Konica Minolta, Inc.

Youichi Itagaki

Yasuaki Tomoda

Shogo Asaoka

Naoki Nonoyama

Hiroshi Tanimoto

Koji Soda

Yusuke Hashimoto

Sho Karakama

Isao Kawakami

Takaaki Namiki

Hitomi Kawata

An image forming apparatus performs primary transfer of single-color toner image onto an intermediate transfer belt and performs secondary transfer of the toner image onto a sheet, and includes: single image forming unit forming the single-color toner image; single toner supply bottle containing replenishment toner; and first and second support members supporting the belt. The image forming unit is closer to the first member than the second member in a belt rotation direction. The bottle includes: single bottle body; and supply unit near one end of the body in the rotation direction. The other end is (i) closer to the second member than the one end is in the rotation direction and (ii) distant from the image forming unit in a support member direction from the first member toward the second member by one to three times a length of the image forming unit in the support member direction.

Image forming apparatus containing a toner supply bottle having a single bottle body and a supply unit provided near one end of the bottle body

A developer supplying device for supplying a developer to a subject to be supplied includes: a housing; and a stirring member rotatable around a rotational axis in the housing, wherein the stirring member includes: a main body that includes a flexible sheet, extends away from the rotational axis, and is in contact with an inner wall surface of the housing; and a cut part formed in the main body, and the cut part projects from the main body when the main body is bent along with rotation of the stirring member.

Developer supplying device and image forming apparatus

A toner supply device includes a toner storage, a supply opening, a toner conveyer, a toner supply opening, and an air passage. The toner storage stores toner. Through the supply opening, the toner is supplied to a developing device. The toner conveyer includes an area of space different from an area of space of the toner storage. The toner conveyer conveys the toner stored in the toner storage to supply the toner from the supply opening to the developing device. Through the toner supply opening, the toner is supplied from the toner storage to the toner conveyer. The air passage is at a position different from the toner supply opening. The air passage connects the toner storage to the toner conveyer so as to allow air flowing through the supply opening into the toner conveyer to be supplied to the toner storage through the air passage.

Toner supply device and image forming apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Toyokawa, Japan

Youichi Itagaki