| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress degradation in toner discharge performance resulting from inner pressure of a storage section, in an image forming apparatus that sucks air from a developing device, sends it to the storage section, separates a toner from the air in the storage section, and discharges the separated toner from the storage section through the toner discharge passage. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a suction pump 72 that sucks air in a developing device 14 and sends it to a toner tank 74; a filter 100 that causes air sent into the toner tank to stay so as to separate the toner from air, discharges the air after the separation; and a powder pump 170 that discharges toner in the toner tank through a toner transfer tube 159. An electromagnetic valve 102 is disposed between the toner tank and the toner transfer tube for switching between a state for allowing their communication or a state for stopping their communication. An MPU 105 having the toner discharge control means exerts control so as to switch the electromagnetic valve according to whether the powder pump is operating or not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT |
