US 11,809,095 B2
Image forming apparatus
Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Tokyo (JP); Masaaki Sato, Kanagawa (JP); Hiroshi Takarada, Kanagawa (JP); Koji Fujinaka, Tokyo (JP); Akitoshi Toyota, Kanagawa (JP); Yuichiro Inaba, Kanagawa (JP); Kenichi Iida, Tokyo (JP); and Susumu Nittani, Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/945,238.
Application 17/945,238 is a continuation of application No. 17/473,131, filed on Sep. 13, 2021, granted, now 11,487,222.
Application 17/473,131 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/011084, filed on Mar. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-049215 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2019; and application No. 2020-042022 (JP), filed on Mar. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0026290 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0889 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0865 (2013.01); G03G 15/0877 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container accommodating developer is attachable and detachable and which is configured to execute an image formation in which a developer image is formed on a recording material, the image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearing member configured to rotate while bearing the developer image;
a developer bearing member configured to bear the developer and supply the developer to the image bearing member;
a developer container including:
an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the developer to be borne on the developer bearing member; and
a replenishment port to and from which the replenishment container is attachable and detachable and through which the accommodating portion is replenished with the developer from the replenishment container;
an agitation member configured to agitate the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion;
an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position where the opening/closing member closes the replenishment port and an open position where the opening/closing member opens the replenishment port;
an opening/closing sensor configured to detect whether the opening/closing member is at the open position or at the closed position; and
a control portion configured to control driving of the agitation member,
wherein execution of the image formation is possible when the opening/closing sensor detects that the opening/closing member is at the closed position, and
wherein execution of the image formation is not possible and the driving of the agitation member is possible when the opening/closing member detects that the opening/closing member is at the open position.