Image forming apparatus including drum cartridge and toner cartridge pivotally movable relative to drum cartridge

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body housing having an opening;

a drum cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum, the drum cartridge being movable inside the main body housing between a drum first position and a drum second position, the drum second position being closer to the opening than the drum first position is to the opening; and

a toner cartridge configured to store therein toner, the toner cartridge being movable between a toner first position and a toner second position in a state where the toner cartridge is coupled to the drum cartridge, the toner cartridge being at the toner first position in a state where the drum cartridge is at the drum first position, the toner cartridge being at the toner second position in a state where the drum cartridge is at the drum second position,

wherein the main body housing comprises:

a drum cartridge guide configured to guide the drum cartridge, the drum cartridge guide being disposed on a wall of the main body housing, the wall being immovable relative to the opening; and

a toner cartridge guide configured to guide the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge guide being disposed on the wall of the main body housing, the toner cartridge guide being different from the drum cartridge guide,

wherein, both in the state where the drum cartridge is at the drum first position and in the state where the drum cartridge is at the drum second position, a portion of the drum cartridge is fitted in the drum cartridge guide, and

wherein, in a state where the toner cartridge is coupled to the drum cartridge, the drum cartridge is at the drum second position, and the toner cartridge is at the toner second position,

the toner cartridge is disengaged from the toner cartridge guide; and

the toner cartridge is pivotally movable relative to the drum cartridge between:

a first pivot position at which coupling of the toner cartridge to the drum cartridge is not releasable; and

a second pivot position at which the coupling of the toner cartridge to the drum cartridge is releasable.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in a state where the toner cartridge is coupled to the drum cartridge and is at the first pivot position relative to the drum cartridge, the toner cartridge is removable from the main body housing together with the drum cartridge.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drum cartridge further comprises a transfer roller configured to transfer toner on the photosensitive drum onto a sheet.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a sheet storage section configured to store therein a sheet,

wherein, in the state where the drum cartridge is at the drum first position, the transfer roller is positioned between the photosensitive drum and the sheet storage section.

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

a conveying roller configured to convey a sheet fed from the sheet storage section toward the photosensitive drum in the state where the drum cartridge is at the drum first position; and

wherein the drum cartridge further comprises an opposing roller configured to contact the conveying roller in the state where the drum cartridge is at the drum first position.

6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the toner cartridge comprises a sheet guide configured to guide a sheet being conveyed toward the photosensitive drum in a state where the toner cartridge is coupled to the drum cartridge, the drum cartridge is at the drum first position, and the toner cartridge is at the toner first position.

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

a cover configured to open and close the opening,

wherein the toner cartridge comprises:

a first storage section configured to store therein toner; and

a second storage section configured to store therein toner fed from the first storage section, the second storage section having a discharge port for discharging toner from the second storage section, and

wherein, in a state where the toner cartridge is coupled to the drum cartridge, the drum cartridge is at the drum first position, and the toner cartridge is at the toner first position, at least a portion of the first storage section is positioned between the drum cartridge and the cover.

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the drum cartridge further comprises:

a developing housing configured to store therein toner fed from the toner cartridge; and

a developing roller supported by the developing housing, the developing roller being configured to supply toner stored in the developing housing to the photosensitive drum,

wherein an amount of toner that can be stored in the second storage section is larger than an amount of toner that can be stored in the developing housing, and

wherein an amount of toner that can be stored in the first storage section is larger than the amount of toner that can be stored in the second storage section.

9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction,

wherein the second storage section has a length in the first direction that is greater than a length of the developing housing in the first direction, and

wherein the first storage section has a length in the first direction that is greater than the length of the second storage section in the first direction.

10 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction,

wherein the drum cartridge further comprises:

a first frame supporting one end portion of the photosensitive drum in the first direction;

a second frame supporting another end portion of the photosensitive drum in the first direction;

a third frame having a passage port allowing toner fed from the toner cartridge to pass through the passage port, the third frame being immovable relative to the photosensitive drum;

a developing housing configured to store therein toner that has passed through the passage port, the developing housing being movable relative to the photosensitive drum; and

a seal member sealing a space between the developing housing and the third frame,

wherein the seal member is positioned around the passage port but apart from the passage port.

11 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 ,

wherein the drum cartridge further comprises a developing roller configured to supply toner stored in the developing housing to the photosensitive drum, the developing roller being supported by one end portion of the developing housing in a second direction crossing the first direction,

wherein the developing housing comprises:

a first wall positioned at one end portion of the developing housing in the first direction, the first wall extending in a third direction crossing both the first direction and the second direction;

a second wall positioned at another end portion of the developing housing in the first direction, the second wall extending in the third direction;

a third wall positioned at one end portion of the developing housing in the third direction, the third wall extending in the first direction; and

a fourth wall positioned at another end portion of the developing housing in the third direction, the fourth wall extending in the first direction, and

wherein the seal member comprises:

a first seal part positioned between the first wall and the third frame;

a second seal part positioned between the second wall and the third frame;

a third seal part positioned between the third wall and the third frame; and

a fourth seal part positioned between the fourth wall and the third frame.

12 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 ,

wherein the toner cartridge comprises:

a first storage section configured to store therein toner; and

a second storage section configured to store therein toner fed from the first storage section, the second storage section having:

a discharge port for discharging toner from the second storage section; and

a receiving port positioned apart from the discharge port in the first direction, the receiving port being a port for receiving toner from the developing housing in a state where the toner cartridge is coupled to the drum cartridge and the toner cartridge is at the first pivot position relative to the drum cartridge,

wherein the third frame further has a second passage port positioned apart from the passage port in the first direction, the second passage port allowing toner fed from the developing housing to pass through the second passage port in the state where the toner cartridge is coupled to the drum cartridge and the toner cartridge is at the first pivot position relative to the drum cartridge, and

wherein the passage port and the second passage port are positioned between the first seal part and the second seal part in the first direction, and are positioned between the third seal part and the fourth seal part in the third direction.

13 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 ,

wherein the drum cartridge further comprises a conveying member configured to convey toner stored in the developing housing from the passage port toward the second passage port.