US 12,443,130 B2
Image forming apparatus
Jumpei Nitta, Kanagawa (JP); Tomoya Tateishi, Kanagawa (JP); Osamu Sasaoka, Kanagawa (JP); Kohei Koguchi, Kanagawa (JP); Shuma Hiasa, Kanagawa (JP); and Tachio Kawai, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/387,178.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-178516 (JP), filed on Nov. 8, 2022; and application No. 2023-165974 (JP), filed on Sep. 27, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0152073 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0868 (2013.01) [G03G 15/751 (2013.01); G03G 15/757 (2013.01); G03G 2215/025 (2013.01); G03G 2215/066 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a photosensitive drum;
a body frame with an opening;
a rotary accommodated in the body frame and configured to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a rotation axis direction, the rotary including a developing roller and a storage frame including a developing storage portion configured to store toner to be supplied to the developing roller and an inlet opening communicating with the developing storage portions;
a toner cartridge which includes a toner frame including a toner storage portion configured to store toner to be supplied to the developing storage portion and a discharge opening communicating with the toner storage portion, is attachable to and detachable from the rotary through the opening of the body frame, and is movable to an attached position where the discharge opening faces the inlet opening such that the toner storage portion and the developing storage portion communicate with each other via the discharge opening and the inlet opening and a retracted position where the toner cartridge is retracted from the attached position, with respect to the storage frame; and
one or more motors configured to (i) move the toner cartridge from the attached position to the retracted position and (ii) rotate the rotary with the toner cartridge about the rotation axis between (ii-1) a developing posture in which the developing roller faces the photosensitive drum and (ii-2) a replacement posture in which detachment of the toner cartridge from the rotary is allowed,
wherein the toner cartridge is configured such that at least part of the toner cartridge projects outside the body frame in a state in which the toner cartridge is at the retracted position.