JP5267844B2 - Toner supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attach or detach a supply toner container without contaminating the supply toner container and a toner supply device even when toner exists near the opening of the toner supply device. <P>SOLUTION: The toner supply device is equipped in an image forming apparatus and includes: a toner bottle 32BK detachable from the image forming apparatus body and storing toner; a toner tank 69BK temporarily storing toner supplied from the toner bottle 32BK; and a toner conveying member 60Bk for conveying toner stored in the toner tank 69BK to a developing device. In the toner supply device, a movable wall 80BK and a movable wall cover 81BK are provided for the toner tank 69BK, thereby varying the capacity of the toner tank 69BK so that the toner uppermost surface lowers when the toner bottle 32Bk is replaced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a replenishing toner container that is mounted on an image forming apparatus and is detachable from the apparatus main body, and a toner replenished from the replenishing toner container. The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device including a toner tank section that temporarily stores toner and a toner transport member that transports toner stored in the toner tank section to a developing device, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a toner replenishing device, a developer carrying member such as a developing sleeve, and a developer containing unit that contains toner, and a developer containing unit on a developer carrying member or a developer carried on the developer carrying member. A process cartridge configured to include a developing device for supplying the toner and a toner container are individually detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the toner is transferred from the toner container to the developer container. 2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus main body provided with a toner transport device that transports using its own weight is known. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

Also, a developer storage section (toner hopper) for storing the developer and a developer replenishment opening for replenishing the developer in the developer storage section, and replenishing the developer replenishment opening A developer replenishing container (toner bottle) containing a developer for use is mounted with its mouth corresponding to the developer replenishing mechanism for replenishing the developer from the container to the developer storage unit. To ensure that the remaining toner state can be confirmed reliably, the toner supply is surely completed until the end, and an operation error that causes a transition to the supply end operation in the middle of the toner supply and a toner scattering problem due to this are caused. Inventions that eliminate this are known. (For example, see Patent Document 2)
JP 2004-139031 A JP 11-249404 A

  However, in the conventional toner replenishing device described above, when the toner container such as a toner bottle is attached to or detached from the main body of the device, if the toner tank is full of toner, the top surface of the toner is the replenishing toner. The toner container for replenishment may be soiled by touching the container.

  Even when the toner container for replenishment is not soiled, the top surface of the toner reaches the vicinity of the opening of the toner replenishing device, so that the toner repels and the toner replenishing device may be soiled. At the end of the toner, which normally requires toner replenishment, the top surface of the toner has been lowered to the location of the end sensor in the toner tank. is there. Therefore, the toner container for replenishment may be attached / detached even at the near end, and the toner container for replenishment may be attached / detached even when a problem occurs. That is, the attachment / detachment of the replenishment toner container is not necessarily limited to the time of toner end.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even when toner is in the vicinity of the opening of the toner replenishing device, the replenishing toner container and the toner replenishing device can be attached and detached without contaminating the toner replenishing device. An object is to provide a toner replenishing device and an image forming apparatus.

The invention of claim 1
A replenishing toner container that is mounted on the image forming apparatus and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, a toner tank unit that temporarily stores toner replenished from the replenishing toner container, and the toner tank A toner replenishing device comprising: a toner conveying member that conveys the toner accumulated in the section to the developing device;
A toner capable of changing the capacity of the toner tank portion by providing a movable wall portion in a part of the wall of the toner tank portion so that the movable wall portion can be opened and closed, and a lid for sealing the toner tank portion when the movable wall portion is opened. A replenishing device,
Means for opening and closing the movable wall portion,
Means for biasing the movable wall portion to open;
A convex portion provided in the toner container for replenishment;
It consists of a lever that is rotatably supported so that one end side hits the convex portion and the other end side hits the movable wall portion,
The replenishment toner container is rotated while attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the position of the convex portion is changed, the state where the one end side of the lever contacts the convex portion, and the lever is rotated. The state in which the other end side of the lever contacts the movable wall portion is changed, the movable wall portion is opened by the urging force of the urging means, or the movable wall portion is closed against the urging force of the urging means. To get,
A toner replenishing device.

A second aspect of the present invention, the rotation of the replenishment toner container is characterized by a shall carry out the operation of the handle for locking and unlocking operation of the replenishment toner container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising the toner supply device according to the first or second aspect.

A fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, an image forming apparatus characterized by capable of color printing with a plurality of toner replenishing device.

  According to the toner replenishing device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, since the capacity of the toner tank portion is variable, the capacity of the toner tank portion is increased and the top surface of the toner is lowered when the toner container for replenishment is attached or detached. Therefore, the toner container can be replaced without contaminating the replenishing toner container and the toner replenishing device.

  Embodiments as the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. This image forming apparatus is a color printer that employs a tandem method and can form a full color image.

  The image forming apparatus has a configuration in which a paper feeding unit 2 in which a sheet P as a recording medium is stored is disposed at a lower part of the apparatus main body 1 and an image forming unit 3 is disposed above the paper feeding unit 2. Yes. The image forming unit 3 includes four image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8M corresponding to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) as a plurality of image forming means including an image carrier. As an intermediate transfer member constituted by an image forming unit 8 having 8C and 8BK, a plurality of rollers 4, 5, 6 and a flexible endless belt wound around these rollers 4, 5, 6. An intermediate transfer unit 7 having an intermediate transfer belt 7a, an optical writing unit 15 as an optical writing unit that performs optical writing on each image carrier, and a fixing device 19 that fixes a toner image on a paper P are provided.

  The image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8BK and the intermediate transfer unit 7 are configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 1. Further, a conveyance path R for conveying the paper P on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 3 is formed between the paper feeding unit 2 and the fixing device 19. The roller 6 constitutes a secondary transfer device which will be described later, and is disposed facing the conveyance path R indicated by a one-dot chain line. An end portion R1 of the transport path R is opened to face a paper discharge tray 22 as a stacking portion constituting the paper discharge portion 20 formed on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1. The image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK are also called process cartridge units (PCU).

  The space between the roller 4 and the roller 5 of the intermediate transfer belt 7a corresponds to the lower side belt running side of the intermediate transfer belt 7a. In the intermediate transfer belt 7 a, a secondary transfer roller 16 serving as a secondary transfer device is disposed at a portion facing the roller 6 so as to face the conveyance path R, and a belt for cleaning the belt surface at a portion facing the roller 4. A cleaning device 17 is provided.

  The image forming unit 8 is disposed below the intermediate transfer belt 7a by being disposed so as to face the lower belt running side of the intermediate transfer belt 7a. In the present embodiment, the image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK have basically the same configuration. In FIG. 1, only the configuration of the image forming unit 8BK is represented by the reference numerals of the constituent elements. Yes.

  Each of the image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK includes a photosensitive drum 10 as an image carrier that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 7a. Around each photosensitive drum 10, a charging device 11, a developing device 12 as a developing means, and a cleaning device 13 are arranged. Transfer rollers 14 as transfer means for performing primary transfer are provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 7a at positions where the respective photosensitive drums 10 are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 7a.

  The image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK are different from each other only in the color of the toner as the developer stored in each developing device 12, and the other configurations are basically the same. The developing devices 12 of the image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK contain yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively.

  Each developing device 12 is configured to supply replenishment toner from toner bottles 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32BK mounted and set on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1 when the toner is reduced.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the developing device. In FIG. 2, the reference numeral “Y” representing yellow is added to the end of the reference numeral of the developing device 12, and the detailed configuration of the developing device of the image forming unit will be described as a representative. Similarly, the developing device 12M shown in parentheses in the drawing is arranged in correspondence with the image forming unit 8M, the developing device 12C in correspondence with the image forming unit 8C, and the developing device 12BK in correspondence with the image forming unit 8BK, respectively. Represents things.

The developing device 12Y includes a magnetic field generating means inside, and carries a two-component developer (hereinafter simply referred to as “developer”) containing carrier and toner as magnetic particles on the surface, and the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 10Y. Developing sleeve 25Y as a developer carrying means / developer carrying body that conveys to a developing area facing the surface, and a doctor as a developer regulating member that regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried and carried on the developing sleeve 25Y 26Y, a developer storage portion 27Y that is formed upstream of the doctor 26Y in the developer transport direction and that is not transported to the development region and that is regulated by the doctor 26Y, and is adjacent to the developer storage portion 27Y. A toner storage unit 28Y that stores the formed toner and a toner transport screw 29Y for stirring and transporting the toner are provided.

  The optical writing unit 15 irradiates the surface of each photosensitive drum 10Y with the light-modulated laser light L to form a latent image for each color on the surface of the photosensitive drum. In this embodiment, the optical writing unit 15 forms an image. It is arranged below the part 8.

  Next, the operation of the printer will be described. In the printer shown in FIG. 1, when the image forming operation is started, the photosensitive drums 10 of the respective image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK are rotationally driven in a clockwise direction by a driving device (not shown). The surface of 10 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging device 11. Laser light L is irradiated from the optical writing unit 15 to the outer peripheral surface of each charged photosensitive drum 10, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on each surface. At this time, the image information to be exposed on each photosensitive drum 10 is single-color image information obtained by separating a desired full-color image into color information of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The electrostatic latent image formed in this manner is visualized as a toner image by the toner of each developing device 12 when passing between each photosensitive drum 10 and the developing device 12.

  The detailed operation of the developing device 12Y will be described with reference to FIG. In the developing device 12Y, a developer layer is formed on the developing sleeve 25Y. Further, the toner is taken into the developer from the developer accommodating portion 27Y by the movement of the developer layer conveyed by the rotation of the developing sleeve 25Y.

  The toner is taken in so that the developer is within a predetermined toner density range. The toner taken into the developer is charged by frictional charging with the carrier. The developer containing charged toner is supplied to the surface of the developing sleeve 25Y having a magnetic pole inside and is carried by the magnetic force. The developer layer carried on the developing sleeve 25Y is transported in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 along with the rotation of the developing sleeve 25Y, and the developer layer thickness is regulated by the doctor 26Y. It is transported to the opposite development area.

  In the development area, development based on the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 10Y is performed. The developer layer remaining on the developing sleeve 25Y is transported to the upstream portion in the developer transport direction of the developer accommodating portion 27Y as the developing sleeve 25Y rotates.

  Here, 30Y is a density detection sensor for detecting the toner density of the developer. When the density detection sensor 30Y detects that the toner density is insufficient in the toner storage unit 28Y, a drive motor 55Y is generated by a replenishment signal from the control unit 54Y. , And the toner bottle 32Y rotates to replenish the toner.

  One of the plurality of rollers 4, 5 and 6 around which the intermediate transfer belt 7a is wound is driven to rotate counterclockwise by a driving device (not shown), whereby the intermediate transfer belt 7a is indicated by an arrow. The other rollers are driven to rotate by being driven in the counterclockwise direction shown. The yellow toner image formed by the image forming unit 8Y including the developing device 12Y having yellow toner as shown in FIG. A magenta toner image, a cyan toner image, and a black toner image formed by the image forming units 8M, 8C, and 8BK are sequentially transferred onto the transferred yellow toner image by the transfer roller 14, and thus the intermediate transfer belt 7a is A full-color toner image is carried on the surface.

  Residual toner adhering to the surface of each photosensitive drum 10 after the toner image is transferred is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 by each cleaning device 13, and then the surface is neutralized by a neutralizing device (not shown). The surface potential is initialized to prepare for the next image formation.

  On the other hand, the sheet P fed from the sheet feeding unit 2 is sent to the conveyance path R, and a pair of registration rollers disposed on the upstream side (the sheet feeding unit 2 side) of the conveyance path R with respect to the secondary transfer roller 16. The sheet feeding timing is taken by 18, and the roller 6 and the secondary transfer roller 16 are fed to the facing transfer portion. At this time, a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity of the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 7 a is applied to the secondary transfer roller 16, whereby the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 7 a is collectively put on the paper P. Is transcribed. The sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 19, and when passing through the fixing device 19, heat and pressure are applied to melt and fix the toner image. The sheet P on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed to the discharge unit 21 disposed at the end R1 of the conveyance path R and is discharged to the discharge tray 22. After the toner image is transferred to the paper P, the toner remaining on the belt is removed from the belt cleaning device 17 by the intermediate transfer belt 7a.

  The tandem printer configured as described above is provided with four image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK facing the intermediate transfer belt 7a, and sequentially transfers the toner images of the respective colors onto the intermediate transfer belt 7a. Therefore, for example, the image forming time is greatly shortened compared to the type in which a single image forming means has a four-color developing device, and a toner image is superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7a and then transferred to a sheet. can do. In addition, since the paper discharge tray 22 as a stacking unit is disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 1, the paper discharge tray 22 does not jump out from the apparatus main body 1, and the installation area and the occupied area are reduced. Have.

  The above description is an image forming operation when a full-color image is formed on the paper P. A single-color image can be formed using any one of the image forming units of the image forming unit 8, or two colors or A three-color image can also be formed.

  When monochrome printing is performed using the printer of this embodiment, an electrostatic latent image is formed only on the photosensitive drum 10 of the image forming unit 8BK, developed by the unit, transferred to the paper P, Fixing may be performed by the fixing device 19.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the toner replenishing device, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the toner conveying device. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the toner transport device 50BK includes a toner transport pipe 63 that forms a toner transport path 64, a toner transport member 60 that moves the toner to the downstream side in the transport direction by its rotational movement, and a toner transport. A drive motor 55 is provided as drive means for driving the member 60 and the toner bottle 32BK.

  The toner conveyance tube 63 is formed of a resin mold. The gap (maximum and minimum dimensions) between the inner peripheral wall of the toner transport pipe 63 and the outer periphery of the toner transport member 60 is set to about 0.1 to 0.2 mm in the embodiment.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the toner transport path 64 is provided with a toner end detection means 68 and a toner tank 69 in the middle thereof.

  Next, an embodiment of the toner replenishing device will be described. Hereinafter, the toner tank portion for black (with BK as a subscript) will be described, but the other Y, M, and C toner tank portions have the same structure. 5A and 5B show the toner replenishing device according to the first embodiment, in which FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable wall portion is closed, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable wall portion is opened. is there.

  In this example, the capacity of the toner tank portion 69BK is variable. A movable wall portion 80BK is provided in a part of the toner tank portion 69BK, and the capacity of the toner tank portion 69BK is made variable by opening the movable wall portion 80BK. At that time, a movable wall portion cover 81BK is provided above the movable wall portion 80BK and completely sealed to prevent toner leakage. The movable wall cover 81BK has a bellows shape and does not protrude into the toner tank 69BK even when it is closed. The material may be anything such as a mold, metal, or paper.

  Moreover, the force which the movable wall part 80BK opens may utilize the bellows shape of movable wall part cover 81BK, and may utilize urging members, such as a spring separately. It can be confirmed that the space of the toner tank portion 69BK is increased by opening the movable wall portion 80BK, and the uppermost surface of the toner inside is lowered.

  Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the uppermost surface of the toner from getting dirty by touching the toner bottle 32BK, and it is also possible to prevent the toner from getting dirty near the opening of the toner supply device.

  6A and 6B show a toner replenishing device according to the second embodiment, wherein FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a state in which the movable wall portion is closed, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a state in which the movable wall portion is opened. is there. In this example, in order to move the movable wall portion 80BK, a front cover convex portion 100BK is provided on a front cover (not shown) that opens and closes when the toner bottle 32BK is attached and detached, and the movable wall portion 80BK is formed by the front cover convex portion 100BK. I try to move it.

  7A and 7B show a toner replenishing device according to the third embodiment, in which FIG. 7A is a sectional view showing a state in which the movable wall portion is closed, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view showing a state in which the movable wall portion is opened. is there. In this example, since the capacity of the toner tank portion 69BK is variable, the movable wall portion 80BK is moved in conjunction with the toner bottle handle 33BK that is rotated when the toner bottle 32BK is mounted and set at the regular position. .

  That is, the toner bottle convex portion 34BK that moves together with the toner bottle handle 33BK operates the lever A82BK, and the movable wall portion 80BK moves. The spring 83BK pulls the lever A82BK, and the stopper 84BK regulates the position of the lever A82BK.

8A and 8B show a toner replenishing device according to the fourth embodiment, in which FIG. 8A is a sectional view showing a state in which the movable wall portion is directly closed, and FIG. 8B is a sectional view showing a state in which the movable wall portion is opened. It is. In this example, a solenoid 90BK is used to drive the movable wall 80BK. The capacity of the toner tank unit 69BK is linked to ON / OFF of the power source, ON / OFF of the operation of the apparatus main body, and ON / OFF of the operation of the image forming unit.
The solenoid 90BK is a Pull type solenoid, and moves the movable wall portion 80BK via a spring 83BK, an arm 91BK, a lever B85BK, and a lever C86BK.
9A and 9B show a toner replenishing device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 9A is a sectional view showing a state in which the movable wall portion is directly closed, and FIG. 9B is a sectional view showing a state in which the movable wall portion is opened. It is. In this example, the solenoid 90BK is a Push type solenoid, and the arm 91BK directly drives the movable wall portion 80BK.

10A and 10B show a toner replenishing device according to the sixth embodiment, in which FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable wall portion is closed, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable wall portion is opened. is there.
In this example, the clutch 95BK and the eccentric cam 96BK are used to move the movable wall portion 80BK when the capacity of the toner tank portion 69BK is variable.

  As described above, the toner tank has a toner bottle that is detachable from the apparatus main body, stores the toner replenished from the toner bottle once, and the toner transport that transports the toner stored in the toner tank to the developing device. In the toner replenishing device provided in the apparatus main body, since the capacity of the toner tank portion is variable, the uppermost surface of the toner in the toner tank portion is lowered, so that the toner bottle and the toner replenishing device can be attached when the toner bottle is attached or detached. The toner bottle can be replaced without soiling.

  Further, a simple mechanism can be achieved by interlocking the change in the capacity of the toner tank with the opening and closing of the front cover.

  Further, a simple mechanism can be realized by interlocking the change in the capacity of the toner tank with the locking and unlocking of the toner bottle.

  Furthermore, in order to vary the capacity of the toner tank using solenoids and clutches that are electric drive parts, the power supply is turned ON / OFF, the operation of the main body of the apparatus is turned ON / OFF, and the operation of the image forming part is turned ON / OFF. By interlocking, it can be operated accurately and reliably.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a developing device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner supply device. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a toner conveying device. 1A and 1B show a toner replenishing device according to a first embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a movable wall portion is closed, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable wall portion is opened. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a toner replenishing device according to a second embodiment, in which FIG. 7A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a movable wall portion is closed, and FIG. 9B is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the movable wall portion is opened. FIG. 7 illustrates a toner replenishing device according to a third embodiment, where (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a movable wall portion is closed, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable wall portion is opened. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a toner replenishing device according to a fourth embodiment, in which FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a movable wall portion is directly closed, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable wall portion is opened. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a toner replenishing device according to a fifth embodiment, in which FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a movable wall portion is directly closed, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable wall portion is opened. FIG. 7 shows a toner replenishing device according to a sixth embodiment, wherein (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a movable wall portion is closed, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable wall portion is opened.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Paper supply part 3 Image formation part 4, 5, 6 Roller 7 Intermediate transfer unit 7a Intermediate transfer belt 8 Image formation part 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8BK Image formation unit 10 Photosensitive drum 10Y Photosensitive drum 11 Charging device 12 Developing device 12BK Developing device 12C Developing device 12M Developing device 12Y Developing device 13 Cleaning device 14 Transfer roller 15 Unit 16 Secondary transfer roller 17 Belt cleaning device 18 Registration roller pair 19 Fixing device 20 Paper discharge unit 21 Paper discharge unit 22 Paper discharge tray 25Y Developing sleeve 26Y Doctor 27Y Developer container 28Y Toner container 29Y Toner transport screw 30Y Density detection sensor 32BK Toner bottle 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32BK Toner bottle 33BK Toner bottle handle 34BK Toner bottle convex section 50BK Toner transport Device 54Y Control section 55 Drive motor 55Y Drive motor 60 Toner transport member 63 Toner transport pipe 64 Toner transport path 68 Toner end detection means 69 Toner tank section 69BK Toner tank section 80BK Movable wall section 81BK Movable wall section lid 83BK Spring 84BK Stopper 90BK Solenoid 91BK Arm 95BK Clutch 96BK Eccentric cam A82BK Lever B85BK Lever C86BK Lever BK Front cover convex part 100
L Laser beam P Paper R Transport path R1 Edge

Claims (4)

A replenishing toner container that is mounted on the image forming apparatus and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, a toner tank unit that temporarily stores toner replenished from the replenishing toner container, and the toner tank A toner replenishing device comprising: a toner conveying member that conveys the toner accumulated in the section to the developing device;
A toner capable of changing the capacity of the toner tank portion by providing a movable wall portion in a part of the wall of the toner tank portion so that the movable wall portion can be opened and closed, and a lid for sealing the toner tank portion when the movable wall portion is opened. A replenishing device,
Means for opening and closing the movable wall portion,
Means for biasing the movable wall portion to open;
A convex portion provided in the toner container for replenishment;
It consists of a lever that is rotatably supported so that one end side hits the convex portion and the other end side hits the movable wall portion,
The replenishment toner container is rotated while attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the position of the convex portion is changed, the state where the one end side of the lever contacts the convex portion, and the lever is rotated. The state in which the other end side of the lever contacts the movable wall portion is changed, the movable wall portion is opened by the urging force of the urging means, or the movable wall portion is closed against the urging force of the urging means. To get,
A toner replenishing device. The rotation of the replenishment toner container, the toner replenishing device of claim 1, wherein it is shall carry out the operation of the handle for locking and unlocking operation of the replenishment toner container. An image forming apparatus comprising the toner replenishing device according to claim 1 . An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of toner replenishing devices according to claim 1 and capable of color printing .