Patent · US Expired

PROCESS CARTRIDGE COMPRISING GROUNDING, CHARGING BIAS, AND DEVELOPING BIAS CONTACTS AND INPUT AND OUTPUT CONTACTS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS TO WHICH THE PROCESS CARTRIDGE IS DETACHABLY MOUNTABLE

US6804475B2 · kind B2 · utility

40Cited by
27References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 6, 2002
Grant dateOct 12, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 6, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2221/166
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging roller for charging the drum; a developing roller for developing an image formed on the drum; an input electrode; an output electrode; a grounding contact for grounding the drum; a charging bias contact receiving a charging bias voltage applied to the charging roller; a developing bias contact receiving a developing bias applied to the developing roller; an input electrical contact for receiving an input bias applied to the input electrode; and an output contact for transmitting, to the main assembly, an output corresponding to electrostatic capacities between the input and output electrodes and between the developing roller and the output electrode to detect in substantially real time a remaining amount of developer in the cartridge.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.