US 12,032,308 B2
Image forming apparatus
Haruyuki Hotta, Kanagawa (JP); and Masayuki Sakai, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/056,351.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-191854 (JP), filed on Nov. 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0168605 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0862 (2013.01) [G03G 21/1652 (2013.01); G03G 21/1825 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a housing including a first connector;
a drum unit including a photosensitive drum, the drum unit being contained in the housing;
a development unit including a containing portion containing toner and a development roller configured to supply the toner to the photosensitive drum, the development unit being contained in the housing and movable relative to the drum unit between (i) an abutment position at which the development roller is in abutment with the photosensitive drum and (ii) a separation position at which the development roller is separated from the photosensitive drum;
a light emitting element mounted on the development unit;
a light receiving element mounted on the development unit, the light receiving unit being configured to receive light emitted from the light emitting element and transmitted through the containing portion;
a second connector mounted on the development unit, the second connector being electrically connected to the light emitting element and the light receiving element; and
a connection member connected to the first connector and the second connector so that the first connector and the second connector are electrically connected to each other,
wherein the second connector is displaced relative to the first connector when the development unit is moved between the abutment position and the separation position, and
wherein a length of the connection member is longer than a first distance from the first connector to the second connector when the development unit is located at the abutment position, and is longer than a second distance from the first connector to the second connector when the development unit is located at the separation position.