Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus

摘要

A toner cartridge (17) detachably is attached to an image forming apparatus. The toner cartridge includes a toner chamber (33) that holds toner therein and a toner-agitating mechanism that agitates the toner in the toner chamber (33). The mechanism includes a crank shaft (52) that includes a first crank pin (52b) and a second crank pin (52a), the crank shaft (52) being rotatably supported in the toner chamber (33). A rod (57) has a first end rotatably coupled to the second crank pin (52b) and a second end slidably inserted in a guide path provided above the toner chamber (33). The second end has a permanent magnet (12) or a magnetic flux sensitive element (59) attached thereto. The rod (57) moves upward and downward when the crank shaft (52) is driven in rotation. A detection mechanism (91, 59) on the image apparatus side detects the magnetic flux or the permanent magnet.