IP Library Granted Patent US 9,323,210
Granted Patent B2
US 9,323,210 · App. 14/553,051 · Granted Apr 26, 2016

Image forming apparatus

Inventors: Tetsuya Morita (Nagoya, JP); Hikaru Iino (Aichi-ken, JP)
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G21/1619G03G21/1633G03G21/1647G03G21/1842G03G2215/00383G03G2215/00392
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,323,210
App. No.
14/553,051
Granted
Apr 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a casing including a first side frame, a second side frame, and an opening, a cartridge configured to be attached to and removed from the casing through the opening, and an openable member configured to open and close the opening. A first side and a second side of the cartridge are supported by the first side frame and the second side frame, respectively, when the cartridge is attached to the casing. A part of the cartridge attached to the casing protrudes in a removal direction of the cartridge relative to an end of each of the first side frame and the second side frame in the removal direction. The openable member includes a wall portion. When the openable member closes the opening, the wall portion of the openable member is spaced apart in the removal direction from the part of the cartridge attached to the casing.

Claims (36)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a casing including a first side frame and a second side frame disposed opposite to the first side frame, the casing having an opening defined between the first side frame and the second side frame;

a cartridge configured to be attached to and removed from the casing through the opening, a first side and a second side of the cartridge being supported by the first side frame and the second side frame, respectively, when the cartridge is attached to the casing; and

an openable member configured to open and close the opening,

wherein a part of the cartridge attached to the casing protrudes in a removal direction of the cartridge relative to an end of each of the first side frame and the second side frame in the removal direction,

wherein the openable member includes a wall portion,

wherein, when the openable member closes the opening, the wall portion of the openable member is spaced apart in the removal direction from the part of the cartridge attached to the casing,

wherein the openable member includes a first part and a second part, and

wherein, when the openable member closes the opening of the casing, the first part is flush with each of a first sidewall and a second side wall of the casing, which are parallel to the first side frame and the second side frame, and the second part is flush with an upper wall of the casing.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a supply sheet tray configured to be attached to a lower portion of the casing,

wherein the openable member is disposed above the supply sheet tray, and

wherein an outside surface of the openable member has an inclined surface that is inclined, relative to a vertical direction and in the removal direction, from a position above the supply sheet tray to an upper portion of the openable member.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the openable member is configured to pivot about a pivot axis,

wherein the cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, and

wherein the pivot axis of the openable member is parallel to a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a lower end of the openable member includes the pivot axis.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a covering member configured to pivot relative to the openable member,

wherein the openable member has an opening therein, and

wherein the covering member is configured to pivot to open and close the opening of the openable member when the openable member closes the opening of the casing.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the wall portion of the openable member is disposed between the covering member and the cartridge attached to the casing.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein, when the covering member closes the opening of the openable member, the covering member is flush with the openable member.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the covering member is pivot about a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis of the openable member.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a casing including a first side frame and a second side frame disposed opposite to the first side frame, the casing having an opening defined between the first side frame and the second side frame;

a cartridge configured to be attached to and removed from the casing through the opening, a first side and a second side of the cartridge being supported by the first side frame and the second side frame, respectively, when the cartridge is attached to the casing;

an openable member configured to open and close the opening, and

a covering member configured to pivot relative to the openable member,

wherein a part of the cartridge attached to the casing protrudes in a removal direction of the cartridge relative to an end of each of the first side frame and the second side frame in the removal direction,

wherein the openable member includes a wall portion,

wherein, when the openable member closes the opening, the wall portion of the openable member is spaced apart in the removal direction from the part of the cartridge attached to the casing, and

wherein the covering member includes a tray portion configured to receive a recording sheet.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 ,

wherein an outside surface of the openable member has an inclined surface that is inclined relative to a vertical direction and in the removal direction, from a position above the supply sheet tray to an upper portion of the openable member, and a vertical surface extending vertically from the inclined surface, and

wherein the covering member has a first surface configured to be flush with the inclined surface of the openable member when closed and a second surface configured to be flush with the vertical surface of the openable member when closed.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the covering member includes a holding portion disposed on an edge of the second surface of the covering member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2014
From: MORITA, TETSUYA; IINO, HIKARU
To: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 034261/0831 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-245365 · Nov 27, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150147087A1 · May 28, 2015