Patent ID: 11953844
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. An image forming apparatus of a bottle-supply type, the image forming apparatus of the bottle-supply type comprising:
a main casing;
a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction;
a developing unit, the developing unit comprising a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum; and
a toner supply unit configured to selectively supply toner from a toner bottle to the developing unit,
the toner supply unit comprising:
a support wall, the support wall having a toner supply opening configured to supply toner to the developing unit; and
a connector rotatably supported by the support wall, the connector being configured to permit the toner bottle to be temporarily connected thereto and cooperate with the support wall to selectively supply toner from the toner bottle to the developing unit,
the connector having an inlet opening configured to be exposed to an outside of the main casing and receive a part of the toner bottle in a state where the inlet opening is exposed to the outside of the main casing,
the connector further having an outlet opening configured to allow toner outputted from the toner bottle to pass therethrough to move to the toner supply opening,
wherein the connector is rotatable between a first position and a second position relative to the support wall,
wherein in a state where the connector is at the first position, the outlet opening of the connector is in communication with the toner supply opening, thereby enabling the toner supply unit to supply toner to the developing unit such that toner outputted from the toner bottle passes through the outlet opening to reach the toner supply opening; and
wherein in a state where the connector is at the second position, the outlet opening is out of communication with the toner supply opening, thereby disabling the toner supply unit to supply toner to the developing unit.