US 12,487,557 B2
Image forming apparatus including toner cartridge that is detachable from housing with drum cartridge kept attached to housing
Shougo Sato, Seto (JP); Kazuna Taguchi, Nagoya (JP); and Soichiro Mase, Handa (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Aug. 23, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/813,318.
Application 18/813,318 is a continuation of application No. 18/333,087, filed on Jun. 12, 2023, granted, now 12,117,765.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-102721 (JP), filed on Jun. 27, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0411267 A1, Dec. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1814 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0867 (2013.01); G03G 15/0886 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0692 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a housing having an opening;
a cover pivotable about a cover axis between a closed position closing the opening and an open position opening the opening;
a drum cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum; and
a toner cartridge configured to accommodate toner therein and detachably attachable relative to the drum cartridge, the toner cartridge comprising a handle pivotable about a handle axis between a first position and a second position in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge, the toner cartridge being unable to be detached from the drum cartridge when the handle is at the first position and the toner cartridge being detachable from the drum cartridge when the handle is at the second position, the toner cartridge being attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge that is attached to the housing through the opening in a state where the cover is at the open position and the handle is at the second position,
wherein, in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge attached to the housing, the cover axis and the handle axis are parallel to each other, and
wherein the cover pivots from the closed position to the open position in a cover opening direction, and the handle pivots from the first position to the second position in a direction coincident with the cover opening direction.