US 12,443,137 B2
Image forming apparatus having a rotary and detachable toner cartridges
Jumpei Nitta, Kanagawa (JP); Tomoya Tateishi, Kanagawa (JP); Osamu Sasaoka, Kanagawa (JP); Kohei Koguchi, Kanagawa (JP); and Shuma Hiasa, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/503,421.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-178515 (JP), filed on Nov. 8, 2022; and application No. 2023-165973 (JP), filed on Sep. 27, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0152091 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1676 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0875 (2013.01); G03G 15/751 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0665 (2013.01); G03G 2215/068 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a rotary being rotatable and including (i) a developing roller and (ii) a storage frame including (ii-a) a storage chamber to store toner to be supplied to the developing roller and (ii-b) an inlet opening communicating with the storage chamber;
a body frame with an opening, the body frame accommodating the rotary;
a toner cartridge which includes a toner frame having a toner storage hollow to store the toner and a discharge opening communicating with the toner storage hollow, and is attachable to and detachable from the rotary through the opening, with the toner cartridge being movable to an attached position where the discharge opening faces the inlet opening and a retracted position where the toner cartridge is retracted from the attached position, with respect to the storage frame, where the toner is supplied from the toner storage hollow to the storage chamber in a state in which the discharge opening faces the inlet opening;
a driving assembly; and
a moving assembly driven by the driving assembly to move the toner cartridge from the attached position to the retracted position and move the toner cartridge from the retracted position to the attached position.