Patent ID: 8099025

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: at least one toner containing section configured to contain toner; a developing roller configured to supply toner to an image bearer from the toner containing section; a toner stirring member penetrating the toner containing section and configured to stir the toner stored in the toner containing section; a first rotation member attached to the toner stirring member and configured to revolve around a rotational shaft of the toner stirring member; a pushing member spaced apart from and configured to revolve around the rotational shaft of the toner stirring member and configured to push the first rotation member, the pushing member being located at an outside of the toner containing section; a stopper section having a stopper body configured to contact the first rotation member; and an optical detection device configured to detect the first rotation member temporarily stopping at the stopper section; wherein said first rotation member separates from the pushing member due to a weight of the first rotation member and stops at the stopper section waiting for arrival of the pushing device thereon when an amount of toner remaining in the toner containing section decreases to a prescribed level and the pushing member arrives at a upper dead point; and wherein said toner stirring member is formed in a crank state partially plunging into the toner; and wherein said first rotation member is attached to the toner stirring member at an outside of the toner containing section.