# US 10,871,744 B2 · Image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,744 B2 - Document ID: US10871744B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/562,087 - Filed: 2019-09-05 - Published: 2020-03-19 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-13 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yasumasa Fujii; Shougo Sato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871744B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1842: {for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence)} - G03G 15/0867: {cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening} - G03G 21/1619: {Frame structures} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 21/1676: {for the developer unit} - G03G 21/1853: {the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member} - G03G 2221/1684: using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges - G03G 2221/1869: Cartridge holders, e.g. intermediate frames for placing cartridge parts therein - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing, a drawer, a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge. The drawer is movable in a first direction between an inner position at which the drawer is located inside the main body housing and an outer position at which the drawer is located outside the main body housing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum. The drum cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drawer. The toner cartridge accommodates toner. When the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer and the drawer is at the inner position, the toner conveyor conveys toner from the toner cartridge to the drum cartridge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body housing; a drawer comprising a toner conveyor for conveying toner fixed therein, the drawer being movable in a first direction between an inner position at which the drawer is located inside the main body housing and an outer position at which the drawer is located outside the main body housing; a drum cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum, the drum cartridge being attachable to and detachable from the drawer; and a toner cartridge for accommodating toner, wherein, when the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer and the drawer is at the inner position, the toner conveyor is configured to convey toner from the toner cartridge to the drum cartridge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a connection tube connected to the toner cartridge, wherein, when the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer and the drawer is at the inner position, the toner conveyor is connected to the connection tube to convey the toner supplied from the connection tube to the drum cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the toner conveyor includes: a first toner tube that extends in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and has one end connected to the drum cartridge; and a second toner tube that extends in a third direction intersecting with both the first direction and the second direction and interconnects the first toner tube and the connection tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the main body housing has an opening, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises: a cover movable between an opening position at which the opening is opened and a closing position at which the opening is closed; and a lift member movable in conjunction with the cover, the lift member lifting the drawer located at the inner position when the cover is moved from the opening position toward the closing position, wherein the connection tube having a discharge opening through which toner is discharged, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a shutter movable between a closing position at which the shutter closes the discharge opening and an opening position at which the shutter does not close the discharge opening, wherein the shutter comes in contact with a part of the drawer to move from the closing position toward the opening position when the lift member lifts the drawer, and wherein the shutter separates from the part of the drawer to move from the opening position toward the closing position when the lift member lowers the drawer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the main body housing has an opening, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises: a cover movable between an opening position at which the opening is opened and a closing position at which the opening is closed; a second drum cartridge including a second photosensitive drum, the second drum cartridge being attachable to and detachable from the drawer, and the second drum cartridge being arranged in alignment with the drum cartridge in the first direction when the drum cartridge and the second drum cartridge are attached to the drawer; a second toner cartridge for accommodating toner; and a second connection tube connected to the second toner cartridge, wherein the drawer includes a second toner conveyor for conveying toner, wherein, when the second drum cartridge is attached to the drawer and the drawer is at the inner position, the second toner conveyor is configured to convey toner from the second toner cartridge to the second drum cartridge, wherein the connection tube includes a first discharge opening through which the toner is discharged, wherein the second connection tube includes a second discharge opening through which the toner is discharged, and wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a shutter movable, in conjunction with a movement of the cover, between a closing position at which the shutter closes the first discharge opening and the second discharge opening and an opening position at which the shutter closes neither the first discharge opening nor the second discharge opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawer includes a first sidewall, and a second sidewall located distant from the first sidewall in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and wherein the toner conveyor is provided at the first sidewall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the drum cartridge includes a drum coupling, wherein the first sidewall has a notch, and wherein, when the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer, the drum coupling is exposed through the notch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a connection tube connected to the toner cartridge, wherein the toner conveyor includes a receiving part, the receiving part receiving the connection tube when the drawer is located at the inner position, and wherein a lower end of the receiving part is located at a position higher than an upper end of the notch when the drawer is located at the inner position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawer includes a first auger screw arranged in the toner conveyor and a first coupling that transmits power to the first auger screw, and wherein the drum cartridge includes a first output coupling connected to the first coupling to transmit the power to the first coupling. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a main body coupling that transmits power from the image forming apparatus to the drum cartridge when the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer and the drawer is located at the inner position, wherein the first coupling is located at a position lower than the main body coupling. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drum cartridge includes a drum cleaner for removing waste toner from a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a waste toner cartridge that accommodates waste toner removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum by the drum cleaner, and wherein the drawer includes a waste toner conveyor for conveying the waste toner output from the drum cartridge to the waste toner cartridge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the drawer includes a first sidewall, and a second sidewall located distant from the first sidewall in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and wherein the waste toner conveyor and the toner conveyor are provided at the first sidewall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the waste toner conveyor includes: a first waste toner tube that extends in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and is connected to the drum cartridge; and a second waste toner tube that extends in the first direction and interconnects the first waste toner tube and the waste toner cartridge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the drawer includes a second auger screw arranged in the waste toner conveyor and a second coupling that transmits power to the second auger screw, and wherein the drum cartridge includes a second output coupling connected to the second coupling to transmit the power to the second coupling. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body housing has an opening, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a cover movable between an opening position at which the opening is opened and a closing position at which the opening is closed, and wherein the drawer is movable between the inner position and the outer position through the opening when the cover is located at the opening position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus along a second direction intersecting with the first direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drum cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drawer along a second direction intersecting with the first direction, when the drawer is located at the outer position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second direction intersecting with the first direction is a direction in which an axis of the photosensitive drum extends.