US 12,332,584 B2
Image forming apparatus having toner replenishment
Shinichiro Matsumoto, Kanagawa (JP); and Masayuki Sakai, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/389,338.
Application 18/389,338 is a continuation of application No. 17/703,287, filed on Mar. 24, 2022, granted, now 11,846,897.
Application 17/703,287 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/036733, filed on Sep. 28, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-181068 (JP), filed on Sep. 30, 2019; application No. 2019-181069 (JP), filed on Sep. 30, 2019; and application No. 2019-181070 (JP), filed on Sep. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0077815 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G06K 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0894 (2013.01) [G03G 15/5016 (2013.01); G06K 15/407 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container containing toner is attachable and detachable and which is configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a process unit including
(i) a photosensitive drum,
(ii) a developing roller configured to supply the toner to the photosensitive drum,
(iii) a toner storage portion configured to store the toner to be borne on the developing roller,
(iv) an attachment portion to and from which the replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which is provided with a replenishment port configured to communicate with the toner storage portion and through which the toner is replenished from the replenishment container to the toner storage portion, and
(v) a shutter configured to open and close the replenishment port;
a cover provided with an opening through which the attachment portion is exposed from the cover and from which the replenishment container is attached to the attachment portion;
an opening/closing member configured to move between a closed position in which the opening/closing member closes the opening and an open position in which the opening/closing member opens the opening; and
a loudspeaker configured to emit sound to indicate a progress status of a toner replenishment using the replenishment container,
wherein the shutter is configured to open and close the replenishment port in a case where the replenishment container that has been attached to the attachment portion is operated from outside of the image forming apparatus in a state in which the opening/closing member is in the open position.