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Image forming apparatus having waste toner collecting function from a plurality of photosensitive drums

  • US 9,348,307 B2
  • Filed: 11/30/2015
  • Issued: 05/24/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

  • a main frame;

    a first process cartridge including;

    a first photosensitive drum having an axis defining an axial direction; and

    a first drum-cleaning unit configured to collect waste toner on the first photosensitive drum and having a first communication hole;

    a second process cartridge including;

    a second photosensitive drum; and

    a second drum-cleaning unit configured to collect waste toner on the second photosensitive drum and having a second communication hole;

    a cartridge-supporting body configured to support the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge and movable between an internal position inside the main frame and an external position outside the main frame in a moving direction;

    a belt unit including a belt configured to confront the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge when the cartridge-supporting body supporting the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge is in the internal position;

    a contact-separation mechanism configured to move the cartridge-supporting body between a contact position where the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are in contact with the belt and a separated position where the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are out of contact with the belt when the cartridge-supporting body supporting the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge is in the internal position; and

    a collective conveying unit provided in the main frame and configured to convey collectively the waste toner collected from the first photosensitive drum by the first drum-cleaning unit and the waste toner collected from the second photosensitive drum by the second drum-cleaning unit, the collective conveying unit having a first inlet and a second inlet, the first inlet and the second inlet being respectively aligned with the first communication hole and the second communication hole when the cartridge-supporting body supporting the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge is located at the contact position.

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