| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device capable of restraining minimum the inside of an image forming apparatus and user's hands from being soiled by toner, by securely discharging toner in the vicinity of a supply port when a toner cartridge is replaced with a new one. <P>SOLUTION: The developing device for the color image forming apparatus includes: the toner cartridge for storing toner; a supply port provided to the toner cartridge in order to discharge the toner out of the toner cartridge; a conveying member for conveying the toner to the supply port by being rotated within the toner cartridge; and a drive unit for operating the conveying member. In the developing device, when the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge reaches a threshold or below and the color image forming apparatus is stopped to replace the toner cartridge with the new one, the drive unit is operated for a fixed period of time before the replacement of the toner cartridge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT |
