JPH08110692A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the deterioration of an image quality due to the developer coarsening and the developer leakage derived from the wear deterioration of a sealing member by making a shutter member possible of opening and closing without rubbing against the feeding path. CONSTITUTION: The shutter 311 is freely swingingly supported with respect to the developer container by the shaft 312. The shutter 311 is opened and closed by the turning action, however the arm part of the shutter is sufficiently long, the open-and- close action between the shutter seal and the feeding port 31 becomes the movement in the approximately gravitational up-and-down direction. Then, although the moving direction of the feeding device and the feeding direction of the toner namely, the gravitational direction cross each other, as the shutter 311 is moved in the gravitational up-and-down direction, the rubbing between the shatter seal and the feeding port 31 is not caused, and moreover the pressure of the shutter 311 with respect to the feeding port 31 can be made stronger than that at the time of moving the shutter 311 in the moving direction of the feeding device. Moreover, at the time of developing namely, when the developing unit 40 is brought into contact with the photoreceptor drum front side plate 111, the developing unit 40 is moved in the direction of B.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to various electrophotographic or electrostatic recording type image forming apparatuses such as a color electrophotographic copying machine, a printer of a computer and an output section of a facsimile, and in particular, a latent image. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a toner supply device for supplying toner to a developing device that visualizes toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus for forming an image by developing an electrostatic image, a shutter is provided in a developer supply path as shown in FIG. 11 for developing the electrostatic image on an image carrier. A developing device having a member was used.

This developing device has a shutter member 508 in the developer supply path, and this shutter member 508 slides in the direction of the arrow to open and close the supply port D,
The toner t is supplied to the developer carrier 501.

Next, a color electrophotographic copying machine will be described as a typical example in which the developer supplying device can be pulled out from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body.

This conventional apparatus has four developing devices and uses a total of four colors, one for each color.

When developing each color, a required developing device of the four developing devices is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 to perform the developing operation. To each of the developing devices described above, the developer is supplied from four developer supplying devices that supply the developer of the corresponding color.

FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are top views of the developer supplying device which can be pulled out from the inside of the main body of the device.

Developer supply devices 621Bk, 621C, 6
21M and 621Y are fixed to the frame body 622. One of the left and right sides of the frame body 622 is fixed to the support plate 627 by a pivot 625 and a screw 626. The support plate 627 is supported by a part 629b of the main body front side plate 629 via a slide rail 628. In addition, the other side of the frame body 622 has the protrusion 6
It is supported by a guide member 629a fixed to the front plate 629 of the main body by 22a. The frame 622 is the slide rail 6
By extending and contracting 28, it is possible to move in the horizontal front-rear direction with respect to the front plate 629 of the main body.

As shown in FIG. 12, the developer supply device 621B is stored at a predetermined position during development.
When the developer is not supplied to the k, 621C, 621M, and 621Y, or when other devices such as maintenance and inspection are not supplied, the k, 621C, 621M, and 621Y can be moved to the withdrawal position as shown in FIG. 13 and further rotated as shown in FIG. It is possible.

As a result, the developer supply device can be taken out from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body, and the workability of supplying the developer to the developer supply device and the various devices arranged behind the developer supply device can be improved. It was possible to improve workability such as maintenance and inspection.

However, when the developer supplying device is not connected to the developing device such as when the developer supplying device is pulled out, the connection port of the toner supplying device, that is, the supply port for supplying the developer to the developing device ( Toner spillage from (not shown) occurs.

Therefore, the background art of the present invention is shown in FIG.
A device as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is possible. This shows the details of the connection between the developer supplying device for one color and the developing device.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the developer supply device is housed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The arrow indicates the direction in which the developer supply device is pulled out. The developer supply device has a developer accommodating container 30 and a conveying path 32 in which a screw 33 is installed as a conveying means at the lower end thereof. When supplying the developer to the developing device 40, the gear 34 is supplied from a drive source (not shown).
The screw 33 is rotated via the above-mentioned means and the developer in the developer accommodating container is delivered from the supply port 31. Developer supply port 31
It is supplied into the developing device from the receiving port 41 of the developing device connected to the developing device.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the developer supply device is pulled out from the main body of the image forming apparatus as compared with FIG.
FIG. 10 is a bottom view of FIG. 9. When the developer supply device is pulled out, the supply port 31 is provided with a shutter member 30 through a flexible seal member 305 in order to prevent the developer from dripping.
Blocked by 1. The shutter member 301 is rotatably supported by the developer supply device by a shaft 302, is constantly urged in the F direction by a screw coil spring 303, and is locked by a stopper 306 at a position where the supply port 31 is blocked. As the developer supply device moves in the storage direction (direction A), the development device 40 is supported, and the projection 42 of the support member substantially fixed to the image forming apparatus main body comes into contact with the shutter member 301. , The shutter member rotates against the urging force in the F direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the supply port 3 of the developer supply device is located at the storage position of the developer supply device.
1 comes to the upper part of the receiving port 41 of the developing device. At the same time, the opening 304 of the shutter member is aligned with the supply port 31,
The supply port is opened.

[0015]

However, in the example shown in FIG. 11, when the shutter member 508 slides, the members 509 and 514 that form the supply port D and the shutter member 5 are formed.
When the toner container C is filled with the toner t, the toner t is pressed and coarse particles are generated, and the lumpy toner particles are generated. If the lumps of the eclipse-shaped toner are conveyed to the developer carrying member, the development operation is adversely affected and the image is deteriorated.

The device described with reference to FIGS. 8-10 also has the following problem. First, when the shutter member rotates, the supply port 3
Since the member forming No. 1 and the seal member 305 rub against each other, the developer is coarsened to cause caustic stains as in the example of FIG. 11, and the image quality is deteriorated.

Secondly, as the frequency of use increases, the seal member 305 deteriorates due to wear, the sealing function deteriorates, and the developer leaks.

Further, when the developer supply device is housed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the supply port is opened, but the developing device in which the developing operation is not performed and the developer supply device are not connected. For this reason, the third problem is that the developer leaks from the gap between the supply port and the receiving port due to the impact of the shock when the developer supplying device is stored, etc. That is, the image forming apparatus becomes dirty.

[0019]

Means and Actions for Solving the Problems Means and actions for solving the above problems are as follows.

According to the first invention of the present application, a developer carrying member facing the image carrying member carrying an electrostatic image to form a developing portion,
A developer accommodating container for accommodating the developer, and a supply path for supplying the developer from the developer accommodating container to the developer carrier.
In the image forming apparatus having a shutter member provided in the supply passage and closing the supply passage, the shutter member has a characteristic of opening and closing without sliding with respect to the supply passage. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the image quality caused by the generation of the black spots and the leakage of the developer caused by the deterioration of the seal member due to wear.

According to the second invention of the present application, a developing device having an image bearing member and a receiving portion for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member and receiving the developer, and a developing device movable to the receiving portion. An image forming apparatus having a supply unit for supplying a developer to the receiving unit, wherein the developing device moves between a developing position and a non-developing position, and a closing member for closing the supply unit. When the developing unit is in the developing position, open the supply section,
Since the developer is characterized in that the supply unit is closed when the developer is located at the non-development position, it is possible to prevent developer leakage caused by the distance between the developer and the developer supply device during non-development.

Further, according to the third invention of the present application, a developing means having an image bearing member and a receiving portion for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member and receiving the developer, and a substantially horizontal position relative to the receiving portion. And a developer supply unit that supplies the developer to the receiving unit, the image forming apparatus including:
A feature of having a closing member that closes the developer supply unit when the developer receiving unit and the developer supply unit move relatively in the substantially horizontal direction and opens and closes the developer supply unit in conjunction with the relative movement in the substantially vertical direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner leakage caused by the intersecting direction of the toner falling direction and the moving direction of the blocking member.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an electrophotographic full-color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, a digital color image reader section is provided in the upper part and a digital color image printer section is provided in the lower part.

In the reader unit, the original 30 is placed on the original table glass 31 and exposed and scanned by the exposure lamp 32, so that the reflected light image from the original 30 is condensed by the lens 33 on the full-color sensor 34, and color images are obtained. Obtain a decomposed image signal. The color-separated image signal passes through an amplifier circuit (not shown), is processed by a video processing unit (not shown), and is sent to the printer section.

In the printer section, the photosensitive drum 1 as an image bearing member is rotatably supported in the direction of the arrow, and a pre-exposure lamp 11, a corona charger 2, a laser exposure optical system 3 and a potential sensor 12 are provided around the photosensitive drum 1. , Four developing devices 4y, 4c, 4m, 4Bk of different colors, on-drum light amount detection means 1
3, the transfer device 5 and the cleaning device 6 are arranged.

In the laser exposure optical system 3 , the image signal from the reader section is converted into an optical signal by a laser output section (not shown), and the converted laser light is reflected by the polygon mirror 3a, and the lens 3b and the mirror. It is projected onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 through 3c.

When forming an image on the printer section, the photosensitive drum 1
Is rotated in the direction of the arrow, and the photosensitive drum 1 after the charge is removed by the pre-exposure lamp 11 is uniformly charged by the charger 2, and the light image E is emitted for each separated color to form an electrostatic image.

Next, a predetermined developing device is operated to develop the latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by powder toner using resin as a base. The developing device selectively approaches the photosensitive drum 1 according to each separated color by the operation of the eccentric cams 24y, 24c, 24m, and 24Bk.

Further, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is
The recording material is transferred from the recording material cassette 7 to the recording material supplied to the position facing the photosensitive drum 1 via the transport system and the transfer device 5. In this example, the transfer device 5 includes a transfer drum 5a, a transfer charger 5b, an attraction charger 5c for electrostatically attracting a recording material, and an attraction roller 5g, an inner charger 5d, and an outer charger 5e. A recording material carrying sheet 5f made of a dielectric material is integrally stretched in a cylindrical shape in the peripheral opening area of the transfer drum 5a which is rotatably driven. The recording material carrying sheet 5f uses a dielectric sheet such as a polycarbonate film.

As the drum-shaped transfer device, that is, the transfer drum 5a rotates, the toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred by the transfer charger 5b onto the recording material carried on the recording material carrying sheet 5f.

In this way, a desired number of color images are transferred to the recording material that is adsorbed and conveyed to the recording material carrying sheet 5f to form a full-color image.

In the case of forming a full-color image, when the transfer of the four color toner images is completed in this manner, the recording material is separated from the transfer drum 5a by the action of the separation claw 8a, the separation push-up roller 8b and the separation charger 5h, and the heat is removed. The sheet is discharged onto the tray 10 via the roller fixing device 9 .

On the other hand, after the transfer, the photosensitive drum 1 is subjected to the image forming process again after the residual toner on the surface is cleaned by the cleaning device 6.

When images are to be formed on both sides of the recording material, the conveying path switching guide 19 is immediately discharged from the fixing device 9.
Is driven, and after being guided to the reversing path 21a through the transport vertical path 20, the reverse end of the reversing roller 21b causes the trailing end of the fed roller to be the leading end to retract in the direction opposite to the fed direction, Store in tray 22. After that, an image is formed on the other surface by the above-described image forming step.

Further, in order to prevent the scattering and adhesion of powder on the recording material carrying sheet 5f of the transfer drum 5a and the adhesion of oil on the recording material, the fur brush 14 and the recording material carrying sheet 5f are used. The cleaning is performed by the action of the backup brush 15 facing the brush 14, and the backup brush 17 facing the roller 16 via the oil removing roller 16 and the recording material carrying sheet 5f. Such cleaning is performed before or after image formation, and at any time when a jam (paper jam) occurs.

Further, in this example, the eccentric cam 25 is operated at a desired timing and the cam follower 5i integrated with the transfer drum 5f is operated, whereby the gap between the recording material carrying sheet 5a and the photosensitive drum 1 is changed. Can be set arbitrarily. For example, during standby or when the power is off, the transfer drum and the photosensitive drum are separated from each other.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show the construction of a storage container for storing the four developer supply devices and other units. FIG. 6 is a simplified diagram showing a state in which the storage container is stored in the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 7 is a simplified diagram showing a state in which the storage container is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body and rotated by 180 °.

As shown in FIG. 6, the storage container 35 is provided with four developer supplying devices for supplying the powder developers of the colors to be supplied to the developing devices 4Bk, 4m, 4c and 4y. The drum 1 and the above-mentioned four developing devices 4Bk, 4m, 4
It is arranged on the front side of c and 4y.

As shown in FIG. 7, each of the developer supply devices has a developer accommodating container 30Bk, 30 for accommodating the developer.
m, 30c, 30y and a supply port 3 of this developer to any of the corresponding four developing devices 4Bk, 4m, 4c, 4y.
1 Bk, 31 m, 31 c, 31 y supply path, shutter member 311 Bk for closing this supply path,
It has 311m, 311c, and 311y.

The shutter members 311Bk and 311
m, 311c and 311y are developing units 4Bk, 4m and 4m.
The opening / closing operation is performed in association with the movements of c and 4y.

The storage container 35 is connected to the developer supply device corresponding to the developing device for performing the developing operation by any one of the developing devices 4Bk, 4m, 4c and 4y by the continuous means (not shown). Supply ports 31Bk, 31m, 31c, 3
The developer is supplied from the developer accommodating containers 30Bk, 30m, 30c, and 30y to the developing devices 4Bk, 4m, 4c, and 4y by communicating with any of the 1y.

[0044] The container 35, pivot as shown in FIG. 6
It is pivotally supported by a storage container support 37 via a shaft 36 . Then, the storage container support base 37 is a slide rail 3 that is extendable and retractable.
It is fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus via 8. The storage container support 37 and the storage container 35 are provided with slide rails 38.
By expanding and contracting, it is possible to move in the horizontal front-back direction with respect to the front surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

With these configurations, the developer accommodating container 30B
When replenishing the developer to k, 30m, 30c, 30y,
The storage container 35 is pulled out to the front side with respect to the front surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus so that the supply port (not shown) is exposed from the main body, so that the toner can be easily supplied. Further, the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing devices 4Bk, 4
When performing maintenance of m, 4c, 4y, etc., after pulling out the storage container 35 to the front as shown in FIG.
6, the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing devices 4Bk, 4m, 4
Rotate c, 4y until the front surface is exposed, ie about 180 °. By pulling out and rotating the storage container 35 in this manner, the unit behind the storage container 35 can be taken out from the inside of the main body, and the maintenance workability in the machine is improved.

1 and 2 are enlarged cross-sectional views of the connecting portion between the developer supplying device and the developing device. The members having the same functions as those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view II of FIG. 6, showing a state where the storage container is stored in the image forming apparatus main body, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the storage container is pulled out from the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body. Shows. The shutter 311 has a shaft 312
Is rotatably supported by the developer container and is constantly urged in the F direction by a torsion coil spring 313. When the developer supply device is pulled out, a flexible seal member 315 made of rubber is used as shown in FIG. The supply port 31 is blocked.

As the developer supply device moves in the storage direction (direction A), the claw 316 at the tip of the shutter comes into contact with the inclined surface portion 401a of the guide 401 at the tip of the developing device,
The component force acts in the F direction, and the shutter opens against the biasing force in the F direction. After that, in the developer supply device, the roller 317, which is rotatable in the a direction at the end of the shutter claw, comes into contact with the vertical surface portion 401b of the guide portion, and the shutter rotates about the shaft 312 and is stored as shown in FIG. To the position.

Although the shutter is opened and closed by a rotating operation, since the arm portions 311a and 311b of the shutter are sufficiently long, the opening and closing operation between the shutter seal 315 and the supply port 31 is
It becomes almost vertical gravity movement.

Although the moving direction of the feeding device (direction A) intersects the toner feeding direction, that is, the gravity direction,
Since the shutter moves in the vertical direction of gravity, rubbing between the shutter seal 315 and the supply port 31 does not occur, and the pressing of the shutter on the supply port can be stronger than when the shutter moves in the moving direction of the supply device.

In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the developing device 40 at the time of development is brought into contact with the front side plate 111 of the photosensitive drum 1 to form a developing portion facing the photosensitive drum 1. 112 is brought close to the photosensitive drum 1 to a predetermined position, and is separated when not developing. FIG. 1 shows a non-developing state, that is, a developing device is separated from the front side plate 111 of the photosensitive drum. During development, that is, when the developing device 40 contacts the front side plate 111 of the photosensitive drum, the developing device moves in the upward direction of gravity, that is, in the B direction.

Even if this operation is repeated, since the roller 317 is attached to the portion where the shutter and the developing device slide,
The shutter 311 or the guide 401 of the developing device is not worn. Flexible seal members 307 and 402 made of rubber are provided around the developer supply device side supply port 31 and the developing device side reception port 41, respectively, to prevent toner scattering during toner supply. There is.

Although the developing device is provided with a guide for opening and closing the shutter in this embodiment, a guide member may be provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 and 4 are side sectional views showing the details of the connecting portion between the developer supplying device and the developing device. Members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted unless necessary.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 1 of the first embodiment and shows a state in which the developing device at the time of non-developing is separated from the front side 111 of the photosensitive drum.

The valve 3 is provided in the supply port 31 of the developer supply section.
21, a compression coil spring 323 urges the valve in the downward direction of gravity, that is, in the F direction, so that the valve has a conical shape in the cylindrical edge portion 322 formed by the toner transport path 32 and the supply port 31. The supply port 31 is closed by pressing and sealing the surface 321b. One end of the spring 323 is guided by a recess 324a formed integrally with the bearing portion of the screw 33, and the other end is guided by a recess 321c of the valve.

A protrusion 421 is provided at the center of the receiving port 41 of the developing device so as to face the protrusion 321a of the valve 321.

FIG. 4 shows the state during development, and shows the state in which the developing device is in contact with the front side plate 111 of the photosensitive drum and moved in the direction B from the state of FIG. When the developing device rises, the protrusion 421 in the receiving port of the developing device is replaced with the protrusion 321a of the valve.
, The valve rises against the biasing force in the direction of the spring F, and the supply port 31 opens. Since the valve operates in the vertical direction of gravity, no rubbing occurs.

In the first embodiment described above, the supply port 31 of the developer supply device and the receiving port 41 of the development device are separated from each other during non-development, and the supply port is opened, so that the supply device is There is a problem in that the toner drips from the supply port due to a shock or the like when the toner is stored in the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus is soiled.

In this embodiment, the shutter of the developer supply device is opened only during development, and the shutter closes the supply port during non-development. Therefore, vibration applied to the developer supply device during non-development, for example, development To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing toner spillage from a supply port 31 due to a shock caused by a distance between a developing device and a developer supplying device when the developer supplying device is housed, and further preventing the toner from being stained. You can

In addition, the shutter does not open at all when the developing device receiving port moves in the horizontal direction, and opens and closes in conjunction with the receiving port moving in the vertical direction of gravity parallel to the falling direction of the developer. It is possible to completely prevent the developer from leaking from the supply port.

Further, in this embodiment, since the edge portion 322 on the circumference of the supply port can be completely sealed by the circular surface 321b of the valve, it is not necessary to use a flexible member which is easily worn in the seal portion. Therefore, it is free from wear deterioration of the seal member and has excellent durability.

Although the hopper is pulled out in the above-described embodiment, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus for fixing the hopper and pulling out the developing device.

Further, the position of the shutter member is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and can be used for all the developer supplying passages, but the present invention is particularly a device in which the developer supplying portion and the receiving portion move relatively. Is effective for.

[0066]

As described above, according to the first invention of the present application, the developer supply port (bottom opening) of the developer supply device.
Although the shutter of the feeder moves in the vertical direction by gravity and opens and closes even though the feeding device is moving in the horizontal direction, no rubbing occurs and image quality deterioration due to coarsening of the developer and deterioration of the seal member occur. Developer leakage can be prevented.

Further, since the shutter moves in the vertical direction of gravity, the shutter can be strongly pressed against the supply port when it is closed, so that the hermeticity can be ensured and the leakage from the gap does not occur.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the supply port of the developer supply device is closed at the time of non-development and the supply port is opened at the time of development, when the supply device is housed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to prevent the developer from dropping from the supply port due to an impact applied to the supply device during non-developing.

Further, according to the third invention of the present application, the shutter does not open at all when the supply port (bottom opening) of the developer supply device moves horizontally, and opens and closes when moving vertically in the gravity direction. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus which can completely prevent the developer from leaking and which is free from stains on the developer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a connecting portion between a toner developer supply device and a developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention (when the developer supply device is stored).

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a connecting portion between the toner developer supply device and the developing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention (when the developer supply device is pulled out).

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a connecting portion between a toner developer supply device and a developing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention (when the developing device is separated).

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a connecting portion between a toner developer supply device and a developing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention (when the developing device is in contact).

FIG. 5 is a main sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the image forming apparatus (when the storage container is stored).

FIG. 7 is a front view of the image forming apparatus (when the storage container is rotated).

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the connecting portion between the toner hopper and the developing device (when the hopper is stored).

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the connecting portion between the toner hopper and the developing device (when the hopper is pulled out).

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the connecting portion between the toner hopper and the developing device (when the hopper is pulled out).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a developing device including a conventional shutter member.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a conventional developer supply device (when the developer supply device is stored).

FIG. 13 is a top view of a conventional developer supply device (when the developer supply device is pulled out).

FIG. 14 is a top view of a conventional developer supply device (when the developer supply device is rotated).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Photosensitive Drum 30, 30Bk, 30m, 30c, 30y Developer Storage Container 35 Storage Container 31 Toner Supply Port 40, 4Bk, 4m, 4c, 4y Developer 41 Toner Inlet 111 Front Plate 301 of Photosensitive Drum 301, 311 Shutter 321 Valve

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A developer carrying member that forms a developing portion in opposition to an image carrying member carrying an electrostatic image, a developer containing container containing a developer, and the developer carrying container from the developer containing container. In an image forming apparatus having a supply path for supplying a developer to a body and a shutter member provided in the supply path and closing the supply path, the shutter member can be opened and closed without sliding on the supply path. An image forming apparatus characterized by. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer is a powder developer. 3. The supply passage has a supply port facing substantially downward, and the shutter member opens and closes the supply port.
Image forming apparatus. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the supply path has a receiving port that is movable in a direction intersecting the supply direction relative to the supply port. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the shutter member is engaged with a receiving portion having a receiving opening, and the supply opening is opened by relative movement of the receiving portion. 6. The opening / closing direction of the shutter member is opened / closed in a direction intersecting a relative movement direction of the receiving opening.
Image forming apparatus 5. 7. A developing device having an image bearing member and a receiving portion for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member and receiving the developer, and a developer movable to the receiving portion and supplying the developer to the receiving portion. An image forming apparatus having a supply unit and a developing unit that moves between a developing position and a non-developing position, and a closing member that closes the supply unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein the supply unit is opened at this time, and the supply unit is closed when the developing device is located at the non-developing position. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the supply unit and the receiving unit are separated from each other when the developing device is located at the non-developing position. 9. A developing means having an image carrier and an electrostatic image on the image carrier and having a receiving section for receiving a developer, and a developing unit movable in a substantially horizontal direction and a substantially vertical direction relative to the receiving section. In an image forming apparatus having a developer supplying section for supplying the developer to the receiving section, the developer supplying section is closed when the relative movement of the developer receiving section and the developer supplying section in the substantially horizontal direction is caused, An image forming apparatus comprising: a closing member that opens and closes a developer supply unit in conjunction with relative movement in a direction. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the developer supply unit has a supply port facing substantially downward.