Abstract: A developing device capable of conveying discharged developer to the outside of the device well by preventing developer from firmly adhering within a discharge conveyance path, as well as an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge having this developing device.

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 mounting member comprises mounted thereon a plurality of toner containers that perform supply of toner by being themselves rotated. The toner containers are laid in the same direction to be mounted/released from above; a plurality of guiding members that rotatably support the toner containers are integrally formed.

Abstract: To provide a relatively small developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus that prevent developer, accommodated in a second developer conveying portion for recovering the developer after a developing step, from being pumped up to a developer carrier, and that do not apply a large stress to the developer. A plurality of developer carriers are arranged side-by-side in a direction of gravitational force so as to face an image carrier.

Abstract: A developing device capable of preventing deterioration of the image quality, which is caused when a developer recovered by a developing roller re-adheres thereto, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the developing device. The developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitation conveyance path in a developer conveyance direction becomes larger than the amount of developer to be transported from a recovery conveyance path to the agitation conveyance path, by making the developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitating screw in the developer conveyance direction equal to or larger than the developer conveyance amount on the downstream side of a recovery screw in the developer conveyance direction. Accordingly, the amount of developer existing on the upstream side of the agitation conveyance path in the developer conveyance direction becomes small, whereby the developer can be delivered smoothly from the recovery conveyance path to the agitation conveyance path.

Abstract: A developing device capable of preventing scattered developer from being discharged and of stably supplying a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device is not increased, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device. When the bulk of the developer existing in the vicinity of the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the supply conveyance path exceeds the height level of the developer discharge port, the developer that has reached the height level of the developer discharge port is discharged to the outside of the developing device by the developer discharge port and developer conveyance path serving as the developer discharge means.

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: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a process cartridge including a developing device that includes a developer carrier and a toner storing portion storing toner for replenishment. The developer carrier conveys a developer deposited thereon to a developing zone where the developer carrier faces and image carrier. The developing device feeds the toner from the toner storing portion to the developer carrier or the developer deposited on the developer carrier. A toner container stores toner to be replenished to said the storing section. The process cartridge and toner container each are removably mounted to the apparatus independently of each other. A toner conveying device configured to convey the toner from toner container to toner storing portion by using the weight of the toner is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

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 developing unit includes a developer carrying member, a supplying compartment, a recovery compartment, and an agitation compartment. The developer carrying member develops a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-component developer. The supplying compartment has a developer supplying transporter to supply the two-component developer to the developer carrying member while transporting the two-component developer. The recovery compartment has a developer recovery transporter to transport the two-component developer recovered from the developer carrying member. The agitation compartment has a developer agitation transporter to agitatingly transports developer. The developer agitation transporter includes a first screw having a screw pitch to transport developer to an upstream end of the supplying compartment from a downstream end of the agitation compartment.

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 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 exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes an image forming apparatus comprising a toner storage device storing a toner, an image forming device including a developer, and a toner transfer device provided between the toner storage device and the image forming device. The toner transfer device has a transfer passage, in which a powder is placed before activation of the toner transfer device.

Abstract: A development apparatus comprises three developer conveyance paths with separate functions for the supply, recovery and agitation of a developer, in which a reduction in size of the apparatus can be achieved. An image forming apparatus comprises the development apparatus. By provision in a development region width ? of a supply opening for delivering developer from the downstream end in the direction of conveyance of an agitation conveyance path to the 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: 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: 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 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 image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus body, an image carrier for carrying a latent image on its surface, and a developing device for developing the latent image to thereby produce a corresponding toner image. A removable member is removably mounted to the apparatus body and positioned in the apparatus body such that a distance between the removable member and a surrounding member around it varies when the removable member is being mounted to or dismounted from the apparatus body. A frame surrounds at least one of the removable member and surrounding member. A contact member contacts, when the removable member is being mounted to or dismounted from the apparatus body, the frame to thereby determine a distance between the removable member and the surrounding member.

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 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.