| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a circulation means from being driven with a toner cartridge detached, in an image forming apparatus in which a developing device has a circulation means for circulating toner between the developing device and the toner cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: Drive force is transmitted to the rotary shaft 61a of the agitator of the toner cartridge 60 from the main body of a laser printer via a drive coupling (not shown in the figure). A gear 61b is integrally disposed on the rotary shaft. A gear 53, which engages with the gear 61b when the toner cartridge 60 is attached, is exposed on the support part 42 of a developing cartridge 40 to which the toner cartridge 60 is attached. The gear 53 engages with gears 43a and 44a rotated integrally with an auger disposed in the developing cartridge 40, so that drive force can be transmitted to the auger only when the toner cartridge 60 is attached. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
