The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus and a toner cartridge.
In the related art, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer movable between an inner position located inside the apparatus main body and an outer position located outside the apparatus main body, a cartridge capable of being mounted to the drawer, an exposure device, and a fixing device. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning member configured to remove waste toner from the photosensitive drum, and a developing unit including a developing roller and configured to accommodate therein toner. In a state where the cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at the inner position, the cleaning member is located between the photosensitive drum and the fixing device.
In the image forming apparatus described in related art, the cartridge integrally includes the photosensitive drum and the developing unit.
For this reason, for example, when a remaining amount of toner in the developing unit is reduced, the entire cartridge including the photosensitive drum needs to be replaced even when it is not necessary to replace the photosensitive drum. As a result, it is difficult to save cost.
Aspect of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relates to provide an image forming apparatus in which a cleaning member is located between a photosensitive drum and a fixing device in a state where a drum cartridge is mounted to a drawer and the drawer is located at an inner position and a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge can be individually replaced.
Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure address the features discussed above and/or other features not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to address the above features, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not address features described above.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an image forming apparatus including: an apparatus main body; a drawer moveable between an inner position located inside the apparatus main body and an outer position located outside the apparatus main body; a drum cartridge including: a photosensitive drum; a cleaning member configured to remove waste toner from the photosensitive drum; a developing device including a developing roller configured to form a toner image by developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum by toner and being movable relative to the photosensitive drum; a waste toner conveying pipe configured to convey the waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum by the cleaning member; and a frame supporting the photosensitive drum, the cleaning member and the developing device; an exposure device configured to expose the photosensitive drum to form a latent image on a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum; a fixing device configured to fix the toner image transferred from the photosensitive drum to a printing medium and being spaced upward from the photosensitive drum in a state where the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at the inner position; and a toner cartridge including: a toner container capable of accommodating therein the toner to be supplied to the developing roller; and a waste toner container capable of accommodating therein the waste toner, wherein the cleaning member is located between the photosensitive drum and the fixing device in a vertical direction in the state where the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at the inner position, wherein the drum cartridge is capable of being mounted to the drawer, and wherein the toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a toner cartridge including: a toner container capable of accommodating therein toner and having a toner discharge port through which the toner is to be discharged, the toner container including: a shutter configured to be movable between a closing position at which the shutter closes the toner discharge port and an opening position at which the shutter opens the toner discharge port; and a lever configured to move the shutter and movable between a first position at which the shutter is located at the closing position and a second position at which the shutter is located at the opening position; and a waste toner container capable of accommodating therein waste toner and moveably coupled to the toner container, wherein when the lever is located at the first position, the lever is engaged with the waste toner container, so that the waste toner container is immovable relative to the toner container, and wherein when the lever is located at the second position, engagement between the lever and the waste toner container is released, so that the waste toner container is movable relative to the toner container.
Referring to
As shown in
1.1 Apparatus Main Body
The apparatus main body 2 is configured to accommodate therein the feeder unit 3, the drawer 4, the drum cartridge 5, the exposure device 6, the toner cartridge 7, the transfer roller 8, and the fixing device 9. The apparatus main body 2 has an opening 2A and a cover 2B.
The opening 2A is located at an opposite side to the transfer roller 8 with respect to the drum cartridge 5 in a state where the drum cartridge 5 is mounted to the apparatus main body 2.
The cover 2B is configured to be movable between a closing position (see
1.2 Feeder Unit
The feeder unit 3 is configured to feed a printing medium P to a photosensitive drum 13. The printing medium P is, for example, a printing sheet. The photosensitive drum 13 will be described later. The feeder unit 3 includes a sheet feeding tray 10, a pickup roller 11, and a sheet feeding roller 12. The sheet feeding tray 10 is configured to accommodate therein the printing medium P. The pickup roller 11 is configured to convey the printing medium P in the sheet feeding tray 10 toward the sheet feeding roller 12. The sheet feeding roller 12 is configured to covey the printing medium P sent from the pickup roller 11 toward the photosensitive drum 13.
1.3 Drawer
The drawer 4 is configured to be movable between an inner position (see
1.4 Drum Cartridge
The drum cartridge 5 is mountable to the drawer 4. The drum cartridge 5 includes a photosensitive drum 13, a charging roller 14, and a developing device 15.
The photosensitive drum 13 is configured to be rotatable about a rotary axis A1. A direction in which the rotary axis A1 of the photosensitive drum 13 extends is defined as an axis direction. The photosensitive drum 13 extends in the axis direction, and has a cylindrical shape.
The charging roller 14 is configured to charge a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13. The charging roller 14 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13. In the meantime, the drum cartridge 5 may include a non-contact type charger such as a scorotron-type charger, instead of the charging roller 14.
The developing device 15 is configured to be movable relative to the photosensitive drum 13. The developing device 15 includes a developing roller 16.
The developing roller 16 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 13. The developing roller 16 can supply the toner in the developing device 15 to the photosensitive drum 13. Thereby, the developing roller 16 is configured to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 13 by the toner, thereby forming a toner image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13.
1.5 Exposure Device
The exposure device 6 is configured to form a latent image by exposing the photosensitive drum 13. Specifically, the exposure device 6 is configured to expose the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 charged by the charging roller 14. Thereby, a latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13. The exposure device 6 is located above the drawer 4. Specifically, the exposure device 6 is a laser scan unit.
1.6 Toner Cartridge
The toner cartridge 7 is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge 5. The toner cartridge 7 includes a toner container 17 and a waste toner container 18. The toner container 17 can accommodate therein toner that is to be supplied to the developing roller 16. The waste toner container 18 can accommodate therein waste toner. The waste toner indicates toner removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 by a cleaning member 22B. The cleaning member 22B will be described later.
1.7 Transfer Roller
The transfer roller 8 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 13 in a state where the drum cartridge 5 is mounted to the drawer 4 and the drawer 4 is located at the inner position. The printing medium P fed from the sheet feeding tray 10 passes between the transfer roller 8 and the photosensitive drum 13. At this time, the transfer roller 8 is configured to transfer the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 to the printing medium P.
1.8 Fixing Device
The fixing device 9 is configured to heat and press the printing medium P having the toner image transferred thereto, thereby fixing the toner image, which has been transferred from the photosensitive drum 13 to the printing medium P, on the printing medium P. The printing medium P having passed through the fixing device 9 is discharged onto an upper surface of the apparatus main body 2. The fixing device 9 is spaced upward from the photosensitive drum 13 in the state where the drum cartridge 5 is mounted to the drawer 4 and the drawer 4 is located at the inner position. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 is equipped on a horizontal stand or the like so that the fixing device 9 is located above the photosensitive drum 13.
Subsequently, the drum cartridge 5 is described in detail with reference to
The drum cartridge 5 includes a frame 21, a drum cleaner 22, a waste toner conveying pipe 23, a first screw 24, a second screw 25, a shaft 26, and a seal member 27 (see
2.1 Frame
The frame 21 is configured to support the photosensitive drum 13, the charging roller 14, the developing device 15, the drum cleaner 22, the waste toner conveying pipe 23 and the first screw 24. The frame 21 has a first side plate 21A and a second side plate 21B.
As shown in
The second side plate 21B is located at the other end of the frame 21 in the axis direction. The second side plate 21B extends in the first direction. The second side plate 21B is located while being spaced from the first side plate 21A in the axis direction.
2.2 Drum Cleaner
As shown in
The drum cleaner frame 22A is configured to accommodate therein the waste toner removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 by the cleaning member 22B. The drum cleaner frame 22A is located between the first side plate 21A (see
The cleaning member 22B is configured to remove waste toner from the photosensitive drum 13. The cleaning member 22B is mounted to the drum cleaner frame 22A. The cleaning member 22B extends in the axis direction and has a plate shape. An edge of the cleaning member 22B is located in the opening 22C. The edge of the cleaning member 22B is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13. Thereby, when the photosensitive drum 13 is rotated, the toner attached to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is scraped by the edge of the cleaning member 22B and is accommodated in the drum cleaner frame 22A through the opening 22C. In the state where the drum cartridge 5 is mounted to the drawer 4, the cleaning member 22B is located above the photosensitive drum 13. Also, as shown in
2.3 Waste Toner Conveying Pipe
As shown in
The first part 23A is configured to couple the drum cleaner 22 and the second part 23B with each other. The first part 23A is supported by the first side plate 21A. The first part 23A is located at an opposite side to the second side plate 21B with respect to the first side plate 21A in the axis direction. The first part 23A extends in the first direction.
The second part 23B is located between the first side plate 21A and the second side plate 21B in the axis direction. The second part 23B has a cylindrical shape extending in the axis direction. As shown in
The waste toner in the waste toner conveying pipe 23 is discharged through the waste toner discharge port 28. The waste toner discharge port 28 is located at a substantial center between the first side plate 21A and the second side plate 21B in the axis direction.
2.4 First Screw
As shown in
2.5 Second Screw
As shown in
2.6 Shaft
As shown in
2.7 Developing Device
As shown in
2.7.1 Developing Frame
As shown in
The developing frame 31 has a toner accommodation part 31A and a toner cartridge support part 31B.
The toner accommodation part 31A is located between the toner cartridge support part 31B and the photosensitive drum 13 in the first direction. The toner accommodation part 31A is configured to support the developing roller 16. The toner accommodation part 31A is configured to accommodate therein the toner that is to be supplied to the developing roller 16.
The toner cartridge support part 31B is configured to support the toner cartridge 7 in a state where the toner cartridge 7 (see
As shown in
As shown in
The partitioning plate 35 is located between the third side plate 34A and the fourth side plate 34B in the axis direction. The partitioning plate 35 extends in the axis direction. One end of the partitioning plate 35 in the axis direction connects to the third side plate 34A. The other end of the partitioning plate 35 in the axis direction connects to the fourth side plate 34B. As shown in
As shown in
The opening 35B is spaced from the toner receiving port 35A in a circumferential direction of the partitioning plate 35. In other words, the opening 35B is spaced from the toner receiving port 35A in a moving direction of the first shutter 32. The opening 35B is located at a center of the developing frame 31 in the axis direction. The opening 35B and the toner receiving port 35A are arranged along the moving direction of the first shutter 32. The opening 35B is configured to communicate with the waste toner discharge port 28 of the waste toner conveying pipe 23. Also, the opening 35B is configured to communicate with the waste toner receiving port 45 of the toner cartridge 7 in a state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the developing device 15, the first shutter 32 is located at the opening position, and the second shutter 42 is located at the opening position. The second shutter 42 and the waste toner receiving port 45 will be described later.
2.7.2 First Shutter
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
2.7.3 Two Levers
As shown in
The guide groove 331 is located between the first shutter 32 and the guide groove 341 in the first direction, in the state where the lever 33A is located at the first position. In the state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5, a rib 48 (see
The guide groove 332 is located at an opposite side to the guide groove 331 with respect to the guide groove 341 in the first direction, in the state where the lever 33A is located at the first position. In the state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5, a rib 49 (see
In the state where the lever 33A is located at the first position, the guide groove 331, the guide groove 341 and the guide groove 332 form a linear groove extending in the first direction. Thereby, when a user attaches the toner cartridge 7 to the drum cartridge 5, the rib 48 of the toner cartridge 7 can be guided to the guide groove 331 through the guide groove 332 and the guide groove 341. Also, when the user attaches the toner cartridge 7 to the drum cartridge 5, the rib 46A of the toner cartridge 7 can be guided to the guide groove 341 through the guide groove 332.
In the meantime, as shown in
2.8 Seal Member
As shown in
Subsequently, the toner cartridge 7 is described in detail with reference to
The toner cartridge 7 shown in
3.1 Housing
The housing 41 can accommodate therein the toner that is to be supplied to the developing roller 16. As shown in
The first cylindrical part 41A has a cylindrical shape. The first cylindrical part 41A extends in the axis direction in the state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5.
The second cylindrical part 41B has a cylindrical shape. The second cylindrical part 41B extends in the axis direction in the state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5. The second cylindrical part 41B and the first cylindrical part 41A are arranged along the first direction in the state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5. In other words, the second cylindrical part 41B and the first cylindrical part 41A are arranged along a radial direction of the first cylindrical part 41A in the state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5. As shown in
In the housing 41, a part of the first cylindrical part 41A in the radial direction and a part of the second cylindrical part 41B in the radial direction are demarcated as the waste toner container 18. The waste toner container 18 is provided therein with a belt conveyor 18A for conveying the waste toner. Also, a part of the housing 41 except the waste toner container 18 is the toner container 17. The toner container 17 is provided therein with agitators 17A, 17B for stirring the toner. The agitator 17A is located in the first cylindrical part 41A, and the agitator 17B is located in the second cylindrical part 41B.
Also, as shown in
As shown in
The waste toner receiving port 45 is located on the peripheral surface of the first cylindrical part 41A. The waste toner receiving port 45 is spaced from the toner discharge port 44 in a circumferential direction of the first cylindrical part 41A. In other words, the waste toner receiving port 45 is spaced from the toner discharge port 44 in a moving direction of the second shutter 42. The waste toner receiving port 45 and the toner discharge port 44 are arranged along the moving direction of the second shutter 42. The waste toner receiving port 45 is configured to communicate with the waste toner container 18. As shown in
As shown in
The rib 46B is spaced from the rib 46A in the axis direction. The rib 46B is located on the other side surface of the first cylindrical part 41A in the axis direction. The rib 46B protrudes from the other side surface of the first cylindrical part 41A in the axis direction. The rib 46B extends in the radial direction of the first cylindrical part 41A. The rib 46B extends in the first direction in the state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5. The rib 46B is fitted in the guide groove 341 (not shown) of the fourth side plate 34B of the drum cartridge 5 in the state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5.
3.2 Second Shutter
The second shutter 42 is configured to be movable relative to the first cylindrical part 41A between the closing position (see
The cylindrical part 42A is configured to cover the peripheral surface of the first cylindrical part 41A. The cylindrical part 42A extends in the axis direction. The cylindrical part 42A has a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical part 42A has a first opening 421 (see
As shown in
The second opening 422 is spaced from the first opening 421 in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical part 42A. As shown in
As shown in
The fourth opening 424 is located at an opposite side to the third opening 423 with respect to the second opening 422 in the axis direction. The fourth opening 424 is spaced from the second opening 422 in the axis direction. A connection part of the first cylindrical part 41A and the second cylindrical part 41B passes through the fourth opening 424.
The first side plate 42B is configured to cover one side surface of the first cylindrical part 41A in the axis direction. The first side plate 42B is connected to one end portion of the cylindrical part 42A in the axis direction. In the meantime, the first side plate 42B has the same structure as the second side plate 42C, and can be described in the same manner as the second side plate 42C. Therefore, the description of the structure of the first side plate 42B is omitted, and the structure of the second side plate 42C is described in detail.
The second side plate 42C is configured to cover the other side surface of the first cylindrical part 41A in the axis direction. The second side plate 42C is connected to the other end portion of the cylindrical part 42A in the axis direction. The second side plate 42C is spaced from the first side plate 42B in the axis direction. As shown in
The opening 47 exposes the rib 46B of the first cylindrical part 41A. The opening 47 is located at a center of the second side plate 42C in a radial direction of the second side plate 42C. The opening 47 has a circular shape.
The rib 48 protrudes from the second side plate 42C. The rib 48 extends in the radial direction of the second side plate 42C. The rib 48 extends in the first direction in the state where the second shutter 42 is located at the closing position. The rib 48 is fitted in the guide groove 331 of the fourth side plate 34B (see
The rib 49 protrudes from the second side plate 42C. The rib 49 extends in the radial direction of the second side plate 42C. The rib 49 is located at an opposite side to the rib 48 with respect to the opening 47 in the first direction, in the state where the second shutter 42 is located at the closing position. In the state where the second shutter 42 is located at the closing position, the rib 49 forms a linear rib extending in the first direction, together with the rib 46B and the rib 48. The rib 49 is fitted in the guide groove 332 of the fourth side plate 34B (see
The rib 48 of the first side plate 42B is fitted in the guide groove 331 of the lever 33A and the rib 49 of the first side plate 42B is fitted in the guide groove 332 of the lever 33A, so that the lever 33A and the first side plate 42B are connected to each other and can rotate together. Also, the rib 48 of the second side plate 42C is fitted in the guide groove 331 of the lever 33B and the rib 49 of the second side plate 42C is fitted in the guide groove 332 of the lever 33B, so that the lever 33B and the second side plate 42C are connected to each other and can rotate together.
When the first side plate 42B is rotated together with the lever 33A and the second side plate 42C is rotated together with the lever 33B, the first shutter 32 moves together with the second shutter 42. That is, the first shutter 32 is capable of moving together with the second shutter 42 in the state where the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5.
Subsequently, attaching and detaching of the toner cartridge 7 to and from the drum cartridge 5 are described with reference to
As shown in
Specifically, as shown in
When the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the drum cartridge 5, the rib 48 (see
Then, as shown in
Thereby, the first side plate 42B is rotated together with the lever 33A and the second side plate 42C is rotated together with the lever 33B, so that the first shutter 32 is moved from the closing position to the opening position and the second shutter 42 is moved from the closing position to the opening position.
Then, as shown in
Also, as shown in
Thereby, the first side plate 42B is rotated together with the lever 33A and the second side plate 42C is rotated together with the lever 33B, so that the first shutter 32 is moved from the opening position to the closing position and the second shutter 42 is moved from the opening position to the closing position.
Then, after the first shutter 32 is located at the closing position and the second shutter 42 is located at the closing position, the user detaches the toner cartridge 7 from the drum cartridge 5.
In the meantime, the toner cartridge 7 may be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge 5 in a state where the drum cartridge 5 is demounted from the drawer 4.
As shown in
For this reason, in the image forming apparatus 1 where the cleaning member 22B is located between the photosensitive drum 13 and the fixing device 9 in the state where the drum cartridge 5 is mounted to the drawer 4 and the drawer 4 is located at the inner position, it is possible to individually replace the drum cartridge 5 and the toner cartridge 7, as shown in
Thereby, it is possible to replace each of the drum cartridge 5 and the toner cartridge 7 at an appropriate time, in accordance with each lifetime.
Also, in the image forming apparatus 1, it is possible to convey the waste toner removed by the cleaning member 22B to the waste toner container 18 (see
Also, as shown in
Thereby, in the state where the waste toner container 18 is fixed to the drum cartridge 5, the toner cartridge 7 can swing relative to the photosensitive drum 13 together with the developing device 15, in accordance with vibrations of the developing roller 16 which are generated when the photosensitive drum 13 and the developing roller 16 are rotated.
Subsequently, a second exemplary embodiment is described with reference to
6.1 Outline of Second Exemplary Embodiment
As shown in
Hereinafter, the second exemplary embodiment is described in detail.
6.2 Details of Drum Cartridge
The frame 51 of the drum cartridge 50 includes a toner cartridge support part 52, a wall 53, a first shutter 54, a seal member 55, and a waste toner conveying pipe 56, unlike the frame 21 of the drum cartridge 5 of the first exemplary embodiment.
6.2.1 Toner Cartridge Support Part
The toner cartridge support part 52 is configured to support a housing 63 of the toner cartridge 60 in the state where the toner cartridge 60 is attached to the drum cartridge 50. The toner cartridge 60 will be described later. The toner cartridge support part 52 is located between the first side plate 21A and the second side plate 21B in the axis direction.
The toner cartridge support part 52 has a plate shape extending in the axis direction.
6.2.2 Wall
The wall 53 is located between the developing device 15 and the toner cartridge support part 52 in the first direction. The wall 53 is configured to support a toner discharge part 64 of the toner cartridge 60 in a state where the toner cartridge 60 is attached to the frame 51. The wall 53 is located between a toner discharge port 64A and a toner receiving port 35A in the state where the toner cartridge 60 is attached to the frame 51. Also, the wall 53 is located between the first side plate 21A and the second side plate 21B in the axis direction. The wall 53 has a semi-cylindrical shape extending in the axis direction. The wall 53 has an opening 53A.
The opening 53A is located between the first side plate 21A and the second side plate 21B in the axis direction. The opening 53A communicates with the toner receiving port 35A.
6.2.3 First Shutter
The first shutter 54 is configured to be movable relative to the wall 53 between a closing position (see
The side plate 54A is located at one end portion of the first shutter 54 in the axis direction. The side plate 54A has a groove 541. In the state where the toner cartridge 60 is attached to the frame 51, a rib 67A (see
The side plate 54B (not shown) is spaced from the side plate 54A in the axis direction. The side plate 54B (not shown) is located at the other end portion of the first shutter 54 in the axis direction. The side plate 54B (not shown) has a groove of which a shape is the same as the groove 541 of the side plate 54A.
6.2.4 Seal Member
As shown in
6.2.5 Waste Toner Conveying Pipe
The waste toner conveying pipe 56 shown in
6.3 Details of Toner Cartridge
As shown in
6.3.1 Toner Container
The toner container 61 includes a housing 63, a toner discharge part 64, a lever 65, a gear 66 and a gear 67.
As shown in
Through the toner discharge part 64, the toner in the housing 63 can be discharged. The toner discharge part 64 extends from the housing 63. An internal space of the toner discharge part 64 communicates with an internal space of the housing 63. Thereby, the toner in the housing 63 is received into the toner discharge part 64. The toner discharge part 64 has a toner discharge port 64A and a second shutter 64B.
The toner discharge port 64A communicates with the internal space of the toner discharge part 64. Thereby, the toner in the toner discharge part 64 can be discharged through the toner discharge port 64A.
The second shutter 64B is configured to be movable between the closing position (see
As shown in
The gear 66 is in mesh with the gear teeth 65A of the lever 65.
The gear 67 is in mesh with the gear 66. The gear 67 can be independently rotated from the second shutter 64B in a state where the toner cartridge 60 is detached from the drum cartridge 50. The gear 67 has a rib 67A. The rib 67A extends in the first direction in the state where the lever 65 is located at the first position. The rib 67A extends in a direction intersecting with the first direction in the state where the lever 65 is located at the second position. The rib 67A is fitted in the groove 541 (see
6.3.2 Waste Toner Container
As shown in
The waste toner receiving port 62A communicates with the waste toner discharge port 56A of the waste toner conveying pipe 56 in the state where the toner cartridge 60 is attached to the drum cartridge 50. Thereby, in the state where the toner cartridge 60 is attached to the drum cartridge 50, the waste toner from the waste toner conveying pipe 56 can be received through the waste toner receiving port 62A. The waste toner receiving port 62A communicates with the internal space of the waste toner container 62. Thereby, the waste toner received into the waste toner receiving port 62A is accommodated in the waste toner container 62.
The shutter 62B is configured to be movable between a closing position (not shown) at which the shutter 62B closes the waste toner receiving port 62A and an opening position (see
6.4 Operational Effects of Second Exemplary Embodiment
Also in the second exemplary embodiment, it is possible to accomplish the same effects as the first exemplary embodiment.
Subsequently, a third exemplary embodiment is described with reference to
7.1 Outline of Third Exemplary Embodiment
As shown in
Hereinafter, the third exemplary embodiment is described in detail.
7.2 Details of Toner Cartridge
As shown in
7.2.1 Toner Container
The toner container 71 includes a housing 73, a shutter 74, and a lever 75. That is, the toner cartridge 70 includes the shutter 74 and the lever 75.
The housing 73 can accommodate therein the toner that is to be supplied to the developing roller 16. As shown in
The shutter 74 is configured to be movable relative to the housing 73 between the closing position (see
As shown in
7.2.2 Waste Toner Container
The waste toner container 72 is movably coupled to the toner container 71.
Specifically, the waste toner container 72 is described with reference to
The waste toner container 72 has a coupling part 100. The coupling part 100 has a hole 101 and a hole 102. Also, the housing 73 of the toner container 71 has a projection 201 and a projection 202. The projection 201 is inserted into the hole 101 and the projection 202 is inserted into the hole 102, so that the waste toner container 72 is coupled to the toner container 71.
In a state where the projection 201 is inserted in the hole 101, the projection 201 is spaced from an the inner surface of the hole 101. Also, in a state where the projection 202 is inserted in the hole 102, the projection 202 is spaced from an the inner surface of the hole 102. There is an interval between the projection 201 and the hole 101 and there is also an interval between the projection 202 and the inner surface of the hole 102, so that the waste toner container 72 can be moved relative to the toner container 71 in the first direction and in the second direction.
In the third exemplary embodiment, the projection 201 and the projection 202 have a circular column shape, respectively. Also, the hole 101 and the hole 102 are a long hole that is long in the first direction, respectively. For this reason, a distance by which the waste toner container 72 is movable relative to the toner container 71 is longer in the first direction than in the second direction.
The toner container 71 is loosely coupled in a state where it can be moved relative to the waste toner container 72, so that the toner container 71 can be moved relative to the waste toner container 72 in the state where the toner cartridge 70 is attached to the drum cartridge 80. Specifically, in the state where the toner cartridge 70 is attached to the drum cartridge 80, it is possible to move the toner container 71 and the developing device 15 relative to the photosensitive drum 13 while keeping a state where the waste toner container 72 is not moved relative to the waste toner conveying pipe 81 and the frame 21. With the structure where the toner container 71 can be moved relative to the waste toner container 72 in the state where the waste toner container 72 is not moved relative to the waste toner conveying pipe 81 and the frame 21, it is possible to prevent the waste toner from being leaked from a coupled part of the waste toner container 72 and the waste toner conveying pipe 81 and to also bring the developing device 15 into contact with the photosensitive drum 13 at an optimal position for the developing.
The waste toner container 72 has an engagement part 76. A part of the lever 75 is engaged with the engagement part 76 when the lever 75 is located at the first position. Specifically, the engagement part 76 is a concave part in which a handle 75A of the lever 75 is fitted. As shown in
7.3 Details of Drum Cartridge
As shown in
7.3.1 Waste Toner Conveying Pipe
The waste toner conveying pipe 81 interconnects the drum cleaner 22 and the waste toner container 72 in the state where the toner cartridge 70 is attached to the drum cartridge 80. The waste toner conveying pipe 81 is configured to convey the waste toner from the drum cleaner 22 to the waste toner container 72 in the state where the toner cartridge 70 is attached to the drum cartridge 80. As shown in
7.3.2 First Guide and Second Guide
As shown in
7.3.3 Engagement Part
The engagement part 82 is provided to the developing device 15. As shown in
7.4 Operational Effects of Third Exemplary Embodiment
Also in the third exemplary embodiment, it is possible to accomplish the same operational effects as the first exemplary embodiment.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2018-099444 | May 2018 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/472,763 filed Sep. 13, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/421,445 filed May 23, 2019 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,119,438 on Sep. 14, 2021, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, which in turn is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to prior Japanese patent application No. 2018-099444, filed on May 24, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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2017-72704 | Apr 2017 | JP |
2017-161614 | Sep 2017 | JP |
2017-223805 | Dec 2017 | JP |
Entry |
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Japanese Office Action for the related Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-09944 dated Mar. 29, 2022. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20240069483 A1 | Feb 2024 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17472763 | Sep 2021 | US |
Child | 18344272 | US | |
Parent | 16421445 | May 2019 | US |
Child | 17472763 | US |