Toner supply duct pivotable to allow rotation of development cartridge
US11624988B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 2020 |
| Grant date | Apr 11, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/1654
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An example image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge, a photoconductive cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a development cartridge including a toner inlet portion and rotatable between a first position at which a developing roller is close to the photosensitive drum and a second position at which the developing roller is apart from the photosensitive drum, with respect to a hinge axis that is parallel to an axial direction of the developing roller and between the developing roller and the toner inlet portion, a buffer unit including a toner discharge portion to receive toner from the toner cartridge and to supply the toner to the development cartridge, and a toner supply duct connecting the toner discharge portion to the toner inlet portion, the toner supply duct being rotatably connected to the toner discharge portion in a direction allowing rotation of the development cartridge between the first and the second position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.