US 12,124,209 B2
Image forming apparatus
Shougo Sato, Seto (JP); and Kazuna Taguchi, Nagoya (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Aug. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/366,963.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-129130 (JP), filed on Aug. 12, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0053704 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 21/16 (2006.01); G03G 15/04 (2006.01); G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/12 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1814 (2013.01) [G03G 15/04054 (2013.01); G03G 15/0875 (2013.01); G03G 21/007 (2013.01); G03G 21/12 (2013.01); G03G 21/1842 (2013.01); G03G 21/1857 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0409 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0692 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1654 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1657 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a main-body housing having an opening; and
a process cartridge demountably mountable in the main-body housing through the opening, the process cartridge including:
a drum cartridge including:
a photosensitive drum;
a drum cleaner configured to clean a circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum;
an outlet having an outlet opening, waste toner in the drum cleaner being dischargeable through the outlet opening; and
an outlet shutter configured to open and close the outlet opening; and
a toner cartridge configured to store toner to be supplied to the photosensitive drum, the toner cartridge being detachably attachable to the drum cartridge,
wherein the drum cartridge further includes a lever configured to move the outlet shutter, the lever being pivotable between a first position at which the lever places the outlet shutter closing the outlet opening and a second position at which the lever places the outlet shutter opening the outlet opening,
wherein, in a state where the process cartridge is mounted in the main-body housing, when the lever is located at the first position, the process cartridge is demountable from the main-body housing, and
wherein, in the state where the process cartridge is mounted in the main-body housing, when the lever is located at the second position, the process cartridge is disabled to be demounted from the main-body housing.