US 12,346,054 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 May 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/309,854.
Application 18/309,854 is a continuation of application No. 17/845,161, filed on Jun. 21, 2022, granted, now 11,675,305.
Application 17/845,161 is a continuation of application No. 17/107,460, filed on Nov. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,409,223, issued on Aug. 9, 2022.
Application 17/107,460 is a continuation of application No. 16/842,694, filed on Apr. 7, 2020, granted, now 10,852,691, issued on Dec. 1, 2020.
Application 16/842,694 is a continuation of application No. 16/442,201, filed on Jun. 14, 2019, granted, now 10,691,059, issued on Jun. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-116242 (JP), filed on Jun. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0266706 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 21/12 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/12 (2013.01) [G03G 21/18 (2013.01); G03G 21/1839 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a printing medium, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a photosensitive drum rotatable relative to a rotary axis extending in an axial direction;
an exposure device configured to expose the photosensitive drum to laser light beam to form a latent image on a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum;
a developing device including a developing roller configured to form a toner image by developing the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum by toner;
a toner container configured to accommodate therein toner that is to be supplied to the developing roller;
a cleaner configured to remove waste toner from a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum after the toner image has been transferred to the printing medium;
a waste toner container configured to accommodate therein the waste toner removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum by the cleaner; and
a waste toner conveying pipe configured to convey the waste toner from the cleaner to the waste toner container, the waste toner conveying pipe including a conveying member,
wherein the waste toner conveying pipe is located outside an exposure range of the laser light beam when viewed from a vertical direction, and intersects the laser light beam when viewed from the axial direction,
wherein the waste toner container is located below the cleaner in the vertical direction when viewed from the axial direction, and
wherein the waste toner conveying pipe extends downward in a direction that extends from the cleaner and toward the waste toner container.