JP6504286B2 - Cartridge, information storage element and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The invention cartridges, an information storage device and an image forming apparatus.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copier, a plotter, and a complex machine thereof, an image forming apparatus of a liquid discharge recording type using a recording head including a liquid discharge head (droplet discharge head) which discharges droplets, for example Inkjet recording apparatuses are known.

  A liquid cartridge such as an ink cartridge detachably mounted on such an image forming apparatus is provided with an information storage element such as an ID chip for storing the type, remaining amount, usage amount and the like of the liquid to be stored.

  For example, the information storage unit and a terminal for communicating information with the apparatus main body by contacting the main body side terminal installed in the apparatus main body, the information storage unit and the terminal are held, and When the terminal approaches and comes into contact with the main body side terminal, it crosses the moving direction of the main body side terminal with the substrate on which at least one of the hole portion and the notch portion into which the installed projection portion is inserted is formed. There is known one provided with a holding unit that holds a virtual plane so as to be movable (Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is also known a cartridge case including a case portion in which a portion for holding an ID chip, which is an information storage element, is divided into two parts, and the ID chip is fixed by double-sided tape or heat welding (patent document 2).

JP 2012-226295 A Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2011-051321

  However, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, in the configuration in which the ID chip is welded and held, high component dimensional accuracy must be provided so as to prevent positional deviation with the reading terminal on the apparatus body side. There is a problem called.

  In this case, the ID chip holding member may be provided in the case portion divided into two to hold the ID chip, but in this configuration, the ID chip can not be held in the cartridge case unless assembled as a liquid cartridge. There is a restriction that.

  In this case, there is no problem if the liquid filling process for the liquid containing member housed in the cartridge case and the assembling process of the case portion of the cartridge and the ID chip are performed in a series of processes. In the case of being divided into different bases (such as factories), it is necessary to individually pack the case and the ID chip during transportation between the bases.

  Therefore, the cartridge case has an incompatible shape to physically identify the color or model, and at the same time, identification information such as color or model is also recorded in the ID chip. Since the contents of the chip can not be visually determined from the appearance, when assembling the cartridge by filling the liquid, there is a possibility that an ID chip different from the type and shape of the cartridge may be combined and assembled erroneously.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even when the case section is divided into at least two cases where the surface holding the information storage element is divided into two, the information storage element is held with the case section separated. It is intended to be transportable.

In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, the cartridge concerning the present invention is:
A cartridge detachably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus,
A cartridge case composed of at least two case parts;
And an information storage element held in the cartridge case,
The one of the two divided case units has a holding unit for holding the information storage element,
The holding unit includes a receiving unit that receives one end of the information storage element, and a displaceable claw that holds the information storage element between the receiving unit and the receiving unit.
The claw portion has a protrusion protruding toward the receiving portion,
The distance between the receiving portion and the projection of the claw portion is smaller than the distance between one end of the information storage element and the other end of the information storage element,
The distance between the portions other than the protruding portion of the claw portion and the receiving portion is much larger than the distance between the other end of the one end and the information storage device of the information storage device,
The other case portion of the cartridge is provided with a restricting portion that restricts displacement of the claw portion.
The information storage element is provided with a guide hole into which the guide on the apparatus body side is inserted;
Assuming that the distance between the restricting portion and the lower end of the guide hole is A and the distance between the restricting portion and the axial center of the guide portion is B when the claw portion is in contact with the restricting portion, The relationship of A> B was established.

  According to the present invention, even in the case where the information storage element is constituted by a case portion in which the surface holding the information storage element is divided into at least two, the information storage element can be held and transported with the case portion separated.

It is an appearance perspective explanatory view of a liquid cartridge concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is front explanatory drawing which is used for description of the chip | tip holding part of one case part similarly. It is left side explanatory drawing of FIG. It is principal part perspective explanatory drawing similarly. It is front explanatory drawing by which it uses for description of the chip | tip holding part of the liquid cartridge which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is front explanatory drawing used for description of the displacement amount of the nail | claw part of a chip | tip holding part. It is an explanatory view explaining a relation of a nail part and an ID chip. It is principal part cross-sectional explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of reading of ID chip. It is perspective explanatory drawing of one case part of the liquid cartridge which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is front explanatory drawing of the cartridge mounting part (cartridge holder) by the side of the apparatus main body which mounts the same liquid cartridge. It is perspective explanatory drawing of the color identification member which is provided to description of an example of the color identification member which forms the color identification groove | channel of a cartridge holder. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a side schematic explanatory drawing similarly. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the main part of the image forming unit in the same manner.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. A liquid cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. 1 is an external perspective view of the liquid cartridge, FIG. 2 is a front view of the same, FIG. 3 is a front view of the tip holding portion of one of the case portions, and FIG. 4 is a left side view of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential part of the same.

  The liquid cartridge 1 has a cartridge case 2 which is a case main body in which a liquid storage member such as a liquid storage bag is housed.

  The cartridge case 2 has an opening 21 on the front surface (a surface in the direction of mounting on the apparatus body is a front surface) 2a facing the supply port 3 of the liquid storage bag accommodated inside.

  Here, the cartridge case 2 is composed of two case portions 2A and 2B which are divided along the liquid supply direction (the direction of mounting on the apparatus main body).

  Then, on the front surface of one of the case portions 2A, a chip holding portion 22 is provided which holds the ID chip 4 (a member shown by hatching in FIG. 3) only with the case portion 2A.

  The chip holding portion 22 is flat and has a displacement for holding the ID chip 4 by holding the upper end portion of the ID chip 4 between the groove portion 23 and the chip mounting groove 23 receiving the lower end of the substantially rectangular ID chip 4. A tip retaining claw 24 is provided as a possible snap fit.

  The groove portion 23 has a groove 23a in which the ID chip 4 is fitted. The claw portion 24 has a key-like projection 24 a protruding downward for holding the ID chip 4 in the case 2 A by hooking the ID chip 4.

  With this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the ID chip 4 is inserted from the direction of arrow A between the chip mounting groove 23 and the chip holding claw 24. At this time, the chip holding claws 24 are displaced in the arrow B direction, and the ID chip 4 is fitted between the chip mounting groove 23 and the chip holding claws 24. Then, the chip holding claws 24 return to their original state, and the projections 24 a of the chip holding claws 24 hold the ID chip 4, so that the ID chip 4 is held between the chip mounting groove 23 and the chip holding claws 24. Be done.

  The ID chip 4 is fitted into the chip mounting groove 23 and held between the ID chip 4 and the chip holding claw 24 so that the ID chip 4 moves in one direction (the direction in which the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body) in the cartridge case 2 Range is regulated.

  In addition, when the holding portion 22 has the claw portion 24, the ID chip 4 can be held without being detached from the cartridge case 2 by only the case portion 2A on one side, and can move in the substantially planar direction in the holding portion 22. it can. The plane direction is a direction along the front surface 2 a of the cartridge case 2.

  As a result, the ID chip 4 can be held by one case portion 2A alone before being coupled as the cartridge case 2.

  In this manner, even in the case where the information storage element is constituted by the case portion in which the surface holding the information storage element is divided into at least two, the information storage element can be held and transported while the case portion is separated.

  Also in the present embodiment, the color identification rib 25 and the model identification shape portion 27 described in the embodiments to be described later are provided.

  Next, a liquid cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view for explaining the tip holding portion of the liquid cartridge.

  In the present embodiment, the displacement restricting portion 31 that restricts the displacement of the claw portion 24 is provided in the other case portion 2B in which the chip holding portion 22 is not provided, when assembled with the case portion 2A.

  As a result, in the assembled state as the cartridge case 2, the claw portion 24 of the chip holding portion 22 is regulated by the displacement regulating portion 31 and is not displaced.

  Therefore, when the liquid cartridge 1 is mounted on the apparatus body and used, deformation of the claws 24 is prevented, and the movable range of the ID chip 4 is maintained at an appropriate position.

  Next, displacement amounts of the claws of the chip holding unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory front view of the chip holding portion, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining the relationship between the claw portion and the ID chip.

  When the outer height HA of the ID chip 4 is lower than the opening height HB1 at a position where the claw portion 24 of the chip holding portion 22 is pushed up to widen the opening, the ID chip 4 can be attached and removed.

  Conversely, when the external height HA of the ID chip 4 is higher than the initial height HB0 of the claws 24, the ID chip 4 is held between the groove 23 and the claws 24.

  Therefore, the claws 24 are formed displaceable within the range satisfying the above-described relationship.

  Next, reading of the ID chip 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the main parts to be used in the description.

  A reading unit 50 having a guide 51 that can be inserted into a guide hole 41 provided in the ID chip 4 is disposed on the apparatus body side.

  When the liquid cartridge 1 is inserted into the apparatus main body, the guide portion 51 of the reading unit (connector) 5 is inserted into the guide hole 41 of the ID chip 4, and the ID chip 4 moves flatly following the guide portion 51. .

  As a result, the reading terminal (connector) 52 of the reading unit 50 comes in contact with the contact portion 42 of the ID chip 4 so that the information stored in the ID chip 4 can be read on the apparatus body side.

  Here, the guide portion 51 inserted into the guide hole 41 is provided with a tapered shape for guiding. Comparing the radius D from the axial center of the guide portion 51 to the outer diameter and the distance HC1 from the ID chip end to the displacement restricting portion 31 of the claw 24 when pressed against the upper end of the ID chip 4 When HC1 <D, the ID chip 4 can be fitted into the guide portion 51 by the guide (taper) shape of the guide portion 51, and the position where the contact portion 42 and the read terminal 52 contact at the correct position can be guaranteed. .

  Then, in the state of being assembled as the cartridge case 2, the displacement regulating portion 31 regulates the displacement amount of the claw portion 24, whereby the relationship of HC1 <D is maintained.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one case of the liquid cartridge according to the embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a front view of the cartridge mounting portion (cartridge holder) on the apparatus main body side for mounting the liquid cartridge.

  On the bottom side of the case portion 2A having the tip holding portion 22, in the direction along the mounting direction, the color identification rib 25 for identifying the type of liquid stored in the liquid storage portion housed inside, for example, the color of ink It is provided. Further, a color identification number 26 determined in advance is provided on the surface on which the color identification rib 25 is provided.

  Further, on the front side of the case portion 2A having the tip holding portion 22, a model identification shape portion 27 indicating the type (model) of the apparatus main body to which the liquid cartridge 1 is mounted is provided. The model identification shape portion 27 is formed by a recess having a shape corresponding to the model.

  On the other hand, the cartridge holder 5 of the apparatus main body is provided with the above-described reading unit 50 on the back surface (surface facing the front surface of the liquid cartridge 1) and is connected to the supply port 3 of the liquid cartridge 1 A supply port 53 such as a needle is disposed.

  Further, the cartridge holder 5 is provided with a color identification groove (concave portion) 55 in which the color identification rib 25 is fitted at a position according to the color along the insertion direction of the liquid cartridge 1. The color identification rib 25 can be fitted into the color identification groove 55 when the mounting position of the liquid cartridge 1 is such that the color of the liquid cartridge 1 is correct.

  Further, a model identification shape portion 57 indicating a model is provided on the back surface of the cartridge holder 5. When the liquid cartridge 1 can be mounted, the model identification shape section 27 fits into the model identification shape section 57.

  The relationship between the color identification rib and the color identification groove (recess) and the relationship between the type identification shape portion can be reversed between the liquid cartridge 1 and the cartridge holder 5 of the apparatus main body described above.

  With this configuration, even if the base for manufacturing the cartridge case 2 and the ID chip 4 of the liquid cartridge 1 is different from the base for filling the liquid containing member with the liquid (ink) and assembling it, the ID chip 4 is used. The ID chip 4 in the assembly process after ink filling is transported since it is transported between the bases in a state where the information on the model and ink color held in the case, the model of the case section 2A and the incompatible shape for each ink color match. And the mounting error of the cartridge case 2 can be prevented.

  Here, an example of the color identification member in which the color identification groove 55 of the cartridge holder 5 is formed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the color identification member used in the description.

  The color identification member 60A is a block body that can be attached in a plurality of different mounting orientations, and the block body intersects with a color identification groove 55 which is a slit for guiding the incompatible color identification rib 25 provided on the liquid cartridge 1 It is formed. As a result, by changing the mounting direction, it is possible to guide the different liquid cartridges 1 with the color identification groove 55.

  Further, in the color identification member 60B, color identification grooves 55, which are slits for guiding the incompatible color identification rib 25 provided in the liquid cartridge 1, are formed at different positions from the both end faces. As a result, by changing the mounting direction, it is possible to guide the different liquid cartridges 1 with the color identification groove 55.

  The color identification members 60A and 60B are provided with a color identification number 56 indicating the relationship between the mounting direction and the color.

  This makes it possible to easily change the arrangement order and the color configuration of the liquid cartridges.

  Next, an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 13 to FIG. FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of the same, and FIG. 15 is a plan view of the main parts of the image forming unit.

  The image forming apparatus is a serial type image forming apparatus, and includes an apparatus main body 101 and a sheet feeding apparatus 102 disposed below the apparatus main body 101.

  Inside the device main body 101, a guide rod 201 and a guide stay 202, which are guide members, are stretched around side plates (not shown). The carriage 205 is held movably in the main scanning direction by the guide rod 201 and the guide stay 202.

  The carriage 205 is reciprocally moved by the main scanning motor 206 in the main scanning direction via the drive pulley 207, the driven pulley 208 and the timing belt 209.

  In the carriage 205, a plurality of liquid ejection heads for ejecting ink droplets and recording heads 211a to 211e (hereinafter referred to as "recording head 211" when not distinguished) that integrally includes a head tank for supplying the liquid to the liquid ejection heads. Is mounted. The recording heads 211a and 211b are held by the head holder 251A, and the recording heads 211c to 211e are held by the head holder 251B.

  Here, the recording head 211a and the recording heads 211b to 211e are arranged with the position shifted by one head (one nozzle row) in the sub scanning direction which is a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. In addition, each of the recording heads 211a to 211e has two nozzle rows. The recording heads 211a and 211b discharge black droplets of the same color, and the recording heads 211c to 211e discharge droplets of magenta (M), cyan (C) and yellow (Y), respectively.

  In this way, for monochrome images, images can be formed with a width of two heads in one scan (main scan) using recording heads 211a and 211b, and for color images, for example, recording heads 211b to 211e are used to form an image. be able to. The head configuration is not limited to this, and a plurality of recording heads may be arranged side by side in the main scanning direction.

  In the head tank of the recording head 211, a supply tube 216 which can be bent from the ink cartridges 210k, 210c, 210m and 210y (referred to as "ink cartridge 210" when not distinguished) as liquid cartridges according to the present invention The ink of each color is supplied through. At this time, the ink is supplied from one ink cartridge 210k to the two recording heads 211a and 211b which eject droplets of the same color.

  The ink cartridge 210 is detachably (replaceably) mounted on a cartridge holder 255 similar to the cartridge holder 5 desired to be described in the third embodiment disposed in the apparatus main body.

  On the other hand, in the recording area of the main scanning area of the carriage 205, the roll paper 120 is fed from the paper feeding device 102, and intermittently conveyed in the direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the carriage 205 (sub scanning direction) Transported to

  The conveying means 221 has a conveying roller 223 as a rotating body for conveying the roll paper 120 which is a roll-like medium fed from the paper feeding device 102 and a pressure roller 224 disposed opposite to the conveyance roller 223. The apparatus further includes a conveyance guide member 225 in which a plurality of suction holes are formed, and a suction fan 226 as a suction unit that performs suction from the suction holes of the conveyance guide member 225.

  On the downstream side of the transport means 221, a cutter 227 as a cutting means for cutting the roll paper 120 on which an image is formed by the recording head 211 at a predetermined length is disposed.

  The cutter 227 is attached to, for example, a wire or timing belt 228. By moving the timing belt 228 in the main scanning direction, the cutter 227 cuts the roll paper 120 at a predetermined position.

  Further, a maintenance recovery mechanism 230 for maintaining and recovering the recording head 211 is disposed on the side of the conveyance guide member 225 on one side of the carriage 205 in the main scanning direction. Further, on the other side in the main scanning direction, idle discharge receptacles 234 are provided on the side of the transport guide member 225 for performing idle discharge for discharging droplets not contributing to image formation from the recording head 211.

  The maintenance and recovery mechanism 230 includes a first maintenance and recovery section 231 held by the frame member of the apparatus main body 101, and a second maintenance and recovery section 232 held reciprocably by the frame member of the maintenance and recovery mechanism 230 in the sub scanning direction. have. The second maintenance recovery unit 232 is at the position shown in FIG. 15 when performing maintenance recovery of the recording head 211a, and moves to the same sub-scanning direction position as the first maintenance recovery unit 231 when performing maintenance recovery of the recording heads 211b to 211e.

  The maintenance and recovery mechanism 230 includes, for example, a suction cap 241 and a moisturizing cap 242 that also function as a moisturizing cap for capping the nozzle surface (the surface on which the nozzles are formed) of the recording head 211. Further, the maintenance and recovery mechanism 230 includes a wiper member 243 for wiping the nozzle surface, and an idle discharge receptacle 244 for receiving droplets (empty discharge droplets) which do not contribute to image formation.

  The sheet feeding device 102 has a spool bearing stand 111. Inside the spool bearing stand 111, there is provided a feeding mechanism for feeding the roll paper 120 from the roll body 112 and rewinding the roll paper 120.

  The roll body 112 is obtained by winding a sheet (the above-mentioned “roll paper”) 120 which is a long roll-like medium around a tube 114 which is a core member in a roll shape. Note that the roll body 112 is a generic term for a combination of the pipe 114 and the roll paper 120.

  Then, the roll body 112 mounted on the spool bearing stand 111 is rotated to feed the roll paper 120 downstream along the guide member 130.

  On the downstream side in the delivery direction of the spool bearing stand 111, a transport roller pair 131 is provided which bends and feeds the roll paper 120 delivered from the roll body 112 upward. Further, a guide member 130 for guiding the lower surface of the roll paper 120 is disposed between the spool bearing stand 111 and the transport roller pair 131.

  The roll paper 120 delivered from the roll body 112 is conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 131 by rotationally driving the conveyance roller pair 131, passes the conveyance roller pair 131, and the conveyance roller 223 of the conveyance means 221 and the pressure roller 224. It is sent in between.

  In this image forming apparatus configured as described above, the roll paper 120 fed from the paper feeding device 102 is intermittently transported by the transport unit 221. Then, the carriage 205 is moved in the main scanning direction, and the recording head 211 is driven according to the image information (print information) to discharge droplets, whereby a required image is formed on the stopped roll paper 120. Be done.

  The roll paper 120 after image formation is cut at a predetermined position by a cutter 227 and discharged to a paper discharge tray (not shown) disposed on the front side of the apparatus main body 101.

  In the present application, "paper" does not limit the material to paper, but includes OHP, cloth, glass, a substrate, etc., which means that ink droplets, other liquids, etc. can be attached. The recording medium includes a recording medium, a recording medium, a recording sheet, a recording sheet, and the like. Also, image formation, recording, printing, printing, and printing are all synonymous.

  Further, “image forming apparatus” means an apparatus for forming an image by discharging a liquid to a medium such as paper, yarn, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, and ceramic. Moreover, “image formation” is not only applying an image having meaning such as characters and figures to a medium, but also applying an image having no meaning such as a pattern to a medium (simply, a droplet is used as a medium). It also means to land on

  Further, “ink” is not limited to what is called ink unless particularly limited, and all liquids that can form an image, such as those called recording liquid, fixing processing liquid, liquid etc. Used as a generic term. For example, DNA samples, resists, pattern materials, resins and the like are also included.

  Further, the “image” is not limited to a flat one, and includes an image given to a three-dimensionally formed one and an image formed by three-dimensionally shaping a solid itself.

  Further, the image forming apparatus includes both a serial type image forming apparatus and a line type image forming apparatus, unless otherwise limited.

Reference Signs List 1 liquid cartridge 2 cartridge case 2A, 2B case portion 3 supply port portion 4 ID chip (information storage element)
Reference Signs List 5 cartridge holder 22 tip holding portion 23 tip mounting groove portion 24 tip holding claw portion 31 displacement regulating portion 205 carriage 210 ink cartridge (liquid cartridge, main tank)
211, 211a to 211e recording head (liquid discharge head)

Claims (5)

A cartridge detachably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus,
A cartridge case composed of at least two case parts;
And an information storage element held in the cartridge case,
The one of the two divided case units has a holding unit for holding the information storage element,
The holding unit includes a receiving unit that receives one end of the information storage element, and a displaceable claw that holds the information storage element between the receiving unit and the receiving unit.
The claw portion has a protrusion protruding toward the receiving portion,
The distance between the receiving portion and the projection of the claw portion is smaller than the distance between one end of the information storage element and the other end of the information storage element,
The distance between the receiving portion and the portion of the claw portion other than the protrusion is larger than the distance between one end of the information storage element and the other end of the information storage element.
The other case portion of the cartridge is provided with a restricting portion that restricts displacement of the claw portion.
The information storage element is provided with a guide hole into which the guide on the apparatus body side is inserted;
Assuming that the distance between the restricting portion and the lower end of the guide hole is A and the distance between the restricting portion and the axial center of the guide portion is B when the claw portion is in contact with the restricting portion, A cartridge characterized in that a relationship of A> B is established. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the claw portion is provided above the receiving portion in a gravity direction. A cartridge having a holder for holding an information storage element having a guide hole into which a guide on the apparatus body side is inserted, the cartridge being detachably mounted on the apparatus body,
It has a cartridge case composed of at least two case parts,
The holding portion is provided in one of the two divided case portions,
The holding unit includes a receiving unit that receives one end of the information storage element, and a displaceable claw unit that receives the other end of the information storage element and holds the information storage element with the receiving unit. ,
The claw portion has a protrusion protruding toward the receiving portion,
The distance between the receiving portion and a portion of the claw portion other than the protrusion is larger than the distance between the one end of the information storage element and the other end.
The distance between the receiving portion and the projection of the claw portion is smaller than the distance between the one end of the information storage element and the other end.
The other case portion is provided with a regulating portion which regulates displacement of the claw portion,
Assuming that the distance between the restricting portion and the lower end of the guide hole is A and the distance between the restricting portion and the axial center of the guide portion is B when the claw portion is in contact with the restricting portion, A cartridge characterized in that it has the above-mentioned regulation part where the relationship of A> B is established. It has a cartridge case composed of at least two case parts,
The one of the two divided case units has a holding unit that holds an information storage element;
The holding unit includes a receiving unit that receives one end of the information storage element, and a displaceable claw unit that receives the other end of the information storage element and holds the information storage element with the receiving unit. ,
The claw portion has a protrusion protruding toward the receiving portion,
The distance between the receiving portion and a portion of the claw portion other than the protrusion is larger than the distance between the one end of the information storage element and the other end.
The distance between the receiving portion and the projection of the claw portion is smaller than the distance between the one end of the information storage element and the other end.
The said case portion of the other side restricting portion for restricting a displacement of the claw portion is provided,
An information storage element held by the holding portion of the cartridge detachably mounted on the apparatus main body,
There is provided a guide hole into which the guide on the apparatus body side is inserted,
Assuming that the distance between the restricting portion and the lower end of the guide hole is A and the distance between the restricting portion and the axial center of the guide portion is B when the claw portion is in contact with the restricting portion, An information storage element characterized in that a relationship of A> B is established.   An image forming apparatus comprising the cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or the information storage element according to claim 4.

Images