Abstract: A development apparatus to and from which a toner container is attachable and detachable includes a developing roller, a storage unit configured to store toner to be carried by the developing roller, an attachment unit to and from which the toner container is attachable and detachable and provided with a reception port for receiving toner from the toner container to the storage unit, an opening through which an inside of the storage unit and an outside of the storage unit communicate with each other, a filter configured to cover the opening, permit a passage of air and disturb a passage of toner, and a main unit shutter movable between a non-communication position and a communication position and configured to shield the opening when the main unit shutter is located at the non-communication position and open the opening when the main unit shutter is located at the communication position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a toner container is detachably mountable includes a mounting portion to which the toner container is detachably mountable and which includes a receiving port for receiving toner supplied from the toner container, a passage for permitting passing of the toner received through the receiving port and provided with a through hole, and a filter portion provided so as to cover the through hole and for permitting passing of air; and an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the toner received through the receiving port. At least a part of the through hole overlaps with the receiving port as viewed in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a direction of gravitation.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a developing roller rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, and a frame configured to support the developing roller. A lever is connected to the frame, with the lever being elastically deformable such that a first part of the lever is movable relative to a second part of the lever and relative to the frame, and the lever protruding from the frame. A coupling member is configured to transmit a rotational force to the developing roller, the coupling member being rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, and the coupling member being movable relative to the frame in a direction of its rotational axis. When the cartridge is oriented with the lever and the electrode portion at a bottom portion of the cartridge, the lever protrudes downward from the frame.

Abstract: A toner container includes a bag body, a coupling member, and a discharge member. The bag body includes a side portion and has, formed in the bag body, storage space configured to store toner and having flexibility. The coupling member is coupled with an opening of the bag body. The discharge member discharges the toner stored in the storage space. The side portion extends in a first direction from the opening to a bottom portion opposite the opening. Two-dimensional code is provided on an outer surface opposite an inner surface of the side portion that forms the storage space for toner. The two-dimensional code is located closer to the bottom portion than to the opening in the first direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes an accommodating portion for accommodating toner, a developing roller and a stirring member. The developing device is for use with an image forming apparatus and detachably mounts a replenishing container for replenishing the toner. The accommodating portion includes a receiving opening through which the toner replenished from the accommodating portion is received in the accommodating portion, the receiving opening being provide on a first end side of the accommodating portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the developing roller. An opening area of the receiving opening when the developing device is viewed in the rotational direction is wider than the opening area of the receiving opening when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a cartridge mountable to the main assembly, with the cartridge being movable in the main assembly between a developing position at a terminal end of a mounting path and a spaced position moved from the developing position in a direction different from a direction of the mounting path. The cartridge includes a developer carrying member and a coupling member capable of inclining relative to a rotational axis of the developer carrying member. The coupling member is capable of taking a reference position when the cartridge is at a developing position, an at-dismounting position inclined relative to the rotational axis of the developer carrying member when the cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly, and an at-spaced position inclined relative to the rotational axis of the developer carrying member in a direction different from that in the at-dismounting position.

Abstract: In a management system, an apparatus that is present in a user environment obtains a code that is specific to a device containing a consumable agent to be consumed for image formation or specific to a cartridge-type device insertable into an image-forming apparatus. A server apparatus that is present in a remote environment performs authentication for the device based on the code obtained by the apparatus. When the authentication performed by the server apparatus is successful, a replenishment path of the consumable agent from the device to the image-forming apparatus is opened or the replenishment path is allowed to be opened, or an inhibiting mechanism capable of inhibiting the device from being inserted into the image-forming apparatus is put in a state in which the device can be inserted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit including an image bearing member and a second unit. The second unit includes a developing roller to supply the toner to the image bearing member, a mounting portion in which the replenishing container is dismountably mounted and an accommodating portion to accommodate the toner replenished from the replenishing container. The second unit is movable between a first position where the developing roller contacts the image bearing member and a second position where the developing roller separates from the image bearing member. When a moving direction in which the second unit moves from the first position toward the second position is defined as a separating direction, the second unit is urged in the separating direction by a force which the mounting portion receives from the replenishing container when the replenishing container is mounted to the mounting portion.