Developing device

A multi-color developing device comprising:

• a stationary frame, a movable frame mounted on said stationary frame so as to be reciprocatingly moved by a moving means in a vertical direction, a plurality of developing mechanisms mounted on said movable frame, wherein by moving said movable frame by said moving means, said developing mechanisms are each selectively located at a developing position and the developing operation is carried out in a different color;
• and wherein:
• a toner container unit is rotatably supported by said stationary frame wherein said toner container unit is adapted to be selectively rotated on an axis through a lower portion of said toner container unit between a retracted position and a fixed position;
• said toner container unit includes toner containers of a number equal to that of said developing mechanisms, and toner feeding means that are provided between each toner container and each developing mechanism that corresponds to said toner container in order to feed toner from said toner container to said developing mechanism;
• each of said toner feeding means including a vertical toner fall passage means which feeds toner to said corresponding developing mechanism wherein the toner is sent by a vertical toner conveying means from said corresponding toner container to an upper portion of said toner fall passage means, and said toner fall passage means includes an extensible and contractible means having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said upper end is coupled to said upper portion of said fall passage means and said lower end is coupled to said corresponding developing mechanism by detachable connection means;
• and
• said extensible and contractible means is positioned so as to extend and contract substantially in a direction in which said developing mechanism moves, said extensible and contractible means being further adapted to permit said toner unit to rotate between said fixed and said retracted positions.