. The guide member includes: a portion functioning as the memory unit support part; and a downstream part located downstream of the memory unit support part in a mounting direction of the developing cartridge. The memory unit support part guides the projection to the downstream part when the developing cartridge is mounted on the frame body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to Developing cartridge unit Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as laser printers and LED printers are known. In these image forming apparatuses, a method is known in which a developing cartridge having a container for accommodating a developer is attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus. Furthermore, a cartridge tray for attaching a developing cartridge may be provided in the image forming apparatus using the developing cartridge. This allows a user to easily replace the developing cartridge by pulling out the cartridge tray from the main body of the image forming apparatus. A photosensitive drum is provided in the cartridge tray at a position facing the developing roller of the developing cartridge. The developing roller supplies the developer to the photosensitive drum to develop a latent image. An image is formed by supplying toner in the developing cartridge via the developing roller to the photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by selective exposure after charging. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus having a cartridge tray to which a developing cartridge can be attached and detached.

[0003] A memory medium that stores information about the developing cartridge may be provided in the developing cartridge. The information about the developing cartridge may include yield information such as the number of printable sheets, and information indicating the remaining amount of developer. This information is used by the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body to control the apparatus and manage the life span of the developing cartridge. When a memory chip such as a contact IC chip is used as the memory medium, information about the cartridge is communicated between the memory medium and the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body by contacting an electrical contact portion of the memory medium with an electrical contact portion of the cartridge tray or the apparatus main body. For example, Patent Document 2 describes a memory medium that stores information about the cartridge. Patent Document 2 describes a technique for storing such information about the developing cartridge in a memory means provided in a side folder of the cartridge in an image forming apparatus and using the information for control. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-008977 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2015-062053 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the developing cartridge has a memory medium and information on the memory medium is read out via a contact provided on the cartridge tray, the cartridge tray is provided with an engagement portion and a contact portion for the memory medium of the developing cartridge. Furthermore, the cartridge tray needs to be provided with a tray communication portion for communicating with the main body of the image forming apparatus. Also, the main body of the apparatus needs to be provided with a main body side metal terminal for communicating with the tray side metal terminal. Therefore, a space is required in the cartridge tray or the developing cartridge to arrange the components for information communication, which may increase the size of the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, instead of increasing the size of the apparatus, it is necessary to reduce the size of the cartridge tray or the developing cartridge to ensure the space for arranging the components. However, for example, if the size of the developing cartridge is reduced to ensure the space for arranging the components, problems such as a reduction in the amount of developer that can be accommodated in the developing cartridge may occur.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology that prevents the size of an image forming device from increasing or that can ensure a larger developer capacity in a developing cartridge in an image forming device in which a developing cartridge equipped with a memory medium is attached to a cartridge tray.

[0007] In view of the above problems, a further object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables the miniaturization of memory medium units.

[0008] Incidentally, since the developing roller is a member exposed to the outside of the developing cartridge in use, the developing roller may be covered with a protective member to prevent damage during transportation. In addition, since the electrical contact portion of the memory chip is also located in a position exposed to the outside of the developing cartridge, it may be covered with a protective member to prevent damage during transportation. However, if multiple protective members are provided to protect the developing roller and the electrical contact portion, respectively, the replacement work becomes more time-consuming due to the labor required to remove the multiple protective members, which leads to a decrease in usability. In addition, there is a concern that one protective member may be forgotten to be removed, or that the user may come into contact with the electrical contact portion in the process of removing one protective member and then the other protective member.

[0009] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing cartridge capable of improving usability.

[0010] In this image forming apparatus, a memory means is attached to the developing cartridge, and a control unit provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus reads information from the memory means and writes information to the memory means. In terms of performance and cost, a contact type IC chip is suitable as the memory means. Then, communication between the control unit and the memory means becomes possible by contacting an electrical contact portion of the memory connection means on the main body side electrically connected to the control unit with an electrical contact portion on the cartridge side electrically connected to the memory means. However, in such a configuration in which the memory means attached to the developing cartridge and the memory connection means attached to the image forming apparatus main body are in contact with each other at the electrical contacts, there is a risk of friction occurring between the memory means and the memory connection means when the relative positions of the image forming apparatus main body and the developing cartridge change. Such a change in relative position occurs, for example, during a separation operation in which the photosensitive drum arranged on the main body side and the developing roller arranged on the developing cartridge side are separated from each other.

[0011] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing wear on memory means for storing information about developing cartridges. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The present invention employs the following configuration. a developing cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus; a cover member removably attached to the developing cartridge; Equipped with 、 The developing cartridge is configured to be mounted in the main body of the apparatus with the cover member removed. A developing cartridge unit comprising: The developing cartridge is A housing that contains a developer; The developer carrying portion includes a shaft portion and a developer carrying portion provided radially outward of the shaft portion and configured to carry the developer contained in the housing, and the developer carrying portion rotates about a rotation axis extending in a first direction. a developing roller including an exposed portion that is exposed to an outside of the developing cartridge; a coupling configured to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller from the main assembly of the apparatus, the coupling being provided at a first end of the developing cartridge in the first direction; In the first direction of the developing cartridge , the above At the first end On the end surface facing the first direction Established A memory unit , electric Air contact part a memory connected to the electrical contact portion; A memory having unit and, having the coupling is provided between the developing roller and the electrical contact portion in a second direction in which the developing roller and the electrical contact portion are aligned when viewed in the first direction, the electrical contact portion is exposed to an outside of the developing cartridge and faces a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction; When an end portion of the developing cartridge opposite to the first end portion in the first direction is defined as a second end portion, The cover member is a first cover portion extending in the first direction so as to cover the exposed portion of the developer carrying portion of the developing roller from the first end side to the second end side of the developing cartridge; a coupling member connected to the first cover portion at the first end of the developing cartridge and coupled to the coupling at the first end of the developing cartridge;、 The electrical contact portion and, a second cover portion extending in the second direction so as to cover both of the first and second electrodes; having The developing cartridge unit is characterized by the above. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus in which a developing cartridge equipped with a memory medium is mounted on a cartridge tray, a technology can be provided that prevents the size of the image forming apparatus from increasing or that can ensure a larger developer capacity in the developing cartridge.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a technique can be provided that enables the memory medium unit to be made smaller.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a developing cartridge capable of improving usability can be provided.

[0020] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for reducing wear on memory means for storing information about developing cartridges. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the cartridge tray; [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating how the developing cartridge is attached to the cartridge tray. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of the cartridge tray and developing cartridge [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a guide portion and a memory unit support portion in the cartridge tray; [Figure 6] A top view and a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cartridge tray [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge as viewed from the non-driven side [Figure 8]A perspective view and a configuration diagram of the developing cartridge as viewed from the drive side [Figure 9] Configuration diagram of a memory tag unit provided in a developing cartridge [Figure 10A] Schematic cross-sectional view showing the state before the development cartridge is installed [Figure 10B] Schematic cross-sectional view showing the state in which the developing cartridge is being installed [Figure 10C] FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the development cartridge is fully installed. [Figure 10D] FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a developer cartridge in a separated state; [Figure 11] 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a guide member provided in the cartridge tray; FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is another schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the guide member provided in the cartridge tray; [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is another schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the guide member provided in the cartridge tray; [Figure 14] FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a state in which a developing roller cover is attached to a developing cartridge according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the developing roller cover. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the shape of the developing roller cover on the drive side according to the second embodiment; [Figure 16] 13A to 13C are diagrams for explaining removal of the developing roller cover in the second embodiment; [Figure 17] 13A to 13C are diagrams showing an example of the positional relationship between the memory tag unit and the memory tag protection portion of the developing roller cover in the second embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cartridge tray and a developing cartridge according to a third embodiment; [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the cartridge guide portion, the memory guide portion, and the memory unit support portion in the third embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a cartridge tray according to a third embodiment; [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge according to a third embodiment, as viewed from a non-driven side; [Figure 22]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge according to the third embodiment, as viewed from the drive side; [Figure 23] FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a memory tag unit of a developing cartridge according to a third embodiment. [Figure 24A] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state before a developing cartridge according to a third embodiment is mounted; [Figure 24B] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a developing cartridge according to a third embodiment is being mounted; [Figure 24C] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the development cartridge of the third embodiment is completely mounted; [Figure 24D] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a separated state of a developing cartridge according to a third embodiment; [Diagram 25] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus and a developing cartridge according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cartridge tray and a developing cartridge according to a fourth embodiment; [Figure 27] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge according to a fourth embodiment; [Figure 28] FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the developing cartridge according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 29] Behavior diagram of a developing cartridge when being inserted into a cartridge tray according to embodiment 4 [Diagram 30] Another diagram showing the behavior of the developing cartridge when it is inserted into the cartridge tray according to the fourth embodiment. [Diagram 31] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the behavior of a developing cartridge mounted in a cartridge tray according to a fourth embodiment. [Diagram 32] Behavior diagram of the memory tag connector unit according to the fourth embodiment [Diagram 33] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing behavior when a separation operation according to the fourth embodiment is performed; [Diagram 34] FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a memory tag connector unit according to a fourth embodiment. [Diagram 35] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the behavior of the memory tag connector unit according to the fourth embodiment during a separation operation. [Diagram 36] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a memory tag unit according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 37] FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a memory tag connector unit according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 38] 13 is a diagram showing the behavior of the memory tag connector unit according to the fifth embodiment during a separation operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] In the following description, the embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the drawings and the embodiment. However, the functions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in the embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those alone unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, the functions, materials, shapes, etc. of the members once described in the following description are the same as those described in the initial description unless otherwise specified.

[0023] In the following description, the direction extending on the drum axis (rotation axis) of the photosensitive drum of the cartridge tray is referred to as the "first direction, longitudinal direction, or longitudinal." A direction intersecting the first direction (in this embodiment, the direction in which the developing cartridge is inserted into the cartridge tray) is referred to as the "second direction" or "mounting direction of the developing cartridge." A direction in which the cartridge tray is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus is referred to as the "third direction" or "mounting direction of the cartridge tray." When it is necessary to explain the shapes of the members constituting the developing cartridge and the relative positions of the members, these directions are used for the description, assuming that the housing of the developing cartridge is in the same position as when it is mounted on the cartridge tray. The first direction and the second direction cross each other, preferably perpendicular to each other. The second direction and the third direction cross each other, preferably perpendicular to each other. The third direction and the first direction cross each other, preferably perpendicular to each other. In the drawings related to an embodiment, the first direction corresponds to the Y direction, the second direction corresponds to the Z direction, and the third direction corresponds to the X direction, but this example is not limited to this example.

[0024] In the following description, the side of the image forming apparatus where the front door is provided is referred to as the front side, and the side opposite the front side is referred to as the back side. In addition, when looking at the image forming apparatus from the front side, the left side is referred to as the driving side, and the right side is referred to as the non-driving side.

[0025] [Embodiment 1] An embodiment of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and a developing cartridge 8 and a cartridge tray 3 used in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] Configuration of the image forming apparatus The configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described below. Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge tray 3 and the developing cartridge 8.

[0027] The image forming apparatus 1 has an apparatus main body 2 and a cartridge tray 3 in which a developing cartridge 8 is attached. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is a four-color full-color laser printer that uses an electrophotographic image forming process, and forms a color image on a recording medium S.

[0028] The cartridge tray 3 is a tray capable of holding four developing cartridges 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K). The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a recording medium S (e.g., print paper) with a developer (e.g., toner) supplied from the developing cartridges 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K). The cartridge tray 3 is removable from the apparatus main body 2. The cartridge tray 3 is movable between a storage position in which it is stored in the apparatus main body 2 and a pull-out position in which it is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2, and when it is in the pull-out position, the developing cartridges 8 can be attached to the cartridge tray 3.

[0029] In this embodiment, four developer cartridges 8 storing developers of different colors (for example, yellow, cyan, magenta, and black) can be mounted on one cartridge tray 3. However, the number of developer cartridges 8 mounted on the cartridge tray 3 is not limited to four, and may be one to three, or may be five or more. The types of colors are also not limited to this. The order in which the colors are arranged is also not limited to the example in FIG. 1. For example, the developer cartridges may be arranged in the order of YMCK from the left in FIG. 1.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the image forming apparatus 1 has a laser scanner unit LB as an exposure means, a transfer belt unit 11 as a transfer means, a paper feeding unit 18 as a feeding means, a fixing unit 21 as a fixing means, and a discharge unit 22 as a discharge means.

[0031] The laser scanner unit LB is provided above the developing cartridges 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K) and the cartridge tray 3. The laser scanner unit LB outputs a laser light Z corresponding to image information. The laser light Z passes through an exposure window 10 and scans and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K).

[0032] The transfer belt unit 11 is provided below the developing cartridges 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K) and the cartridge tray 3. The transfer belt unit 11 has a drive roller 13 and tension rollers 14 and 15, and a transfer belt 12 having plasticity is stretched around these rollers. The photosensitive drums 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) are in contact with the upper surface of the transfer belt 12. This contact portion is the transfer portion. On the inside of the transfer belt, a transfer roller 16 is provided so as to face the photosensitive drums 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K). A predetermined bias is applied to the transfer roller 16 during transfer, and an electric charge is applied to the recording medium S via the transfer belt 12. The electric field generated at this time transfers the developer image on the photosensitive drum 4 to the recording medium S in contact with the photosensitive drum 4.

[0033] A paper feed unit 18 is provided below the transfer belt unit 11. The paper feed unit 18 has a paper feed tray 19 that holds and stores the recording medium S, and a paper feed roller 20. A fixing unit 21 and a discharge unit 22 are provided above the device main body 2. The recording medium S to which the developer image has been transferred is fixed by the fixing unit 21, and is discharged to a discharge tray 23 via the discharge unit 22.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 2 is provided with a front door 40. After opening the front door 40, the user can remove the cartridge tray 3 along the tray pull-out rails 41. As shown in FIG. 3, the user can individually remove and replace each of the developing cartridges 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K). In the cartridge tray 3 of this embodiment, four slots corresponding to each of the developing cartridges 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K) are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Each slot can accommodate the four developing cartridges 8 with their longitudinal directions aligned.

[0035] 1, a photoconductor drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) as an image carrier corresponding to each of the developing cartridges 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K) is provided in each slot of the cartridge tray 3. Each slot is further provided with a charging roller 5 as a charging means and a cleaning blade 7 as a cleaning means as process means acting on the photoconductor drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K).

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, the developing cartridge 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K) includes a developing roller 6 as a developer carrier that supplies developer onto the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K). The developing cartridge 8 further includes a memory tag unit 80 as shown in FIG. 3 and other figures. The memory tag unit 80 is provided with a memory tag 81 that is a memory medium that stores information. The memory tag 81 is, for example, a contact-type IC chip having an electric contact portion. When the electric contact portion of the memory tag 81 comes into contact with the tray side contact portion 32 (see FIG. 5), which is an electric contact portion provided on the cartridge tray 3, the control unit 43 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the memory medium can communicate with each other, and information can be read and written. This allows, for example, information about the developing cartridge, such as the remaining amount of developer, to be notified to the user.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the cartridge tray 3 has a tray side metal terminal 49. The tray side metal terminal 49 is connected to the tray side contact portion 32 of each slot by electrical wiring (not shown), and each tray side contact portion 32 relays information read from the memory tag 81 to the main body side metal terminal 9. In the figure, one tray side metal terminal 49 is provided on the cartridge tray 3, but a tray side metal terminal may be provided for each slot. In that case, the main body side metal terminal 9 is also provided for each slot. After the developing cartridge 8 is attached to the cartridge tray 3 at the pull-out position outside the main body of the apparatus, the cartridge tray 3 is accommodated and positioned at the accommodation position inside the main body of the apparatus. Then, the tray side metal terminal 49 of the cartridge tray 3 and the main body side metal terminal 9 of the main body of the apparatus 2 come into contact with each other and are electrically connected. This enables the control unit 43 to communicate with the memory tag 81. When the cartridge tray 3 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 2, the main body side metal terminal 9 is electrically connected to the tray side metal terminal 49 provided on the cartridge tray 3, and transmits and receives signals between the tray side metal terminal 49. The main body side metal terminal 9 is the device main body communication section.

[0038] The control unit 43 of the image forming apparatus 1 has a processor such as a CPU and various types of memory and other computational resources. The control unit 43 is configured, for example, by a circuit board, and executes various processes in the image forming apparatus 1 by the processor operating according to a program. As described above, the control unit 43 communicates with the memory tag 81 via the main body side metal terminal 9, the tray side metal terminal 49, and the tray side contact portion 32, and can read or write information. In addition, the display unit 42 of the image forming apparatus 1 is a user interface of the image forming apparatus 1, has a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and can present information to the user in the form of characters or images. The display unit 42 displays information to the user under the control of the control unit 43. For example, the control unit 43 can display the remaining amount of developer of each color in the developing cartridge 8 read from the memory tag 81.

[0039] Image formation operation The image forming operation will be described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cartridge tray 3 and the developing cartridge 8.

[0040] The operation for forming a full-color image is as follows. With the cartridge tray 3 with the developer cartridges 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K) mounted thereon in the storage position, the front door 40 is closed. This completes the mounting of the developer cartridges 8 and the cartridge tray 3. At this time, the drum drive couplings 52 (52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K in FIG. 2B) provided in the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 engage with the drum drive input couplings 54 (54Y, 54M, 54C, 54K in FIG. 3) connected to the photosensitive drums 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) provided in the cartridge tray 3. In addition, the developer drive couplings 51 provided in the main body 2 engage with the engagement coupling portions of the drive input gears 62 (FIG. 3) of the developer cartridges 8 mounted in the cartridge tray 3. Drum drive gears 53 (53Y, 53M, 53C, 53K) are rotationally driven via a drive output motor and gears (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1. Photoconductor drums 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) are rotationally driven at a predetermined speed (in the direction of arrow D in FIGS. 1 and 4 ) via the drum drive gears.

[0041] In addition, each developing cartridge 8 is driven via the developing drive coupling 51 and the drive input gear 62. The transfer belt 12 is also driven to rotate at a speed corresponding to the speed of the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) (in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 1). In addition, the laser scanner unit LB is also driven. In synchronization with the driving of the laser scanner unit LB, the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging roller 5. Then, the laser scanner unit LB scans and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) with the laser light Z according to the image signal of each color. As a result, an electrostatic latent image according to the image signal of the corresponding color is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K). This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 6, which is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed (in the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 4), to become a developer image (toner image).

[0042] By carrying out such an electrophotographic image forming process, a yellow developer image corresponding to the yellow component of the full-color image is formed on the photoconductor drum 4Y. Similarly, developer images corresponding to the magenta, cyan and black colors of the full-color image are formed on the photoconductor drums 4M, 4C and 4K, respectively.

[0043] Meanwhile, the recording medium S is separated and fed one by one at a predetermined control timing. Also, the leading edge of the developer image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 moves to the transfer section, which is the opposing point to the transfer belt 12. There, the timing at which the recording medium S is transported to the transfer section is synchronized with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 4, and the recording medium S is transported to the transfer belt 12 at a predetermined control timing so that the printing start positions at the transfer section coincide. The developer images on each photosensitive drum 4 are transferred in sequence onto the recording medium S that is electrostatically attracted to the transfer belt 12 and transported thereto by the electric field formed between each photosensitive drum 4 and a transfer roller 16. The recording medium S to which the four color developer images have been transferred is fixed by the fixing unit 16. The toner is fixed in a discharge tray 21 and then discharged to a discharge tray 23 via a discharge unit 22.

[0044] <Cartridge tray configuration> The detailed configuration of the cartridge tray 3 will be described with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the cartridge guide portion 33, memory guide portion 31 and memory unit support portion 34a, with some parts encircled and enlarged. Figure 6 shows the cartridge tray 3 according to this embodiment. Figure 6(a) is a top view, and Figure 6(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view. Figure 7 shows the developing cartridge 8 according to this embodiment from the non-driven side. 1, 5, and 6, the photosensitive drum 4 is attached to the cartridge tray frame 30 provided in the cartridge tray 3 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction (the direction of the arrow D).

[0045] (Image formation mechanism) A drum drive input coupling 54 for transmitting a driving force to the photosensitive drum 4 is provided on the driving side of the photosensitive drum 4. The drum drive input coupling 54 is engaged with a drum drive coupling 52 (see FIG. 2(b)) of the image forming apparatus 1, whereby the driving force from the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 4.

[0046] The charging roller 5 is rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction. The charging roller 5 is supported by the cartridge tray frame 30 so as to be in contact with the photosensitive drum 4 and to be rotated by the photosensitive drum 4. The charging roller 5 is also electrically connected to the image forming apparatus 1, so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential. However, the means for charging the photosensitive drum 4 is not limited to this.

[0047] Furthermore, the cartridge tray frame 30 is provided with a cleaning blade 7 and a cleaning frame 27 as cleaning means. The cleaning blade 7 is fixed at a position where it contacts the photosensitive drum 4, and removes waste developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 that could not be transferred during image formation. The cleaning frame 27 collects the removed waste developer. Note that a configuration may be adopted in which the waste developer is collected in the developing cartridge 8 or the fixing unit 21 without providing a cleaning means.

[0048] (Guide and fixing mechanism) The cartridge tray frame 30 is provided with a guide member for guiding the developer cartridge 8 equipped with the memory tag unit 80 until it is in an installed state at the installation position. The guide member includes a portion that functions as a guide portion that abuts against the memory tag unit 80 and the cartridge side positioning portion equipped in the developer cartridge 8 and assists installation. The guide member also includes a portion that functions as a fixing portion (guide side positioning portion) for positioning and fixing the memory tag unit 80 and the cartridge side positioning portion. The cartridge tray 3 also has a developer pressure member 91 that functions as a rotation stopper, etc. It should be noted that a certain portion of the guide member may have both a guide function and a positioning function.

[0049] The guide members are disposed on both ends of the side walls of the cartridge tray frame 30 in the longitudinal direction of the developer cartridge 8. The both ends correspond to the two side walls of the cartridge tray frame 30. As shown in Figures 5, 6(b), 10A to 13, etc., the cross-sectional shape of the guide member is substantially U-shaped including one side and the other side that face each other. As will be described in more detail later, in the attached state, the memory medium unit is supported between the one side and the other side.

[0050] The guide portions include a first guide member for guiding the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a of the developing cartridge 8, and a second guide member for guiding the memory tag unit 80.

[0051] The developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a are protruding portions that protrude in the first direction (longitudinal direction) from the side wall of the cartridge, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Note that, although the protruding portions are cylindrical in shape in Figures 7 and 8, other shapes such as a polygonal column shape can be used as long as they can be guided by the guide portion and stably positioned. 6(b), the first guide member includes all or some of the receiving member guide portion 39, the memory unit support portion 34a, the cartridge guide portion 33, the drive input positioning portion 37, the drive input guide portion 38, the memory second guide portion 34c, and the memory guide portion 31. The second guide member includes the memory guide portion 31 and the memory second guide portion 34c. In other words, the second guide member also functions as the first guide member. Which guide portion guides which portion of the developer cartridge 8 or memory tag unit 80 varies depending on the angle and trajectory when the user inserts the developer cartridge. Therefore, the relationship between the guide portion and the guided portion is not limited to a fixed relationship. For example, the memory guide portion 31 may come into contact with a portion other than the memory tag unit 80.

[0052] The guide side positioning parts include members for positioning and fixing the developing cartridge 8 (developing roller positioning part 35, drive input positioning part 37) and members for positioning and fixing the memory tag unit (memory unit support part 34a, memory unit support recess 34b). The drive input positioning part 37 is also a guide part for abutting against the developing roller cover positioning part 68a when the developing cartridge 8 is attached, and guiding it to the developing roller positioning part 35.

[0053] Although details will be described later, in the guide member of the embodiment, the guide portion for guiding the installation of the developing cartridge 8 and the guide side positioning portion for positioning and supporting the memory tag unit are provided at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. Here, the state in which the guide portion and the guide side positioning portion are at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction refers to a state in which the widths of the guide portion and the guide side positioning portion are approximately the same in the longitudinal direction and the two are approximately overlapping. However, the effect can be obtained as long as the guide portion and the guide side positioning portion are provided so that at least a part of them overlap in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Also, in the embodiment, each guide portion and each guide side positioning portion provided on the side wall of the cartridge tray frame 30 has a longitudinal size that fits within the width of the side wall in the longitudinal direction.

[0054] The surface of the developing roller positioning portion 35 abuts against the developing cartridge 8 in the installed state to fix and position it. In the embodiment, the developing roller positioning portion 35 is provided on both the drive side and non-drive side of the cartridge tray 3. At least one end must be provided with a guide side positioning portion. Although FIG. 6(b) shows the developing roller positioning portion 35 on the drive side, it is also provided in a symmetrical position on the non-drive side (not shown). In the embodiment, the memory unit support portion for fixing the memory tag unit 80 is also provided on the drive side, but it may be provided on the non-drive side.

[0055] When the developing cartridge 8 is inserted, the cartridge side positioning portions (developing roller cover positioning portion 68a, developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a) arranged coaxially with the developing roller 6 of the developing cartridge 8 abut against the developing roller positioning portion 35. This positions the developing cartridge 8. The developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a arranged on the same axis as the developing roller 6 of the developing cartridge 8 shown in FIG. 7 come into contact with and butt against the developing roller positioning portion 35 and the drive input positioning portion 37 (FIG. 6) when the mounting of the developing cartridge 8 is completed. This positions the developing cartridge 8 in the up-down direction, which is the mounting direction (second direction) of the developing cartridge 8. In other words, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a function as positioning means for positioning the developing cartridge by coming into contact with a member directly or indirectly supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus when mounting the developing cartridge. The "member directly or indirectly supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus" in this embodiment refers to the developing roller positioning portion 35 and the drive input positioning portion 37.

[0056] The developing cartridge 8 is pressed against the developing pressure member 91, which acts as a rotation stopper when the developing cartridge 8 is fully mounted. The developing pressurizing member 91 functions as a pressure applied to the developing cartridge 8. The developing pressurizing member 91 is provided on both the driven side and non-driven side of the cartridge tray 3. FIG. 6(b) shows the developing pressurizing member 91 on the driven side, and the developing pressurizing member 91 on the non-driven side is provided in a symmetrical position (developing pressurizing member 95 in FIG. 6(a)). The developing pressurizing member 91 is supported by the cartridge tray frame 30 so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis. When the developing cartridge 8 is not installed, the developing pressurizing member 91 is pulled in the direction of arrow H by the developing pressurizing spring 90, and is fixed in contact with the cartridge tray frame 30.

[0057] The developer pressure member 91 has a rotation stopper boss guide portion 91b. When the developer cartridge 8 is mounted, the rotation stopper boss guide portion 91b guides and guides the developer rotation stopper bosses 28a, 28b provided on the developer cartridge 8. In addition, the developer pressure member 91 has a cartridge pressure portion 91c for stably positioning the developer roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developer roller bearing positioning portion 71a to the developer roller positioning portion 35 when the mounting of the developer cartridge 8 is completed.

[0058] Here, for example, when the developing cartridge 8C is the first developing cartridge, the guide member corresponding to the first developing cartridge is the first guide member. When the adjacent developing cartridge 8K is the second developing cartridge, the guide member corresponding to the second developing cartridge is the second guide member. The developing pressurizing member 91C is the first pressurizing member, and the developing pressurizing member 91K is the second pressurizing member. In this case, in the configuration of this embodiment, even if the developing pressurizing member 91C rotates in the direction of the arrow K or the direction of the arrow H, the developing pressurizing member 91C does not come into contact with the second guide member because it rotates within the space provided in the cartridge tray frame 30.

[0059] In the embodiment, the memory tag unit 80 and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b are not present on the non-driven side of the developing cartridge 8. Therefore, the guide portion of the cartridge tray frame 30 on the non-driven side only needs to position the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a to the developing roller positioning portion 35, and may have a different shape from that on the driven side.

[0060] The cartridge tray frame 30 has a cartridge guide portion 33, a developing roller positioning guide portion 36, a memory guide portion 31, a memory unit support portion 34a, a drive input positioning portion 37, a drive input guide portion 38, and a receiving member guide portion 39. These guide portions function as guide portions for assisting and guiding the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a until they are attached to the developing roller positioning portion 35 when the developing cartridge 8 is attached. Here, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the non-drive side of the developing cartridge 8 does not have parts or shapes such as the memory tag unit 80 and the drive input cover portion 68b. Therefore, the attachment auxiliary guide shape of the cartridge tray frame 30 on the non-drive side does not necessarily require a guide such as a memory tag unit described later. That is, as long as it is possible to position the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a to the developing roller positioning portion 35, it may be symmetrical to the drive side or may be a dedicated shape. Here, the symmetrical shape will be mainly described below only on the drive side. The cartridge guide portions 33 (33Y, 33M, 33C, 33K) and the developing roller positioning guide portion 36 shown in Figures 5 and 6 are guide portions that abut against the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and guide the developing cartridge 8 to the developing roller positioning portion 35 when the developing cartridge 8 is attached.

[0061] The drive input positioning portion 37 is an installation guide that contacts the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and guides the developing cartridge 8 to the developing roller positioning portion 35 when the developing cartridge 8 is installed. Furthermore, when the installation is complete, the drive input positioning portion 37 contacts the drive input cover positioning portion 68b to position the developing cartridge 8. That is, the drive input positioning portion 37 functions as a guide portion and as a guide side positioning portion.

[0062] In the attached state, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is pressed and fixed to the developing roller positioning portion 35 by the developing pressure member 91. Similarly, the drive input cover positioning portion 68b is fixed to the drive input positioning portion 37. As a result, the developing cartridge 8 is stably positioned by the developing roller positioning portion 35 and the drive input positioning portion 37, which serve as guide side positioning portions, and the developing pressure member 91.

[0063] The drive input guide portion 38 is an attachment guide that abuts against the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a when the developing cartridge 8 is attached, and guides the developing cartridge 8 to the developing roller positioning portion 35. The drive input guide portion 38 also abuts against the drive input cover positioning portion 68b, and guides the developing cartridge 8 to the drive input positioning portion 37.

[0064] The memory guide portion 31, the memory unit support portion 34a, and the receiving member guide portion 39 come into contact with the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and guide the developing cartridge 8 to the developing roller positioning portion 35 when the developing cartridge 8 is mounted. They also come into contact with the drive input cover positioning portion 68b and serve as mounting guides to guide the developing cartridge 8 to the drive input positioning portion 37. Therefore, these members function as memory guide portions and memory positioning portions, as well as guide portions for the developing cartridge 8 itself. When the developing cartridge 8 is mounted, which of the portions thereof comes into contact with each guide portion or each guide side positioning portion depends on the attitude of the developing cartridge 8 when mounted. However, according to the configuration of the embodiment, the developing cartridge 8 comes into contact with any portion of the guide member and is guided to the downstream portion in the mounting direction, and is finally positioned on the appropriate surface.

[0065] Furthermore, the memory unit support portion 34a stably positions the electrical contact portion of the memory tag 81 included in the memory tag unit 80 with respect to the tray-side contact portion 32. That is, the memory unit support portion 34a functions as a backup portion, and the spring force of the memory tag pressing spring 83 presses the memory tag 81. The memory guide portion 31 and the receiving member guide portion 39 are mounting guides for guiding the memory tag unit 80 into the memory unit support portion 34a.

[0066] With this configuration, when the developing cartridge 8 is attached, the memory tag unit portion is guided by the memory guide portion 31 and the receiving member guide portion 39, which are guide portions provided on the cartridge tray 3. Then, the electrical contact portion of the memory tag 81 is guided to a position where it can come into contact with the tray side contact portion 32. Then, the memory tag unit 80 is positioned by the memory unit support portion 34a, thereby achieving a stable electrical connection.

[0067] <Developing cartridge configuration> The developing cartridge 8 will be described with reference to Figures 4, 7 to 9. The developing cartridge 8 is generally composed of a developer accommodating frame 28, a developing roller 6, an end sealing member 25, an agitating roller 26, a developer regulating blade 29, a cartridge bearing (driving side) 70, a cartridge bearing (non-driving side) 71, a cartridge side cover 68, a developing roller gear 61, a drive input coupling gear 62, an agitating roller gear 63, and a memory tag unit 80.

[0068] (Development and drive configuration) The developer accommodating frame 28 is a housing capable of accommodating developer, and supplies developer to the developing roller 6. The stirring roller 26 has the function of stirring the developer in the developer accommodating frame 28 and applying developer to the developing roller 6. The end sealing members 25 are made up of a driving side sealing member 25a and a non-driving side sealing member 25b provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction (FIG. 7), and prevent developer from leaking out of the developer accommodating frame 28 from both ends of the developing roller 6. The developing roller 6 and the stirring roller 26 are rollers that can rotate about a rotation axis that extends in the first direction, and are connected to the roller body and The roller includes a roller shaft, the roller body being made of a material such as elastic rubber or sponge, and the roller shaft being made of a material such as metal or conductive resin.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8(a), the developing roller 6 and the stirring roller 26 are rotatably supported by a cartridge bearing (driving side) 70 and a cartridge bearing (non-driving side) 71. The cartridge bearing (driving side) 70 is fixed to the developer accommodating frame 28 by screws 99a and 99c together with the cartridge side cover 68. The cartridge bearing (non-driving side) 71 is fixed to the developer accommodating frame 28 by a screw 99d. As shown in FIG. 8(b), the roller shafts of the developing roller 6 and the stirring roller 26 pass through the cartridge bearing (driving side) 70, and each roller shaft is connected to the developing roller gear 61 and the stirring roller gear 63. The developing roller gear 61 transmits the driving force input from the main body via the driving input gear 62 to the developing roller 6, and the stirring roller gear 63 transmits the driving force input via the driving input gear 62 to the stirring roller 26.

[0070] The drive input coupling gear 62 as a drive input portion is a gear rotatably supported by the cartridge bearing (drive side) 70 and the cartridge side cover 68. The drive input coupling gear 62 has an engagement coupling portion for receiving the drive force from the main body, and transmits the drive force from the main body to the developing roller gear 61 and the agitating roller gear 63. The shape of the engagement coupling may be any shape as long as it can transmit the drive force. In this embodiment, the developing cartridge side has a triangular concave hole. On the other hand, the shape of the engagement coupling portion on the main body side has a convex triangular rib corresponding to the triangular concave shape.

[0071] The developer regulating blade 29 (FIGS. 5 and 7) is a blade that comes into contact with the developing roller 6 and regulates the thickness of the developer carried by the developing roller 6. The developer regulating blade 29 is fixed to the developer accommodating frame 28 with screws or the like, and regulates the thickness of the developer on the developing roller to a constant value by controlling the angle of contact with the developing roller 6 and the amount of penetration. The developer regulating blade 29 is generally made of a stainless steel plate such as SUS or a rubber material. The cartridge side cover 68 rotatably supports the developing roller gear 61 and one end of the drive input coupling gear 62.

[0072] (Guide and fixing configuration) Furthermore, the cartridge side cover 68 has cartridge side positioning portions (developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and drive input cover positioning portion 68b) that come into sliding contact with guide portions and fixed portions provided on the cartridge tray 3 when the developing cartridge 8 is attached to the cartridge tray 3. The developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is coaxial with the developing roller 6 and the developing roller gear 61 and has a cylindrical outer shape. The drive input cover positioning portion 68b is coaxial with the drive input coupling gear 62 and has a cylindrical outer shape. 8, the end (outermost shell) of the cartridge side cover 68 in the first direction (longitudinal direction) is located outside the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a, which is a protruding portion. In other words, it is possible to obtain an effect of making the developing cartridge 8 larger than when the memory tag unit 80 is located inside the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a in the longitudinal direction. As described above, after being attached to the cartridge tray 3, the developing cartridge 8 is positioned and fixed by the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a, the drive input cover positioning portion 68b, and the developing rotation stop boss (drive side) 28a provided on the developer accommodating frame 28.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 7, the developer cartridge 8 is mounted on the non-driven side by sliding contact with the cartridge guide provided on the cartridge tray 3 via the cartridge bearing (non-driven side) 71 and the developer rotation stop boss (non-driven side) 28b of the developer accommodating frame 28. As with the driven side, the respective bosses are cylindrical in shape to provide smooth guidance. The roller bearing positioning portion 71a is disposed on the axis of the developing roller 6 and is coaxial with the driving side developing roller gear 61 and the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a. The developing rotation stop boss (non-driven side) 28b is coaxial with the developing rotation stop boss (driven side) 28a.

[0074] (Memory configuration) FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of the memory tag unit 80 of the developing cartridge 8 according to this embodiment. As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 9(a), the memory tag unit 80 is composed of a memory tag 81, a memory tag pressing member 82 which is a pressing member, a memory tag pressing spring 83, and a pressing spring receiving member 84. The memory tag pressing member 82 has a memory installation groove 87 for installing and fixing the memory tag 81. The memory tag 81 is fixed by any method such as adhesion, double-sided tape, or heat crimping. An electric contact part made of a metal terminal or the like is provided on the surface of the memory tag 81, and the electric contact part is exposed when the memory tag 81 is fixed in the memory installation groove 87. As shown in FIG. 9(b), the memory tag pressing member 82, the memory tag pressing spring 83, and the pressing spring receiving member 84 are configured as an integrated unit.

[0075] The memory tag pressing spring 83 as the biasing means is a compression spring, which abuts against a spring receiving surface (not shown) of the memory tag pressing member 82 and a spring receiving surface (not shown) of the pressing spring receiving member 84, respectively, and is compressed from the natural state of the spring. The memory tag pressing spring 83 constantly biases the memory tag pressing member 82 in a predetermined direction (rearward in this embodiment). In addition, the memory tag pressing member 82 can move in the front-rear direction relative to the pressing spring receiving member 84 as long as a protruding spring receiving member regulated portion 84a provided on the pressing spring receiving member 84 moves between a front regulating portion 82a and a rear regulating portion 82b provided on the memory tag pressing member 82. The spring receiving member regulated portion 84a of the spring receiving member 84 has a first regulated surface 84c facing the front regulating portion 82a and a second regulated surface 84b facing the rear regulating portion 82b. In the following, in this embodiment, the pressing spring support member 84 will be described as being movable relative to the developer accommodating frame 28, which is the housing of the developing cartridge 8, but it is also possible for the pressing spring support member 84 to be a member fixed to the developer accommodating frame 28 by any method, such as screwing. The spring force of the memory tag pressing spring 83 causes the front restricting portion 82a of the memory tag pressing member 82 and the spring receiving member restricted portion 84a of the pressing spring receiving member 84 to come into contact with each other, and the memory tag unit is held as an integral unit. Moreover, the memory tag unit 80 can expand and contract further in the compression direction of the memory tag pressing spring 83 than in FIG. 9(b). That is, it can be compressed to a position where the rear regulating portion 82b of the memory tag pressing member 82 and the second regulated surface 84b of the pressing spring receiving member 84 come into contact with each other. That is, when the memory tag unit 80 exists alone, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the first regulated surface 84c provided on the spring receiving member regulated portion 84a of the pressing spring receiving member 84 comes into contact with the front regulating portion 82a of the memory tag pressing member 82 due to the spring force of the memory tag pressing spring 83, and the memory tag unit 80 is in an extended state in which the first regulated surface 84c is in contact with the front regulating portion 82a of the memory tag pressing member 82. In this state, the length of the memory tag unit 80 measured in the front-rear direction (second direction), which is the expansion and contraction direction of the memory tag pressing spring 83, is defined as the natural length hm of the memory tag unit 80. Here, when the memory tag 81 is pressed as the developing cartridge 8 is attached, the memory tag pressing member 82 moves relatively forward against the spring force of the memory tag pressing spring 83, and the memory tag unit 80 becomes compressed. The length of the memory tag unit 80 can be made shorter than the natural length hm until the second regulated surface 84b of the spring receiving member regulated portion 84a of the spring receiving member 84 abuts against the rear regulating portion 82b of the memory tag pressing member 82.

[0076] The memory tag pressing member 82 has position restriction bosses 85 (85a, 85b, 85c). When the memory tag unit 80 is assembled to the developing cartridge 8 as shown in FIG. 8, it is assembled so as to be sandwiched between the cartridge bearing (driving side) 70 and the cartridge side cover 68 in the longitudinal direction, and movement in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction, is restricted. At this time, the position restriction bosses 85a, 85b are fitted into the position restriction holes 86a, 86b of the cartridge side cover 68. The position regulating boss 85c fits into the position regulating hole 86c of the cartridge bearing (drive side) 70.

[0077] Here, the diameter of the attitude restriction hole 86 is set to be larger than the diameter of the attitude restriction boss 85. For example, if the diameter of the cylindrical boss is φ3 mm and the diameter of each attitude restriction hole is φ8 mm, the attitude restriction boss can move in a plane perpendicular to its axis within a range of play (clearance) of approximately 5 mm. This allows the memory tag unit 80 to move in the second and third directions within the range restricted by the attitude restriction bosses 85 (85a, 85b, 85c) and the attitude restriction holes 86 (86a, 86b, 86c).

[0078] Here, since the memory tag 81 is fixed to the memory tag pressing member 82, the attitude regulating boss 85 is provided on the memory tag pressing member 82 so that component tolerances are advantageous when positioning the memory tag with the cartridge tray 3. However, the attitude regulating boss 85 may also be provided on the pressing spring receiving member 84. Furthermore, the clearances in the first, second, and third directions that regulate the movement of the memory tag unit 80 and the relationship between the attitude regulating boss 85 and the attitude regulating hole 86 may be adjusted so that the engagement between the cartridge tray 3 and the memory tag unit 80, which will be described later, can operate smoothly, and the shapes of the attitude regulating boss 85 and the attitude regulating hole 86 do not need to be perfect circles.

[0079] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the memory tag unit 80 is configured to be held by the cartridge bearing (drive side) 70 and the cartridge side cover 68 in a state in which it can move within a certain range to positions in the first, second, and third directions. However, the configuration is not limited to this embodiment as long as the memory tag unit 80 can be moved in at least one arbitrary direction while incorporated in the developing cartridge 8. Furthermore, although the memory tag unit 80 is configured on the drive side of the developing cartridge 8 in this embodiment, it may be configured on the non-drive side.

[0080] <Developing cartridge installation operation> The operation of mounting the developing cartridge 8 on the cartridge tray 3 will now be described. Figures 10A to 10D are diagrams for explaining the behavior of the developing cartridge 8 when mounted on the cartridge tray 3 of this embodiment, and are schematic cross-sectional views of the driving side of the developing cartridge 8 and the corresponding cartridge tray 3.

[0081] Fig. 10A is a schematic cross-sectional view immediately before the developer cartridge 8 is inserted into any slot of the cartridge tray 3. At this time, the developer cartridge 8 is not yet attached to the cartridge tray 3. The developer pressure member 91 is pulled by the developer pressure spring 90 and its position is regulated by the cartridge tray 3. The developer cartridge 8 is in the same state as in Figs. 7 and 8(a). At this time, the position of the memory tag unit 80 is regulated within the range of play between the attitude regulation holes 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) of the developer cartridge 8 and the attitude regulation bosses 85 (85a, 85b, 85c) of the memory tag unit 80.

[0082] Fig. 10B shows the state in which the developer cartridge 8 is in the middle of being mounted on the cartridge tray 3. Fig. 8 shows the state in which the developer cartridge 8 advances toward the downstream portion of the guide member in the mounting direction. Here, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a of the developer cartridge 8 abuts against the cartridge guide portion 33 of the cartridge tray 3, and the memory tag pressing member 82 and pressing spring receiving member 84 of the memory tag unit 80 abut against the memory guide portion 31 and receiving member guide portion 39 of the cartridge tray 3, respectively.

[0083] When the state of FIG. 10A is shifted to the mounting state of FIG. 10B, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a of the developing cartridge 8 is guided toward the developing roller positioning portion 35, which is the guide side positioning portion located downstream, by the memory unit support portion 34a of the guide member, etc. The image cartridge 8 is smoothly guided toward the surface against which it is to come into contact when the image cartridge 8 is mounted. Furthermore, due to the existence of the cartridge guide portion 33, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is guided more stably.

[0084] The mounting posture and insertion trajectory of the developer cartridge 8 differ depending on the gripping angle of the developer cartridge 8 and the insertion action of each user. Therefore, each part of the guide member of the cartridge tray 3 (memory guide portion 31, receiving member guide portion 39, memory unit support portion 34a, cartridge guide portion 33, developing roller positioning guide portion 36, and drive input guide portion 38) can guide the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a to the developing roller positioning portion 35. In addition, each of these parts can guide the drive input cover positioning portion 68b to the drive input positioning portion 37. However, regardless of the mounting posture, the posture and trajectory of the developer cartridge 8 are regulated by contacting each guide portion, and the developer cartridge 8 is smoothly guided to the mounting completion position.

[0085] Furthermore, with regard to the memory tag unit 80, the memory tag pressing member 82 and the pressing spring receiving member 84 come into contact with the memory guide portion 31 and the receiving member guide portion 39, so that the memory tag unit 80 is guided while being compressed to the state shown in Fig. 10C. Here, the memory tag unit 80 is guided while its position is regulated by the posture regulating boss and the posture regulating hole.

[0086] 10C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge 8 when it has been completely attached to the cartridge tray 3. At this time, the developer roller cover positioning portion 68a and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b of the developer cartridge 8 are in contact with the developer roller positioning portion 35 and the drive input positioning portion 37 of the cartridge tray 3, respectively. In this manner, the cartridge side positioning portion of the developer cartridge 8 is smoothly guided to the contact surface of the guide side positioning portion by the memory unit support portion 34a and the like. In addition, the memory unit support portion 34a serves both as a guide portion for the developer cartridge 8 and as a positioning portion for the memory tag unit 80, thereby making it possible to save space compared to the case where they are provided separately.

[0087] When the developer cartridge 8 is mounted, the developer rotation stop boss 28a first comes into contact with the arc surface of the rotation stop boss guide portion 91b provided on the developer pressure member 91 of the cartridge tray 3. As the developer cartridge 8 is mounted, the developer rotation stop boss 28a rotates the developer pressure member 91 in the direction of the arrow K and comes into contact with the cartridge pressure portion 91c, resulting in the mounting state shown in FIG. 10C. In the mounting state, the developer rotation stop boss 28a is pressurized in the direction of the arrow H by the spring force of the developer pressure spring 90. As a result, the developer cartridge 8 is pressed in the direction of the arrow H, so that the developer roller cover positioning portion 68a and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b are stably positioned on the developer roller positioning portion 35 and the drive input positioning portion 37 of the guide member. As a result, the developer roller 6 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 4, enabling image formation. In the state shown in FIG. 10C, the developer rotation stop boss 28a does not come into contact with the spacing member 92 and has a gap therebetween.

[0088] 10C, the memory unit support part 34a functions as a backup part as the pressing spring receiving member 84 of the memory tag unit 80 comes into contact with the memory unit support part 34a. As a result, the memory tag 81 is pressed toward the tray side contact part 32 by the spring force of the memory tag pressing spring 83. This stabilizes the connection between the electrical contacts. The position of the memory tag pressing member 82 that fixes the memory tag 81 is also regulated by the memory unit support recess 34b that is provided to include the tray side contact part 32.

[0089] In other words, the memory tag unit 80 has a gap between the developing cartridge 8 and the memory unit support portion 34a and the memory unit support recess 34b. The tag unit 80 fits in and movement in the second and third directions is restricted. In addition, since the memory tag pressing member 82 fits in the memory unit support recess 34b, movement of the memory tag unit 80 is also restricted in the longitudinal direction, which is the first direction. With the above configuration, the electrical contact portion of the memory tag 81 comes into contact with and is fixed to the tray side contact portion 32. The contact pressure of the contact portion of the memory tag 81 may be a pressure that provides stable positioning, and may be determined by the shape of the recess provided in the tray side contact portion 32 or the shape of the memory tag pressing member 82. Note that instead of a configuration in which the memory tag pressing member 82 is abutted against the recess, a configuration in which the position is determined by contact between the memory tag 81 and the tray side contact portion 32 may also be used.

[0090] FIG. 10D is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developing roller 6 of the developing cartridge 8 and the photosensitive drum 4 of the cartridge tray 3 in a separated state. In this embodiment, such a separated state is possible for the purpose of extending the component life of the developing roller 6 and the photosensitive drum 4. As shown in FIG. 6, spacing members 92 and 93 are provided on the driving side and non-driving side of the cartridge tray 3 to separate the developing cartridge 8. As shown in FIG. 6(b), the spacing member 92 on the driving side is attached so as to be rotatable around a spacing member rotation center 92a. The spacing member 93 on the non-driving side is also configured to have a rotation center at a symmetrical position and operates in the same way, so a description thereof will be omitted. The spacing member 92 receives a spacing member pressing force F due to the spacing member pressing force (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1. This allows it to rotate in the direction of the arrow J.

[0091] 10D shows a state in which the spacing member 92 has rotated in the direction of arrow J due to the spacing member pressing force F from the state in FIG. 10C. Here, the developer rotation stop boss (driving side) 28a of the developer cartridge 8 rotates the developer pressure member 91 in the direction of arrow K, and moves and is lifted in accordance with the rotation of the spacing member 92. As a result, the developing roller 6 is separated from the photosensitive drum 4.

[0092] Even in the separated state, as shown in Figure 10D, the memory tag unit 80 is positioned in the cartridge guide portion 33 and has a gap with respect to the developer cartridge 8 to provide play. Therefore, contact between the electrical contacts is maintained even in the separated state. This is because the attitude regulation bosses 85 (85a, 85b, 85c) of the memory tag unit 80 are not in contact with the attitude regulation holes 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) of the developer cartridge 8 and the position of the memory tag unit 80 remains as in the state shown in Figure 10C.

[0093] <Positional relationship between memory tag unit and cartridge guide> The positional relationship between the memory tag unit portion and the cartridge guide portion of the cartridge tray 3 in the longitudinal direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 10A to 10D. As described above, when the developing cartridge 8 is mounted on the cartridge tray 3, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b, which are positioning portions on the developing cartridge 8 side, pass through or pass while abutting against the memory guide portion 31, the receiving member guide portion 39, the memory unit support portion 34a, and the memory unit support recess 34b of the cartridge tray 3. Thereafter, the positioning portions on the developing cartridge 8 side move to the mounting completion position while abutting against the cartridge guide portion 33 or the drive input guide portion 38.

[0094] 10A-B, when the developing cartridge 8 is inserted into the cartridge tray 3, depending on the angle of the developing cartridge 8 at the time of insertion, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a may first come into contact with and be guided by the memory unit support portion 34a, and may then reach the cartridge guide portion 33. Alternatively, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a may come into contact with and be guided by the drive input guide portion 38, and then move downward. In either case, however, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is guided downward while coming into contact with the cartridge guide portion 33, etc., and fits into the developing roller positioning portion 35.

[0095] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the cartridge guide portion 33 is approximately The memory guide portion 31, the receiving member guide portion 39, the memory unit support portion 34a, and the memory unit support recess 34b are provided at the same position. That is, the members for defining the positional relationship between each positioning portion of the developing cartridge 8 and the cartridge tray 3, and the members for defining the positional relationship between the memory tag unit 80 of the developing cartridge 8 and the cartridge tray 3 are provided at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. With this arrangement, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b are guided by contacting the memory guide portion 31, the memory unit support portion 34a, etc., regardless of the angle at which the developing cartridge 8 is inserted. As a result, it is possible to significantly prevent the user from making a mistake in the insertion position.

[0096] Furthermore, guide parts such as the cartridge guide part 33, the developing roller positioning part 35, and the developing roller positioning guide part 36 of the cartridge tray 3, fixing parts such as the memory unit support part 34a and the memory unit support recess 34b for fixing the memory tag unit 80, and the tray side contact part 32 with the memory tag 81 are provided at approximately the same positions in the longitudinal direction. As a result, when the developing cartridge is mounted, the cartridge guide part 33 and the memory tag unit 80 are disposed at approximately the same positions in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, the longitudinal positioning accuracy of the memory tag unit 80 is improved. Since the engagement operation of the memory tag unit 80 can be stably performed by improving the longitudinal positioning accuracy, the accuracy of alignment between the tray side contact part 32 of the cartridge tray 3 and the electrical contact part of the memory tag 81 of the developing cartridge 8 is improved. As a result, the size of the memory tag contacts can be reduced. In addition, the stability of the electrical connection is improved.

[0097] Furthermore, when the guide portion of the cartridge tray 3 and the fixed portion and contact portion of the memory tag unit 80 are positioned at approximately the same longitudinal position as the cartridge guide portion 33, the following favorable effects are achieved compared to when the fixed portion and contact portion are positioned inside or outside the guide portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0098] First, consider a case where the memory fixing portion and electrical contact portion are arranged on the cartridge tray 3 outside the cartridge guide portion 33 in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the memory tag unit 80 is also arranged on the longitudinal direction outside of the cartridge tray 3, and a space must be secured for this. As a result, the size of the cartridge tray 3 increases. Also, a corresponding space is required for the device main body 2. This increases the size of the main body. On the other hand, if they are arranged at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction, the increase in the size of the cartridge tray 3 and the device main body 2 can be suppressed, and the device can be made smaller.

[0099] Next, consider a case where the memory fixing portion and the electrical contact portion are arranged on the cartridge tray 3 inward in the longitudinal direction from the cartridge guide portion 33. In this case, the memory tag unit 80 is also arranged on the inner side in the longitudinal direction of the developer cartridge 8, and the memory tag unit 80 and the developer accommodating frame 28 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. As a result, in order to secure the space, it becomes necessary to shorten the developer accommodating frame 28 in the longitudinal direction or to reduce the size of the developer accommodating frame 28. As a result, the developer capacity that can be stored is reduced. On the other hand, if they are arranged at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction, it is not necessary to reduce the size of the developer accommodating frame 28, and the developer capacity can be secured.

[0100] In the above description, the guide parts such as the cartridge guide part 33 and the fixed parts and contact parts of the memory tag unit 80 are arranged at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. However, if the guide parts and the fixed parts and contact parts of the memory are arranged so as to overlap at least partially in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, it is possible to obtain the effects of preventing an increase in the device size and a decrease in the developer capacity.

[0101] Furthermore, the cartridge guide portion 33, the fixing portion of the memory, and the contact portion are arranged on the cartridge tray. By fitting within the longitudinal width of one side wall of the frame 30, an increase in the size of the device can be prevented. Here, as shown in FIG. 6(a), among the sides of the cartridge tray frame 30, two side walls extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are defined as a first side wall 30a and a second side wall 30b. The first side wall 30a is a side wall on which the fixing portion and contact portion of the memory are disposed, and is a side wall that corresponds to the memory tag unit 80 when the developing cartridge is mounted. In this case, by configuring the cartridge guide portion 33 in the longitudinal direction and the fixing portion and contact portion of the memory to fit within the width of the first side wall 30a, an increase in the size of the device can be prevented.

[0102] Thus, in this embodiment, the guide portion of the cartridge tray 3 and the fixing portion and contact portion of the memory tag unit 80 are arranged so as to at least partially overlap in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and more preferably are arranged at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, in an image forming apparatus 1 in which a developing cartridge 8 provided with a memory tag 81, which is a memory medium, is detachably attached to the cartridge tray 3, it is possible to prevent an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus 1 and a decrease in the developer capacity. Also, it becomes possible to stably connect the memory medium.

[0103] In the embodiment, the memory tag unit 80 was disposed at one end of the drive side of the developing cartridge 8, and therefore the guide portion on the drive side and the fixed portion and contact portion of the memory were provided at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. However, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the memory tag unit 80 is provided at the other end different from the drive side of the developing cartridge 8. In that case, it is sufficient to provide the guide portion at the other end and the fixed portion and contact portion of the memory at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, it is sufficient to provide at least the guide portion at the other end and the fixed portion and contact portion of the memory so that they at least partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0104] [Variations] Next, different configuration examples of the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the above, the guide member is provided continuously when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, in the cross-sectional views of the guide member of the cartridge tray 3 shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the guide member is not continuous. However, such a cross-sectional shape can also be considered to form a substantially U-shaped cross section by including imaginary planes extending from the surface of the memory unit support portion 34a and the surface of the cartridge guide portion 33.

[0105] FIG. 11(a) shows the cross-sectional structure of the guide member in the first modified example. In the cross-section of this modified example, as shown in the figure, the memory unit support portion 34a and the cartridge guide portion 33 are not continuous. When the developing cartridge 8 is mounted in this configuration, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a passes through the receiving member guide portion 39, advances along a virtual plane extending from the memory unit support portion 34a, and reaches the surface of the cartridge guide portion 33. Then, it is guided by the cartridge guide portion 33 and positioned and fixed. In this way, even if the guide member is divided into multiple members in the cross-section and the member that backs up the memory tag unit 80 is independent, it is possible to guide the developing cartridge 8 to the downstream portion and fix it.

[0106] 11(b) shows the cross-sectional structure of the guide member in the second modified example. In the cross section of this modified example, the memory unit support portion 34a and the cartridge guide portion 33 are not continuous. In this modified example, an imaginary plane extending from the surface of the memory unit support portion 34a is substantially continuous with the surface of the cartridge guide portion 33. In this configuration, when the developing cartridge 8 is mounted, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is continuously guided by the memory unit support portion 34a and the cartridge guide portion 33 via the receiving member guide portion 39, and is positioned and fixed.

[0107] 12(a) shows a cross-sectional structure of the guide member in the third modified example. In the cross section of this modified example, the memory unit support portion 34a and the cartridge guide portion 33 are not continuous. In this modified example, when the developer cartridge 8 is mounted, the developer roller cover positioning portion 68a comes into contact with and is guided by the receiving member guide portion 39, moves downstream in the mounting direction, and is positioned and fixed via the surface of the cartridge guide portion 33.

[0108] 12(b) shows the cross-sectional structure of the guide member in the fourth modified example. In the cross section of this modified example, the memory unit support portion 34a and the cartridge guide portion 33 are not continuous, and the cartridge guide portion 33 further includes a plurality of members (upstream cartridge guide portion 33a, downstream cartridge guide portion 33b). In this configuration, when the developing cartridge 8 is mounted, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is guided and positioned by the cartridge guide portion 33 via the receiving member guide portion 39, the upstream cartridge guide portion 33a, and the downstream cartridge guide portion 33b.

[0109] 13 is a cross-sectional structure of the guide member in the fifth modified example. In the first embodiment, the support surface of the memory unit support portion 34a and the guide surface of the cartridge guide portion 33 are at different angles in the cross section. On the other hand, in the cross section of this modified example, as shown in the figure, the surface of the memory unit support portion 34a and the surface of the cartridge guide portion 33 form a continuous and substantially identical surface. In this case, of the substantially flat surface included in one side portion of the substantially U-shape, the upstream side functions as a backup for the memory tag unit 80. In this configuration, when the developing cartridge 8 is attached, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is guided to the same surface via the receiving member guide portion 39 and is positioned and fixed. As described above, even when guide members having various shapes are used, the developing cartridge 8 can be appropriately guided and positioned.

[0110] [Embodiment 2] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Explanations of parts that overlap with the above embodiment may be simplified.

[0111] Basically, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the image forming operation, the configuration of the cartridge tray 3 and the developing cartridge 8, etc. are the same as those described above with reference to Figures 1 to 9, etc. The configuration of the memory tag unit 80 to which the memory tag 81, which is a memory medium (storage means), is attached is also the same as that described above. The mounting operation of the developing cartridge 8 is also the same as that described above with reference to Figures 10A to 10D.

[0112] <Developing roller cover> Next, the developing roller cover 100 as a cover member attached to the developing cartridge 8 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0113] figure 14 FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the developing cartridge 8 with the developing roller cover 100 according to the present embodiment attached, as viewed from the non-driven side. 15 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the developing cartridge 8 according to the present embodiment is attached to the developing roller cover 100, as viewed from the drive side. 14 FIG. 1(b) shows only the developing roller cover 100 removed. 14 FIG. 2 is a perspective view seen from the same direction as (a).

[0114] figure 14 and Figure 15 As shown in FIG. 1, the developing roller cover 100 includes a developing roller protection portion 101, a memory tag unit protection portion 102, a drive side fitting portion 103, a non-drive side fitting portion 104, and a grip portion 105. The developing roller protection portion 101 is a first covering portion that covers at least a part of the exposed portion of the developing roller 6. In this embodiment, the developing roller protection portion 101 covers the entire exposed portion of the developing roller 6 when viewed from either the second direction or the third direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 14As shown in (b), the memory tag unit protection part 102 of this embodiment is provided with an opening that opens upward. In other words, when the developing roller cover 100 is moved downward (in the direction in which the developing roller cover 100 moves away from the developing roller 6), the memory tag unit protection part 102 is designed not to interfere with the memory tag unit 80. Also, when viewed from above, the memory tag unit protection part 102 is open toward the non-driven side in the longitudinal direction, and is formed as a U-shaped recess on the inside to accommodate the memory tag unit 80 (see FIG. 17 (see (a)).

[0115] The developing roller protection part 101 abuts against the developer accommodating frame 28 and the drive side positioning part 68a, thereby restricting the position of the developing roller 6. This forms a gap between the developing roller 6 and the developing roller cover 100, preventing impact to the developing roller 6 during transportation or handling for replacement.

[0116] The memory tag unit protection part 102 is a second covering part that covers at least a part of the exposed part (particularly the electrical contact part (metal terminal)) of the memory tag 81 of the memory tag unit 80 on the drive side of the developing cartridge 8. In this embodiment, at least the entire electrical contact part (metal terminal) of the memory tag 81 as viewed from the second direction is covered by the memory tag unit protection part 102. In this embodiment, the developing roller cover 100 is configured as an integrated member in which the memory tag unit protection part 102 and the developing roller protection part 101 are connected to each other by a manufacturing method such as injection molding of a resin material.

[0117] The non-drive side fitting portion 104, which is a first engagement portion in this embodiment, is connected to one side (non-drive side in this embodiment) in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller protection portion 101. The non-drive side fitting portion 104 regulates the developing roller cover 100 not to come off from the developing cartridge 8 by fitting with the outer periphery of the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a, which is the first positioning portion in this embodiment. The drive side fitting portion 103, which is a second engagement portion in this embodiment, is connected to the other side (drive side in this embodiment) in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller protection portion 101. The drive side fitting portion 103 regulates the developing roller cover 100 not to come off from the developing cartridge 8 by fitting with the outer periphery of the drive side positioning portion 68a, which is the second positioning portion in this embodiment.

[0118] The grip portion 105 is connected to the non-drive side fitting portion 104 on the side opposite to the side where the non-drive side fitting portion 104 is connected to the developing roller protection portion 101. The grip portion 105 protrudes in the longitudinal direction from the cartridge bearing 71 that constitutes the longitudinal side surface of the developing cartridge 8. The user can release the lock of the developing roller cover 100 by gripping the grip portion 105 to elastically deform the developing roller cover 100 and disengaging the non-drive side fitting portion 104 from the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a in the longitudinal direction. The non-drive side fitting portion 104 also functions as a connecting portion that connects the grip portion 105 and the developing roller protection portion 101, and as described above, the non-drive side fitting portion 104 as this connecting portion needs to have a shape that is easily elastically deformed. That is, the handle portion 105 and the developing roller protection portion 101 are connected by two columnar members so that a space is formed on the opposite side of the handle portion, sandwiching the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a. Then, as described below, the user can remove the developing roller cover 100 from the developing cartridge 8 by operating the handle portion 105.

[0119] In this way, the developing roller cover 100 of this embodiment is configured as an integrated member in which the developing roller protection portion 101, the memory tag unit protection portion 102, the drive side fitting portion 103, the non-drive side fitting portion 104 and the handle portion 105 are connected to each other.

[0120] <How to remove the developing roller cover from the developing cartridge> figure 16 (a)~Figure 16 A method for removing the developing roller cover 100 from the developing cartridge 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0121] figure 16 13A shows the developing cartridge 8 before removing the developing roller cover 100. In this state, the driving side fitting portion 103 of the developing roller cover 100 fits with the driving side positioning portion 68a, and the non-driving side fitting portion 104 fits with the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a.

[0122] figure 16 (b) is a diagram 16 This shows a state in which the developing roller cover 100 is deformed by gripping the handle portion 105 and pulling it toward the non-driven side in the longitudinal direction from the state in (a). At this time, the engagement between the non-driven side fitting portion 104 and the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a is released.

[0123] figure 16 (c) is a diagram 16 1(b) shows a state in which the handle portion 105 is gripped and pulled substantially downward (in the second direction). At this time, the developing roller cover 100 rotates in the second direction around the engagement portion between the driving side engagement portion 103 and the driving side positioning portion 68a as the rotation axis, and the developing roller protection portion 101 moves away from the developing roller 6. In this state, the user can remove the developing roller cover 100 from the developer accommodating frame 28 of the developing cartridge 8 by sliding the developing roller cover 100, for example, toward the driving side in the longitudinal direction. At this time, since the memory tag unit protection portion 102 has a concave shape that opens toward the non-driving side in the longitudinal direction, interference between the memory tag unit protection portion 102 and the memory tag unit 80 is avoided.

[0124] In addition, Fig. 16 The operation of removing the developing roller cover 100 from the state shown in FIG. 16 The drive-side fitting portion 103 may be disengaged from the drive-side positioning portion 68a by further rotating in the second direction from the state (c). In this case, the engagement amount between the drive-side fitting portion 103 and the drive-side positioning portion 68a shown in FIG. 13 is set so that the engagement between the drive-side fitting portion 103 and the drive-side positioning portion 68a is released by rotating the developing roller cover 100 by a predetermined angle. In this case, too, since the memory tag unit protection portion 102 has an opening that opens upward, interference between the memory tag unit protection portion 102 and the memory tag unit 80 is avoided.

[0125] <Positional relationship between the memory tag unit and the memory tag unit protection unit> The positional relationship between the memory tag unit 80 and the memory tag unit protection unit 102 will now be described. 17 (a)~Figure 17 FIG. 1C shows three configuration examples in which the positional relationship between the memory tag unit 80 and the memory tag unit protectors 102a, 102b, and 102c is different. 17 1(a) to 1(c) all show the drive side end of the developing cartridge 8 when the developing roller cover 100 is not removed, as viewed from above.

[0126] figure 17(a) The first example shown is configured such that the spring receiving member restricted portion 84a of the spring receiving member 84 of the memory tag unit 80, which is the restricted portion, is in contact with the front restricting portion 82a (see Fig. 9(b)). That is, in this example, the memory tag unit 80 protected by the memory tag unit protection portion 102a is in an extended state. Regarding the expansion and contraction direction (second direction) of the memory tag unit 80, a gap ha1 is secured between the memory tag pressing member 82 and the memory tag unit protection portion 102a, and a gap ha2 is secured between the spring receiving member 84 and the memory tag unit protection portion 102a. These gaps ha1 and ha2 provide sufficient distance for the memory tag unit 80 to be in an extended state. That is, even if the posture regulating bosses 85a, 85b, and 85c move inside the posture regulating holes 86a, 86b, and 86c, the memory tag unit protection portion 102a and the memory tag unit 80 will not come into contact. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the memory tag pressing member 82 and the spring receiving member 84 coming into contact and being damaged due to impacts during transportation or the like.

[0127] Figure 17 (b) The second example shown is, similar to the first example, configured such that the memory tag unit 80 is in an extended state while being protected by the memory tag unit protection portion 102a. However, compared to the first example, the gap hb1 between the memory tag pressing member 82 and the memory tag unit protection portion 102b and the gap hb2 between the spring receiving member 84 and the memory tag unit protection portion 102b are set narrower (hb1 < ha1, hb2 < ha2). These gaps hb1 and hb2 are sized such that when the posture regulating bosses 85a, 85b, and 85c move inside the posture regulating holes 86a, 86b, and 86c, the memory tag pressing member 82 or the spring receiving member 84 may come into contact with the memory tag unit protection portion 102b. However, the memory tag pressing member 82 and the spring receiving member 84 do not simultaneously come into contact with the memory tag unit protection portion 102b, and only one of them comes into contact. With this configuration, compared to the first example, the memory tag pressing member 8 2 and the spring receiving member 84. With this configuration, the amount of movement of the memory tag unit 80 when it receives an impact is reduced, making it possible to prevent damage to the memory tag unit 80.

[0128] figure 17 The third example shown in FIG. 9C shows a configuration in which the memory tag pressing member 82 and the spring receiving member 84 are always in contact with the memory tag unit protection portion 102c. In this configuration, the position of the memory tag unit 80 is fixed by the developing roller cover 100. The inner width hc of the memory tag unit protection portion 102c is set to be the same as or narrower than the natural length hm of the memory tag unit shown in FIG. 9B. As a result, the memory tag pressing member 82 and the spring receiving member 84 are pressed against the memory tag unit protection portion 102c by the biasing force of the memory tag pressing spring 83, and the positions of the memory tag pressing member 82 and the spring receiving member 84 are determined. Note that the inner width hc may be set so that the spring receiving member regulated portion 84a contacts the front regulating portion 82a or the rear regulating portion 82b of the memory tag pressing member 82, or the spring receiving member regulated portion 84a may be separated from both the front regulating portion 82a and the rear regulating portion 82b. In this embodiment, the memory tag unit 80 is fixed in place while protected by the memory tag unit protection section 102c, and will not move even if subjected to shocks during transportation, thereby protecting the memory tag unit 80 from damage.

[0129] (Modification) In the above-described embodiments and the following embodiments, a full-color image forming apparatus in which four developing cartridges are mounted on one cartridge tray is described. However, the present technology is also applicable to developing cartridges that are directly attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus (e.g., developing cartridges in a monochrome printer).

[0130] The technology described in this embodiment can also be applied to cover members that protect components of cartridges other than the developing cartridge. For example, in a cover member attached to a photosensitive cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a memory tag, a first covering portion that covers the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum and a second covering portion that covers the electrical contact portion (metal terminal) of the memory tag can be integrally formed.

[0131] [Embodiment 3] An embodiment of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and a developing cartridge 8 and a cartridge tray 3 used in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. The description of parts that overlap with the above embodiment may be simplified.

[0132] Configuration of the image forming apparatus The configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a cartridge tray 3 and a developing cartridge 8. The outline of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 4 will be described. The schematic cross-sectional views of the cartridge tray and developing cartridge are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiments, and therefore will not be described. Also, the perspective view of the cartridge tray and developing cartridge shown in Fig. 18 is not shown because the position of the memory tag unit 80 is different from that of Fig. 3, and it is on the opposite side in Fig. 18 from that of Fig. 3 in terms of the tray insertion direction. The layout, functions and symbols of the other members are the same, and therefore will not be described.

[0133] Image formation operation As for the image forming operation, the series of operations in this embodiment are also common to the operations described in the first embodiment with reference to FIGS.

[0134] <Cartridge tray configuration> A detailed configuration of the cartridge tray 3 will be described with reference to Figs. 4, 19, 20, 21, and 22. Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the cartridge guide portion 33, the memory guide portion 31, and the memory unit support portion 34, and is partially enlarged and surrounded by a circle. Fig. 20 shows the cartridge tray 3 according to this embodiment. Fig. 20(a) is a top view, and Fig. 20(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view. Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge 8 according to this embodiment, Fig. 21(a) is a perspective view seen from the non-driving side, and Fig. 21(b) is a perspective view seen from the driving side. Fig. 22 shows the driving side of the developing cartridge 8 according to this embodiment, Fig. 22(a) is a perspective view, and Fig. 22(b) is an exploded configuration view. As shown in Figs. 4, 19, and 20, the photosensitive drum 4 is attached to the cartridge tray frame 30 provided in the cartridge tray 3 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction (the direction of the arrow D).

[0135] (Image formation mechanism) A drum drive input coupling 54 for transmitting a driving force to the photosensitive drum 4 is provided on the driving side of the photosensitive drum 4. The drum drive input coupling 54 is engaged with a drum drive coupling 52 (see FIG. 2(b)) of the image forming apparatus 1, whereby the driving force from the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 4.

[0136] The charging roller 5 is rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction. The charging roller 5 is supported by the cartridge tray frame 30 so as to be in contact with the photosensitive drum 4 and to be rotated by the photosensitive drum 4. The charging roller 5 is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus 1, whereby the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential. However, the means for charging the photosensitive drum 4 is not limited to this.

[0137] Furthermore, the cartridge tray frame 30 is provided with a cleaning blade 7 and a cleaning frame 27 as cleaning means. The cleaning blade 7 is fixed at a position where it contacts the photosensitive drum 4, and removes waste developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 that could not be transferred during image formation. The cleaning frame 27 collects the removed waste developer.

[0138] (Guide and fixing mechanism) The cartridge tray frame 30 is provided with a guide member for guiding the developer cartridge 8 equipped with the memory tag unit 80 until it is in an installed state at the installation position. The guide member includes a portion that functions as a guide portion that abuts against the memory tag unit 80 and the cartridge side positioning portion equipped in the developer cartridge 8 and assists installation. The guide member also includes a portion that functions as a fixing portion (guide side positioning portion) for positioning and fixing the memory tag unit 80 and the cartridge side positioning portion. The cartridge tray 3 also has a developer pressure member 91 that functions as a rotation stopper, etc. It should be noted that a certain portion of the guide member may have both a guide function and a positioning function.

[0139] The guide member is disposed on one of the sides of the cartridge tray frame 30 in the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge 8. The guide members are disposed at both ends in the opposite directions. As shown in Figures 24A to 24D, 19, 20, etc., the cross-sectional shape of the guide member is generally U-shaped including one side and the other side that face each other. As will be described in detail later, in the attached state, the memory tag unit 80 is supported between the one side and the other side.

[0140] The guide portions include members (cartridge guide portion 33, developing roller positioning guide portion 36, drive input guide portion 38) for guiding the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a of the developing cartridge 8, and a second guide member (memory guide portion 31) for guiding the memory tag unit 80. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a are protruding portions that protrude in a first direction (longitudinal direction) from the side wall of the cartridge. Note that, although the protruding portions are cylindrical in shape in Figures 21 and 22, other shapes such as a polygonal column shape can be adopted as long as they can be guided by the guide portions and stably positioned. However, which guide portion guides which portion of the developer cartridge 8 or memory tag unit 80 varies depending on the angle and trajectory when the user inserts the developer cartridge. Therefore, the relationship between the guide portion and the guided portion is not limited to a fixed relationship. For example, the memory guide portion 31 may come into contact with a portion other than the memory tag unit 80.

[0141] The guide side positioning portions include a member for positioning and fixing the developing cartridge 8 (developing roller positioning portion 35, drive input positioning portion 37) and a member for positioning and fixing the memory tag unit 80 (memory unit support portion 34). The drive input positioning portion 37 also serves as a guide portion for abutting against the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and guiding the developing cartridge 8 to the developing roller positioning portion 35 when the developing cartridge 8 is attached.

[0142] Although details will be described later, in the guide member of the embodiment, the guide portion for guiding the installation of the developing cartridge 8 and the guide side positioning portion for positioning and supporting the memory tag unit are provided at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. Here, the state in which the guide portion and the guide side positioning portion are at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction refers to a state in which the widths of the guide portion and the guide side positioning portion are approximately the same in the longitudinal direction and the two are approximately overlapping. However, the effect can be obtained as long as the guide portion and the guide side positioning portion are provided so that at least a part of them overlap in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Also, in the embodiment, each guide portion and each guide side positioning portion provided on the side of the cartridge tray frame 30 has a longitudinal size that fits within the width of the side in the longitudinal direction.

[0143] The surface of the developing roller positioning portion 35 comes into contact with the developing cartridge 8 in the installed state to fix and position it. In this embodiment, the developing roller positioning portion 35 is provided on both the drive side and non-drive side of the cartridge tray 3. It is necessary to provide a guide side positioning portion at least on one end. The WW cross section of Figure 20 shows the developing roller positioning portion 35 on the drive side. However, the non-driving side is also provided at a symmetrical position (not shown).

[0144] The developing cartridge 8 is inserted into the cartridge tray 3. Then, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a arranged coaxially with the developing roller 6 of the developing cartridge 8 shown in Figures 21 and 22 come into contact with and butt against the developing roller positioning portion 35. This positions the developing cartridge 8.

[0145] The developer pressurizing member 91, which is a pressurizing member, functions as a rotation determining member when the mounting of the developer cartridge 8 is completed. The developer pressurizing member 91 is provided on both the drive side and non-drive side of the cartridge tray 3. In the WW cross section of FIG. 20, the developer pressurizing member 91 on the drive side is shown, and the non-drive side is also shown. The developing and pressing member 91 is supported by the cartridge tray frame 30 so as to be rotatable about a pressing member rotation center 91a, which is an axis in the longitudinal direction. When the ridge 8 is not attached, the developer pressure member 91 is pulled in the direction of arrow H by the developer pressure spring 90, and is abutted against and fixed to the cartridge tray frame 30. The developer pressure spring 90 has engagement portions at both ends that engage with bosses protruding outward in the longitudinal direction of the developer roller 6, and the engagement portions at both ends pull the protruding bosses inward, applying a counterclockwise rotational force to the developer pressure member 91 in the figure.

[0146] The developer pressure member 91 has a rotation stopper boss guide portion 91b. When the developer cartridge 8 is mounted, the rotation stopper boss guide portion 91b guides and guides the developer rotation stopper bosses 28a, 28b provided on the developer cartridge 8. In addition, the developer pressure member 91 has a cartridge pressure portion 91c for stably positioning the developer roller cover positioning portion 68a and the developer roller bearing positioning portion 71a to the developer roller positioning portion 35 when the mounting of the developer cartridge 8 is completed.

[0147] Here, for example, when the developing cartridge 8C is the first developing cartridge, the guide member corresponding to the first developing cartridge is the first guide member. When the adjacent developing cartridge 8K is the second developing cartridge, the guide member corresponding to the second developing cartridge is the second guide member. The developing pressurizing member 91C is the first pressurizing member, and the developing pressurizing member 91K is the second pressurizing member. In this case, in the configuration of this embodiment, even if the developing pressurizing member 91C rotates in the direction of the arrow K or the direction of the arrow H, the developing pressurizing member 91C does not come into contact with the second guide member because it rotates within the space provided in the cartridge tray frame 30.

[0148] 21 and 22, the memory tag unit 80 and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b are not present on the non-driven side of the developing cartridge 8. Therefore, the guide portion of the cartridge tray frame 30 on the non-driven side only needs to position the developing roller bearing positioning portion 71a to the developing roller positioning portion 35, and may have a different shape from that on the driven side.

[0149] The cartridge guide portions 33 (33Y, 33M, 33C, 33K) and the developing roller positioning guide portion 36 shown in Figures 19 and 20 are guide portions that abut against the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and guide the developing cartridge 8 to the developing roller positioning portion 35 when the developing cartridge 8 is attached.

[0150] The drive input positioning portion 37 is an installation guide that abuts against the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a to guide the developing cartridge 8 to the developing roller positioning portion 35 when the developing cartridge 8 is installed. Furthermore, when the installation is complete, the drive input positioning portion 37 abuts against the drive input cover positioning portion 68b to position the developing cartridge 8. That is, the drive input positioning portion 37 has a function as a guide portion and a function as a guide side positioning portion.

[0151] In the attached state, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is pressed and fixed to the developing roller positioning portion 35 by the developing pressure member 91. Similarly, the drive input cover positioning portion 68b is fixed to the drive input positioning portion 37. As a result, the developing cartridge 8 is stably positioned by the developing roller positioning portion 35 and the drive input positioning portion 37, which serve as guide side positioning portions, and the developing pressure member 91.

[0152] The drive input guide portion 38 is an attachment guide that abuts against the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a when the developing cartridge 8 is attached, and guides the developing cartridge 8 to the developing roller positioning portion 35. The drive input guide portion 38 also abuts against the drive input cover positioning portion 68b, and guides the developing cartridge 8 to the drive input positioning portion 37.

[0153] The memory guide portion 31 and the memory unit support portion 34 are The developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is brought into contact with the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a to guide it to the developing roller positioning portion 35. The developing cartridge 8 is also a mounting guide that is brought into contact with the drive input cover positioning portion 68b to guide it to the drive input positioning portion 37. Therefore, these members function not only as memory guide portions and memory positioning portions, but also as guide portions for the developing cartridge 8 itself. When the developing cartridge 8 is mounted, which of the guide portions or guide side positioning portions each portion of the developing cartridge 8 contacts also depends on the attitude of the developing cartridge 8 when mounted. However, according to the configuration of the embodiment, the developing cartridge 8 is guided to the downstream portion in the mounting direction while contacting any portion of the guide member, and is finally positioned on the appropriate surface.

[0154] Furthermore, the memory unit support portion 34 stably positions the electrical contact portion of the memory tag 81 provided in the memory tag unit 80 with respect to the tray-side contact portion 32. Furthermore, the memory guide portion 31 is an attachment guide for guiding the memory tag unit 80 into the memory unit support portion 34.

[0155] With this configuration, when the developing cartridge 8 is attached, the memory tag unit 80 is guided by the memory guide portion 31, which is a guide portion provided on the cartridge tray 3. Then, the electrical contact portion of the memory tag 81 is guided to a position where it can come into contact with the tray side contact portion 32. Then, the memory tag unit 80 is positioned by the memory unit support portion 34, thereby achieving a stable electrical connection.

[0156] <Developing cartridge configuration> The developing cartridge 8 will be described with reference to Figures 4, 21, 22, and 23. The developing cartridge 8 is generally composed of a developer accommodating frame 28, a developing roller 6, an end sealing member 25, an agitating roller 26, a developer regulating blade 29, a cartridge bearing (driving side) 70, a cartridge bearing (non-driving side) 71, a cartridge side cover 68, a developing roller gear 61, a drive input coupling gear 62, an agitating roller gear 63, and a memory tag unit 80.

[0157] (Development and drive configuration) The developer accommodating frame 28 is a housing capable of accommodating developer, and supplies developer to the developing roller 6. The stirring roller 26 has a function of stirring the developer in the developer accommodating frame 28 and applying developer to the developing roller 6. The developing roller 6 and the stirring roller 26 are rollers that can rotate about a rotation axis that extends in the first direction, and each include a roller main body and a roller shaft. The roller main body is made of a material such as elastic rubber or a sponge member. The roller shaft is made of a material such as metal or a conductive resin.

[0158] 21 and 22(a), the developing roller 6 and the stirring roller 26 are rotatably supported by a cartridge bearing (driving side) 70 and a cartridge bearing (non-driving side) 71. The cartridge bearing (driving side) 70 is fixed to the developer accommodating frame 28 together with the cartridge side cover 68 by screws 99a and 99c. The cartridge bearing (non-driven side) 71 is fixed to the developer accommodating frame 28 with a screw 99d. As shown in Figure 22(b), the roller shafts of the developing roller 6 and the agitating roller 26 pass through the cartridge bearing (driven side) 70, and each roller shaft is connected to a developing roller gear 61 and an agitating roller gear 63. The developing roller gear 61 transmits the driving force from the main body to the developing roller 6, and the agitating roller gear 63 transmits the driving force from the main body to the agitating roller 26.

[0159] The drive input coupling gear 62 as a drive input portion is a gear rotatably supported by the cartridge bearing (drive side) 70 and the cartridge side cover 68. The drive input coupling gear 62 has an engaging coupling portion for receiving the drive force from the main body, and transmits the drive force from the main body to the developing roller gear 61 and the agitating roller gear 63. The shape of the coupling part may be any shape as long as it can transmit the driving force. In this example, the developing cartridge has a triangular concave hole. The engaging coupling part on the main body has a convex triangular rib that corresponds to the triangular concave shape.

[0160] The developer regulating blade 29 is a blade that comes into contact with the developing roller 6 and regulates the thickness of the developer carried by the developing roller 6. The developer regulating blade 29 is fixed to the developer accommodating frame 28 with a screw or the like, and regulates the thickness of the developer on the developing roller to a constant value by controlling the contact angle with the developing roller 6 and the amount of penetration. The developer regulating blade 29 is generally made of a stainless steel plate or a rubber material. The cartridge side cover 68 rotatably supports the developing roller gear 61 and one end of the drive input coupling gear 62.

[0161] (Guide and fixing configuration) Furthermore, the cartridge side cover 68 has cartridge side positioning portions (developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and drive input cover positioning portion 68b). When the developing cartridge 8 is mounted on the cartridge tray 3, the cartridge side positioning portions (developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and drive input cover positioning portion 68b) slide and come into contact with guide portions (memory guide portion 31, cartridge guide portion 33, developing roller positioning guide portion 36, drive input guide portion 38) and fixed portions (memory unit support portion 34, developing roller positioning portion 35, drive input positioning portion 37) provided on the cartridge tray 3. The developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is coaxial with the developing roller 6 and the developing roller gear 61 and has a cylindrical shape. The drive input cover positioning portion 68b is coaxial with the drive input coupling gear 62 and has a cylindrical shape. As can be seen from FIG. 22, the end portion (outermost shell portion) of the pressing spring receiving member 84 in the first direction (longitudinal direction) is located outside the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a, which is a protruding portion. In other words, it is possible to obtain an effect of making the developing cartridge 8 larger than when the memory tag unit 80 is disposed inside the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a in the longitudinal direction. That is, it is possible to form a space in the developer accommodating frame 28 for accommodating more toner. As described above, after being attached to the cartridge tray 3, the developing cartridge 8 is positioned and fixed by the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a, the drive input cover positioning portion 68b, and the developing rotation stop boss (drive side) 28a provided on the developer accommodating frame 28.

[0162] As shown in FIG. 21, on the non-driven side, the developer cartridge 8 is brought into sliding contact with the cartridge guide portion provided on the cartridge tray 3 by the cartridge bearing (non-driven side) 71 and the developer rotation stop boss (non-driven side) 28b of the developer accommodating frame 28, completing the installation. As with the driven side, each boss is cylindrical in shape for smooth guiding. The developer roller bearing positioning portion 71a is coaxial with the developer roller 6, and is disposed coaxially with the driven side developing roller gear 61 and the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a. The developer rotation stop boss (non-driven side) 28b is coaxial with the developer rotation stop boss (driven side) 28a.

[0163] (Memory configuration) FIG. 23 is a structural diagram of the memory tag unit 80 of the developing cartridge 8 according to this embodiment. The memory tag unit 80 is composed of a memory tag 81, a memory tag pressing member 82, a memory tag pressing spring 83, and a pressing spring support member 84. The memory tag pressing member 82 functions as a memory holding member that holds the memory tag 81. The pressing spring support member 84 is movable relative to the memory tag pressing member 82 (memory holding member) and functions as a moving member. The pressing spring support member 84 (moving member) is allowed to move within a predetermined range in a direction approximately parallel to the pressing direction in which the memory tag 81 is pressed against the tray side contact portion 32. The memory tag pressing member 82 has a memory installation groove 87 for installing and fixing the memory tag 81. The memory tag 81 is fixed by any method such as adhesion, double-sided tape, or heat caulking. As shown in FIG. 23, the memory tag pressing member 82, the memory tag pressing spring 83, and the pressing spring The receiving member 84 is configured as an integral unit. The memory tag pressing member 82 and the memory tag pressing spring 83 are relatively movable in approximately the third direction.

[0164] The memory tag pressing spring 83 is a compression spring as an elastic member. The memory tag pressing spring 83 abuts against a spring receiving surface (not shown) of the memory tag pressing member 82 and a spring receiving surface (not shown) of the pressing spring receiving member 84, respectively, and is in a compressed state from the natural state of the spring. Therefore, the memory tag pressing spring 83 generates a biasing force in a direction in which the memory tag pressing member 82 and the pressing spring receiving member 84 are released from compression, respectively. The spring force of the memory tag pressing spring 83 abuts against the front restricting portion 82a (spring receiving member restricting portion) of the memory tag pressing member 82 and the spring receiving member restricted portion 84a of the pressing spring receiving member 84, and the memory tag unit is held as an integrated unit. In addition, the memory tag unit 80 can expand and contract further in the compression direction of the memory tag pressing spring 83 than in the assembled state of FIG. 23. That is, the memory tag pressing member 82 can be compressed to a position where the rear restricting portion 82b (spring receiving member restricting portion) of the memory tag pressing member 82 and the spring receiving member restricted portion 84d of the pressing spring receiving member 84 come into contact with each other. However, depending on the shape of the compression spring, it may not be possible to compress the memory tag pressing member 82 to a position where the rear restricting portion 82b and the spring receiving member restricted portion 84d come into contact with each other. In addition, the gap T is defined as a predetermined range between the rear restricting portion 82b and the spring receiving member restricted portion 84d, that is, a range in which the memory tag pressing member 82 can move relative to the pressing spring receiving member 84. In particular, the gap Ta is defined as a gap between the rear restricting portion 82b and the spring receiving member restricted portion 84d when the front restricting portion 82a and the spring receiving member restricted portion 84a come into contact with each other. In other words, the gap T can take a value between Ta≧T≧0.

[0165] The pressing spring receiving member 84 has posture restriction bosses 85 (85a, 85b, 85c). When the memory tag unit 80 is assembled to the developing cartridge 8 as shown in Fig. 22, it is assembled so as to be sandwiched between the cartridge bearing (driving side) 70 and the cartridge side cover 68 in the longitudinal direction, and movement in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction, is restricted. At this time, the posture restriction bosses 85a, 85b fit into posture restriction holes 86a, 86b of the cartridge side cover 68, and the posture restriction boss 85c fits into posture restriction hole 86c of the cartridge bearing (driving side) 70.

[0166] Here, the diameter of the posture restriction hole 86 is set to be larger than the boss diameter of the posture restriction boss 85. For example, if the boss diameter is cylindrical and the hole diameter is φ3 mm, the cylindrical boss can move with a gap of φ5 mm. As a result, the memory tag unit 80 is restricted in its movement in the second and third directions by the posture restriction bosses 85 (85a, 85b, 85c) and the posture restriction holes 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) with a certain degree of gap and play.

[0167] Furthermore, the clearances in the first, second, and third directions that restrict the movement of the memory tag unit 80 and the relationship between the attitude restriction boss 85 and the attitude restriction hole 86 may be adjusted so as to enable smooth engagement between the cartridge tray 3 and the memory tag unit 80, which will be described later. The clearances in the third direction that restrict the movement of the memory tag unit 80 and the relationship between the attitude restriction boss 85 and the attitude restriction hole 86 will be described later.

[0168] Also, here, the memory tag unit 80 is configured so that its position in the first, second, and third directions is regulated with a certain degree of clearance by the cartridge bearing (drive side) 70 and the cartridge side cover 68. However, as long as the memory tag unit can be moved in any direction in the developing cartridge state, the configuration is not limited to this embodiment. Also, although the memory tag unit 80 is configured on the drive side of the developing cartridge 8 in this embodiment, it may be configured on the non-drive side.

[0169] <Developing cartridge installation operation> An operation of mounting the developing cartridge 8 on the cartridge tray 3 will be described. Figures 24A to 24D are schematic cross-sectional views showing the behavior of the developing cartridge 8 when mounted on the cartridge tray 3 according to this embodiment, and are schematic cross-sectional views of the drive side of the developing cartridge 8 and the corresponding cartridge tray 3.

[0170] Figure 24A is a schematic cross-sectional view immediately before the developer cartridge 8 is inserted into any slot of the cartridge tray 3. At this time, the cartridge tray 3 is the same as the state without the developer cartridge 8 (see the WW cross-sectional view of Figure 20). The developer pressure member 91 is pulled by the developer pressure spring 90 and its position is regulated by the cartridge tray 3. The developer cartridge 8 is also the same as that shown in Figures 21 and 22(a). At this time, the position of the memory tag unit 80 is regulated within the range of the gap between the attitude regulation holes 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) of the developer cartridge 8 and the attitude regulation bosses 85 (85a, 85b, 85c) of the memory tag unit 80.

[0171] Fig. 24B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge 8 when it is attached to the cartridge tray 3 and is at the insertion position relative to the cartridge tray 3. When changing from Fig. 24A to the attachment state of Fig. 24B, the drive input cover positioning portion 68b of the developer cartridge 8 is guided by the drive input positioning portion 37 of the cartridge tray 3. At that time, each guide portion of the cartridge tray 3 (memory guide portion 31, cartridge guide portion 33, drive input guide portion 38) functions as a guide portion to the drive input positioning portion 37 of the cartridge tray 3. At this time, the developer rotation determining boss (driving side) 28a of the cartridge tray 3 comes into contact with the rotation stopper boss guide portion 91b of the developer pressure member 91, and the position is determined.

[0172] The mounting posture and insertion trajectory of the developer cartridge 8 differ depending on the gripping angle and insertion action of each user of the developer cartridge 8. Therefore, each portion of the guide member of the cartridge tray 3 (memory guide portion 31, cartridge guide portion 33, drive input guide portion 38) can guide the developer roller cover positioning portion 68a to the developer roller positioning portion 35. In addition, each of these portions can guide the drive input cover positioning portion 68b to the drive input positioning portion 37. However, regardless of the mounting posture, the developer cartridge 8 is smoothly guided by each guide portion.

[0173] FIG. 24C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge 8 when it is mounted on the cartridge tray 3 and in the first mounting position where the developing roller 6 abuts against the photosensitive drum, i.e., when the mounting of the developing cartridge 8 to the cartridge tray 3 is completed. At this time, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b of the developing cartridge 8 abut against the developing roller positioning portion 35 and the drive input positioning portion 37 of the cartridge tray 3, respectively. In this manner, the cartridge side positioning portion of the developing cartridge 8 is smoothly guided by the abutting surface of the guide side positioning portion. Also, as described above, the memory guide portion 31 and the memory unit support portion 34 serve both as the guide portion of the developing cartridge 8 and the positioning portion for the memory tag unit 80, thereby making it possible to save space compared to the case where they are provided separately.

[0174] When the developer cartridge 8 is mounted, the developer rotation stop boss 28a first comes into contact with the rotation stop boss guide portion 91b provided on the developer pressure member 91 of the cartridge tray 3. Next, the developer cartridge 8 is moved in the direction of the arrow M, which is the developer cartridge mounting direction. As the mounting of the developer cartridge 8 progresses, the developer rotation stop boss 28a rotates the developer pressure member 91 in the direction of the arrow K about the pressure member rotation center 91a, and comes into contact with the cartridge pressure portion 91c, resulting in the mounting state shown in FIG. 24C. In the mounted state, the developer rotation stop boss 28a is pressurized in the direction of the arrow H by the spring force of the developer pressure spring 90. As a result, the developer cartridge 8 is pressed in the direction of the arrow H, and the developing roller cover positioning is performed. The developing roller positioning portion 68a and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b are stably positioned by the developing roller positioning portion 35 and the drive input positioning portion 37 of the guide member. As a result, the developing roller 6 and the photosensitive drum 4 come into contact with each other, enabling image formation. In the state shown in FIG. 24C, the developing roller rotation stop boss 28a does not come into contact with the spacing member 92, but has a gap therebetween.

[0175] Furthermore, in the state shown in Figure 24C, the developing cartridge 8 is moved in the direction of the arrow M. As a result, the attitude regulating boss 85 of the pressing spring receiving member 84 comes into contact with the attitude regulating hole 86 of the cartridge side cover 68, and the memory tag 81 is pressed toward the tray side contact portion 32 by the spring force of the memory tag pressing spring 83 (see Figure 24C). Furthermore, the position of the memory tag pressing member 82 fixing the memory tag 81 is regulated by the memory unit support portion 34 provided on the tray side contact portion 32 of the cartridge guide portion 3.

[0176] That is, the memory tag unit 80 had a gap with respect to the developing cartridge 8, but the memory unit support portion 34 and the memory tag pressing member 82 come into contact, and the attitude regulation boss 85 and the attitude regulation hole 86 come into contact. As a result, the memory tag unit 80 fits into the memory unit support portion 34, the memory tag pressing spring 83 is compressed, and a gap Tc (Ta>Tc) is formed between the rear regulation portion 82b and the spring receiving member regulated portion 84d. This restricts the movement of the memory tag unit 80 in the second and third directions. Note that the memory tag pressing member 82 fits into the memory unit support portion 34, so that the movement of the memory tag unit 80 is restricted even in the first direction, that is, the longitudinal direction. With the above configuration, the electrical contact portion of the memory tag 81 comes into contact with and is fixed to the tray side contact portion 32. The contact pressure of the contact portion of the memory tag 81 may be any pressure that ensures stable positioning, and may be determined by the shape of the memory unit support portion 34 or the memory tag pressing member 82 provided on the tray side contact portion 32 .

[0177] FIG. 24D is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge 8 in which the developing roller 6 of the developing cartridge 8 is separated from the photosensitive drum 4 of the cartridge tray 3 and is in a separated position (second mounting position) with respect to the cartridge tray 3. In this embodiment, such a separated state is possible for the purpose of extending the component life of the developing roller 6 and the photosensitive drum 4. Therefore, even if the developing roller 6 is separated from the photosensitive drum 4, it is necessary to maintain the electrical connection state between the memory tag 81 and the tray side contact portion. As shown in FIG. 20, in order to separate the developing cartridge 8, spacing members 92, 93 are configured on the driving side and non-driving side of the cartridge tray 3. As shown in the WW cross section of FIG. 20, the spacing member 92 on the driving side has a spacing member rotation center 9 The spacing member 92 is attached so as to be rotatable around 2a. The spacing member 93 on the non-driven side is also configured to have a rotation center at a symmetrical position and operates in the same way, so a description thereof will be omitted. The spacing member 92 receives a spacing member pressing force F due to a spacing member pressing force (not shown) from the image forming apparatus 1. This enables the spacing member 92 to rotate in the direction of arrow J.

[0178] 24D is a diagram showing a state in which the spacing member 92 has rotated in the direction of arrow J due to the spacing member pressing force F from the state shown in FIG. 24C. Here, the developer rotation stop boss (driving side) 28a of the developer cartridge 8 rotates the developer pressure member 91 in the direction of arrow K around the pressure member rotation center 91a as the rotation center, and moves and is lifted in accordance with the rotation of the spacing member 92 (see FIG. 20). As a result, the developing roller 6 moves from the first mounting position to the second mounting position described above, and is separated from the photosensitive drum 4.

[0179] At this time, the position control holes 86a, 86b (see FIG. 22) of the cartridge side cover 68 also move and are lifted in accordance with the rotation in the direction of the arrow K. The direction in which the memory tag 81 presses the tray side contact portion 32 is approximately the same as the horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity when the cartridge side cover 68 is lifted. Furthermore, the memory tag pressing member 82 of the memory tag unit 80 and the memory unit support portion 34 are already in a fitted relationship, and their relative positional relationship does not change in the first, second, and third directions. Therefore, the memory tag The pressure spring receiving member 84, which is movable in the third direction relative to the tag pressing member 82, moves in the third direction when the position restricting boss 85 is pressed by the position restricting hole 86. As a result, the memory tag pressing spring 83 is further compressed from the state shown in FIG. 24C, and the gap between the rear restricting portion 82b and the spring receiving member restricted portion 84d becomes a gap Td (Ta>Tc>Td) and becomes narrower. That is, as shown in FIG. 24C and FIG. 24D, the developing roller 6 moves from the contact position (first mounting position) with respect to the photosensitive drum 4 to the separated position (second mounting position). In this case, the pressure spring receiving member 84 as a moving member approaches the memory tag pressing member 82, which is a memory holding member, and further compresses the memory tag pressing spring 83. This maintains electrical and mechanical contact of the memory tag 81 with the tray side contact portion 32.

[0180] <Memory tag and cartridge guide length> The longitudinal relationship between the memory tag unit portion and the cartridge guide portion of the cartridge tray 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 24A to 24D, 19, and 20. FIG. As described above, when the developing cartridge 8 is mounted on the cartridge tray 3, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b, which are positioning portions of the developing cartridge 8, pass through or pass while abutting against the memory guide portion 31 and the memory unit support portion 34 of the cartridge tray 3. Thereafter, the positioning portion on the developing cartridge 8 side moves to the mounting completion position while abutting against the cartridge guide portion 33 or the drive input guide portion 38.

[0181] For example, in the example of Figures 24A and 24B, when the developing cartridge 8 is inserted into the cartridge tray 3, the following cases are possible depending on the angle of the developing cartridge 8 at the time of insertion. That is, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a may first come into contact with and be guided on the side opposite to the side on which the memory guide portion 31 and the memory unit support portion 34 are provided. It is also possible that the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a comes into contact with the drive input guide portion 38, is guided, and then moves downward. However, in either case, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a is guided downward while coming into contact with the cartridge guide portion 33, etc., and fits into the developing roller positioning portion 35.

[0182] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 20, the memory guide portion 31 and the memory unit support portion 34 are provided at approximately the same position as the cartridge guide portion 33 in the longitudinal direction. That is, a member for defining the positional relationship between each positioning portion of the developing cartridge 8 and the cartridge tray 3, and a member for defining the positional relationship between the memory tag unit 80 of the developing cartridge 8 and the cartridge tray 3 are provided at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. With this arrangement, the developing roller cover positioning portion 68a and the drive input cover positioning portion 68b are guided by contacting the memory guide portion 31, the memory unit support portion 34, etc., regardless of the angle at which the developing cartridge 8 is inserted. As a result, it is possible to significantly prevent the user from making a mistake in the insertion position.

[0183] Furthermore, guide portions such as the cartridge guide portion 33, the developing roller positioning portion 35, and the developing roller positioning guide portion 36 of the cartridge tray 3, fixing portions such as the memory unit support portion 34 for fixing the memory tag unit 80, and the tray side contact portion 32 with the memory tag 81 are provided at substantially the same positions in the longitudinal direction. As a result, when the developing cartridge is mounted, the cartridge guide portion 33 and the memory tag unit 80 are disposed at substantially the same positions in the longitudinal direction. This configuration improves the longitudinal positioning accuracy of the memory tag unit 80. The improved longitudinal positioning accuracy allows the memory tag unit 80 to stably engage, thereby improving the accuracy of alignment between the tray side contact portion 32 of the cartridge tray 3 and the electrical contact portion of the memory tag 81 of the developing cartridge 8. This allows the size of the memory tag contacts to be reduced, and also improves the stability of the electrical connection.

[0184] Furthermore, when the guide portion of the cartridge tray 3 and the fixed portion and contact portion of the memory tag unit 80 are positioned at approximately the same longitudinal position as the cartridge guide portion 33, the following favorable effects are achieved compared to when the fixed portion and contact portion are positioned inside or outside the guide portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0185] First, consider a case where the fixing portion and electrical contact portion of the memory tag 81 are arranged on the outer side of the cartridge guide portion 33 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge tray 3. In this case, the memory tag unit 80 is also arranged on the outer side of the cartridge tray 3 in the longitudinal direction, and a space must be secured for this. As a result, the size of the cartridge tray 3 increases. Also, a corresponding space is required for the device main body 2. This increases the size of the main body. On the other hand, if they are arranged at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction, the increase in the size of the cartridge tray 3 and the device main body 2 can be suppressed, and the device can be made smaller.

[0186] Next, consider a case where the fixing portion and the electrical contact portion of the memory tag 81 are arranged on the inside of the cartridge guide portion 33 in the longitudinal direction in the cartridge tray 3. In this case, the memory tag unit 80 is also arranged on the inside of the developer cartridge 8 in the longitudinal direction, and the memory tag unit 80 and the developer accommodating frame 28 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. As a result, in order to secure the space, it becomes necessary to shorten the developer accommodating frame 28 in the longitudinal direction or to reduce the size of the developer accommodating frame 28. As a result, the developer capacity that can be stored is reduced. On the other hand, if they are arranged at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction, it is not necessary to reduce the size of the developer accommodating frame 28, and the developer capacity can be secured.

[0187] In the above description, the guide parts such as the cartridge guide part 33 and the fixed parts and contact parts of the memory tag unit 80 are arranged at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. However, if the guide parts and the fixed parts and contact parts of the memory are arranged so as to overlap at least partially in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, it is possible to obtain the effects of preventing an increase in the device size and a decrease in the developer capacity.

[0188] Furthermore, by making the cartridge guide portion 33 and the fixing portion and contact portion of the memory fit within the width of one side of the cartridge tray frame 30, an increase in the size of the device can be prevented. Here, as shown in FIG. 20(a), among the side walls of the cartridge tray frame 30, the side walls corresponding to the two sides extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are defined as the first side wall 30a and the second side wall 30b. The first side wall 30a is the side on which the fixing portion and contact portion of the memory are disposed, and is the side corresponding to the memory tag unit 80 when the developing cartridge is mounted. In this case, by making the cartridge guide portion 33 and the fixing portion and contact portion of the memory fit within the width of the first side wall 30a in the longitudinal direction, an increase in the size of the device can be prevented.

[0189] Thus, in this embodiment, the guide portion of the cartridge tray 3 and the fixing portion and contact portion of the memory tag unit 80 are arranged to at least partially overlap in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and more preferably are arranged at approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, in an image forming apparatus 1 in which a developing cartridge 8 provided with a memory tag 81, which is a memory medium, is detachably attached to the cartridge tray 3, it is possible to prevent an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus 1 and a decrease in the developer capacity. It also becomes possible to stably connect the memory tag 81, which is a memory medium.

[0190] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pressing spring receiving member 84 is movable in the third direction by the position restriction boss 85 being pressed by the position restriction hole 86. The direction in which the memory tag 81 is pressed against the contact portion 32 is substantially the same as the direction in which the developing cartridge 8 moves relative to the cartridge tray 3 when the developing roller 6 separates from the photosensitive drum 4. For example, suppose that the direction in which the memory tag 81 presses the tray-side contact portion 32 is opposite to the direction in which the developing cartridge 8 moves relative to the cartridge tray 3. In this case, in order to move the memory tag 81 and the tray-side contact portion 32 while maintaining the electrical connection between them, it is necessary to ensure a wide gap between the rear regulating portion 82b and the spring receiving member regulated portion 84d. This increases the range of movement of the memory tag pressing member 82 relative to the pressing spring receiving member 84, and the memory tag unit 80 and the memory tag pressing spring 83 cannot be made small. However, by configuring as described above, the positions of the memory tag 81 and the tray-side contact portion 32 are arranged so that they approach each other from the insertion position to the abutting position and from the abutting position to the separated position. In this way, the range of movement of the memory tag pressing member 82 relative to the pressing spring receiving member 84 can be reduced. The memory tag unit 80 can be made smaller by reducing the range of motion of the memory tag pressing member 82 relative to the pressing spring receiving member 84. Furthermore, the memory tag pressing spring 83 can be made smaller and the holding force for fitting the memory unit support part 34 and the memory tag pressing member 82 can be reduced, so that the load applied to the memory tag 81 and the tray side contact part 32 can be reduced.

[0191] [Embodiment 4] Configuration of the image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus 501 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a developing cartridge 502 used in the image forming apparatus 501 will be described. Fig. 25(a) is a conceptual diagram showing a cross section of an image forming apparatus 501. Fig. 25(b) is a perspective view of a developing cartridge 502. Fig. 25(c) is an enlarged view of a part of the developing cartridge 502, which corresponds to the part circled in Fig. 25(b). Fig. 25(d) is a conceptual diagram of Fig. 25(a) as viewed from cross section DD.

[0192] The image forming apparatus 501 is an electrophotographic printer such as a laser printer or an LED printer. The image forming apparatus 501 includes, as main components, an image forming apparatus main body 504 (also simply referred to as a "main body"), a developing cartridge 502, and a cartridge tray 503. In this embodiment, the number of developing cartridges 502 is four, 2A to 2D, and the cartridge tray 503 includes a frame capable of holding all four developing cartridges 502. The image forming apparatus 501 forms an image on a recording surface of a print sheet with a developer 521 (for example, toner) supplied from the developing cartridge 502. A more detailed configuration will be described later. Note that, unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them, they will simply be referred to as developing cartridges 502.

[0193] 26 is a perspective view of the cartridge tray 503 and the developing cartridge 502. The four developing cartridges 502A to 502D are respectively arranged in four slots 531 provided in the cartridge tray 503. Each developing cartridge 502 is individually replaceable, and when replacing the developing cartridges 502, the cartridge tray 503 is pulled out from the front of the image forming apparatus 501, and then the developing cartridge 502 attached to the slot 531 is removed and a new developing cartridge 502 is attached. A photosensitive drum 532 serving as an image carrier is provided near the bottom of each of the four slots 531.

[0194] The four developing cartridges 502 in this embodiment contain developers 521 of different colors (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). However, the number of developing cartridges 502 mounted on the cartridge tray 503 is not limited to four, and may be three or less, or five or more.

[0195] As shown in FIG. 25(c), the four developing cartridges 502 each have a memory tag The memory tag unit 522 includes a memory tag 221 and a memory tag holder 222. The memory tag 221 further includes an electrical contact surface that physically contacts the electrical contact 416 and a memory element electrically connected to the electrical contact surface. That is, the memory tag 221 is an IC chip that can read and write information and can store information. Here, the memory tag 221 stores information about the developing cartridge. Examples of the information about the developing cartridge include information about the remaining amount of developer 521, information about the cumulative amount of developer consumed, the cumulative number of rotations of the developing roller 525, and information about the date of start of use. Of course, the information is not limited to these. These multiple developing cartridges 502 are lined up in the slot so as to be aligned in the same direction. Therefore, the multiple memory tags 221 are lined up in series in the insertion direction of the cartridge tray 503, and the multiple connector parts 411 of the memory tag connector unit 541 described later are also lined up in series so as to face the memory tags 221. As shown in FIGS. 25(a) to 25(d), the image forming apparatus main body 504 includes an electric control unit 540, a memory tag connector unit 541 as a memory connecting means, a control unit 542, an optical unit 543, and a display 544.

[0196] The control unit 542 is electrically connected to the memory tag connector unit 541, and has a processor such as a CPU and various memories. The control unit 542 is formed, for example, of a circuit board. The processor of the control unit 542 operates according to programs stored in the memory or instructions input by the user, thereby executing various processes in the image forming apparatus 501. The electric control unit 540 is a control unit that manages the electric system related to driving, and is formed of a circuit or the like in which elements such as a capacitor are arranged, and functions as a motor driver or the like. The control unit 542 may execute the function of the electric control unit.

[0197] An optical unit 543 is disposed above in the second direction (on the upper side in the Z direction on the paper) the cartridge tray 503 in which the four developing cartridges 502 are mounted. The optical unit 543 irradiates the charged photosensitive drum 532 with laser light according to image information, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

[0198] 25(d), the memory tag connector unit 541 is provided adjacent to the optical unit 543 in the first direction on the apparatus main body side. In conventional image forming apparatuses, an area 547 adjacent to the optical unit 543 between side plates 548, 49 supporting the cartridge tray 503 etc. was empty space. In this embodiment, the memory tag connector unit 541 can be arranged without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus 501 by utilizing the area 547 adjacent to the optical unit 543.

[0199] In this embodiment, a memory tag connector unit 541 is provided above the developing cartridge 502 in the second direction. The memory tag connector unit 541 is disposed so as to face the memory means when the cartridge tray 503 with the developing cartridge 502 housed in the slot 531 is inserted into the main body. The memory tag connector unit 541 moves in conjunction with an operation of closing a front door 545 of the image forming apparatus main body 504, and engages with the memory tag unit 522 of each developing cartridge 502. As a result, the control unit 542 and each memory tag 221 are electrically connected. The behavior of the memory tag connector unit 541 will be described in detail later.

[0200] The display 544 displays various information related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 501 on the screen in accordance with commands from the control unit 542. The information on the display can be used, for example, for inputting user instructions. The four developing cartridges 502 inserted into the cartridge tray 503 each have the same configuration and perform the same operation. Therefore, in the following description, one slot 531 will be described as a representative.

[0201] <Developing cartridge configuration> 27 and 28 are perspective views of the developing cartridge 502 as viewed from different directions. In order to show the positional relationship between the developing cartridge 502 and the photosensitive drum 532, the photosensitive drum 532 installed in the cartridge tray 503 is shown in an extracted state. The developing cartridge 502 of this embodiment has, as its main components, a memory tag unit 522, a developing container 523, a gear portion 524, and a developing roller 525. The memory tag unit 522 is disposed on the upper surface of the developing cartridge 502. The upper surface here is a surface that constitutes the portion of the developing cartridge 502 downstream in the insertion direction.

[0202] The developing container 523 is a housing capable of containing the developer 521. The housing is formed of a resin frame or the like. Inside the developing container 523, a storage chamber 235 for containing the developer 521 is provided. The developing container 523 has a first surface 231 provided at an end on one side in the first direction, and a second surface 232 provided at an end on the opposite side to the first surface 231 in the first direction. The developing container 523 has a third surface 233 which is an upper surface portion in the second direction. In addition, the developing container 523 has a visor portion 234 located on an extension of the third surface 233 in the first direction. The gear portion 524 is located on the first surface 231. The developing container 523 has a grip portion 237 located at the third surface 233. The grip portion 237 has a protruding portion 239 protruding in the second direction.

[0203] In this embodiment, the memory tag unit 522 is positioned so as to straddle the overhanging portion 234 and the third surface 233. At least one side of the cartridge tray 503 needs to be open toward the main body. This allows the developer cartridge 502 to be housed in the cartridge tray, and the memory means is not covered by the cartridge tray 503 even when the developer cartridge is housed, so that the third surface 233 of the developer cartridge 502 after housing can face the memory connection means on the main body side. However, the memory tag unit 522 may be located at the end of the third surface 233 in the first direction or the overhanging portion 234. This allows the space of the housing chamber 235 in which the developer 521 is housed to be kept intact or to be minimized, so that the developer 521 can be efficiently housed in the housing chamber 235.

[0204] The developing container 523 has a developing roller 525 as a developer carrier and an opening 236 for supplying the developer 521 to the developing roller 525. The opening 236 is located on the surface opposite to the third surface 233 across the storage chamber 235. The developing roller 525 is a roller that can rotate around a rotation axis extending in the first direction. The developing roller 525 is disposed opposite to the opening 236 of the developing container 523. That is, the third surface 233 is a surface that is located on the opposite side to the developing roller 525 across the storage chamber 235. The developing roller 525 of this embodiment has a developing roller main body 251 and a developing roller shaft 252. The developing roller main body 251 is a cylindrical member that extends in the first direction. The developing roller main body 251 is made of a material, for example, rubber having elasticity.

[0205] The developing roller shaft 252 is a cylindrical member that penetrates the developing roller main body 251 in the first direction. The material of the developing roller shaft 252 is a metal or a resin having electrical conductivity. The developing roller main body 251 is fixed to the developing roller shaft 252 so as not to rotate relative to the developing roller shaft 252. One end of the developing roller shaft 252 in the first direction is fixed to a developing roller gear 241 (described later) so as not to rotate relative to the developing roller gear 241. Therefore, when the developing roller gear 241 rotates, the developing roller shaft 252 also rotates, and the developing roller main body 251 rotates together with the developing roller shaft 252. The developing roller shaft 252 does not have to penetrate the developing roller main body 251 in the first direction. For example, a pair of developing roller shafts 252 may extend in the first direction from both ends of the developing roller main body 251 in the first direction.

[0206] As shown in FIG. 25(a), the developing cartridge 502 has a supply roller 246. The supply roller 246 is located between the developing roller 525 and the storage chamber 235. The supply roller 246 is rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction. When the developing cartridge 502 receives a driving force, the developer 521 is supplied from the storage chamber 235 in the developing container 523 to the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller main body 251 via the supply roller 246. At that time, the developer 521 is triboelectrically charged between the supply roller 246 and the developing roller 525. Meanwhile, a bias voltage is applied to the developing roller shaft 252 of the developing roller 525. Therefore, the developer 521 is attracted to the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller main body 251 by the electrostatic force between the developing roller shaft 252 and the developer 521.

[0207] The developing cartridge 502 also has a developing blade 526. The developing blade 526 shapes the developer 521 supplied to the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller body 251 to a constant thickness. Thereafter, the developer 521 on the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller body 251 is supplied to a photosensitive drum 532 provided in the drawer tray 3. At this time, the developer 521 moves from the developing roller body 251 to the photosensitive drum 532 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 532. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is visualized on the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 532.

[0208] The gear portion 524 is located on the first surface 231 of the developing container 523. The gear portion 524 has a developing roller gear 241, a coupling 242, and a side cover 244. Note that in Figs. 27 and 28, illustration of multiple gear teeth of each gear is omitted. The coupling 242 is a gear that first receives the driving force supplied from the image forming apparatus 501. The coupling 242 is capable of rotating around a rotation axis extending in the first direction. The coupling 242 is provided with a fastening hole 243 recessed in the first direction. In addition, multiple gear teeth (not shown) are provided at equal intervals around the outer periphery of the coupling 242.

[0209] When the cartridge tray 503 on which the developing cartridge 502 is mounted is housed in the image forming apparatus main body 504, the drive shaft (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 504 is inserted into the fastening hole 243 of the coupling 242. This couples the drive shaft and the coupling 242 so as not to rotate relative to each other. Therefore, when the drive shaft rotates, the coupling 242 rotates. The developing roller gear 241 is a gear for rotating the developing roller 525. The developing roller gear 241 is rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the first direction. A plurality of gear teeth (not shown) are provided at equal intervals around the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the developing roller gear 241. A portion of the plurality of gear teeth of the coupling 242 and a portion of the plurality of gear teeth of the developing roller gear 241 mesh with each other. The developing roller gear 241 is attached to the end of the developing roller shaft 252 of the developing roller 525 in the first direction so as not to rotate relative to each other. Therefore, when the coupling 242 rotates, the developing roller gear 241 rotates, and together with the developing roller gear 241, the developing roller 525 also rotates.

[0210] <Inserting the developing cartridge into the cartridge tray> Next, the inserting operation of the developing cartridge 502 into the cartridge tray 503 will be described. FIG. 29 and FIG. 30 are diagrams showing the behavior when the developing cartridge 502 is inserted into the cartridge tray 503. As shown in FIG. 26, FIG. 29, and FIG. 30, the cartridge tray 503 has a first guide plate 533 and a second guide plate 534, a pair of pressure members 535 (35A, 35B) provided at both ends, and a spacing member 536. As shown in FIG. 26, the pressure members 535A and 35B are disposed at the ends in the first direction of each of the four slots 531 in the cartridge tray 503. The pressure member 535A is disposed on the side of the end of the cartridge tray 503 in the first direction where the memory tag unit 522 is located. The pressure member 535B is disposed on the side of the end of the cartridge tray 503 in the first direction where the memory tag unit 522 is not located.

[0211] The pressure member 535 included in the cartridge tray 503 has a pressure elastic body (not shown). The pressure elastic body is formed of, for example, a coil spring or the like. As shown in FIG. 29, the pressure member 535 is biased in the direction of arrow a. The spacing members 536 are provided in each of the four slots 531 in the cartridge tray 503, at both ends of the cartridge tray 503 in the first direction. The spacing member 536 included in the cartridge tray 503 has a spacing elastic body (not shown) and is biased in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 29. The spacing elastic body can also be formed of, for example, a coil spring or the like.

[0212] On the other hand, the developer container 523 included in the developer cartridge 502 has a developer protrusion 238 as a protruding member. The developer protrusion 238 is a columnar member extending in the first direction from the first surface 231 of the developer container 523. The developer protrusion 238 is not covered by the side cover 244 and is exposed to the outside.

[0213] The first guide plate 533 and the second guide plate 534 are members provided at each end of the cartridge tray 503 in the first direction for guiding the developing cartridges 502 into the respective slots 531. The first guide plate 533 and the second guide plate 534 face each other with a gap therebetween in the third direction.

[0214] When the developing cartridge 502 is mounted on the cartridge tray 503, first, as shown in FIG. 29, the developing cartridge 502 is guided so that the developing roller gear 241 and a part of the side cover 244 of the developing cartridge 502 are positioned between the first guide plate 533 and the second guide plate 534. The guided developing cartridge 502 is inserted in the second direction (downward) into the cartridge tray 503 (first position). At this time, the developing projection 238 of the developing container 523 comes into contact with the side surface 351 of the pressure member 535 and the upper surface 361 of the spacing member 536. At this point, the photosensitive drum 532 and the developing roller 525 are not yet in contact with each other.

[0215] Next, referring to FIG. 30, a rotational operation of the developer container 523 after the developer cartridge 502 is inserted into the cartridge tray 503 will be described. After the developer cartridge 502 is inserted into the cartridge tray 503, the developer container 523 rotates with respect to the cartridge tray 503 about the center 245 of the coupling 242. Specifically, the developer cartridge 502 is tilted in the direction of the arrow c with respect to the cartridge tray 503 with the center 245 of the coupling 242 as the rotation center. Due to the force generated during this rotation, the developer protrusion 238 of the developer container 523 moves against the pressure force of the pressure member 535 to a position where it contacts the lower surface 352 of the pressure member 535 (second position). During the rotational operation, the user may push the developer cartridge 502 in while sliding the developer cartridge between the first guide plate 533 and the second guide plate 534.

[0216] The second position is a position where an image can be formed, and is a predetermined position of the developing cartridge 502 in the cartridge tray 503. In addition, in the second position, the developing protrusion 238 and the spacing member 536 are not in contact with each other. Even in the second position, the pressure member 535 presses the developing protrusion 238 in the direction of the arrow a. This causes the developing roller 525 to be pressed against the photosensitive drum 532. When the user inserts the developing cartridge 502 into the cartridge tray 503, it is in either the first position or the second position. In other words, the user may leave the developing cartridge 502 in the first position, or may push it into the second position.

[0217] Here, it is desirable that the developing roller 525 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 532 with a uniform force. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the pressures of the pressure members 535A and 535B are pressure A and pressure B, respectively, taking into consideration the engagement force with which the memory tag connector unit 541, which will be described later, engages with the memory tag unit 522, pressure B is set to be greater than pressure A. However, taking into consideration the influence of other factors, appropriate pressures A and B may be set. This allows the contact pressure of the developing roller 525 against the photosensitive drum 532 to be kept optimal, making it possible to form a good image.

[0218] <<Insertion Operation into Cartridge Tray of Image Forming Apparatus>> With reference to FIG. 31, the behavior of the developing cartridge 502 when the cartridge tray 503 is inserted into the main body will be described. FIG. 31 shows how the cartridge tray 503 is inserted with the front door 545 of the image forming apparatus main body 504 open. The front door 545 is a door part provided in the main body, and is a door part that is provided at the insertion port of the cartridge tray 503 and can be opened and closed by the user. The image forming apparatus main body 504 has an abutment protrusion 546 that is a member protruding downward from above. FIG. 31(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cartridge tray 503 with the developing cartridge 502 attached thereto is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 504. FIG. 31(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cartridge tray 503 with the developing cartridge 502 attached thereto is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 504.

[0219] At the time of FIG. 31(a), as described above, the relative positions of the developing cartridge 502 and the cartridge tray 503 may be either the first position before being pushed all the way in or the second position after being pushed in. However, the developing cartridge 502 at the first position moves to the second position during the process of inserting the cartridge tray 503 into the image forming apparatus main body 504 in the third direction. Specifically, the gripping portion 237 of the developing cartridge 502 interferes with the abutting protrusion 546 of the image forming apparatus main body 504, so that the gripping portion 237 receives a force in the direction of the arrow d. As a result, the developing cartridge 502 rotates around the center 245 of the coupling 242 and moves to the second position. As a result, as shown in FIG. 31(b), when the cartridge tray 503 is in the image forming apparatus main body 504, the developing cartridge 502 is attached to the cartridge tray 503 at the second position. 31(a), the grip portion 237 of the developing cartridge 502 in the second position does not interfere with the abutment protrusion 546 even during the process of inserting the cartridge tray 503 into the image forming apparatus main body 504 in the third direction, so that the developing cartridge 502 maintains the second position.

[0220] 32 shows the behavior of memory tag connector unit 541 of image forming apparatus main body 504. Memory tag connector unit 541 has, as main components, a connector portion 411, a connector holding portion 412, and an elastic member 415. Connector portion 411 has electric contacts 416, a connector guided portion 414, and a pressure receiving surface 418. Connector holding portion 412 as holding means has a pair of connector guide portions 413 and a pressure receiving surface 417.

[0221] FIG. 32(a) is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the first direction when the cartridge tray 503 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 504 and the front door 545 is open. FIG. 32(b) is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the first direction when the memory tag connector unit 541 moves in the direction of the arrow e in FIG. 32(a) in conjunction with the operation of closing the front door 545 and engages with the memory tag unit 522. When the front door 545 is open, the memory tag connector unit 541 is in an upper retreat position, and does not come into contact with the memory tag holder 222 even if the cartridge tray 503 is inserted into or pulled out of the main body. In other words, if the front door 545 is open, no friction of the memory tag occurs even if the cartridge tray 503 is in the first tray position stored in the main body or in the second tray position pulled out from the main body. Then, when the front door 545 is closed, the memory tag connector unit 541 moves downward from the retreat position and is placed in a connectable position where it can be connected to the memory tag.

[0222] This movement causes the memory tag connector unit 541 to engage with the memory tag holder 222 of the developing cartridge 502 in the second position. This causes the memory tag connector unit 541 and the memory tag holder 222 to be positioned, and the memory tag 221 and electrical contact 416 come into contact with each other with a predetermined pressure. As a result, memory tag connector unit 541 and memory tag unit 522 are positioned. Also, control unit 542 and memory tag 221 are electrically connected.

[0223] ≪Separation operation≫ When the cartridge tray 503 in which the developing cartridge 502 is arranged has been completely inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 504, the developing cartridge 502 is in the rotated second position, and the photosensitive drum 532 and the developing roller 525 are in the contact position. In this state, the image forming apparatus main body 504 can perform a separation operation at a predetermined timing to separate the developing roller 525 from the photosensitive drum 532. Figure 33 is a diagram showing the state of the separation operation.

[0224] The image forming apparatus 501 has a separation lever. The separation lever is provided, for example, near a side plate of the cartridge tray 503. Then, the separation lever presses the separation member 536 of the cartridge tray 503 by the driving force from the image forming apparatus 501, and the separation member 536 moves in the direction of the arrow f in FIG. 33 toward the pressure member 535. As a result, the separation member 536 comes into contact with the development protrusion 238 and presses the development protrusion 238 in a direction away from the photosensitive drum 532 against the pressure of the pressure member 535 (state of FIG. 33(a)). As a result, the development container 523 and the development roller 525 of the development cartridge 502 move in the direction of the arrow f (separation direction) in FIG. 33 (third position, state of FIG. 33(b)). As a result, the development roller 525 and the photosensitive drum 532 are in a separated state. This series of operations is called a separating operation, and the positional relationship between developing roller 525 and photosensitive drum 532 in the separated state is called a separating position. The separating direction (arrow f direction) is a direction intersecting with the first direction.

[0225] <Memory tag connector unit configuration> In this embodiment, even if the positional relationship changes between the abutting position and the separated position, the engagement between the connector portion 411 of the memory tag connector unit 541 and the memory tag holding portion 222 of the memory tag unit 522 is maintained. Therefore, in any positional relationship, the electrical connection between the control portion 542 and the memory tag as memory means is maintained. Such maintenance of the engaged state between the connector portion 411 and the memory tag holding portion 222 is possible due to the configuration of the connector portion 411, which will be described later.

[0226] With reference to Fig. 34, a configuration in which the connector portion 411 of the memory tag connector unit 541 moves following the separating operation of the developing cartridge 502 will be described. Fig. 34(a) is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the memory tag connector unit 541 and the cartridge tray 503. Fig. 34(b) is an enlarged view of the circled portion in Fig. 34(a). Fig. 34(c) is a diagram showing the force applied when the memory tag unit 522 and the memory tag connector unit 541 are connected.

[0227] As described above, the memory tag connector unit 541 has, as its main components, a connector portion 411, a plate-shaped connector holding portion 412, and an elastic member 415. The connector holding portion 412 has a pair of connector guide portions 413 extending along the separation direction (arrow f direction), and a pressure receiving surface 417. As shown in FIG. 34(c), the connector portion 411 has a protrusion 410, an electrical contact 416, a connector guided portion 414 facing the pair of connector guide portions 413, and a pressure receiving surface 418. Note that, in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller, the direction in which the connector guide portion 413 extends is not limited to being completely aligned with the separation direction (arrow f direction). The direction in which the connector guide portion 413 extends does not need to be completely aligned with the approximately separation direction (arrow f direction) as long as the connector guided portion 414 is movable. For example, if there is a gap between the guide surface (inner surface) of the connector guide portion 413 and the guided surface of the connector guided portion 414, the extending direction of the connector guide portion 413 will completely coincide with the separation direction (arrow f direction). Even if the protruding portion 410 is swingable / movable relative to the connector guided portion 414, the extending direction of the connector guide portion 413 does not need to completely match the separating direction (the direction of the arrow f).

[0228] The pair of connector guide portions 413 are both side surfaces of a groove-like portion formed in the connector holding portion 412, and an elastic member 415 is disposed in the groove-like portion. The connector guided portion 414 is movable in the directions of arrow g and arrow f together with a portion of the connector portion 411 that abuts against the memory tag unit 522, i.e., a protruding portion 410 that protrudes from below the connector holding portion 412. The directions of arrow g and arrow f correspond to the directions in which the memory tag unit 522 moves when the position of the developing cartridge 502 with respect to the cartridge tray 503 changes between the separated position and the abutted position.

[0229] The connector guided portion 414 is guided by a pair of connector guide portions 413 (guide portions). Therefore, the connector guided portion 414 is movable in the separation direction (arrow f direction) relative to the pair of connector guide portions 413 along the pair of connector guide portions 413 extending in the separation direction (arrow f direction). That is, the connector portion 411 is movable in the separation direction (arrow f direction) relative to the connector holding portion 412. The elastic member 415 as a biasing means is interposed between the pressure receiving surface 418 of the connector portion 411 and the pressure receiving surface 417 of the connector holding portion 412, and always biases the connector portion 411 in the abutment direction (arrow g direction) that is the opposite direction to the separation direction relative to the connector holding portion 412. Therefore, the connector portion 411 is biased in the abutment direction (arrow g direction) relative to the connector holding portion 412 within the movable range of the pair of connector guide portions 413. In addition, due to the presence of connector guide portion 413, movement of connector portion 411 in directions other than the separation direction or the contact direction is restricted.

[0230] <Memory tag connector unit behavior during separation operation> FIG. 35 shows the behavior of the memory tag connector unit 541 during the separation operation. FIG. 35(a) is a view of a part of the image forming apparatus 501 with the front door 545 open, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The developing cartridge 502 in FIG. 35(a) is in the second position. FIG. 35(b) is a view of a part of the image forming apparatus 501 with the front door 545 closed, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The developing cartridge 502 is also in the second position in FIG. 35(b). FIG. 35(c) is a view of the memory tag connector unit 541 engaged with the memory tag unit 522, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The developing cartridge 502 at this time is in the third position.

[0231] With reference to Figure 35 (a), the positions of the memory tag unit 522 and the memory tag connector unit 541 before the front door 545 is closed will be described. Since the developing cartridge 502 is in the second position, the position of the memory tag unit 522 is fixed. Also, the memory tag connector unit 541 is located above the developing cartridge 502 in the second direction, and as described above, the connector part 411 receives a biasing force from the elastic member 415 in the direction opposite to the separating direction (the direction of arrow g), and is biased in the direction opposite to the separating direction (the direction of arrow g) within the movable range. Therefore, the position of the memory tag connector unit 541 is fixed.

[0232] 35(b), a state in which the front door 545 is closed and the memory tag connector unit 541 moves in the direction of arrow e will be described. As the memory tag connector unit 541 moves downward on the paper surface, the protrusion 410 of the connector part 411 engages with the memory tag holding part 222.

[0233] Next, a state change accompanying the separation operation will be described with reference to Fig. 35(c). The connector portion 411 is held so as to be movable in the separation direction (arrow f direction), and in the opposite direction (arrow g direction). As it is biased in the direction (the direction of the arrow A), it moves following the change in position of the developing cartridge 502 caused by the separating operation. Therefore, the engagement state between the protrusion 410 of the connector part 411 and the memory tag holding part 222 is maintained. With this configuration, even when the separating operation is performed, the memory tag 221 does not rub against the electrical contact 416, and wear of the memory tag 221 and the electrical contact 416 can be reduced.

[0234] As described above, in image forming apparatus 501 of this embodiment, memory tag connector unit 541 is disposed in the vicinity in the first direction of optical unit 543, which conventionally had a space therebetween. Then, by closing front door 545 with cartridge tray 503 inserted inside the main body, the memory and control unit are electrically connected. Thus, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide image forming apparatus 501 having memory means without increasing the size of image forming apparatus 501.

[0235] In addition, by taking into consideration the engagement force with which the memory tag connector unit 541 (memory connection means) engages with the memory tag unit 522 and setting pressure force B greater than pressure force A, the contact pressure of the developing roller 525 against the photosensitive drum 532 can be kept optimal, enabling a good image to be output. Furthermore, by positioning the memory tag unit 522 so as to straddle both the overhanging portion 234 and the third surface 233, the reduction in space of the containing chamber 235 can be minimized, so that the developer 521 can be efficiently contained in the containing chamber 235. Furthermore, the memory tag connector unit 541 is provided with the elastic member 415, which allows it to follow the separation operation of the developing cartridge 502 and the photosensitive drum 532. This prevents the memory tag 221 from rubbing against the electrical contacts 416, reducing the risk of wear.

[0236] In addition, the memory tag unit 572 is provided on a surface that is not covered by the cartridge tray 503 when the developing cartridge 502 is accommodated in the cartridge tray 503, that is, on the upper surface (third surface 233) of the developing cartridge housing. Compared to providing the memory tag unit 572 on the side surface (first surface 231 or second surface 232) of the developing cartridge or on a surface of the developing cartridge 502 perpendicular to the third direction, the memory tag connector unit 541 can be incorporated into the main body under conditions that are less restricted by the configuration of the cartridge tray 503. For example, if the memory tag unit 572 is provided on the side surface of the developing cartridge, the side wall of the cartridge tray 503 gets in the way when attempting to connect the memory tag connector unit 541 to the memory tag unit 572. In addition, if the memory tag unit 572 is provided on a surface of the developing cartridge 502 perpendicular to the third direction or such that the electrical contact surface of the memory tag unit 572 intersects with the third direction, the memory tag connector unit 541 must be disposed inside the cartridge tray 503, which imposes restrictions on the arrangement. According to the above embodiment, such problems can be eliminated.

[0237] [Embodiment 5] An image forming apparatus 506 according to another embodiment of the present invention and a developing cartridge 507 used in the image forming apparatus 506 will be described. In the following description, differences from the above-mentioned Example 1 will be mainly described. The image forming apparatus 506 of this embodiment differs from the image forming apparatus 506 of Example 4 in the configurations of the memory tag unit 572 and the memory tag connector unit 591.

[0238] <Configuration of memory tag unit and memory tag connector unit> Figure 36 shows the configuration of the memory tag unit 572 arranged in the developing cartridge 507. Figures 36(a) and 36(b) are perspective views of the developing cartridge 507 seen from different directions, and also show the positional relationship with the photosensitive drum 532. Figure 36(c) is an enlarged view corresponding to the circled portion in Figure 36(b), and shows the detailed configuration of the memory means.

[0239] As shown, the memory tag unit 572 of this embodiment has a memory tag 721, a memory tag holding portion 722 as memory holding means for holding the memory tag 721, a memory tag guide portion 723 as memory guide means for guiding the memory tag holding portion 722, and a first elastic member 724 that applies a biasing force in the direction of arrow i to the memory tag holding portion 722. With this configuration, the memory tag 721 is held movably, and the direction of its movement is restricted to the third direction in which the cartridge tray 503 is inserted.

[0240] The developing container 573 is a housing capable of accommodating the developer 571. A storage chamber 735 for accommodating the developer 571 is provided inside the developing container 573. The developing container 573 has a first surface 731 provided at an end on one side in the first direction, and a second surface 732 provided at an end on the opposite side to the first surface 731 in the first direction. The developing container 573 has a third surface 733 which is an upper surface portion in the second direction. In addition, the developing container 573 has a eaves portion 734 located on an extension of the third surface 733 in the first direction. In this embodiment, the memory tag unit 572 is located so as to straddle both the eaves portion 734 and the third surface 733. However, the memory tag unit 572 may be located at the end of the third surface 733 in the first direction or the eaves portion 734. This allows the space of the storage chamber 735 in which the developer 571 is stored to be kept intact or to be minimized, and the developer 571 can be efficiently stored in the space of the storage chamber 735.

[0241] As described above, the memory tag guide portion 723 is provided so as to straddle the third surface 733 and the eaves portion 734 of the developing container 573, and has a pair of guide surfaces 725 (one of the guide surfaces is not shown) facing each other in the first direction. The guide surface 725 extends in the direction of the arrow h. The memory tag holding portion 722 has a guided surface (not shown) for being guided by the guide surface 725. Therefore, the memory tag holding portion 722 is supported so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow h along the guide surface 725 relative to the developing cartridge 507 by having the guided surface (not shown) guided by the guide surface 725. In addition, the first elastic member 724 applies a biasing force to the memory tag holding portion 722 in the direction of the arrow i (the opposite direction to the direction of the arrow h).

[0242] Figure 37 shows the configuration of the memory tag connector unit 591 of this embodiment. Figure 37(a) shows the configuration of the memory tag connector unit 591 and its positional relationship with the cartridge tray 503. Figure 37(b) is an enlarged view of the circled portion in Figure 37(a). Figure 37(c) shows the force applied when the memory tag unit 572 and the memory tag connector unit 591 are connected.

[0243] 37, the memory tag connector unit 591 has, as its main components, a connector portion 911, a connector holding portion 912, and a second elastic member 915. The connector holding portion 912 has a pair of connector guide portions 913 extending in the direction of arrow j, and a pressure receiving surface 917. The connector portion 911 has a protrusion 910, an electrical contact 916, a connector guided portion 914 facing the pair of connector guide portions 913, and a pressure receiving surface 918.

[0244] The connector guided portion 914 is guided by a pair of connector guide portions 913. Therefore, the connector guided portion 914 is movable in the direction of arrow j relative to the pair of connector guide portions 913 along the pair of connector guide portions 913 extending in the direction of arrow j. That is, the connector portion 911 is movable in the direction of arrow j relative to the connector holding portion 912. The second elastic member 915 is interposed between a pressure receiving surface 918 of the connector portion 911 and a pressure receiving surface 917 of the connector holding portion 912, and always biases the connector portion 911 in the direction of arrow k relative to the connector holding portion 912. Therefore, the connector portion 911 is biased in the direction of arrow k relative to the connector holding portion 912 within the movable range of the pair of connector guide portions 913.

[0245] In this figure, the connector guide portion 913 restricts the movement direction of the connector portion 911 to the up-down direction substantially perpendicular to the third direction. However, the movement direction of the connector portion 911 is not limited to this, and may be determined in accordance with the relationship with the movement distance of the memory tag holding portion 722 on the memory tag guide portion 723. In other words, it is sufficient if the movement of the memory tag holding portion 722 and the movement of the connector portion 911 can absorb the change in the connection position of the memory tag 721 and the electrical contact 916 due to the separation operation.

[0246] <<Behavior of memory tag unit and memory tag connector unit during separation operation>> FIG. 38 shows the behavior of the memory tag unit 572 and the memory tag connector unit 591 during the separation operation. FIG. 38(a) is a view of a part of the image forming apparatus 506 with the front door 545 open, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The developing cartridge 507 in FIG. 38(a) is in the second position. FIG. 38(b) is a view of a part of the image forming apparatus 506 with the front door 545 closed, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The developing cartridge 507 is also in the second position in FIG. 38(b). FIG. 38(c) is a view of the memory tag connector unit 591 engaged with the memory tag unit 572, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The developing cartridge 507 at this time is in the third position.

[0247] With reference to FIG. 38(a), the positional relationship between the memory tag unit 572 and the memory tag connector unit 591 before the front door 545 is closed will now be described. At this time, the developing cartridge 507 is located in the second position. The memory tag holding portion 722 is biased in the direction of arrow i by the first elastic member 724. Therefore, the position of the memory tag unit 572 is fixed. The memory tag connector unit 591 is located above the developing cartridge 507 in the second direction, and as described above, the connector portion 911 receives a biasing force in the direction of arrow k from the second elastic member 915 and is biased in the direction of arrow k within the movable range. Therefore, the position of the memory tag connector unit 591 is fixed.

[0248] 38(b), a state in which the front door 545 is closed and the memory tag connector unit 591 moves in the direction of arrow m will be described. As the memory tag connector unit 591 moves in the direction of arrow m, the protrusion 910 of the connector part 911 engages with the memory tag holding part 722.

[0249] Next, state changes accompanying the separation operation will be described with reference to Fig. 38(c). The connector portion 911 is held so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow j, and the memory tag holding portion 722 is held so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow h. Here, the connector portion movement direction (arrow j direction) and the separation direction (arrow n direction) are different. Therefore, when the developing cartridge 507 is separated in the separation direction (arrow n direction), a force acts between the memory tag holding portion 722 and the connector portion 911 such that the positions of them are relatively shifted in the direction of the arrow h.

[0250] However, as described above, the memory tag holding portion 722 is movable in the direction of arrow h relative to the developing cartridge 507. Therefore, even when the developing cartridge 507 is in the process of moving from the second position to the third position, or when the developing cartridge 507 is in the third position, the memory tag holding portion 722 and the connector portion 911 do not move relative to each other.

[0251] Therefore, following the separating operation of the developing cartridge 507, the protrusion 910 of the connector portion 911 and the memory tag holding portion 722 are maintained in an engaged state. That is, although the separating direction, the moving direction of the memory tag holding portion 722, and the moving direction of the connector portion 911 are all different, the influence of the movement of the developing cartridge 502 in the separating direction is absorbed separately by the moving direction of the memory tag holding portion 722 and the moving direction of the connector portion 911. As a result, even if a separating operation occurs, the memory tag 721 does not rub against the electrical contacts 916, so that the risk of the memory tag 721 rubbing against the electrical contacts 916 and becoming worn can be reduced.

[0252] As described above, even if the separation direction of the developing cartridge 507 is different from the movement direction of the connector portion, the memory tag holding portion 722 can move relative to the developing cartridge 507, so that the memory tag 721 does not rub against the electrical contacts 916 due to the separation operation, thereby reducing the risk of the memory tag 721 rubbing against the electrical contacts 916 and becoming worn.

[0253] <Modification> Moreover, the above-mentioned embodiment 4 and embodiment 5 have been described using the developing cartridges 502 and 7 that can be mounted on the cartridge trays 503 and 8, respectively. However, the developing cartridges 502 and 7 may be mountable to a drum cartridge. The drum cartridge is a cartridge having one photosensitive drum. The developing cartridges 502 and 7 may also be a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum. The process cartridge is a cartridge including a developing roller and a photosensitive drum. Also, a toner cartridge may be used instead of the developing cartridges 502 and 7. The toner cartridge is a cartridge that can contain toner and does not have a developing roller.

[0254] That is, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus having a main body, an attachment portion, and a cartridge member attached to the attachment portion. When a developer cartridge is attached to a drum cartridge, the drum cartridge corresponds to the attachment portion. When a process cartridge is housed in a cartridge tray, the process cartridge is the cartridge member and the cartridge tray corresponds to the attachment portion. When a toner cartridge is used, the toner cartridge corresponds to the cartridge member. Even in these cases, the electrical connection between the two is maintained by the memory connection means on the main body side, which is connected to the memory means on the cartridge member side, moving in response to changes in the positional relationship between the mounting portion and the cartridge member between the separated position and the abutment position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0255] 1: image forming apparatus, 2: apparatus main body, 3: cartridge tray, 4: photosensitive drum, 5: charging roller, 6: developing roller, 8: developing cartridge, 9: main body side metal terminal, 28: developer accommodating frame (housing), 30: cartridge tray frame, 33: cartridge guide, 34a: memory unit support portion, 43: control portion, 80: memory tag unit (storage means, memory medium unit), 81a: electrical contact portion, 68a: second positioning portion (driving side positioning portion), 71a: first positioning portion (developing roller bearing positioning portion), 100: cover member (developing roller cover), 101: first covering portion (developing roller protection portion), 102: second covering portion (memory tag unit protection portion), 103: second engaging portion (driving side fitting portion), 104: first engaging portion (non-driving side fitting portion), 105: grip portion 501: image forming apparatus, 502: developing cartridge, 521: developer, 522: memory tag unit, 221: memory tag, 525: developing roller, 503: cartridge tray, 532: photosensitive drum, 504: image forming apparatus main body, 541: memory tag connector unit, 411: connector section, 542: control section

Claims

1. a developing cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus; a cover member removably attached to the developing cartridge; Equipped with A developing cartridge unit configured so that the developing cartridge is attached to the main body of the apparatus with the cover member removed, The developing cartridge is A housing that contains a developer; a developing roller having a shaft portion and a developer carrying portion provided radially outside the shaft portion and configured to carry a developer contained in the housing, the developing roller being configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a first direction, the developer carrying portion including an exposed portion exposed to an outside of the developing cartridge; a coupling configured to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller from the main assembly of the apparatus, the coupling being provided at a first end of the developing cartridge in the first direction; a memory unit provided on an end surface of the first end portion of the developing cartridge facing the first direction in the first direction, the memory unit having an electrical contact portion and a memory connected to the electrical contact portion; having the coupling is provided between the developing roller and the electrical contact portion in a second direction in which the developing roller and the electrical contact portion are aligned when viewed in the first direction, the electrical contact portion is exposed to an outside of the developing cartridge and faces a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction; When an end portion of the developing cartridge opposite to the first end portion in the first direction is defined as a second end portion, the cover member is a first cover portion extending in the first direction so as to cover the exposed portion of the developer carrying portion of the developing roller from the first end side to the second end side of the developing cartridge; a second cover portion connected to the first cover portion at the first end of the developing cartridge and extending in the second direction to cover both the coupling and the electrical contact portion at the first end of the developing cartridge; having A developing cartridge unit.

2. the developing cartridge has an engaged portion at the second end, The cover member is an engaging portion provided on a side of the second end portion of the developing cartridge in the first direction and at a position away from the first cover portion in a direction from the developing roller toward the electrical contact portion in the second direction; a connecting portion that connects the engaging portion and the first cover portion; a movable part having the movable portion is configured to be movable relative to the first cover portion between an engagement position where the engagement portion engages with the engaged portion of the developing cartridge and a non-engagement position where the engagement portion does not engage with the engaged portion of the developing cartridge.

2. The developer cartridge unit according to claim 1, wherein the developer cartridge is a cartridge having a first opening and a second opening.

3. when viewed in the third direction, when the movable portion of the cover member moves from the engaging position to the disengaging position, the movable portion is configured to rotate about a part of the connecting portion in a direction in which the engaging portion moves away from the engaged portion of the developing cartridge.

3. The developing cartridge unit according to claim 2.

4. The movable portion of the cover member is configured to move relative to the first cover portion by elastic deformation of a part of the connecting portion.

3. The developing cartridge unit according to claim 2.

5. The movable portion of the cover member is configured to rotate about the part of the connecting portion relative to the first cover portion by elastically deforming the part of the connecting portion.

4. The developing cartridge unit according to claim 3.

6. The developing cartridge is a memory storage unit for storing the memory unit; a support portion that supports the memory holding portion so as to be movable in the third direction; having 2. The developer cartridge unit according to claim 1, wherein the developer cartridge is a cartridge having a first opening and a second opening.

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