JP2015141409A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Toner supply mechanism, image forming apparatus, and toner supply method

  The present invention relates to a toner replenishing mechanism, an image forming apparatus, and a toner replenishing method, and more particularly to a technique for replenishing toner to a developing unit.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, development processing is performed by supplying toner from a developing unit to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum or an intermediate transfer belt. The toner is stored in the toner container, and when the toner density in the developing unit decreases, the toner is driven by the toner replenishing motor, and the toner in the toner container is replenished to the developing unit by the conveying screw while being stirred by the stirring paddle. .

  The color image forming apparatus uses four colors of toner, and there are a total of four toner containers for each color. Therefore, if one toner replenishing motor is installed in each color toner container, it causes an increase in cost. Therefore, in Patent Document 1 below, a technique for driving four toner containers with one motor is proposed.

JP 2007-65392 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the driving of the four toner containers is switched by the clutch mechanism. For this reason, it is necessary to provide a relatively large and complicated clutch mechanism, which is not suitable for space saving. Further, there is a problem that the cost is difficult to reduce because the number of parts increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and does not require a complicated mechanism such as a clutch mechanism, and replenishes toner from a toner container corresponding to each color developing unit with a single motor. The purpose is to make it possible.

A toner replenishing mechanism according to an aspect of the present invention includes a shutter mechanism that opens and closes when pressed, and a plurality of toner units that replenish toner stored therein are replenished to the corresponding developing unit by opening the shutter mechanism. Toner container
The plurality of toner containers extend in the direction in which the plurality of toner containers are arranged side by side, are arranged at positions facing the shutter mechanism of the toner containers in the axial direction, and are located at positions facing the predetermined positions in the direction around the axis. Shafts that press the shutter mechanism are disposed at different positions in the direction around the axis; and
A stepping motor that rotationally drives the shaft around the axis;
The rotational operation of the stepping motor is controlled, and the toner container for supplying toner in the direction around the axis is disposed at a position facing the shutter mechanism in the axial direction to a position facing the shutter mechanism. A motor control unit for moving the cam.

An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
A plurality of developing units for supplying toner of each color to the electrostatic latent image;
And a toner replenishment mechanism.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner replenishing method including a shutter mechanism that opens and closes when pressed, and when the shutter mechanism is opened, the corresponding toner of each color stored therein is developed. Multiple toner containers to replenish the unit;
The plurality of toner containers extend in the direction in which the plurality of toner containers are arranged side by side, are arranged at positions facing the shutter mechanism of the toner containers in the axial direction, and are located at positions facing the predetermined positions in the direction around the axis. Shafts that press the shutter mechanism are disposed at different positions in the direction around the axis; and
A toner replenishing mechanism including a stepping motor that rotationally drives the shaft around the axis;
The rotational operation of the stepping motor is controlled, and the toner container for supplying toner in the direction around the axis is disposed at a position facing the shutter mechanism in the axial direction to a position facing the shutter mechanism. The cam is moved to replenish toner.

  In the present invention, the cam is disposed at a position facing the shutter mechanism of each toner container in the axial direction of the shaft, and the motor control unit moves the cam in the direction around the shaft axis by driving the stepping motor. The shutter mechanism of each toner container can be selectively opened and closed by the cam. Therefore, according to the present invention, toner can be replenished from the corresponding toner container to each color developing unit with one motor without requiring a complicated mechanism such as a clutch mechanism. This makes it possible to reduce the size and cost of the toner supply mechanism.

1 is a front sectional view showing a structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a toner supply mechanism. It is the side view which looked at the shaft from the axial direction which shows the position of each cam arrange | positioned around the axis | shaft of the shaft. It is a figure which shows the home position detection mechanism provided in the shaft. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a state where the toner container and the shutter mechanism according to the first embodiment close the opening of the toner container, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the toner container and the shutter mechanism according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which is open | released. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a state where the toner container and the shutter mechanism according to the second embodiment close the opening of the toner container, and FIG. 5B is a view illustrating the toner container and the shutter mechanism according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which is open | released. (A), (B), and (C) are diagrams illustrating the movement of the shutter mechanism and the cam during toner replenishment. 6 is a flowchart of toner supply processing in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a state in which a toner container and a shutter mechanism according to a further embodiment close an opening of the toner container, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which is open | released.

  Hereinafter, a toner supply mechanism, an image forming apparatus, and a toner supply method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  An image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 11 that includes an operation unit 47, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, and the like.

  The operation unit 47 receives instructions such as an image forming operation execution instruction and a document reading operation execution instruction from the operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473. The display unit 473 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) having a touch panel function.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 performs a document reading operation, the document reading unit 5 optically reads a document fed by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on the document placing glass 161, Generate image data. Image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in a built-in HDD or a network-connected computer.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 performs an image forming operation, it is based on image data generated by the document reading operation, image data received from a computer connected to a network, image data stored in a built-in HDD, or the like. Then, the image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on the recording paper P as a recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit 14. When performing color printing, the magenta image forming unit 12M, the cyan image forming unit 12C, the yellow image forming unit 12Y, and the black image forming unit 12Bk of the image forming unit 12 respectively A toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 121 by charging, exposure, and development processes based on an image composed of each color component constituting data, and the toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 125 by the primary transfer roller 126. Let them transcribe. The intermediate transfer belt 125 corresponds to an image carrier.

  The toner images of the respective colors transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 125 are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 125 with the transfer timing adjusted to form a color toner image. The secondary transfer roller 210 passes the toner image of the color formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125 from the paper supply unit 14 through the conveyance path 190 at a nip N between the intermediate transfer belt 125 and the driving roller 125a. It is transferred to the recording paper P that has been conveyed. Thereafter, the fixing unit 13 fixes the toner image on the recording paper P to the recording paper P by thermocompression bonding. The recording paper P on which the color image has been formed after completion of the fixing process is discharged to a discharge tray 151.

  In the case of performing double-sided printing in the image forming apparatus 1, the recording paper P having an image formed on one side by the image forming unit 12 is nipped by the discharge roller pair 159, and then the recording paper P is switched back by the discharge roller pair 159 and sent to the reverse conveyance path 195, and the conveyance roller pair 19 conveys the recording paper P again upstream in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P with respect to the nip portion N and the fixing unit 13. As a result, an image is formed on the other surface of the recording paper by the image forming unit 12.

  The developing unit 122M in the image forming unit 12M, the developing unit 122C in the image forming unit 12C, the developing unit 122Y in the image forming unit 12Y, and the developing unit 122Bk in the image forming unit 12Bk each perform development processing of each color. To the position away from these developing units 122M, 122C, 122Y, 122Bk, specifically, a toner container 17M that stores magenta toner, a toner container 17C that stores cyan toner, and yellow above the intermediate transfer belt 125, yellow A toner container 17 </ b> Y that stores toner and a toner container 17 </ b> Bk that stores black toner are detachably mounted on a toner container mounting portion (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 11. When the toner is used up, the toner containers 17M, 17C, 17Y, and 17Bk can be replaced as necessary by opening and closing a container cover (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 11.

  A toner supply port is formed in the bottom surface of each toner container 17M, 17C, 17Y, 17Bk, and the toner supply port is connected to each of the toner containers 17 through a pipe (not shown) installed in the apparatus main body 11 in a substantially vertical posture. It is connected to the inside of the developing units 122M, 122C, 122Y, 122Bk. The toner supply port is closed by a sliding shutter mechanism (not shown in FIG. 1).

  The shutter mechanism is configured such that when pressed, the shutter plate slides to switch between the opening and closing of the toner supply port. When the shutter mechanism is pressed and the toner supply opening is opened, the toner of each color stored in each toner container 17M, 17C, 17Y, 17Bk falls to each developing unit 122M, 122C, 122Y, 122Bk by gravity. Each color toner is replenished.

  In each of the toner containers 17M, 17C, 17Y, and 17Bk, an unillustrated conveying screw that conveys the toner to the toner supply port may be rotatably provided. The conveying screw is rotationally driven by a toner supply motor and a gear mechanism (not shown) in accordance with the opening of the toner supply port.

  Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10. The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM, a ROM, a dedicated hardware circuit, and the like, and controls overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The document reading unit 5 includes the reading mechanism 163 having a light irradiation unit, a CCD sensor, and the like under the control of the control unit 10. The document reading unit 5 reads an image from the document by irradiating the document with the light irradiating unit and receiving the reflected light with a CCD sensor.

  The image processing unit 31 performs image processing on the image data of the image read by the document reading unit 5 as necessary. For example, the image processing unit 31 performs predetermined image processing such as shading correction in order to improve the quality after the image read by the document reading unit 5 is formed by the image forming unit 12.

  The image memory 32 is an area for temporarily storing document image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 and temporarily storing data to be printed by the image forming unit 12.

  The image forming unit 12 forms an image such as print data read by the document reading unit 5 and print data received from the computer 200 connected to the network.

  The operation unit 47 receives instructions from the operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473.

  The display unit 473 displays various displays such as an operation screen, a preview screen, and a print job status confirmation screen when the image forming apparatus 1 is in the normal operation mode. On the other hand, the display unit 473 is turned off when the image forming apparatus 1 is in the sleep mode.

  The facsimile communication unit 71 includes an unillustrated encoding / decoding unit, modulation / demodulation unit, and NCU (Network Control Unit), and performs facsimile transmission using a public telephone network.

  The network interface unit 91 includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and transmits / receives various data to / from the computer 200 in the local area via a LAN connected to the network interface unit 91.

  The HDD (hard disk drive) 92 is a large-capacity storage device that stores document images and the like read by the document reading unit 5.

  The stepping motor 60 is a drive source that rotationally drives the shaft 61 when toner is supplied from the toner containers 17M, 17C, 17Y, and 17Bk.

  The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100 and a motor control unit 101.

  The control unit 100 is connected to the document reading unit 5, the document feeding unit 6, the image processing unit 31, the image memory 32, the image forming unit 12, the operation unit 47, the facsimile communication unit 71, the network interface unit 91, the HDD 92, and the like. Then, drive control of these parts is performed.

  The motor control unit 101 controls the rotation operation of the stepping motor 60. The motor control unit 101 controls the rotation direction and rotation angle of the stepping motor 60 by outputting a pulse signal to the stepping motor 60.

Next, a toner supply mechanism and a toner supply method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a view showing a configuration of a toner replenishing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. The toner supply mechanism 50, one of a stepping motor 60 four developing units 122M, 122C, 122Y, a mechanism for supplying toner individually 122Bk.

  The shaft 61 is rotationally driven by a stepping motor 60. The shaft 61 may be directly connected to the rotation shaft of the stepping motor 60 or may receive the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 60 through a gear (not shown).

  The shaft 61 extends in a direction in which the plurality of toner containers 17M, 17C, 17Y, and 17Bk are juxtaposed. Cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, and 62Bk are disposed on the shaft 61 at positions facing the shutter mechanisms 171 of the toner containers 17M, 17C, 17Y, and 17Bk in the axial direction. The cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, and 62Bk press the shutter mechanism 171 at a position facing the shaft 61 at a predetermined position in the direction around the axis. The cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, and 62Bk are disposed on the shaft 61 at different positions in the direction around the axis.

  As described above, each of the toner containers 17M, 17C, 17Y, and 17Bk includes the shutter mechanism 171. Cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, and 62Bk that contact the shutter mechanisms 171 of the toner containers 17M, 17C, 17Y, and 17Bk are disposed on the shaft 61.

  Each of the cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, and 62Bk is disposed at different positions in the axial direction of the shaft 61 and around the axis. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the position of each cam 62M, 62C, 62Y, 62Bk arranged around the axis of the shaft 61 when the shaft 61 is viewed from the axial direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, each of the cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, 62Bk is defined by setting each region (90 °) obtained by dividing one circumference (360 °) in the axial direction of the shaft 61 into four predetermined positions. Is disposed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a home position detection mechanism provided on the shaft. Further, the home position of the shaft 61 may be detected in order to know the rotational positions of the cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, 62Bk. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a disk 65 with a notch 651 formed is attached to the shaft 61, and a sensor 66 having a light emitter 661 and a light receiver (not shown in FIG. 5 because it is hidden by the disk 65) is used. The notch 651 of the disk 65 rotating with the shaft 61 is detected. Then, by making the position of the notch 651 and the home position of the shaft 61 coincide with each other in the direction around the axis of the shaft 61, the sensor 66 detects the notch 651, so that the shaft 61 is at the home position. Can be detected. The motor control unit 101 stores the positions of the cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, 62Bk in the direction around the axis when the shaft 61 is at the home position. Accordingly, the motor control unit 101 detects the positions of the cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, 62Bk provided on the shaft 61 in the direction around the axis based on the detection signal indicating the home position from the sensor 66.

  As described above, the cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, and 62Bk are disposed on the shaft 61, so that the motor control unit 101 faces only one of the cams to the shutter mechanism 171 of the corresponding toner container. It is possible to control the shaft 61 to rotate by driving the stepping motor 60 to the position where it is pressed. For this reason, the motor control unit 101 controls the rotation operation of the stepping motor 60 so that the shutter mechanism in the axial direction reaches the position facing the shutter mechanism 171 of the toner container that supplies toner in the direction around the axis. It is possible to control to move a cam arranged at a position facing 171. As a result, the shutter mechanism 171 is pressed and released by the cam at the opposite position, and toner is supplied from a toner container provided with the shutter mechanism 171.

  The toner supply mechanism 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a toner container 17M, 17C, 17Y, 17Bk, a shaft 61 having cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, 62Bk, a stepping motor 30, and a motor control unit 101. And comprising.

  6A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the toner container 17 and the shutter mechanism 171 according to the first embodiment close the opening of the toner container 17, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the toner container 17 and the shutter according to the first embodiment. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where a mechanism 171 opens an opening of a toner container 17. FIG.

  In the first embodiment of the shutter mechanism 171, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, an opening 175 made of a square hole is formed in the toner container 17. The shutter mechanism 171 is a long flat plate-like member and is a side surface portion 1766 of the toner container 17 at a position facing the opening portion 175 (cam 62M, 62C, 62Y, 62Bk). It is slidably mounted in a state of being biased by a push spring or the like in the direction of heading. FIG. 6A shows a state where the shutter mechanism 171 closes the opening 175 due to the biasing.

  From this state, when the end of the shutter mechanism 171 facing the cam, for example, the right end in FIG. 6, is pressed in the direction opposite to the biasing direction by the cam, as shown in FIG. 6B. The shutter mechanism 171 slides in the pressed direction to open the opening 175. As a result, the toner is discharged from the toner container.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the toner container 17 and the shutter mechanism 171 according to the second embodiment close the opening of the toner container 17, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the toner container 17 and the shutter according to the second embodiment. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where a mechanism 171 opens an opening of a toner container 17. FIG. In the second embodiment, configurations not particularly described are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  As a second embodiment of the shutter mechanism 171, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a plurality of slits 171A are formed in the shutter mechanism 171 at positions facing the side surface portion 176 of the toner container 17. ing. In addition, slits having the same shape are formed on the side surface portion 176 of the toner container 17 at positions facing the plurality of slits 171A. The slit 171A allows the inside and outside of the toner container 17 to be inserted.

When the end of the shutter mechanism 171 facing the cam, for example, the right end in FIG. 7, is pressed in the direction opposite to the biasing direction by the cam from the state of FIG. ), The shutter mechanism 171 slides in the pressed direction and opens the slit 171A . As a result, the toner is discharged from the toner container.

  8A, 8B, and 8C are diagrams illustrating the movement of the shutter mechanism 171 and the cam 62 during toner replenishment. The shutter mechanism 171 is any one of the toner containers 17M, 17C, 17Y, and 17Bk, and the cam 62 is a cam corresponding to the shutter mechanism 171 among the cams 62M, 62C, 62Y, and 62Bk.

  In this embodiment, the shutter mechanism 171 has a rib for scraping the toner inside the toner container toward the inside of the toner container. When the opening / closing operation of the shutter mechanism 171 is continuously repeated, the toner stored in the inside is projected. The toner is stirred and discharged from the toner container to the outside. For this reason, even if the shutter mechanism 171 opens the toner container, the amount of toner discharged from the toner container to the outside is extremely small unless the opening / closing operation is repeated continuously as described above.

  For example, when the motor control unit 101 drives the stepping motor 60 to rotate the shaft 61 to bring the cam 62Bk into contact with the shutter mechanism 171 of the toner container 17Bk to replenish black toner, the cam 62Bk is in contact with the toner container 17Bk. The other cam (for example, cam 62C) comes into contact with the shutter mechanism 171 of the corresponding color toner container (for example, toner container 17C) until it moves to a position opposite to the shutter mechanism 171 of the toner container. The toner discharge opening may be opened. However, even if the shutter mechanism 171 of the toner container of another color is opened during the rotation of the shaft 61, the toner of the other color is hardly replenished because it is just opened for a moment, and there is no particular problem.

  FIG. 8B shows a state where the cam 62 presses the shutter mechanism 171. In the state shown in FIG. 8B, the shutter mechanism 171 is pressed in the direction of the arrow in the figure (leftward in FIG. 8) by the cam 62 to open the toner discharge opening formed in the toner container. ing.

  On the other hand, FIG. 8A shows a state when the shaft 61 is rotated by a certain amount clockwise in FIG. 8B from the state of FIG. 8B. In the state of FIG. 8A, when the cam 62 moves in the direction around the axis by the rotation of the shaft 61 to a position where the shutter mechanism 171 is not pressed, the shutter mechanism 171 is moved in the direction shown in FIG. And the toner discharge opening formed in the toner container is closed and stopped.

  Similarly, FIG. 8C shows a state where the shaft 61 is slightly rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 8B from the state of FIG. 8B. In the state of FIG. 8C, when the cam 62 moves in the direction around the axis by the rotation of the shaft 61 to a position where the shutter mechanism 171 is not pressed, the shutter mechanism 171 is moved in the direction shown in FIG. And the toner discharge opening formed in the toner container is closed and stopped.

  The motor control unit 101 drives the stepping motor 60 to rotate the shaft 61 in the direction around the axis, so that the cam 62 is repeatedly placed in the state shown in FIGS. The above opening / closing operation can be continuously repeated to discharge the toner from the toner container.

  Next, toner supply in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of toner supply processing in the image forming apparatus 1.

  First, the control unit 100 determines whether or not toner supply for each color is necessary (S1). If it is determined that toner replenishment is necessary (YES in S1), the motor control unit 101 receives a notification of which color toner replenishment is required from the control unit 100, and rotationally drives the stepping motor 60. The cam corresponding to the color is opposed to the shutter mechanism 171 of the target toner container and is brought into contact with and pressed (S2).

  When the stepping motor 60 is rotationally driven until the cam comes into contact with the shutter mechanism 171 of the target toner container, the motor control unit 101 reverses the stepping motor 60 forward and backward within a predetermined rotation angle range (for example, ± 45 °). (S3) The cam is moved to each position shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C. Accordingly, the opening 175 of the toner container 17 is continuously opened and closed by the shutter mechanism 171 of the target toner container, and the target color toner is supplied to the developing unit.

  The motor control unit 101 determines whether a necessary amount of toner has been supplied (S4). The longer the opening time of the shutter mechanism 171 is, the more toner is replenished from the toner container. Therefore, the motor control unit 101 sets the toner replenishing amount to the time when the shutter mechanism 171 of the target toner container is opened. Calculate based on

  When the motor control unit 101 determines that the toner replenishment has not reached the necessary amount (NO in S4), the process returns to step S3, and the motor control unit 101 continues the forward / reverse inversion control of the stepping motor 60. On the other hand, when the motor control unit 101 determines that the toner replenishment has reached the necessary amount (YES in S4), the motor control unit 101 rotates the stepping motor 60 to remove the cam from the shutter mechanism 171. As a result, the shutter mechanism 171 of the target toner container is closed and the toner supply is completed.

  The motor control unit 101 may change the rotation speed of the stepping motor 60 according to the amount of toner to be replenished. In step S <b> 3, the motor control unit 101 increases the rotational speed of the stepping motor 60, whereby the toner can be further stirred in the target toner container and the toner supply amount can be increased.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, toner can be supplied to each color developing unit with one motor (stepping motor 60) without using a clutch mechanism. As a result, the toner replenishing mechanism 50 can be reduced in size and cost. In addition, when a motor is individually provided for replenishing toner of each color as in the prior art, it is necessary to provide a large-capacity power source capable of simultaneously driving four motors in preparation for simultaneous replenishment of four colors. In this embodiment, the toner of four colors is not replenished at the same time, and therefore the power supply capacity for the motor may be small.

  Next, further embodiments of the toner container 17 and the shutter mechanism 171 will be described. 10A is a view showing a state in which the toner container 17 and the shutter mechanism 171 according to the further embodiment close the opening of the toner container 17, and FIG. 10B is a toner container 17 according to the further embodiment. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the shutter mechanism 171 opens the opening of the toner container 17.

  The toner container 17 is provided with a rotating member 170 that moves toner toward the opening 175 in order to promote toner discharge. For example, the rotating member 170 includes a rotating shaft 1701 and a rotating shaft 1701. And a blade portion 1702 provided around the axis of the developing device 122, and is rotationally driven by a developing motor built in the developing device 122. Note that the configuration of the shutter mechanism 171 may be the same as in the first or second embodiment.

  In the case of the third embodiment, in the toner replenishment process (FIG. 9) in the image forming apparatus 1 described above, the motor control unit 101 drives and controls the stepping motor 60 to supply the toner, and the shutter mechanism 171 of the toner container 17. When the corresponding cam 62 is moved to the position for pressing (S2) and the opening 175 is opened as shown in FIG. 10B, in the next processing of S3, Without performing the control, the developing motor is driven to rotate the rotating shaft 1701 of the rotating member 170. Accordingly, when the opening 175 is opened by the shutter mechanism 171, the toner is moved toward the opening 175 by the rotating member 170, and toner discharge from the opening 175 is promoted. The motor control unit 101 moves the corresponding cam 62 to a position where the shutter mechanism 171 of the toner container 17 is not pressed, and closes the opening 175 (FIG. 10A). Do not drive. Note that the motor control unit 101 may rotate the rotating shaft 1701 of the rotating member 170 by driving the developing motor after performing the control for forward / reverse inversion in the process of S3.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the number of cams can be reduced to one by adopting a configuration in which the shaft 61 is movable in the axial direction and moved to a position facing the shutter mechanism 171 of the toner container 17 that supplies toner.

  Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, a multifunction device is used as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. However, this is only an example, and other electronic devices such as a printer and a copier are used. Other image forming apparatuses such as a facsimile machine may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure and process which were shown by the said embodiment using FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 10 are only one Embodiment of this invention, and are not the meaning which limits this invention to the said structure and process.

1 Image forming apparatus 101 Motor control unit 125 Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier)
122C developing unit 122Y developing unit 122M developing unit 122Bk developing unit 17 toner container 17C toner container 17Y toner container 17M toner container 17Bk toner container 170 rotating member 1701 rotating shaft 1702 blade section 171 shutter mechanism 171A slit 175 opening section 176 side section 50 toner supply Mechanism 60 Stepping motor 61 Shaft 62C Cam 62Y Cam 62M Cam 62Bk Cam 65 Disk 651 Notch 66 Sensor 661 Light emitter