US 11,886,129 B2
Image forming apparatus to which solvent cartridge that can accommodate therein solvent is detachably attachable independently of developing cartridge
Yutaka Kakigahara, Nagoya (JP); Satoshi Murata, Nagoya (JP); Masataka Kamiya, Owariasahi (JP); Masaaki Furukawa, Nagoya (JP); Yasuo Fukamachi, Nagoya (JP); Kazutoshi Nakamura, Kuwana (JP); Hideshi Nishiyama, Owariasahi (JP); Keita Shimizu, Nagoya (JP); Keita Hironaka, Obu (JP); Mariko Mogi, Nagoya (JP); Naoya Kamimura, Ichinomiya (JP); Kazuma Hinoue, Nagoya (JP); Kouichi Sugimoto, Nagakute (JP); Shinya Kusuda, Nagoya (JP); and Shunji Yoshimoto, Nagoya (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/706,861.
Application 17/706,861 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/035454, filed on Sep. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-180540 (JP), filed on Sep. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0221811 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01); G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0875 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2007 (2013.01); G03G 15/2096 (2013.01); G03G 21/1633 (2013.01); G03G 21/1839 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main casing;
a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction;
a developing cartridge comprising a toner casing that can accommodate therein toner, the developing cartridge supplying the toner onto the photosensitive drum, the developing cartridge being detachably attachable to the main casing;
a transfer unit for transferring the toner that has been supplied onto the photosensitive drum to a sheet;
a solvent cartridge comprising a solvent casing that can accommodate therein solvent for dissolving the toner, the solvent cartridge being detachably attachable to the main casing independently of the developing cartridge, the solvent cartridge being positioned away from the developing cartridge in the first direction in a state where the developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are attached to the main casing; and
an applicator applying the solvent to the toner that has been transferred to the sheet,
wherein at least a portion of the solvent cartridge is juxtaposed with the developing cartridge in the first direction in a state where the developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are attached to the main casing.