JP2000275940A - Image forming device and toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exactly detect the replacement of a finished toner container with a fresh toner container and to maintain a sharp image by detecting the installation and use of the fresh toner container. SOLUTION: When a fresh toner container 30 is installed, the actuation end 70b of a driving member 70 rotates a lever 81 counterclockwise against the energizing force of a spring 84. A switch actuation part 81a drives a switch 82, and a replacement detection circuit outputs a signal indicating the detection of the fresh toner container 30. When the toner container 30 is rotated for replenishing a developing unit with toner, the female member of the toner container 30 rotates to move a male member 62 in the W direction, so that a driving member 70 moves in the W direction. As a result, the lever 81 turns clockwise to move to a position shown by chain lines, and a switch 82 is actuated and the start of the actuation of the toner container 30 is detected by the replacement detection circuit. Upon the replacement with the fresh toner container 30, the lever 81 is shifted again in position to actuate the switch 82, and the replacement with the toner container 30 is thereby be detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic method and a toner container used for the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus and the toner container according to the present invention are used for a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic system, when toner is completely consumed by image formation, a good image is always maintained by supplying new toner from the outside. by the way,
There are the following two methods for supplying toner to the image forming apparatus. First, the toner is charged into the image forming apparatus at one time from the toner container, stored in the toner storage unit provided in the image forming apparatus, and sequentially replenished from the storage unit in accordance with consumption of the toner for image formation. The second method is a method in which a toner container is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the amount of toner consumed by image formation is sequentially replenished from the mounted toner container.

The latter method has the advantages that the toner supply mechanism is simplified, the toner supply section can be reduced in size, and toner is hardly scattered by providing a part of the toner supply mechanism in the toner container. This is particularly widely used in a color image forming apparatus that uses four types of color toners and replenishes toner relatively frequently.

Hereinafter, the latter method is referred to as a container mounting method.

[0005] The image forming apparatus equipped with the container mounting type toner replenishing device displays a warning to prompt the user to mount a new toner container when the toner is consumed by the image formation and the amount of toner in the toner container becomes low. In many cases, the operation of the apparatus is prohibited when the toner runs out.

[0006]

As described above, in the case of the container mounting method, when the toner is exhausted, the known toner remaining amount detecting device using the piezo operates to operate the toner remaining in the toner container. Is detected, and a warning message for replacing the toner container is displayed. Then, the old toner container that has run out of toner is replaced with a new toner container, and the warning display or the operation prohibition is released by the replacement. Then, the toner supply count value for toner supply control is reset.

Therefore, the above-mentioned container mounting method requires a detecting means for detecting the replacement of the old toner container and the new toner container. However, it is necessary to identify the old toner container and the new toner container and detect the replacement. There is a problem that it is difficult. Detecting the presence or absence of the toner in the toner container using light is not an effective means because the toner has a property of blocking light even if the amount is very small. Detecting weight is disadvantageous in terms of cost because the device becomes large-scale, and is not an effective means.

When the operator resets the image forming apparatus when a new toner container is mounted, the operator may forget to reset the image forming apparatus, and there is a problem that the toner runs out.

As described above, the container mounting method has a problem in that replacement of the toner container is detected. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem in the container mounting method, and to provide an image forming apparatus having a simple detecting means capable of reliably detecting that an old toner container has been replaced with a new toner container. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a toner container suitable for use in such an image forming apparatus.

[0010]

The object of the present invention is as follows.
(1) In an image forming apparatus that supplies toner to the developing device from a toner container attached to the image forming device main body in accordance with consumption of the toner in the developing device, the toner container is connected to the image forming device main body of the toner container. And an exchange information output unit that changes the state irreversibly in a process from the mounting of the toner supply unit to the supply of the toner to the developing device, and the image forming apparatus main body detects the state change of the exchange information output unit. And (2) irreversible in the process from mounting on the main body of the image forming apparatus to supplying toner to the developing apparatus after mounting on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The present invention is attained by a toner container having exchange information output means for making a substantial change.

In an image forming process for forming an image by an electrophotographic method, as is well known, a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier or a one-component developer containing no carrier is used. In the present invention, the toner used in the developing device and contained in the toner container may be either the toner constituting the two-component developer or the toner constituting the one-component developer.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (1) First Embodiment Image Forming Apparatus A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the color printer according to the first embodiment.

In this color printer, a color image is formed by superimposing toner images of respective colors sequentially formed on an image forming body, and then transferring the toner image onto a recording material once at a transfer section, and fixing the color image. This is a color image forming apparatus that forms a color image thereon.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a photosensitive drum as an image forming body, which is formed by applying an OPC photosensitive body (organic photosensitive body) on a drum base, and is grounded and driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing. . Reference numeral 11 denotes a scorotron charger, which comprises a grid maintained at a constant potential and a corona discharge wire connected to a high-voltage power supply, and charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 to a uniform potential. Prior to the charging by the scorotron charger 11, in order to eliminate the history of the photoconductor, exposure is performed by a PCL (pre-charging static eliminator) 12 using a light emitting diode or the like to eliminate the charge on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor.

After the photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged, image exposure based on an image signal is performed by image writing means 13 constituted by an image exposure device. The image writing means 13 includes a laser diode (not shown) and the rotating polygon mirror 1.
31, fθ lens 132, cylindrical lens 133
After that, scanning exposure is performed by the reflection mirror 134 after passing through. In the present embodiment, the image portion is exposed, and a latent image is formed such that the image portion has a lower potential than the non-image portion.

Around the photoreceptor drum 10, there are provided developing devices each containing a two-component toner composed of a toner such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) and a carrier. Developing units 20Y, 20M, 20
A developing unit 20 composed of C and 20K is provided.

First, development with yellow toner of the first color is performed by a developing sleeve 21 which is a toner carrier which rotates while holding a toner with a built-in magnet. The toner consists of a carrier with a ferrite core as a core and an insulating resin coated around it, and a toner with polyester as a main material and a pigment according to the color and a charge control agent, silica, titanium oxide, etc. added. 100 to 600 μm on the developing sleeve 21 by the layer forming means
And is conveyed to the development area by the regulation of the toner layer thickness.

The gap between the developing sleeve 21 and the photosensitive drum 10 in the developing area is set to a value larger than the thickness of the toner layer, for example, 0.2 to 1.0 mm, and an AC bias is superimposed on a DC bias in this gap. A bias voltage is applied. As the DC bias, a bias voltage having the same polarity as that of the toner for developing the latent image is applied, and the toner adheres to a low potential portion of the latent image to perform development. That is, reversal development is performed.

After the visualization of the first color is completed, the magenta image forming process of the second color is started, and the scorotron charger 1 is again activated.
1 is performed, and a latent image based on the image data of the second color is formed by the image writing unit 13. At this time, the charge removal by the PCL 12 performed in the image forming process for the first color is not performed. After the formation of the latent image, development with magenta toner is performed by the developing device 20M, and a magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 10.

For the third color cyan and the fourth color black, the same image forming process as that for the second color magenta is performed, and a visible image of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan and black is formed on the photosensitive drum 10. Is done.

Each of the developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C, 2
A toner replenishing device 40 for replenishing each color toner at 0K includes toner containers 30Y, 30M,
Container mounting part 4 that makes each of 30C and 30K detachable
1 and the toner containers 30Y, 30M, 30C, 30K
Toner reservoirs 42Y and 42 for temporarily storing the toner inside
M, 42C, 42K and the toner pools 42Y, 42
M, 42C, and 42K to the developing units 20Y, 20
0M, 20C, and 20K.

For yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, there are a container mounting section and a toner transport section. These are collectively referred to as a container mounting section 41 and a toner transport section 43 in FIGS.

On the other hand, the half-moon roller 5
1 is temporarily stopped near the pair of registration rollers 54 via the pair of paper feed rollers 52 and 53, and is rotated by the rotation of the pair of registration rollers 54 when the transfer timing is adjusted. Paper is fed to the transfer area.

In the transfer area, a transfer means 55 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 in synchronization with the transfer timing, and the fed recording material p is sandwiched to transfer a multicolor image at a time. You.

Next, the recording material p is discharged by the separating means 56, separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and conveyed to the fixing device 57, where the heat roller (upper roller) 571 and the pressure roller (lower roller) 572 are separated. After the toner is fused by heating and pressurizing, the toner is discharged onto a discharge tray 59 outside the apparatus via a discharge roller 58. The transfer means 55
Is retracted from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 after passing the recording material p to prepare for the formation of the next toner image.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 10 that has passed through the transfer separation position is subjected to static elimination by the static eliminator 14, and then the residual toner is removed and pressed by the pressure contact of the blade 151 of the cleaning device 15 to be cleaned again. Upon receiving the charge by the scorotron charger 11, the process proceeds to the next image forming process. The blade 151 moves immediately after the cleaning of the surface of the photoconductor and moves away from the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 10. The waste toner scraped into the cleaning device 15 by the blade 151 is discharged by the screw 152 and then stored in a waste toner collecting container (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows a toner replenishing unit, and includes a toner container 30Y,
30M, 30C, 30K, and toner pools 42Y, 42
M, 42C, 42K, and developing units 20Y, 20M, 20
It is a perspective view which shows some C, 20K. The four types of toner containers 30Y, 30M, 30
C and 30K are installed in parallel on substantially the same plane. When the amount of toner in the developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K decreases, the toner containers 30Y, 30M, 30
Each toner in C and 30K is supplied at a controlled rate. These toner containers 30Y, 30
Since M, 30C, and 30K have substantially the same configuration, these toner containers 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K will be described below.
K will be described as a toner container 30 as a representative.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner container 30 has a cylindrical shape, and a helical projection projecting from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is formed at the cylindrical portion as indicated by 31. As will be described later, the projections 31 move the stored toner T from the bottom of the container, that is, the upper right portion in FIG. 3 to the container opening, that is, the lower right portion, by rotation of the toner container 30. At the mouth of the toner container 30, a detachable solid lid 32 and a telescopic lid 33 that can expand and contract in the cylindrical axis direction are provided.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the toner container 30 is mounted on the toner supply section. The mounting of the toner container 30 is performed by screwing a screw provided on the outer periphery of the solid lid 32 into the container receiving member 44 of the image forming apparatus main body. In this mounting state, the extensible lid 33 of the toner container 30 abuts against a wall 421 provided on the container receiving member 44 of the apparatus main body, and is compressed as shown to form a part of the solid lid 32. An opening that allows the passage of the toner is formed. As shown in FIG. 3, when the toner container 30 is not attached to the image forming apparatus, the extensible lid 33 is in close contact with the distal end lid 327 by its own elasticity, and the toner may not flow out of the toner container 30. Absent.

Next, the toner supply mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS.

The toner T in the toner container 30 moves from the right to the left along the bottom of the cylindrical portion of the toner container 30 by the rotation of the toner container 30 by the feeding action of the projection 31. At the mouth of the toner container 30, that is, at the right end,
The toner T is scraped out by scraping members 321 and 322 provided on the solid lid 32. The scraped toner T slides down on the conveying slopes 323 and 324, falls on the conveying screw 43, is conveyed by the conveying screw 43,
From the opening 80a, the developing device (20Y, 20M, 20C or 2
0K, hereinafter referred to as 20). That is, as shown in FIG.
0 → Scraping members 321,322 → Conveying slopes 323,3
The developer is supplied to the developing device 20 through a route of 24 → conveying screw 43 → opening 80a.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 45 denotes an encoder comprising a signal generating member 45a for measuring the rotation speed of the transport screw 43 and a sensor 45b. Since the transport screw 43 and the toner container 30 are driven by the same motor, the rotation speed of the transport screw 43 is the same regardless of which rotation speed is to be detected. Therefore, the rotation of the transport screw 43 is detected by the encoder 45 and used as control.

The scraping action of the scraping members 321 and 322 will be described.

A member for scraping out the toner from the toner container 30 is provided on the solid lid 32.

FIG. 6 shows the solid lid 32 from which the telescopic lid 33 has been removed.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a scraping member 321, 322, a conveying slope 323, 324 and a tip lid 3 provided on a cylindrical lid base.
27.

As shown in FIG. 6, the scraping members 321,
322 has slopes inclined in opposite directions. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 9 in which the solid lid 32 is rotated by 90 ° in the rotation direction indicated by A in FIG. 6, the conveying slopes 323 and 324 They are provided 90 ° out of phase. 6 and 9, the white arrow indicates the direction of inclination of the slope, and the direction of the arrow indicates the direction of falling in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The scraping members 321 and 322 and the conveying slope 323
Although not shown, an opening through which toner passes is formed between 324.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the solid lid 32 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, on the solid lid 32, the scraping members 321 and symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis of the toner container 30.
322 are provided, and these slopes are bisected slopes inclined in opposite directions as shown in FIG. 7 (white arrows in FIG. 7 indicate the direction of inclination of the scraping member,
The direction of the arrow is the direction in which the inclination is downward). As shown in FIG. 8 which is a cross-sectional view along the line II in FIG. 6, the scraping member 321 is formed by a side wall 321a, a circular arc-shaped wing 321b extending in the circumferential direction, and a center wall 321d together with the slope thereof.
A toner holding space E1 for holding the toner is formed. Similarly, the scraping member 322 has its own slope, side wall 322.
a, the arcuate wings 322b, and the center wall 322d form a toner holding space E2. When the toner container 30 rotates, the solid lid 32 rotates as shown by the arrow A, and as shown in FIG. 8, the toner T is scooped up by the arcuate wings 322b, held in the toner holding space E2, and transported.

The operation of transporting the toner T scraped by the scraping members 321 and 322 to the transport screw 43 will be described.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the solid lid 32 is moved from the state shown in FIG.
This shows a state in which it is rotated by 0 °. As is clear from FIGS. 6 and 9, the conveying slope 32 is positioned with respect to the scraping members 321 and 322.
3, 324 are provided with a phase difference of 90 °. The transport slopes 323 and 324 are inclined in opposite directions.

A container receiving member 44 for receiving the solid lid 32 of the toner container 30 is rotatably provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus, and is fixed to a gear 47. When the gear 47 is driven by a motor (not shown), the container receiving member 44 and the toner container 30 rotate as shown by the arrow, and the solid lid 32 also rotates.

By this rotation, the toner T which has been scooped up by the arcuate wings 321b of the scraping member 321 and held in the holding space E1 is at a rotational position where the scraping member 321 is inclined downward and left as shown in FIG. , Fall on the slope, and fall on the transport slope 323. Similarly, the toner T scraped out by the scraping member 322 transfers the toner T
4 fall on.

As shown in FIG. 9, the conveying slope 323 is formed so as to have a phase which is 90 ° delayed from the scraping member 321 and becomes a slope descending to the left as shown in FIG.
Receiving the toner T dropped from the transfer screw 21
3 to be transported. Similarly, the conveying slope 324 receives the toner T dropped from the scraping member 322 and conveys the toner T onto the conveying screw 43.

As described above, the toner T moves on the moving path from the toner container 30 to the conveying screw 43 as shown by the arrow B in FIG.

The transport screw 43 is rotated by a gear 431 driven by a motor (not shown) together with the toner container 30 to transport the toner T from left to right in FIG. Conveyed to 80a. The developing device 20 is provided with, for example, a toner concentration detecting device that detects the toner concentration from the magnetic permeability of the toner, and the signal from the toner concentration detecting device causes the toner container 30, the solid lid 32, and the transport screw 43 to be moved. It rotates to supply toner. The scraping member 321 and the scraping member 322 are configured so that the scraping ability is different.

As shown in FIG. 8, the scraping member 321 has a tip 321e provided at the tip of the arc-shaped wing 321b. On the other hand, the tip of the arc-shaped wing 322b of the scraping member 322 has no tip wing. Scraping member 32
The distance between the inner peripheral surface of the solid lid 32 and the inner peripheral surface of the solid lid 32 is formed narrower by providing the tip wings 321 e. Therefore, the scraping member 321 can scoop up the toner until the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 30 becomes smaller than the scraping member 322. That is, the scraping member 321 and the scraping member 322 are configured to have a difference in the scraping ability.

With the structure of the scraping members 321 and 322, when the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 30 is reduced, the transport amount or the transport ratio is not sharply reduced but is gradually reduced.

Detection of Replacement of Toner Container When the new toner container 30 is mounted, by detecting that the new toner container 30 has been mounted and that toner has been replenished from the toner container 30, the new toner container 30 is detected. Replacement detection for detecting replacement of the toner container 30 for identifying the old toner container 30 from the old toner container 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

At the tip of the shaft portion 60 of the toner container 30, a cylindrical female screw member 61 is fixed. Female screw member 61
Is engaged with a male screw member 62. Figure 4 shows the male screw member
(B) As shown in FIG.
2a, a large diameter portion 62b formed with a screw, and a driver engagement portion 62c. Female screw member 61 and male screw member 6
Reference numeral 2 denotes an exchange information output unit.

The driver engaging portion 62c of the male screw member 62 is engaged with a driver portion 70a formed at the tip of the driving member 70. The driving member 70 is provided on the shaft portion 44a of the rotary lid 44 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 4C, the driving member 70 engages with the driver portion 70a at the distal end and the main body frame 80 to drive. It has a projection 70c for holding the member non-rotating.

A lever 81 is rotatably mounted on a support portion 83 of a main body frame 80 of the printer main body, which is the main body of the image forming apparatus, about a shaft 83a. The lever 81 is urged clockwise by a spring 84 and has a switch action portion 81a at the lower end. 82 is a toner container 3 not shown
A switch for turning on / off an exchange detection circuit for detecting the exchange of 0, and constitutes a switch device.

The figure shows a state where a new toner container 30 is mounted. In the illustrated state, the working end 70b of the driving member 70 rotates the lever 81 counterclockwise against the urging force of the spring 84.

In this state, the switch action portion 81a of the lever 81 drives the switch 82, and the exchange detection circuit outputs a signal indicating that the new toner container 30 has been mounted.

Driving member 70, lever 81 and switch 8
2 constitutes a detecting means.

When the toner container 30 is rotated to supply the toner to the developing device 20 after the development is performed, the female screw member 61 fixed to the toner container 30 rotates. Due to the rotation of the female screw member 61, the driving member 7 which is a non-rotating member is
The male screw member 62 whose rotation is restricted by 0 moves as shown by the arrow W. As a result, the driving member 70 moves in the W direction, and the lever 81 rotates clockwise and moves to the position indicated by the dashed line. As a result, the operation of the switch 82 and the start of the operation of the toner container 30 are detected by the replacement detection circuit. The male screw member 62 is shown in FIG.
0 (a), the female screw member 6 moves to the right end position.
The female screw member 61 rotates freely with respect to the driving member 70 while being disengaged from the screw engagement with the screw member 1 and does not move in the W direction.

When the toner in the toner container 30 is exhausted and the known toner remaining amount detecting device using the piezo detects that the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 30 is low, new toner is detected. When the container 30 is replaced with a new toner container 30, the lever 81
Is displaced again to the position shown in the figure, and the switch 82 is operated to detect that the toner container has been replaced.

(2) Embodiment 2 FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a toner supply section according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Shaft 60 of toner container 30 (shown in FIG. 4)
The support member 91 fixed to has a dish-shaped receiving portion 91a,
A concave portion 91b is formed in the dish-shaped receiving portion 91a. A disk-shaped electrode 92 as a container-side electrode member of the exchange information output means is fixed to the dish-shaped receiving portion 91a. Electrode 92
Are four holes 92 on one circumference as shown in FIG.
a is provided. The electrode 92 is made of a conductive resin, and is fixed to the dish-shaped receiving portion 91a by a conductive double-sided adhesive tape. The columnar body 93 is fixed to the support plate 80b fixed to the main body frame 80. The cylinder 93 is made of resin,
It has a projection 93a. The columnar body 93 includes a peripheral electrode 94.
And the central electrode 95 are fixed. These electrodes 94 and 95 are connected to a support plate 80 fixed to the main body frame 80 as shown.
b and is connected to an unillustrated replacement detection circuit. The peripheral electrode 94 and the central electrode 95 constitute a main body side electrode member of the detecting means.

FIG. 10 shows a state where the toner container 30 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

When a new toner container 30 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the toner container 30 is positioned at the position shown in FIG. The projection 93a of the cylindrical body 93 pierces the electrode 92 as shown.

When a new toner container 30 is mounted, the peripheral electrode 94 and the central electrode 95 come into contact with the electrode 92 due to its own elasticity. By this contact, the peripheral electrode 9
4 and the center electrode 95 are connected via an electrode 92. The peripheral electrode 94 and the central electrode 95 are connected to an exchange detection circuit (not shown).
And the replacement detection circuit constitute a detection means, and the conduction between the peripheral electrode 94 and the central electrode 95 detects that a new toner container 30 is mounted.

When the toner container 30 rotates for replenishing toner, the projection 93a rotates to move the electrode 92 to the peripheral portion 9a.
2b and the center part 92c are cut and separated. As a result, the connection between the peripheral portion electrode 94 and the central portion electrode 95 is disconnected, and the replacement detection circuit operates the replaced toner container 30 to output a signal indicating that toner is being supplied. The four holes 92a are holes for facilitating the cutting.

When the toner is exhausted and replaced with a new toner container, the peripheral electrode 94 and the central electrode 95 are connected again, and the replacement detection circuit indicates that the new toner container has been mounted. Output a signal.

[0064]

As a result of reliably detecting that a new toner container has been mounted and that the mounted toner container has been used, the toner has been exhausted in the container mounting type toner supply system. Replacement of the toner container and the new toner container is reliably detected, and a clear image can always be maintained. In addition, the replacement detection means for the toner container has a simple configuration, and the provision of the detection means does not cause disadvantages such as an increase in size of the apparatus and an increase in cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a color printer according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a toner supply unit of the color printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner container.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a toner supply unit of the color printer illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a toner conveyance path.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a lid portion of the toner container.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a lid portion of the toner container.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a lid portion of the toner container.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a part of a lid portion of the toner container in a cross section.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a part of a toner supply unit of a color printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 30 toner container 60 shaft portion 61 internal thread member 62 external thread member 70 drive member 81 lever 82 switch 91 support member 92 electrode 93 cylindrical body 94 peripheral electrode 95 central electrode

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for supplying toner to a developing device from a toner container mounted on an image forming apparatus main body in accordance with consumption of toner in the developing device, wherein the toner container is the image forming device of the toner container. An exchange information output unit that performs an irreversible state change in a process from the attachment to the main body to a supply of the toner to the developing device, wherein the image forming apparatus main body is configured to change the state of the exchange information output unit. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a detection unit configured to detect an image. 2. A displacement means for driving the toner container to supply toner from the toner container to the developing device and the exchange information output means, the displacement being driven by the driving of the toner container by the driving means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a member, wherein the detection unit detects a displacement of the displacement member. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit has a switch device that is turned on / off by the displacement of the displacement member. 4. A drive unit for driving the toner container to supply toner from the toner container to the developing device, the exchange information output unit comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a container-side electrode member that changes irreversibly to non-conduction and the detection unit, and a main-body-side electrode member that detects the irreversible change of the container electrode member. . 5. An exchange information output means which changes irreversibly in a process from mounting on the image forming apparatus main body to supplying toner to the developing apparatus after mounting on the image forming apparatus. Toner container. 6. The toner container according to claim 5, wherein the replacement information output means has a displacement member that is displaced with respect to the container body when replenishing the developing device with toner. 7. The toner container according to claim 5, wherein said exchange information output means has a container-side electrode member for interrupting conduction when supplying toner to said developing device.