US 11,789,382 B2
Image forming apparatus including drum cartridge having cushion member positioned between developing casing and developing shutter
Shougo Sato, Seto (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/153,679.
Application 18/153,679 is a continuation of application No. 17/330,806, filed on May 26, 2021, granted, now 11,567,428.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-113268 (JP), filed on Jun. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0152731 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0886 (2013.01) [G03G 21/1821 (2013.01); G03G 15/0896 (2013.01); G03G 2215/067 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0692 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main casing;
a toner cartridge attachable to the main casing, the toner cartridge comprising:
a toner casing for accommodating toner therein, the toner casing being formed with a toner outlet allowing the toner accommodated in the toner casing to be discharged to an outside of the toner casing therethrough; and
a toner shutter movable between a toner closed position where the toner shutter closes the toner outlet and a toner open position where the toner shutter opens the toner outlet; and
a drum cartridge attachable to the main casing, the drum cartridge being for receiving the toner from the toner cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge and the toner cartridge are attached to the main casing, the drum cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction; and
a developing unit for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum, the developing unit comprising:
a developing roller rotatable about a developing axis extending in the first direction;
a developing casing supporting the developing roller and movable relative to the photosensitive drum in a second direction crossing the first direction, the developing casing being formed with a toner inlet allowing the toner discharged from the toner casing through the toner outlet to enter the developing casing therethrough; and
a developing shutter movable in a moving direction between a developing closed position where the developing shutter closes the toner inlet and a developing open position where the developing shutter opens the toner inlet, the developing shutter being supported so as to be movable relative to the toner inlet in a direction different from the moving direction of the developing shutter, the developing shutter being in engagement with the toner cartridge in the state where the drum cartridge and the toner cartridge are attached to the main casing,
wherein during a process in which the toner cartridge is locked relative to the drum cartridge in a state where the toner cartridge is in engagement with the drum cartridge, the toner shutter and the developing shutter are moved integrally from the toner closed position and the developing closed position to the toner open position and the developing open position, respectively.