JP2016004194A - Toner supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent aggregation of a supply toner in a toner cartridge.SOLUTION: A toner cartridge 23 includes a conveying member 232 that conveys a supply toner 231 stored in the toner cartridge 23 to a side at which a toner supply port 23a is formed, and a pressure sensor 84 that detects the pressure of the supply toner 231 conveyed to the toner supply port 23a side in the toner cartridge 23. The toner cartridge 23 performs control to raising the other end side opposite to the side of the toner supply port 23a of the toner cartridge 23 relatively in order so that the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 84 falls within a predetermined pressure range.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner supply device and an image forming apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, in a toner cartridge including a conveying member that conveys replenished toner toward a toner replenishing port, when the pressure of the replenishing toner conveyed by the conveying member is detected and the pressure increases, the toner is conveyed by the conveying member. It has been proposed to reduce the speed.

JP 2011-008003 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply device and an image forming apparatus that avoid agglomeration of replenishment toner in a toner cartridge.

Claim 1
A toner cartridge in which supply toner is accommodated and a toner supply port is formed near one end in the longitudinal direction;
A tilting device for tilting the toner cartridge in the longitudinal direction;
The toner cartridge is
A conveying member that conveys the replenishing toner contained in the toner cartridge toward the one end;
A sensor for detecting the pressure of the replenished toner conveyed toward the one end in the toner cartridge;
The tilting device performs control to sequentially lift the other end of the toner cartridge relative to the one end so that the pressure detected by the sensor falls within a predetermined pressure range. The toner supply device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the pressure detected by the sensor exceeds the pressure range, the other end of the toner cartridge is relatively lowered until the pressure falls below the pressure range. 2. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to relatively lift the other end of the toner cartridge so that the pressure falls within the pressure range.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replenishing toner is a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 4.5 μm or less.

Claim 4
A photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed through rotation and charging and exposure; and
A developing device containing toner and developing the electrostatic latent image with the toner;
A transfer device for transferring the toner image onto a sheet;
A fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred on the paper onto the paper;
A toner supply device for supplying toner to the developing device;
The toner replenishing device is
A toner cartridge in which supply toner is accommodated and a toner supply port is formed near one end in the longitudinal direction;
A tilting device for tilting the toner cartridge in the longitudinal direction;
The toner cartridge is
A conveying member that conveys the replenishing toner contained in the toner cartridge toward the one end;
A sensor for detecting the pressure of the replenished toner conveyed toward the one end in the toner cartridge;
The tilting device performs control to sequentially lift the other end of the toner cartridge relative to the one end so that the pressure detected by the sensor falls within a predetermined pressure range. The image forming apparatus.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the pressure detected by the sensor exceeds the pressure range, the other end of the toner cartridge is relatively lowered until the pressure falls below the pressure range, and then the pressure is changed again. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein control is performed to relatively lift the other end of the toner cartridge so that the toner cartridge falls within the pressure range.

  According to the toner supply device of claim 1 and the image forming device of claim 4, aggregation of replenishment toner in the toner cartridge is avoided.

  According to the toner supply device of the second aspect and the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, even when aggregation occurs, the aggregation can be solved.

  According to the present invention, the aggregation can be effectively avoided even for the replenishment toner having a small particle diameter which easily causes aggregation.

1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus as a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus whose appearance is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a toner cartridge and a structure around the toner cartridge. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an initial state immediately after a new toner cartridge is installed and used. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state where the mounting table is slightly lifted compared to the initial state shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the mounting table is further lifted until the toner cartridge is in a horizontal posture. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the replenishment toner in the toner cartridge is transported by a transport member while the toner cartridge is in a horizontal posture, and the toner is accumulated on the toner replenishing port side. It is the figure which showed the state which lowered the mounting base 83 from the horizontal attitude | position shown in FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus as a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus housing 90, and includes a scanner 10 mounted on the apparatus housing 90 and a printer 20 configured in the apparatus housing 90.

  The scanner 10 is an apparatus that reads an image drawn on a document and generates an image signal. The printer 20 is a device that prints out an image based on an image signal on paper.

  The scanner 10 includes a document tray 11 and a document discharge tray 12. When the start button 32 is pressed with the documents stacked on the document tray 11, the documents are sequentially fed and read one by one and discharged onto the document discharge tray 12. Further, the scanner 10 is provided with a hinge (not shown) extending left and right on the back side, and can lift and open a portion above the arrow M. A transparent glass plate 13 (see FIG. 2) extends just below the arrow M. It is also possible to read the original on the transparent glass plate 13 by placing one original on the transparent glass plate 13 downward, closing the upper part from the arrow M and pressing the start button 32.

  The printer 20 is a device that sequentially takes out the sheets stacked in the paper tray 21 one by one and prints an image based on the image signal on the taken-out paper. The paper on which the image is printed is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 22. In the present embodiment, the printer 20 is a printer that prints out an image on paper by a so-called electrophotographic method.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a user interface (UI) 30. The UI 30 includes a power button 31, a start button 32, a plurality of other push buttons 33, and a touch panel display screen 34. By operating the UI 30, various instructions such as an instruction for the number of prints and an instruction for starting an operation are performed. The display screen 34 displays the state of the apparatus and various push buttons. The push button displayed on the display screen 34 is also an operation target.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus whose appearance is shown in FIG.

  The documents S placed on the document tray 11 of the scanner 10 are fed one by one when the start button 32 (see FIG. 1) is pressed, and are conveyed on the conveyance path 101 by the conveyance roll 14, and in the middle of the conveyance. Passing through the reading position R in contact with the transparent glass plate 13, the paper is discharged onto the document discharge tray 12. Then, when the document S passes through the reading position R, the image recorded on the document S is read and converted into an image signal by the reading device 15 that is stationary while facing the reading position R. Is done.

  Further, the part above the arrow M is opened, and one original is placed downward on the transparent glass plate 13 to close the top, and the start button 32 is pressed. Then, this time, the reading device 15 reads the document on the transparent glass plate 13 while moving in the arrow X direction, and converts it into an image signal.

  In addition, the printer 20 includes four image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K that are arranged in a row substantially horizontally. In these image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K, toner images are formed using toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. Here, for the description common to these image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K, the reference numerals Y, M, C, and K representing the distinction of the toner colors are omitted, and are denoted as the image forming unit 50. . The same applies to other components other than the image forming unit.

  Each image forming unit 50 includes a photoreceptor 51. The photosensitive member 51 receives a driving force and rotates in the direction of arrow A to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface thereof, and further, a toner image is formed by development.

  Around each photosensitive member 51 provided in each image forming unit 50, the elements shown in FIG. 2 include a charger 52, an exposure unit 53, a developing unit 54, a primary transfer unit 62, a photosensitive unit. A body cleaner 55 is provided. Here, the primary transfer unit 62 is placed between the photoreceptor 51 and an intermediate transfer belt 61 described later. The primary transfer device 62 is an element provided not in the image forming unit 50 but in an intermediate transfer unit 60 described later.

  The charger 52 uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor 51.

  The exposure device 53 irradiates the uniformly charged photoconductor 51 with exposure light modulated based on the image signal, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 51.

  The developing device 54 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 51 with toner of a color corresponding to each image forming unit 50 to form a toner image on the photoconductor 51.

  The primary transfer unit 62 transfers the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 51 onto an intermediate transfer belt 61 described later.

  The photoconductor cleaner 55 removes residual toner and the like adhering to the photoconductor 51 after transfer from the photoconductor 51.

  An intermediate transfer unit 60 is disposed above the four image forming units 50. The intermediate transfer unit 60 is provided with an intermediate transfer belt 61. The intermediate transfer belt 61 is supported by a plurality of rolls such as a drive roll 63a, a driven roll 63b, and a tension roll 63c. The intermediate transfer belt 61 is driven by the driving roll 63a to circulate in the direction of arrow B on the circulation path including the paths along the four photoconductors 51 provided in the four image forming units 50. .

  The toner images on the respective photoreceptors 51 are transferred so as to sequentially overlap the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the action of the primary transfer unit 62. The toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 61 is conveyed to the secondary transfer position T2 by the intermediate transfer belt 61. The secondary transfer position T2 is provided with a secondary transfer unit 71, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61 has been conveyed to the secondary transfer position T2 by the action of the secondary transfer unit 71. Transferred onto the paper P. The conveyance of the paper P will be described later. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 after the transfer of the toner image onto the paper P is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 64.

  Here, in the printer 20, a toner image is formed with black (K) toner, and the image is formed on the sheet P only by the image forming unit 50 K located at one end of the array (the leftmost end in FIG. 2). A monochrome mode for printing a monochrome image and a color mode for printing a color image on the paper P using the four image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K are provided. The intermediate transfer belt 61 is moved in contact with the four photosensitive members 51 constituting the four image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K in the color mode by a cam mechanism (not shown), and in the monochrome mode, Photoconductors 51Y, 51M of all other image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C in contact with only the photoconductor 51K of the image forming unit 50K located at one end of the array (the leftmost end in FIG. 2). The circulating movement route is changed so as to be separated from 51C. In the monochrome mode, the operations of all the image forming units 50Y, 50M, and 50C other than the image forming unit 50K are stopped to save power and extend the life of parts.

  A toner cartridge 23 containing replenishment toner of each color is provided on the upper portion of the intermediate transfer unit 60. When the toner in the developing device 81 is consumed by development, the toner is replenished to the developing device 54 from the toner cartridge 23 containing the corresponding color replenishing toner. The toner cartridge 23 is configured to be detachable. When the toner cartridge 23 is empty, the toner cartridge 23 is removed and a new toner cartridge 23 is mounted.

  A paper tray 21 is provided at the bottom of the printer 20. In the paper tray 21, the sheets P before printing are stored in a stacked state. The paper tray 21 is configured to be drawn out for replenishment and replacement of paper.

  One sheet P is taken out from the paper tray 21 by the pickup roll 211, and is conveyed by the conveyance roll 212 to the timing adjustment roll 213 in the direction of arrow C on the conveyance path 201. The sheet P conveyed to the timing adjustment roll 213 reaches the secondary transfer position T2 in accordance with the timing at which the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61 reaches the secondary transfer position T2 by the timing adjustment roll 213. Thus, the sheet is fed toward the secondary transfer position. The sheet P sent out by the timing adjustment roll 213 receives the transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the action of the secondary transfer unit 71 at the secondary transfer position T2. The sheet P that has received the transfer of the toner image is further conveyed in the direction of arrow D and passes through the fixing device 72. The toner image on the paper P is fixed on the paper P by being heated and pressurized by the fixing device 72. As a result, an image composed of the fixed toner image is printed on the paper P. The sheet on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing device 72 is further conveyed by the conveyance roll 214 and sent out from the sheet discharge outlet 27 onto the sheet discharge tray 22 by the sheet discharge roll 215.

  Further, the printer 20 has a double-sided print mode for printing images on both sides of the paper P. In this double-sided print mode, after an image is printed on the first side of the paper P in the same manner as described above, the paper P on which the image is printed on the first side is discharged by the paper discharge roll 215 by the paper discharge tray 22. It is sent out halfway toward. Then, the paper discharge roll 215 reverses the rotation direction and pulls back the paper P that has been fed halfway onto the paper discharge tray 22.

  The paper P pulled back by the reversal of the paper discharge roll 215 is now conveyed by the conveyance roll 216 in the direction indicated by the arrow G on the conveyance path 202 and reaches the timing adjustment roll 213 again. At this time, the paper P is in a state where the front and back are reversed from when the image is printed on the first surface. After reaching the timing adjustment roll 213 again, the image is printed on the second side of the paper P in the same manner as above, but this time. The paper P on which images are printed on both sides in this manner is sent out onto the paper discharge tray 22 by the paper discharge roll 26 this time.

  The printer 20 is provided with a manual feed tray 28. When paper is placed on the manual feed tray 28 and the start button 32 is pressed, the paper on the manual feed tray 28 is conveyed on the conveyance path 203 in the direction of arrow H by the conveyance roll 217 and reaches the timing adjustment roll 213. The subsequent printing operation is the same as the printing operation on the paper P drawn from the paper tray 21.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a control circuit 40 that controls each unit, and the operation is controlled by the control circuit 40. The control circuit 40 corresponds to an example of a control device in the present invention.

  Next, the toner cartridge 23 and its peripheral structure according to the present embodiment will be described. Since the following description is a common description regardless of the toner colors (Y, M, C, K), the reference numerals (Y, M, C, K) for distinguishing the toner colors are also omitted in the drawings. To do.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the toner cartridge and its periphery.

  Here, a toner cartridge 23 is provided. The toner cartridge 23 accommodates replenishment toner 231 of a color corresponding to each image forming unit 50 (see FIG. 2), and a toner replenishing port near one end in the longitudinal direction (near the left end in FIG. 3). 23a is formed. The toner cartridge 23 is configured to be detachable from the printer 20 (see FIG. 2). When the toner cartridge 23 is attached to the printer 20, the bellows tube 81 is connected to the toner supply port 23 a of the toner cartridge 23. The bellows tube 81 is extendable and connects the toner supply port 23a of the toner cartridge 23 and a toner supply path (not shown) connected to the developing device 54 (see FIG. 2). The replenishing toner 231 that has flowed into the bellows tube 81 from the toner replenishing port 23a is supplied to the developing device 54 via a toner replenishing path (not shown).

  Further, the toner cartridge 23 is provided with a conveying member 232. When the toner cartridge 23 is mounted, the conveying member 232 is connected to the motor 82 fixed to the mounting housing 90 (see FIG. 2) via a universal joint (not shown). When the motor 82 rotates, the conveying member 232 also rotates, and the replenishing toner 231 in the toner cartridge 23 is conveyed in the toner replenishing port 23a side, that is, in the arrow X direction. Further, the toner cartridge 23 is provided with a pressure sensor 233 that detects the pressure pressed by the replenishment toner 231 conveyed in the direction of the arrow X.

  Here, a mounting table 83 on which the mounted toner cartridge 23 is placed is provided. In the mounting table 83, the support portion 84 at the left end in FIG. 3 is rotatably supported by the apparatus housing 90 (see FIG. 2). Further, a recessed portion 83a is provided in a portion on the right side in FIG. 3 away from the support portion 84 of the mounting table 83, and the shaft 85 enters the recessed portion 83a. The shaft 85 is formed with a spiral groove 85a, and the spiral groove 85 is fitted into the recess 83a. A gear 86 is fixed to the lower end portion of the shaft 85, and a rotational driving force from a motor (not shown) is transmitted to the gear 86. When the gear 86 rotates, the shaft 85 also rotates, and the spiral groove 85a of the shaft 85 is fitted in the recess 83a, so that the right side of the mounting table 83 moves up and down by this rotation. That is, when the shaft 85 rotates, the mounting table 83 rotates and tilts around the left end support portion 84, and the toner cartridge 23 mounted on the mounting table 83 also tilts.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the present embodiment, a toner having a small particle diameter of a volume average particle diameter of 4.5 μm or less is employed. When such a small particle size toner is used, it is possible to reduce the amount of toner consumed when forming an image having the same density. However, on the other hand, it also has the disadvantage that the toner tends to aggregate. Therefore, in this embodiment, toner aggregation is avoided as follows. A toner having a volume average particle diameter of 2 μm or more is preferably used from the viewpoint of manufacturability.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an initial state immediately after a new toner cartridge is installed and used.

  In this initial state, the right side of the toner cartridge 23 is lowered. A new toner cartridge 23 is almost full of replenishment toner 231, and a sufficient amount of replenishment toner 231 is deposited near the toner replenishment port 23a to which the bellows tube 81 is connected even when the right side is lowered. doing. The motor 82 rotates slowly, and the conveying member 232 slowly sends the replenishing toner 231 in the direction of the arrow X.

  The pressure detection result by the pressure sensor 84 is notified to the control circuit 40 (see FIG. 2).

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the mounting table is slightly lifted by the shaft as compared with the initial state shown in FIG. 4.

  The replenishment toner 231 in the toner cartridge 23 is gradually consumed and the amount thereof decreases. For this reason, if the right side is lowered as shown in FIG. 4, the amount of the replenishing toner in the toner replenishing port 23a may be insufficient. Therefore, the control circuit 40 (see FIG. 2) monitors the pressure detection result by the pressure sensor 84, and when the pressure is about to fall below a predetermined pressure range, the shaft 85 is rotated as shown in FIG. 83 is lifted in the Y direction. Then, the rotation of the conveying member 232 makes it easy for the replenishing toner 231 to be conveyed toward the toner replenishing port 23a (in the direction of the arrow X), and the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 84 is recovered.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which the mounting table is further lifted by the shaft until the toner cartridge is in a horizontal posture as compared with the state shown in FIG.

  When the replenishment toner 231 is further consumed and the replenishment toner 231 in the toner cartridge 23 is decreased, the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 84 falls below a predetermined pressure range even in the posture shown in FIG. It will be. Then, the mounting table 83 is gradually lifted by the rotation of the shaft 85 until the toner cartridge 23 assumes a horizontal posture.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the replenishment toner in the toner cartridge is conveyed by the conveyance member while the toner cartridge is in a horizontal posture, and the replenishment toner is accumulated on the toner replenishing port side.

  Even in this horizontal posture, this horizontal posture is maintained when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 233 is within a predetermined pressure range. When the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 84 drops to a pressure indicating that the toner cartridge 23 is empty, the control circuit 40 outputs a message prompting the UI 30 to replace the toner cartridge 23.

  On the other hand, when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 233 exceeds the upper limit of a predetermined pressure range when the horizontal posture shown in FIG. 7 is in effect, the following processing is performed. When the replenishment toner 231 has a low consumption speed and the replenishment toner 231 is pushed toward the toner replenishment port 23a (in the direction of the arrow X) by the conveying member 232, the upper limit of the pressure range may be exceeded.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing a state where the shaft 85 is reversely rotated from the horizontal posture shown in FIG. 7 and the mounting table 83 is lowered in the Y ′ direction.

  If the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 84 exceeds a predetermined pressure range, the replenishment toner 231 in the toner cartridge 23 may start to aggregate. Therefore, when this happens, the supply of toner to the developing device 54 is temporarily stopped, and the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 84 is set within a predetermined pressure range with the toner cartridge 23 tilted as shown in FIG. The internal replenishment toner 231 is moved to the right side so as to be less than. In this way, the replenishing toner 231 in the toner cartridge 23 is released, and then the mounting table 83 is lifted again in the direction of the arrow Y by the rotation of the shaft 85 to bring the toner cartridge 23 into a horizontal posture as shown in FIG. Then, the rotation of the motor 82 rotates the conveying member 232 to convey the replenishment toner 231 in the direction of the arrow X, and after the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 84 recovers within a predetermined pressure range, the replenishment toner to the developing device 54 is recovered. The supply of 231 is resumed.

  Here, an example is given in which the pressure range is exceeded when the toner cartridge 23 is in the horizontal posture shown in FIG. 7, but even when the toner cartridge 23 is in a tilted posture as shown in FIG. When the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 84 exceeds a predetermined pressure range, as shown in FIG. 8, a treatment for solving the aggregation is performed by tilting.

  Here, the example in which the pressure sensor 233 is attached to the toner cartridge 23 has been described. However, when the replenishment toner 231 is aggregated, the transport member 232 is distorted by receiving the reaction force due to the transport of the replenishment toner 231. Therefore, the pressure of the replenishing toner 231 may be indirectly detected by providing the conveying member 232 with a distortion sensor.

  Here, it has been described that the motor 82 is fixed to the apparatus housing 90 (see FIG. 2) and is connected to the transport member 232 via a universal joint. However, the motor 82 is connected to the toner cartridge 23. You may prepare. In that case, a universal joint is unnecessary, and the connection between the motor 82 and the conveying member is simplified.

  Further, here, an example in which the posture of the toner cartridge 23 is changed by rotating the shaft 85 and moving the mounting table 83 up and down in the Y direction and the Y ′ direction has been described. However, the posture of the toner cartridge 23 is changed. The posture changing mechanism is not limited to the example shown here.

  Further, here, the example in which the structure for tilting the toner cartridge 23 is applied to the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described. However, this is merely an example, and the present invention can be applied from the toner cartridge to the developing device. Any image forming apparatus that replenishes toner is applicable.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Scanner 20 Printer 23 Toner cartridge 23a Toner supply port 40 Control circuit 50 Image forming part 51 Photoconductor 52 Charger 53 Exposure unit 54 Developer 55 Photoconductor cleaner 60 Intermediate transfer part 61 Intermediate transfer belt 62 Primary transfer belt Device 71 Secondary transfer device 72 Fixing device 81 Bellows tube 82 Motor 83 Mounting table 83a Recessed portion 84 Support portion 85 Shaft 85a Spiral groove 90 Device housing 231 Supply toner 232 Conveying member

Claims (5)

A toner cartridge in which supply toner is accommodated and a toner supply port is formed near one end in the longitudinal direction;
A tilting device for tilting the toner cartridge in the longitudinal direction;
The toner cartridge is
A conveying member that conveys the replenishing toner contained in the toner cartridge toward the one end;
A sensor for detecting the pressure of the replenished toner conveyed toward the one end in the toner cartridge;
The tilting device performs control to sequentially lift the other end of the toner cartridge relative to the one end so that the pressure detected by the sensor falls within a predetermined pressure range. Toner supply device.   When the pressure detected by the sensor exceeds the pressure range, the other end of the toner cartridge is relatively lowered until the pressure falls below the pressure range, and then the pressure is again changed to the pressure range. 2. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge is controlled to relatively lift the other end of the toner cartridge so as to enter the toner cartridge.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replenishing toner is a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 4.5 μm or less. A photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed through rotation and charging and exposure; and
A developing device containing toner and developing the electrostatic latent image with the toner;
A transfer device for transferring the toner image onto a sheet;
A fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred on the paper onto the paper;
A toner supply device for supplying toner to the developing device;
The toner replenishing device is
A toner cartridge in which supply toner is accommodated and a toner supply port is formed near one end in the longitudinal direction;
A tilting device for tilting the toner cartridge in the longitudinal direction;
The toner cartridge is
A conveying member that conveys the replenishing toner contained in the toner cartridge toward the one end;
A sensor for detecting the pressure of the replenished toner conveyed toward the one end in the toner cartridge;
The tilting device performs control to sequentially lift the other end of the toner cartridge relative to the one end so that the pressure detected by the sensor falls within a predetermined pressure range. Image forming apparatus.   When the pressure detected by the sensor exceeds the pressure range, the other end of the toner cartridge is relatively lowered until the pressure falls below the pressure range, and then the pressure is again changed to the pressure range. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein control is performed to relatively lift the other end of the toner cartridge so as to enter the toner cartridge.

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