IP Library Granted Patent US 12,197,166
Granted Patent B2
US 12,197,166 · App. 18/364,673 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Image forming apparatus

Inventors: Kazutoshi Nakamura (Kuwana, JP); Yasuo Fukamachi (Nagoya, JP); Masaaki Furukawa (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G21/1647G03G21/1671G03G21/1676
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,197,166
App. No.
18/364,673
Granted
Jan 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge may include a first handle positioned at a first end of a frame of the drum cartridge. The developing cartridge may include a second handle positioned at a first end of a developing casing the developing cartridge. The main casing may include a first edge surface in the axial direction and a second edge surface opposite the first edge surface in the axial direction. The second handle may extend farther from the second edge surface than the first handle extends from the second edge surface in the axial direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the main casing.

Claims (39)

1. A drum cartridge for use with a developing cartridge, the drum cartridge comprising:

a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction;

a frame having first and second ends spaced apart in the axial direction and rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum, and

a first handle positioned at the first end of the frame,

wherein the developing cartridge includes:

a developing roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the axial direction;

a developing casing configured to accommodate developer therein, and having first and second ends spaced apart in the axial direction and rotatably supporting the developing roller; and

a second handle positioned at the first end of the developing casing,

wherein the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are configured to be received in a slot of an image forming apparatus extending from a first edge surface of the image forming apparatus in the axial direction toward a second edge surface,

wherein the first handle extends from the second edge surface a first length in the axial direction and the second handle extends from the second edge surface a second length in the axial direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are received in the slot, and

wherein the first length is different than the second length.

2. The drum cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the second length is greater than the first length.

3. The drum cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are configured to be inserted to and removed from the slot.

4. The drum cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the developing cartridge is configured to be attached to the image forming apparatus in a state where the drum cartridge is received in the slot.

5. A developing cartridge for use with a drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising:

a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction;

a developing casing configured to accommodate developer therein, and having first and second ends spaced apart in the axial direction and rotatably supporting the developing roller; and

a second handle positioned at the first end of the developing casing,

wherein the drum cartridge includes:

a photosensitive drum rotatable about a second axis extending in the axial direction;

a frame having first and second ends spaced apart in the axial direction and rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum, and

a first handle positioned at the first end of the frame,

wherein the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are configured to be received in a slot of an image forming apparatus extending from a first edge surface of the image forming apparatus in the axial direction toward a second edge surface,

wherein the first handle extends from the second edge surface a first length in the axial direction and the second handle extends from the second edge surface a second length in the axial direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are received in the slot, and

wherein the first length is different than the second length.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the second length is greater than the first length.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the developing cartridge is configured to be attached to the image forming apparatus in a state where the drum cartridge is received in the slot.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are configured to be inserted to and removed from the slot.

9. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a main casing including a first edge surface and a second edge surface opposite the first edge surface, and a slot extending from the first edge surface toward the second edge surface;

a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction, a frame having first and second ends spaced apart in the axial direction rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum, and a first handle positioned at the first end of the frame, wherein the drum cartridge is received in the slot in the axial direction;

a developing cartridge including a developing roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the axial direction, a developing casing configured to accommodate developer therein and having first and second ends spaced apart in the axial direction rotatably supporting the developing roller, and a second handle positioned at the first end of the developing casing, wherein the developing cartridge is received in the slot in the axial direction,

wherein the first handle extends from the second edge surface a first length in the axial direction and the second handle extends from the second edge surface a second length in the axial direction, and

wherein the first length is different than the second length.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the developing cartridge is attached to the main casing.

11. The image forming apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the drum cartridge is attached to the main casing.

12. The image forming apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second length is greater than the first length.

13. The image forming apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a cover at the first edge surface, the cover being movable between an open position in which the cover does not cover the slot and a closed position in which the cover covers the slot.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are configured to be inserted to and removed from the slot.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2023
From: NAKAMURA, KAZUTOSHI; FUKAMACHI, YASUO; FURUKAWA, MASAAKI
To: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 064482/0623 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-184040 · Sep 28, 2018 · national
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17591278 · Feb 2, 2022
Continuation 17117419 · Dec 10, 2020
Continuation 16803329 · Feb 27, 2020
Continuation PCTJP2019022497 · Jun 6, 2019
Related Publication 20240027951A1 · Jan 25, 2024
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