Image forming apparatus having waste toner container commonly used for photosensitive drums and transfer belt

• US 9,933,747 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2017
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Sato, Shougo, Fukui, Atsushi, Fukuchi, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sophia S
• Application Number:
  US15/602,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20170255157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0178 using more than one reusable electrographic recording member, e.g. one for every monocolour image
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/166 with means for conditioning the holding member, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/0005 for removing solid developer or debris from the electrographic recording medium
• 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 21/12 Toner waste containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/169 for the cleaning unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1853 the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/1647 Cleaning of transfer member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/1661 of transfer belt
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1684 using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1869 Cartridge holders, e.g. intermediate frames for placing cartridge parts therein

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a casing, a first process cartridge including a first photosensitive drum and a first drum-cleaning unit configured to collect waste toner on the first photosensitive drum, 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, a cartridge-supporting body movable between an internal position inside the casing and an external position outside of the casing, a conveying unit conveying the waste toner collected by the first and second drum-cleaning units, and a waste toner cartridge accommodating the conveyed waste toner. The casing includes a first positioning plate receiving one end portion of the first and second process cartridges, and a second positioning plate receiving another end portion of the first and second process cartridges. The conveying unit is disposed between the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a casing including a first wall and a second wall facing the first wall in an array direction;

a first process cartridge including a first photosensitive drum and a first drum-cleaning unit configured to collect waste toner on the first photosensitive drum;

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;

a cartridge-supporting body including a third wall, a fourth wall arranged between the third wall and the second wall in the array direction, a first guide rail and a second guide rail and configured to support the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge, the cartridge-supporting body being movable between an internal position inside the casing and an external position outside of the casing, the first process cartridge being arranged between the third wall and the fourth wall, the second process cartridge being arranged between the third wall and the fourth wall;

a waste toner cartridge arranged between the first wall and the second wall and configured to accommodate both 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; and

a conveying unit extending in a direction in which the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are arranged, the conveying unit being configured to convey the waste toner collected by the first drum-cleaning unit and the waste toner collected by the second drum-cleaning unit,

wherein the casing further includes;

a first guiding wall arranged between the first wall and the third wall and configured to guide the first guide rail;

a second guiding wall arranged between the fourth wall and the second wall and configured to guide the second guide rail;

a first positioning plate receiving one end portion of the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge; and

a second positioning plate receiving another end portion of the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge, the conveying unit being disposed between the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate in the array direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the casing further includes a side-wall connecting plate, the side-wall connecting plate being disposed between the first wall and the second wall, and

wherein the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate are connected to the side-wall connecting plate.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate are disposed below the first guiding wall and the second guiding wall.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first guiding wall has a first guiding groove, the first guiding groove being formed in an inner side of the first guiding wall,

wherein the second guiding wall has a second guiding groove, the second guiding groove being formed in an inner side of the second guiding wall, and

wherein the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate are disposed below the first guiding wall and the second guiding wall.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the cartridge-supporting body supporting both the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge is located at the internal position, the first photosensitive drum is in contact with both the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate and the second photosensitive drum is in contact with the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the cartridge-supporting body supporting both the first process cartridge and the second process cartridge is located at the external position, the first photosensitive drum is separated from both the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate and the second photosensitive drum is separated from the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate has an L-shape viewed from the direction in which the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are arranged.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit is provided at the cartridge-supporting body.