JP2008165076A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of achieving shortening of a print finishing time to finish print on paper when the first paper is printed after replenishing a developing device with toner. <P>SOLUTION: Before starting the print of a toner image on the paper that is the first print of the toner image by the developing device 22, toner stored in the unused toner storing part 28 of a toner cartridge 26 is transported to a second tubular member 44 by a first screw member 90 or a hopper side screw member 92, and the second tubular member 44 is filled with the toner. Therefore, the developing device 22 is replenished with the toner transported to the second tubular member 44 when the concentration of the toner stored in the developing device 22 becomes low, so that the time to transport the toner to the second tubular member 44 from the toner cartridge 26 is shortened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of transferring toner to a developing device.

  The image forming apparatus main body of the conventional image forming apparatus is provided with a toner cartridge, a hopper, and a developing device. The toner cartridge, the hopper, and the developing device are respectively connected by a tubular member or the like, and the toner stored in the unused toner storage portion of the toner cartridge is transferred to the hopper, and further transferred from the hopper to the developing device. The toner transferred to the developing device is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum constituting the developing device by a developing roller, a supply roller, and the like, and is transferred to the paper as a toner image. However, the photosensitive drum is not transferred to the paper. The toner remaining on the surface of the toner is returned as waste toner from the developing unit to the waste toner container of the toner cartridge.

For example, when a two-component developer composed of toner and carrier is used, a toner concentration sensor for detecting the toner concentration of the developing device is used. Here, at the initial installation, in order to adjust the initial value output (calibration) by the toner density sensor of the developing device, the agitator (stirring body) in the developing device is rotated by the initial operation, and the developer is uniformly stirred. The sensor output is adjusted. At the time of adjusting the sensor output, from the viewpoint of preventing the adjustment of the toner density, the toner density in the developing unit cannot be changed, and the toner is not supplied to the developing unit.
JP 08-262863 A JP 2001-255729 A

  By the way, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the printing operation on the first sheet is started after the calibration by the toner density sensor is finished, since the inside of the tubular member is not filled with toner, When the toner concentration in the developing device is lowered and toner is supplied from the hopper, it is first necessary to fill the inside of the tubular member with toner. As a result, the toner supply to the inside of the developing device is delayed by the time when the toner is filled in the tubular member, and the toner concentration in the developing device is lowered. For this reason, it is necessary to temporarily stop printing on the sheet until the inside of the tubular member is filled with toner and the developer can be replenished with toner. As a result, when printing on the first sheet after supplying toner to the developing unit, the time until the printing is started is delayed, and as a result, the printing end time is increased.

  Accordingly, in consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the print end time for completing the printing of the paper when printing on the first paper after supplying toner to the developing device. For the purpose.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device that stores a developer composed of a plurality of components including toner and a carrier and prints a toner image on a sheet, a toner cartridge that stores the toner, and a toner cartridge that stores the toner. A tubular member that can be filled with the toner, a first toner transfer unit that transfers the toner of the toner cartridge to the tubular member, and a second that transfers the toner transferred to the tubular member to the developer. An image forming apparatus having toner transfer means, wherein the toner cartridge is placed on the tubular member before starting the printing of the toner image on the paper on which the toner image is first printed by the developing unit. The toner contained in the toner is transferred by the first toner transfer means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image forming apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores a maximum amount of the toner that can be charged into the tubular member. The toner contained in the toner cartridge is transferred to the tubular member by the first toner transfer means, with the stored maximum amount of the toner being filled as an upper limit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image forming apparatus further includes a toner concentration detection unit that detects a toner concentration that represents a ratio of the toner in the developer. While the developing device is being used by the toner concentration detecting means to detect the initial value of the toner concentration in the developing device, the toner contained in the toner cartridge is stored in the tubular member. The toner is transferred by one toner transfer means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner contained in the toner cartridge is transferred to the tubular member by the first toner transfer means, and the toner transferred to the tubular member is developed by the second toner transfer means. It is transferred to. A toner image is printed on the paper in the developing device by the developer containing the toner transferred to the developing device.

  Here, before starting the printing of the toner image on the paper to be printed with the first toner image by the developing device, the toner accommodated in the toner cartridge is transferred to the tubular member by the first toner transfer means. For this reason, when the toner concentration of the toner stored in the developing device is lowered, the toner transferred to the tubular member is replenished to the developing device, so that the time for transferring the toner from the toner cartridge to the tubular member is shortened. be able to. As a result, the timing for starting printing on the first sheet can be advanced by the time required for the toner to be transferred from the toner cartridge to the tubular member. As a result, it is possible to shorten the printing end time required until the printing of the toner image on the first sheet after the toner is supplied to the developing device.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the storage unit stores the maximum amount of toner that can be filled into the tubular member, and the maximum amount of toner stored in the storage unit is set as the upper limit. The toner contained in the toner cartridge is transferred to the tubular member by the first toner transfer means. Thus, the amount of toner transferred to the tubular member does not exceed the maximum amount of toner filling, so that the toner is not transferred more than necessary from the tubular member to the developing device. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner density in the developing unit from being increased more than necessary, and to prevent the printing performance of the toner image on the paper from being lowered.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the toner density detecting means for detecting the toner density, which means the proportion of the toner in the developer, is provided, and the developer is detected by the toner density detecting means before using the developer. During the detection (calibration) of the initial value of the toner density in the toner, the toner contained in the toner cartridge is transferred to the tubular member by the first toner transfer means. Accordingly, since the tubular member can be filled with toner in parallel with the calibration of the toner concentration in the developing device, the time required for calibration can be used as the time for transferring the toner to the tubular member. As a result, the timing of starting printing on the first sheet can be further advanced after the toner is supplied to the developing device as compared with the case where the toner is transferred to the tubular member in a time period different from the calibration of the toner density. This makes it possible to further shorten the printing end time of the toner image on the first sheet.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 is configured as a so-called multi-function machine having a facsimile function and a copy function, and includes an MPU 12, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 14, a MODEM 16, a ROM 18, and a RAM 20. A printer I / F 33 to which an image memory (DRAM) 22, a CODEC (encoder / decoder) 25, an operation unit 27, a scanner 29, and a personal computer (PC) 31 are connected.

  The MPU 12 controls each unit constituting this apparatus. The NCU 14 controls the connection with the telephone line network (PSTN), receives the data of the received manuscript, and detects the function of sending a dial signal corresponding to the telephone number (including the FAX number) of the other party and the incoming call. It has a function for. MODEM 16 is an ITU (International Telecommunication Union) -T recommendation T.30. 30 based on the facsimile transmission control procedure according to 17, V. 27ter, V.I. The transmission data is modulated and the received data is demodulated in accordance with 29. Alternatively, in addition to these, V.P. 34, modulation of transmission data and demodulation of reception data are performed.

  The ROM 18 stores a program for controlling this apparatus. The RAM 20 temporarily stores data and the like. The image memory 23 temporarily stores received data and image data read by the scanner 29. In order to transmit the read image data, the CODEC 25 encodes (encodes) the MH, MR, MMR method, etc., and decodes (decodes) the received image data. The operation unit 27 is used by the user to instruct FAX transmission / reception, printing (paper printing), and the like. The scanner 29 reads image data of a document when performing FAX transmission.

  The printer of this apparatus includes a printer controller (control means) 35 that controls each part of the printer. The printer controller 35 includes a RAM (storage means) 36.

  1 and 2, the printer controller 35 includes a first screw member (first toner transfer means) 90, a hopper side screw member (first toner transfer means) 92, and a second screw member (described later). The second toner transfer means) 94 and the third screw member 96 are controlled to rotate. The printer controller 35 is electrically connected with a toner density sensor (toner density detecting means) 98, and the toner density inside the developing device 22 detected by the toner density sensor 98 (developer consisting of toner and carrier). Of the toner) is output. The toner density sensor 98 is provided in the developing device 22.

  The RAM 36 stores a program for controlling the rotational drive of the first screw member 90, the hopper side screw member 92, and the second screw member 94 based on the toner density detection result from the toner density sensor 98. Yes. In particular, in this embodiment, before the toner image is printed on the paper that is the first toner image printed by the developing unit 22, the filling of the toner into the second tubular member 44 is completed. A program for rotating the first screw member 90 or the hopper side screw member 92 is stored. The RAM 36 stores the maximum amount of toner that can be charged into the second tubular member 44. The maximum amount of toner stored in the RAM 36 is used as the upper limit, and the toner is stored in the second tubular member. In order to make it transfer to 44, the program which rotationally drives the 1st screw member 90 or the hopper side screw member 92 is memorize | stored. Further, the RAM 36 detects an initial value (calibration of the toner concentration (ratio of toner in the two-component developer composed of toner and carrier)) in the developing device 22 by the toner concentration sensor 98 before using the developing device 22. A program for rotating the first screw member 90 or the hopper side screw member 92 so that the toner is transferred to the second tubular member 44 is stored.

  Inside the printer, a photosensitive drum 42 having a photoconductive film on its outer peripheral surface is disposed as a photosensitive member, and the photosensitive drum 42 is rotated by a drive source (not shown). A charging brush 53 is disposed around the photosensitive drum 42 as a brush roller type charger, and a predetermined bias voltage is applied to the charging brush 53 by a charging bias application circuit 54. The charging brush 53 to which the bias voltage is applied charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 42 uniformly to about −750 V while rotating.

  An LED print head 50 serving as an exposure unit disposed around the photosensitive drum 42 includes a large number of LEDs arranged in parallel. The LED print head 50 irradiates light to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 42 based on input image information. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed. Note that the output of the LED print head 50 is controlled by the printer controller 35.

  The developing device 22 disposed around the photosensitive drum 42 includes a supply roller 58, a developing roller 48, a blade 60, a developing device bias application circuit 62, and the like. The supply roller 58 supplies toner from a toner case (not shown) containing toner to the developing roller 48 while charging the toner. A predetermined bias voltage (−) is supplied to the supply roller 58 by a developing device bias application circuit 62. 300V to -700V, preferably about -500V). A predetermined bias voltage (−300 V to −400 V, preferably −350 V) is applied to the developing roller 48 disposed in contact with the supply roller 58 and the photosensitive drum 42 by the developing device bias applying circuit 62. The developing device bias application circuit 62 is controlled by the printer controller 35.

  The blade 60 elastically contacts the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 48 and makes the layer thickness of the toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 48 uniform. A predetermined bias is applied to the blade 60 by a developer bias application circuit 62. The bias voltage (−300 V to −700 V, preferably about −400 V) is applied.

  Further, a transfer roller 40 serving as a transfer device disposed around the photosensitive drum 42 is disposed so as to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 42 across the sheet conveyance path, and is rotated by a drive source (not shown). The A predetermined bias voltage (transfer bias) is applied to the transfer roller 40 by a transfer bias application circuit 38. When a bias voltage is applied to the transfer roller 40, an inflow current flows through the transfer roller 40. The inflow current of the transfer roller 40 is detected by the current detection unit 66, and the detected current value is stored in the RAM 36 of the printer controller 35. Saved in. The transfer bias application circuit 38 is controlled by the printer controller 35.

  The fixing device arranged on the paper delivery side of the paper conveyance path is configured by a heating roller 68 having a heater 46 such as a halogen lamp, a heater driving circuit 70, a press roller 72, and the like. The heater 46 of the heating roller 68 is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heater driving circuit 70 controlled by the printer controller 35. The heating roller 68 and the press roller 72 fix the toner image on the paper by heat-pressing the paper after the transfer by the transfer roller 40.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, a memory removal brush 74 is disposed around the photosensitive drum 42. The memory removal brush 74 is for removing a toner image (memory image) remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 42 along the contour of the image after transfer. The memory removal brush 74 includes a memory removal brush voltage application circuit. A predetermined bias voltage is applied by 76.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 is provided with a temperature sensor 43 that detects the surface temperature of the heating roller 68. The detection result by the temperature sensor 43 can be output to the printer controller 35. The temperature sensor 43 is preferably a thermistor that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 68.

  Further, a PSS (paper detection sensor) 78 for detecting paper is disposed on the upstream side of the photosensitive drum 42 in the paper conveyance direction. The detection result of this PSS 78 is output to the printer controller 35. The conveyed sheet is detected by the PSS 78, and using this detection result as a trigger, image formation on the sheet is realized downstream in the sheet conveying direction.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 is provided with a paper feed roller 80. The paper feed roller 80 is for sequentially supplying paper stored in a paper feed cassette (not shown) to a paper transport path (not shown). A motor 82 as a drive source is connected to the paper feed roller 80 via a clutch 84. In a state where the paper feed roller 80 is connected to the motor 82 via the clutch 84, the driving force of the motor 82 is transmitted to the paper feed roller 80, and the paper feed roller 80 rotates.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above, the printing operation is well known. However, in general, the photosensitive drum 42 is uniformly charged to about −750 V by the charging brush 53, and the LED print head is applied to the photosensitive drum 42. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed by 50, and toner is attracted to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 42 by the developing roller 48 to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum 42. Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 42 is transferred onto the paper by the transfer roller 40. After the transfer, the paper is heated and pressurized by the heating roller 68 and the press roller 72, and the toner image is fixed on the paper as a permanent image.

  Here, the toner cartridge 26, the hopper 34, and the developing device 22 arranged in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing unit 22 is provided with a photosensitive drum 24 rotatably. The toner supplied to the developing device 22 is supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 24 by a developing roller 48 (see FIG. 1) and a supply roller 58 (see FIG. 1). As a result, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 24 to be visualized (toner imaged). Then, the sheet is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 24 and a transfer roller (not shown) disposed opposite thereto, and a transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller, whereby the toner moves to the front side of the sheet, and the sheet The toner image is transferred to the toner image. The paper on which the toner image is transferred is heated and fixed by a fixing device, and an image is formed on the surface of the paper.

  A toner cartridge 26 is connected to the developing device 22. The toner cartridge 26 includes an unused toner storage unit 28 that stores unused toner, and a waste toner recovery unit 30 that recovers used toner after use.

  Here, a hopper 34 is connected to the unused toner storage portion 28 via a first tubular member 32 that stores therein a first screw member 90 (see FIG. 1) that transfers toner to one side in the axial direction. ing. The first screw member 90 is rotationally driven by a rotational drive mechanism (not shown). A spiral screw piece (not shown) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first screw member 90. Thus, when the first screw member 90 rotates, the toner is pushed by the screw piece and transferred to one side in the axial direction. For this reason, the unused toner in the toner cartridge 26 is transferred from the unused toner container 28 by the first screw member 90 to the hopper 34 through the first tubular member 32.

  The hopper 34 includes a toner accumulation unit (not shown) that can accumulate a predetermined amount of toner. Further, a hopper side screw member 92 (see FIG. 1) for supplying the accumulated toner to the second tubular member 44 is provided at the bottom of the toner accumulation portion so as to be rotatable. The hopper side screw member 92 is rotationally driven by a rotational drive mechanism (not shown). A spiral screw piece (not shown) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hopper side screw member 92. Thus, when the hopper side screw member 92 rotates, the toner is pushed by the screw piece and transferred to one side in the axial direction. Therefore, the toner accumulated in the toner accumulating portion is transferred to the second tubular member 32 by the hopper side screw member 92.

  Further, the developing device 22 described above is connected to the hopper 34 via a second tubular member 44. Here, in the second tubular member 44, a second screw member 94 (see FIG. 1) for transferring the toner to one axial side is accommodated so as to be rotatable. The second screw member 94 is rotationally driven by a rotational drive mechanism (not shown). A spiral screw piece (not shown) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second screw member 94. Accordingly, when the second screw member 94 rotates, the toner is pushed by the screw piece and transferred to one side in the axial direction.

  Thus, unused toner accumulated in the hopper 34 is sequentially transferred to the second tubular member 44. Then, the toner filled in the second tubular member 44 is transferred to the developing device 22 side by the second screw member 94.

  The developing unit 22 contains an agitator (not shown), and the two-component developer composed of toner and carrier is agitated by rotating the agitator. The agitator is connected to a rotation drive mechanism (not shown), and the rotation drive is controlled by the printer controller 35.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 22 is connected to the waste toner collecting unit 30 of the toner cartridge 26 via the third tubular member 52. Inside the third tubular member 52, a third screw member 96 (see FIG. 1) for transferring toner to one axial side is accommodated so as to be rotatable. The third screw member 96 is rotationally driven by a rotational drive mechanism (not shown). A spiral screw piece (not shown) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the third screw member 96. Accordingly, when the third screw member 96 rotates, the toner is pushed by the screw piece and transferred to one side in the axial direction.

  Unused toner that is supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 24 is scraped off from the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 24 as a waste toner by a brush or the like, and collected in a predetermined portion. Waste toner collected at a predetermined site is transferred to the third tubular member 52, and further transferred to the waste toner collecting unit 30 of the toner cartridge 26 by the third screw member 96.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printer controller 35 determines whether or not the developing device 22 is new (S10). When it is determined that the developing device 22 is new (S10: YES), the toner concentration inside the developing device 22 is detected by the toner concentration sensor 98, and the calibration of the toner concentration inside the developing device 22 is executed. (S20). The toner concentration detected by the toner concentration sensor 98 is output to the printer controller 35. Note that the toner density in the developing device 22 is adjusted based on the toner density at this time (during calibration).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the developing device 22 is not new (S10: NO), the process proceeds to S40 described later.

  While the calibration of the toner density is being performed, the toner accumulated in the unused toner storage portion 28 of the toner cartridge 26 or the toner accumulation portion of the hopper 34 is transferred to the second tubular member 44 and filled (S30). ). The toner transfer to the second tubular member 44 is realized by controlling the rotation of the first screw member 90 or the hopper side screw member 92 by the printer controller 35 based on a program stored in the RAM 36.

  At this time, unused toner is transferred to the second tubular member 44 by the first screw member 90 or the hopper-side screw member 92 with the maximum amount of toner that can be filled in the second tubular member 44 as an upper limit. The

  Next, the printer controller 35 determines whether or not there is a printing operation (S40). If it is determined that there is a printing operation (S40: YES), the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 24 is printed on the paper (S50). .

  Next, it is determined whether or not the toner density of the developing device 22 detected by the toner density sensor 98 is less than an initial value (toner density at the time of calibration) (S60).

  When it is determined that the toner density of the developing device 22 detected by the toner density sensor 98 is less than the initial value (toner density at the time of calibration) (S60: YES), the second tubular member 44 has been filled in advance. The toner is transferred to the developing device 22 and replenished (S70). The toner transfer to the developing device 22 is realized by the second screw member 94 being rotationally controlled by the printer controller 35 based on a program stored in the RAM 36.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the toner density of the developing device 22 detected by the toner density sensor 98 is not less than the initial value (toner density at the time of calibration) (S60: NO), the process proceeds to S10 as it is.

  Then, after the toner is replenished to the developing device 22, the process proceeds to S10 as it is, and thereafter each processing shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

  As described above, the second tubular member 44 is accommodated in the unused toner accommodating portion 28 of the toner cartridge 26 before starting the toner image printing on the paper on which the first toner image is printed by the developing device 22. The transferred toner is transferred and filled by the first screw member 90 or the hopper side screw member 92. For this reason, when the toner concentration of the toner stored in the developing device 22 decreases, the toner transferred to the second tubular member 44 is replenished to the developing device 22, so that the toner cartridge 26 moves to the second tubular member 44. The time for transferring the toner can be shortened. As a result, the timing for starting printing on the first sheet can be advanced by the time required for the toner to be transferred from the toner cartridge 26 to the second tubular member 44. As a result, it is possible to shorten the printing end time required until the toner image is printed on the first sheet after the developing device 22 is replenished with toner.

  In particular, the RAM 36 stores the maximum amount of toner that can be filled in the second tubular member 44, and the toner is stored in the RAM 36 with the maximum amount of toner filling as an upper limit. It is transferred to the second tubular member 44 by the hopper side screw member 92. As a result, the amount of toner transferred to the second tubular member 44 does not exceed the maximum toner filling amount of the second tubular member 44, so that more toner than necessary from the second tubular member 44 to the developing device 22 is present. It will not be transferred. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner density in the developing device 22 from being increased more than necessary, and to prevent the printing performance of the toner image on the paper from being lowered.

  Further, the toner is transferred to the second tubular member 44 while the toner density sensor 98 is detecting (calibrating) the initial value of the toner density in the developing device 22 before using the developing device 22. . Accordingly, since the toner can be filled in the second tubular member 44 in parallel with the calibration of the toner density in the developing device 22, the time required for the calibration to transfer the toner to the second tubular member 44. Can be used as As a result, compared with the case where the toner is transferred to the second tubular member 44 in a time period different from the calibration of the toner density, the timing for starting printing on the first sheet after the toner supply to the developing device 22 is further increased. It is possible to speed up the process, and it is possible to further shorten the printing end time of the toner image on the first sheet.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a developing device, a hopper, and a toner cartridge used in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are connected to each other. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 22 Developing device 26 Toner cartridge 35 Printer controller (control means)
36 RAM (storage means)
44 Second tubular member 90 First screw member (first toner transfer means)
92 Hopper side screw member (first toner transfer means)
94 Second screw member (second toner transfer means)
98 Toner density sensor (toner density detection means)

Claims (3)

A developer that stores a developer composed of a plurality of components including toner and a carrier and prints a toner image on a sheet, a toner cartridge that stores the toner, and a tube that can be filled with the toner stored in the toner cartridge An image forming apparatus including: a member; a first toner transfer unit configured to transfer the toner of the toner cartridge to the tubular member; and a second toner transfer unit configured to transfer the toner transferred to the tubular member to the developing unit. A device,
Before the toner image is printed on the sheet, which is the first toner image printed by the developing device, the toner contained in the toner cartridge is transferred to the tubular member by the first toner transfer means. An image forming apparatus transported. Storage means for storing the maximum amount of toner that is the maximum amount that can be filled in the tubular member;
2. The toner stored in the toner cartridge is transferred to the tubular member by the first toner transfer means, with the maximum filling amount of the toner stored in the storage means as an upper limit. The image forming apparatus described in 1. A toner concentration detecting means for detecting a toner concentration, which means a proportion of the toner in the developer,
While the developing device is being used by the toner concentration detecting means to detect the initial value of the toner concentration in the developing device, the toner contained in the toner cartridge is contained in the tubular member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is transferred by a first toner transfer unit.

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