Drum Unit

• US 20170115624A1
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Junichi, Yamazaki, Ryuya
• Granted Patent: US 10,061,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/10 Collecting or recycling waste developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/0026 Cleaning of foreign matter, e.g. paper powder, from imaging member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1684 using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges

Abstract

A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a side plate, a cleaning unit, a waste-toner conveyor unit. The photosensitive drum has a first drum body and a second drum body, each having a photosensitive layer and a supported portion extending from one end of the drum body in a first direction along a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum. The side plate supports the supported portions. The cleaning unit has cleaners and conveyors corresponding to the drum bodies so as to remove waste toner from the photosensitive drums and convey the waste toner removed by the cleaners in the first direction. The waste-toner conveyor unit has a collecting conveyor configured to convey the waste toner conveyed by the. The collecting conveyor is disposed between the side plate and the drum bodies. The collecting conveyor is disposed below the first conveyor.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a printer body including a waste-toner storage portion; and

a process unit movable between a first position, at which the process unit is positioned inside the printer body, and a second position, at which the process unit is positioned outside the printer body, the process unit comprising;

a first photosensitive drum rotatable about a rotational axis, the first photosensitive drum including a first drum body having a first photosensitive layer and a first flange member extending from one end of the first drum body in an axial direction along the rotational axis of the first photosensitive drum;

a second photosensitive drum rotatable about a rotational axis, the second photosensitive drum including a second drum body having a second photosensitive layer and a second flange member extending from one end of the second drum body in the axial direction;

a first side plate supporting the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum;

a second side plate supporting the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum, the first drum body of the first photosensitive drum and the second drum body of the second photosensitive drum being disposed between the first side plate and the second side plate in the axial direction, the first side plate including an upper end and a lower end;

a first cleaning unit having a first cleaner and a first conveyor, the first cleaner being configured to remove waste toner from the first photosensitive drum, the first conveyor being configured to convey waste toner removed by the first cleaner in the axial direction;

a second cleaning unit having a second cleaner and a second conveyor, the second cleaner being configured to remove waste toner from the second photosensitive drum, the second conveyor being configured to convey waste toner removed by the second cleaner in the axial direction; and

a waste-toner conveyor unit including a conveyor tube for conveying waste toner conveyed by the first conveyor and waste toner conveyed by the second conveyor toward the waste-toner storage portion,

wherein the conveyor tube of the waste-toner conveyor unit is disposed between the first side plate and the first drum body,

wherein the conveyor tube of the waste-toner conveyor unit is disposed below the rotational axis of the first photosensitive drum, and

wherein the conveyor tube of the waste-toner conveyor unit is disposed above the lower end of the first side plate.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first flange member has a larger-diameter portion rotatable about the rotational axis of the first photosensitive drum and a smaller-diameter portion rotatable about the rotational axis of the first photosensitive drum, the larger-diameter portion of the first flange member being fitted to the end of the first drum body in the axial direction, the first side plate supporting the smaller-diameter portion of the first flange member, a diameter of the smaller-diameter portion of the first flange member being smaller than a diameter of the larger-diameter portion of the first flange member, and

wherein the conveyor tube of the waste-toner conveyor unit is disposed between the first side plate and the larger-diameter portion of the first flange member.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the conveyor tube of the waste-toner conveyor unit is disposed below the smaller-diameter portion of the first flange member.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first flange member has a larger-diameter portion rotatable about the rotational axis of the first photosensitive drum and a smaller-diameter portion rotatable about the rotational axis of the first photosensitive drum, the larger-diameter portion of the first flange member being fitted to the end of the first drum body in the axial direction, the first side plate supporting the smaller-diameter portion of the first flange member, a diameter of the smaller-diameter portion of the first flange member being smaller than a diameter of the larger-diameter portion of the first flange member, and

wherein the conveyor tube of the waste-toner conveyor unit is disposed below the smaller-diameter portion of the first flange member.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first photosensitive drum including a third flange member extending from another end of the first drum body in the axial direction, the third flange member has a gear portion, and

wherein the first photosensitive drum includes a drum coupling fitted to the third flange member of the first photosensitive drum and the drum coupling rotatable with the third flange member, the drum coupling including a coupling portion being configured to be engaged with a printer-body coupling of the printer body to rotate the drum coupling with the printer-body coupling.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first photosensitive drum including a third flange member extending from another end of the first drum body in an axial direction, the third flange member has a gear portion, and

wherein the first conveyor is an auger member, the first conveyor includes a gear supported an end of the first conveyor, the gear of the first conveyer being meshed with the gear portion of the third flange member.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the conveyor tube has an opening and includes a shutter, the shutter being movable between a closed position, at which the shutter closes the opening, and an open position, at which the shutter exposes the opening, the shutter being positioned at the open position in a state where the process unit is positioned at the first position, the shutter being positioned at the second position in a state where the process unit is positioned at the second position, the opening of the conveyor tube communicating with the waste-toner storage portion of the printer body in a state where the process unit is positioned at the first position and the shutter is positioned at the open position.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor tube being disposed below the first conveyor.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first conveyor is an auger member.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the waste-toner conveyor unit including an auger member disposed inside the conveyor tube, the auger member being rotatable about a rotational axis to convey waste toner conveyed by the first conveyor and waste toner conveyed by the second conveyor toward the waste-toner storage portion.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a printer body including a waste-toner storage portion, the waste-toner storage portion having a substantially box shape; and

a process unit movable between a first position, at which the process unit is positioned inside the printer body, and a second position, at which the process unit is positioned outside the printer body, the process unit comprising;

a first photosensitive drum including a first drum body and a first flange member fitted to one end of the first drum body, the first drum body including a metal tube having a substantially cylindrical shape, a portion of the first flange member being inside the first drum body;

a second photosensitive drum including a second drum body and a second flange member fitted to one end of the second drum body, the second drum body including a metal tube having a substantially cylindrical shape, a portion of the second flange member being inside the second drum body;

a first side plate supporting the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum;

a second side plate supporting the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum, the first drum body of the first photosensitive drum and the second drum body of the second photosensitive drum being disposed between the first side plate and the second side plate, the first side plate having an upper end and a lower end;

a first cleaning blade for removing waste toner from the first photosensitive drum;

a first auger for conveying waste toner removed by a first cleaning blade;

a second cleaning blade for removing waste toner from the second photosensitive drum;

a second auger for conveying waste toner removed by a second cleaning blade; and

a conveyor tube for conveying waste toner conveyed by the first auger and waste toner conveyed by the second auger toward the waste-toner storage portion, the conveyor tube being disposed between the first side plate and the first drum body, the conveyor tube being disposed below the first auger, the conveyor tube being disposed above the lower end of the first side plate.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the first flange member has an inner end portion and an outer end portion, the inner end portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and fitted to the end of the first drum body, the outer end portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and protruding outward from the inner end portion of the first flange member, the first side plate supporting the outer end portion, a diameter of the outer end portion of the first flange member being smaller than a diameter of the inner end portion of the first flange member, and

wherein the conveyor tube is disposed between the first side plate and the inner end portion of the first flange member.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the conveyor tube is disposed below the outer end portion of the first flange member.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the first flange member has an inner end portion and an outer end portion, the inner end portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and fitted to the end of the first drum body, the outer end portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and protruding outward from the inner end portion of the first flange member, the first side plate supporting the outer end portion, a diameter of the outer end portion of the first flange member being smaller than a diameter of the inner end portion of the first flange member, and

wherein the conveyor tube is disposed below the outer end portion of the first flange member.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further including a third auger disposed inside the conveyor tube to convey waste toner conveyed by the first auger and waste toner conveyed by the second auger toward the waste-toner storage portion.

16. A process unit movable between a first position, at which the process unit is positioned inside a printer body, and a second position, at which the process unit is positioned outside the printer body, the process unit comprising:

a first photosensitive drum including a first drum body and a first flange member fitted to one end of the first drum body, the first drum body including a metal tube having a substantially cylindrical shape, a portion of the first flange member being inside the first drum body;

a second photosensitive drum including a second drum body and a second flange member fitted to one end of the second drum body, the second drum body including a metal tube having a substantially cylindrical shape, a portion of the second flange member being inside the second drum body;

a first side plate supporting the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum;

a second side plate supporting the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum, the first drum body of the first photosensitive drum and the second drum body of the second photosensitive drum being disposed between the first side plate and the second side plate, the first side plate having an upper end and a lower end;

a first cleaning blade for removing waste toner from the first photosensitive drum;

a first auger for conveying waste toner removed by the first cleaning blade;

a second cleaning blade for removing waste toner from the second photosensitive drum;

a second auger for conveying waste toner removed by the second cleaning blade; and

a waste-toner conveyor unit including a conveyor tube for conveying waste toner conveyed by the first auger and waste toner conveyed by the second auger, the conveyor tube being disposed between the first side plate and the first drum body, the conveyor tube being disposed below the first auger, the conveyor tube being disposed above the lower end of the first side plate.

17. The process unit according to claim 16,

wherein the first flange member has an inner end portion and an outer end portion, the inner end portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and fitted to the end of the first drum body, the outer end portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and protruding outward from the inner end portion of the first flange member, the first side plate supporting the outer end portion, a diameter of the outer end portion of the first flange member being smaller than a diameter of the inner end portion of the first flange member, and

wherein the conveyor tube of the waste-toner conveyor unit is disposed between the first side plate and the inner end portion of the first flange member.

18. The process unit according to claim 17,

wherein the conveyor tube of the waste-toner conveyor unit is disposed below the outer end portion of the first flange member.

19. The process unit according to claim 16,

wherein the first flange member has an inner end portion and an outer end portion, the inner end portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and fitted to the end of the first drum body, the outer end portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and protruding outward from the inner end portion of the first flange member, the first side plate supporting the outer end portion, a diameter of the outer end portion of the first flange member being smaller than a diameter of the inner end portion of the first flange member, and

wherein the conveyor tube of the waste-toner conveyor unit is disposed below the outer end portion of the first flange member.

20. The process unit according to claim 16, the waste-toner conveyor unit including a third auger disposed inside the conveyor tube to convey waste toner conveyed by the first auger and waste toner conveyed by the second auger toward a waste-toner storage portion.