US 12,235,597 B2
Developing cartridge capable of reducing size of image forming apparatus
Nao Itabashi, Nagoya (JP); and Junichi Yokoi, Nagoya (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/633,697.
Application 18/633,697 is a continuation of application No. 18/301,293, filed on Apr. 17, 2023, granted, now 11,988,978.
Application 18/301,293 is a continuation of application No. 17/568,337, filed on Jan. 4, 2022, granted, now 11,675,289, issued on Jun. 13, 2023.
Application 17/568,337 is a continuation of application No. 17/077,147, filed on Oct. 22, 2020, granted, now 11,221,567, issued on Jan. 11, 2022.
Application 17/077,147 is a continuation of application No. 16/867,612, filed on May 6, 2020, granted, now 11,067,919, issued on Jul. 20, 2021.
Application 16/867,612 is a continuation of application No. 16/593,623, filed on Oct. 4, 2019, granted, now 10,649,369, issued on May 12, 2020.
Application 16/593,623 is a continuation of application No. 16/361,519, filed on Mar. 22, 2019, granted, now 10,444,667, issued on Oct. 15, 2019.
Application 16/361,519 is a continuation of application No. 16/031,011, filed on Jul. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,254,681, issued on Apr. 9, 2019.
Application 16/031,011 is a continuation of application No. 15/280,614, filed on Sep. 29, 2016, granted, now 10,025,225, issued on Jul. 17, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 2015-254201 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0345506 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0867 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0863 (2013.01); G03G 21/1647 (2013.01); G03G 21/1896 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A developing cartridge comprising:
a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, the developing roller including a roller body extending in the first direction;
a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing having a first side and a second side being spaced apart from the first side in the first direction, the casing having a third side and a fourth side being spaced apart from the third side in a second direction, the first side having an outer surface, the developing roller being positioned at the third side of the casing, the casing having a top surface facing upward and a bottom surface facing downward;
a coupling rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at the outer surface, the coupling being spaced apart from the developing roller in the second direction, the coupling including a coupling gear;
an agitator rotatable about a third axis extending in the first direction according to rotation of the coupling, the agitator including an agitator shaft extending in the first direction, the agitator shaft being farther from the developing roller than the second axis is from the developing roller in the second direction;
an agitator gear rotatable with the agitator shaft, the agitator gear being positioned at the outer surface, the agitator gear being farther from the developing roller than the second axis is from the developing roller in the second direction; and
a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the outer surface, the electric contact surface facing upward, the electric contact surface being farther from the developing roller than the coup line gear and the agitator gear are from the developing roller in the second direction, the electric contact surface being spaced apart from the coupling in the second direction,
wherein the electric contact surface is farther from a distal end of the roller body than the outer surface is from the distal end of the roller body in the first direction.