US 12,411,452 B2
Image forming apparatus
Yuichiro Okawa, Tokyo (JP); Noritomo Yamaguchi, Kanagawa (JP); Kazuhiro Hosohara, Kanagawa (JP); Takeo Kawanami, Kanagawa (JP); Shinichi Nishida, Kanagawa (JP); Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Kanagawa (JP); Masahiro Suetsugu, Kanagawa (JP); Goshi Ozaki, Kanagawa (JP); Sohta Sugimoto, Kanagawa (JP); and Mitsuhiro Sato, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/505,432.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-189697 (JP), filed on Nov. 28, 2022; and application No. 2022-189698 (JP), filed on Nov. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0176283 A1, May 30, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 21/16 (2006.01); G03G 15/01 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1647 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0121 (2013.01); G03G 21/1676 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus on which a toner container storing toner is mountable, the image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body provided with an opening;
a mounting portion on which the toner container is mountable;
a moving unit including a developing unit, and configured to move through the opening between an internal position where an image formation is executable using the developing unit and an external position that is different from the internal position and where at least a part of the moving unit is exposed to an outside of the apparatus body, the developing unit including:
a toner storage portion configured to store the toner and configured to be replenished with the toner from the toner container mounted on the mounting portion;
a developing roller configured to bear the toner in the toner storage portion; and
a stirring member configured to stir the toner in the toner storage portion;
an opening and closing member configured to move between a closed position where the opening of the apparatus body is closed and an open position where the opening is opened;
an actuator configured to drive the stirring member;
a first detection unit configured to output an output value based on an amount of the toner stored in the toner storage portion;
an indicating unit configured to execute a remaining toner amount indication based on the output value output from the first detection unit;
a second detection unit configured to detect a movement of the opening and closing member; and
a control unit configured to control the actuator, the first detection unit, and the indicating unit,
wherein the moving unit is configured to replenish the toner from the toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus to the toner storage portion in a state in which the moving unit is at the external position and supported by the apparatus body, and is configured not to be movable from the external position to the internal position in a state in which the toner container is mounted on the image forming apparatus, and
the control unit executes
(i) a first control of controlling the actuator to start driving of the stirring member based on a detection, by the second detection unit, of a movement of the opening and closing member from the open position to the closed position,
(ii) a second control of controlling the first detection unit to output the output value, and
(iii) a third control of controlling the indicating unit to perform execute the remaining toner amount indication.