Patent Publication Number: US-2022229383-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2020/036733, filed Sep. 28, 2020, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2019-181068, filed Sep. 30, 2019, 2019-181069, filed Sep. 30, 2019, 2019-181070, filed Sep. 30, 2019, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Typically, an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system forms an image on a recording material by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive member into a toner image by using toner, and then transferring the toner image from the photosensitive member onto the recording material. As methods for replenishing an image forming apparatus with toner consumed by repetitively performing image formation, a process cartridge system and a consecutive replenishment system are known. The process cartridge system is a system in which a photosensitive member and a developer container accommodating toner are integrated as a process cartridge, and the process cartridge is replaced by a brand-new one when all toner in the developer container is consumed. 
     Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H08-30084 discloses a developing unit of a consecutive replenishment system that includes a toner conveyance path through which toner is supplied to a developing roller, and a developer supply box connected to the toner conveyance path, and that supplies toner from the developer supply box to the toner conveyance path in accordance with a detection result of a toner remainder amount. 
     In recent years, demand from users for a wider variety of use of the image forming apparatus has been increasing in addition to the process cartridge system and the consecutive replenishment system described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container accommodating toner is attachable and detachable and which is configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, a developer container configured to accommodate toner, a developing bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a toner image by using toner accommodated in the developer container, a replenishment port through which the developer container can be replenished with toner from the replenishment container provided outside the image forming apparatus by attaching the replenishment container thereto, a restriction member capable of transitioning to an allowance state in which a rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port with respect to the replenishment port is allowed and to a restriction state in which the rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port with respect to the replenishment port is restricted, a notification portion configured to notify a replenishment procedure for replenishing the developer container with toner from the replenishment container and a controller configured to cause the notification portion to notify at least one step of the replenishment procedure. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container accommodating toner is attachable and detachable and which is capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus having a notification portion and is configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, a developer container configured to accommodate toner, a developing bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a toner image by using toner accommodated in the developer container, a replenishment port through which the developer container can be replenished with toner from the replenishment container provided outside the image forming apparatus by attaching the replenishment container thereto, a restriction member capable of transitioning to an allowance state in which a rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port with respect to the replenishment port is allowed and to a restriction state in which the rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port with respect to the replenishment port is restricted, and a controller configured to output, to the information processing apparatus, information for causing the notification portion to notify at least one step of a replenishment procedure for replenishing the developer container with toner from the replenishment container. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a section view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  is a section view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram for describing attachment and detachment of a process cartridge according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4A  is a diagram for describing an openable and closable member of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4B  is a diagram for describing the openable and closable member of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4C  is a diagram for describing the openable and closable member of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5A  is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using a toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5B  is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 6A  is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 6B  is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 6C  is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view of the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 8B  is a side view of the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 8C  is a diagram illustrating how toner is discharged from the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a replenishment container attaching portion according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 9B  is a top view of the replenishment container attaching portion according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 9C  is an enlarged view of the replenishment container attaching portion according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 10A  is a diagram for describing an operation of the replenishment container attaching portion according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 10B  is a diagram for describing the operation of the replenishment container attaching portion according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 11A  is a diagram illustrating a position of a locking member according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 11B  is a diagram illustrating a position of the locking member according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the toner pack according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating a pressing mechanism of the locking member according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 14A  is a diagram illustrating a panel according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 14B  is a diagram illustrating the panel according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 14C  is a diagram illustrating the panel according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of a toner bottle unit according to a first modification example. 
         FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example 
         FIG. 15C  is a side view of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example. 
         FIG. 15D  is a section view of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example. 
         FIG. 16A  is a diagram for describing an inner configuration of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example. 
         FIG. 16B  is a diagram for describing the inner configuration of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example. 
         FIG. 16C  is a diagram for describing the inner configuration of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example. 
         FIG. 16D  is a diagram for describing the inner configuration of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example. 
         FIG. 16E  is a diagram for describing detection of rotation of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example. 
         FIG. 16F  is a diagram for describing detection of rotation of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example. 
         FIG. 17A  is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a second modification example. 
         FIG. 17B  is a top view of the process cartridge according to the second modification example. 
         FIG. 17C  is a section view of the process cartridge according to the second modification example. 
         FIG. 17D  is a section view of the process cartridge according to the second modification example. 
         FIG. 18A  is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a third modification example. 
         FIG. 18B  is a top view of the process cartridge according to the third modification example. 
         FIG. 18C  is a section view of the process cartridge according to the third modification example. 
         FIG. 19  is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 20A  is a diagram illustrating an operation portion according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 20B  is a diagram illustrating a display portion according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of an image forming system according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a notification operation for a toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1. 
         FIG. 23A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a message that is notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1. 
         FIG. 23B  is a diagram illustrating an example of a message that is notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1. 
         FIG. 23C  is a diagram illustrating an example of a message that is notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1. 
         FIG. 23D  is a diagram illustrating an example of a message that is notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1. 
         FIG. 23E  is a diagram illustrating an example of a message that is notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1. 
         FIG. 23F  is a diagram illustrating an example of a message that is notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1. 
         FIG. 24  is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a notification operation for a toner replenishment procedure according to Example 2. 
         FIG. 25A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a replenishment container according to Example 3. 
         FIG. 25B  is a diagram illustrating an example of a replenishment container according to Example 3. 
         FIG. 25C  is a diagram illustrating an example of a replenishment container according to Example 3. 
         FIG. 26  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the replenishment container according to Example 3. 
         FIG. 27  is a flowchart illustrating a control method for an image forming apparatus according to Example 3. 
         FIG. 28  is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the replenishment container according to Example 3. 
         FIG. 29A  is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an image forming apparatus and a replenishment container according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 29B  is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus and the replenishment container according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 30  is a flowchart illustrating a control method for the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 31A  is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus and the replenishment container according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 31B  is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus and the replenishment container according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 31C  is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus and the replenishment container according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 32  is a diagram illustrating a modification example of a circuit configuration of an image forming apparatus and a replenishment container according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 33A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a replenishment container according to a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 33B  is a diagram illustrating an example of a replenishment container according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 33C  is a diagram illustrating an example of a replenishment container according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 34  is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus and the replenishment container according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 35  is a diagram illustrating a modification example of the image forming apparatus and the replenishment container according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 36  is a diagram illustrating a selection screen displayed on a display portion of an image forming apparatus in a fifth embodiment. 
         FIG. 37  is a diagram illustrating a selection screen displayed on a display of an external device in the fifth embodiment. 
         FIG. 38  is a flowchart illustrating a control method for the image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. 
         FIG. 39  is a diagram illustrating a panel according to a sixth embodiment. 
         FIG. 40A  is a diagram illustrating a display example of the panel according to the sixth embodiment. 
         FIG. 40B  is a diagram illustrating a display example of the panel according to the sixth embodiment. 
         FIG. 40C  is a diagram illustrating a display example of the panel according to the sixth embodiment. 
         FIG. 40D  is a diagram illustrating a display example of the panel according to the sixth embodiment. 
         FIG. 41  is a perspective view of a panel according to a seventh embodiment. 
         FIG. 42A  is a diagram illustrating a display example of the panel according to the seventh embodiment. 
         FIG. 42B  is a diagram illustrating a display example of the panel according to the seventh embodiment. 
         FIG. 42C  is a diagram illustrating a display example of the panel according to the seventh embodiment. 
         FIG. 42D  is a diagram illustrating a display example of the panel according to the seventh embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
     (1) IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS 
       FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus  1  according to a first embodiment. The image forming apparatus  1  is a monochromatic printer that forms an image on a recording material on the basis of image information input from an external device. Examples of the recording material include sheet materials of different natures, for example, paper sheets such as regular paper sheets and cardboards, plastic films such as sheets for overhead projectors, sheets having irregular shapes such as envelops and index sheets, and cloths. 
     (1-1) Overall Configuration 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the image forming apparatus  1  includes a printer body  100  serving as an apparatus body, a reading apparatus  200  openably and closably supported on the printer body  100 , and an operation portion  300  attached to an exterior surface of the printer body  100 . The printer body  100  includes an image forming portion  10 , a feeding portion  60 , a fixing portion  70 , and a discharge roller pair  80 . The feeding portion  60  feeds a recording material to the image forming portion  10 , and the image forming portion  10  forms a toner image on the recording material. The fixing portion  70  fixes the toner image formed by the image forming portion  10  onto the recording material, and the discharge roller pair  80  discharges the recording material having passed through the fixing portion  70  to the outside of the apparatus. In addition, a direct replenishment system in which toner is directly replenished from the outside of the image forming apparatus  1  by using a toner pack  40  filled with toner for replenishment is employed for a process cartridge  20  of the present embodiment. 
     The image forming portion  10  is an image forming means (image forming unit) of an electrophotographic system including a scanner unit  11 , the process cartridge  20 , and a transfer roller  12 . The process cartridge  20  includes a photosensitive drum  21 , a charging roller  22  disposed in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum  21 , a developing roller  31 , and a cleaning blade  24 . 
     The photosensitive drum  21  serving as an image bearing member of the present embodiment is a photosensitive member formed in a cylindrical shape. The photosensitive drum  21  of the present embodiment includes a drum-shaped base body formed from aluminum, and a photosensitive layer formed from a negatively-chargeable organic photoconductor on the base body. In addition, the photosensitive drum  21  is rotationally driven by a motor at a predetermined process speed in a predetermined direction (clockwise direction as illustrated). 
     The charging roller  22  comes into contact with the photosensitive drum  21  at a predetermined pressure contact force, and thus forms a charging portion. In addition, a desired charging voltage is applied from a charging high-voltage power source, and thus the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential. In the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum  21  is negatively charged by the charging roller  22 . 
     The scanner unit  11  radiates laser light L corresponding to image information input from an external device or the reading apparatus  200  onto the photosensitive drum  21  by using a polygonal mirror, and thus exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  in a scanning manner. As a result of this exposure, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21 . To be noted, the scanner unit  11  is not limited to a laser scanner unit. For example, an LED exposing unit including an LED array in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum  21  may be employed. 
     A developing unit  802  includes a developing roller  31  serving as a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer, a developer container  32  serving as a frame member of the developing unit  802 , and a supply roller  33  capable of supplying the developer to the developing roller  31 . The developing roller  31  and the supply roller  33  are rotatably supported by the developer container  32 . In addition, the developing roller  31  is disposed in an opening portion of the developer container  32  so as to oppose the photosensitive drum  21 . The supply roller  33  is rotatably in contact with the developing roller  31 , and toner serving as the developer accommodated in the developer container  32  is applied on the surface of the developing roller  31  by the supply roller  33 . 
     The developing unit  802  of the present embodiment employs a contact developing system as a developing system. That is, a toner layer borne on the developing roller  31  serving as a developing means (developer bearing member) comes into contact with the photosensitive drum  21  in a developing portion (developing region) where the photosensitive drum  21  and the developing roller  31  oppose each other. A developing voltage is applied to the developing roller  31  from a developing high-voltage power source. Under the influence of the developing voltage, the toner borne on the developing roller  31  transfers from the developing roller  31  onto the drum surface in accordance with the potential distribution of the surface of the photosensitive drum  21 , and thus the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. To be noted, in the present embodiment, a reversal development system is employed. That is, the toner image is formed by the toner attaching to a region where the amount of charge is reduced by being exposed in an exposing step on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  charged in a charging step. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, toner which has a particle diameter of 6 μm and whose normal charging polarity is a negative polarity is used. For example, a polymer toner generated by a polymerization method is employed as the toner of the present embodiment. In addition, the toner of the present embodiment is a so-called nonmagnetic one-component developer that does not contain a magnetic component, and is borne on the developing roller  31  mainly by an intermolecular force and an electrostatic force (image force). However, a one-component developer containing a magnetic component may be used. In addition, in some cases, the one-component developer contains additives (for example, wax and silica fine particles) for adjusting the fluidity and charging performance of the toner in addition to the toner particles. In addition, a two-component developer constituted by a nonmagnetic toner and a magnetic carrier may be used as the developer. In the case of using a magnetic developer, a cylindrical developing sleeve in which a magnet is disposed is used as the developer bearing member. That is, what is contained in the developer container  32  is not limited to a one-component developer containing only a toner component, and may be a two-component developer containing toner and carrier. 
     An agitation member  34  serving as an agitation means is provided inside the developer container  32 . The agitation member  34  is driven to pivot, and thus agitates the toner in the developer container  32  and conveys the toner toward the developing roller  31  and the supply roller  33 . In addition, the agitation member  34  has a function of circulating toner not used for development and peeled off from the developing roller  31  in the developer container, and thus making the toner in the developer container uniform. 
     In addition, a developing blade  35  that regulates the amount of toner borne on the developing roller  31  is disposed at an opening portion of the developer container  32  where the developing roller  31  is disposed. In accordance with the rotation of the developing roller  31 , the toner supplied to the surface of the developing roller  31  passes through an opposing portion with the developing blade  35 , thus forms a uniform thin layer, and is negatively charged as a result of frictional charging. 
     The feeding portion  60  includes a front door  61  openably and closably supported by the printer body  100 , a supporting tray  62 , an inner plate  63 , a tray spring  64 , and a pickup roller  65 . The supporting tray  62  constitutes a bottom surface of a recording material accommodating space exposed by opening the front door  61 , and the inner plate  63  is supported on the supporting tray  62  so as to be capable of ascending and descending. The tray spring  64  urges the inner plate  63  upward, and presses a recording material P supported on the inner plate  63  against the pickup roller  65 . To be noted, the front door  61  closes the recording material accommodating space in the state of being closed with respect to the printer body  100 , and supports the recording material P together with the supporting tray  62  and the inner plate  63  in the state of being open with respect to the printer body  100 . 
     The transfer roller  12  serving as a transfer means (transfer member) transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum  21  of the process cartridge  20  onto the recording material. To be noted, although a direct transfer system in which the toner image formed on the image bearing member is directly transferred from the image bearing member onto the recording material will be described in the present embodiment, an intermediate transfer system in which the toner image is transferred from the image bearing member onto the recording material via an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt may be employed. In that case, for example, a transfer unit constituted by an intermediate transfer belt, a primary transfer roller that transfers the toner image from the photosensitive drum onto the intermediate transfer belt through primary transfer, and a secondary transfer roller that transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt onto the recording material functions as a transfer means. 
     The fixing portion  70  is a thermal fixation system that performs an image fixing process by heating and melting the toner on the recording material. The fixing portion  70  includes a fixing film  71 , a fixing heater such as a ceramic heater that heats the fixing film  71 , a thermistor that measures the temperature of the fixing heater, and a pressurizing roller  72  that comes into pressure contact with the fixing film  71 . 
     Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus  1  will be described. When a command for image formation is input to the image forming apparatus  1 , an image forming process by the image forming portion  10  is started on the basis of image information input from an external computer connected to the image forming apparatus  1  or from the reading apparatus  200 . The scanner unit  11  radiates laser light L toward the photosensitive drum  21  on the basis of the input image information. At this time, the photosensitive drum  21  has been charged by the charging roller  22  in advance, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum  21  by being irradiated with the laser light L. Then, this electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller  31 , and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum  21 . 
     In parallel with the image forming process described above, the pickup roller  65  of the feeding portion  60  delivers out the recording material P supported on the front door  61 , the supporting tray  62 , and the inner plate  63 . The recording material P is fed to the registration roller pair  15  by the pickup roller  65 , and the skew thereof is corrected by abutting a nip of the registration roller pair  15 . In addition, the registration roller pair  15  is driven in accordance with a transfer timing of the toner image obtained from the start time of exposure performed by the scanner unit  11 , and conveys the recording material P to a transfer portion that is a nip portion formed between the transfer roller  12  and the photosensitive drum  21 . 
     A transfer voltage is applied to the transfer roller  12  from the transfer high-voltage power source, and the toner image borne on the photosensitive drum  21  is transferred onto the recording material P conveyed by the registration roller pair  15 . After the transfer, transfer residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  is removed by the cleaning blade  24 , which is an elastic blade in contact with the photosensitive drum  21 . The recording material P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing portion  70  and passes through a nip portion formed between the fixing film  71  and the pressurizing roller  72  of the fixing portion  70 , and thus the toner image is heated and pressurized. As a result of this, the toner particles melt and then adhere to the recording material P, and thus the toner image is fixed to the recording material P. The recording material P having passed through the fixing portion  70  is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus  1  by a discharge roller pair  80 , and is supported on a discharge tray  81  formed on an upper portion of the printer body  100 . 
     The discharge tray  81  is inclined upward toward the downstream side in a discharge direction of the recording material, and trailing ends of recording materials discharged onto the discharge tray  81  are aligned by a regulating surface  84  by sliding down the discharge tray  81 . 
     (1-2) Openable and Closable Part of Image Forming Apparatus 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3 , a first opening portion  101  opening upward is provided in an upper portion of the printer body  100 . The first opening portion  101  is covered by a top cover  82  during use ( FIG. 1B ), and the process cartridge  20  is exposed by opening the top cover  82  upward ( FIG. 2B ). The top cover  82  is supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the printer body  100  by rotating around a rotation shaft  82   c  ( FIG. 3 ) extending in the left-right direction, and the discharge tray  81  is provided on the upper surface thereof. The top cover  82  is opened from the front side toward the rear side when the reading apparatus  200  is opened with respect to the printer body  100 . To be noted, the reading apparatus  200  and the top cover  82  are configured to be held in a state of being open and a state of being closed, by a holding mechanism such as a hinge mechanism. 
     For example, the user opens the top cover  82  together with the reading apparatus  200  in the case where jam of the recording material has occurred in a conveyance path CP which the recording material fed by the pickup roller  65  passes through. Then, the user accesses the process cartridge  20  through the first opening portion  101  exposed by opening the top cover  82 , and pulls out the process cartridge  20  along a cartridge guide  102 . A projection portion  21   a  ( FIG. 5A ) provided on an end portion of the process cartridge  20  in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum  21  slides on the cartridge guide  102 , and thus the process cartridge  20  is guided by the cartridge guide  102 . 
     Then, as a result of the process cartridge  20  being pulled out to the outside through the first opening portion  101 , a space through which a hand can reach the inside of the conveyance path CP is generated. The user can put their hand in the printer body  100  through the first opening portion  101  to access the recording material causing the jam in the conveyance path CP, and thus remove the recording material causing the jam. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, an opening/closing member  83  is openably and closably provided on the top cover  82  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1B and 4C . An opening portion  82   a  opening upward is provided in the upper surface of the top cover  82  on which the discharge tray  81  is provided, and the opening portion  82   a  is covered by closing the opening/closing member  83 . The opening/closing member  83  and the opening portion  82   a  are provided on the right side of the top cover  82 . In addition, the opening/closing member  83  is supported on the top cover  82  so as to be openable and closable about a pivot shaft  83   a  extending in the front-rear direction, and is opened to the left by hooking a finger through a groove portion  82   b  provided on the top cover  82 . The opening/closing member  83  is formed in an approximately L-shape in accordance with the shape of the top cover  82 . To be noted, the opening/closing member  83  is not limited to the opening/closing mechanism described above. For example, the opening/closing member  83  may be disposed on the top cover  82  so as to cover a replenishment container attaching portion  701  and configured to open and close the opening portion  82   a  by sliding and pivoting on the upper surface of the top cover  82  about a pivot shaft perpendicular to the top cover  82 . Here, sliding on the upper surface of the top cover  82  means that the movement of the opening/closing member  83  in the pivot axis direction is restricted. 
     The opening portion  82   a  is opened so as to expose the replenishment container attaching portion  701  provided in an upper portion of the process cartridge  20  for toner replenishment. By opening the opening/closing member  83 , the user can access the replenishment container attaching portion  701  without opening the top cover  82 . The user can replenish the process cartridge  20  with toner by attaching a toner pack  40  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     In the present embodiment, a system (direct replenishment system) in which the user replenishes the process cartridge  20  with toner from the toner pack  40  ( FIGS. 1A and 1B ) filled with toner for replenishment illustrated in a state in which the process cartridge  20  is still attached to the image forming apparatus  1  is employed. Therefore, an operation of taking out the process cartridge  20  from the printer body  100  and replacing the process cartridge  20  by a brand-new process cartridge in the case where the amount of toner remaining in the process cartridge  20  has become small becomes unnecessary, and therefore the usability can be improved. To be noted, the image forming apparatus  1  and the toner pack  40  constitute an image forming system. 
     To be noted, in the present embodiment, the reading apparatus  200  is provided in an upper portion of the image forming apparatus  1 , and in the case of opening the opening/closing member  83 , the reading apparatus  200  needs to be opened first to expose the top cover  82 . However, a configuration in which the reading apparatus  200  is omitted and the opening/closing member  83  is exposed in an upper portion of the image forming apparatus  1  from the beginning may be employed. 
     (1-3) Reading Apparatus 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the reading apparatus  200  includes a reading unit  201  including an unillustrated reading portion therein, and a pressure plate  202  openably and closably supported by the reading unit  201 . A platen glass  203  that transmits light emitted from the reading portion and supports a document placed thereon is provided on the upper surface of the reading unit  201 . 
     In the case of reading an image of a document by the reading apparatus  200 , the user places the document on the platen glass  203  in a state in which the pressure plate  202  is open. Then, the pressure plate  202  is closed to suppress displacement of the document on the platen glass  203 , and a reading command is output to the image forming apparatus  1  by, for example, operating the operation portion  300 . When the reading operation is started, the reading portion in the reading unit  201  reciprocates in a sub-scanning direction, that is, in the left-right direction in a state of facing the operation portion  300  of the image forming apparatus  1  on the front side. The reading portion receives light reflected on the document by a light receiving portion while radiating light onto the document from a light emitting portion, and reads the image of the document by performing photoelectric conversion. 
     To be noted, in the description below, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction (gravity direction) of the image forming apparatus  1  are defined on the basis of a state of facing the operation portion  300  on the front side as a standard. The positional relationship between members attachable to and detachable from the printer body  100  such as the process cartridge  20  will be described on the basis of a state where the members are attached to the printer body  100 . In addition, the “longitudinal direction” of the process cartridge  20  refers to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum  21 . 
     (1-4) Configuration of Process Cartridge 
     Next, a configuration of the process cartridge  20  will be described.  FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the process cartridge  20  and the toner pack  40 , and  FIG. 5B  is a side view of the process cartridge  20  and the toner pack  40 .  FIG. 6A  is a section view taken along a line  6 A- 6 A of  FIG. 5B ,  FIG. 6B  is a section view taken along a line  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 5B , and  FIG. 6C  is a section view taken along a line  6 C- 6 C of  FIGS. 6A and 6B . To be noted, in  FIGS. 5A to 6C , the outer shape of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  is illustrated in a simplified manner (for the detailed shape, see, for example,  FIG. 9A ). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5A to 6C , the process cartridge  20  is constituted by a toner receiving unit  801 , a developing unit  802 , and a cleaning unit  803 . The toner receiving unit  801 , the cleaning unit  803 , and the developing unit  802  are arranged in this order from the upper side to the lower side in the gravity direction. Each unit will be sequentially described below. 
     The toner receiving unit  801  is disposed in an upper portion of the process cartridge  20 . A toner storage portion  8011  constituted by a frame member that stores toner is provided in the toner receiving unit  801 , and the replenishment container attaching portion  701  that couples to a toner pack  40  is provided at an end portion of the toner receiving unit  801  in the longitudinal direction. To be noted, the frame member constituting the toner storage portion  8011  may be made up of a single member or a combination of a plurality of members. The replenishment container attaching portion  701  includes a replenishment port  8012  through which toner discharged from the toner pack  40  is received. The detailed configuration of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and attachment of the toner pack  40  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  will be described later. 
     Further, a first conveyance member  8013 , a second conveyance member  8014 , and a third conveyance member  8015  are provided inside the toner receiving unit  801 . The first conveyance member  8013  conveys, in an arrow H direction ( FIG. 6C ) toward a center portion of the toner storage portion  8011 , toner that has fallen into an end portion of the toner storage portion  8011  in the longitudinal direction through the replenishment port  8012 . The second conveyance member  8014  conveys the toner conveyed by the first conveyance member  8013 , in an arrow J direction ( FIG. 6C ) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, to an upper portion of the developing unit  802 , that is, to discharge ports  8016 . The third conveyance member  8015  receives the toner from the second conveyance member  8014  mainly at a center portion in the longitudinal direction, and conveys the toner to one side and the other side in the longitudinal direction (arrow K direction and arrow K′ direction). To be noted, the first to third conveyance members are operated so as to move the toner, and can be therefore also referred to as first to third developer moving members. 
     When the toner from the toner pack  40  serving as a replenishment container flows into the toner receiving unit  801 , air also flows in. The toner receiving unit  801  includes an air filter  8017  (see  FIG. 5A ) for allowing the air to flow in the arrow H direction when replenishing toner, such that it is easier to replenish toner. This air filter  8017  suppresses blowout of the toner from the replenishment port  8012  occurring as a result of the inner pressure of the toner receiving unit  801  increasing when replenishing toner and part of the air flowing in a direction opposite to the arrow H direction. 
     Further, the discharge ports  8016  ( FIG. 6B ) for discharging toner from the toner storage portion  8011  to the developer container  32  of the developing unit  802  are respectively provided at two end portions of the toner receiving unit  801  in the longitudinal direction. The toner having reached the discharge ports  8016  by being conveyed by the third conveyance member  8015  falls into the developer container  32  in accordance with the gravity. To be noted, a conveyance member may be further provided in paths of the discharge ports  8016  to help the toner movement in accordance with the gravity. 
     The developing unit  802  positioned in a lower portion of the process cartridge  20  includes openings  8021  ( FIG. 6B ) that receive the toner discharged through the discharge ports  8016 . Unillustrated sealing members are provided between the discharge ports  8016  and the openings  8021  such that the toner does not leak through a gap between the discharge ports  8016  and the openings  8021 . 
     The toner having fallen into the toner receiving unit  801  from the toner pack  40  through the replenishment port  8012  is conveyed in the toner receiving unit  801  by the first conveyance member  8013 , the second conveyance member  8014 , and the third conveyance member  8015 . Then, the toner is delivered from the toner receiving unit  801  to the developing unit  802  through the discharge ports  8016  and openings  8021  provided at the two end portions in the longitudinal direction. In this manner, the toner supplied through the replenishment port  8012 , which is positioned at an end portion of the process cartridge  20  in the longitudinal direction and away from the developer container  32  in the horizontal direction as viewed in the longitudinal direction, is conveyed in the process cartridge  20  and reaches the developer container  3012 . 
     As described above, the toner storage portion  8011  of the toner receiving unit  801  and the developer container  32  of the developing unit  802  communicate with each other, and thus constitute a storage container defining a space to store the toner in the process cartridge  20 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the replenishment port  8012  for replenishing toner from the outside is provided as a part of the storage container of the process cartridge  20 . However, a replenishment port directly connected to the replenishment container may be provided in the printer body, and the process cartridge may receive the toner through this replenishment port. In this case, a part of the process cartridge  20  excluding the replenishment port is detachable from the image forming apparatus  1  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The toner supplied to the developing unit  802  through the openings  8021  is stored in a conveyance chamber  36  formed in the developer container  32  constituted by a frame member of the developing unit  802  ( FIGS. 6A and 6B ). To be noted, the frame member constituting the developer container  32  may be constituted by a single member or a combination of a plurality of members. Here, an agitation member  34  is provided in the conveyance chamber  36 . The agitation member  34  includes a shaft member  34   a  provided near the rotation center of the agitation member  34 , and a blade portion  34   b  extending in the radial direction from the shaft member  34   a.  In section view, toner within the rotation trajectory of the distal end of the blade portion  34   b  is pushed and moved in accordance with the movement of the blade portion  34   b.  The toner replenished through the openings  8021  is conveyed toward the developing roller  31 , the supply roller  33 , and the developing blade  35  while being agitated by the agitation member  34 . 
     The cleaning unit  803  includes a fourth conveyance member  8031 , a fifth conveyance member  8032 , and a waste toner chamber  8033  constituted by a frame member ( FIGS. 6A and 6B ). To be noted, the frame member constituting the waste toner chamber  8033  may be made up of a single member or a combination of a plurality of members. The waste toner chamber  8033  is a space for storing collected matter (so-called waste toner) such as transfer residual toner collected from the photosensitive drum  21  by the cleaning blade  24 , and is independent from the inner spaces of the toner receiving unit  801  and the developing unit  802 . The waste toner collected by the cleaning blade  24  is conveyed in an arrow M direction by the fourth conveyance member  8031  and the fifth conveyance member  8032 , and is gradually accumulated starting from a rear portion  8033   a  of the waste toner chamber to the front side. 
     Here, a laser passing space SP that is a gap which the laser light L emitted from the scanner unit  11  ( FIG. 1A ) toward the photosensitive drum  21  can pass through is defined between the cleaning unit  803  and the developing unit  802  ( FIG. 6A ). As described above, the discharge ports  8016  and the openings  8021  for delivering the toner from the toner receiving unit  801  to the developing unit  802  are provided at end portions of the respective units in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, toner replenished from the outside of the image forming apparatus  1  (particularly through the replenishment port opening in the upper surface of the apparatus) can be conveyed to the developer container  32  provided in a lower portion of the process cartridge  20  while securing the laser passing space SP in a configuration of a small size as the whole of the process cartridge  20 . 
     (1-5) Configuration of Toner Pack 
     The configuration of the toner pack  40  will be described.  FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the toner pack  40  in a state in which a shutter member  41  is closed, and  FIG. 7B  is a bottom view thereof.  FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the toner pack  40  in a state in which the shutter member  41  is open,  FIG. 8B  is a bottom view thereof, and  FIG. 8C  illustrates how the user squeezes the toner pack  40  with hands when replenishing toner. In addition,  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the toner pack  40  in the state in which the shutter member  41  is closed as viewed from below. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A to 8C , the toner pack  40  serving as an example of a replenishment container includes a bag member  43  filled with toner, a discharge portion  42  formed from resin and attached to the bag member  43 , and the shutter member  41  capable of opening and closing an opening portion of the discharge portion  42 . In addition, a memory unit  45  serving as a storage means (storage portion) that stores information of the toner pack  40  is attached to the discharge portion  42 . The memory unit  45  includes, as a contact portion  45   a  that comes into contact with a contact portion  70133  (see  FIGS. 9A and 9B ) of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  that will be described later, a plurality of metal plates (metal terminals) exposed to the outside of the toner pack  40 . In addition, as a material of the bag member  43 , PP resin (polypropylene), PET resin (polyethylene terephthalate), cardboards, paper, and so forth can be employed. In addition, the thickness can be set to 0.01 mm to 1.2 mm. In addition, 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm is further preferable from the viewpoint of squeezability for the user and the durability of the bag. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7B, 8B, and 12 , the shutter member  41  has a shape obtained by cutting out a part of a disk relatively rotatable with respect to the discharge portion  42 . A side surface making up the thickness of the shutter member  41  at the cutout portion functions as an engagement surface  41   s.  Meanwhile, the discharge portion  42  also has a shape having a cutout portion therein. The cutout portion of the discharge portion  42  includes an engagement surface  42   s  parallel to the engagement surface  41   s.  Further, a discharge port  42   a  is provided at a position at approximately 180° from the engagement surface  42   s  in the circumferential direction of the discharge port  42   a.  To be noted, details of the engagement surface  41   s  and  42   s  are illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7B and 12 , when the positions of the cutouts of the shutter member  41  and the discharge portion  42  as viewed from above or below are aligned, the discharge port  42   a  is covered by the shutter member  41  (closed state). As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , when the shutter member  41  rotates by 180° with respect to the discharge portion  42 , the discharge port  42   a  is exposed through the cutout portion of the shutter member  41 , and the inner space of the bag member  43  communicates with a space outside the toner pack  40 . To be noted, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the shutter member  41  preferably has a structure in which a sealing layer  41   b  formed from an elastic material such as a sponge is stuck on a body portion  41   a  having stiffness. In this case, the sealing layer  41   b  is in firm contact with a sealing layer  42   c  covering a peripheral edge portion of the discharge port  42   a  in the closed state, and thus toner leakage can be suppressed. The sealing layer  42   c  is illustrated in  FIG. 12 , and is formed from an elastic material such as a sponge similarly to the sealing layer  41   b.    
     As will be described later, when replenishing the image forming apparatus  1  with toner from the toner pack  40 , the toner pack  40  is inserted in and coupled to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  by aligning the discharge portion  42  with a predetermined position. Then, when the discharge portion  42  is rotated by 180°, the discharge portion  42  relatively rotates with respect to the shutter member  41  to open the discharge port  42   a,  and the toner in the bag member  43  falls into the toner receiving unit  801  in accordance with the gravity. At this time, the shutter member  41  does not relatively move with respect to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8C , the user squeezes the bag member  43  in the state in which the toner pack  40  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and rotated by 180°, and thus can promote discharge of toner from the toner pack  40 . 
     To be noted, although the shutter member  41  of a rotary type has been described as an example herein, the shutter member may be omitted, and a shutter member of a slide type may be used instead of the shutter member  41  of a rotary type. In addition, the shutter member  41  may be configured to be broken by attaching the toner pack  40  to a replenishment port  8012  or rotating the toner pack  40  in an attached state, or may have a detachable lid structure such as a sticker. 
     In addition, it is preferable that a protective cap is attached to the discharge portion  42  of an unused toner pack  40  such that toner does not leak during transport or the like. For example, the protective cap engages with the cutout portions of the shutter member  41  and the discharge portion  42  in a state of being attached to the discharge portion  42  so as to restrict relative rotation of the shutter member  41  and the discharge portion  42 . By removing the protective cap, it becomes possible for the user to attach the toner pack  40  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     (1-6) Configuration of Replenishment Container Attaching Portion 
     A shutter opening/closing mechanism of the toner pack  40  and the toner receiving unit  801 , and a locking mechanism of the shutter member  41  will be described.  FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , and  FIG. 9B  is a top view of the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . The replenishment container attaching portion  701  includes the replenishment port  8012 , a replenishment port shutter  7013 , a locking member  7014 , and a rotation detection portion  7015 . 
     The replenishment port  8012  is an opening portion communicating with the toner storage portion  8011  (see  FIGS. 6A to 6C ) of the toner receiving unit  801 , and is fixed to the frame member  8010  of the toner receiving unit  801 . The replenishment port shutter  7013  includes a lid portion  70131  covering the replenishment port  8012 , a cylindrical portion  70132  that receives the discharge portion  42  of the toner pack  40 , and the contact portion  70133  connected to the contact portion  45   a  (see  FIG. 8B ) of the memory unit  45  of the toner pack  40 . In the diagram, a part of the cylindrical portion  70132  covering the contact portion  70133  is indicated as a cylindrical portion  70132   a.  The replenishment port shutter  7013  is a member in which the lid portion  70131 , the cylindrical portion  70132 , and the contact portion  70133  are integrated, and is rotatably attached to the frame member  8010  of the toner receiving unit  801 . Each conductor exposed on the contact portion  70133  is electrically connected to a control portion of the image forming apparatus  1  incorporated in the printer body  100 , via wiring provided in the process cartridge  20  and contacts between the process cartridge  20  and the printer body  100 . 
     The rotation detection portion  7015  serving as a rotation detection sensor is a mechanism that detects the rotation of the replenishment port shutter  7013 . The rotation detection portion  7015  of the present embodiment is constituted by two conductive flat springs  70151  and  70152 . The flat spring  70152  springs in a clockwise direction, and when pressed by a projection portion  70135   a  provided on an outer periphery of the replenishment port shutter  7013 , comes into contact with the flat spring  70151  at a distal end portion  701521 . That is, the rotation detection portion  7015  is an electric circuit configured such that a connected state and disconnected state thereof switch in accordance with the rotation angle (rotational position) of the replenishment port shutter  7013 . As will be described later, a control portion  90  ( FIG. 19 ) of the image forming apparatus  1  recognizes whether or not the discharge port  42   a  of the toner pack  40  communicates with the replenishment port  8012  of the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , on the basis of whether the rotation detection portion  7015  is in the connected state or the disconnected state. In other words, the control portion  90  can determine that the replenishment operation by the user using the toner pack  40  has been normally performed at least up to the communication between the discharge port  42   a  and the replenishment port  8012 . 
     A plurality of projection portions  70135   a  and  70135   b  are provided at the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion  70132  of the replenishment port shutter  7013 . In addition, a plurality of projection portions  70125   a  and  70125   b  are also provided in a portion (cylindrical portion  7011   a  of  7011 ) of the frame member  8010  supporting the cylindrical portion  70132 . The plurality of projection portions  70125   a  and  70125   b  are positioned below the projection portion  70135   a  (right side in  FIG. 10A ) in the gravity direction. The projection portion  70125   b  allows passage of the projection portion  70135   a  (right side in  FIG. 10A ) by rotational movement. In contrast, the projection portion  70135   a  (left side in  FIG. 10A ) extends downward to the same height as the projection portion  70135   a  (right side in  FIG. 10A ) so as to overlap with the projection portion  70125   a  and the projection portion  70125   b.  Therefore, the projection portion  70125   b  abuts the projection portion  70135   a  (left side in  FIG. 10A ) to restrict the rotational movement of the projection portion  70135   a  (left side in  FIG. 10A ) depending on the rotation angle (rotational position) of the replenishment port shutter  7013 . 
     In addition, before the replenishment port shutter  7013  rotates in an R1 direction, the projection portion  70125   a  abuts the projection portion  70135   a  (left side), and restricts the rotational movement of the projection portion  70135   a  in an R2 direction. In addition, the projection portion  70135   a  (right side in  FIG. 10A ) abuts the locking member  7014 , and restricts the rotational movement of the locking member  7014  in the R1 direction. In contrast, after the replenishment port shutter  7013  rotates in the R1 direction, the projection portion  70135   b  abuts the locking member  7014  having moved to a locking position, and restricts the rotational movement of the locking member  7014  in the R2 direction. In addition, the projection portion  70135   a  (right side in  FIG. 10A ) abuts the projection portion  70125   b,  and restricts further rotational movement of the projection portion  70135   a  in the R1 direction. To be noted, the rotation direction of the replenishment port shutter  7013  is the R1 direction when attaching the toner pack  40 , and is the R2 direction when detaching the toner pack  40 . 
     The locking member  7014  is a member that restricts the rotation of the replenishment port shutter  7013 .  FIG. 11A  illustrates a state in which the locking member  7014  is at a locking position P 1 , and  FIG. 11B  illustrates a state in which the locking member  7014  is at a lock releasing position P 2 . The locking member  7014  is capable of transitioning between the locking position (restricting position) P 1  and the lock releasing position (allowing position) P 2  by moving in the up-down direction. As illustrated in  FIGS. 9B and 11A , when the locking member  7014  abuts the projection portion  70135   a  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  at the locking position P 1 , the rotation of the replenishment port shutter  7013  is restricted. When the locking member  7014  moves to the lock releasing position P 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 11B , the locking member  7014  retracts from a movement trajectory of the projection portion  70135   a  in the rotation of the replenishment port shutter  7013 , and thus the rotation of the replenishment port shutter  7013  is permitted. 
     (1-7) Pressing Mechanism of Locking Member 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a pressing mechanism  600  that moves the locking member  7014  between the locking position and the lock releasing position. The pressing mechanism  600  is constituted by a motor  601 , an input gear  602 , a cam gear  603 , and an advancing/retracting pin  604 . The input gear  602  is a screw gear attached to an output shaft of the motor  601 . The cam gear  603  includes a gear portion  6032  constituted by a helical gear that engages with the input gear  602 , and a cam portion  6031  for reciprocating the advancing/retracting pin  604 . 
     The advancing/retracting pin  604  is supported by a holding member so as to be capable of linearly moving in the gravity direction and an opposite direction (vertical direction) thereof. When the motor  601  rotates, the cam gear  603  rotates via the input gear  602 , the advancing/retracting pin  604  reciprocates in the up-down direction by being pressed by the cam portion  6031 , and in accordance with this, the locking member  7014  also moves in the up-down direction between the locking position and the lock releasing position.  FIG. 13  illustrates a locked state. 
     To be noted, although the drive transmission configuration of the pressing mechanism  600  of the present embodiment is constituted by a combination of a helical gear and a screw gear, this is not limiting as long as the configuration can convert the rotation of the motor into a linear motion. For example, a bevel gear may be used, or a configuration in which the input gear  602  is omitted and the cam gear  603  is directly driven by the motor  601  may be employed. In addition, an actuator such as a solenoid that outputs linear motion may be used as a drive source instead of the motor  601 . 
     In addition, each member constituting the pressing mechanism  600  illustrated in  FIG. 13  is supported by a frame member  609  of the printer body. In contrast, a pivot shaft  7014   a  of the locking member  7014  is supported by a holding portion provided in a frame member  8010  of the toner receiving unit  801  so as to be pivotable and slidable in the vertical direction. Therefore, when replacing the process cartridge  20 , the locking member  7014  is also replaced at the same time, and the pressing mechanism  600  remains in the printer body. The pivot shaft  7014   a  and the advancing/retracting pin  604  are formed as different members. When the locking member  7014  is at the lock releasing position, the advancing/retracting pin  604  is away from the locking member, and the process cartridge  20  is detached from the body while the advancing/retracting pin  604  remains in the body. However, this configuration is not limiting, and for example, the pivot shaft  7014   a  of the locking member  7014  may be supported by the printer body. 
     (1-8) Procedure of Replenishment Operation Using Toner Pack 
     A procedure of the operation performed when detaching the toner pack  40  after attaching the toner pack  40  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and replenishing toner will be described on the basis of the configuration of the toner pack  40 , the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , and the pressing mechanism  600  described above.  FIG. 10A  is a top view of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  when the replenishment port  8012  is in the closed state, and  FIG. 10B  is a top view of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  when the replenishment port  8012  is in the open state. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10A , the replenishment port shutter  7013  in the closed state is fixed so as to be unrotatable with respect to the replenishment port  8012  by the projection portion  70135   a  abutting the locking member  7014  positioned in the locking position in the rotation direction. At this time, the lid portion  70131  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  completely blocks the replenishment port  8012 . In addition, the flat springs  70151  and  70152  of the rotation detection portion  7015  are separated from each other, and the rotation detection portion  7015  is in the disconnected state. 
     When inserting the toner pack  40  in the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , the user aligns the cutout portions ( FIG. 12 ) of the discharge portion  42  of the toner pack  40  and the shutter member  41  with the replenishment port  8012  and the lid portion  70131  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  and inserts the toner pack  40 . In this case, the engagement surface  42   s  of the discharge portion  42  engages with an engagement surface  7013   s  (see  FIG. 9C ), which is a side surface of the lid portion  70131 , and the engagement surface  41   s  of the shutter member  41  engages with an engagement surface  8012   s  (see  FIG. 9C ), which is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the replenishment port  8012 . At this time, the discharge portion  42  engaging with the lid portion  70131  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  is unrotatable until the lock of the replenishment port shutter  7013  by the locking member  7014  is released later, and becomes rotatable together with the replenishment port shutter  7013  after the release of the lock. In addition, the shutter member  41  of the toner pack  40  is in an unrotatable state by engaging with the replenishment port  8012  fixed to the frame member  8010  of the toner receiving unit  801 . To be noted, as a different engagement mechanism of the lid portion  70131  and the discharge portion  42 , a projection portion projecting upward may be provided on the upper surface of the lid portion  70131  and a recess portion that engages with this projection portion may be provided on a lower surface  42   b  (see  FIG. 12 ) of the discharge portion  42 . 
     In addition, by inserting the toner pack  40 , the contact portion  45   a  ( FIG. 7 ) of the memory unit  45  comes into contact with the contact portion  70133  of the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , and information stored in the memory unit  45  is read by the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus. The memory unit  45  stores information (brand-new product flag) indicating whether or not toner is in the toner pack  40  (whether or not the toner pack has been already used). When the control portion  90  reads the brand-new product flag and determines that the toner pack  40  currently attached includes toner (is not used), the control portion  90  controls the pressing mechanism  600  to push up the locking member  7014 . As a result of this, the locking member  7014  moves from the locking position P 1  to the lock releasing position P 2  ( FIG. 11B ). 
     In the state in which the locking member  7014  has moved to the lock releasing position P 2 , the locking member  7014  is separated from the projection portion  70135   a  of the replenishment port shutter  7013 , and thus the replenishment port shutter  7013  becomes rotatable in the R1 direction of  FIGS. 10A  an  10 B ( FIG. 11B ). However, since the projection portion  70125   a  provided on the frame member  8010  of the toner receiving unit  801  interferes with the projection portion  70135   a  ( FIG. 10A ), rotation of the replenishment port shutter  7013  in the R2 direction is restricted. That is, in  FIG. 10A, 70125   a  and  70125   b  are positioned below  70135   a  and  70135   b  such that  70135   a  and  70135   b  can move and pass in the rotation direction. 
     When the user grabs the toner pack  40  and rotates the discharge portion  42  or a portion of the bag member  43  close to the discharge portion  42  by 180° in the R1 direction, a state illustrated in  FIG. 10B  is taken. The replenishment port shutter  7013  also rotates by 180° together with the discharge portion  42  of the toner pack  40 , thus the lid portion  70131  moves from the position covering the replenishment port  8012 , and the replenishment port  8012  is exposed. The side surface of the lid portion  70131  is pushed by the engagement surface  42   s,  which is a part of the discharge portion  42  that is rotating, and thus the lid portion  70131  rotationally moves together with the engagement surface  42   s.  In addition, as a result of the discharge portion  42  rotating by 180° in a state in which the shutter member  41  is fixed, the discharge port  42   a  of the toner pack  40  ( FIG. 8B ) is exposed, and faces the replenishment port  8012 . As a result of this, the inner space of the toner pack  40  and the inner space of the toner receiving unit  801  communicate with each other through the discharge port  42   a  and the replenishment port  8012 , and the toner stored in the bag member  43  flows down into the toner storage portion  8011 . 
     The toner having fallen into the toner storage portion  8011  is, as described above, conveyed inside the toner receiving unit  801 , reaches the developer container  32 , and becomes available for a developing process. To be noted, a configuration in which the developing unit  802  can perform the developing process as long as toner of an amount required for maintaining the image quality remains in the developer container  32  even before the newly replenished toner reaches the developer container  32  may be employed. That is, a configuration in which toner can be supplied to the developer container from a replenishment container disposed outside the image forming apparatus regardless of whether or not the image forming operation by the image forming portion  10  ( FIG. 1A ) is being performed may be employed. 
     In addition, the projection portion  70125   b  is disposed so as to abut the projection portion  70135   a  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  when the replenishment port shutter  7013  is rotated by 180° in the R1 direction from the state of  FIG. 10A  ( FIG. 10B ). That is, the projection portion  70125   b  is also positioned below the projection portions  70135   a  and  70135   b  similarly to the projection portion  70125   a.  As a result of this, pivoting of the replenishment port shutter  7013  beyond 180° in the R1 direction is restricted. At the same time, the projection portion  70135   a  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  presses the flat spring  70152  of the rotation detection portion  7015 , and the distal end portion  701521  thereof is brought into contact with the flat spring  70151 . When the rotation detection portion  7015  is in the connected state, the control portion  90  recognizes that the replenishment port shutter  7013  has transitioned to the open state, and operates the pressing mechanism  600  to move the locking member  7014  again to the locking position. Then, the locking member  7014  engages with the projection portion  70135   b  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  to restrict the rotation in the R2 direction, and thus the replenishment port shutter  7013  and the toner pack  40  both becomes unrotatable in any direction. 
     Further, in the positional relationship of the state of  FIG. 10B  in which the discharge portion  42  of the toner pack  40  and the replenishment port shutter  7013  have been rotated by 180°, the lid portion  70131  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  covers an upper portion of the shutter member  41  of the toner pack  40 . Therefore, when it is attempted to pick up the toner pack  40  from the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , the shutter member  41  interferes with the lid portion  70131 , and therefore the movement of the toner pack  40  is restricted. Therefore, detachment of the toner pack  40  from the replenishment container attaching portion  701  is prevented unless the user performs the detachment operation of the toner pack  40  in accordance with a predetermined procedure that will be described below. 
     After the start of discharge of toner from the toner pack  40 , if a condition for determining that the discharge of toner has been completed is satisfied, the control portion  90  operates the pressing mechanism  600  to move the locking member  7014  to the lock releasing position. In the present embodiment, completion of the discharge of toner is determined on the basis of the time elapsed from the time point at which the rotation detection portion  7015  has transitioned to the connected state. 
     After the locking member  7014  has moved to the lock releasing position, the user can detach the toner pack  40  by following a procedure reversed from the procedure performed when attaching the toner pack  40 . That is, the user grabs the discharge portion  42  of the toner pack  40  or a part of the bag member  43  close thereto, and rotates the grabbed part by 180° in the R2 direction, which is reversed from the time of attachment. In this case, the replenishment port shutter  7013  rotates by 180° together with the discharge portion  42 , and the replenishment port  8012  is covered by the lid portion  70131  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  as illustrated in  FIG. 10A . In addition, the projection portion  7013   5   a  (left side in  FIG. 10A ) of the replenishment port shutter  7013  abuts the projection portion  70125   a,  and thus the rotation of the replenishment port shutter  7013  beyond 180° in the R2 direction is restricted. 
     In the state in which the discharge portion  42  of the toner pack  40  has been rotated by 180° in the R2 direction, the position of the cutout portion of the discharge portion  42  and the position of the cutout portion of the shutter member  41  are aligned ( FIG. 12 ). Therefore, even if the toner pack  40  is moved upward, the shutter member  41  does not interfere with the lid portion  70131  of the replenishment port shutter  7013 , and therefore the user can detach the toner pack  40  from the replenishment container attaching portion  701  by grabbing and lifting the toner pack  40 . 
     To be noted, in the course of rotating the replenishment port shutter  7013  by 180° in the R2 direction, the projection portion  70135   a  is separated from the flat spring  70152 , and the rotation detection portion  7015  returns to the disconnected state. Then, the control portion  90  recognizes that the replenishment port shutter  7013  has transitioned to the closed state, and operates the pressing mechanism  600  to move the locking member  7014  to the locking position. As a result of this, the replenishment container attaching portion  701  transitions back to the initial state as before the toner replenishment operation is performed. For example, the control portion  90  may determine that a predetermined condition to move the locking member  7014  to the lock releasing position is satisfied when a predetermined time has elapsed after the rotation detection portion  7015  has transitioned to the connected state. To be noted, the trigger for moving the locking member  7014  to the locking position may be, for example, loss of conduction between the contact portion  70133  of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and the contact portion  45   a  (see  FIGS. 7A and 7B ) of the toner pack caused by detachment of the toner pack  40  from the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     Although the positional relationship is set such that the discharge port  42   a  of the toner pack  40  and the replenishment port  8012  communicate with each other after the rotation by 180° in the present embodiment, the rotation angle required for the communication may be changed as long as the detachment of the toner pack  40  is made possible by an operation similar to that of the present embodiment. 
     (1-9) Panel 
     Next, a panel  400  will be described. For example, the panel  400  is provided on the front surface of the casing of the printer body  100  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1B and 14A to 14C . The panel  400  is an example of a display means (display device) that displays information related to the remainder amount of toner in the developer container  32  (or a remaining capacity of the developer container  32 ). The panel  400  is constituted by a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of indicators (indicators). In the present embodiment, three indicators  4001 ,  4002 , and  4003  are arranged in this order from the upper side to the lower side in the vertical direction. The panel  400  indicates the amount of toner that can be added to the developer container  32  for replenishment by the display of the indicators  4001  to  4003  that changes stepwise. The control portion  90  constantly updates the display of the panel on the basis of replenishment operation completion recognition that will be described later. In addition, in the case where the completion of the replenishment operation is not reflected on the toner remainder amount, the toner remainder amount may be detected subsequently, and the display of the panel may be updated. For example, in the case where the control portion  90  has detected by an optical sensor ( 51   a  and  51   b,  see  FIG. 6A ) that actually the toner has not been sufficiently replenished after the light of the indicator  4002  has been turned on, the control portion  90  updates the display of the panel  400  by turning off the light of the indicator  4002 . In addition, the lowermost indicator  4003  also indicates whether the toner in the developer container  32  is at a Low level or at an Out level. To be noted, the Low level is a level at which, although the developer container  32  needs to be replenished with toner, at least toner of an amount required for maintaining the image quality remains and the image forming operation can be still performed. The Out level is a level at which almost no toner remains in the developer container  32  and the image forming operation cannot be performed. 
     In the illustrated configuration example of the panel  400 , lights of the three indicators  4001 ,  4002 , and  4003  all being off indicates that the toner in the developer container  32  is at the Out level (fourth state). 
     In the case where only the light of the lower indicator  4003  is on as illustrated in  FIG. 14A , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Low level. In this state, lights of two of the indicators are off, and therefore it can be seen that toner of an amount corresponding to two toner packs  40  can be added for replenishment (third state). In addition, it can be also seen that toner of an amount corresponding to two toner packs  40  can be added for replenishment from the fact that lights of number panels “+1” and “+2” next to the indicators are on. 
     In the case where lights of the middle and lower indicators  4002  and  4003  are on and the light of the upper indicator  4001  is off as illustrated in  FIG. 14B , the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is larger than that of the Low level and smaller than that of a Full level (full). In this state, the light of one indicator is off, and therefore it can be seen that, for example, toner of an amount corresponding to one toner pack  40  can be added for replenishment (second state). In addition, it can be also seen that toner of an amount corresponding to one toner pack  40  can be added for replenishment from the fact that the light of the number panel “+1” next to an indicator is on and the light of the number panel “+2” is off. 
     In the case where all the three indicators  4001  to  4003  are on as illustrated in  FIG. 14C , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Full level. In this state, light of no indicator is off, and therefore it can be seen that, for example, no toner can be added for replenishment from the toner pack  40  (first state). In addition, it can be also seen that no toner can be added for replenishment from the toner pack  40  from the fact that the lights of the number panels “+1” and “+2” next to the indicators are off. 
     To be noted, the panel  400  illustrated in  FIG. 14  is an example of a display means whose display content changes in accordance with the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32 , and a different configuration may be employed. For example, the panel may be constituted by a combination of a light source such as an LED or an incandescent lamp and a diffusion lens instead of a liquid crystal panel. Alternatively, a configuration in which the indicators are omitted and only the number panels are used or a configuration in which the number panels are omitted and only the indicators are used may be employed. 
     In addition, the number and display method of the indicators of the panel  400  may be appropriately modified. For example, the user may be prompted to replenish toner by flickering the light of the lower indicator in the case where the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Low level. 
     (2) FIRST MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 
     Next, a first modification example in which a toner bottle unit having a bottle shape is used as another example of a replenishment container instead of the toner pack having a bag shape will be described with reference to  FIGS. 15A to 15D . To be noted, this tonner bottle unit is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the replenishment container attaching portion  701  described above similarly to the toner pack  40  described above. Therefore, description of elements of the image forming apparatus that are the same as in the first embodiment will be omitted. 
     (2-1) Configuration of Toner Bottle Unit 
       FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of a toner bottle unit  900  illustrating the external appearance thereof, and  FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of the toner bottle unit  900  after discharge of toner.  FIG. 15C  is a diagram illustrating the toner bottle unit  900  as viewed from the lower side of a piston, and  FIG. 15D  is a section view of the toner bottle unit  900  taken along a cross-section position D-D of  FIG. 15C . 
     In addition,  FIG. 16A  is a perspective view of the toner bottle unit  900  in which illustration of an outer cylinder  903  (see  FIG. 15A ) is omitted, and  FIG. 16B  is a perspective view of the toner bottle unit  900  after the discharge of toner in which illustration of the outer cylinder  903  is omitted.  FIG. 16C  is a diagram illustrating a state before a push-in operation of a component related to push-in detection of the toner bottle unit  900 , and  FIG. 16D  is a diagram illustrating a state after the push-in operation of the component related to push-in detection.  FIG. 16E  is a diagram illustrating a state before a rotating operation of a component related to rotation detection of the toner bottle unit  900 , and  FIG. 16F  is a diagram illustrating a state after the rotating operation of the component related to the rotation detection of the toner bottle unit  900 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 15A and 15D , the toner bottle unit  900  roughly includes the outer cylinder  903 , an inner cylinder  901 , a piston  902 , a shutter member  904 , and a memory unit  911 . The outer cylinder  903  and the inner cylinder  901  have cylindrical shapes, the inner cylinder  901  is fit inside the outer cylinder  903 , and the piston  902  is fit inside the inner cylinder  901  and is slidable with respect to the inner cylinder  901 . In the description below, the direction in which the piston  902  moves (direction of the axis of the outer cylinder  903  and the inner cylinder  901 ) will be referred to as the axial direction of the toner bottle unit  900 . In addition, the piston  902  serves as an example of a pressing member. 
     The inner cylinder  901  includes a toner storage portion  9014  that has a cylindrical shape and stores toner, a bottom portion  9013  provided on one end side in the axial direction, and a discharge port  9011  provided in the bottom portion  9013 . The inner cylinder  901  has a cylindrical shape in which one end portion of the toner storage portion  9014  in the axial direction is closed by the bottom portion  9013 . An opening portion  9012  is provided on the other end side of the toner storage portion  9014 , and the piston  902  is inserted in the toner storage portion  9014  through the opening portion  9012 . In addition, a weight member  905  having a spherical shape and freely movable in the toner storage portion  9014  is included in the inner cylinder  901 . 
     The outer cylinder  903  includes an inner cylinder accommodating portion  9034  having a cylindrical shape that accommodates the toner storage portion  9014  of the inner cylinder  901  therein, a bottom portion  9033  provided on the one end side in the axial direction, and a discharge port  9031  provided in the bottom portion  9033 . The outer cylinder  903  has a cylindrical shape in which one end portion of the inner cylinder accommodating portion  9034  in the axial direction is closed by the bottom portion  9033  similarly to the inner cylinder  901 , and holds the inner cylinder  901  relatively unmovably. An opening portion  9032  through which the piston  902  is inserted is provided on the other end side of the inner cylinder accommodating portion  9034 . 
     The discharge port  9011  of the inner cylinder  901  has a thin cylindrical shape extending from the bottom portion  9013  toward the one end side in the axial direction. The discharge port  9031  of the outer cylinder  903  is provided at a position corresponding to the discharge port  9011  of the inner cylinder  901  in the bottom portion  9033 . The discharge port  9031  of the outer cylinder  903  is a discharge port through which the toner stored in the toner storage portion  9014  is discharged to the outside of the toner bottle unit  900 . To be noted, a retracting space  9013   a  for the weight member  905  to retract into so as not to block the discharge port  9011  when pushing the piston in is provided adjacent to the discharge port  9011  of the inner cylinder  901 . 
     To be noted, the bottom portion  9013  of the inner cylinder  901  has an inclined shape whose sectional area is smaller on the discharge port side in the axial direction (particularly a conical shape whose inner diameter is smaller on the discharge port side in the axial direction). The bottom portion  9033  of the outer cylinder  903  opposing the bottom portion  9013  of the inner cylinder  901  also has a similar inclined shape. The discharge port  9011  of the inner cylinder  901  and the retracting space  9013   a  are provided at a vertex portion of the inclined shape of the bottom portion  9033 . The weight member  905  has a spherical shape, and is guided by the bottom portion  9013  to move to the retracting space  9013   a  by the gravity. 
     The piston  902  includes an elastic member  906  attached to an end portion  9023  on one end side (discharge port side) in the axial direction, and a push-in rib  9021  provided in the vicinity of an end portion  9022  on the other end side (part that the user pushes when pushing in the piston). The elastic member  906  is configured to come into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the toner storage portion  9014  with no gap therebetween, and has a function of suppressing leakage of toner when pushing in the piston. In addition, the push-in rib  9021  is a projection shape projecting outward in the radial direction from the outer circumferential surface of the piston  902 . 
     The configuration of the shutter member  904  is similar to that of the shutter member  41  provided in the toner pack  40  described above. That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 15C , the shutter member  904  has a shape of a disk partially cut out and relatively rotatable with respect to the outer cylinder  903 . A side surface forming the thickness of the shutter member  904  at the cutout portion functions as an engagement surface  904   s.  Meanwhile, the outer cylinder  903  also has a shape with a cutout. The outer cylinder  903  includes an engagement surface  903   s  parallel to the engagement surface  904   s  in the cutout portion. In addition, the discharge port  9031  is provided at a position away from the engagement surface  903   s  by approximately 180° in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder  903 . 
       FIG. 15C  illustrates a state in which the discharge port  9031  is already exposed, but in the state at the time when the toner bottle unit  900  is shipped, the positions of the cutout engagement surfaces  903   s  and  904   s  of the shutter member  904  and the outer cylinder  903  are aligned. In this case, the discharge port  9031  is covered by the shutter member  904 , and the sealed state of the toner storage portion  9014  is maintained (closed state). As illustrated in  FIG. 15C , when the shutter member  904  is rotated by 180° with respect to the outer cylinder  903 , the discharge port  9031  is exposed through the cutout portion of the shutter member  904 , thus the sealing of the toner storage portion  9014  is canceled, and it becomes possible to discharge the toner (open state). The configuration of the discharge port  9031 , the engagement surface  903   s,  and the shutter member  904  are basically the same as the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 7A to 8C and 12 . 
     A memory unit  911  serving as a storage means (storage portion) that stores information of the toner bottle unit  900  is attached to a portion near the discharge port  9031  of the outer cylinder  903 . The memory unit  911  includes a plurality of metal plates  9111 ,  9112 , and  9113  ( FIG. 16A ) exposed to the outside of the toner bottle unit  900  as a contact portion  911   a  that comes into contact with the contact portion  70133  ( FIG. 9A ) of the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     (2-2) Push-In Detection Mechanism of Piston 
     In addition, as illustrated in  FIGS. 16A and 16C , as a push-in detection mechanism that detects a push-in operation of the piston  902 , a push-in detection rod  907 , a first contact plate  908 , and a second contact plate  909  are disposed between the outer cylinder  903  and the inner cylinder  901 . The push-in detection rod  907  is formed from an insulating material such as a resin, and the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  are formed from a conductive material such as metal. The push-in detection rod  907  includes a contact canceling portion  9072  on the one end side (discharge port side) in the axial direction, and a piston contact portion  9071  capable of abutting the push-in rib  9021  of the piston  902  on the other end side in the axial direction. The push-in detection rod  907  moves in the axial direction in accordance with the push-in operation of the piston  902  as a result of the push-in rib  9021  pressing the piston contact portion  9071 . 
     For example, the push-in detection rod  907  is fit in a groove shape defined in the axial direction in the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder  901  or the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder  903 , and is thus held so as to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the inner cylinder  901  and the outer cylinder  903  while the movement thereof in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is restricted. In addition, the piston contact portion  9071  has a shape bent perpendicularly to the axial direction, that is, a shape bent into an L shape such that the push-in rib  9021  more reliably comes into contact therewith. To be noted, although the push-in rib  9021  is provided to extend all around the outer circumferential surface of the piston  902  in  FIG. 16A , a configuration in which the push-in rib  9021  is formed in only a position corresponding to the piston contact portion  9071  in the circumferential direction may be employed. 
     The first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  are metal plates whose connected state and disconnected state are switched in accordance with the position of the push-in detection rod  907  formed from an insulating resin. A brand-new product detection method of the toner bottle unit  900  using the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  will be described later. 
     In addition, a cylinder cover  910  ( FIG. 15A ) is provided at an end portion of the outer cylinder  903  on the opening portion side so as to suppress dropping of the push-in detection rod  907 . That is, the cylinder cover  910  defining the opening portion  9032  of the outer cylinder  903  is narrowed such that cylinder cover  910  is further on the inside than the outer edge position of the piston contact portion  9071   FIG. 16B ) in the radial direction ( FIG. 15D ). Therefore, even when a force to move the push-in detection rod  907  toward the opening portion side in the axial direction is applied, the piston contact portion  9071  interferes with the cylinder cover  910 , and therefore the push-in detection rod  907  does not drop from the toner bottle unit  900 . 
     (2-3) Brand-New/Used Determination of Toner Bottle Unit 
     Next, a configuration for detecting whether the toner bottle unit  900  is unused (brand-new) or used when attaching the toner bottle unit  900  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  will be described. As illustrated in  FIGS. 16C and 16D , the contact canceling portion  9072  of the push-in detection rod  907  is positioned near the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909 . 
       FIG. 16C  corresponds to a state before the piston push-in illustrated in  FIG. 16A , and the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  are in contact with each other and thus are in the connected state. At this time, it is preferable that the one of the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  that are formed from metal is formed in a flat spring shape and is in pressure contact with the other. In addition, for example, the conduction between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  can be made more reliable by applying a conductive grease on the contact surfaces of the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909 . 
       FIG. 16D  corresponds to a state after the piston push-in illustrated in  FIG. 16B , and the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  are in the disconnected state. In this state, the contact canceling portion  9072  of the push-in detection rod  907  pushed in by the push-in rib  9021  gets between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909 , and thus physically separate the two. At least the contact canceling portion  9072  of the push-in detection rod  907  is formed from an insulating material, and the conduction between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  is disconnected in the state of  FIG. 16D  in which the contact canceling portion  9072  is present therebetween. 
     The first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  are connected to different metal plates among the plurality of metal plates  9111  to  9113 , at end portions opposite to end portions that come into contact with the contact canceling portion  9072  of the push-in detection rod  907 . Here, the first contact plate  908  is connected to the metal plate  9111 , and the second contact plate  909  is connected to the metal plate  9113 . In this case, whether the toner bottle unit  900  is in a state before the piston push-in (unused) or a state after the piston push-in (used) can be determined by detecting whether a current is generated when a minute voltage is applied between the metal plates  9111  and  9113 . That is, in a state in which the toner bottle unit  900  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus can determine whether the toner bottle unit  900  is used or unused, on the basis of presence/absence of conduction between the metal plates  9111  and  9113 . In addition, the control portion  90  can determine that the replenishment operation by the user has been finished, on the basis of disconnection between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909 . On the basis of this determination, the control portion  90  performs display control of the panel  400  described above. In addition, the control portion  90  writes, in the memory unit  45  and in accordance with the change in the conduction between the metal plates  9111  and  9113 , a brand-new product flag indicating that the toner bottle unit  900  is used (brand-new: 1, used: 0). 
     To be noted, in the case of the configuration described above, the memory unit  911  is preferably disposed in a circuit connecting the metal plates  9111  and  9112 . As a result of this, the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus can access the memory unit  911  through the metal plates  9111  and  9112  while monitoring the push-in operation of the toner bottle unit  900  via the metal plates  9111  and  9113 . 
     (2-4) Rotation Detection of Toner Bottle Unit 
     Next, a method for detecting the rotation of the toner bottle unit  900  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 16E and 16F . To be noted, the rotation detection method of the present embodiment is the same as in the embodiment described above in which the toner pack  40  is used, except that the shutter member  904  that seals the discharge port of the replenishment container is attached to the outer cylinder  903  of the toner bottle unit  900 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 16E and 16F , the two conductive flat springs  70151  and  70152  are provided in the replenishment container attaching portion  701  of the process cartridge as the rotation detection portion  7015 . In addition, the projection portion  70135   b  is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the replenishment port shutter  7013 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 16E , in a state before the toner bottle unit  900  inserted in the replenishment container attaching portion  701  is rotated, the distal end portion  701521  of the flat spring  70152  is not in contact with the flat spring  70151 , and therefore the rotation detection portion  7015  is in the disconnected state. That is, no current flows when a minute voltage is applied between the flat springs  70151  and  70152 . As illustrated in  FIG. 16F , when the toner bottle unit  900  is rotated by 180°, the flat spring  70152  is pressed by the projection portion  70135   a,  thus the distal end portion  701521  comes into contact with the flat spring  70151 , and the rotation detection portion  7015  is switched to the connected state. In this state, a current flows when a minute voltage is applied between the flat springs  70151  and  70152 . The control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus  1  recognizes whether or not the discharge port  9031  of the toner bottle unit  900  and the replenishment port  8012  of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  communicate with each other, on the basis of whether the rotation detection portion  7015  is in the connected state or in the disconnected state. 
     (2-5) Flow of Replenishment Operation Using Toner Bottle Unit 
     A series of operation for detaching the toner bottle unit  900  after attaching the toner bottle unit  900  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and replenishing toner will be described. To be noted, description of elements same as in the embodiment described above where the toner pack  40  is used will be omitted. 
     First, the user attaches an unused toner bottle unit  900  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . Specifically, insertion is performed by aligning the cutout engagement surfaces  903   s  and  904   s  ( FIG. 15C ) of the outer cylinder  903  and the shutter member  904  with the replenishment port  8012  and the lid portion  70131  ( FIG. 9A ) of the replenishment port shutter  7013 . In this case, the engagement surface  903   s  of the outer cylinder  903  engages with the engagement surface  7013   s,  which is a side surface of the lid portion  70131 , and the engagement surface  904   s  of the shutter member  904  engages with the engagement surface  8012   s  provided on an outer peripheral portion of the replenishment port  8012 . At this time, the outer cylinder  903  engaging with the lid portion  70131  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  is unrotatable until the lock of the replenishment port shutter  7013  by the locking member  7014  is released later, and becomes rotatable together with the replenishment port shutter  7013  after the release of the lock. In addition, the shutter member  904  is in an unrotatable state by engaging with the replenishment port  8012  fixed to the frame member  8010  of the toner receiving unit  801 . Further, the flat springs  70151  and  70152  of the rotation detection portion  7015  are away from each other, and the rotation detection portion  7015  is in the disconnected state ( FIG. 16E ). 
     In the case where an unused toner bottle unit  900  is inserted in the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , the control portion  90  recognizes that the toner bottle unit  900  is brand-new by the brand-new product detection mechanism described above. The control portion  90  may recognize the conduction between the metal plates  9111  and  9113  or make determination by reading the brand-new product flag (brand-new: 1, used: 0) in the memory unit  45 . In this case, the control portion  90  operates the pressing mechanism  600  to move the locking member  7014  to the lock releasing position, and thus the toner bottle unit  900  becomes rotatable. 
     Then, when the user grabs the toner bottle unit  900  and rotates the toner bottle unit  900  by 180°, the shutter member  904  and the replenishment port shutter  7013  are opened, and the discharge port  9031  of the toner bottle unit  900  and the replenishment port  8012  of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  communicate with each other. The operation of opening the shutter member  904  and the replenishment port shutter  7013  in accordance with the rotation of the toner bottle unit  900  is similar to the case of the toner pack  40  described with reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 16F , in a state in which the toner bottle unit  900  is rotated by 180°, the distal end portion  701521  of the flat spring  70152  pressed by the projection portion  70135   b  of the replenishment port shutter  7013  comes into contact with the other flat spring  70151 . When the rotation detection portion  7015  is switched to the connected state in this manner, the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus detects that the rotation operation of the toner bottle unit  900  has been performed. That is, the control portion  90  recognizes that the sealing by the shutter member  904  and the replenishment port shutter  7013  has been canceled and the discharge port  42   a  of the toner pack  40  and the replenishment port  8012  of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  communicate with each other. In addition, the control portion  90  operates the pressing mechanism  600  to move the locking member  7014  to the locking position, and thus restricts the rotation of the toner bottle unit  900 . 
     Next, the user presses the piston  902  of the toner bottle unit  900  to start discharge of toner. The toner having fallen into the toner storage portion  8011  is conveyed inside the toner receiving unit  801  and reaches the developer container  32 . Also in the present modification example, when the piston  902  is pushed to the deepest position, the push-in detection mechanism described above detects that the push-in operation of the piston  902  has been completed. That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 16B , the push-in rib  9021  of the piston  902  presses the piston contact portion  9071  of the push-in detection rod  907 , and thus the push-in detection rod  907  moves accompanied by the piston  902 . Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 16D , the contact canceling portion  9072  of the push-in detection rod  907  disconnects the conduction between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909 . The control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus recognizes the completion of the push-in of the piston  902  on the basis of the fact that no longer a current flows even if a voltage is applied between the metal plate  9111  connected to the first contact plate  908  and the metal plate  9113  connected to the second contact plate  909 . That is, in the present modification example, detection of completion of the push-in operation of the piston  902  by the push-in detection mechanism serves as a condition for determining that discharge of toner is completed. To be noted, a configuration in which the control portion  90  rewrites the brand-new product flag in the memory unit  911  in the case where the conduction between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  is disconnected, and determines that the discharge of toner has been completed on the basis of the rewriting of the brand-new flag may be employed. 
     The control portion  90  that has detected the completion of discharge of toner from the toner bottle unit  900  operates the pressing mechanism  600  again to move the locking member  7014  to the lock releasing position, and thus makes the toner bottle unit  900  rotatable. The user grabs the toner bottle unit  900  and rotates the toner bottle unit  900  by 180°. In this case, the discharge port  9031  of the toner bottle unit  900  is covered by the shutter member  904 , and the replenishment port  8012  of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  is covered by the lid portion  70131  of the replenishment port shutter  7013 . In addition, the flat springs  70151  and  70152  are separated as illustrated in  FIG. 16E , and the rotation detection portion  7015  returns to the disconnected state. Then, the control portion  90  recognizes that the replenishment port shutter  7013  has been switched to the closed state, and operates the pressing mechanism  600  to move the locking member  7014  to the locking position. As a result of this, the replenishment container attaching portion  701  returns to the initial state before the toner replenishment. 
     (3) SECOND MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 
     Next, a second modification example in which the configuration of the process cartridge is different will be described. The present modification example has the same elements as in the first embodiment except for elements related to the process cartridge, and therefore description of the same elements will be omitted. 
     (3-1) Process Cartridge 
       FIGS. 17A to 17D  are respectively a perspective view, a side view, a section view, and another section view of a process cartridge  20 A according to the present modification example.  FIGS. 17C and 17D  are section views taken at cutting positions respectively illustrated in  FIG. 17B . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 17A to 17D , the process cartridge  20 A of the present modification example includes the toner receiving unit  801 , the developing unit  802 , and a drum unit  803 A. In contrast with the first embodiment, the drum unit  803 A does not include the cleaning blade  24  that cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  or the waste toner chamber  8033  ( FIG. 6A ) that accommodates waste toner. This is because a cleanerless configuration, in which the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  without being transferred onto the recording material is collected into the developing unit  802  and reused, is employed in the present modification example. To be noted, for example, nonmagnetic or magnetic one-component developer is also used herein. 
     In the illustrated example, the developing unit  802  is positioned in a lower portion of the process cartridge  20 A, and the toner receiving unit  801  and the drum unit  803 A are positioned above the developing unit  802  in the gravity direction. Although the toner receiving unit  801  and the drum unit  803 A do not overlap as viewed in the gravity direction as illustrated in  FIG. 17B , the two may be aligned in the up-down direction at least partially. In addition, the toner receiving unit  801  is disposed in the space where the cleaning blade  24  and the waste toner chamber  8033  are provided in the first embodiment. The configuration of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  provided in the toner receiving unit  801  is the same as in the first embodiment, and  FIGS. 17A to 17D  illustrate a simplified shape thereof. 
     A laser passing space SP serving as a gap for the laser light L emitted from the scanner unit  11  (see  FIG. 1A ) toward the photosensitive drum  21  to pass through is defined between the developing unit  802 , the drum unit  803 A, and the toner receiving unit  801 . In addition, it is preferable that, in the drum unit  803 A, a pre-exposing unit for removing the electrostatic latent image by radiating light onto the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  is disposed downstream of the transfer portion and between the transfer portion and the charging roller  22  in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum  21 . 
     (3-2) Behavior of Toner in Cleanerless Configuration 
     The behavior of toner in the cleanerless configuration will be described. The transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum  21  in the transfer portion is removed in accordance with the following procedure. The transfer residual toner includes a mixture of toner that is positively charged and toner that is negatively charged but does not have enough charges. The charges on the photosensitive drum  21  after transfer is removed by the pre-exposing unit, and by causing uniform electrical discharge from the charging roller  22 , the transfer residual toner is charged again to a negative polarity. The transfer residual toner recharged to a negative polarity by the charging portion reaches the developing portion in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum  21 . Then, the surface region of the photosensitive drum  21  having passed the charging portion is exposed by the scanner unit  11  and an electrostatic latent image is drawn thereon in a state in which the transfer residual toner is still attached thereto. 
     Here, the behavior of the transfer residual toner having reached the developing portion will be described for an exposed portion and a non-exposed portion of the photosensitive drum  21  separately. In the developing portion, the transfer residual toner attached to the non-exposed portion of the photosensitive drum  21  is transferred onto the developing roller  31  due to the potential difference between the developing voltage and the potential of the non-exposed portion of the photosensitive drum  21  (dark area potential), and is collected into the developer container  32 . This is because assuming that the normal charging polarity of the toner is a negative polarity, the polarity of the developing voltage applied to the developing roller  31  is relatively positive with respect to the potential of the non-exposed portion. To be noted, the toner collected into the developer container  32  is dispersed in the toner in the developer container  32  by being agitated by the agitation member  34 , and is used for the developing process again by being borne on the developing roller  31 . 
     In contrast, the transfer residual toner attached to the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum  21  is not transferred from the photosensitive drum  21  to the developing roller  31  in the developing portion, and remains on the drum surface. This is because assuming that the normal charging polarity of the toner is a negative polarity, the polarity of the developing voltage applied to the developing roller  31  is further negative with respect to the potential of the exposed portion (light area potential). The transfer residual toner remaining on the drum surface is borne on the photosensitive drum  21  moved to the transfer portion together with other particles of toner transferred from the developing roller  31  onto the exposed portion, and is transferred onto the recording material in the transfer portion. 
     By employing the cleanerless configuration, a space for installing a collection container for collecting the transfer residual toner or the like becomes unnecessary, thus the size of the image forming apparatus  1  can be further reduced, and the cost of printing can be reduced by reusing the transfer residual toner. 
     (4) THIRD MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 
     Next, a third modification example in which the configuration of the process cartridge is different from any embodiments described above will be described. The present modification example has the same elements as in the first embodiment except for elements related to the process cartridge, and therefore description of the same elements will be omitted. 
     (4-1) Third Mode of Process Cartridge 
       FIGS. 18A to 18C  are respectively a perspective view, a side view, and a section view of a process cartridge  20 B according to the present modification example.  FIG. 18C  illustrates a sectional surface at a cutting position illustrated in  FIG. 18B . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 18A to 18C , the process cartridge  20 B of the present modification example includes the developing unit  802  and the drum unit  803 A. In contrast with the third embodiment, the toner receiving unit  801  is omitted, and instead the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , the first conveyance member  8013 , and the second conveyance member  8014  are disposed in the developing unit  802 . That is, the present modification example is a configuration in which a replenishment container such as the toner pack  40  or the toner bottle unit  900  is attached to the replenishment port  8012  provided in the developer container  32  from the outside of the image forming apparatus to perform toner replenishment. The configuration of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  is the same as in the first embodiment, and a simplified shape thereof is illustrated. 
     The laser passing space SP serving as a gap for the laser light L emitted from the scanner unit  11  (see  FIG. 1A ) toward the photosensitive drum  21  to pass through is defined between the developing unit  802 , the drum unit  803 A, and the toner receiving unit  801 . In addition, it is preferable that, in the drum unit  803 A, a pre-exposing unit for removing the electrostatic latent image by radiating light onto the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  is disposed downstream of the transfer portion and between the transfer portion and the charging roller  22  in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum  21 . A cleanerless configuration is employed in the present modification example. The behavior of toner in the cleanerless configuration is the same as in the second modification example, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. 
     (5) CONTROL SYSTEM OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS 
       FIG. 19  is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus  1  according to the first embodiment. The control portion  90  serving as a control means (controller) of the image forming apparatus  1  includes a CPU  91  serving as a processing device, a RAM  92  used as a work area of the CPU  91 , and a nonvolatile memory  93  that stores various programs. In addition, the control portion  90  includes an I/O interface  94  serving as an input/output port connected to an external device, and an A/D conversion portion  95  that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The CPU  91  reads out and executes a control program stored in the nonvolatile memory  93 , and thus controls each component of the image forming apparatus  1 . Therefore, the nonvolatile memory  93  serves as an example of a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a control program for causing an image forming apparatus to operate by a specific method. 
     In addition, the control portion  90  is connected to a T memory  57 , which is a nonvolatile memory included in a replenishment container such as the toner pack  40  or the toner bottle unit  900 , and the P memory  58 , which is a nonvolatile memory included in the process cartridge  20 . Examples of the T memory  57  serving as a storage means (storage portion) provided in the replenishment container include the memory unit  45  included in the toner pack  40  described above, and the memory unit  911  included in the toner bottle unit  900  described above. In addition, the T memory  57  also stores toner information indicating that the toner stored in the replenishment container such as the toner pack  40  or the toner bottle unit  900  can be supplied to the developer container  32  for replenishment. The toner information is, for example, information describing whether or not the toner pack  40  is unused, and describing the initial amount, expiration date, and the like of the toner. In addition, the P memory  58  stores the remainder amount of toner accommodated in the developer container  32 , the total amount of toner that has been supplied from the replenishment container, information of the lifetime of the photosensitive member, information of the replacement timing of the process cartridge  20 , and the like. 
     Further, the control portion  90  is connected to a rotation locking mechanism  59  and the image forming portion  10 . Examples of the rotation locking mechanism  59  include the locking member  7014  ( FIGS. 9A, 9B, 11A, and 11B ) provided in the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and the pressing mechanism  600  ( FIG. 13 ) that moves the locking member  7014 . The image forming portion  10  includes a motor M 1  as a drive source that drives the photosensitive drum  21 , the developing roller  31 , the supply roller  33 , the agitation member  34 , and the like. To be noted, the same drive source does not have to be shared among these rotary members, and for example, the photosensitive drum  21 , the developing roller  31 , the supply roller  33 , and the agitation member  34  may be respectively driven by different motors. In addition, the image forming portion  10  also includes a power source portion  211  for applying a voltage to each member such as the developing roller  31 , and an exposure control portion  212  that controls the scanner unit  11 . 
     A toner remainder amount detection means  51  (toner remainder amount detection portion), a waste toner fullness detection means  52  (waste toner fullness detection portion), an attachment detection means  53  (attachment detection portion), an opening/closing detection means  54  (opening/closing detection portion), a rotation detection means  55  (rotation detection portion), and a push-in detection means  56  (push-in detection portion) are connected to the input side of the control portion  90 . 
     The toner remainder amount detection means  51  detects the remainder amount of toner accommodated in the developer container  32 . Examples of the toner remainder amount detection means  51  include the optical sensor ( 51   a  and  51   b ) illustrated in  FIG. 6A . This optical sensor includes a light emitting portion  51   a  that emits detection light toward the inside of the developer container  32 , and a light receiving portion  5  lb that detects the detection light. In this case, the ratio (Duty) of time in which the optical path of the detection light is blocked by the toner with respect to the rotation period of the agitation member  34  is correlated with the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32 . According to this, the toner remainder amount can be obtained from a current Duty value by preparing a correspondence relationship between the Duty value and the toner remainder amount in advance. To be noted, such an optical sensor is just an example of the toner remainder amount detection means, and alternatively a pressure sensor or an electrostatic capacitance sensor may be used. The waste toner fullness detection means  52  detects that the amount of waste toner accumulated in the waste toner chamber  8033  ( FIG. 6A ) of the cleaning unit  803  has reached a predetermined upper limit. As the waste toner fullness detection means  52 , for example, a pressure sensor disposed in the waste toner chamber  8033  can be used. In addition, the control portion  90  may estimate the amount of waste toner by calculation based on the image information by assuming that a certain ratio of toner corresponding to the image information is collected as waste toner. 
     The attachment detection means  53  detects that a replenishment container such as the toner pack  40  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . For example, the attachment detection means  53  is constituted by a pressure switch that is provided in the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and outputs a detection signal when pressed by the bottom surface of the toner pack  40 . In addition, the attachment detection means  53  may be a detection circuit that detects that the T memory  57  has been electrically connected to the control portion  90  via the contact portion  70133  ( FIG. 9 ) of the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     The rotation detection means  55  detects the rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . Examples of the rotation detection means  55  include the rotation detection portion  7015  constituted by the flat springs  70151  and  70152  ( FIGS. 9A, 9B, 16E, and 16F ). The rotation detection portion  7015  is an example of the rotation detection means  55 , and alternatively, for example, a photoelectric sensor shielded from light by a projection portion provided on the replenishment port shutter  7013  may be used as a rotation detection sensor. In addition, as another example of the rotation detection sensor, a configuration in which the conduction between the flat springs  70151  and  70152  of the rotation detection portion  7015  is caused by a projection portion provided on the discharge portion  42  of the toner pack  40  may be employed. 
     The push-in detection means  56  is an element that is additionally provided in the case of using the toner bottle unit  900  of the first modification example, and detects completion of push-in of the piston  902  of the toner bottle unit  900 . Examples of the push-in detection means  56  include a detection circuit that is provided in the image forming apparatus  1  and detects the change in the state of the push-in detection mechanism ( FIGS. 16A to 16   d ) constituted by the push-in detection rod  907 , the first contact plate  908 , and the second contact plate  909  provided in the toner bottle unit  900 . This detection circuit monitors the value of current when a voltage is applied between the metal plates  9111  and  9113  respectively connected to the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909 , and thus detects whether the piston  902  has been pushed in or has not been pushed in yet. 
     In addition, the control portion  90  is connected to the operation portion  300  serving as a user interface of the image forming apparatus  1  and serving as a notification means (report means, notification portion) that guides the user in the toner replenishment procedure. Further, the control portion  90  is connected to the panel  400  that notifies the user of information about the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32 . Here, the information related to the toner remainder amount is not limited to information indicating the toner remainder amount itself. In addition to this, examples of the information related to the toner remainder amount include information indicating the amount of toner that has been already supplied from the toner pack  40  or the toner bottle unit  900  for replenishment. In addition, examples of the information related to the toner remainder amount include information indicating the remaining capacity of the developer container  32  that indicates the amount of toner that can be accepted by the developer container  32  for replenishment in terms of the number of toner packs  40  or toner bottle units  900 . 
     The operation portion  300  includes a display portion  301  capable of displaying various setting screens as illustrated in  FIG. 20A . For example, the display portion  301  is constituted by a liquid crystal panel. In addition, the operation portion  300  includes an input portion that receives an input operation from a user. For example, the input portion is constituted by physical buttons such as buttons  310 , or a touch panel function portion of the liquid crystal panel. Further, the operation portion  300  may include a sound emitting portion that notifies information about the toner remainder amount or information about the toner replenishment procedure by a sound. 
     In addition, the image forming apparatus  1  is communicably connected to an information processing apparatus constituted by hardware such as a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, such as the PC  2 A or a portable information processing terminal  2 B like a smartphone (see  FIG. 21 ). The information processing apparatus functions as a notification means (notification portion) that guides the user in the toner replenishment procedure instead of the operation portion  300 . Information transmitted from the PC  2 A and the portable information processing terminal  2 B is input to the control portion  90  via the I/O interface  94 . In addition, information transmitted from the image forming apparatus  1  to the PC  2 A or the portable information processing terminal  2 B is output from the control portion  90  via the I/O interface  94 , and is input to the control portion of the PC  2 A or the portable information processing terminal  2 B. The operation statuses of the PC  2 A and the portable information processing terminal  2 B are respectively displayed on display portions  320  ( FIG. 20B ) respectively provided therein. To be noted, the PC  2 A and the portable information processing terminal  2 B may be provided with a sound emitting portion such as a loudspeaker. The image forming apparatus  1 , the PC  2 A, and the portable information processing terminal  2 B constitute an information processing system. 
     (6) GUIDANCE OF TONER REPLENISHMENT PROCEDURE 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     As described above, the process cartridge  20  is of a direct replenishment system in which toner can be directly replenished from the outside of the image forming apparatus  1  by using a replenishment container such as the toner pack  40  or the toner bottle unit  900 . Therefore, when replenishing toner, the user needs to perform a predetermined operation on the toner pack  40  or the toner bottle unit  900 . In the present example, a guidance operation for a replenishment procedure in the case of using the toner pack  40  as the replenishment container for replenishing toner will be described. 
     (6-1) Guidance of Replenishment Procedure Using Toner Pack 
     First, a notification operation for the replenishment procedure of the present example will be described with reference to  FIG. 22 .  FIG. 22  is a flowchart illustrating an example of the notification operation for the replenishment procedure in a direct replenishment system. In the present example, the toner remainder amount detection means  51 , the attachment detection means  53 , the rotation detection means  55 , and the push-in detection means  56  each function as an example of a progress detection means (progress detection portion) that detects the progress of the toner replenishment procedure and changes the output value thereof. To be noted, the “output value” of the progress detection means refers to a value of a signal (for example, electric signal such as a voltage value or a current value) for conveying information about the progress of the toner replenishment procedure, and is determined in accordance with the specific configuration of the progress detection means. For example, in the case of the rotation detection means  55  including the rotation detection portion  7015  ( FIGS. 9A, 9B, 16E, and 16F ) described above, the current flowing in a circuit including the flat springs  70151  and  70152  is used as an output signal of the rotation detection means  55 , and can be used as the output value of the rotation detection means of the current value. The flow of the guidance operation in accordance with the progress of the toner replenishment operation will be described below. 
     The toner remainder amount detection means  51  is a sensor whose output value changes in accordance with the remainder amount of toner accommodated in the developer container  32 , and functions as a toner amount detection means (toner amount detection portion) of the present example. The control portion  90  determines the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  by obtaining the output value of the toner remainder amount detection means  51 . In the case where the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is such an amount that replenishment of toner equivalent to one or more toner packs  40  can be performed (S 501 ), the control portion  90  causes the operation portion  300  to display a first message  56   a  ( FIG. 23A ) (S 502 ). The first message  56   a  indicates a first step for attaching the toner pack  40  to the replenishment port  8012 . To be noted, the “first” of the “first step” is used for identifying one of a plurality of steps included in the replenishment procedure, and for example, the step for attaching the toner pack  40  to the replenishment port  8012  does not have to be performed first in the series of replenishment procedure. A predetermined amount of the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  in the present example is such a remainder amount that toner equivalent to one or more toner packs  40  can be added for replenishment, and the notification operation of the replenishment procedure is started with the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  becoming less than the predetermined amount as a trigger. As illustrated in  FIG. 23A , the first message  56   a  is capable of replenishing the process cartridge  20  with toner, and a phrase prompting the user to attach the toner pack  40  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  as one of the toner replenishment procedure is displayed. The user attaches the toner pack  40  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  in accordance with the first message  56   a  displayed on the display portion  301  (S 503 ). 
     To be noted,  FIGS. 23A to 23F  illustrate character information displayed as messages ( 56   a  to  56   f ) as an example of a thing displayed on the display portion  301  and indicating the toner replenishment procedure. Other than this, for example, a procedure for replenishing the developer container  32  with toner from the toner pack  40  may be displayed on the display portion  301  as information such as an image or a video. In addition, in the case where the image forming apparatus  1  includes a sound emitting portion such as a loudspeaker, the procedure for replenishing the developer container  32  with toner from the toner pack  40  may be notified to the user as sound information. 
     As described above, when replenishing toner, the toner pack  40  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . In addition, the toner receiving unit  801  is provided with a rotation locking mechanism  59  serving as a restriction member that restricts the position of the discharge port  42   a  of the toner pack  40  in the state of being attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . As described above, if the position of the locking member  7014  is not the lock releasing position, the replenishment port  8012  and the discharge port  42   a  do not communicate with each other even in a state in which the toner pack  40  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (see  FIGS. 11A and 11B ). In the present embodiment, for example, the attachment detection means  53  detects that the toner pack  40  has been attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , as a result of the T memory  57  being electrically connected to the control portion  90  via the contact portion  70133  ( FIGS. 9A and 9B ) of the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . According to such a configuration, the attachment detection means  53  is configured so as to be able to detect whether or not the toner pack  40  is attached to a position suitable for reliably discharging toner. That is, it is configured such that even if the toner pack  40  is attached to the toner receiving unit  801 , toner is not discharged from the toner pack  40  unless the position of the discharge port  42   a  with respect to the replenishment port  8012  is a position suitable for reliably discharging toner. 
     The control portion  90  obtains the output value of the attachment detection means  53  and determines whether or not the toner pack  40  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 504 ). For example, in the case where communication with the memory unit  45  of the toner pack  40  is successful, the control portion  90  determines that the toner pack  40  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . In the case where the toner pack  40  is not attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 504 /N), the control portion  90  does not lift the locking member  7014 , and keeps the present state. In the case where the toner pack  40  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 504 /Y), the control portion  90  obtains toner information from the T memory  57  of the toner pack  40 . Then, the control portion  90  determines, on the basis of the toner information obtained from the T memory  57 , whether or not the toner accommodated in the toner pack  40  is toner with which the developer container  32  can be replenished (S 505 ). To be noted, the control portion  90  is configured to be capable of determining, on the basis of the toner information, whether or not the toner accommodated in the toner pack  40  is toner with which the developer container  32  can be replenished. For example, the control portion  90  determines that the toner in the toner pack  40  can be used for replenishment in the case where the toner pack  40  is brand-new, the toners in the toner pack  40  and the developer container  32  are of the same color, and the expiration date of the toner pack  40  has not been reached yet (S 505 /Y). 
     In the case where it has been determined that the toner in the toner pack  40  can be used for replenishment, the control portion  90  determines, on the basis of information stored in the P memory  58  of the process cartridge  20 , whether or not it is possible to perform toner replenishment on the process cartridge  20  (S 506 ). As described above, the P memory  58  stores the remainder amount of toner accommodated in the developer container  32 , the total amount of toner that has been supplied from the replenishment container thus far, information of the lifetime of the photosensitive member, information of the replacement timing of the process cartridge  20 , and the like. For example, there is a case where the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is such an amount that toner replenishment with the toner pack  40  cannot be performed even in a state in which the lights of the indicators  4002  and  4003  of the panel  400  are on. In such a case, the control portion  90  determines that it is not possible to perform toner replenishment on the process cartridge  20  (S 506 /N). In contrast, in the case where the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is such an amount that the toner replenishment using the toner pack  40  is possible, the control portion  90  determines that it is possible to perform toner replenishment on the process cartridge  20  (S 506 /Y). The case where the toner remainder amount of the developer container  32  is such an amount that the toner replenishment using the toner pack  40  is possible is, for example, a case where at least the light of the indicator  4003  of the panel  400  is off. To be noted, a configuration in which the control portion  90  determines whether or not it is possible to perform toner replenishment on the process cartridge  20  on the basis of only information indicating whether or not the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is such an amount that the toner replenishment using the toner pack  40  is possible may be employed. 
     In this manner, the control portion  90  determines whether or not the developer container  32  can be replenished with the toner accommodated in the toner pack  40  attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . To be noted, in the case where any one of S 504 , S 505 , and S 506  is N, the control portion  90  keeps the restriction state of the toner pack  40  by the rotation locking mechanism  59  (S 523 ), and finishes the series of operations. As a result of this, toner can be prevented from erroneously discharged into the developer container  32  even in the case where a toner pack with which the developer container  32  cannot be replenished is used by the user or the end of the lifetime of the process cartridge  20  is close. 
     In the case where the toner accommodated in the toner pack  40  is toner with which the developer container  32  can be replenished and it is possible to perform toner replenishment on the process cartridge  20  (S 506 /Y), the control portion  90  cancels the restriction state of the toner pack  40  by the locking mechanism. As a result of this, the locking mechanism takes an allowance state in which the rotation of the toner pack  40  with respect to the replenishment port  8012  is allowed (S 507 ). Next, the control portion  90  displays a second message  56   b  prompting an operation to rotate the toner pack  40  (S 508 ). The second message  56   b  indicates a second step for causing the toner pack  40  and the replenishment port  8012  to communicate with each other among the toner replenishment procedure. The user rotates the toner pack  40  in accordance with the displayed second message  56   b  (S 509 ). As a result of the user rotating the toner pack  40 , the toner pack  40  attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and the replenishment port  8012  communicate with each other. In the present example, for example, the rotation detection means  55  detects that the rotation angle of the toner pack  40  has reached such an angle as to communicate with the replenishment port  8012 , in the case where the flat springs  70151  and  70152  of the rotation detection portion  7015  are connected by the projection portion provided in the discharge portion  42 . In addition, the rotation detection means  55  may be configured to detect that the rotation angle of the toner pack  40  has reached such an angle as to communicate with the replenishment port  8012 , in the case where light in a photoelectric sensor (not illustrated) is blocked by the projection portion provided in the replenishment port shutter  7013 . 
     The control portion  90  determines the rotation angle of the toner pack  40  on the basis of the output value of the rotation detection means  55 , and determines whether or not the toner pack  40  and the replenishment port  8012  communicate with each other (S 510 ). Here, it is assumed that, in the case where the rotation angle of the toner pack  40  has reached 180° (S 510 /Y), the replenishment port  8012  is exposed to the discharge portion  42 , and the toner pack  40  and the replenishment port  8012  communicate with each other (see  FIG. 10B ). That is, the rotation detection means  55  serves as an example of a communication detection means (communication detection portion) of the present example. 
     In the case where it has been determined that the toner pack  40  and the replenishment port  8012  communicate with each other (S 510 /Y), the control portion  90  moves the position of the locking member  7014  of the rotation locking mechanism  59  to the locking position to switch the toner pack  40  again to the restriction state (S 511 ). If the toner pack  40  is detached from the replenishment port  8012  while the toner pack  40  and the replenishment port  8012  still communicate with each other, there is a risk that the toner accommodated in the toner pack  40  scatters. Therefore, in the present example, in the case where the toner pack  40  and the replenishment port  8012  communicate with each other, detachment of the toner pack  40  from the replenishment port  8012  is restricted before discharge of toner so as to prevent scattering of toner. 
     After switching the toner pack  40  to the restriction state, the control portion  90  causes the operation portion  300  to display a third message  56   c  prompting the user to perform an operation to discharge toner from the toner pack  40  to the replenishment port  8012  (S 512 ). The third message  56   c  indicates a third step for discharging toner from a replenishment container such as the toner pack  40  to the replenishment port  8012  among the toner replenishment procedure. In the case of replenishing the process cartridge  20  with toner by using the toner pack  40 , a screen prompting the user to perform an operation such as squeezing the bag member  43  by hand is displayed as the third message  56   c.    
     In addition, the control portion  90  alternately displays the third message  56   c  and a fourth message  56   d  (S 513 ). The fourth message  56   d  is a screen indicating a step for stopping the toner replenishment procedure. The fifth step of the present example is a step for stopping the progress of the toner replenishment procedure. Here, as an example of a stopping operation, operating a button  310  capable of executing a stopping operation for stopping the toner replenishment procedure in the operation portion  300  is used as the stopping operation (see  FIG. 20A ). Since the operation portion  300  changes the output value thereof in accordance with whether or not the button  310  is operated, the button  310  and the operation portion  300  cooperatively function as a stopping operation detection means (stopping operation detection portion) of the present example. 
     In the case where the stopping operation is performed in a period in which the third message  56   c  or the fourth message  56   d  is displayed ( 5514 /Y), the control portion  90  stops the progress of the toner replenishment procedure and cancels the restriction state of the toner pack  40  by the rotation locking mechanism  59  (S 524 ). When the toner pack  40  is switched to the allowance state, the control portion  90  displays a fifth message  56   e  prompting the user to perform an operation for detaching the toner pack  40  from the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 525 ). The user rotates the toner pack  40  in accordance with the displayed fifth message  56   e,  and as a result of this, the toner pack  40  is detached from the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     In the case where the stopping operation has not been performed before the elapse of a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) after the start of display of the third message  56   c  (S 514 /N), it can be considered that an operation for discharging toner is performed on the toner pack  40 . At this time, the control portion  90  determines that toner has been discharged from the toner pack  40  to the replenishment port  8012  (S 515 ), and discharge of toner from the toner pack  40  to the replenishment port  8012  has been completed ( 5516 /Y). The control portion  90  measures the elapsed time since the start of display of the third message  56   c  on the basis of the clock of the CPU or the system clock. That is, the control portion  90  serves as an example of a discharge detection means (discharge detection portion) of the present example. When it is determined that discharge of toner has been completed, the control portion  90  increments the display of the indicators of the panel  400  (S 517 ). The display of the indicators being incremented indicates a state in which the toner remainder amount of the process cartridge  20  has been increased, or indicates that discharge of toner from the toner pack  40  has been completed. 
     Next, the control portion  90  updates the toner information in the T memory  57  (S 518 ). The toner information of the T memory  57  is updated including description indicating that the toner pack  40  is already used. Further, the control portion  90  moves the position of the locking member  7014  of the rotation locking mechanism  59  to the lock releasing position, and cancels the restriction state of the toner pack  40  (S 519 ). Then, the control portion  90  causes the operation portion  300  to display a sixth message  56   f  prompting the user to perform an operation for detaching the used toner pack  40  from the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 520 ). The fourth step of the present embodiment is the operation for detaching the replenishment container such as the toner pack  40  from the replenishment port  8012 . The user rotates the toner pack  40  in accordance with the notified sixth message  56   f  (S 521 ), and as a result of this, the toner pack  40  becomes detachable from the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 522 ). 
     As described above, the control portion  90  changes the procedure in accordance with detection results of the toner remainder amount detection means  51 , the attachment detection means  53 , the rotation detection means  55 , and the push-in detection means  56  when displaying the toner replenishment procedure on the operation portion  300 . In the present example, it becomes possible for the user to recognize the progress status of the replenishment operation by displaying the toner replenishment procedure while the user is performing toner replenishment, and therefore the load of the toner replenishment on the user can be reduced. Further, since a configuration in which the toner does not scatter when the toner pack  40  is detached after attaching the toner pack  40  to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  is employed, the convenience for toner replenishment can be improved. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     (6-2) Guidance of Replenishment Procedure Using Toner Bottle Unit 
     Next, the flow of a guidance operation of the replenishment procedure using the toner bottle unit  900  will be described.  FIG. 24  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a guidance operation of the replenishment procedure in a direct replenishment system. As described above, in the toner bottle unit  900 , it becomes possible to discharge toner when the piston  902  is pushed in. Here, only the element of determining the completion of toner discharge on the basis of the output value of the push-in detection means  56  is different between the replenishment procedure using the toner bottle unit  900  and the replenishment procedure of Example 1 using the toner pack  40 . That is, in the configuration of the present example, the completion of toner discharge is determined on the basis of whether or not the push-in operation of the piston  902  has been performed. In the description of the flowchart of  FIG. 24 , steps of the same operations as steps of the flowchart of  FIG. 22  are denoted by the same reference signs, and redundant descriptions will be omitted. 
     In the case of replenishing the process cartridge  20  with toner by using the toner bottle unit  900 , a screen prompting an operation of pushing in the piston  902  is displayed as the third message  56   c.  After the start of display of the third message  56   c,  the control portion  90  determines whether or not the piston  902  has been pushed in, on the basis of the output value of the push-in detection means  56 . In the case where a stopping operation is performed without the piston  902  being pushed in (S 514 /Y), the control portion  90  stops the progress of the guidance of the toner replenishment procedure. Then, the control portion  90  cancels the restriction state of the toner bottle unit  900  by changing the position of the locking member  7014  of the rotation locking mechanism  59  to the lock releasing position (S 524 ). In contrast, when the piston  902  is pushed in, toner is discharged from the toner bottle unit  900  to the replenishment port  8012  (S 515 ). In the present example, for example, the push-in detection means  92  detects the push-in of the piston  902  when the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  in the connected state with each other are switched to the disconnected state. In the case of detecting that the piston  902  has been pushed in on the basis of the output value of the push-in detection means  56  (S 530 /Y), the control portion  90  determines that discharge of toner has been performed, and increments the display of the indicators of the panel  400  (S 517 ). That is, the push-in detection means  56  serves as an example of a discharge detection means of the present example. Subsequent steps of the replenishment operation are the same as in the case of using the toner pack  40 , and therefore description thereof will be omitted. 
     OTHER EXAMPLES 
     In Examples 1 and 2, the first message  56   a,  the second message  56   b,  the third message  56   c,  the fourth message  56   d,  the fifth message  56   e,  and the sixth message  56   f  are displayed in accordance with the progress of the toner replenishment operation. As an embodiment different from this, for example, the first message  56   a,  the second message  56   b,  the third message  56   c,  and the sixth message  56   f  may be collectively displayed on the display portion  301 . In addition, at least one of the first message  56   a,  the second message  56   b,  the third message  56   c,  the fourth message  56   d,  the fifth message  56   e,  and the sixth message  56   f  may be displayed. 
     In addition, as a configuration for restricting the rotation of the replenishment container such as the toner pack  40  or the toner bottle unit  900 , for example, the movement of the replenishment container may be restricted by providing a horizontal pin at the discharge port  42   a  or  9031 . To be noted, the movement mode of the replenishment container such as the toner pack  40  or the toner bottle unit  900  is not limited to rotational movement, and linear movement may be restricted by the horizontal pin or the like. 
     In addition, the discharge mode of toner from the toner pack  40  is not limited to the operation of squeezing by the hand of the user, and toner may be discharged from the discharge port  42   a  by pulling down a clip provided in an upper portion of the toner pack  40 . 
     In addition, as the stopping operation other than the operation on the buttons  310 , a stopping command may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus  1  from the PC  2 A or the portable information processing terminal  2 B communicable with the image forming apparatus  1 . In addition, the toner replenishment procedure may be displayed on the PC  2 A or the portable information processing terminal  2 B. In the case of causing the PC  2 A or the portable information processing terminal  2 B to execute the display of the toner replenishment procedure, the control portion  90  and the I/O interface  94  function as an input/output means (input/output portion) that provides and receives various information for guiding the replenishment procedure for replenishing toner to and from an external information processing apparatus. 
     (7) CONTROL ACCORDING TO TYPE OF REPLENISHMENT CONTAINER 
     The operation at the time of replenishing the image forming apparatus  1  with toner from the replenishment container will be described below. In the present embodiment, replenishment containers of a plurality of types accommodating different amounts of toner can be connected to one image forming apparatus  1 . The user selecting the amount of toner that is supplied in one time of toner replenishment has a merit that the image forming apparatus  1  can be used more flexibly. Here, a case (Example 3) where toner bottles of a plurality of types having different capacities (charged amounts) are used as examples of the replenishment containers will be described. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     (7-1) Types of Toner Bottle Units 
       FIGS. 25A to 25C  illustrate types of the toner bottle unit  900  described above.  FIG. 25A  illustrates a toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity, which accommodates toner for  1000  sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on.  FIG. 25B  illustrates a toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity, which accommodates toner for 2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on.  FIG. 25C  illustrates a toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity, which accommodates toner for 4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on. To be noted, “the number of sheets to be printed on” indicates the amount of increase in terms of the number of sheets of the recording material on which the image forming apparatus can form images, which increases by performing toner replenishment by using the toner bottle unit. In addition, “toner amount equivalent to 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on” indicates the amount of toner consumption in the case of outputting images on 1000 sheets at an average image coverage (area ratio of toner image to the effective image region of the recording material) serving as a standard. 
     To be noted, the toner bottle units  991  to  993  each have the same configuration as the toner bottle unit  900  described above except that the capacity thereof is different from each other. Therefore, the toner bottle units  991  to  993  each include the T memory  57  such as the memory unit  911  serving as a storage means, and the first contact plate  908 , the second contact plate  909 , and the push-in detection rod  907  constituting the push-in detection means  56 . 
     (7-2) Circuit Configuration of Toner Bottle Units 
       FIG. 26  illustrates the circuit configuration of the toner bottle units  991  to  993  including the T memory  57  and the push-in detection mechanism. The T memory  57  is connected to the metal plates  9111  and  9112 , the first contact plate  908  is connected to the metal plate  9111 , and the second contact plate  909  is connected to the metal plate  9113 . In addition, when the toner bottle units  991  to  993  are attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , the metal plates  9111  to  9113  of the contact portion  911   a  are electrically connected to the control portion of the image forming apparatus via the contact portion  70133  ( FIGS. 9A and 9B ) of the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     The T memory  57  stores different capacity information (toner amount information) in accordance with the types of the toner bottle units  991  to  993 . The T memory  57  is an example of a carrying means (carrying portion) that carries information with which the type of the replenishment container to which the T memory  57  is attached can be identified among replenishment containers of a plurality of types, and in the present example, carries capacity information as electronic information stored in the memory. In the case of the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity, capacity information indicating that toner of an amount equivalent to 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on is stored in the T memory  57 . In addition, in the case of the toner bottle units  992  and  993  of a medium capacity and a large capacity, capacity information indicating that toner of amounts respectively equivalent to 2000 sheets and 4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on is accommodated is stored in the T memory  57 . Further, the T memory  57  stores a brand-new flag as information indicating whether or not the toner bottle units  991  to  993  are unused (brand-new) or already used for toner replenishment. 
     The control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus  1  connected to the T memory  57  via the contact portion  70133  obtains the capacity information stored in the T memory  57  via the metal plate  9111  and the metal plate  9112 . That is, the contact portion  70133  is an example of an obtaining means (obtaining portion) with which the image forming apparatus obtains information indicating the type of the replenishment container. In the present example, the types of the toner bottle units  991  to  993  are specified as a result of the control portion  90  reading out the capacity information from the T memory  57  via the contact portion  70133 . The method for communicating with the T memory  57  is a so-called two-line communication system in which a power supply line and a communication signal line are integrated, and communication is performed via the metal plate  9111  and the metal plate  9112 . To be noted, a different method may be used as the communication method. 
     To be noted, the information that the control portion  90  obtains from the T memory  57  is not limited to information directly indicating the capacity of the toner bottle unit, and may be information that can identify which of the plurality of types having different capacities the toner bottle unit is. In this case, the control portion  90  can determine the capacity of the toner bottle unit by referring to the correspondence relationship between the type of the toner bottle unit stored in advance in a nonvolatile memory and the capacity thereof. 
     As described with reference to  FIGS. 16A to 16D , when the piston  902  of the toner bottle units  991  to  993  is pushed, the contact canceling portion  9072  of the push-in detection rod  907  that is an insulator enters between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909 , and the conduction is canceled. That is,  FIG. 26  illustrates the circuit state after the piston  902  is pushed in. To be noted, in  FIG. 26 , a switch mechanism constituted by the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  is illustrated as an equivalent circuit symbol that is turned on/off by the push-in detection rod  907 . 
     In the case where no current flows even when a voltage is applied between the metal plates  9111  and  9113 , the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus  1  determines that the piston  902  has been pushed in and discharge of toner accommodated in the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  has been completed. In contrast, in the case where conduction between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  is established, the control portion  90  determines, on the basis of flow of current caused by applying a voltage between the metal plates  9111  and  9113 , that the piston  902  has not been pushed in (brand-new state). 
     (7-3) Control in Toner Replenishment 
     Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus when toner replenishment is performed by using any one of the toner bottle units  991  to  993  having different capacities will be described. 
     While toner replenishment is not performed, the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus  1  changes the display level of the panel  400  ( FIGS. 14A to 14C ) on the basis of the detection result of the toner remainder amount detection means  51  ( FIG. 19 ). In the present example below, it is assumed that the display state of the panel  400  can be changed among  5 -step display levels. In the case of the panel configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 14A to 14C , for example, as a display level between  FIGS. 14A and 14B , a state in which the light of the lower indicator  4003  is on and the light of the middle indicator  4002  flickers can be set. In addition, as a display level between  FIGS. 14B and 14C , a state in which the lights of the middle and lower indicators  4002  and  4003  are on and the light of the upper indicator  4001  flickers can be set. 
     As a result of this, the display level of the panel  400  can be changed among at least six levels in total of the display states illustrated in  FIGS. 14A to 14C  and the display state of the Low level described above. At this time, one step of the display level corresponds to the toner amount of one toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity, that is, the toner amount equivalent to 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on. In other words, in the case where the image forming apparatus  1  repeats the image forming operation without performing toner replenishment, the display level of the panel  400  is lowered by one step each time image formation is performed on approximately 1000 sheets of the recording material. 
     An operation in the toner replenishment will be described with reference to  FIG. 27 . In the procedure of this flowchart, S 501 , S 508 , S 511 , S 519 , and S 520  indicate operations performed by the user. The other steps are realized by the CPU  91  ( FIG. 19 ) provided in the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus  1  executing a program read out from the nonvolatile memory  93 . 
     First, the user opens the opening/closing member  83  ( FIG. 4C ), and attaches one of the toner bottle units  991 ,  992 , and  993  of a small capacity, a medium capacity, and a large capacity to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 501 ). Since the T memory  57  and the control portion  90  are connected as a result of this, the control portion  90  communicates with the T memory  57  and obtains the brand-new flag and the capacity information stored in the T memory  57  (S 502 ). Further, the control portion  90  communicates with the P memory  58 , and obtains remaining capacity information of the developer container  32  (S 503 ). To be noted, the remaining capacity information of the developer container  32  in the P memory  58  is updated by the control portion  90  on the basis of the detection results of the toner remainder amount detection means  51  when needed. 
     The control portion  90  determines, on the basis of the value of the brand-new flag obtained from the T memory  57 , whether or not the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  currently attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  is brand-new (S 504 ). In addition, the control portion  90  compares the capacity information of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  obtained from the T memory  57  with the remaining capacity information of the P memory  58 , and determines whether or not the developer container  32  has enough remaining capacity (S 505 ). That is, when the remaining capacity of the developer container  32  is larger than the capacity of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  currently attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , it is determined that the developer container  32  has enough remaining capacity. 
     In the case where the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  that is currently attached is brand-new and the developer container  32  has enough remaining capacity, the control portion  90  operates the rotation locking mechanism  59  to release the lock of the replenishment port shutter  7013  (see S 506  and  FIG. 11A ). 
     In contrast, in the case where the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  that is currently attached is not brand-new, the control portion  90  maintains the locked state of the replenishment port shutter  7013  (see S 507  and  FIG. 11B ). Also in the case where the developer container  32  does not have enough remaining capacity, the control portion  90  maintains the locked state of the replenishment port shutter  7013  (see S 507  and  FIG. 11B ). To be noted, in the case where the lock of the replenishment port shutter  7013  is not released, the user cannot rotate the toner bottle unit  991  to  993 , and therefore the process does not proceed to subsequent steps S 506  to S 519 . In this case, the procedure is finished by the user pulling out the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  (S 520 ), and the image forming apparatus  1  returns to the state before the operation of toner replenishment is performed. As described above, the rotation locking mechanism  59  functions as a locking means that restricts an operation of causing the discharge port of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port and the replenishment port to communicate with each other (rotation operation in the present embodiment), and whether or not the restriction is to be canceled is determined in accordance with information of the capacity of the attached replenishment container and so forth. 
     When the lock of the replenishment port shutter  7013  is released (S 506 ), the user rotates the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by  180 ° (S 508 ). Then, the rotation detection means  55  detects that the replenishment port shutter  7013  has been rotated by 180° (S 509 ), and the control portion  90  locks the rotation locking mechanism  59  on the basis of this (S 510 ). As a result of this, the state in which the discharge port of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  communicates with the replenishment port  8012  is maintained without receiving the rotation operation of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by the user. 
     When the user pushes in the piston  902  of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  to discharge the toner (S 511 ), the push-in detection means  56  detects that the piston  902  has been pushed in (S 512 ). That is, in this configuration example, the push-in detection means  56  is used as a discharge detection means that detects completion of toner discharge from the replenishment container. When completion of toner discharge is detected, the control portion  90  turns on the light of at least one of indicators of the panel  400  that is not on, and thus notifies the user that toner replenishment has been performed. 
     Here, the control portion  90  changes the amount of increment of the display level of the panel  400  in accordance with from which toner bottle among the toner bottle units  991  to  993  of a plurality of types having different capacities toner has been replenished (S 513  to S 516 ). 
     For example, it is assumed that toner replenishment is performed in a state in which it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Low level. In this case, in the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity has been obtained in S 502 , the control portion  90  increases the display level of the panel  400  by one step (S 514 ). In the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity has been obtained in S 502 , the control portion  90  increases the display level of the panel  400  by two steps (S 515 ). In the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity has been obtained in S 502 , the control portion  90  increases the display level of the panel  400  by four steps (S 516 ). 
     As described above, the unit of increase and decrease of the indicators in the display means of the present example corresponds to the replenishment container (first replenishment container) of the smallest capacity among the plurality of types of replenishment containers. That is, in the case where toner replenishment has been performed by using the first replenishment container having the smallest capacity (for example, the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity) among the replenishment containers of a plurality of types, the indicators of the display means change by one step. In the case where toner replenishment has been performed by using a second replenishment container having a larger capacity than the first replenishment container (for example, the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity) among the replenishment containers of a plurality of types, the indicators of the display means change by a plurality of steps. 
     After changing the display of the panel  400 , the control portion  90  records in the T memory  57  that the toner pack has been used (S 517 ), and releases the rotation locking mechanism  59  (S 518 ). The user rotates the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by 180° (S 519 ), and pulls out the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  from the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 520 ). As a result of this, the toner replenishment procedure for the image forming apparatus  1  is finished. 
     To be noted, although the procedure of toner replenishment using the toner bottle units  991  to  993  has been described, toner replenishment is also performed in basically the same manner in a case of using a different replenishment container such as the toner pack  40 . Therefore, the control portion  90  can determine the type of the toner pack by accessing the T memory  57  (memory unit  45 ) of the toner pack  40  attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     However, in the case of a toner pack, since the push-in operation of a piston is not performed, the completion of toner discharge is detected by a different discharge detection means instead of steps S 511  and S 512  of  FIG. 27 . Specifically, there is a method of determining completion of discharge in response to the elapse of a predetermined time since a time point at which rotation of the toner bottle is detected in S 509 . In addition, for example, there is a method of, after detecting the rotation of the toner bottle in S 509 , displaying a button notifying that toner discharge has been completed on the operation portion  300 , and determining completion of toner discharge on the basis of the user pushing the button. 
     As described above, in the present example, in a configuration in which the toner bottle units  991  to  993  of a plurality of types having different capacities can be used, when a toner bottle unit is attached to the image forming apparatus, the control portion  90  reads capacity information from the T memory  57  of the toner bottle unit. In other words, in a configuration in which replenishment containers of a plurality of types accommodating different amounts of toner can be used, the control portion  90  serving as a determination means (determination portion) determines the type of the replenishment container by reading the capacity information stored in the T memory  57  serving as an example of a carrying means (S 502  of  FIG. 27 ). 
     According to this determination result, the control portion  90  can perform an appropriate operation of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the type of the replenishment container used by the user for toner replenishment. For example, in S 505  of  FIG. 27 , overflow of toner from the developer container  32  is prevented by monitoring whether or not the amount of toner accommodated in the replenishment container exceeds the remaining capacity of the developer container  32 . In addition, in S 513  to S 516  of  FIG. 27 , the display level of the panel  400  is changed in accordance with the type of the replenishment container used in the toner replenishment of this time. As a result of this, the user can quickly recognize change in the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  can be replenished, without waiting for reflection of the detection result of the toner remainder amount detection means after toner replenishment on the display level of the panel  400 . 
     To be noted, the determination on the remaining capacity described above (S 505 ) and the display control of the panel (S 513  to S 516 ) are each an example of an operation performed in accordance with the determination result of the type of the replenishment container, and the control portion  90  may use the determination result of the type of the replenishment container for a different operation. For example, a message indicating that the replenishment container has been attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and indicating the type of the replenishment container may be displayed on the display portion  301  ( FIG. 20A ) of the operation portion  300  or the display  560  ( FIG. 20B ) of the external device subsequently to S 502  of  FIG. 27 . 
     In addition, although an example of a circuit configuration of the push-in detection mechanism of the toner bottle unit is illustrated in  FIG. 26 , a different circuit configuration may be used. Although the same metal plate  9111  is used as both a contact connected to the memory unit  911  and a contact of the push-in detection mechanism in this circuit configuration, these contacts may be separately provided as illustrated in  FIG. 28 . In this circuit configuration, the memory unit  911  is connected to the metal plates  9111  and  9112 , the first contact plate  908  of the push-in detection mechanism is connected to the metal plate  9114 , and the second contact plate  909  is connected to the metal plate  9113 . Also in this case, the control portion  90  can read the capacity information by accessing the T memory  57  via the metal plates  9111  and  9112  in a state in which the toner bottle unit is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . To be noted, also in this circuit configuration, the control portion  90  can detect that the piston of the toner bottle unit has been pushed in and discharge of toner has been performed, on the basis of the presence or absence of the conduction between the metal plates  9113  and  9114 . 
     In addition, the T memory  57  used as a carrying means in the present embodiment serves as an example of a storage medium that stores the capacity information, which is information indicating the type of the replenishment container, as electronic information. However, the carrying means (storage means for information indicating the type of the replenishment container) of the present disclosure is not limited to an electronic storage medium as will be described in the embodiments below. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second embodiment will be described. The present embodiment is different from Example 3 of the first embodiment in the configuration and method for determining the types of replenishment containers having different capacities. The other elements having the same configuration and effect as in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs as in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted. 
     (Capacity Detection Using Resistor) 
     Also in the present embodiment, as examples of the replenishment containers of a plurality of types having different capacities, the toner bottle units  991 ,  992 , and  993  of a small capacity, a medium capacity, and a large capacity illustrated in  FIGS. 25Ato 25C  will be described. To be noted, in the present embodiment, a resistor  912  is used as a carrying means (storage means) for carrying the information of the replenishment container as illustrated in  FIG. 29A  instead of the memory unit that is a storage medium for storing electronic information. 
     A plurality of types of resistors  912  having different resistance values are prepared, and resistors of types corresponding to the types of the toner bottle units  991  to  993  are respectively attached thereto. Specifically, a resistor  912  of a resistance value Ra is attached to the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity accommodating toner for 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on. A resistor  912  of a resistance value 2Ra is attached to the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity accommodating toner for 2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on. A resistor  912  of a resistance value 4Ra is attached to the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity accommodating toner for 4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on. In any of these cases, the resistor  912  is connected to the metal plates  9111  and  9112  of the contact portion  911   a.    
     As described above, the resistor  912  serving as a carrying means (storage means) of the present embodiment carries information (capacity information) related to the type of the replenishment container as a value of a resistance value. That is, the resistance value Ra indicates the capacity information corresponding to the toner amount for 1000 sheets, the resistance value 2Ra indicates the capacity information corresponding to the toner amount for 2000 sheets, and the resistance value 4Ra indicates the capacity information corresponding to the toner amount for 4000 sheets. 
     The control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus can confirm the resistance value of a resistor  912  by applying a voltage to the resistor  912  via the contact portion  70133  provided in the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . That is, a voltage is applied to the metal plate  9112  via the contact  91120  of the contact portion  70133 . To be noted, it is assumed that the voltage applied to the metal plate  9112  is obtained by dividing the voltage Vcc with the resistance of the resistance value Ra, and the contact  91110  in contact with the other metal plate  9111  is grounded. The control portion  90  confirms the resistance value of the resistor  912  by obtaining the voltage value on the resistor  912  side via the A/D conversion portion  95 . 
     Here, the operation of the push-in detection means  56  ( FIG. 19 ) will be also described with reference to  FIG. 29A . The configuration of the push-in detection mechanism in the toner bottle unit is the same as that described with reference to  FIGS. 16A to 16D . That is, the first contact plate  908  is connected to the metal plate  9111  of the contact portion  911   a,  and the second contact plate  909  is connected to the other metal plate  9113  of the contact portion  911   a.  Further, when the piston  902  is pushed in, the push-in detection rod  907  slides in accordance with the piston  902 , and the contact canceling portion  9072  of the push-in detection rod  907  cancels the conduction between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  (also see  FIGS. 16A to 16D ). In addition, the contact  91130  of the contact portion  70133  is connected to the second contact plate  909  via the metal plate  9113 , and the contact  91110  is connected to the first contact plate  908  via the metal plate  9111 . To be noted, in  FIG. 29 , a switch mechanism constituted by the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  is illustrated as an equivalent circuit symbol that is switched on/off by the push-in detection rod  907 . 
     The control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus can detect the push-in of the piston  902  by monitoring the presence or absence of the conduction between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  via the contact portion  70133  provided in the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . That is, in a state in which the toner bottle unit is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  and the piston  902  is not pushed in, the contact  91130  is grounded via the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  in the connected state. Therefore, the voltage value detected by the CPU  91  is 0 [V]. In contrast, when the piston  902  is pushed in, the conduction between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  is canceled, and therefore the voltage value detected by the CPU  91  changes to Vcc [V]. On the basis of such change in the voltage value, the control portion  90  determines that the piston has been pushed in. 
     (Control in Toner Replenishment) 
     Next, the control of the panel  400  when toner replenishment is performed by using the toner bottle units  991  to  993  having different capacities will be described. 
     An operation performed in toner bottle replenishment will be described with reference to  FIG. 30 . In this flowchart, steps other than S 601 , S 608 , S 611 , S 619 , and S 620 , which are user operations, are realized by the CPU  91  ( FIG. 19 ) provided in the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus  1  executing a program read out from the nonvolatile memory  93 . 
     First, the user opens the opening/closing member  83  ( FIG. 4C ), and attaches one of the toner bottle units  991  to  993  of the small capacity, medium capacity, and large capacity to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 601 ). As a result of this, the resistor  912  is connected to the control portion  90 , and therefore the control portion  90  obtains the voltage value from the circuit including the resistor  912  via the A/D conversion portion  95 , and obtains the capacity information of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  on the basis of the obtained voltage value (S 602 ). Specifically, in the case where the voltage value obtained by the A/D conversion portion  95  of  FIG. 29A  is Vcc×Ra/(Ra+Rb), the control portion  90  determines that the capacity information indicates the toner amount for 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on. In addition, in the case where the voltage value obtained by the A/D conversion portion  95  is Vcc×2Ra/(2Ra+Rb), the control portion  90  determines that the capacity information indicates the toner amount for 2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on. In addition, in the case where the voltage value obtained by the A/D conversion portion  95  is Vcc×4Ra/(4Ra+Rb), the control portion  90  determines that the capacity information indicates the toner amount for 4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on. Further, the control portion  90  communicates with the P memory  58  to obtain the remaining capacity information of the developer container  32  stored in the P memory  58  (S 603 ). 
     The control portion  90  compares the capacity information of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  determined on the basis of the resistance value of the resistor  912  with the remaining capacity information of the P memory  58 , and determines whether or not the developer container  32  has enough remaining capacity (S 605 ). That is, when the remaining capacity of the developer container  32  is larger than the capacity of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  currently attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , it is determined that the developer container  32  has enough remaining capacity. 
     In the case where the developer container  32  has enough remaining capacity, the control portion  90  operates the rotation locking mechanism  59  and releases the lock of the replenishment port shutter  7013  (see S 606  and  FIG. 11A ). In contrast, in the case where the developer container  32  does not have enough remaining capacity, the control portion  90  maintains the locked state of the replenishment port shutter  7013  (see S 607  and  FIG. 11B ). In the case where the lock of the replenishment port shutter  7013  is not released, since the user cannot rotate the tonner bottle unit  991  to  993 , the process does not proceed to subsequent steps S 606  to S 619 . In this case, the user pulls out the toner bottle unit  991  to  993 , thus the procedure is finished (S 620 ), and the image forming apparatus  1  returns to the state before the operation of toner replenishment is performed. 
     To be noted, a step for checking, by the push-in detection means  56 , whether or not the piston  902  of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  is pushed in may be provided between S 603  and S 605 . At this time, in the case where the toner bottle unit is in the state before the piston push-in (in the case where the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  are in the connected state), it is determined that the toner bottle unit is brand-new, and the process proceeds to S 605 . In addition, in the case where the toner bottle unit is in the state after the piston push-in (in the case where the conduction between the first contact plate  908  and the second contact plate  909  is disconnected), it is determined that the toner bottle unit has been used, and the process proceeds to S 607 . 
     When the lock of the replenishment port shutter  7013  is released (S 606 ), the user rotates the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by 180° (S 608 ). Then, the rotation detection means  55  detects that the replenishment port shutter  7013  has been rotated by 180° (S 609 ), and the control portion  90  locks the rotation locking mechanism  59  on the basis of this (S 610 ). As a result of this, the state in which the discharge port of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  communicates with the replenishment port  8012  is maintained without receiving the rotation operation of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by the user. 
     The user pushes in the piston  902  of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  to discharge the toner (S 611 ), the push-in detection means  56  detects that the piston  902  has been pushed in (S 612 ). That is, in this configuration example, completion of toner discharge from the replenishment container is determined on the basis of a detection result of the push-in detection means  56 . When completion of toner discharge is detected, the control portion  90  turns on the light of at least one of indicators of the panel  400  that is not on, and thus notifies the user that toner replenishment has been performed. 
     Here, the control portion  90  changes the amount of increment of the display level of the panel  400  in accordance with from which toner bottle among the toner bottle units  991  to  993  of a plurality of types having different capacities toner has been replenished (S 613  to S 616 ). 
     For example, it is assumed that toner replenishment is performed in a state in which it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Low level. In this case, in the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity has been obtained in S 602 , the control portion  90  increases the display level of the panel  400  by one step (S 614 ). In the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity has been obtained in S 602 , the control portion  90  increases the display level of the panel  400  by two steps (S 615 ). In the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity has been obtained in S 602 , the control portion  90  increases the display level of the panel  400  by four steps (S 616 ). 
     After changing the display of the panel  400 , the control portion  90  releases the rotation locking mechanism  59  (S 618 ). The user rotates the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by 180° (S 619 ), and pulls out the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  from the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 620 ). As a result of this, the toner replenishment procedure for the image forming apparatus  1  is finished. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, when a toner bottle unit is attached to the image forming apparatus, the control portion  90  measures the resistance value of the resistor  912  of the toner bottle unit, and thus obtains the capacity information of the toner bottle unit. In other words, in a configuration in which replenishment containers of a plurality of types accommodating different amounts of toner can be used, the control portion  90  serving as a determination means determines the type of the replenishment container on the basis of the resistance value of the resistor  912  serving as an example of a carrying means (S 502  of  FIG. 27 ). By using this determination result, the control portion  90  can appropriately operate the image forming apparatus in accordance with the type of the replenishment container the user attempts to use for toner replenishment. 
     To be noted, although the same metal plate  9111  is used as both a contact connected to the resistor  912  and a contact of the push-in detection mechanism in this circuit configuration, these contacts may be separately provided as illustrated in  FIG. 29B . In this circuit configuration, the resistor  912  is connected to the metal plates  9111  and  9112 , the first contact plate  908  of the push-in detection mechanism is connected to the metal plate  9114 , and the second contact plate  909  is connected to the metal plate  9113 . Also in this case, the control portion  90  can obtain the capacity information of the toner bottle unit on the basis of the resistance value of the resistor  912  via the metal plates  9111  and  9112  in a state in which the toner bottle unit is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . To be noted, also in this circuit configuration, the control portion  90  can detect that the piston of the toner bottle unit has been pushed in and discharge of toner has been performed, on the basis of the presence or absence of the conduction between the metal plates  9113  and  9114 . 
     To be noted, although the procedure of toner replenishment using the toner bottle units  991  to  993  has been described, toner replenishment is also performed in basically the same manner in a case of using a different replenishment container such as the toner pack  40 . Therefore, the control portion  90  can determine the type of the toner pack by detecting the resistance value of the resistor provided in the toner pack  40  attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     A mode in which the wiring pattern between a plurality of contacts provided in the replenishment container differs depending on the type of the replenishment container will be described as a third embodiment. The present embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in the configuration and method for determining the types of replenishment containers having different capacities. The other elements having the same configuration and effect as in the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference signs as in the first and second embodiments, and description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIGS. 31A to 31C  illustrate configuration examples of wiring patterns  913  of metal plates  9111 ,  9112 , and  9115  exposed to the contact portion  911   a  in the case of using the toner bottle units  991 ,  992 , and  993  of a small capacity, a medium capacity, and a large capacity as the replenishment container. 
     To be noted, the contact portion  70133  of the replenishment container attaching portion  701  includes contacts  91110 ,  91120 ,  91130 , and  91150  respectively connected to the metal plates  9111 ,  9112 ,  9113 , and  9115  in the case where the toner bottle units  991  to  993  are attached thereto. The contact  91110  is connected to the ground potential. The contacts  91120  and  91150  are respectively connected to the supply voltage (Vcc) respectively via resistors having resistance values Rd and Re. 
       FIG. 31A  illustrates a circuit configuration of the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity, and metal plates JP 1  and JP 2  are disposed therein. In this case, the metal plate  9112  and the metal plate  9115  are in conduction with the metal plate  9111  all the time respectively via the metal plate JP 1  and the metal plate JP 2 . 
       FIG. 31B  illustrates a circuit configuration of the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity, the metal plate JP 1  is disposed therein, and the metal plate JP 2  is not disposed therein. In this case, whereas the metal plate  9112  is in conduction with the metal plate  9111  all the time via the metal plate JP 1 , the metal plate  9115  is insulated from the metal plate  9111 . 
       FIG. 31C  illustrates a circuit configuration of the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity, the metal plate JP 2  is disposed therein, and the metal plate JP 1  is not disposed therein. In this case, whereas the metal plate  9112  is insulated from the metal plate JP 1 , the metal plate  9115  is in conduction with the metal plate  9111  all the time via the metal plate JP 2 . 
     In the case where the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , the control portion  90  can determine the type of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by electrically detecting the presence or absence of the metal plates JP 1  and JP 2 . That is, a current that flows through the contact  91120  at the time of attaching the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  is Vcc/Rd in the case where the metal plate JP 1  is present ( FIGS. 31A and 31B ), and is 0 in the case where the metal plate JP 1  is not present ( FIG. 31C ). In addition, a current that flows through the contact  91150  at the time of attaching the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  is Vcc/Re in the case where the metal plate JP 2  is present ( FIGS. 31A and 31C ), and is 0 in the case where the metal plate JP 2  is not present ( FIG. 31B ) 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the wiring pattern  913  of the electric circuit provided in the replenishment container defers depending on the type of the replenishment container. In other words, in the present embodiment, the wiring pattern  913  that differs depending on the presence or absence of the metal plates JP 1  and JP 2  functions as a carrying means that carries information of the replenishment container. 
     In the case where the replenishment container is connected to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 , the control portion  90  can determine the type of the replenishment container by detecting the difference in the wiring path in the replenishment container on the basis of the presence or absence of the current flowing via each contact of the contact portion  70133  with the replenishment container. The method for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus when the user performs toner replenishment by using the determination result is the same as in the first and second embodiments, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. 
     To be noted, although difference is generated in the wiring pattern  913  by changing the presence or absence of the metal plates JP 1  and JP 2  in accordance with the type of the replenishment container in the present embodiment, for example, the difference in the wiring pattern  913  may be generated by changing the presence or absence of the metal plates  9112  and  9115 . Also in this case, the control portion  90  can determine the type of the replenishment container on the basis of the presence or absence of the current flowing via each contact of the contact portion  70133  in a state in which the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     In addition, although the metal plate  9111  is used as both a contact of the wiring pattern  913  indicating the type of the replenishment container and a contact of the push-in detection mechanism in the examples illustrated in  FIGS. 31A to 31C , these contacts may be separately provided as illustrated in  FIG. 32 . In this circuit configuration, the metal plate  9111  is part of the wiring pattern  913 , the first contact plate  908  of the push-in detection mechanism is connected to the metal plate  9114 , and the second contact plate  909  is connected to the metal plate  9113 . 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     A mode in which the shape of part of the replenishment container differs depending on the type of the replenishment container will be described as a fourth embodiment. The present embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in the configuration and method for determining the types of replenishment containers having different capacities. The other elements having the same configuration and effect as in the first to third embodiments will be denoted by the same reference signs as in the first to third embodiments, and description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIGS. 33A to 33C  illustrate the toner bottle units  991 ,  992 , and  993  serving as replenishment containers of the present embodiment.  FIG. 33A  illustrates the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity, and two protrusions  994  and  995  are provided at an end portion on the downstream side in the insertion direction to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 .  FIG. 33B  illustrates the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity, and one protrusion  994  is provided at an end portion on the downstream side in the insertion direction to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 .  FIG. 33C  illustrates the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity, and the other one protrusion  995  is provided at an end portion on the downstream side in the insertion direction to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     As described above, the toner bottle units  991  to  993  of a plurality of types having different capacities have shape patterns  914  formed in different shapes for the respective types. The shape patterns  914  serve as examples of a carrying means (storage means) that carries information of the replenishment container as a physical shape. 
     The control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus determines the types of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by detecting the shape of the shape pattern  914  when the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  is attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . Specifically, the replenishment container attaching portion  701  of the present embodiment is provided with two switches SW 1  and SW 2  that operate by coming into contact with the protrusions  994  and  995  of the shape pattern  914 . 
     In the case where the toner bottle unit is provided with the protrusion  994 , the protrusion  994  switches the switch SW 1  to an on state in accordance with the attachment of the toner bottle unit, and if the protrusion  994  is not provided, the switch SW 1  remains in an off state. Similarly, in the case where the toner bottle unit is provided with the protrusion  995 , the protrusion  995  switches the switch SW 2  to the on state in accordance with the attachment of the toner bottle unit, and if the protrusion  995  is not provided, the switch SW 2  remains in the off state. The control portion  90  determines, on the basis of the on/off pattern of the switches SW 1  and SW 2 , the type of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  that is currently attached. 
     The switches SW 1  and SW 2  described above are examples of a detection means capable of detecting the difference in the shape pattern  914  of the replenishment container, and a different detection means may be used. For example, disposing optical sensors PI 1  and PI 2  in which light is respectively shielded by the protrusions  994  and  995  as illustrated in  FIG. 35  can be considered. Also in this case, the control portion  90  can determine, on the basis of the pattern of the output signal of the optical sensors PI 1  and PI 2 , the type of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  that is currently attached. 
     In the first to fourth embodiments described above, configurations in which information of the replenishment container is carried by a carrying means (storage means) provided in the replenishment container and the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus determines the type of the replenishment container by reading the information from the carrying means have been described as examples. The carrying means is not limited to those described in the embodiments described above, and arbitrary means can be used as long as information that can specify of which of the plurality types the replenishment container attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  is can be carried. For example, a two-dimensional barcode in which information of the type (capacity) or expiration date of the replenishment container is coded may be added to the surface of the replenishment container, and the type of the replenishment container may be determined by reading the information by an image sensor of the image forming apparatus. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     A mode in which the user is requested for inputting the type of the replenishment container upon toner replenishment and the image forming apparatus determines the type of the replenishment container on the basis of the user input will be described as a fifth embodiment. The present embodiment is different from the first to fourth embodiments in the configuration and method for determining the types of replenishment containers having different capacities. The other elements having the same configuration and effect as in the first to fourth embodiments will be denoted by the same reference signs as in the first to fourth embodiments, and description thereof will be omitted. 
     The display portion  301  of the operation portion  300  of the present embodiment displays a selection screen  562  prompting the user to select the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment as illustrated in  FIG. 36 . Here, selection is made from the toner bottle units  991  to  993  of three types illustrated in  FIGS. 25A to 25C . The user inputs the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment in the image forming apparatus by operation on one of the buttons of the input portion  302  in accordance with an instruction on the selection screen  562 . 
     In addition, as a modification example, the selection screen  562  prompting the user to select the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment may be displayed on a display  560  of a host computer connected to the image forming apparatus. In this case, the host computer executes the display of the selection screen  562  on the basis of the information received from the image forming apparatus, and transmits, to the image forming apparatus, the information of the type of the replenishment container input by the user via the input apparatus. 
     Operation performed in toner replenishment in the present embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 38 . In this flowchart, steps other than S 701  to S 703 , S 706 , S 711 , and S 712 , which are user operations, are realized by the CPU  91  ( FIG. 19 ) provided in the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus  1  executing a program read out from the nonvolatile memory  93 . 
     First, the user opens the opening/closing member  83  ( FIG. 4C ), and attaches one of the toner bottle units  991  to  993  of the small capacity, medium capacity, and large capacity to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 701 ). Next, the user rotates the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by 180° (S 702 ). As a result of this, the discharge port of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  currently attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  communicates with the replenishment port  8012 . When the user pushes in the piston  902  of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  to discharge toner (S 703 ), the push-in detection means  56  detects that the piston  902  has been pushed in (S 704 ). 
     Here, the control portion  90  having detected completion of toner discharge in  5704  executes processing (display processing) of displaying a selection screen  303  ( FIG. 36 ) for prompting selection of the type of the toner bottle on the display portion  301  (S 705  and S 706 ). To be noted, in the case of the modification example described above, the control portion  90  having detected completion of toner discharge in  5704  performs the display processing by transmitting a notification to the host computer via the I/O interface  94  ( FIG. 19 ) to display the selection screen  562  ( FIG. 37 ) on the display  560 . 
     Then, when the user receives the information of the type of the toner bottle unit from the operation portion  300 , the control portion  90  changes the display level of the panel  400  on the basis of the input information (S 707  to S 710 ). For example, in the case where information indicating the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity has been obtained in S 706 , the control portion  90  increases the display level of the panel  400  by one step (S 708 ). In the case where information indicating the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity has been obtained in S 706 , the control portion  90  increases the display level of the panel  400  by two steps (S 709 ). In the case where information indicating the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity has been obtained in S 706 , the control portion  90  increases the display level of the panel  400  by four steps (S 710 ). 
     After inputting the type of the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  in S 706 , the user rotates the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  by 180° (S 711 ), and pulls out the toner bottle unit  991  to  993  from the replenishment container attaching portion  701  (S 712 ). As a result of this, the toner replenishment procedure for the image forming apparatus  1  is finished. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, in the case where toner replenishment is performed, the selection screen  303  and/or  562  is displayed on at least one of the display portion  301  of the image forming apparatus and the external display  560 . The control portion  90  determines the type of the toner bottle unit used for toner replenishment of this time, on the basis of the information input by the user in accordance with the selection screen  303  and/or  562 . In other words, the control portion  90  serving as a determination means requests the user to input information of the type of the replenishment container via the image forming apparatus or the external display portion, and determines the type of the replenishment container on the basis of the information input by the user. By using this determination result, the control portion  90  can appropriately operate the image forming apparatus in accordance with the type of the replenishment container that the user has used for toner replenishment. 
     To be noted, the timing at which the selection screen  303  and/or  562  is displayed in the present embodiment is when the piston push-in of the toner bottle unit is detected. However, for example, the selection screen  303  and/or  562  may be displayed when attachment of the toner bottle unit to the replenishment container attaching portion  701  is detected. In this case, it is preferable that the replenishment port shutter  7013  is locked by the rotation locking mechanism  59  in the initial state and the lock is released in the case where the capacity of the toner bottle unit selected by the user is equal to or smaller than the remaining capacity of the developer container  32  obtained from the P memory  58  (see S 505  to S 507  of  FIG. 27 ). 
     In addition, although the procedure of toner replenishment using the toner bottle units  991  to  993  has been described in the present embodiment, toner replenishment is also performed in basically the same manner in a case of using a different replenishment container such as the toner pack  40 . Therefore, the control portion  90  can determine the type of the toner pack by detecting the resistance value of the resistor provided in the toner pack  40  attached to the replenishment container attaching portion  701 . 
     Sixth Embodiment 
     A sixth embodiment will be described. The present embodiment is different from Example 3 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the panel  400 . The other elements having the same configuration and effect as in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs as in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted. 
     The panel  400  according to the present embodiment is provided on the front surface of the casing of the printer body  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 39 . The panel  400  is an example of a display means that displays replenishment amount information indicating the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been replenished or can be replenished. The panel  400  is constituted by a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of indicators (indicator) whose light emission state such as on, off, and flickering can be independently controlled. To be noted, instead of “off” in the description below, the light may be on in a state of a lower brightness than a normal on state, or light of a different color from the normal on state may be emitted. 
     In the present embodiment, a four-step indicator  401  in which four indicators  4011 ,  4012 ,  4013 , and  4014  from the upper side to the lower side in the vertical direction is used as the panel  400 . The panel  400  indicates the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been replenished or can be replenished by display of the indicators  4011  to  4014  that changes stepwise. In addition, the lowermost indicator  4014  also indicates whether the toner in the developer container  32  is at the Low level or the Out level. 
     In the configuration example of the panel  400  that is illustrated, in the case where the light of all the four indicators  4011  to  4014  are off, it is indicated that the toner in the developer container  32  is at the Out level. In the case where only the light of the lowermost indicator  4014  is flickering as illustrated in  FIG. 40A , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Low level. 
     In the case where only the light of the lowermost indicator  4014  is on as illustrated in  FIG. 40B , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at a first level higher than the Low level. In the case where the lights of the two lower indicators  4013  and  4014  are on and the lights of the two upper indicators  4011  and  4012  are off as illustrated in  FIG. 40C , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at a second level higher than the first level. In the case where the lights of the three lower indicators  4012  to  4014  are on and only the light of the uppermost indicator  4011  is off, it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at a third level higher than the second level. 
     In the case where the lights of all the indicators  4011  to  4014  are on as illustrated in  FIG. 40D , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Full level higher than the third level. In this state, since there is no indicator whose light is off, for example, it can be seen that toner cannot be added for replenishment from the toner pack  40 . 
     As will be described later, in the present embodiment, in the case where replenishment containers of a plurality of types accommodating different amounts of toner are connectable and the developer container is replenished with toner from a replenishment container outside of the image forming apparatus, the display of the panel  400  is changed. At this time, the amount of increase in the indicators of the panel  400  in the toner replenishment is changed in accordance with the type of the replenishment container. 
     To be noted, the panel  400  illustrated in  FIG. 39  is an example of a display means whose display content is changed in accordance with the level of the toner amount with which the developer container  32  can be replenished, and a different configuration may be used. For example, the panel may be constituted by a combination of a light source such as an LED or incandescent light and a diffusing lens. A configuration in which the indicators are omitted and only number panels are used or a configuration in which the number panels are omitted and only the indicators are used may be employed. In addition, the panel  400  of the present embodiment has a remainder amount display function of, also in a period in which toner replenishment is not performed, displaying the level of the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  on the basis of the detection result of the toner remainder amount detection means  51  ( FIG. 19 ) that will be described later. However, it suffices as long as the display means at least has a function of displaying the replenishment amount information indicating the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been replenished or can be replenished to the user, and the display means does not have to have the remainder amount display function. 
     (6-3) Display Control of Replenishment Amount Information in Toner Replenishment 
     Next, control of the panel  400  ( FIGS. 39 and 40A to 40D ) when toner replenishment is performed by using one of the toner bottle units  991  to  993  having different capacities will be described. 
     While toner replenishment is not performed, the control portion  90  of the image forming apparatus  1  changes the display of the panel  400  on the basis of the detection result of the toner remainder amount detection means  51  ( FIG. 19 ). Each indicator corresponds to the toner amount of one toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity, that is, toner amount for 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on. In other words, in the case where the image forming apparatus  1  repeats the image forming operation without toner replenishment, the light of one indicator that has been on in the panel  400  is turned off each time image formation is performed on about 1000 sheets of the recording material. 
     For example, in the state of  FIG. 40B  in which the light of one indicator is on, it is indicated that there is a remaining capacity with which toner equivalent to three toner bottle units  991  of a small capacity (3000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on) can be added for replenishment. In other words, it is indicated that toner equivalent to one toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity (1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on) has been already added for replenishment. In the state of  FIG. 40C  in which the lights of two indicators are on, it is indicated that there is a remaining capacity with which toner equivalent to two toner bottle units  991  of a small capacity (2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on) can be added for replenishment. In other words, it is indicated that toner equivalent to two toner bottle units  991  of a small capacity or one toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity (2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on) has been already added for replenishment. In the state of  FIG. 40D  in which the lights of all the indicators are on, it is indicated that replenishment of toner cannot be performed with any of the toner bottle units (toner remainder amount is at the Full level). In other words, it is indicated that toner equivalent to four, two, or one toner bottle units of a small capacity, medium capacity, or large capacity, respectively (4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on), has been already added for replenishment. In addition, when the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Low level, the control portion  90  turns off the lights of three upper indicators and flickers the light of the lowermost indicator as illustrated in  FIG. 40A . In the state of  FIG. 40A , it is indicated that there is a remaining capacity with which toner equivalent to four toner bottle units  991  of a small capacity (4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on) can be added for replenishment. As described above, in the present embodiment, “the number of indicators whose lights are off or flickering) corresponds to the replenishment amount information indicating the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been already replenished or can be replenished. 
     In the present embodiment, the method for controlling the display of the panel  400  in toner replenishment is basically the same as in the case of Example 3 of the first embodiment and the case of the second embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 27 and 30 . To be noted, the configuration and determination method for determining the type of the replenishment container having a different capacity is not particularly limited, and those described in the third to fifth embodiments may be used. 
     That is, the control portion  90  changes the amount of increment of the indicator display of the panel  400  in accordance with from which toner bottle unit among the toner bottle units  991  to  993  of the plurality of types having different capacities toner has been added for replenishment (S 513  to S 516  of  FIG. 27 ). To be noted, in the panel  400  of the present embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, turning on or off the light of one indicator corresponds to changing the display level of the panel  400  by one step. Therefore, in S 514 , S 515 , and S 516  of  FIG. 27 , the CPU  91  turns on the lights of the indicators of a required number for the panel  400  on the basis of the capacity information obtained from the T memory  57  of the toner bottle unit  991 ,  992 , or  993 . 
     For example, it is assumed that toner replenishment is performed in the state of  FIG. 40A  indicating that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Low level. In this case, in the case where the capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity has been obtained in S 502 , the control portion  90  turns on the light of one indicator of the panel  400  to transition to the state of  FIG. 40B  (S 514 ). In the case where the capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity has been obtained in S 502 , the control portion  90  turns on the lights of two indicators of the panel  400  to transition to the state of  FIG. 40C  (S 515 ). In the case where the capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity has been obtained in S 502 , the control portion  90  turns on the lights of four indicators of the panel  400  to transition to the state of  FIG. 40D  (S 516 ). 
     In addition, for example, it is assumed that toner replenishment is performed in the state of  FIG. 40B  indicating that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the first level. In this case, in the case where the capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity has been obtained in S 502 , the control portion  90  turns on the light of one indicator of the panel  400  to transition to the state of  FIG. 40C  (S 514 ). In the case where the capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity has been obtained in S 502 , the control portion  90  turns on the lights of two indicators of the panel  400  to transition to the state in which the lights of three indicators in total are on (S 515 ). To be noted, in the case where the capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity has been obtained in S 502 , the lock of the rotation locking mechanism  59  is maintained in S 505  and the toner replenishment is not performed, and therefore S 516  is not executed. 
     As described above, the unit of increase and decrease of the indicators in the display means of the present embodiment corresponds to the replenishment container (first replenishment container) of the smallest capacity among the plurality of types of replenishment containers. That is, in the case where toner replenishment has been performed by using the first replenishment container having the smallest capacity (for example, the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity) among the replenishment containers of a plurality of types, the indicators of the display means change by one step. In the case where toner replenishment has been performed by using a second replenishment container having a larger capacity than the first replenishment container (for example, the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity) among the replenishment containers of a plurality of types, the indicators of the display means change by a plurality of steps. 
     To be noted, although the procedure of toner replenishment using the toner bottle units  991  to  993  has been described in the present embodiment, toner replenishment is performed and the display of the panel  400  is changed in basically the same manner in a case of using a different replenishment container such as the toner pack  40 . For example, in the case of an image forming system in which toner packs of three types of a small capacity, medium capacity, and large capacity, the display control of the panel  400  described above can be applied as it is. 
     To be noted, in the case of a toner pack, since the push-in operation of a piston is not performed, completion of toner discharge is detected by a different discharge detection means instead of the steps S 511  and S 512  of  FIG. 27 . Specifically, there is a method of regarding, as the completion of discharge, the elapse of a predetermined time since a time point when the rotation of the toner pack is detected in S 509 . In addition, for example, there is a method of displaying a button notifying that discharge of toner has been completed on the operation portion  300  after the rotation of the toner pack is detected in S 509 , and regarding the button being pushed by the user as the completion of toner discharge. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, in a configuration in which replenishment containers of a plurality of types accommodating different amounts of toner can be used, replenishment amount displayed on a display means such as the panel  400  in accordance with the type of the replenishment container used in toner replenishment of this time is determined in toner replenishment. As a result of this, the user can quickly recognize, on the basis of the display content of the panel  400  or the like, the change in the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been replenished or can be replenished, which leads to improvement in the convenience. 
     Particularly, in the configuration example described above, the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been replenished or can be replenished is visually displayed by using the panel  400  including indicators that change stepwise in accordance with the toner remainder amount. As a result of this, the user can be notified of the types and number of replenishment containers with which toner replenishment can be performed without exceeding the capacity of the developer container  32 , in a manner that is instinctively understandable. In this case, as described in the configuration example described above, it is preferable that the number of indicators whose lights are turned on after toner replenishment is increased as the amount of toner accommodated in the replenishment container is larger. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, in the case where the completion of toner discharge from the replenishment container is detected by the discharge detection means, the replenishment amount information displayed on the display means is changed regardless of the detection result of the toner remainder amount detection means disposed in the developer container  32 . Therefore, the time after the user performs an operation of discharging toner from the replenishment container until the result is reflected as decrease in the amount of toner that has been added for replenishment or can be added for replenishment indicated by the replenishment amount information on the display means can be made shorter, and the convenience can be further improved. For example, the timing when the indicators of the panel  400  increment in the present embodiment is not dependent on whether or not toner conveyance by conveyance members ( 8013  to  8015 , see  FIGS. 6A to 6C ) of the toner receiving unit  801  is finished. 
     To be noted, as a display means that displays the replenishment amount information indicating the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been replenished or can be replenished, an element different from the panel  400  may be used. For example, in a configuration in which the types and number of replenishment containers with which toner replenishment can be performed are displayed as images or numerical values on the display portion  301  of the operation portion  300 , in the case where toner replenishment is performed, changing the display content in accordance with the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment of this time can be considered. 
     In addition, although an example of the circuit configuration of the push-in detection mechanism of the toner bottle unit is illustrated in  FIG. 26 , a different circuit configuration may be used as described in Example 3 with reference to  FIG. 28 . 
     Seventh Embodiment 
     In the seventh embodiment, a different configuration example of the panel will be further described. The panel  400  of the present embodiment is provided on the front surface of the casing of the printer body as illustrated in  FIG. 41 . The panel  400  is another example of a displays means that displays the replenishment information indicating the amount of toner with which the developer container has been replenished or can be replenished. In the present embodiment, an indicator  402  in which two indicators  4021  and  4022  are arranged up and down in the vertical direction is used as the panel  400 . The panel  400  indicates the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been replenished or can be replenished, by display on the indicators  4021  and  4022  that changes stepwise. 
     In the case where the lights of all the indicators  4021  and  4022  are off as illustrated in  FIG. 42A , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Low level. In the case where only the light of the lowermost indicator  4014  is flickering as illustrated in  FIG. 42B , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at a first level higher than the Low level. In other words, it is indicated that toner equivalent to one toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity (1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on) has been already added for replenishment. 
     In the case where only the light of the lowermost indicator  4022  is on as illustrated in  FIG. 42C , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at a second level higher than the first level. In other words, it is indicated that toner equivalent to two toner bottle units  991  of a small capacity or one toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity (2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on) has been already added for replenishment. In the case where the lights of all the indicators  4021  and  4022  are on as illustrated in  FIG. 42D , it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Full level higher than the second level. In this state, for example, it can be seen that since no the light of no indicator is off, replenishment of toner cannot be performed from the toner pack  40 . In other words, it is indicated that toner equivalent to four, two, or one toner bottle unit of a small capacity, medium capacity, or large capacity (4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed on), respectively, has been already added for replenishment. As described above, in the present embodiment, the number of indicators whose lights are off and the number of indicators whose lights are flickering correspond to the replenishment amount information indicating the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been replenished or can be replenished. 
     (Display Control of Replenishment Amount Information in Toner Replenishment) 
     In the present embodiment, the method for controlling the display of the panel  400  in toner replenishment is basically the same as in the case of Example 3 of the first embodiment and the case of the second embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 27 and 30 . To be noted, the configuration and determination method for determining the type of the replenishment container having a different capacity is not particularly limited, and those described in the third to fifth embodiments may be used. 
     That is, the control portion  90  changes the indicator display of the panel  400  in accordance with from which toner bottle unit among the toner bottle units  991  to  993  of a plurality of types having different capacities toner has been added for replenishment (S 613  to S 616  of  FIG. 30 ). To be noted, in S 614  to S 616 , increasing the toner remainder amount expressed by the indicator display of the panel  400  is described as the amount of increment of the display level (such as “+1” and “+2”). 
     For example, it is assumed that toner replenishment is performed in the state of  FIG. 42A  in which it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the Low level. In this case, in the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity has been obtained in S 602 , the control portion  90  flickers one indicator of the panel  400  to switch to the state of  FIG. 42B  (S 614 ). In the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity has been obtained in S 602 , it turns on the light of one indicator of the panel  400  to switch to the state of  FIG. 42C  (S 615 ). In the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity has been obtained in S 602 , it turns on the lights of the two indicators of the panel  400  to switch to the state of  FIG. 42D  (S 616 ). 
     In addition, for example, it is assumed that toner replenishment is performed in the state of  FIG. 42B  in which it is indicated that the toner remainder amount in the developer container  32  is at the first level. In this case, in the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  991  of a small capacity has been obtained in S 602 , the control portion  90  switches the lower indicator of the panel  400  from the flickering state to the on state to switch to the state of  FIG. 42C  (S 614 ). In the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  992  of a medium capacity has been obtained in S 602 , it turns on the light of the lower indicator and flickers the light of the upper indicator of the panel  400  (S 615 ). To be noted, in the case where capacity information indicating the toner bottle unit  993  of a large capacity has been obtained in S 602 , the lock of the rotation locking mechanism  59  is maintained in S 605  and the toner replenishment is not performed, and therefore S 616  is not executed. 
     As described above, also in the present embodiment, in a configuration in which replenishment containers of a plurality of types accommodating different amounts of toner can be used, display on a display means such as the panel  400  is, in toner replenishment, changed in accordance with the type of the replenishment container used in toner replenishment of this time. At this time, the display on the display means is changed on the basis of the capacity information obtained by an obtaining means regardless of the detection result of the toner remainder amount detection means disposed in the developer container  32 . As a result of this, the user can quickly recognize, on the basis of the display content of the panel  400  or the like, the change in the amount of toner with which the developer container  32  has been replenished or can be replenished, which leads to improvement in the convenience. 
     In addition, the panel  400  of the present embodiment is constituted by two indicators, which is less than the types of the replenishment container, and serves as a specific example in which display corresponding to the type of the replenishment container can be changed even in such a case. 
     SUMMARY OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     
         
         (A-1) 
       
    
     As described in the above embodiments with reference to specific examples (for example, see Examples 1 and 2 of the first embodiment), an aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure is
     an image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container accommodating toner is attachable and detachable and which is configured to form a toner image on a recording material,   the image forming apparatus including:
       an image bearing member;   a developer container configured to accommodate toner;   a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a toner image by using toner accommodated in the developer container;   a replenishment port through which the developer container can be replenished with toner from the replenishment container provided outside the image forming apparatus by attaching the replenishment container thereto;   a restriction member capable of transitioning to an allowance state in which a rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port with respect to the replenishment port and to a restriction state in which the rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port with respect to the replenishment port is restricted;   a notification portion configured to notify a replenishment procedure for replenishing the developer container with toner from the replenishment container; and   a controller configured to cause the notification portion to notify at least one step of the replenishment procedure.   
       (A-2)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-1), it is preferable that
         a progress detection portion configured to detect a progress of the replenishment container is provided, and   the controller changes the step to be notified by the notification portion among the replenishment procedure in accordance with a detection result of the progress detection portion.       (A-3)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-2), it is preferable that
         the progress detection portion includes a toner amount detection portion whose output value changes in accordance with an amount of toner accommodated in the developer container, and   on a basis of the output value of the toner amount detection portion, in a case where the amount of toner accommodated in the developer container is smaller than a predetermined amount, the controller causes the notification portion to notify a first step for attaching the replenishment container to the replenishment port.       (A-4)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-2) or (A-3), it is preferable that
         the progress detection portion includes an attachment detection portion whose output value changes in accordance with whether or not the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port, and   on a basis of the output value of the attachment detection portion, in a case where the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port, the controller causes the notification portion to notify a second step for causing the replenishment container to communicate with the replenishment port.       (A-5)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-4), it is preferable that
         the second step is an operation of causing the replenishment port and the replenishment container to communicate with each other by rotating the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port.       (A-6)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (A-2) to (A-5), it is preferable that
         the progress detection portion includes a communication detection portion whose output value changes in accordance with the replenishment container communicating with the replenishment port, and   on a basis of the output value of the communication detection portion, in a case where the replenishment container communicates with the replenishment port, the controller causes the notification portion to notify a third step for discharging toner accommodated in the replenishment container to the developer container through the replenishment port.       (A-7)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-6), it is preferable that
         the third step is an operation of discharging toner accommodated in the replenishment container by pushing in a pressing member provided in the replenishment container.       (A-8)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (A-2) to (A-7), it is preferable that
         the progress detection portion includes a discharge detection portion whose output value changes in accordance with discharge of toner accommodated in the replenishment container to the developer container, and   on a basis of the output value of the discharge detection portion, in a case where toner accommodated in the replenishment container has been discharged, the controller causes the notification portion to notify a fourth step for detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.       (A-9)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (A-2) to (A-8), it is preferable that
         the progress detection portion includes a stopping operation detection portion whose output value changes in accordance with whether or not a stopping operation for stopping a progress of the replenishment procedure has been performed, and   on a basis of the output value of the stopping operation detection portion, in a case where the stopping operation has been performed, the controller causes the notification portion to notify a fourth step for detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.       (A-10)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-5), it is preferable that
         the progress detection portion includes a rotation detection portion whose output value changes in accordance with a rotation angle of the replenishment container with respect to the replenishment port, and   on a basis of the output value of the rotation detection portion, in a case where the rotation angle has reached such an angle that the replenishment container communicates with the replenishment port, the controller causes the restriction member to transition to the restriction state, and then causes the notification portion to notify a third step for discharging toner accommodated in the replenishment container to the developer container through the replenishment port.       (A-11)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-10), it is preferable that
         in a case where the replenishment container communicates with the replenishment port, the controller causes the notification portion to alternately notify the third step and a fifth step for stopping a progress of the replenishment procedure.       (A-12)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-11), it is preferable that
         the fifth step is execution of a stopping operation in an operation portion with which the stopping operation of stopping the progress of the replenishment procedure can be executed, and   in a case where a predetermined time has elapsed without the stopping operation being executed after the third step has been notified by the notification portion, the controller causes the restriction member to transition to the allowance state, and then causes the notification portion to notify a fourth step for detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.       (A-13)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-11), it is preferable that
         the fifth step is execution of a stopping operation in an operation portion with which the stopping operation of stopping the progress of the replenishment procedure can be executed, and   in a case where the stopping operation is executed in a period in which the third step or the fifth step is notified by the notification portion, the controller causes the restriction member to transition to the allowance state, and then causes the notification portion to notify a fourth step for detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.       (A-14)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-1), it is preferable that
         the replenishment procedure includes a first step for attaching the replenishment container to the replenishment port, a second step for causing the replenishment container to communicate with the replenishment port, a third step for discharging toner accommodated in the replenishment container to the developer container through the replenishment port, and a fourth step for detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.       (A-15)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-14), it is preferable that
         the controller causes the notification portion to collectively notify the first step, the second step, the third step, and the fourth step.       (A-16)   

     An aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure is
         an image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container accommodating toner is attachable and detachable and which is capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus including a notification portion, is configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including:   an image bearing member;   a developer container configured to accommodate toner;   a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a toner image by using toner accommodated in the developer container;   a replenishment port through which the developer container can be replenished with toner from the replenishment container provided outside the image forming apparatus by attaching the replenishment container thereto;   a restriction member capable of transitioning to an allowance state in which a rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port with respect to the replenishment port is allowed and to a restriction state in which the rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port with respect to the replenishment port is restricted; and   a controller configured to output, to the information processing apparatus, information for causing the notification portion to notify at least one step of a replenishment procedure for replenishing the developer container with toner from the replenishment container.       (A-17)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (A-1) to (A-16), it is preferable that
         the notification portion includes a display portion for displaying the replenishment procedure.       (A-18)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (A-1) to (A-17), it is preferable that
         the notification portion includes a sound emitting portion for expressing the replenishment procedure by a sound.       (B-1)   

     As described in the above embodiments with reference to specific examples (for example, see Example 3 of the first embodiment and the second to sixth embodiments), an aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure is
     an image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container accommodating toner is attachable and detachable and which is configured to form a toner image on a recording material,   the image forming apparatus including:
       an image bearing member;   a developer container configured to accommodate toner;   a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a toner image by using toner accommodated in the developer container;   a replenishment port through which the developer container is replenished with toner from the replenishment container provided outside the image forming apparatus by attaching the replenishment container thereto and to which the replenishment container of a plurality of types accommodating different amounts of toner is connectable; and   a determination portion configured to, in a case where the developer container is replenished with toner from the replenishment container, determine a type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment on a basis of information carried by a carrying portion provided in the replenishment container.   
       (B-2)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-1), it is preferable that
         the carrying portion is a storage medium storing information that differs depending on the type of the replenishment container, and   the determination portion determines the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment, by reading the information from the storage medium in a state in which the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port.       (B-3)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-1), it is preferable that
         the carrying portion is a resistor whose resistance value differs depending on the type of the replenishment container, and   the determination portion determines the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment, by detecting the resistance value of the resistor in the state in which the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port.       (B-4)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-1), it is preferable that
         the carrying portion is a wiring pattern formed in the replenishment container, the wiring pattern being formed such that a path in which a current flows in a case where a voltage is applied from a plurality of contacts provided in the image forming apparatus differs depending on the type of the replenishment container, and   the determination portion determines the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment, on a basis of presence or absence of a current flowing through each of the plurality of contact when a voltage is applied to the wiring pattern through the plurality of contacts in the state in which the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port.       (B-5)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-1), it is preferable that
         the carrying portion is a shape pattern whose physical shape differs depending on the type of the replenishment container, and   the determination portion determines the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment, by detecting the shape pattern in the state in which the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port.       (B-6)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-5), it is preferable that
         the determination portion includes a switch that operates by contacting the shape pattern.       (B-7)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-5) or (B-6), it is preferable that
         the determination portion includes an optical sensor that detects the shape pattern by using light.       (B-8)   

     In addition, another aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure is
         an image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container accommodating toner is attachable and detachable and which is configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including:   an image bearing member;   a developer container configured to accommodate toner;   a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a toner image by using toner accommodated in the developer container;   a replenishment port through which the developer container is replenished with toner from the replenishment container provided outside the image forming apparatus by attaching the replenishment container thereto and to which the replenishment container of a plurality of types accommodating different amounts of toner is connectable; and   a determination portion configured to, in a case where the developer container is replenished with toner from the replenishment container, perform display processing that prompts input of information about the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment, and determine, on a basis of the input information, the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment.       (B-9)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-8), it is preferable that
         a display portion configured to display an image is provided, and   in the display processing, the determination portion causes the display portion to display a selection screen for selecting the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment.       (B-10)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-8), it is preferable that
         an interface connectable to an external device is provided, and   in the display processing, the determination portion transmits, to the external device via the interface, a notification for displaying a selection screen for selecting the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment on a display device of the external device.       (B-11)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (B-1) to (B-10), it is preferable that
         a toner remainder amount detection portion configured to detect a toner remainder amount in the developer container, and   a locking portion configured to restrict an operation of causing a discharge port of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port and the replenishment port to communicate with each other are provided, and   in a case where the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port, whether or not to release a lock by the locking portion is determined on a basis of a detection result of the toner remainder amount detection portion and a determination result of the determination portion.       (B-12)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (B-1) to (B-11), it is preferable that
         a display device configured to display information indicating an amount of toner with which the developer container can be replenished, and   a discharge detection portion configured to detect completion of toner discharge from the replenishment container are provided, and   in a case where completion of toner discharge has been detected by the discharge detection portion, the information displayed on the display device is changed on a basis of a determination result of the determination portion.       (C-1)   

     As described in the above embodiments with reference to specific examples (for example, see the sixth and seventh embodiments), an aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure is
         an image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container accommodating toner is attachable and detachable and which is configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including:   an image bearing member;   a developer container configured to accommodate toner;   a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a toner image by using toner accommodated in the developer container;   a replenishment port through which the developer container can be replenished with toner from the replenishment container provided outside the image forming apparatus by attaching the replenishment container thereto and to which the replenishment container of a plurality of types accommodating different amounts of toner is connectable;   a display device configured to display replenishment amount information indicating an amount of toner with which the developer container has been replenished or can be replenished;   an obtaining portion configured to obtain information of the replenishment container connected to the replenishment port; and   a controller configured to, in a case where the developer container has been replenished with toner, determine the replenishment information to be displayed on the display device, on a basis of the information obtained by the obtaining portion and such that a toner amount indicated by the replenishment amount information in a state after the toner replenishment changes in accordance with the type of the replenishment container used for the toner replenishment.       (C-2)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-1), it is preferable that
         the display device is configured to display the replenishment amount information by indicators that change stepwise, and   the controller determines, on a basis of the information obtained by the obtaining portion, the number of indicators to be changed in a case where the developer container is replenished with toner.       (C-3)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-2), it is preferable that
         the display device is capable of controlling a light emission state of each indicator, and is configured such that the number of indicators whose lights are off is larger when the amount of toner with which the developer container has been replenished or can be replenished is larger.       (C-4)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-2) or (C-3), it is preferable that
         the controller changes the indicators of the display device by one step in a case where toner replenishment has been performed by using a first replenishment container having the smallest capacity among the replenishment containers of the plurality of types, and changes the indicators of the display device by a plurality of steps in a case where toner replenishment has been performed by using a second replenishment container having a larger capacity than the first replenishment container among the replenishment containers of the plurality of types.       (C-5)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (C-1) to (C-4), it is preferable that
         a discharge detection portion configured to detect completion of toner discharge from the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port, and   a toner remainder amount detection portion configured to detect a toner remainder amount in the developer container are further provided, and   in a case where completion of toner discharge from the replenishment container has been detected by the discharge detection portion, the controller determines the replenishment amount information to be displayed on the display device on a basis of the information obtained by the obtaining portion regardless of a detection result of the toner remainder amount detection portion.       (C-6)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-5), it is preferable that
         the replenishment container is configured to discharge toner by pushing in a piston, and   the discharge detection portion detects a push-in operation of the piston.       (C-7)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-5), it is preferable that
         the replenishment container includes a discharge port for discharging toner, and a shutter member for sealing the discharge port, and is configured such that the discharge port and the replenishment port communicate with each other by rotation in a state of being attached to the replenishment port, and   the discharge detection portion detects completion of toner discharge from the replenishment container on a basis of an elapsed time since a time point when an operation of rotating the replenishment container is performed.       (C-8)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (C-5) to (C-7), it is preferable that
         an agitation member configured to agitate toner in the developer container to supply toner in the developer container to the developer bearing member, and   a conveyance member configured to, in a case where toner replenishment has been performed from the replenishment container, convey toner received from the replenishment container through the replenishment port toward a space in the developer container in which the developer bearing member and the agitation member are disposed are further provided, and   in a case where completion of toner discharge has been detected by the discharge detection portion, the replenishment amount information to be displayed on the display device is determined on a basis of the information obtained by the obtaining portion regardless of whether or not the conveyance of toner by the conveyance member has been finished.       (C-9)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (C-1) to (C-8), it is preferable that
         the obtaining portion includes a contact portion configured to, in a case where the replenishment container is connected to the replenishment port, be electrically connected to a storage medium attached to the replenishment container, and   the controller determines a capacity of the replenishment container on a basis of information read out from the storage medium via the contact portion.       (C-10)   

     In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (C-1) to (C-8), it is preferable that
         the obtaining portion includes a contact portion configured to, in a case where the replenishment container is connected to the replenishment port, be electrically connected to a resistor attached to the replenishment container, and   the controller determines a capacity of the replenishment container on a basis of a resistance value of the resistor obtained via the contact portion.       

     The present invention can also be realized by providing a program that realizes one or more functions of the embodiments described above to a system or an apparatus via a network or a storage medium and processing to read out and execute the program by one or more processors in a computer of the system or the apparatus. In addition, it can be also realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. 
     According to the present disclosure, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus can be provided. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     For example, the present invention is applicable to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a multifunctional apparatus having functions of these. Particularly, it is applicable to an image forming apparatus including a developer container to and from which a replenishment container accommodating developer for replenishment is attachable and detachable. 
     The present embodiment is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified and deformed in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following claims are attached to make public the scope of the present invention.