JP2003208007A - Color image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the reduction of the cost and the improvement of recycling ability by reducing the kinds of parts constituting the attaching part of a toner container and the kinds of the toner containers. <P>SOLUTION: In the color image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming parts 2 for forming images in different colors and a plurality of toner container attaching parts 27 to which the toner container 26 for storing the toner to be supplied to the image forming part 2 is attachably/detachably attached, a plurality of attaching parts 27 are formed in the same structure that the container 26 having the same shape is attached, and the apparatus is provided with two or more toner container attaching parts 27B to which the toner container 26B for storing black toner is attached out of a plurality of attaching parts 27. Thus, the apparatus has only to be provided with one kind of attaching part 27, so that the kinds of the parts constituting the attaching part 27 are reduced. Even if the consumption of the black toner is more than other color toner, frequency that the black toner is used up is prevented from getting high. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus such as a color printer or a color copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A color image forming apparatus such as a color printer or a color copying machine is provided with a plurality of image forming units for forming images of different colors, and further stores toner to be supplied to each image forming unit. There is known a structure in which a plurality of toner container mounting portions to which the above toner containers are detachably mounted are provided.

In a color image forming apparatus having a plurality of toner container mounting portions for respective colors, when the toner of a certain color is used up, the empty toner container is removed from the toner container mounting portion and the A new toner container containing the toner may be attached to the toner container attachment portion, and the handling is easy.

By the way, in the color image forming apparatus, the amount of toner consumed for each color is considerably larger for black toner than for color toner (yellow, magenta, and cyan toners). Therefore, the volume of the toner container for storing the black toner is made larger than that of the toner container for storing the color toner.

If the toner container for storing the black toner and the toner container for storing the color toner have the same volume, the black toner, which consumes a large amount of toner, is more likely to run out of toner. The image forming operation is frequently interrupted due to the replacement of the container.

[0006]

Since the toner container for storing the black toner and the toner container for storing the color toners have different volumes, it is necessary to prepare two types of toner containers, large and small. Get higher Further, it is inefficient in recycling the toner container.

Further, since the toner container mounting portion to which the toner container is mounted also has two structures, large and small, the number of types of parts constituting the toner container mounting portion increases, which leads to high cost of the color image forming apparatus itself. .

Further, when the toner container mounting portions having different structures are formed in the color image forming apparatus, space is likely to be wasted in the portions where the structures of the adjacent toner container mounting portions are different, and the color image forming apparatus is downsized. It becomes difficult to plan.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the types of parts constituting the toner container mounting portion and the types of toner containers to reduce costs and improve recyclability.

An object of the present invention is to miniaturize a color image forming apparatus.

[0011]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A plurality of image forming portions for forming images of different colors; a plurality of toner container mounting portions to which toner containers containing toner supplied to the image forming portion are detachably mounted; the image forming portion and the toner; A toner transport mechanism provided between the toner container and a container mounting portion, and the toner stored in the toner container mounted in the toner container mounting portion is transferred to the image forming portion using the toner. In a color image forming apparatus configured to supply by a transport mechanism, the plurality of toner container mounting portions are formed in the same structure in which the toner containers having the same shape are mounted, and the toner container containing black toner is mounted. The toner container mounting part is 2
One or more are provided.

Here, "the toner container mounting portions have the same structure" means that the components constituting the toner container mounting portions are common, and the shape and size of each toner container mounting portion are the same. Means

Therefore, since the plurality of toner container mounting portions are formed in the same structure, the toner container mounting portion for mounting the toner container storing the black toner and the toner container storing the color toner other than the black toner are provided. It is not necessary to provide two types of toner container mounting parts, that is, a toner container mounting part for mounting, and the number of types of parts constituting the toner container mounting part is reduced, and the cost of the color image forming apparatus can be reduced.

Further, even if the toner container containing the black toner and the toner container containing the color toner have the same shape and the toner amount contained in each toner container is the same,
Since there are two or more toner container mounting parts for mounting the toner container containing the black toner, the black toner is often out of toner even when the consumption of the black toner is larger than that of the color toner. It does not occur that the image forming work is interrupted more frequently because the black toner runs out.

Further, since the toner containers of the same shape are mounted in the plurality of toner container mounting portions, the toner container used in this color image forming apparatus is one type, and the cost of the toner container can be reduced. At the same time, the recyclability of the toner container is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the plurality of toner container mounting portions are arranged in a horizontal row.

Therefore, by arranging a plurality of toner container mounting portions formed in the same structure in a horizontal row, as compared with the case where toner container mounting portions having different structures are arranged, the toner container mounting portions are adjacent to each other. It is possible to arrange the toner container mounting part without generating wasteful space,
As a result, the color image forming apparatus can be downsized, and in particular, the height dimension can be suppressed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the two or more toner container mounting portions to which the toner containers containing black toner are mounted are arranged side by side. It is characterized by being.

Therefore, even if the number of toner container mounting portions increases and the number of toner containers used increases,
It is possible to prevent a mistake in the toner container mounting portion for mounting the toner container containing the black toner.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claims 1 to 3.
In the color image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3, the black toner is stored and switched so that the black toner is supplied from one of the two or more toner containers mounted in the toner container mounting portion. The other toner container that is free and that stores the black toner and is mounted in the other toner container mounting portion when the black toner in the one toner container in which the black toner is being supplied runs out It is characterized in that it has a switching means for supplying the black toner.

Therefore, when the black toner in one toner container is exhausted, the black toner can be supplied from the other toner container, and the image forming operation is interrupted even when the black toner in the one toner container is exhausted. It is possible to continue without doing so, and it is possible to replace a toner container that has run out of black toner with a new one while supplying black toner from another toner container.

The invention according to claim 5 is the same as claims 1 to 4.
In the color image forming apparatus according to any one of the items 1 to 3, a detection unit that detects that the toner in the toner container mounted in the toner container mounting unit has been depleted, and the toner container that is depleted of toner is mounted. And a notifying unit for notifying the toner container mounting portion that is present.

Therefore, since the detection means detects that the toner in the toner container mounted in each toner container mounting portion is exhausted and the notification means informs that the toner is exhausted, the stored toner It becomes possible to promptly perform the work of replacing the toner container which has disappeared with a new toner container.

The invention according to claim 6 is the same as claims 1 to 5.
In the color image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5, the toner container mounted on the toner container mounting portion has an opening area facing only the toner container mounting portion on which the toner container containing black toner is mounted. The exterior cover is formed with an opening having an opening area that enables attachment and detachment.

Therefore, the toner container containing the black toner can be attached to and detached from the toner container mounting portion through the opening, and the opening is provided only in the toner container mounting portion in which the toner container containing the black toner is mounted. Since the opening areas are opposed to each other, it is possible to prevent the toner container, an operator's hand or the like from touching a mechanism around the toner container mounting portion when the toner container is attached or detached. Therefore, the toner container containing the black toner can be attached / detached to / from the toner container attachment portion without interrupting the image forming operation while maintaining safety. The "exterior cover" means a cover that covers the outside of the color image forming apparatus.

[0026]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic structure of a color image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the color image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure for attaching and detaching a toner container containing black toner.

In the main body case 1 of this color image forming apparatus, different colors (yellow Y, magenta M,
Four image forming units 2 that form images of cyan C and black B)
Are arranged. Note that these image forming units 2 have different colors of images to be formed because the colors of toners used are different, and the structures are the same. Further, in the description of the image forming section 2, when referring to the color of the image to be formed, “Y” is set for the image forming section 2 for forming the yellow image, and the image forming section for forming the magenta image is formed. 2 is an image forming unit 2 for forming an image of “M” and cyan
Will be described with the suffix "C", and the image forming unit 2 that forms a black image will be suffixed with "B".

Each image forming section 2 is composed of a photosensitive drum 3 which is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow, a cleaning device 4, a charging device 5, a developing device 6 and the like which are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the photosensitive drum 3. . The cleaning device 4 cleans the residual toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 3, the charging device 5 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 3, and the developing device 6
Forms a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image written on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3. In addition,
An exposure unit 7 that emits a laser beam for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of each photoconductor drum 3 of each image forming unit 2 is provided in the vicinity of the image forming unit 2, and a laser emitted from the exposure unit 7 An irradiation slit for irradiating the surface of each photoconductor drum 3 with light is secured between the charging device 5 and the developing device 6 in each image forming section 2.

The photosensitive drum 3 has a diameter of 30 to 100 m.
It is formed by an aluminum cylinder of about m and a layer of an organic semiconductor which is a photoconductive substance provided on the surface thereof.

The four image forming sections 2 are arranged in a row at equal intervals, and an intermediate transfer belt 8 is arranged so as to contact a part of the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 3 of each image forming section 2.

The intermediate transfer belt 8 has a thickness of 50 to 600.
It is a loop-shaped belt formed by using a resin film or rubber of μm as a base, and has a resistance value such that the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3 can be transferred. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is supported by rollers 9, 10 and 11 and is rotationally driven in the arrow direction. On the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 8 (inside the loop), four transfer devices 12 for transferring the toner image on each photoconductor drum 3 onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 are arranged. On the front side of the intermediate transfer belt 8 (outside the loop), a cleaning device 1 for cleaning residual toner, paper dust, etc. adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8.
3 are arranged.

Below the four image forming sections 2 in the main body case 1, there are vertically arranged two paper feed cassettes 14 in which recording media (paper) S are stacked and held. The recording media S stacked and held in each paper feed cassette 14 are separated and fed in order from the topmost one.

In the main body case 1, the transport path 1 through which the recording medium S separated and fed from the paper feed cassette 14 is transported.
5 is formed. A registration roller 16, a transfer belt 17, a fixing device 18, a paper discharge roller 19 and the like are arranged on the conveyance path 15.

The registration roller 16 is a roller which is rotationally driven intermittently at a predetermined timing. By rotating the registration roller 16 intermittently, the recording medium S, which has been conveyed to the position of the registration roller 16 and stopped, is fed to the transfer position.

The transfer belt 17 has a thickness of 50 to 600 μm.
A loop belt formed by using a resin film or rubber of m as a base is supported by rollers 20, 21, and 22 and is rotationally driven in the arrow direction. A transfer device 23 is arranged on the back side of the transfer belt 17 (inside the loop), and on the front side of the transfer belt 17, a cleaning device 24 for cleaning residual toner, paper dust and the like adhering to the surface of the transfer belt 17.
Are arranged. The portion of the intermediate transfer belt 8 whose back side is supported by the roller 10 is the transfer belt 17
The back side of the front side of the sheet is pressed against a portion supported by the roller 21 and the transfer device 23, and this portion is the transfer position where the toner image is transferred to the recording medium S.

The fixing device 18 is a portion for fixing the toner image transferred on the recording medium S to the recording medium S by applying heat and pressure. The recording medium S on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing device 18 is discharged onto the discharge tray portion 25 formed on the upper surface of the main body case 1 by the discharge rollers 19.

Above the four image forming sections 2 and the intermediate transfer belt 8 in the main body case 1, five toners are detachably mounted with a toner container 26 containing the toner to be supplied to the image forming section 2. A container mounting portion 27 is provided. In the description of the toner container 26 and the toner container mounting portion 27, if it is desired to mention the color of the toner,
The subscripts "Y" for yellow toner, "M" for magenta toner, "C" for cyan toner, and "B" for black toner will be described.

The respective toner container mounting portions 27 are formed in the same structure in which the toner containers 26 of the same shape are mounted, that is, in the same shape and the same size by using common parts. One of them is yellow toner. Toner container 26Y containing
Is mounted on the toner container mounting portion 27Y, one is a toner container mounting portion 27M on which the toner container 26 containing magenta toner is mounted, and one is a toner container mounting portion on which a toner container 26C storing cyan toner is mounted. 27C, two are toner container mounting portions 27B to which a toner container 26B containing black toner is mounted. Each toner container mounting portion 27
Is provided with a toner transport mechanism (not shown) that supplies toner to the image forming units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2B that form images of the same color as the toner.

The five toner container mounting portions 27 are arranged in a horizontal row at equal intervals, and the two toner container mounting portions 27B to which the toner containers 26B containing black toner are mounted are arranged side by side.

Each toner container mounting portion 27 has a slidable mounting plate 2 on which the toner container 26 to be mounted is mounted.
8. A vibration mechanism (not shown) for dropping toner from the inside of the toner container 26 by applying vibration to the mounting plate 28, and the toner dropped from the mounted toner container 26 is temporarily stored. A toner storage unit (not shown), a sensor (not shown) for detecting that the toner in the toner container 26 mounted in the toner storage unit and mounted in the toner container mounting unit 27 is exhausted, and the like are provided. Has been.

The mounting plate 28 is slidable toward the front side (front side of the main body case 1) and the rear side, and the toner container 26 is attached to the mounting plate 28 slid to the front side as shown in FIG. Placement plate 2 that is placed horizontally and on which the toner container 26 is placed
By pushing 8 into the main body case 1, the mounting of the toner container 26 in the toner container mounting portion 27 is completed.

The side surface of the toner container 26 (the surface facing the placement plate 28 when placed on the placement plate 28) is closed by a seal during storage, and after the placement on the placement plate 28, the seal is applied. A toner supply port (not shown) that is opened by peeling off is formed. An opening (not shown) is formed in the mounting plate 28 at a position facing the toner supply port of the toner container 26 mounted on the mounting plate 28, and a shutter 29 that can be opened and closed at this opening. Is provided. The shutter 29 is urged in the closing direction by a spring so that the opening is closed when the mounting plate 28 is pulled out to the front side, and the opening is opened when the mounting plate 28 is pushed inward. There is. Toner container 26
The mounting plate 28 on which the
9 is opened, and then the mounting plate 28 and the toner container 26 are vibrated by a vibrating mechanism.
The toner inside passes through the toner supply port and the opening and falls,
The toner is temporarily stored in the toner storage unit, and thereafter, the image forming units 2Y, 2
It is supplied to M, 2C and 2B.

An exterior cover 3 is provided on the front side of the main body case 1.
0 is provided. The exterior cover 30 includes the image forming section 2, the intermediate transfer belt 8, and the toner container mounting section 27.
Cover position, the image forming unit 2 and the intermediate transfer belt 8,
Further, it is provided so as to be openable and closable to an open position where the toner container mounting portion 27 is exposed.

An opening 31 is formed in a part of the outer cover 30, and the opening cover 3 is openable and closable in the opening 31.
Two are provided. The toner container mounting portion 2 in which the toner container 26B containing the black toner is mounted in the opening 31.
7B, the opening area facing only 7B and allowing the toner container 26 mounted in the toner container mounting portion 27B to be detachable. Therefore, the opening cover 32
When the toner container 26B storing the black toner is opened and detached from the opening 31 to the toner container mounting portion 27B, the toner container 26B, the operator's hand, etc.
It is possible to prevent the mechanism around B from being touched.

Further, in this color image forming apparatus, the image forming operation in the image forming section 2, the paper feeding operation from the paper feeding cassette 14, the toner supplying operation from each toner container 26, the detection results of various sensors, and the like. A control unit (not shown) having a microcomputer configuration is provided for controlling according to the input result of the operation keys provided on the operation panel (not shown). The color image forming apparatus is provided with various means as a process executed by the control unit. As these various means, a detection means, a notification means, a switching means, etc. are provided.

The detecting means is a process for detecting that the toner in the toner container 26 mounted in the toner container mounting portion 27 has run out. When it is detected that the toner in the image forming unit 2 has decreased to a predetermined amount, the vibration mechanism of the toner container mounting unit 27 in which the toner container 26 containing the toner of that color is mounted is driven. , Toner container 2
Although the toner in 6 is dropped to the toner storage portion, it is executed when the sensor in the toner storage portion detects that the amount of toner in the toner storage portion does not reach the predetermined amount even if the vibration mechanism is driven for the predetermined time. .

The notifying means is a process for notifying the toner container mounting portion 27 in which the toner container 26 that has run out of toner is mounted. When the detection means detects that the toner in a certain toner container 26 is exhausted, a display for notifying the toner container mounting portion 27 in which the toner container 26 is mounted is displayed on the operation panel, or each toner container is mounted. This is executed by turning on an LED (not shown) provided corresponding to the mounting portion 27.

The switching means stores the black toner and stores it in the other toner container mounting portion 27 when the black toner in the one toner container 26 in which the black toner is being supplied runs out. This is a process for supplying black toner from the container 26. When the detection means detects that the black toner in the toner container 26 that has supplied the black toner has been exhausted, another toner container 26 containing the black toner is stored.
This is executed by driving the vibration mechanism of the other toner container mounting portion 27 in which the toner is mounted.

In such a structure, the toner in the toner container 26 mounted in each toner container mounting portion 27 is dropped into the toner storage portion by driving the vibrating mechanism, and the color of the toner is changed from the toner storage portion. The toner is conveyed by the toner conveying mechanism toward the image forming unit 2 where the image formation is performed.

When the toner in the toner container 26 mounted on each toner mounting portion 27 is used up, the toner is detected by the detecting means, and the notifying means gives an alarm according to the detection result. For this reason, the operation of replacing the toner container 26 that has run out of toner with a new toner container 26 can be performed quickly.

Toner container 26 containing color toner
When replacing Y, 26M, and 26C, the outer cover 30
Open. When the outer cover 30 is opened, a mechanism located around the toner container mounting portion 27, for example, the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the like is exposed, so that the operation of the image forming work is performed in consideration of safety and the like. Suspended.

On the other hand, a toner container 26 containing black toner
When replacing B, the opening cover 32 is opened to open the opening 31, and the replacement is performed from this opening 31. Since the opening 31 has an opening area that faces only the toner container mounting portion 27B in which the toner container 26B is mounted, and has an opening area that allows the toner container 26B to be attached and detached, the toner container 26 is attached and detached. It is possible to prevent a user's hand or the like from touching a mechanism around the toner container mounting portion 27B, and detaching the toner container 26 from the toner container mounting portion 27B interrupts the image forming work while maintaining safety. Can be done without.

In such a color image forming apparatus, the amount of black toner consumed is larger than the amount of color toner consumed. However, the toner containers 26Y, 26M, and 26C containing the color toners are respectively installed in one toner container mounting portion 27Y, 27M, and 27C, while the toner container 26B containing the black toner is installed in the toner container 26B. Two container mounting portions 27 are provided. Therefore, even if the consumption amount of the black toner is larger than that of the color toners, the black toner runs out more often, and the image forming work is interrupted because the black toner runs out. The frequency does not increase.

Further, when the black toner in one toner container 26B is exhausted, the switching means performs switching so that the black toner in the other toner container 26B is supplied, so that one toner container 26B is provided. Even when the black toner in the inside is exhausted, the image forming operation can be continued without interruption.

Toner container 26 for storing toner of each color
Are formed in the same shape, it is not necessary to prepare two types of toner containers, a small toner container for storing color toner and a large toner container for storing black toner. In addition to being able to reduce the amount, the recyclability of the toner container 26 can be improved.

Further, since all the toner container mounting portions 27 in which the toner containers 26 for storing the toners of the respective colors are mounted are formed in the same structure, it is possible to reduce the kinds of parts constituting the toner container mounting portion 27. Therefore, the cost of the color image forming apparatus can be reduced.

Further, since the five toner container mounting portions 27 having the same structure are arranged in a horizontal row, there is no waste between the adjacent toner container mounting portions 27 as compared with the case where the toner container mounting portions having different structures are arranged. However, no space is generated, and the color image forming apparatus can be downsized.
In particular, the height dimension can be reduced.

Of the five toner container mounting portions 27, the two toner container mounting portions 27B to which the toner container 26B containing the black toner is mounted are arranged next to each other. It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation of mounting the other toner containers 26Y, 26M, and 26C that store color toners.

In the present embodiment, after the black toner in the toner container 26B mounted in one toner container mounting portion 27B is exhausted, the black in the toner container 26B mounted in the other toner container mounting portion 27B is exhausted. The case where the switching means for supplying the toner is provided has been described as an example, but the two toner container mounting portions 27B are mounted on the two toner container mounting portions 27B by simultaneously driving the vibration mechanisms of the two toner container mounting portions 27B. Black toner may be simultaneously supplied from the toner container 26B.

Further, the toner conveying mechanism provided between the two toner container mounting portions 27B and the image forming portion 2B may be provided separately or may be shared.

[0061]

According to the color image forming apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of toner container mounting portions are formed in the same structure in which the toner containers of the same shape are mounted.
It is necessary to provide two types of toner container mounting parts, a toner container mounting part for mounting a toner container containing black toner and a toner container mounting part for mounting a toner container containing color toner other than black toner. It is possible to reduce the cost of the color image forming apparatus by reducing the types of parts that constitute the toner container mounting portion. Even if the toner container containing the black toner and the toner container containing the color toner have the same shape and the toner amount contained in each toner container is the same, the toner container containing the black toner is installed. Since two or more toner container mounting parts are provided, even if the consumption amount of black toner is larger than that of color toner, it is more likely that the black toner will run out of toner. It is possible to prevent an increase in the frequency of interruption of the image forming work due to the break.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, since the plurality of toner container mounting portions are arranged in a horizontal row, toner container mounting portions having different structures are provided. Compared to the case of arranging the toner container mounting portions, the toner container mounting portions can be arranged without generating a wasteful space between the adjacent toner container mounting portions, whereby the color image forming apparatus can be downsized. In particular, the height dimension can be suppressed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the two or more toner container mounting portions to which the toner containers containing black toner are mounted are adjacent to each other. Therefore, even if the number of toner container mounting portions increases and the number of toner containers used increases, it is possible to prevent the toner container mounting portion for mounting the toner container containing the black toner from being mistaken.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, two or more of the above-mentioned toner containers that contain black toner and are attached to the toner container attachment portion are included. The toner can be switched so that the black toner is supplied from one of the toner containers, and the black toner is stored when the black toner in one of the toner containers to which the black toner is supplied runs out. Since there is a switching means for supplying the black toner from the other toner container mounted in the other toner container mounting portion, when the black toner in one toner container runs out, Black toner can be supplied, and even when the black toner in one toner container is used up, the image forming operation can be continued without interruption.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the toner in the toner container mounted in the toner container mounting portion is exhausted. Since there is provided a detection unit for detecting that the toner container and a notification unit for notifying the toner container mounting portion in which the toner container that has run out of toner is mounted, the inside of the toner container mounted in each toner container mounting portion is provided. Since the detection means detects that the toner has been depleted, and the notification means notifies that the toner has been depleted, promptly perform the work of replacing the stored toner-depleted toner container with a new toner container. Is possible.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, only the toner container mounting portion in which the toner container containing the black toner is mounted is opposed. Since the opening having an opening area that allows the toner container to be attached to the toner container attachment portion is formed on the outer cover, the toner container attachment of the toner container containing the black toner is performed. The attachment / detachment to / from the unit can be performed through the opening without interrupting the image forming work while maintaining safety.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic structure of a color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a color image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure for attaching and detaching a toner container accommodating black toner.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 (2Y, 2M, 2C, 2B) Image forming part 26 (26Y, 26M, 26C, 26B) Toner container 27 (27Y, 27M, 27C, 27B) Toner container mounting part 30 Exterior cover 31 Opening part

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2H027 DD02 DE03 DE07 EC10 ED10                       EE06 EF09 GA30 GB03 HB13                       ZA07                 2H030 AA05 AA06 AA07 AB02 AD01                       AD02 AD04 AD05 BB02 BB23                       BB38 BB42 BB63                 2H077 AA02 AA09 AA35 AD02 AD06                       BA03 BA09 DA15 DA32 DA34                       DA72 DB10 EA21 EA24 GA04                       GA15

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of image forming units for forming images of different colors, a plurality of toner container mounting units to which a toner container containing toner supplied to the image forming unit is detachably mounted, and the image. A toner transport mechanism provided between the forming section and the toner container mounting section, and the toner contained in the toner container mounted in the toner container mounting section is used as the image. In the color image forming apparatus configured to supply the toner to the forming unit by the toner conveying mechanism, the plurality of toner container mounting portions are formed in the same structure in which the toner containers having the same shape are mounted, and the toner containing the black toner is stored. 2. A color image forming apparatus, wherein two or more toner container mounting parts for mounting a container are provided. 2. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of toner container mounting portions are arranged in a horizontal row. 3. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two or more toner container mounting portions to which the toner containers containing black toner are mounted are arranged side by side. . 4. It is switchable so as to supply black toner from one of the two or more toner containers mounted in the toner container mounting portion containing black toner.
When the black toner in one of the toner containers to which the black toner has been supplied runs out, the black toner is stored and the black toner is removed from the other toner containers mounted in the other toner container mounting portions. The color image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a switching unit that supplies the toner. 5. A detection unit for detecting that the toner in the toner container mounted in the toner container mounting unit is exhausted, and a toner container mounting unit in which the toner container depleted of toner is mounted. 5. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying. 6. An opening area facing only the toner container mounting portion in which the toner container containing the black toner is mounted, the opening area allowing the toner container mounted in the toner container mounting portion to be detachable. 6. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening having the opening is formed in the exterior cover.