| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can easily detect whether a toner container is attached to an apparatus main body or not without forcing the apparatus to perform any operation and irrespective of the amount of toner inside the toner container. SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with: the apparatus main body 3 which has a detection part 4 having a pair of photoemitter 11 and photodetector 12; the toner container 2 which is disposed attachably to and detachably from the apparatus main body 3, stores the toner 8 therein, is located between the photoemitter 11 and the photodetector 12 in the state of being mounted on the apparatus main body 3 and has a light transmissive part 6 allowing the light from the photoemitter 11 to pass through the inside of the container up to the photodetector 12 when the toner 8 is insufficient; and a light shielding means 7 which shields incident light to a translucent part 6 before starting the toner stirring operation after the mounting of the toner container 2 to the apparatus main body 3 and releases the shielding of the incident light to the translucent part 6, interlocked with the start of the toner stirring operation. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO |
