IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,760,055
Granted Patent B2
US 9,760,055 · App. 14/875,293 · Granted Sep 12, 2017

Image forming apparatus with toner cartridge including new toner containing unit and waste toner containing unit

Inventor: Shougo Sato (Seto, JP)
Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
G03G21/105G03G15/0121G03G15/0194G03G15/0867G03G21/10G03G21/12G03G21/1676G03G2215/00021G03G2215/0135G03G2215/1661G03G2221/163G03G2221/1603
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,760,055
App. No.
14/875,293
Granted
Sep 12, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing; a first drum unit including a first photosensitive drum configured to rotate about an axis extending in a first direction; a second drum unit including a second photosensitive drum configured to rotate about an axis extending in the first direction; a belt; a cleaning member configured to clean the belt; an auger configured to convey waste toner cleaned by the cleaning member; a first toner cartridge including a first new toner containing unit configured to supply new toner and a waste toner containing unit configured to contain the waste toner conveyed by the auger; and a second toner cartridge including a second new toner containing unit configured to supply new toner to the second drum unit. The waste toner containing unit is aligned with the first new toner containing unit in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Claims (28)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body casing;

a first drum unit including a first photosensitive drum, the first photosensitive drum being configured to rotate about an axis extending in a first direction;

a second drum unit including a second photosensitive drum, the second photosensitive drum being configured to rotate about an axis extending in the first direction;

a belt making contact with the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum;

a cleaning member configured to clean the belt;

an auger configured to convey waste toner cleaned by the cleaning member;

a first toner cartridge disposed at one side of the first drum unit in the first direction and including a first new toner containing unit and a waste toner containing unit, the first new toner containing unit configured to supply new toner to the first drum unit, the waste toner containing unit configured to contain the waste toner conveyed by the auger; and

a second toner cartridge including a second new toner containing unit, the second new toner containing unit configured to supply new toner to the second drum unit,

wherein the waste toner containing unit is aligned with the first new toner containing unit in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the waste toner containing unit is overlapped with the belt and the cleaning member when viewed in the first direction, and

wherein the first toner cartridge is larger than the second toner cartridge in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are arranged in a third direction, the second direction being perpendicular to both the first direction and the third direction.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first new toner containing unit is overlapped with the first drum unit when viewed in the first direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning member is disposed at an opposite side to the first photosensitive drum with respect to the belt in the second direction.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the waste toner containing unit includes a reception port configured to allow the waste toner conveyed by the auger to pass.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first new toner containing unit includes a supply port configured to allow new toner to be supplied to the first drum unit.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first toner cartridge is a black toner cartridge.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first toner cartridge is configured to be detachably mounted in the main body casing.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first toner cartridge includes a wall which divides the first toner cartridge into the first new toner containing unit and the waste toner containing unit.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first toner cartridge is cylindrically-shaped.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first toner cartridge includes an agitator having a shaft, the shaft extending in the second direction.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 ,

wherein the first toner cartridge includes a wall dividing the first new toner containing unit and the waste toner containing unit, and

wherein the shaft passes through the wall.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the agitator includes a first agitator and a second agitator, the first agitator being in the first new toner containing unit and being provided on the shaft, the second agitator being in the waste toner containing unit and being provided on the shaft.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the first agitator and the second agitator are made of flexible film.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning member is a roller.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2015
From: SATO, SHOUGO
To: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 036730/0176 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-199949 · Jul 31, 2007 · national
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14337974 · Jul 22, 2014
Continuation 13906640 · May 31, 2013
Continuation 13331605 · Dec 20, 2011
Continuation 12182242 · Jul 30, 2008
Related Publication 20160026147A1 · Jan 28, 2016