Image forming device having toner unit, developer unit, and image bearing unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10073381-B2
Application number	US-201313930203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2013
Priority date	Oct 29, 2004
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

In the image forming device, the main body has a loading port. The image bearing unit is configured to be detachably attached to the main body thorough the loading port. The toner unit is configured to be detachably attached to the main body thorough the loading port. The developer unit is configured to be detachably attached to the main body thorough the loading port. The toner unit, the developer unit, and the image bearing unit are located in this order from the loading port to an inside of the main body, when the toner unit, the developer unit, and the image bearing unit are attached in the main body. The toner unit is configured to be independently detached from the main body, when the image bearing unit and the developer unit are attached to the main body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main body having a loading port;
an image bearing unit having a photosensitive drum;
a paper feeding cassette being mounted to a lower part of the main body;
a developer unit having a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum;
a toner unit configured to accommodate toner therein, the toner unit having an agitator configured to agitate the toner, the toner unit configured to be detachably attached to the developer unit through the loading port, wherein the toner unit, the developer unit, and the image bearing unit are arranged in this order in an arrangement direction from the loading port to an inside of the main body, when the toner unit, the developer unit, and the image bearing unit are attached in the main body, and wherein the toner unit having the agitator is configured to be independently detached from the developer unit through the loading port while the developer unit remains attached to the image bearing unit in the main body; and
a lid portion provided at a front surface of the main body, the lid portion including a hinge, the hinge being positioned between the toner unit attached in the main body and the paper feeding cassette, the lid portion being open around the hinge, and the lid portion configured to be in:
an open state in which the toner unit is allowed to be detached through the loading port; and
a closed state in which the lid portion covers the loading port, wherein the lid portion includes a pressing member configured to contact and press the toner unit toward the inside of the main body in the arrangement direction in a case where the lid portion is in the closed state,

wherein the pressing member is configured to be in contact with the toner unit in a state where the toner unit is attached to the developer unit,
wherein the pressing member is configured to press the developer unit toward the image bearing unit via the toner unit in a state where the toner unit is attached to the developer unit,
wherein the developer unit includes a rail,
wherein the toner unit includes an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, the inner cylinder includes an engaging portion,
wherein the developer unit is connected to the toner unit by engagement of the engaging portion and the rail, and
wherein in a case where the toner unit is attached to the developer unit in the main body and then the toner unit is rotated, the engaging portion and the rail are disengaged one from another and the toner unit is separated from the developer unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the toner unit includes a handle configured to be in:
a first state in which the handle is positioned at a first position; and
a second state in which the handle is positioned at a second position,
wherein the lid portion is in the closed state in a case where the handle is in the first position, and
wherein the handle interferes with the lid portion in a case where the lid portion is in the open state and the handle is in the second position.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixing unit configured to fix toner, the fixing unit being positioned inside of the main body,
wherein the toner unit, the developer unit, the image bearing unit, and the fixing unit are located in this order in the arrangement direction from the loading port to an inside of the main body.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixing unit configured to fix toner, the fixing unit being positioned inside of the main body,
wherein the pressing member is configured to press the toner unit toward the fixing unit.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the toner unit, the developer unit, the image bearing unit, and the fixing unit are located in this order in the arrangement direction, and
wherein the pressing member is configured to press the toner unit toward the fixing unit in the arrangement direction in a case where the lid portion is in the closed state.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing member is configured to be in contact with the toner unit and configured to press the developer unit toward the inside of the main body via the toner unit in a case where the lid portion is in the closed state.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixing unit configured to fix toner, the fixing unit being positioned inside of the main body,
wherein the pressing member is configured to be in contact with the toner unit and configured to press the developer unit toward the fixing unit via the toner unit in a case where the lid portion is in the closed state.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the toner unit, the developer unit, the image bearing unit, and the fixing unit are located in this order in the arrangement direction, and
wherein the pressing member is configured to press the developer unit toward the fixing unit in the arrangement direction via the toner unit in a case where the lid portion is in the closed state.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a paper discharge tray positioned above the lid portion,
wherein the paper feeding cassette is positioned below the lid portion.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the hinge is positioned closer to the paper feeding cassette than the paper discharge tray, and
wherein the lid portion is pivotable about the hinge.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the developing roller includes a rotational shaft, and
wherein the image bearing unit includes a guide groove configured to guide the rotational shaft, the guide groove extending in the arrangement direction.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lid portion includes a plurality of the pressing member,
wherein the toner unit has a handle, and
wherein the handle is positioned between one of the plurality of the pressing member and another of the plurality of the pressing member in a case where the lid portion is in the closed state.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in a case where the toner unit, the developer unit, and the image bearing unit are attached in the main body and the lid portion shifts from the closed state to the open state, the lid portion moves in a downward direction from the toner unit attached in the main body to the paper feeding cassette.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inner cylinder is rotatably disposed on the outer cylinder, and
wherein in a case where the toner unit is attached to the developer unit in the main body and then the inner cylinder is rotated, the engaging portion and the rail are disengaged one from another and the toner unit is separated from the developer unit.

Assignees

• Sato Shougo
• Suzuki Tsutomu
• Ishii Masahiro
• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Sato Shougo
• Suzuki Tsutomu
• Ishii Masahiro

Classifications

• G03G15/0891

  for conveying or circulating developer, e.g. augers · CPC title

• G03G2221/163

  for the developer unit · CPC title

• G03G2221/18

  Cartridge systems · CPC title

• G03G15/0872

  the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis · CPC title

• G03G21/1821 Primary

  means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation (G03G21/1825 takes precedence) · CPC title