Memory chip, process cartridge and image forming apparatus

Abstract

An electronic device support member is fitted into and pressingly attached to a cover so that a face on which an electronic device and an antenna are disposed is opposed to the rear face of the cover. A base has a fitting receive portion into which a fitting portion of the cover is to be fitted, on the peripheral edge of the surface opposed to the cover. Two elastic claws are disposed on the peripheral edge of the rear face. A second housing has a recess portion into which a memory chip is to be fitted and secured, in the surface. The recess portion is formed into a circular concave shape, and has two engagement portions for respectively receiving the elastic claws of the memory chip.

1. A memory chip assembly which is to be attached to a unit, said memory chip assembly comprising:
 an electronic device having a memory function; 
 a cover which covers having a covering portion and a base which engages with the covering portion to form an inner side covering said electronic device; and 
 a securing section which substantially disables preventing said cover to be from being detached from said  the unit from an outside of said the unit, wherein said securing section has an elastic claw disposed on said base, and said elastic claw is engaged with said engages the unit to perform securement prevent the cover from being detached from the unit. 
 
     
     
       2. A The memory chip assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit is a cartridge and said securing section is easily securable to, and substantially undetachable from, a surface of a process the cartridge which is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main unit, and which has at least an image carrier. 
     
     
       3. A The memory chip assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said electronic device has a communication function. 
     
     
       4. A memory chip according to  claim 1 , wherein a base is secured to an inner side of said cover, and said elastic claw is disposed on said base. 
     
     
       5. A The memory chip assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover is and the unit are made of a same material as a material of said unit. 
     
     
       6. A The memory chip assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover is colored in a and the unit are the same color as a color of said unit. 
     
     
       7. A The memory chip assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said the unit has a recess portion, and said cover is fitted into said secured to the recess portion to be secured in a depressed manner. 
     
     
       8. A The memory chip assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein when said cover is secured to said the recess portion in a depressed manner, a an outer surface of said cover is at a same level as a surface of another recess substantially coplanar with a portion of said unit adjacent to said recess portion. 
     
     
       9. A The memory chip assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said electronic device is supported by an electronic device support member, and said electronic device support member is secured to an inner side of said cover. 
     
     
       10. A The memory chip assembly according to claim  1  9, wherein said electronic device support member has an antenna. 
     
     
       11. A memory chip assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said the unit is a process cartridge having at least an image carrier. 
     
     
       12. A process cartridge which is detachably attached attachable to an image forming apparatus main unit, and which has at least an image carrier, said process cartridge comprising:
 a process cartridge main unit; and 
 a memory chip assembly attached to said process cartridge main unit, 
 wherein said memory chip assembly comprises: an electronic device having a memory function; a cover which covers having a covering portion and a base which engages with the covering portion to form an inner side covering said electronic device; and a securing section which substantially disables to secure said cover from to said process cartridge main unit to be detached from an outside of said process cartridge, wherein said securing section has an elastic claw disposed on said base, and said elastic claw is engaged with said process cartridge main unit to perform securement prevent said cover from being detached from said cartridge unit. 
 
     
     
       13. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image forming apparatus main unit; and 
 a process cartridge which is detachably attached to said image forming apparatus main unit, and which has at least an image carrier, 
 wherein said process cartridge comprises a memory chip assembly including an electronic device having a memory function, a cover which covers having a covering portion and a base which engages with the covering portion to form an inner side covering said electronic device, and a securing section which substantially disables to secure said cover to be detached from said process cartridge from an outside surface of said process cartridge, wherein said securing section has an elastic claw disposed on said base, and said elastic claw is being engaged with said process cartridge to perform securement secure the cover to said cartridge. 
 
     
     
       14. The cartridge according to claim 12, further comprising an image carrier. 
     
     
       15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cartridge further comprises an image carrier. 
     
     
       16. A memory chip assembly, which is to be attached to a unit, the memory chip assembly comprising:
 an electronic device having a memory function;   a housing including a cover having a covering portion and a base which engages with the covering portion to form an inner side covering the electronic device; and   an elastic claw being disposed on said base and extending from the housing for engaging the unit to secure the housing to the unit.   
     
     
       17. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the unit defines an insertion hole for securably receiving the elastic claw. 
     
     
       18. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the unit defines a recess portion having a depth, and wherein said housing is fitted into the recess portion. 
     
     
       19. The memory chip assembly according to claim 18, wherein the recess portion defines a concave-shaped depression. 
     
     
       20. The memory chip assembly according to claim 18, wherein the memory chip has a thickness less than the depth of the recess portion. 
     
     
       21. The memory chip assembly according to claim 18, wherein when the housing is fitted into the recess portion, a surface of the housing is substantially coplanar with a portion of the surface of the unit adjacent to the recess portion. 
     
     
       22. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the elastic claw protrudes from an exterior surface of the housing. 
     
     
       23. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein said housing is securable to a surface of a cartridge, and wherein the cartridge is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main unit. 
     
     
       24. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the housing includes a cover, a support member within the housing to support the electronic device, and a base from which the elastic claw extends. 
     
     
       25. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the electronic device has a communication function. 
     
     
       26. The memory chip assembly according to claim 25, wherein the electronic device support member includes an antenna. 
     
     
       27. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the unit is a cartridge having at least an image carrier. 
     
     
       28. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the cartridge is a toner cartridge including toner therein. 
     
     
       29. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the housing is securable to a surface of the unit by the elastic claw. 
     
     
       30. A cartridge which is detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main unit, the cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge unit; and   a memory chip assembly according to claim 16, attached to the cartridge unit.   
     
     
       31. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the cartridge further comprises an image carrier. 
     
     
       32. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the cartridge is a toner cartridge including toner therein. 
     
     
       33. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image forming apparatus main unit; and   a cartridge according to claim 30, detachably attachable to said image forming apparatus main unit.   
     
     
       34. The image forming apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the cartridge includes an image carrier. 
     
     
       35. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the elastic claw extends in a first direction in which the housing is superimposed on the electronic device. 
     
     
       36. The cartridge according to claim 35, wherein a tip portion of the elastic claw extends in a second direction that intersects the first direction, toward an outside of the housing. 
     
     
       37. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the cartridge unit comprises a wall that surrounds the housing attached to the unit. 
     
     
       38. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the cartridge unit comprises a wall that entirely surrounds the housing attached to the unit. 
     
     
       39. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein:
 the cartridge unit defines a recess portion, and   the housing is inserted into the recess portion along a direction in which the housing is superimposed on the electronic device.   
     
     
       40. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein:
 the cartridge unit defines a recess portion,   the housing is fitted into the recess portion, and   the recess portion has a circular shape.   
     
     
       41. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the housing has a circular shape when viewed from above. 
     
     
       42. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the elastic claw extends in a first direction in which the housing is superimposed on the electronic device. 
     
     
       43. The memory chip assembly according to claim 42, wherein a tip portion of the elastic claw extends in a second direction that intersects the first direction, toward an outside of the housing. 
     
     
       44. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein a wall of the unit surrounds the housing attached to the unit. 
     
     
       45. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein a wall of the unit entirely surrounds the housing attached to the unit. 
     
     
       46. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein:
 the unit defines a recess portion, and   the housing is to be inserted into the recess portion along a direction in which the housing is superimposed on the electronic device.   
     
     
       47. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein:
 the unit defines a recess portion,   the housing is to be fitted into the recess portion, and   the recess portion has a circular shape.   
     
     
       48. The memory chip assembly according to claim 16, wherein the housing has a circular shape when viewed from above.