US 11,774,902 B2
Drum unit having electrical contact surface positioned at outer surface of frame and image forming apparatus provided with the same
Isao Kishi, Nagoya (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/820,920.
Application 17/820,920 is a continuation of application No. 17/206,363, filed on Mar. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,429,060.
Application 17/206,363 is a continuation of application No. 16/539,393, filed on Aug. 13, 2019, granted, now 10,955,793, issued on Mar. 23, 2021.
Application 16/539,393 is a continuation of application No. 15/941,182, filed on Mar. 30, 2018, granted, now 10,401,782, issued on Sep. 3, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2017-149329 (JP), filed on Aug. 1, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0397857 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G03G 21/18 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1821 (2013.01) [G03G 21/1623 (2013.01); G03G 21/1633 (2013.01); G03G 21/1647 (2013.01); G03G 21/1671 (2013.01); G03G 21/1853 (2013.01); G03G 21/1857 (2013.01); G03G 21/1871 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1684 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a casing having an interior space;
a cover movable between an open position and a closed position about a first axis extending in a first direction, the interior space of the casing being exposed to an outside in a state where the cover is in the open position, the interior space of the casing closed in a state where the cover is in the closed position;
a drum unit attachable to the casing in a second direction from an outside of the casing so as to be accommodated within the interior space of the casing, the drum unit comprising:
a frame;
a photosensitive drum rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction; and
a storage medium including an electrical contact surface;
a developing cartridge comprising a developing roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum, the developing cartridge being detachably attachable to the frame; and
a cleaning blade in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum;
wherein the photosensitive drum is farther from the cover than the electrical contact surface is from the cover in the second direction in a state where the drum unit is accommodated in the interior space of the casing,
wherein, in the state where the drum unit is accommodated in the interior space of the casing, the cleaning blade is farther from the cover than the electrical contact surface is from the cover in the second direction,
wherein the cleaning blade includes a first end in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum, and
wherein the first end is positioned farther from the cover than the second axis is from the cover in the second direction.