Image forming apparatus having an easily replaceable toner container and a toner conveying pump

摘要

An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a mount portion in which a toner container is expected to be set from above. When the toner container set in the mount portion runs out of toner, a spring causes the toner container to hop up away from a position where it is set. This promotes easy handling of the toner container in a limited space available in the apparatus. In addition, a toner conveying pump as claimed comprises a tubular stator and a rotor. To prevent toner from cohering in the form of lumps because of frictional heat, the rotor is either made of resin containing a lubricant for reducing friction, or it includes a metallic surface for improving heat radiation away from the pump.