| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner cartridge for performing stable toner supply by preventing a toner conveying member from being locked by compression and aggregation of toner in the toner cartridge; and also to provide an image forming apparatus using the toner cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: This toner cartridge 10 has a toner reserving vessel 1 having a toner reservoir 10a for storing toner and a toner conveyor portion 10b. The toner conveyor portion 10b has a toner discharge port 2 for discharging the stored toner to the outside and a toner conveying member 3 for conveying toner to the toner discharge port 2. In the proximity of the toner discharge port 2 of the toner conveyor portion 10b, an airtight cover 5 that encloses the upper part of the toner conveying member 3 located over the toner discharge port 2, a communication opening 4a to connect between the toner conveyor portion 10b and the toner reservoir 10a, and a pressure relieve valve 9 that opens and closes the communication opening 4a in accordance with the pressure of the toner in the space enclosed by the airtight cover 5, are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT |
