Patent Publication Number: US-8995888-B2

Title: Image forming apparatus and development device

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent application No. 2012-019167 filed on Jan. 31, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus and a development device installed therein. 
     An electrographic image forming apparatus has performed a developing process by supplying a toner (a developer) from a development device to an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photosensitive drum or the like. The toner used in such a developing process is supplied to the development device from a toner container detachably attached onto the development device. The development device is then provided with a replenishment port for receiving the toner from the toner container. The replenishment port generally may be covered by an openably/closably shutter. 
     The aforementioned shutter mechanism is illustrated in  FIG. 16 . A shutter  121  is provided with an inclined plane  122  inclined to diagonally upward and formed with a roughly triangle profile in a side view. The shutter  121  can be linearly slid between one position (refer to a two-dot chain line) to close a replenishment port  124  formed on a development device  123  and another position (refer to a solid line) to open the replenishment port  124 . When a toner container (not shown) is not attached onto the development device  123 , the shutter  121  is biased to one position to close the replenishment port  124  by a pair of coil springs  125  attached on both sides of the replenishment port  124 . 
     In this situation, when the toner container (not shown) is attached onto the development device  123  from above as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 16 , the toner container presses the inclined plane  122  of the shutter  121  from the upper side. Then, the shutter  121  linearly slides from one position to close the replenishment port  124  to another position to open the replenishment port  124 . 
     However, in such a configuration of using the linearly slidable shutter, it is necessary to locate biasing members, such as the coil springs, onto both sides of the replenishment port in order to secure operation stability of the shutter, that is, a plurality of the biasing members are needed. It is therefore feared that the number of components and manufacturing costs increase. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus includes a toner container and a development device. The toner container includes a container main body. The container main body is provided with a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The development device includes a development device main body and a shutter. The development device main body has a replenishment port configured to receive a toner discharged from the discharge port. The shutter opens/closes the replenishment port by turning along the outside face of the development device main body. 
     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a development device is installed into an image forming apparatus together with a toner container. The toner container includes a container main body provided with a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The development device includes a development device main body and a shutter. The development device main body has a replenishment port configured to receive a toner discharged from the discharge port. The shutter opens/closes the replenishment port by turning along the outside face of the development device main body. 
     Moreover, in accordance with the present disclosure, a development device includes a development device main body and a shutter. The development device main body has a replenishment port configured to receive a toner. The shutter opens/closes the replenishment port by turning along the outside face of the development device main body. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram schematically showing a printer according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a back perspective sectional view showing a toner container in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a back left perspective sectional view showing the printer in a situation, in which a container side shutter opens a discharge port and a development device side shutter opens a replenishment port, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a right side view showing the toner container of the printer in a situation, in which a gripper of a lever is tilted forward, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view showing the toner container of the printer in a situation, in which the gripper of the lever is tilted backward, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing the toner container in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a right bottom perspective view showing the toner container in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram schematically showing an image forming unit in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a front right perspective view showing the toner container in a situation of being installed into a development device in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a front left perspective view showing the image forming unit in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the replenishment port and its circumference in the development device of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view along a XII-XII line of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a back left perspective sectional view showing the printer in a situation, in which the container side shutter closes the discharge port and the development device side shutter closes the replenishment port, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14A  is a schematic diagram illustrating displacement magnitude of an opening/closing part of the development device side shutter in a situation, in which a position on the development device side shutter further away from a supporting pivot than the opening/closing part is pressed.  FIG. 14B  is a schematic diagram illustrating another displacement magnitude of the opening/closing part of the development device side shutter in another situation, in which another position on the development device side shutter nearer to the supporting pivot than the opening/closing part is pressed. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a replenishment port and its circumference in a development device of a printer according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a shutter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the entire structure of an electrographic printer  1  as an image forming apparatus will be described.  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram schematically showing the printer according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, it will be described so that the front side of the printer  1  is positioned at the left-hand side of  FIG. 1 . 
     The printer  1  includes a box-formed printer main body  2 . In a lower part of the printer main body  2 , a sheet feeding cartridge  3  for storing sheets (not shown) is installed and, on the top surface of the printer main body  2 , a sheet ejecting tray  4  is mounted. On the top surface of the printer main body  2 , an upper cover  5  is openably/closably attached at the front of sheet ejecting tray  4  and, below the upper cover  5 , a toner container  6  as a toner case is installed. 
     In an upper part of the printer main body  2 , an exposure device  7  is installed below the sheet ejecting tray  4 . The exposure device  7  is composed of a laser scanning unit (LSU). Below the exposure device  7 , an image forming unit  8  is installed. In the image forming unit  8 , a photosensitive drum  10  as an image carrier is rotatably attached. Around the photosensitive drum  10 , a charger  11 , a development device  12 , a transfer roller  13  and a cleaning device  14  are located along a rotating direction (refer to arrow X in  FIG. 1 ) of the photosensitive drum  10 . 
     In the printer main body  2 , a sheet conveying path  15  is arranged. At an upper stream end of the conveying path  15 , a sheet feeder  16  is positioned and, at an intermediate stream part of the conveying path  15 , a transferring unit  17  constructed of the photosensitive drum  10  and the transfer roller  13  is positioned. Furthermore, at a lower stream part of the conveying path  15 , a fixing device  18  is positioned and, at a lower stream end of the conveying path  15 , a sheet ejecting unit  20  is positioned. Below the conveying path  15 , an inversion path  21  for duplex printing is arranged. 
     Next, the operation of forming an image by the printer  1  having such a configuration will be described. 
     When the power is supplied to the printer  1 , various parameters are initialized and initial determination, such as temperature determination of the fixing device  18 , is carried out. Subsequently, in the printer  1 , when image data is inputted and a printing start is directed from a computer or the like connected with the printer  1 , image forming operation is carried out as follows. 
     First, the surface of the photosensitive drum  10  is electrically charged by the charger  11 . Then, exposure corresponding to the image data on the photosensitive drum  10  is carried out by a laser (refer to two-dot chain line P in  FIG. 1 ) from the exposure device  7 , thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum  10 . Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image is developed to a toner image with a toner (a developer) in the development device  12 . 
     On the other hand, a sheet fed from the sheet feeding cartridge  3  by the sheet feeder  16  is conveyed to the transferring unit  17  in a suitable timing for the above-mentioned image forming operation, and then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum  10  is transferred onto the sheet in the transferring unit  17 . The sheet with the transferred toner image is conveyed to a lower stream on the conveying path  15  to go forward to the fixing device  18 , and then, the toner image is fixed on the sheet in the fixing device  18 . The sheet with the fixed toner image is ejected from the sheet ejecting unit  20  to the sheet ejecting tray  4 . Toner remained on the photosensitive drum  10  is collected by the cleaning device  14 . 
     Next, mainly with reference to  FIGS. 2-7 , the toner container  6  will be described in detail.  FIG. 2  is a back perspective sectional view showing the toner container in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  is a back left perspective sectional view showing the printer in a situation, in which a container side shutter opens a discharge port and a development device side shutter opens a replenishment port, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 4  is a right side view showing the toner container of the printer in a situation, in which a gripper of a lever is tilted forward, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 5  is a right side view showing the toner container of the printer in a situation, in which the gripper of the lever is tilted backward, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing the toner container in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 7  is a right bottom perspective view showing the toner container in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Arrow Fr suitably put on each figure indicates the front side of the printer  1  ( FIG. 8  and more are also illustrated similarly). As  FIG. 2  is the back perspective sectional view, the left-hand and right-hand sides of the figure are converse to the actual left and right sides. That is, the right-hand side of  FIG. 2  is correspondent to the left side of the toner container  6  and the left-hand side of  FIG. 2  is correspondent to the right side of the toner container  6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the toner container  6  is located below the upper cover  5  of the printer main body  2 . The toner container  6  is detachably installed to the development device  12 . For instance, when the toner is exhausted, the toner container  6  is made replaceable by opening the upper cover  5  (refer to two-dot chain line on  FIG. 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and other figure, the toner container  6  includes a box-formed container main body  22  with a opened top surface, a conveying screw  23 , a stirring paddle  24 , a covering body  25 , a lever  26 , a transmitting member  27  and a container side shutter  28 . The conveying screw  23  is installed in a lower rear part of the container main body  22 . The stirring paddle  24  is installed near a center part of the container main body  22 . The covering body  25  covers the top surface of the container main body  22 . The lever  26  is attached to a right end of the container main body  22 . The transmitting member  27  is placed on the right end of the container main body  22  together with the lever  26 . The container side shutter  28  is attached as a pressing member to a right bottom end of the container main body  22 . The transmitting member  27  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 6  but omitted in the remaining figures. 
     The container main body  22  is formed in an extended-shape in left and right directions or a horizontal direction to contain the toner. On a left end wall  30  of the container main body  22 , a toner filling port  31  is formed and the toner filling port  31  is closed by a cap  32 . On the circumference of a top end of the container main body  22 , a main body side flange  33  is formed. 
     At the right bottom end of the container main body  22 , a cylinder-formed discharging duct  34  is protruded to a right direction and, on a right end of the discharging duct  34 , an aperture  36  is formed. As shown in  FIG. 3  and other figure, in a bottom of the discharging duct  34 , a discharge port  35  configured to discharge the toner is bored. On the circumference of a lower part of the discharging duct  34 , a sealing member  37  is attached and, in the sealing member  37 , a communication port  38  is bored at a correspondent position to the discharge port  35 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , at the center of a right end wall  40  of the container main body  22 , a cylinder-formed boss  42  is protruded to aright direction (an outside direction). The boss  42  is penetrated with a communicating hole  41 . On aright surface (an outside surface) of the right end wall  40  of the container main body  22 , a first restrain rib  43  is protruded to an upper backward direction of the boss  42 . On the right surface of the right end wall  40  of the container main body  22 , a second restrain rib  44  is protruded to an upper forward direction of the boss  42 . An upper part of the second restrain rib  44  is depressed so that a depression  45  is formed. On the right surface of the right end wall  40  of the container main body  22 , a cylinder-formed protrusion  46  is formed below the first restrain rib  43 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and other figure, the conveying screw  23  is formed in an extended-shape in the horizontal direction. The conveying screw  23  includes a bar-formed rotating shaft and a spiral fin  48  concentrically mounted on the circumference of the rotating shaft  47 . A left end of the rotating shaft  47  is pivotally supported by the left end wall  30  of the container main body  22 . Right side parts of the rotating shaft  47  and spiral fin  48  are inserted into the discharging duct  34 . A right end of the rotating shaft  47  protrudes from the discharging duct  34  via the aperture  36  to the right direction and, onto the protruding part, a conveying gear  50  is fixedly attached. 
     The stirring paddle  24  is located below and in front of the conveying screw  23  and formed in an extended-shape in the horizontal direction. The stirring paddle  24  includes a frame plate-formed supporting frame  51  and a sheet-formed stirring fin  52  supported by the supporting frame  51 . Left and right ends (both horizontal ends) of the supporting frame  51  are pivotally supported by the left end wall  30  and right end wall  40  of the container main body  22  via bearings  49  (refer to  FIG. 3 , hereinafter, it is called as “a bearing  49  of a stirring paddle  24 ”). As shown in  FIG. 4  and other figure, on the bearing  49  of the stirring paddle  24  attached onto the right end wall  40 , an engaging reception  53  is formed at a correspondent position to the communication hole  41  of the boss  42 . 
     The stirring fin  52  is formed out of plastic sheet, e.g. lumirror. As shown in  FIG. 2  and other figure, one side of the stirring fin  52  is fixedly attached onto the supporting frame  51  along the horizontal direction. The stirring fin  52  is provided with a plurality of slits  54 . 
     On a bottom end of the covering body  25 , a covering body side flange  55  is formed in the correspondent form to the main body side flange  33  of the container main body  22 . The main body side flange  33  and covering body side flange  55  are ultrasonic-welded together so that the container main body  22  and covering body  25  are unified. In a center of the horizontal direction of the covering body  25 , a hollow  56  is formed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and other figure, the lever  26  includes a lever main body  57  with a circular profile in a side view. The lever main body  57  includes a small-diameter cylinder  58 , a large-diameter cylinder  60  attached around the circumference of the small-diameter cylinder  58  and four radially extended connectors  61  of connecting the small-diameter cylinder  58  and large-diameter cylinder  60  with each other. The small-diameter cylinder  58  is fitted onto the circumference of the boss  42  arranged on the right end wall  40  of the container main body  22 . Accordingly, the lever  26  is rotatably supported onto the container main body  22 . 
     On an upper part of the large-diameter cylinder  60 , a gripper  62  is protruded. A top end of the gripper  62  extends to the right side of the covering body  25 . In the gripper  62 , forward tilted angle is restricted by the second restrain rib  44  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) and backward tilted angle is restricted by the first restrain rib  43  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). On an upper part of the large-diameter cylinder  60 , a protruding piece  63  is formed in front of the gripper  62 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the protruding piece  63  engages with the depression  45  of the second restrain rib  44  in a state that the gripper  62  is tilted backward. On the circumference of a lower rear part of the large-diameter cylinder  60 , a lever side gear  64  is formed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  and other figure, the transmitting member  27  includes a disc-formed transmitting member main body  65 . On a right surface (an outside surface) of the transmitting member main body  65 , a transmission coupling  66  is protruded in the form of a triangle pole in a side view. On a left surface (an inside surface) of the transmitting member main body  65 , an engaging piece  67  is protruded. The engaging piece  67  is inserted into the communication hole  41  bored in the boss  42  of the container main body  22 , and then, engaged with the engaging reception  53  (refer to  FIG. 4  and other figure) formed on the bearing  49  of the stirring paddle  24 . Accordingly, the transmitting member  27  and stirring paddle  24  are connected with each other to rotate in a body. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , on the circumference of the transmitting member main body  65 , a transmission gear  68  is formed. The transmission gear  68  meshes with the conveying gear  50  fixedly attached onto the rotating shaft  47  of the conveying screw  23 , thereby rotating the conveying screw  23  in accordance with the rotation of the transmitting member  27 . In  FIG. 6 , the conveying gear  50  and rotating shaft  47  are illustrated in the separated state from each other. 
     The container side shutter  28  is formed in a cylinder-liked shape and rotatably fitted onto the circumference of the discharging duct  34  of the container main body  22 . In a lower surface of the container side shutter  28 , a discharge aperture  70  is bored. As shown in  FIG. 3  and other figure, the discharge aperture  70  is formed at a correspondent position to the discharge port  35  of the container main body  22  and the communication port  38  of the sealing member  37 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and other figure, on the container side shutter  28 , a roughly fan-formed guiding piece  71  is protruded forward. In the guiding piece  71 , an arc-formed guiding hole  72  is formed and, with the guiding hole  72 , the protrusion  46  of the container main body  22  is engaged. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and other figure, in the container side shutter  28 , a cylinder-formed bearing  73  is formed and, into the bearing  73 , the right end of the rotating shaft  47  of conveying screw  23  is pivotally supported. On a right side part of the bearing  73 , a gear box  74  is attached and the gear box  74  houses the conveying gear  50 . As shown in  FIG. 7  and other figure, in the gear box  74 , a communication aperture  75  is formed, and then, it is possible to house the conveying gear  50  in the gear box  74  via the communication aperture  75 . 
     The container side shutter  28  is provided with a shutter side gear  76 . The shutter side gear  76  meshes with the lever side gear  64  of the lever  26 , thereby turning the container side shutter  28  in the opposite direction to the lever  26  in accordance with the turn of the lever  26 . On the right end of the container side shutter  28 , a locking piece  77  is attached. The locking piece  77  includes a pair of plane parts  78  facing to each other and a pair of curving parts  79 , each of which is connected with respective ends of the plane parts  78 . The locking piece  77  is formed with an elliptic section. Outside of a lower part of the container side shutter  28 , a pressing protrusion  80  is formed at the right side of the discharge aperture  70  and a window  81  is formed above the pressing protrusion  80 . 
     Next, with reference to FIGS.  3  and  8 - 13 , the development device  12  will be described in detail. As mentioned above,  FIG. 3  is a back left perspective sectional view showing the printer in a situation, in which the container side shutter opens a discharge port and a development device side shutter opens a replenishment port, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram schematically showing an image forming unit in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 9  is a front right perspective view showing the toner container in a situation of being installed into the development device in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 10  is a front left perspective view showing the image forming unit in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the replenishment port and its circumference in the development device of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 12  is a sectional view along a XII-XII line of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 13  is a back left perspective sectional view showing the printer in a situation, in which the container side shutter closes the discharge port and the development device side shutter closes the replenishment port, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the development device  12  is integrated with the photosensitive drum  10 , charger  11  and cleaning device  14  so that an image forming unit  82  is composed. The development device  12  is provided with a box-formed development device main body  83 . At the center inside the development device main body  83 , a partition  84  extending in upper and lower directions or a perpendicular direction is formed and, in front and behind the partition  84 , stirring members  85  are respectively installed. Each stirring member  85  is rotatably supported onto the development device main body  83 . Inside the development device main body  83 , below and behind the rear stirring member  85 , a developing roller  86  is installed. The developing roller  86  is rotatably supported onto the development device main body  83  and comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum  10 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , on the top surface side of the development device main body  83 , the toner container  6  is detachably installed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and other figure, in a top wall  87  of the development device main body  83 , a replenishment port  88  is bored in the perpendicular direction. On a top surface of the top wall  87  of the development device main body  83  (a part of an outside face of the development device main body  83 ), a sealing member  90  is fixedly attached around the replenishment port  88 . The sealing member  90  is made of elastic material, e.g. sponge. As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in the sealing member  90 , a replenishment aperture  91  is formed at a correspondent position to the replenishment port  88  of the development device main body  83 . A front end of the sealing member  90  is placed on a pedestal  92  and formed in an arc shape curved in an upper forward direction. The pedestal  92  is protruded on the top wall  87  of the development device main body  83 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , on a top surface of the top wall  87  of the development device main body  83 , a restricting protrusion  89  is protruded behind the sealing member  90 . On the top surface of the top wall  87  of the development device main body  83 , a spring house  93  is formed at the right side of the sealing member  90  along forward and backward directions. In the spring house  93 , a coil spring  94  as a biasing member is housed and a rear end of the coil spring  94  comes into contact with a back face of the spring house  93 . The rear of the coil spring  94  is covered from above by an arch-formed spring holding piece  95 . The spring holding piece  95  is bridged above the spring house  93 . 
     On the top surface of the top wall  87  of the development device main body  83 , an engaging portion  96  is bridged at the left side of the sealing member  90  along the forward and backward directions. In the engaging portion  96 , an engaging gap  97  is formed along the forward and backward directions (refer to  FIG. 12 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 10  and other figure, at the top surface side of the top wall  87  of the development device main body  83 , a development device side shutter  98  is attached. The development device side shutter  98  is formed in an extended plane-liked shape in the horizontal direction. At a left end of the development device side shutter  98 , a supporting pivot  100  is provided. The development device side shutter  98  is adapted to turn around the supporting pivot  100  in a forward or backward direction along the top surface side of the top wall  87  of the development device main body  83 . The center part in the horizontal direction of the development device side shutter  98  is gently bent as a bend part  101 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , on a right side part of the development device side shutter  98 , a thin opening/closing part  102  is provided. A bottom surface of the opening/closing part  102  comes into contact with a top surface of the sealing member  90 . In accordance with the turn of the development device side shutter  98  around the supporting pivot  100 , the opening/closing part  102  opens or closes the replenishment port  88  of the development device main body  83  and the replenishment aperture  91  of the sealing member  90 . Hereinafter, one position of the opening/closing part  102 , in a case where the replenishment port  88  of the development device main body  83  and the replenishment aperture  91  of the sealing member  90  are opened (refer to  FIG. 3 ), is called as an opening position of the opening/closing part  102 . Another position of the opening/closing part  102 , in a case where the replenishment port  88  of the development device main body  83  and the replenishment aperture  91  of the sealing member  90  are closed (refer to  FIG. 11 ), is called as a closing position of the opening/closing part  102 . The bend part  101  is formed between the supporting pivot  100  and opening/closing part  102 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the development device side shutter  98 , a rectangle-formed notch  103  is formed at the right side of the opening/closing part  102  and, from the notch  103 , a contact piece  104  is protruded. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the contact piece  104  is located at a position further away from the supporting pivot  100  than the opening/closing part  102 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , behind the contact piece  104 , a spring bearing  105  is attached. On the spring bearing  105 , a front end of the coil spring  94  is attached, thereby biasing the opening/closing part  102  of the development device side shutter  98  to the closing position. In the development device side shutter  98 , an arch-formed spring holder  106  is provided in the rear of the spring bearing  105  so that the coil spring  94  is covered from above by the spring holder  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , in the development device side shutter  98 , a communication hole  109  is bored at the left side of the opening/closing part  102  and an L-shaped hook  107  is protruded from the communication hole  109  toward the development device main body  83  (in a lower direction in the first embodiment). The hook  107  is inserted into the engaging gap  97  formed in the engaging portion  96  of the development device main body  83  to engage with the engaging portion  96 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , on the right end side of the development device main body  83 , a driving mechanism  110  is installed. The driving mechanism  110  includes a drive coupling  111  in the form of a triangle pole in a side view. The drive coupling  111  is connected with a drive unit (not shown), such as a motor. 
     In the apparatus configured as mentioned above, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the toner container  6  is attached onto the development device  12  in a state that the gripper  62  of the lever  26  is tilted forward. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pressing protrusion  80  of the container side shutter  28  comes into contact with the contact piece  104  of the development device side shutter  98 . At this moment, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the discharge port  35  of the container main body  22  is closed by the container side shutter  28  and the replenishment port  88  of the development device main body  83  is closed by the opening/closing part  102  of the development device side shutter  98 . Therefore, the communication between the inside of the container main body  22  and the inside of the development device side shutter  98  is interrupted. 
     In such a situation, as indicated with an arrow Y in  FIG. 4 , when the worker, such as a user or a serviceman, tilts the gripper  62  of the lever  26  backward, the lever  26  turns in one direction (a clockwise direction on the plane of the figure) around the boss  42  of the container main body  22  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). Accompanying to the turn, as indicated with an arrow Z in  FIG. 4 , the container side shutter  28  connected with the lever  26  turns another direction (a counter clockwise direction on the plane of the figure) on the container main body  22  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). By the turn of the container side shutter  28 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the discharge aperture  70  of the container side shutter  28  moves just below the discharge port  35  of the container main body  22  and the communication port  38  of the sealing member  37 . That is, the container side shutter  28  opens the discharge port  35  of the container main body  22 . 
     In accordance with the turn of the container side shutter  28  as mentioned above, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the pressing protrusion  80  of the container side shutter  28  presses the contact piece  104  of the development device side shutter  98  backward. Accompanying to the pressure, the development device side shutter  98  turns around the supporting pivot  100  backward and, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the opening/closing part  102  of the development device side shutter  98  is displaced from the closing position to the opening position. That is, the development device side shutter  98  opens the replenishment port  88  of the development device main body  83 . Thus, when the discharge port  35  of the container main body  22  and the replenishment port  88  of the development device main body  83  are opened, the inside of the container main body  22  and the inside of the development device main body  83  are communicated with each other. 
     In addition, accompanying to the turn of the lever  26  as mentioned above, the drive coupling  111  is connected with the transmission coupling  66 . In this situation, when the drive unit, such as the motor, connected with the drive coupling  111  drives to create rotation, the rotation is transmitted to the transmitting member  27  via the drive coupling  111  and transmission coupling  66 , and then, the transmitting member  27  rotates. When the transmitting member  27  thus rotates, the stirring paddle  24  connected with the transmitting member  27  rotates, and then, the toner in the container main body  22  is stirred with being conveyed to the side of conveying screw  23 . In addition, when the transmitting member  27  rotates as mentioned above, the rotation is transmitted to the rotating shaft  47  of conveying screw  23  via the transmission gear  68  and conveying gear  50 , and then, the conveying screw  23  rotates. Accompanying to this, the toner in the container main body  22  is discharged from the discharge port  35  and introduced into the development device main body  83  via the replenishment port  88 . The toner introduced into the development device main body  83  is stirred by the stirring members  85 , conveyed to the developing roller and supplied from the developing roller  86  to the photosensitive drum  10 . 
     In the first embodiment, as mentioned above, the turn-able development device side shutter  98  is used for opening/closing the replenishment port  88 . Accordingly, it is possible to apply the structure that the coil spring  94  is provided on one side of the replenishment port  88  (the right side in the embodiment), and simultaneously, to sufficiently secure the operation stability of the development device side shutter  98 . Therefore, in comparison with a case where a linearly slidable development device side shutter is used, it is possible to decrease the number of the coil spring  94  and manufacturing costs. 
     In addition, because the sealing member  90  attached around the replenishment port  88  and coming into contact with the development device side shutter  98  is fixedly attached onto the development device main body  83 , it is possible to prevent the toner from leaking between the toner container  6  and development device  12  and to certainly operate the development device side shutter  98 . In the development device main body  83 , the engaging portion  96  is provided along the turning direction of the development device side shutter  98  and, in the development device side shutter  98  (forward and backward direction), the hook  107  for engaging with the engaging portion  96  is formed to protrude toward the side of the development device main body  83 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the development device side shutter  98  from floating and to securely locate the development device side shutter  98  in close contact with the sealing member  90 . 
     The pressing protrusion  80  of the container side shutter  28  is adapted to press the contact piece  104  positioned further away from the supporting pivot  100  than the opening/closing part  102 . It is therefore possible to displace the opening/closing part  102  with smaller force in comparison with a case of pressing the opening/closing part  102  of the development device side shutter  98  by the pressing protrusion  80  of the container side shutter  28  or another case of pressing a part on the development device side shutter  98  nearer to the supporting pivot  100  than the opening/closing part  102  by the pressing protrusion  80  of the container side shutter  28 . 
     Alternatively, as another example, the pressing member, such as the container side shutter  28 , may press a part on the development device side shutter  98  nearer to the supporting pivot  100  than the opening/closing part  102 . Effect in this example will be described with reference to  FIGS. 14A and 14B .  FIG. 14A  is a schematic diagram illustrating displacement magnitude of an opening/closing part of the development device side shutter in a situation, in which one position on the development device side shutter further away from a supporting pivot than the opening/closing part is pressed.  FIG. 14B  is a schematic diagram illustrating another displacement magnitude of the opening/closing part of the development device side shutter in another situation, in which another position on the development device side shutter nearer to the supporting pivot than the opening/closing part is pressed. The arrows F in  FIGS. 14A and 14B  indicate positions pressed by the pressing member. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14A , in a case of pressing one part on the development device side shutter  98  further away from a supporting pivot  100  than the opening/closing part  102 , displacement magnitude L 2  of the opening/closing part  102  is smaller than displacement magnitude L 1  of the pressed position on the development device side shutter  98 . By contrast, as shown in  FIG. 14B , in another case of pressing another part on the development device side shutter  98  nearer to the supporting pivot  100  than the opening/closing part  102  by the pressing member, it is possible to increase the displacement magnitude L 2  of the opening/closing part  102  more than the displacement magnitude L 1  of the pressed position on the development device side shutter  98 . As a further example, the pressing member may press the opening/closing part  102  itself on the development device side shutter  98 . 
     Although the first embodiment was described in a case of pressing the development device side shutter  98  by the rotatable container side shutter  28 , as furthermore example, the linear-slidable container side shutter  28  may be applied for pressing the development device side shutter  98 . Alternatively, the container main body  22  itself of the toner container  6  may be applied for pressing the development device side shutter  98 . 
     Although the embodiment was described in a case where ideas of the disclosure are applied into the printer  1 , as an alternative example, the ideas of the disclosure may be applied into another image forming apparatus except the printer  1 , such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a multifunction machine. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 15 , a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.  FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a replenishment port and its circumference in a development device of a printer according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. In the second embodiment, like components or elements are designated with identical reference numerals and repetitive descriptions thereon may be refrained from. 
     A top face of the top wall  87  of the development device main body  83  is depressed so that a gap-formed toner collecting part  112  is formed adjacent to the replenishment port  88  of the development device main body  83 . The toner collecting part  112  is formed in a rectangular shape. 
     On the front edge of the opening/closing part  102  of the development device side shutter  98 , a toner conveying part  113  is formed so as to be inclined to a right backward direction. The toner conveying part  113  is inclined in a turning direction of the development device side shutter  98  (forward and backward directions in the second embodiment; refer to two-dot chain line A in  FIG. 15 ). 
     In such a configured apparatus, when the opening/closing part  102  moves from the opening position to the closing position (refer to two-dot chain line in  FIG. 15 ) accompanying to the turn of the development device side shutter  98 , a toner adhered on the circumference of the replenishment port  88  is conveyed to the toner collecting part  112  by the toner conveying part  113 . 
     By applying such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the toner from dirtying the circumference of the replenishment port  88  without arranging a cleaning member for the circumference of the replenishment port  88  separated from the development device side shutter  98 . 
     Although the second embodiment was described in a case of forming the toner collecting part  112  at the right side of the replenishment port  88  (one side far away from the supporting pivot  100  on the development device side shutter  98 ), as another example, the toner collecting part  112  may be formed at the left side of the replenishment port  88  (another side near the supporting pivot  100  on the development device side shutter  98 ). In the latter, the toner conveying part  113  may be inclined to a left backward direction. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.