# US 11,029,638 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 11,029,638 B2 - Document ID: US11029638B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/000,618 - Filed: 2020-08-24 - Published: 2021-03-04 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-02 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Shougo Sato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029638B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1676: {for the developer unit} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes: a drawer movable between an inside position and an outside position; a drum cartridge including a photoconductive drum rotatable about a first axis; and a developing cartridge including a developing roller rotatable about a second axis. The drum cartridge includes a first developing-roller guide pivotable between a first position where the first developing-roller guide guides the developing roller when the developing cartridge is mounted on the drawer with the drum cartridge being mounted on the drawer, and a second position where the first developing-roller guide guides the developing roller with the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge being mounted on the drawer. The second axis is located below the first axis in a state in which the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are mounted on the drawer, and the first developing-roller guide is located at the second position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus, comprising: a housing; a drawer movable between an inside position at which the drawer is located inside the housing, and an outside position at which the drawer is located outside the housing; a drum cartridge mountable on the drawer and comprising a photoconductive drum rotatable about a first axis; and a developing cartridge mountable on the drawer and comprising a developing roller rotatable about a second axis, wherein the drum cartridge comprises a first developing-roller guide pivotable between (i) a first position at which the first developing-roller guide guides the developing roller when the developing cartridge is mounted on the drawer in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, and (ii) a second position at which the first developing-roller guide guides the developing roller in a state in which the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are mounted on the drawer, and wherein the second axis of the developing roller is located below the first axis of the photoconductive drum in a state in which the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are mounted on the drawer, and the first developing-roller guide is located at the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawer comprises a second developing-roller guide that guides the developing roller when the developing cartridge is mounted on the drawer, wherein the first developing-roller guide is connected to the second developing-roller guide in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, and the first developing-roller guide is located at the first position, and wherein the first developing-roller guide is not connected to the second developing-roller guide in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, and the first developing-roller guide is located at the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first developing-roller guide is located inside the housing, and at least a portion of the second developing-roller guide is located outside the housing in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, and the drawer is located at the outside position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawer comprises a lock member pivotable with the first developing-roller guide between a lock position at which the drum cartridge is locked to the drawer, and a lock release position at which lock of the drum cartridge to the drawer is released, in the state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, and wherein the first developing-roller guide is located at the second position when the lock member is located at the lock position, and the first developing-roller guide is located at the first position when the lock member is located at the lock release position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the drawer comprises a lever configured to cause the lock member to pivot from the lock position to the lock release position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lever is located outside the housing in a state in which the drawer is located at the outside position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the drawer comprises a linking member that connects the lock member and the lever to each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a contact surface that contacts an end portion of the photoconductive drum in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, and the drawer is located at the outside position, and the contact surface extends in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the drawer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing cartridge is located outside the housing in a state in which the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are mounted on the drawer, and the drawer is located at the outside position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoconductive drum is located inside the housing in a state in which the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are mounted on the drawer, and the drawer is located at the outside position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drum cartridge comprises a drum frame comprising the first developing-roller guide, and wherein the first developing-roller guide is pivotable between the first position and the second position by rotation of the drum frame with respect to the drawer in the state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member that holds the developing roller in contact with the photoconductive drum by pressing the developing cartridge in the state in which the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are mounted on the drawer, and the first developing-roller guide is located at the second position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the drawer comprises the pressing member. ### Claim 14 An image forming apparatus, comprising: a housing; a drawer movable between an inside position at which the drawer is located inside the housing, and an outside position at which the drawer is located outside the housing; a drum cartridge comprising a photoconductive drum rotatable about a first axis; a developing cartridge comprising a developing roller rotatable about a second axis; and a first developing-roller guide configured to guide the developing roller and pivotable, in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, between (i) a first position at which mounting and removal of the developing cartridge to and from the drawer are allowed and (ii) a second position at which mounting and removal of the developing cartridge to and from the drawer are not allowed, and a position of the developing roller is lower than that when the first developing-roller guide is located at the first position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second axis of the developing roller is located below the first axis of the photoconductive drum when the first developing-roller guide is located at the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first developing-roller guide comprises a recess in which an inserted portion that is a portion of the developing cartridge is to be inserted, wherein the drawer comprises a second developing-roller guide that guides the inserted portion of the developing cartridge when the developing cartridge is mounted on the drawer, wherein the first developing-roller guide located at the first position allows the inserted portion guided by the second developing-roller guide to be inserted in the recess, and wherein the first developing-roller guide located at the second position does not allow separation of the inserted portion inserted in the recess, from the recess to the second developing-roller guide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the drawer comprises a lock member pivotable with the first developing-roller guide between a lock position at which the drum cartridge is locked to the drawer, and a lock release position at which lock of the drum cartridge to the drawer is released, in the state in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, and wherein the first developing-roller guide is located at the second position when the lock member is located at the lock position, and the first developing-roller guide is located at the first position when the lock member is located at the lock release position.