TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and is preferable in applying to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for example.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, there are image forming apparatuses where an image forming unit and a toner cartridge are inserted or removed by opening the cover of a chassis to make the image forming unit and the toner cartridge operable by a user, or by extracting an extractable rail unit that carries the image forming unit from inside the chassis to expose the image forming unit to the outside of the chassis (see Patent Document 1 for example).

Among such image forming apparatuses, there is one where a toner is prevented from scattering out of the image forming unit and the toner cartridge by removing the image forming unit after closing toner supply ports by moving shutters that open/close the toner supply ports installed on the image forming unit and the toner cartridge by the user operating an operation part.

RELATED ART

Patent Document(s)

[Patent Doc. 1] JP Patent Application Publication No. 2009-157204

SUBJECT TO BE SOLVED

In such an image forming apparatus, its reliability is desired to be improved by preventing misoperations of the operation part.

This invention has been made by considering the above point, and proposes an image forming apparatus that can improve reliability.

SUMMARY

An image forming apparatus, disclosed in the application, includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a medium, a developer accommodation part that supplies a developer to the image forming unit, a developer supply duct that is disposed between the image forming unit and the developer accommodation part such that the developer reaches the image forming unit through the developer supply, a shutter member that reciprocates between an open position and a closed position wherein the developer is allowed to pass through the shutter member when the shutter member is at the open position, and the developer is blocked with the shutter member when the shutter member is at the closed position, a first operation part that comprises an engaging part, which engages with the image forming unit, and moves the shutter member either to the open position or to the closed position, wherein the first operation part causes the engaging part to disengage from the image forming unit when the shutter member exists at the closed position.

An image forming apparatus, disclosed in the application, includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a medium, a developer accommodation part that accommodates a developer, a developer supply duct that supplies the developer accommodated in the developer accommodation part to the image forming unit, and a shutter member that blocks the developer supply duct, wherein the image forming unit becomes detachable from the developer supply duct after the shutter member blocks the developer supply duct.

This invention allows preventing a developer from leaking out from a developer supply duct even if a developer accommodation part separates from an image forming unit by blocking the developer supply duct with shutter members.

This invention can realize an image forming apparatus that can block the developer supply duct with the shutter members to prevent a developer leaking out from the developer supply duct even if the developer accommodation part separates from the image forming unit, thereby improving reliability.

