JP2001027839A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent toner from scattering in the case of detaching either of a toner replenishing device or a developing device from an image forming device main body. SOLUTION: In the case of detaching the toner replenishing device from the device main body, a shutter 37 is closed cooperatively with the detaching operation, then, an elastic member 38 arranged in a shutter part 37a is fitted to a toner discharge port 32a so as to tightly close the toner discharge port 32a, then, the toner T is prevented from flowing out. Simultaneously, the toner T sticking to the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port 32a is scraped by the elastic member 38 so that the toner T may fall to the toner entrance 28a, then, the toner T is prevented from scattering.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer.
A developing device having a toner inlet, and a toner replenishing device having a toner outlet for supplying toner to the toner inlet, wherein at least one of the developing device and the toner replenishing device is an image forming apparatus The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus detachable from a main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many image forming apparatuses having a configuration in which a developing device and a toner replenishing device are separated from each other have been developed. This is because if the developing device and the toner replenishing device are integrated, the toner replenishing device must be replaced integrally with the developing device when the toner runs out, which is uneconomical.

In an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which the developing device and the toner replenishing device are separated from each other, when the amount of toner in the developing device decreases, the toner in the toner replenishing device is replenished to the developing device. In this case, it is necessary to successively replenish toner consumed by development to the developing device, and the toner replenishing device plays a role of storing a large amount of the toner and replenishing the developing device.

However, when the toner replenishing device is replaced or the developing device is replaced, there is a problem that toner is scattered from a toner outlet of the toner replenishing device or a toner inlet of the developing device, that is, a portion serving as a joint of each device. Was. In particular, when the toner has run out and is detached for replacement of the toner replenishing device, toner scattering has occurred. Therefore, when replacing the toner replenishing device or the developing device, the toner outlet or the toner inlet is closed by providing a shutter or the like.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-152784 proposes a device in which a shutter mechanism is provided on the toner replenishing device side in order to prevent toner scattering. FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part showing a state in which the toner supply device and the developing device proposed in this publication are separated. It comprises a developing device 1 having a toner inlet 3 and a toner replenishing device 2 having a toner outlet 4.

The toner outlet 4 of the toner supply device 2 is provided with a shutter 5 as shown in FIG. The shutter 5 is larger than the opening 4a of the toner discharge port 4 and has a size capable of closing the opening 4a, and is rotatably provided by a shaft 6 integrally formed. An opening / closing lever 7 for opening and closing the shutter 5 is integrally formed on the opposite side of the shaft portion 6 of the shutter 5. Here, the opening / closing lever 7 is connected to one end of the shutter 5, and is provided with a connecting pin 7 a for engaging with the opening / closing lever 7 and opening and closing the shutter 5. The shutter 5 is provided with a spring 8 for constantly biasing the opening 4a of the toner outlet 4 in a direction for closing the opening 4a.

Further, the developing device 1 is connected to a photosensitive member (not shown).
A moving mechanism 9 is provided in order to enable the movement in the direction (left direction in FIG. 8) orthogonal to the direction of the rotation axis. The moving mechanism 9 includes an operating lever that has a pressing member 11 of the developing device 1 fixed to a rotating shaft 10 that is rotatably supported between frames on the image forming apparatus main body side, and that rotates the rotating shaft 10 by manual operation. 12 is similarly fixed.

On the other hand, the moving mechanism 9 is provided with an interlocking mechanism that opens and closes the shutter 5 of the toner replenishing device 2 by operating the moving mechanism. In this interlocking mechanism, one end of a connecting portion 13 of a link member and one end of a link 14 are rotatable integrally with an operation lever 12 fixed to a rotating shaft 10 by a shaft pin 15. One end of an opening / closing operation piece 17 rotatably supported by a shaft 16 fixed to a frame on the image forming apparatus main body side is connected to the shaft pin 1.
8, the opening / closing operation piece 17 is rotated counterclockwise in response to a clockwise rotation operation of the operation lever 12. The end of the opening / closing operation piece 17 on the side opposite to the pivot portion is connected to the opening / closing lever 7 of the shutter 5 described above.
With the connecting pin 7a.

From the above, when the operation lever 12 is rotated counterclockwise, the rotation is interlocked via the connecting portion 13 and the link 14, and the opening / closing operation piece 17 is moved clockwise about the shaft 16. It will be rotated. Therefore, the opening / closing lever 7 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 6 via the interlocking pin 7a engaged with one end of the opening / closing operation piece 17. This rotation is a rotation in the direction to open the shutter 5 and is against the urging force of the spring 8, and opens the shutter 5 to release the closed state of the opening 4a, thereby enabling toner supply. . Conversely, when the operation lever 12 is rotated clockwise, the opening / closing operation piece 17 is rotated counterclockwise, and the shutter 5 is rotated in the direction to close the opening 4 a by the urging force of the spring 8. Is done.

[0010]

However, at present, the toner cannot be scattered just by having the shutter mechanism proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-152784. The reason for this is that the shutter 5 closes the opening 4a to prevent the toner from flowing out from the inside of the toner replenishing device in conjunction with the clockwise rotation operation of the operation lever 12, but when the developing device 1 is detached or attached. The toner or shutter 5 attached to the inner wall surface of the toner discharge port 4 due to the vibration or the like.
This is because the toner attached to the surface of the developing device side has scattered. When the above-mentioned shutter mechanism is examined in detail, the shutter 5 can be opened even when the toner discharge port 4 and the toner introduction port 3 are not completely aligned (separated) while the developing device 1 is being attached and detached. This is because toner may be scattered due to the presence of the shutter 5 and the impact of the impact when the shutter 5 is completely closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to introduce a toner when removing one of a developing device and a toner replenishing device from an image forming apparatus main body. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which toner adhered to an opening or an inner peripheral surface of an opening of a toner discharge port is not scattered. A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which toner scattered during the closing of the opening is not scattered and toner is not scattered due to an impact when the opening is closed. A third object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which, when an opening is closed by a closing means, toner adhered to a surface of the closing means facing a counterpart opening is not scattered.

[0012]

In order to achieve the first object, the present invention is directed to a developing device having a toner inlet and a toner discharging device for supplying toner to the toner inlet. An image forming apparatus having a toner replenishing device having an outlet, wherein at least one of the developing device and the toner replenishing device is detachable from the image forming device main body. When removing one of them from the image forming apparatus main body, scraping means for scraping the toner attached to the inner peripheral surface of at least one of the toner introduction port and the toner discharge port into the other opening, And closing means for closing the opening from which the toner adhered to the inner peripheral surface by the scraping means has been scraped off.

In this image forming apparatus, when one of the developing device and the toner replenishing device is detached from the image forming device main body, the inner peripheral surface of at least one of the toner introduction port and the toner discharge port is removed. The toner adhering to the inner surface is scraped off to the opening of the other party by the scraping means, and the opening from which the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface is scraped off is closed by the closing means. Thus, when one of the developing device and the toner replenishing device is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, the toner attached to the inner peripheral surface of the opening is prevented from being scattered, and the toner is prevented from flowing out from the opening. Can be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, there is provided an elastic member for scraping off the toner adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the opening and closing the opening. The thickness of the member is configured to be greater than the thickness of the cross section of the opening.

In this image forming apparatus, the elastic member having a thickness equal to or larger than the thickness of the cross section of the opening is elastically deformed while being fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the opening and the toner adhered to the inner peripheral surface. Scrape off. The elastic member closes the opening.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect.
The closing unit closes the opening in conjunction with an operation of removing one of the developing device and the toner replenishing device from the image forming apparatus main body. When the opening is completely closed, the opening is closed. Are arranged so as to face the opening of the other party.

In this image forming apparatus, the closing means closes the opening in conjunction with an operation of removing one of the developing device and the toner replenishing device from the image forming apparatus main body, and the opening is completely closed. When the opening is closed, the opening is opposed to the opening of the partner, so that the toner flowing out while the opening is closed falls into the opening of the partner. Further, the toner that falls due to the impact when the opening is completely closed also falls into the opening of the other party. Due to these facts, scattering of toner can be prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus of the first, second or third aspect, wherein the toner adhered to the surface of the scraping means facing the counterpart opening. Characterized in that it has a cleaning means for cleaning.

In this image forming apparatus, the cleaning means cleans toner adhered to the surface of the scraping means facing the counterpart opening. Thus, it is possible to prevent the toner attached to the surface of the scraping unit facing the counterpart opening from scattering.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, the toner adhering to the wall surface around the closed opening and facing the opposite opening is cleaned by the cleaning means. It is characterized by doing.

In this image forming apparatus, the cleaning means cleans toner adhering to a wall surface around the closed opening, which is opposed to the counterpart opening. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the toner attached to the wall surface around the closed opening, which faces the counterpart opening, from scattering.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Embodiment 1] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printer as an image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a printer according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 21 as a latent image carrier is disposed in a process cartridge 20, and the photosensitive drum 21 is brought close to or in contact with the periphery of the photosensitive drum 21. Charging means 2 for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 21
2. a laser beam 23 from an exposure unit (not shown) for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21;
Developing sleeve 2 for attaching toner to electrostatic latent image on 1
4. Transfer means 25 for transferring the toner image to the transfer paper, and cleaning means 26 for removing the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 21 are provided. An agitating screw 27 for circulating and agitating the developer is arranged near the developing sleeve 24. Photosensitive drum 21, charging roller 22,
The developing sleeve 24 and the like are housed in an integral photosensitive member surrounding case 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, a toner replenishing device 30 is mounted on a toner inlet 28a formed in the photosensitive member surrounding case 28 of the process cartridge 20, and the toner replenishing device 30 The bottle 31 is supported by a table 31 and a cover 32 for guiding the toner to the toner introduction port 28a. A bottle holding member 33 to which a plurality of toner supply blades 34 are attached is rotatably supported so as to rotate in the direction of arrow A. ing.

In this configuration, the photosensitive drum 21 is
The charging unit 22 charges the surface potential to a predetermined potential. Next, the toner on the developing sleeve 24 adheres to the portion (image portion) irradiated with the laser beam 23 for exposure. The photoreceptor drum 21 on which the toner image has been formed is rotated, and the transfer paper is fed from a paper supply unit (not shown) at a timing such that the leading end of the paper and the leading end of the image coincide with the transfer unit 25. , The toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the transfer paper. The transferred transfer paper is sent to a fixing unit (not shown), and the toner is fused to the transfer paper by heat and pressure, and is discharged as a copy. On the other hand, the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 is scraped off by the cleaning unit 26,
1 shifts to the next image forming step again.

Next, the toner supply device 30 will be described. Reference numeral 35 denotes a toner storage container (hereinafter, referred to as a toner bottle), which is a rotation driving unit (not shown) for supplying toner.
As a result, it is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A in the figure. The toner bottle 35 has a spiral projection 35b (FIG. 4) on its inner wall surface.
), And by rotating this, toner is discharged in the direction of arrow B from the toner discharge port 35a. 33 is a bottle holding member for holding the head of the toner bottle 35. Numeral 34 denotes a toner supply blade made of an elastic material such as mylar or rubber, and is attached to a rib 33a which is a kind of agitator integrally formed with the bottle holding member 33 with a double-sided tape or the like. In this embodiment, four toner supply blades 34 are provided.
These components are provided on a cradle 31 of the toner supply device 30.
31a as container holding means integrally formed with the case 31a
Is held within.

A toner supply port is provided in the case 31a for allowing toner discharged from the toner discharge port 35a of the toner bottle 35 supported by the receiving table 31 to communicate with the toner inlet port 28a of the process cartridge 20. A slit hole 31b which is an elongated rectangular hole is formed in a direction (horizontal direction) orthogonal to the moving direction of the blade 34. Since the bottle holding member 33 rotates in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 2 in conjunction with the toner bottle 35, the toner supply blade 3 attached to the rib 33 a of the bottle holding member 33.
4 also rotates together to replenish toner in the direction of arrow C from the slit hole 31b.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a cover for guiding the toner discharged from the slit hole 31b in the direction of arrow D to the toner inlet 28a of the process cartridge 20, and a toner outlet 32a is provided below the cover 32. This corresponds to the position of the toner inlet 28a. In addition,
The case 31a inside the cover 32 is provided with a shutter 37 described later. The toner replenishing device 30 having such a configuration includes a guide plate 36 attached to a rear plate (not shown) and a front plate (not shown) of the printer main body.
Is held by Therefore, the toner replenishing device 30 of this embodiment includes a case 31a and a mechanical part including movable parts such as a bottle holding member 33 incorporated therein,
A toner bottle 35 detachable from the mechanism,
And a rotation driving means (not shown). In order to attach and detach the toner bottle 35, the receiving table 31 slides on the guide plate 36 and can be pulled out in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.

Next, the shutter 37 of the toner supply device 30
Will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. In this figure, with the toner supply device 30 housed and mounted in the printer body, the shutter 37
Indicates an open state. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the shutter 37 has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and has a shutter portion 37a below the toner outlet 32a that is larger than the toner outlet 32a and large enough to seal the toner outlet 32a. ing. An elastic member 38 made of, for example, urethane foam is bonded to the shutter 37a. An opening / closing lever 37b for opening and closing the shutter 37 is integrally formed on the upper portion on the side opposite to the shutter portion 37a. Also,
The shutter 37 is provided with a spring 39 for constantly biasing the toner outlet 32a in a direction to close the toner outlet 32a. One end of the spring 39 is fixed to an upper end of the shutter 37, and the other end is fixed to the case 31a side. As a result, the shutter 37 is biased in a direction to close the toner outlet 32a.

The opening / closing lever 37 b of the shutter 37 is configured to protrude from the guide hole 32 b formed in the cover 32 to the outside of the toner supply device 30. With this, the opening / closing lever 3 is opened with the attachment / detachment of the toner replenishing device 30.
7b is an inclined portion 28b formed in the photosensitive member surrounding case 28.
To open and close the shutter 37. Since the inclined portion 28b is inclined so as to be higher from the front side to the rear side in the drawing, when the toner supply device 30 is stored and mounted in the printer main body, the opening / closing lever 37b is set to the inclined portion 28b.
The shutter 37 is lifted up along the inclined portion 28b to be in an open state, and the toner discharge port 32a is opened to allow the toner T to be supplied.

Conversely, when the toner replenishing device 30 is pulled out of the printer main body, the shutter 37 is opened by the spring 39.
As a result, the toner outlet 32a is urged in the direction to close the toner outlet 32a, so that the toner outlet 32a is gradually closed along the inclined portion 28b, thereby blocking the toner outlet 32a and preventing the outflow of the toner T. At this time, the elastic member 38 provided in the shutter portion 37a is elastically deformed and fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port 32a to be sealed, so that the outflow of the toner T can be reliably prevented. Further, the thickness T of the elastic member 38 is
As shown in FIG. 3, the elastic member 38 enters the toner discharge port 32a and covers the inner peripheral surface, since the thickness is larger than the thickness t of the cross section a of FIG. The toner outlet 32a as described above. As a result, the toner T attached to the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port 32a is scraped off by the elastic member 38 into the toner introduction port 28a, so that the toner T does not scatter when the toner supply device 30 is pulled out from the printer main body.

As described above, the printer according to the present embodiment is provided with the shutter 37 so that when the toner replenishing device 30 is pulled out from the printer main body, the toner discharge port 32a is closed to prevent the toner T from flowing out. At the same time, scattering of the toner T attached to the inner peripheral surface of the toner outlet 32a can be prevented. Further, since the inside of the printer is not contaminated with the toner due to the scattering of the toner T, the operation can be further simplified without replacing the toner bottle 35 with the user or the serviceman without contaminating the hands and the like.

Next, a description will be given of a first embodiment in which a more characteristic configuration is added to the printer of the first embodiment.

[Embodiment 1] In the printer according to the present embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the printer of the first embodiment, when the toner supply device 30 is pulled out and the shutter 37 is securely closed, the toner is discharged. The outlet 32a is the toner inlet 2
8a. 4, 5, and 6 are side views near the shutter according to the present embodiment.

As described above, the shutter 37 opens and closes in conjunction with the attachment / detachment when the toner supply device 30 is attached / detached. When the toner replenishing device 30 is mounted on the printer main body, the shutter 37 is lifted up and the toner discharge port 32a is open as shown in FIG. When the toner replenishing device 30 starts to be pulled out in the direction of arrow E, the opening / closing lever 37b slides on the inclined portion 28b as shown in FIG.
Starts to close, and the toner outlet 32a also starts to move to the left in the figure. When the toner replenishing device 30 is further pulled out, the elastic member 38 disposed on the shutter 37 seals the toner outlet 32a to prevent the toner T from flowing out, as shown in FIG.

As described above, the toner discharge port 32a starts moving in a state where the shutter 37 is not completely closed, and the shutter 37 is gradually closed. Therefore, before the shutter 37 is completely closed,
If a part of the toner outlet 32a on the leading end side with respect to the pull-out direction (arrow E) passes through the toner inlet 28a,
During the closing of the shutter 37, the toner T flowing out of the toner discharge port 32a may not enter the toner introduction port 28a and may be scattered. Also, shutter 3
When the spring 7 is lowered by the bias of the spring 39, the peripheral wall of the toner outlet 32a and the elastic member 3
In some cases, the toner T attached to the sheet 8 may fall. Similarly, in this case, if a part of the toner outlet 32a passes through the toner inlet 28a before the shutter 37 is completely closed, the toner T dropped by the impact is transferred to the toner inlet 28a. Otherwise, the toner may be scattered.

Accordingly, in the printer according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, when the shutter 37 is completely closed, all of the opening of the toner discharge port 32a is in contact with the upper part of the toner inlet port 28a. The configuration is such that the toner introduction port 28a is made large so as to be located at the opposite position. More specifically, the length of the toner supply device 30 in the pull-out direction is increased while the width of the toner introduction port 28a remains unchanged.

As described above, in the printer according to the present embodiment, the toner can be prevented from scattering by forming the toner inlet 28a long in the pulling-out direction of the toner replenishing device 30.

Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment in which a more characteristic configuration is added to the printer of the first embodiment.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 7 is a side view showing the vicinity of a shutter according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, this printer has a cleaning member 40 for scraping off the toner T attached to the lower surface of the elastic member 38 and the lower surface of the wall surface around the toner discharge port 32a in addition to the configuration of the printer of the first embodiment. It has.

When the toner replenishing device 30 is pulled out from the printer main body, the elastic member 38 attached to the shutter 37 closes the toner discharge port 32a to prevent the toner T from flowing out. If so, the toner T may be scattered.
Further, the toner T is provided on the lower surface of the wall around the toner outlet 32a.
There is also a possibility that the particles may be scattered when they are attached. Therefore, in the printer according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A portion adjacent to a toner introduction port 28a formed in the photosensitive member surrounding case 28 of the process cartridge 20;
A cleaning member 40 is provided on the side of the toner supply device 30 in the drawing direction. The cleaning member 40 is made of, for example, urethane foam, and is adhered to a predetermined position of the case 28 around the photoreceptor by an adhesive. When the toner replenishing device 30 is pulled out in the direction of arrow E, the cleaning member 40 rubs against the lower surface of the elastic member 38 and the lower surface of the wall around the toner outlet 32a, and removes the toner T adhered to these portions. The toner T is scraped and dropped into the toner introduction port 28a to prevent the toner T from scattering.

As described above, in the printer according to the present embodiment, even if the toner adheres to the lower surface of the elastic member 38 and the lower surface of the wall surface around the toner discharge port 32a, the cleaning member 40 is used. It is possible to prevent scraping and scattering of toner.

In this embodiment, the cleaning member 40 is used.
Thus, the toner T attached to the lower surface of the elastic member 38 and the lower surface of the wall around the toner outlet 32a is cleaned. However, the toner T attached to only the lower surface of the elastic member 38 is cleaned. You may.

[0043]

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the toner attached to the inner peripheral surface of the opening of the toner inlet or the toner outlet is scraped off to the other opening by the toner scraping means. There is an excellent effect that the toner attached to the inner peripheral surface of the opening can be prevented from scattering.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, while the elastic member is elastically deformed, it fits into the inner peripheral surface of the opening to scrape off the toner attached to the inner peripheral surface and closes the opening. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that scattering of toner can be prevented.

In particular, according to the third aspect of the invention, the toner flowing out while the opening is closed falls into the other opening. Further, the toner that falls due to the impact when the opening is completely closed also falls into the opening of the other party. Due to these, there is an excellent effect that scattering of toner can be prevented.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 4, there is an excellent effect that the cleaning means can prevent scattering of toner attached to the surface of the scraping means facing the counterpart opening.

In particular, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning means prevents scattering of toner adhered to a wall surface around the closed opening, which is opposed to the counterpart opening. There is an excellent effect that can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the vicinity of the shutter (a portion indicated by a chain line in FIG. 1) showing a state where the shutter is open.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view near a shutter showing a state in which the shutter is closed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory side view showing a state in which the opening of the toner introduction port according to the embodiment is formed to be large in the drawing direction of the toner supply device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory side view showing a process of closing a shutter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a shutter according to the embodiment is closed.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing that a cleaning member according to another embodiment is provided.

FIG. 8 is a main part side view showing a state in which a developing device and a toner replenishing device according to a conventional example are separated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 20 process cartridge 21 photoreceptor drum 28 photoreceptor surrounding case 28 a toner introduction port 28 b inclined section 30 toner replenishing device 31 receiving stand 31 a case 32 cover 32 a toner discharge port 32 b guide hole 33 bottle holding member 34 toner replenishing blade 35 toner bottle 36 guide Plate 37 Shutter 37a Shutter section 37b Open / close lever 38 Elastic member 39 Spring 40 Cleaning member

Claims (5)

[Claims] A developing device having a toner inlet; and a toner replenishing device having a toner outlet for replenishing toner to the toner inlet. At least one of the developing device and the toner replenishing device is provided. In the image forming apparatus, one of which is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, when either the developing device or the toner replenishing device is detached from the image forming apparatus main body, the toner introducing port or the toner discharging port is A scraping means for scraping toner adhered to the inner peripheral surface of at least one of the openings to the other opening, and closing the opening from which the toner adhered to the inner peripheral surface has been scraped by the scraping means; An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member for scraping off the toner adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the opening and closing the opening. An image forming apparatus, wherein the thickness of the image forming apparatus is not less than the thickness of the cross section of the opening. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The closing unit closes the opening in conjunction with an operation of removing one of the developing device and the toner replenishing device from the image forming apparatus main body. When the opening is completely closed, the opening is closed. The image forming apparatus is configured so that the image forming apparatus faces the opening of the other party. 4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning means for cleaning toner adhered to a surface of said scraping means which faces the opposite opening. apparatus. 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said cleaning means cleans toner adhering to a wall surface around said closed opening and facing a counterpart opening. Image forming apparatus.