| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress load fluctuation of a drive motor in an apparatus so as to enable sharing of the motor for carrying out an agitating action and a supply action of toner as a developer without increasing the cost of the drive motor, and to provide an image forming apparatus in which the number of drive motors and associated drive mechanisms is reduced, cost reduction for the entire apparatus is achieved and loss of synchronization of the motor and damage to components are prevented. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming parts, comprises: a plurality of cartridges adapted to supply developer; a plurality of supply members adapted to supply developer to the image forming parts from a plurality of the cartridges; and one drive means adapted to drive a plurality of the supply members. The developer is supplied from a plurality of the cartridges by selectively operating a plurality of the supply members based on the amount of developer accommodated in the cartridges. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT |
