Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer bearing member, a developer transporter, a developer conveyance system for directing the developer, including a supply path, a recovery path, and an agitation path, a developer supply opening through which the developer is supplied to the developer conveyance system, a developer supply device for supplying the developer from the developer supply opening to the developer conveyance system, a developer discharge device for discharging the developer outside the developing unit, a developer level rise detector for detecting increase in a level of the developer between the downstream end of the recovery path facing the developer bearing member in the direction of developer transport and a portion of the agitation path where the agitation path receives the collected developer from the recovery path, and a controller for controlling the developer discharge device based on the detection result provided by the developer level rise detector.

Abstract: An insertion passage 104Y for inserting a suction nozzle 73Y fixed to an image forming apparatus is provided on a holder 102Y, and a connecting passage 114Y that connects the insertion passage 104Y and a toner storage section 106Y of the holder 102Y is provided After the toner sent from bottle 101Y to the holder 102Y falls towards the connecting passage 104Y, the toner flows into the suction nozzle 73Y through the connecting passage 114Y and is then discharged out of the holder 102Y An airtightness between the insertion passage 114Y and the suction nozzle 73Y inserted into the insertion passage 114 Y is superior than an airtightness between the bottle 101Y and the holder 102Y engaged with the bottle 101Y.

Abstract: A developing device which can stably supply a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the scattered developer from being discharged and thereby preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device does not increase, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. A block member serving as a scattered developer discharge prevention member is provided so as to block a path through which the developer scattered as a result of a conveyance operation of a supply screw serving as a developer conveying member moves toward a developer discharge port. Accordingly, the scattered developer is prevented from reaching the developer discharge port and being discharged therefrom.

Abstract: A developing device includes a rotator that rotates around a shaft, and a bearing element that supports the shaft to a housing. A sliding element formed of a composite material that contains self-lubricating thermoplastic olefin resin as a base material is used as the bearing element. The sliding element formed of the composite material has at least a ratio of numerical values of “Rockwell hardness”/“bending elastic modulus” in a range from 25 to 45, and provides a sliding surface of which a frictional coefficient is lower than that of the sliding element formed of the base material.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrying member, developer supply, developer collection and developer agitation conveyance paths, transfer and communication openings, and partition. The developer carrying member bears a two-component developer. The developer supply and developer collection conveyance paths respectively convey the two-component and collected developers in the first direction. The developer agitation conveyance path conveys excess and collected developers in a second direction while agitating to supply the agitated developers to the developer supply conveyance path. The partition separates the developer collection, developer supply, and developer agitation conveyance paths. The transfer opening transfers the collected developer from the first to the second direction.

Abstract: A developing device and image forming apparatus that can satisfy stability over time in relation to amount of developer carried, and prevent developer retention, deterioration of developer and developing sleeve adhesion, wherein the amount of developer carried per unit area on the developer carrier in the developing region is 30 mg/cm2 to 60 mg/cm2; the weight mean particle diameter of the toner is 4.5 ?m to 8.0 ?m; the ratio Dw/Dn of the toner weight mean particle diameter (Dw) and the number mean particle diameter (Dn) is 1.20 or less; an irregular roughness pattern having the maximum height Rz of the surface roughness of 20 to 40 ?m and the mean space Sm of the roughness of 100 to 200 ?m is formed on the surface of the developer carrier; and the relationship between the developing gap PG and the gap DG between the developer restricting member and the developer carrier is 1.0?(DG/PG)?3.0.

Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.

Abstract: An insertion passage 104Y for inserting a suction nozzle 73Y fixed to an image forming apparatus is provided on a holder 102Y, and a connecting passage 114Y that connects the insertion passage 104Y and a toner storage section 106Y of the holder 102Y is provided. After the toner sent from bottle 101Y to the holder 102Y falls towards the connecting passage 104Y, the toner flows into the suction nozzle 73Y through the connecting passage 114Y and is then discharged out of the holder 102Y. An airtightness between the insertion passage 114Y and the suction nozzle 73Y inserted into the insertion passage 114 Y is superior than an airtightness between the bottle 101Y and the holder 102Y engaged with the bottle 101Y.

Abstract: A method of installing a toner container and a container. The container includes a body for storing toner, a handle attached to an end of the container, an opening for discharging the toner to an image forming device, and a shutter which selectively opens and closes the opening due to rotation of the handle. There is a gear which protrudes through the end of the container, and rotation of the gear causes toner in the body to be moved from the body of the container into the end of the container and subsequently out through the opening of the end of the container.

Abstract: A development apparatus includes three developer conveyance paths with separate functions for the supply, recovery and agitation of a developer, respectively, in which a reduction in size of the apparatus can be achieved. An image forming apparatus includes the development apparatus. By a development region width of a supply opening for delivering developer from a downstream end in the direction of conveyance of an agitation conveyance path to an upstream end in the direction of conveyance of a supply conveyance path and a surplus opening for delivering developer from the downstream end in the direction of conveyance of the supply conveyance path to the upstream end in the direction of conveyance of the agitation conveyance path, a space saving of the upper part of the development apparatus can be achieved and a space saving of the development apparatus as a whole can be achieved compared with a conventional development apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrostatic latent image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image and a development unit that develops the electrostatic latent image. The development unit includes a developer carrier, first, second, and third developer conveyers, and an opening area. The developer carrier is disposed opposing to the electrostatic latent image carrier. The first developer conveyer supplies a developer to the developer carrier. The second developer conveyer conveys the developer, and transports the developer to the first developer conveyer at a downstream side of the second developer conveyer. The third developer conveyer collects the developer, conveys the developer, and transports the developer to the second developer conveyer in a downstream side of the third developer conveyer. The opening area, disposed higher than a lowermost point of the first developer conveyer, allows the developer to drop from the first developer conveyer to the second developer conveyer.

Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.

Abstract: A toner container for installation in a toner supply device is provided. The toner container includes a toner accommodation member and a cap member freely attachable to and detachable from the toner accommodation member. The toner accommodation member includes a bag member having an opening, and a connection member attached to the opening of the bag member and having a toner supply opening. The cap member is configured to receive toner supplied from the toner supply opening of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and to discharge the received toner. Either of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and the cap member includes a groove part and the other includes a protrusion part to engage with the groove part, and the cap member is attached to the toner accommodation member by engaging the groove part and the protrusion part with each other. The protrusion part elastically deforms to engage with the groove part.

Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.

Abstract: In a development device for containing a developer and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, a supplier supplies fresh developer to the development device. A developer carrier carries the developer to be supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. A plurality of conveyance members conveys the developer contained in the development device in an axial direction of the development device to form a circulation path. An outlet is provided in a wall of a conveyance path formed by one of the plurality of conveyance members and discharges the developer to an outside of the conveyance path. A discharge conveyance member forms a discharge conveyance path to convey the developer discharged from the outlet in the axial direction of the development device and to discharge the developer to an outside of the development device.

Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises a rotation unit which is rotatable to the developer container main part and having an outlet to discharge developer from the developer container, a shutter provided on the rotation unit to open and close the outlet by rotation of the rotation unit, and an engagement unit provided on the periphery side portion of the rotation unit in order to prevent rotation of the rotation unit when attached to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developing device includes a rotator that rotates around a shaft, and a bearing element that supports the shaft to a housing. A sliding element formed of a composite material that contains self-lubricating thermoplastic olefin resin as a base material is used as the bearing element. The sliding element formed of the composite material has at least a ratio of numerical values of “Rockwell hardness”/“bending elastic modulus” in a range from 25 to 45, and provides a sliding surface of which a frictional coefficient is lower than that of the sliding element formed of the base material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge, a toner storage, and a toner supplying unit. The process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a developer container, a developer bearing member, and a pair of side plates. The developer container includes a toner inlet mounted at a predetermined position on one of its top surface. The pair of side plates are arranged in parallel and separated by a predetermined distance which determines a predetermined longitudinal width of the process cartridge and configured to support the components in the process cartridge.

Abstract: A toner bottle has a main body, an opening, a gear, and an intermediate area. The main body includes a guide used to guide the toner. The intermediate area is located between the main body and the opening. Both the main body and the intermediate area include a guide for guiding toner. An angle of the guide of the main body relative to the axis of rotation of the toner bottle is larger than an angle of the guide of the intermediate area.

Abstract: A method for producing a low-cost developer container filled with developer, which is capable of stably preventing image density from being locally reduced even in the case where the entire replenishment developer is not dispersed uniformly, the developer container filled with developer, and a developer replenishing device and image forming apparatus that use this developer container filled with developer.