Patent ID: 6577824
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:recovered toner housing means for temporarily storing therein a recovered toner; a connecting/conveying device for conveying said recovered toner from a cleaner part to said recovered toner housing means; recovered toner supply means for supplying said recovered toner, which is housed in said recovered toner housing means, to a developing device; new toner housing means for housing therein a new toner; new toner supply means for supplying said new toner, which is stored in said new toner housing means, to said developing device; no-residual-amount detecting means for detecting no residual amount of said new toner in said new toner housing means after said new toner supply means supplies said new toner to said developing device; and control means for separately controlling said recovered toner supply means and said new toner supply means, to cause said recovered toner or said new toner to be supplied to said developing device, wherein said control means commands the supply of said recovered toner from said recovered toner housing means to said developing device if said no-residual-amount detecting means detects a residual amount of said new toner in said new toner housing means, and restricts the supply of said recovered toner from said recovered toner housing means to said developing device when said no-residual-amount detecting means detects no residual amount of said new toner.