| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner supply device which reduces rotation load of a shutter mechanism while suppressing toner contamination around a developing device, and to provide an image forming apparatus provided with the toner supply device. <P>SOLUTION: When a toner supply pipe 35 is located at a retract position, an engagement claw 57 is located at the left end of an open window 55. As the toner supply pipe 35 moves downward, a projection 53 and an external cylindrical part 35b rotate from the right to the left. Accordingly, the open window 55 also moves from the right to the left, and the engagement claw 57 moves from the left to the right within the open window 55. A large width part 55a (a part on the right side of the broken line in the figure) is formed in the open window 55. In this large width part 55a, vertical clearance from the engagement claw 57 increases, thus vertical engagement between the internal cylindrical part 35a and the external cylindrical part 35b has a certain play. Accordingly, a gap is formed between the internal and external cylindrical parts 35a and 35b which have been in close contact with each other at the tip of the toner supply pipe 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT |
