US 12,461,484 B2
Image forming apparatus permitting user to imagine clear detachment procedure of toner cartridge from process cartridge
Daisuke Maeta, Nagoya (JP); and Shougo Sato, Seto (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/648,601.
Application 18/648,601 is a continuation of application No. 18/146,492, filed on Dec. 27, 2022, granted, now 12,007,713.
Application 18/146,492 is a continuation of application No. 17/652,944, filed on Mar. 1, 2022, granted, now 11,573,522, issued on Feb. 7, 2023.
Application 17/652,944 is a continuation of application No. 17/094,149, filed on Nov. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,366,422, issued on Jun. 21, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-205799 (JP), filed on Nov. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0272584 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 21/18 (2006.01); G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1842 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0886 (2013.01); G03G 21/1676 (2013.01); G03G 21/1825 (2013.01); G03G 21/1846 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a process cartridge attachable to and detachable from the housing; and
a toner cartridge detachably attachable to the process cartridge,
the process cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive drum;
a process cartridge frame supporting the photosensitive drum;
a developing roller; and
a developing frame supported by the process cartridge frame, the developing frame supporting the developing roller and configured to accommodate toner therein,
the toner cartridge comprising:
a toner cartridge casing, the toner cartridge casing including:
a toner accommodating portion configured to accommodate toner therein; and
a connecting portion which is connectable to the process cartridge when the toner cartridge is attached to the process cartridge, an interior of the connecting portion being in communication with an interior of the toner accommodating portion, the connecting portion having a toner supply opening through which toner passes; and
a toner conveyor provided in the toner cartridge casing and configured to convey toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion to the toner supply opening,
the toner cartridge casing being mounted in the process cartridge frame in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the process cartridge,
the connecting portion being positioned above the developing frame in a state where the process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing,
wherein the interior of the connecting portion and the interior of the toner accommodating portion are in communication with each other at a position different from the toner supply opening in a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge casing.