G03G21/1846

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20210389721 · 2021-12-16 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a drum cartridge, and a development cartridge. The drum cartridge is movable in a first direction through the opening between a first position at which the drum cartridge is located inside the housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is located outside the housing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction and a first handle located at a downstream end of the drum cartridge in a movement direction in which the drum cartridge moves from the first position to the second position. The development cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The development cartridge includes a development roller and a second handle located upstream of the first handle in the movement direction in a state where the development cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.

Structure to selectively expose grip portion of toner cartridge

A toner cartridge includes a body accommodating toner, a front cover located in front of the body and provided with a first opening forming a grip portion for pulling the toner cartridge forward, an opening/closing member which is located inside the front cover and is switched to a first position closing the first opening and a second position opening the first opening, and an elastic member configured to apply an elastic force to the opening/closing member in a direction to be located at the second position.

Image forming device

An image forming device, including: a housing; a drawer movable between an inside position at which the drawer is located inside the housing and an outside position at which the drawer is located outside the housing; a drum cartridge including a photoconductive drum and a developer roller and mountable on the drawer; a toner cartridge storing toner to be supplied to the developer roller and mountable on the drawer, wherein the drawer includes a first guide that guides the toner cartridge in mounting the toner cartridge on the drawer, and wherein the drum cartridge includes a second guide connected to the first guide in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, the second guide being configured to guide the toner cartridge in mounting the toner cartridge on the drawer in the state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING A LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A UNIT
20210373486 · 2021-12-02 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a first unit dismountably mounted on a main body frame and a locking mechanism releasably holding the first unit mounted. The locking mechanism has a handle portion, a lock member, and a preloading member. The handle portion is on the first unit, and is movable to and fro in the mounting and dismounting directions of the first unit. The lock member is swingably on the first unit, and has a hook portion engageable with an engaged portion formed on the main body frame. The preloading member preloads the lock member in a first direction in which the hook portion engages with the engaged portion. As the handle portion is moved in the dismounting direction, the lock member swings in a second direction opposite to the first direction against the preloading force of the preloading member to disengage the hook portion from the engaged portion.

Developing apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

A developing cartridge includes a developing frame body rotatably supporting a developing roller. A first end member is attached to the first end of the developing frame and a second end member is attached to the second end of the developing frame body. The first end member and the second end member are rotatable independently of each other and relative to the developing frame body about a rotational axis common to the first end member and the second end member, and with rotation of the developing frame body relative to the first end member and the second end member, the developing roller moves from a first position to a second position in a direction that crosses a position of an axis of the developing roller when the developing roller is in the first position.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PERMITTING USER TO IMAGINE CLEAR DETACHMENT PROCEDURE OF TONER CARTRIDGE FROM PROCESS CARTRIDGE
20220183636 · 2022-06-16 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. The toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.

Image forming apparatus
11347176 · 2022-05-31 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge is removably insertable into to the main body casing in a first direction. The developing cartridge is removably insertable into the main body casing in the first direction. The drum cartridge includes a first handle. The first handle has a first recess having a first hollow. The developing cartridge includes a second handle. The second handle has a second recess having a second hollow.

Shipping or storage separator for replaceable units of an electrophotographic image forming device

A component separator system for use with an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a first replaceable unit and a second replaceable unit for use in the image forming device. The second replaceable unit is manually separable from the first replaceable unit. The first replaceable unit is mateable with the second replaceable unit in an operative position of the first replaceable unit relative to the second replaceable unit with a first imaging component of the first replaceable unit in operative contact with a second imaging component of the second replaceable unit. Engagement of a first engagement member of the first replaceable unit with a second engagement member of the second replaceable unit retains the first replaceable unit in a storage position relative to the second replaceable unit with the first imaging component spaced away from the second imaging component.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20230273568 · 2023-08-31 · ·

A first side frame is apart from a second side frame in a first direction. A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in the first direction. The photosensitive drum is rotatably supported between the first side frame and the second side frame. A grip portion extends in the first direction. A first connector extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first connector connects the first side frame and a first end portion of the grip portion. The second connector extends in the second direction. The second connector connects the second side frame and a second end portion of the grip portion. A scanner unit is configured to expose the photosensitive drum to light. The scanner unit is located between the photosensitive drum and the grip portion as viewed in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first and second directions.

Replaceable units of an electrophotographic image forming device having a shipping or storage separator

A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a body having a reservoir for storing toner and a rotatable developer roll mounted on the body and in fluid communication with the reservoir. A portion of an outer surface of the developer roll is exposed along a front of the body for supplying toner from the reservoir to a corresponding photoconductive drum on an imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit in an operative position of the toner cartridge relative to the imaging unit. A first engagement member positioned on a rear of the body is configured to engage a corresponding second engagement member on the imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit to retain the toner cartridge in a storage position of the toner cartridge relative to the imaging unit with the developer roll spaced away from the photoconductive drum.