Patent ID: 8897679
Filing Date: 2014-11-25
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body; a developing device located opposite an image carrying body and having a developer receiving port, an electrostatic latent image being formed on the image carrying body, the developing device including a developer carrying body that supplies a developer to the image carrying body to an area where the developer carrying body opposes the image carrying body; a reciprocable support frame that selectively positions the developing device to a detachment position and a developing position, the developer carrying body being separated from the image carrying body at the detachment position, the developer being supplied to the image carrying body at the developing position; a developer case located at an upper position relative to the developing device and having a developer discharge port, the developer case containing the developer to be supplied to the developing device; and an intermediate hopper located between the developer case and the developing device, wherein the intermediate hopper includes a first hopper having a developer inlet port, the developer that is discharged through the developer discharge port is received by the first hopper through the developer inlet port, the first hopper being located in the main body such that the developer inlet port opposes the developer discharge port, a second hopper having a developer outlet port, the developer being supplied to the developing device through the developer outlet port and the developer receiving port, the second hopper being located on the support frame such that the developer outlet port opposes the developer receiving port, and a third hopper having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the upper end portion being connected to the first hopper and the lower end portion being connected to the second hopper, a part where the third hopper and the first hopper are connected to each other and a part where the third hopper and the second hopper are connected to each other being rotatable in directions that allow the support frame to move, wherein the first hopper, the second hopper, and the third hopper are each formed of a stiff cylindrical body, wherein an inner diameter of the upper end portion of the third hopper, the upper end portion being connected to the first hopper, is greater than an outer diameter of a part of the first hopper, the part of the first hopper being connected to the third hopper, and wherein an outer diameter of the lower end portion of the third hopper, the lower end portion being connected to the second hopper, is less than an inner diameter of a part of the second hopper, the part of the second hopper being connected to the third hopper.