Image forming apparatus and structural member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9417601-B1
Application number	US-201514799693-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2015
Priority date	Jan 30, 2015
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a structural member that is attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body. The structural member includes a portion having a developer transport path for transporting developer to a developing device and a reinforcing member that reinforces the structural member. The reinforcing member has an opening that opens towards the developer transport path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a structural member configured to be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body,
wherein the structural member includes:
a photoconductor drum;
a portion having a developer transport path for transporting developer to a developing device; and
a reinforcing member that reinforces the structural member,

wherein the reinforcing member has an opening that opens towards the developer transport path, and
wherein the developer transport path and a face of the reinforcing member having the opening are orthogonal to a rotational axis of the photoconductor drum.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the opening communicates with the developer transport path.

3. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a structural member configured to be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body,
wherein the structural member includes:
a photoconductor drum;
a portion having a developer transport path for transporting developer removed from an image holding member to a developing device; and
a reinforcing member that reinforces the structural member,

wherein the reinforcing member has an opening that opens towards the developer transport path, and
wherein the developer transport path and a face of the reinforcing member having the opening are orthogonal to a rotational axis of the photoconductor drum.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the opening is formed along the developer transport path so as to have a width that is the same as that of the developer transport path.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing member includes a protrusion at at least a portion of a periphery of the opening or at an entire portion of the periphery of the opening, the protrusion being provided for reinforcing the reinforcing member.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing member includes a connecting portion that connects a first side portion and a second side portion to each other, the first side portion forming a first side of the opening, the second side portion forming a second side of the opening that opposes the first side, the connecting portion being inclined with respect to the first side and the second side.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising an air current generating device that generates air current that passes through the opening.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a structural member configured to be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body,
wherein the structural member includes:
a portion having a developer transport path for transporting developer removed from an image holding member to a developing device; and
a reinforcing member that reinforces the structural member,

wherein the reinforcing member has an opening that opens towards the developer transport path, and
wherein the opening is formed along the developer transport path so as to have a width that is the same as that of the developer transport path.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a structural member configured to be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body,
wherein the structural member includes:
a portion having a developer transport path for transporting developer removed from an image holding member to a developing device; and
a reinforcing member that reinforces the structural member,

wherein the reinforcing member has an opening that opens towards the developer transport path, and
wherein the reinforcing member includes a protrusion at at least a portion of a periphery of the opening or at an entire portion of the periphery of the opening, the protrusion being provided for reinforcing the reinforcing member.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a structural member configured to be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body,
wherein the structural member includes:
a portion having a developer transport path for transporting developer removed from an image holding member to a developing device; and
a reinforcing member that reinforces the structural member,

wherein the reinforcing member has an opening that opens towards the developer transport path, and
wherein the reinforcing member includes a connecting portion that connects a first side portion and a second side portion to each other, the first side portion forming a first side of the opening, the second side portion forming a second side of the opening that opposes the first side, the connecting portion being inclined with respect to the first side and the second side.

Assignees

• Fuji Xerox Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fukumuro Koji

Classifications

• G03G21/10

  Collecting or recycling waste developer · CPC title

• G03G2221/1645

  for conducting air through the machine, e.g. cooling · CPC title

• G03G21/206

  Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone · CPC title

• G03G21/1814

  Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/105

  Arrangements for conveying toner waste · CPC title