IP Library Granted Patent US 9,354,594
Granted Patent B2
US 9,354,594 · App. 14/815,276 · Granted May 31, 2016

Image forming apparatus having first cover and second cover

Inventor: Yasuo Tamaru (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G21/1633G03G15/0121G03G15/0875G03G21/18G03G21/1807G03G2215/0141G03G2215/068G03G2221/1687
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,354,594
App. No.
14/815,276
Granted
May 31, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus having a casing, a first cover and a second cover. The first cover is rotatable between a first opened position to expose a first opening and a first closed position. The second cover is rotatable between a second opened position to expose a second opening and a second closed position. The first cover is sized and positioned relative to a toner cartridge to rotate to the first opened position to permit removal of the toner cartridge that is detached from a developing unit while the second cover is maintained in the second closed position. The first cover and the second cover are sized and positioned relative to the developing unit and a photosensitive body to rotate respectively to the first opened position and the second opened position to permit removal of the developing unit and the photosensitive body integrally.

Claims (32)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a casing defining a first opening and a second opening;

a first cover rotatable between a first opened position to expose the first opening and a first closed position to cover the first opening;

a second cover rotatable between a second opened position to expose the second opening and a second closed position to cover the second opening;

a process unit comprising:

a photosensitive body;

a developing unit comprising a developing roller; and

a toner cartridge attachable to and detachable from the developing unit for accommodating a developer,

wherein the first cover is sized and positioned relative to the toner cartridge to rotate to the first opened position to permit removal of the toner cartridge that is detached from the developing unit while the second cover is maintained in the second closed position, and

wherein the first cover and the second cover are sized and positioned relative to the developing unit and the photosensitive body to rotate respectively to the first opened position and the second opened position to permit removal of the developing unit and the photosensitive body integrally.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the developing unit is configured to separate from the photosensitive body.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first cover has a first free end portion and a first base portion, and the second cover has a second free end portion and a second base portion.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first free end portion of the first cover makes contact with the second free end portion of the second cover when the first cover is positioned at the first closed position and the second cover is positioned at the second closed position.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first cover has a V-shape.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive body is a photosensitive drum.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a belt which makes contact with the photosensitive body.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the belt is configured to transport a recording medium, on which an image is to be formed, between the photosensitive body and the belt.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a process unit comprising:

a photosensitive body;

a developing unit comprising a developing roller; and

a toner cartridge attachable to and detachable from the developing unit for accommodating a developer,

a casing defining a first opening and a second opening;

a first cover rotatable between a first opened position to expose the first opening and a first closed position to cover the first opening, the first cover being configured to permit removal of the toner cartridge that is detached from the developing unit when the first cover is located at the first opened position; and

a second cover rotatable between a second opened position to expose the second opening and a second closed position to cover the second opening, the second cover being configured to permit removal of the developing unit and the photosensitive body integrally when the first cover is located at the first opened position and the second cover is located at the second opened position.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the developing unit is configured to separate from the photosensitive body.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first cover has a first free end portion and a first base portion, and the second cover has a second free end portion and a second base portion.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the first free end portion of the first cover makes contact with the second free end portion of the second cover when the first cover is positioned at the first closed position and the second cover is positioned at the second closed position.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first cover has a V-shape.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the photosensitive body is a photosensitive drum.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a belt which makes contact with the photosensitive body.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the belt is configured to transport a recording medium, on which an image is to be formed, between the photosensitive body and the belt.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-191615 · Jul 25, 2008 · national
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14223484 · Mar 24, 2014
Continuation 13398973 · Feb 17, 2012
Continuation 13197381 · Aug 3, 2011
Continuation 12508938 · Jul 24, 2009
Related Publication 20150338822A1 · Nov 26, 2015