US 12,228,879 B2
Image forming apparatus
Shougo Sato, Seto (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Jul. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/357,095.
Application 18/357,095 is a continuation of application No. 17/842,894, filed on Jun. 17, 2022, granted, now 11,754,967.
Application 17/842,894 is a continuation of application No. 17/412,237, filed on Aug. 25, 2021, granted, now 11,385,592, issued on Jul. 12, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-144884 (JP), filed on Aug. 28, 2020; and application No. 2021-082140 (JP), filed on May 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0359143 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1814 (2013.01) [G03G 21/1842 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a housing having an opening;
a drawer movable, through the opening, between a housing position in which the drawer is housed in the housing and a drawn position in which the drawer is drawn from the housing;
a process cartridge mountable to and removable from the drawer, and including:
a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum that rotates about a first axis extending in a first direction; and
a developing cartridge including a developing roller that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum and rotates about a second axis extending in parallel with the first axis; and
an intermediate transfer belt located above the drum cartridge in a state where the process cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located in the housing position,
wherein the developing cartridge includes a handle, the handle located opposite to the photosensitive drum with respect to the developing roller in a direction of drawing the drawer, in a state where the process cartridge is mounted to the drawer; and
wherein the developing cartridge is mountable to and removable from the drum cartridge,
wherein the drum cartridge includes a guide that guides the developing cartridge to be mounted to and removed from the drum cartridge,
wherein the guide includes a receiving portion that receives the developing cartridge and an end portion at which the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge,
wherein the receiving portion of the guide extends in a second direction, and
wherein the end portion of the guide extends in a third direction that is different from the second direction.