Abstract: A pump portion 21 which is variable in volume, a feeding path portion 24 including a connection opening connected to the pump portion 21 at one end and including a discharge opening 23 at the other end, and a toner accommodating portion 22 connected to an intermediate portion between the one end and the other end of the feeding path portion 24 and for accommodating the toner are provided, and a volume change amount of the pump portion 21 is larger than a total volume from the connection opening to the discharge opening 23 of the feeding path portion 24.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a pump portion that is variable in volume, a feeding path portion including a connection opening connected to the pump portion at a first end and including a discharge opening at a second end, and a toner accommodating portion connected to an intermediate portion between the first end of the feeding path portion and the second end of the feeding path portion. A volume change amount of the pump portion is greater than a total volume from the connection opening to the discharge opening.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes accommodating container, a pump that is variable in volume, a feeding path member of which one end is connected to the pump and the other end is provided with a discharge outlet, the feeding path member being configured to form a path for feeding developer between the pump and the discharge outlet, and a transporting member configured to communicate the developer and the accommodating container and to transport the developer from the accommodating container to the feeding path member. The transporting member includes a moving mechanism configured to move a holding member between a first position where the holding member is capable of being filled with the developer from the accommodating container by accommodating the container and the holding member and a second position where the holding member and the feeding path member communicate with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer is detachably mountable includes an image bearing member, an exposure unit for exposing the image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, a light receiving portion provided in the cartridge and for receiving the light emitted from the exposure unit, and a detecting portion for detecting vibration of the cartridge from a light reception value of the light received by the light receiving portion.

Abstract: A pump portion 21 which is variable in volume, a feeding path portion 24 including a connection opening connected to the pump portion 21 at one end and including a discharge opening 23 at the other end, and a toner accommodating portion 22 connected to an intermediate portion between the one end and the other end of the feeding path portion 24 and for accommodating the toner are provided, and a volume change amount of the pump portion 21 is larger than a total volume from the connection opening to the discharge opening 23 of the feeding path portion 24.

Abstract: A seal member includes a first seal portion abutting an end portion of a rotating body to seal a gap between a storage container and the end portion, and a second seal portion abutting an end portion of a blade to seal a gap between the storage container and the end portion. The second seal portion has a tip contacting portion to contact a tip portion of the blade and a non-tip contacting portion to contact a portion of the blade except for the tip portion. The non-tip contacting portion is recessed to form a step between the non-tip contacting portion and the tip contacting portion. The tip contacting portion includes a base portion to contact with the storage container, an abutting portion configured to abut the blade, and a connecting portion which connects the base portion and the abutting portion to each other.

Abstract: A developer container unit to be mounted in an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming operation comprises a frame and a sealing unit. The frame is provided with a developer containing chamber containing developer and an opening for discharging the developer from the developer containing chamber. The sealing unit includes a shaft member rotatable about a rotational axis and a sealing portion attached to the shaft member and compressed by the shaft member and the frame to seal the opening. The sealing unit is rotatable to a close position at which the sealing portion seals the opening, a first open position at which the opening is open, and a second open position at which the opening is open. The sealing unit agitates the developer by executing a reciprocating motion between the first and second open positions during the image forming operation.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation includes a flexible container provided with an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer, a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer to be discharged from the flexible container, and an urging member 21 for urging a developer accommodating bag toward the frame for accommodating the developer accommodating bag 16. By this, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the flexible developer accommodating bag 16.

Abstract: A rotatable member includes a hollow cylindrical rotation shaft formed with a curved plate-like member. The rotation shaft includes a seam where end surfaces of the plate-like member are contacted to each other. The rotation shaft includes a rotational drive transmitting portion which is provided at an axial end portion thereof and which includes a contact surface contactable to a driver for driving the rotation shaft and configured to receive the driving force from the driver. In a coordinate system with the rotational axis as an origin, the contact surface is provided at a position away by 90° or more from the seam in a normal rotational direction which is a direction in which the rotatable member rotates to form an image.

Abstract: A developer container unit to be mounted in an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming operation comprises a frame and a sealing unit. The frame is provided with a developer containing chamber containing developer and an opening for discharging the developer from the developer containing chamber. The sealing unit includes a shaft member rotatable about a rotational axis and a sealing portion attached to the shaft member and compressed by the shaft member and the frame to seal the opening. The sealing unit is rotatable to a close position at which the sealing portion seals the opening, a first open position at which the opening is open, and a second open position at which the opening is open. The sealing unit agitates the developer by executing a reciprocating motion between the first and second open positions during the image forming operation.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation includes a flexible container provided with an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer, a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer to be discharged from the flexible container, and an urging member 21 for urging a developer accommodating bag toward the frame for accommodating the developer accommodating bag 16. By this, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the flexible developer accommodating bag 16.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a roller including a core metal shaft and a coating layer, roller supporting portions, and a regulating portion for regulating a position of the roller with respect to a longitudinal direction of the roller. The roller supporting portions are provided so as to support one end portion and an other end potion of the core metal shaft, respectively, with respect to a direction of a rotational axis of the roller. The roller is further provided with cylindrical holes disposed at respective ends of the core metal shaft with respect to the direction of the rotational axis and extending in the direction of the rotational axis with the rotational axis as a center. The roller is supported by the roller supporting portions at inner peripheral surfaces of the holes.

Abstract: A seal member 14 which seals a gap among a rotating body 9 provided in an opening of a frame body 13, a blade 18a, and the frame body 13 in an end region in an axial direction of the rotating body 9, the seal member 14 including: a first seal portion 14b which comes into contact with the rotating body 9; a second seal portion 14e which comes into contact with the blade 18a; and a third seal portion 14f which is constituted by a surface formed in a stair shape and sequentially arranged between the first seal portion 14b and the second seal portion 14e and which is capable of reducing a gap formed between the rotating body 9 and the blade 18a due to rotation of the rotating body 9.

Abstract: A developer accommodating member for accommodating a developer includes a flexible container provided with a single opening for permitting discharge of the developer, a sealing member bonded to a periphery of the opening and configured to seal the opening, a bonding portion bonding the periphery of the opening and the sealing member, and a reinforcing member. The container includes a fixing portion fixable in a neighborhood of the opening. The opening is formed so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the container. The reinforcing member is provided on a side opposite from the fixing portion with respect to the opening, and as seen in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the opening. The bonding portion and the reinforcing member at least partially overlap with each other.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation includes a flexible container provided with an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer, a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer to be discharged from the flexible container, and an urging member 21 for urging a developer accommodating bag toward the frame for accommodating the developer accommodating bag 16. By this, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the flexible developer accommodating bag 16.

Abstract: A rotatable member for use with a rotatable driving member provided in a process cartridge or an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a hollow cylindrical rotation shaft engageable with the rotatable driving member. The rotation shaft includes a seam extending from one end to the other end thereof in an axial direction thereof. The rotation shaft includes a transmitting surface engageable with the driving member and configured to receive a driving force for rotating the rotation shaft about the axial direction. The transmitting surface is twisted or inclined with respect to the axial direction.

Abstract: The engagement between a fixing member and a resin member is released and the resin member is separated from a frame thereby separating a bearing member from the frame. Parts to be used in a developing device are replaced or the developing device is replenished with a developer. The resin member is connected to the frame to connect the bearing member to the frame. The fixing member is inserted into a through hole to engage with the resin member and fix the resin member to the frame, thereby fixing the bearing member to the frame.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a roller including a core metal shaft and a coating layer, roller supporting portions, and a regulating portion for regulating a position of the roller with respect to a longitudinal direction of the roller. The roller supporting portions are provided so as to support one end portion and the other end potion of the core metal shaft, respectively, with respect to a direction of a rotational axis of the roller. The roller is further provided with cylindrical holes disposed at respective ends of the core metal shaft with respect to the direction of the rotational axis and extending in the direction of the rotational axis with the rotational axis as a center. The roller is supported by the roller supporting portions at inner peripheral surfaces of the holes.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation includes a flexible container provided with an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer, a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer to be discharged from the flexible container, and an urging member 21 for urging a developer accommodating bag toward the frame for accommodating the developer accommodating bag 16. By this, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the flexible developer accommodating bag 16.

Abstract: One end portion and the other end portion of a rotating member, which face each other and form a joint portion, have a shape with projections and recesses. Projections of one end portion fit in recesses of the other end portion, while projections of the other end portion fit in recesses of the one end portion, so that the one end portion and the other end portion are interlocked. The projections have a first corner portion rounded in an arc, while the recesses have a second corner portion rounded in an arc in which the first corner portion fits. The first corner portion has a larger radius of curvature than that of the second corner portion.