Patent ID: 11874629
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
(i) an apparatus body including a controller;
(ii) a photoconductor unit attached to the apparatus body and including a photoconductor rotatable about a rotational axis extending in a first direction, the photoconductor unit being movable with respect to the apparatus body in a second direction intersecting with the first direction;
(iii) a guide portion provided in the apparatus body and configured to guide the photoconductor unit while the photoconductor unit is being moved with respect to the apparatus body;
(iv) a developing cartridge configured to be attachable to and detachable from an attachment portion provided in the photoconductor unit, the developing cartridge including:
(iv-i) a casing configured to accommodate developer,
(iv-ii) a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by using the developer, and
(iv-iii) a storage medium configured to store information regarding the developing cartridge;

(v) a first connector provided in the photoconductor unit, the first connector including a first contact terminal configured to be electrically connected to the storage medium in a state in which the developing cartridge is attached to the photoconductor unit, the first connector being movable with respect to the photoconductor unit in a third direction intersecting with the first direction and the second direction; and
(vi) a second connector provided in the apparatus body, the second connector including a second contact terminal electrically connected to the controller, the second connector engaging with the first connector so that the second contact terminal is in contact with the first contact terminal,
wherein the photoconductor unit is guided by the guide portion to move from an attachment/detachment position to an image forming position, the attachment/detachment position being a position where the developing cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the attachment portion, the image forming position being a position where the first contact terminal of the first connector is in contact with the second contact terminal of the second connector, in which an image forming operation is executable, and which is below the attachment/detachment position,
wherein the photoconductor unit is guided by the guide portion so that a moving direction of the photoconductor unit inclines downwardly with respect to a horizontal direction while the photoconductor unit is being moved from the attachment/detachment position to the image forming position, and
wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured to engage with each other before an angle between the moving direction of the photoconductor unit and the horizontal direction becomes a maximum angle while the photoconductor unit is being moved from the attachment/detachment position to the image forming position.