US Patent 7558514 Toner supply device

Disclosed is a toner supply device including a toner container section (21b), a rotating shaft (31) provided in the toner container section (21b), and a stirring member (32) for stirring and feeding toner T to a supply opening (21d) formed in the toner container section (21b). The stirring member (32) includes an attachment portion (32c) fixedly attached to the rotating shaft (31) and a free end portion (32d) free to the rotating shaft (31). The free end portion (32d) has a stiffness lower than the attachment portion (32c). With this construction, a toner feeding rate can be maintained by the attachment portion (32c) and sound occurring at a release of the free end portion (32d) can be suppressed due to the free end portion (32d).