Image-forming device having cleaning unit for removing developer

• US 8,315,537 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Miyahara, Kensuke, Yoshizumi, Hikaru, Sakuma, Susumu, Sato, Shougo
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAINGER, QUANA MASHELL
• Application Number:
  US12/563,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20100074646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 399/119, 399/120, 399/302, 399/308, 399/312
• US Class Current: 399/119
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/168 with means for conditioning the transfer element, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1661 means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus G03G21/1604, G03G21/1642 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/169 for the cleaning unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0193 transfer member separable from recording member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/1661 of transfer belt
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1651 for connecting the different parts
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1684 using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges

Abstract

A plurality of photosensitive bodies is juxtaposed in a conveying direction, in which a recording medium is conveyed, with confronting the conveying unit. Each of a plurality of developing units is configured to move between a first position where the developing unit is capable of supplying developer to the corresponding photosensitive drum and a second position where the developing unit separates from the corresponding photosensitive drum. A cleaning member is configured to move between a third position where the cleaning member is capable of collecting a waste developer deposited on the conveying unit and a fourth position where the cleaning member separates from the conveying unit. A receptacle is slidably supported on one of the developing units and accommodates the collected waste developer. The cleaning member moves integrally with the receptacle. The receptacle and the one of the developing units are integrally detachably mounted on the main casing.

Claims

1. An image-forming apparatus comprising:

a main casing;

a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium in a conveying direction;

a plurality of photosensitive bodies juxtaposed in the conveying direction and confronting the conveying unit;

a plurality of developing units detachably mountable on the main casing, each of the developing units being configured to move between a first position where the developing unit is capable of supplying developer to a corresponding photosensitive drum and a second position where the developing unit separates from the corresponding photosensitive drum;

a cleaning member configured to move between a third position where the cleaning member is capable of collecting a waste developer deposited on the conveying unit and a fourth position where the cleaning member separates from the conveying unit; and

a receptacle slidably supportable on one of the developing units and configured to accommodate the collected waste developer collected by the cleaning member, the cleaning member configured to move integrally with the receptacle between the third position and the fourth position, the receptacle and the one of the developing units being integrally and detachably mountable on the main casing.

2. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the receptacle and the one of the developing units is formed with a pair of holes, each of the pair of holes being elongated in a direction in which the receptacle slides, wherein the other one of the receptacle and the one of the developing units is provided with a pair of protrusions which are configured to loosely fit in the pair of holes, respectively.

3. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the protrusions are rollers that are rotatably supportable on the other one of the receptacle and the one of the developing units.

4. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of first protrusions provided on each of the developing units and configured to protrude outward from both end portions of each developing unit in an axial direction of the photosensitive bodies, respectively;

a pair of second protrusions extending in the axial direction, each of the second protrusions being positioned on each side of the cleaning member in the axial direction, the positions of the second protrusions being fixed relative to the cleaning member, wherein one first protrusion of the pair of first protrusions for each developing unit and one second protrusion of the pair of second protrusions is positioned at one side in the axial direction and another first protrusion of the pair of first protrusions for each developing unit and another second protrusion of the pair of second protrusions is positioned at another side in the axial direction; and

a pair of translation members positioned at both sides of the photosensitive bodies and the cleaning member in the axial direction, respectively, and movable in the conveying direction, one translation member of the pair of translation members being engaged with the one first protrusion and the one second protrusion, another translation member of the pair of translation members being engaged with the other first protrusion and the other second protrusion, the plurality of developing units being configured to move between the first position and the second position by movement of the pair of translation members, and the cleaning member being configured to move between the third position and the fourth position by the movement of the pair of translation members.

5. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the one first protrusion and the one second protrusion are aligned in the conveying direction, and the other first protrusion and the other second protrusion are aligned in the conveying direction.

6. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a holding member configured to hold the photosensitive bodies and to detachably mount the developing units, and

wherein the holding member is formed with grooves that extend in a moving direction of the developing units and that are configured to guide the first protrusions of each developing unit when mounting and removing the developing units on and from the holding member.

7. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the holding member is configured to be pulled out of the main casing.

8. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a supporting member configured to support the cleaning member and, wherein the supporting member is provided with the pair of second protrusions, the supporting member being slidably supportable on the holding member in a moving direction of the cleaning member through the cleaning member and the second protrusions.

9. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the translation members includes:

first parts configured to fix positions of the developing units to the second positions when the pair of first protrusions of each of the developing units rest on the first part,

second parts configured to fix positions of the developing units to the first position when the pair of first protrusions of each of the developing units rest on the second part,

a third part configured to fix a position of the cleaning member to the fourth position when the pair of second protrusions rest on the third part, and

a fourth part configured to fix a position of the cleaning member to the third position when the pair of second protrusions rest on the fourth part.

10. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the each of the translation members is configured to move between a first location where the first protrusions rest on the second parts, respectively, and the second protrusions rest on the third part, and a second location where the first protrusions rest on the first parts, respectively, and the second protrusions rest on the fourth part.

11. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising urging members configured to urge the developing units and the cleaning member toward the first position and the third position, respectively.

12. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first developer conveying member that extends in a sloped direction sloping upward relative to a horizontal plane and that is configured to convey the collected waste developer collected by the cleaning member to an upper region of the receptacle along the sloped direction.

13. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first developer conveying member has an upper end portion and a lower end portion, and

further comprising:

a second developer conveying member that extends in a horizontal direction and is configured to convey the collected waste developer collected by the cleaning member to the lower end portion of the first developer conveying member in the horizontal direction; and

a third developer conveying member that extends in the horizontal direction, is positioned at the upper region of the receptacle, and is configured to convey the conveyed waste developer conveyed by the first developer conveying member to the upper end portion of the first developer conveying member, in the horizontal direction, thereby causing the conveyed waste developer to fall from the third developer conveying member in succession beginning from a side near the upper end portion of the first developer conveying member and to accumulate in the receptacle.

14. A developing unit detachably mountable in a main casing of an image-forming apparatus, the image-forming apparatus comprising a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium, the developing unit comprising:

a developer casing;

a developer carrying member that is supported on the developer casing;

a receptacle that is slidably supportable on the developer casing and configured to accommodate a waste developer collected from the conveying unit, wherein the receptacle comprises a recovery member configured to recover the waste developer collected from the conveying unit to accommodate the waste developer in the receptacle, and

wherein each of the developer casing and the receptacle has one end side in a sliding direction in which the receptacle slides, and

wherein each of the developer carrying member and the recovery member is disposed at one end side of each of the developer casing and the receptacle.

15. The developing unit according to claim 14, wherein one of the receptacle and the developer casing is formed with a pair of holes, each of the pair of holes being elongated in a sliding direction in which the receptacle slides, and wherein the other one of the receptacle and the developer casing is provided with a pair of protrusions configured to loosely fit in the pair of holes, respectively.

16. The developing unit according to claim 15, wherein the protrusions are rollers that are rotatably supportable on the other one of the receptacle and the developer casing.

17. The developing unit according to claim 14, further comprising a first developer conveying member that extends in a sloped direction sloping upward relative to a horizontal plane and that is configured to convey the collected waste developer collected from the conveying member to an upper region of the receptacle along the sloped direction.

18. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first developer conveying member has an upper end portion and a lower end portion, and

further comprising:

a second developer conveying member that extends in a horizontal direction and is configured to convey the collected waste developer collected from the conveying member to the lower end portion of the first developer conveying member in the horizontal direction; and

a third developer conveying member that extends in the horizontal direction, is positioned at the upper region of the receptacle, and is configured to convey the conveyed waste developer conveyed by the first developer conveying member to the upper end portion of the first developer conveying member, in the horizontal direction, thereby causing the conveyed waste developer to fall from the third developer conveying member in succession beginning from a side near the upper end portion of the first developer conveying member and to accumulate in the receptacle.

19. An image-forming apparatus comprising:

a main casing;

a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium in a conveying direction;

a plurality of photosensitive bodies juxtaposed in the conveying direction and confronting the conveying unit;

a plurality of developing units detachably mountable on the main casing, each of the developing units being configured to move between a first position where the developing unit is capable of supplying developer to a corresponding photosensitive drum and a second position where the developing unit separates from the corresponding photosensitive drum;

a cleaning member configured to move between a third position where the cleaning member is capable of collecting a waste developer deposited on the conveying unit and a fourth position where the cleaning member separates from the conveying unit;

a pair of first protrusions provided on each of the developing units and protrudes outward from both end portions of each developing unit in an axial direction of the photosensitive bodies, respectively;

a pair of second protrusions extending in the axial direction, each of the second protrusions being positioned on a side of the cleaning member in the axial direction, the positions of the second protrusions being fixed relative to the cleaning member, wherein one first protrusion of the pair of first protrusions for each developing unit and one second protrusion of the pair of second protrusions is positioned at one side in the axial direction and another first protrusion of the pair of first protrusions for each developing unit and another second protrusion of the pair of second protrusions is positioned at another side in the axial direction; and

a pair of translation members positioned at both sides of the photosensitive bodies and the cleaning member in the axial direction, respectively, and movable in the conveying direction, wherein one translation member of the pair of translation members is configured to engage with the one first protrusion and the one second protrusion, wherein the other translation member of the pair of translation members is configured to engage with the other first protrusion and the other second protrusion, the plurality of developing units being configured to move between the first position and the second position by movement of the pair of translation members, and the cleaning member being configured to move between the third position and the fourth position by the movement of the pair of translation members.

20. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the one first protrusion and the one second protrusion are aligned in the conveying direction, and the other first protrusions and the other second protrusion are aligned in the conveying direction.

21. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a holding member configured to hold the photosensitive bodies and to detachable mount the developing units, and

wherein the holding member is formed with first grooves that extend in a moving direction of the developing units and that are configured to guide the first protrusions of each developing units when mounting and removing the developing units from the holding member.

22. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the holding member is configured to be pulled out of the main casing.

23. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the holding member is integrally provided on the main casing.

24. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a supporting member configured to support the cleaning member and, wherein the supporting member is provided with the pair of second protrusions, the supporting member being slidably supportable on the holding member in a moving direction of the cleaning member through the cleaning member and the second protrusions.

25. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a receptacle configured to be supported on one of the developing units and to accommodate the collected waste developer collected by the cleaning member, the receptacle being detachably mountable on the supporting member.

26. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the receptacle is provided with a pair of projection portions projecting outward from both edge portions of the receptacle in the axial direction, respectively, and

wherein the supporting member is formed with second grooves that extend parallel to the first grooves and that are configured to guide the projections of the receptacle when mounting and removing the receptacle on and from the supporting member.

27. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising urging members configured to urge the developing units and the cleaning member toward the first positions and the third position, respectively.

28. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a first developer conveying member that extends in a sloped direction sloping upward relative to a horizontal plane and that is configured to convey the collected waste developer collected by the cleaning member to an upper region of the receptacle along the sloped direction.

29. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the first developer conveying member has an upper end portion and a lower end portion, and

further comprising:

a second developer conveying member that extends in a horizontal direction and is configured to convey the collected waste developer collected by the cleaning member to the lower end portion of the first developer conveying member in the horizontal direction; and

a third developer conveying member that extends in the horizontal direction, is positioned at the upper region of the receptacle, and is configured to convey the conveyed waste developer conveyed by the first developer conveying member to the upper end portion of the first developer conveying member, in the horizontal direction, thereby causing the conveyed waste developer to fall from the third developer conveying member in succession beginning from a side near the upper end portion of the first developer conveying member and to accumulate in the receptacle.

30. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein each of the translation members includes:

first parts configured to fix positions of the developing units to the second positions when the pair of first protrusions of each of the developing units rest on the first part,

second parts configured to fix positions of the developing units to the first positions when the pair of first protrusions of each of the developing units rest on the second part,

a third part configured to fix a position of the cleaning member to the fourth position when the pair of second protrusions rest on the third part, and

a fourth part configured to fix a position of the cleaning member to the third position when the pair of second protrusions rest on the fourth part.

31. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the each of the translation members is configured to move between a first location where the first protrusions rest on the second parts, respectively, and the second protrusions rest on the third part, and a second location where the first protrusions rest on the first parts, respectively, and the second protrusions rest on the fourth part.

32. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the conveying member is an endless belt having an upper moving section, and

wherein the plurality of photosensitive bodies and the cleaning member, when in the third position, are configured to contact the upper moving section of the endless belt.