Abstract: A developing device of the present invention develops a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer made up of toner and carrier. The developing device includes a storing member for storing a fresh developer to be replenished. A conveying device conveys the fresh developer from the storing member to a case, which stores the two-ingredient type developer to be deposited on the image carrier, while fluidizing the fresh developer. An excess developer discharging portion is configured to discharge excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to the outside. The developer storing member is implemented as an at least partly flexible bag.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a first roller and a first fixing member are provided inside a loop formed by a first belt. A pressing member is pressed against the first roller and the first fixing member via the first belt. The first roller includes at least two enlarged radius portions of enlarged radius arranged axially along the first roller, at least one reduced radius portion of reduced radius sandwiched between the adjacent two enlarged radius portions in an axial direction of the first roller, and a concave portion formed by the reduced radius portion and the adjacent two enlarged radius portions sandwiching the reduced radius portion. The first fixing member is interdigitated with the first roller with play between the first fixing member and the first roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, using a developer including toner particles and carrier particles, includes a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and a conveying unit. The developing unit contains the developer and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member as a toner image with the toner particles. The cleaning unit contains the developer and mixes the developer with the toner particles collected from the image carrying member after transferring the toner image. The conveying unit conveys a mixture of the collected toner particles and the developer from the cleaning unit to the developing unit.

Abstract: A battery is provided with a battery stack body including a plurality of stacks of secondary batteries in each of which electrode plates, stacked via a separator, are accommodated and sealed in an outer sheath member, with electrode terminals correspondingly connected to the electrode plates and extracted from an outer peripheral edge of the outer sheath member, a pair of plate-like members, stacked as outermost layers of the battery stack body, respectively, so as to be opposed to each other, and a pressing mechanism pressing the plurality of secondary batteries via the pair of plate-like members. At least one of the pair of plate-like members having a characteristic exhibiting a maximum rigidity at a pressing center determined based on a plurality of pressing points of the at least one of the pair of plate-like members that are pressed by the pressing mechanism.

Abstract: A belt-fixing device includes a first seamless belt, a second seamless belt disposed in contact with the first belt to form a nip, a heating member, a first roller disposed inside the first belt, a second roller disposed inside the first endless belt upstream from the first roller in a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, a third roller disposed inside the second belt, facing the first roller, to cause the first belt and the second belt to press against each other at the nip, and a fourth roller disposed inside the second belt, facing the second roller to cause the first belt and the second belt to press against each other at the nip. The second roller rotates at a peripheral velocity different from that of the first roller and the fourth roller rotates at a peripheral velocity different from that of the third roller.

Abstract: A toner container includes a storing body that stores toner, a toner reception opening that receives the toner from the toner storing body, a shutter opening, a cylindrical shutter, and an O-shaped elastic ring disposed at the shutter opening configured to seal a space between the shutter opening and the shutter. The shutter receives a nozzle of an image forming apparatus and the cylindrical shutter opens and closes the shutter opening when moved by a nozzle of the image forming apparatus inserted into the shutter opening. When the nozzle is disposed through the shutter opening, the toner which is received from the toner reception opening is subsequently received by the nozzle of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A duct structure, includes: a vessel forming therein a chamber, the vessel including: an inlet port, an outlet port, wherein the vessel is configured such that a fluid flows into the chamber through the inlet port and flows out of the chamber through the outlet port, and a swirling flow suppressing member disposed in a position inside the chamber adjacent to the outlet port, wherein the swirling flow suppressing member is configured to suppress a swirling flow from occurring to or adjacent to the outlet port.

Abstract: A developer container storing a developer of the present invention includes a developer outlet formed in the side wall thereof, and a shutter member for selectively opening or closing the developer outlet. The shutter member opens the developer outlet when the developer container is mounted to the body of an image forming apparatus or closes it when the former is dismounted from the latter. The toner container with this configuration surely prevents the developer from leaking when the developer container is dismounted from an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An assembled battery is equipped with an insulating support plate supporting bus bars, omits the bolting operation and can simplify the operation of electrically connecting the bus bars to electrode terminals. The assembled battery includes a plurality of battery modules having output terminals. An insulating bus bar plate (support plate) supports conductive bus bars that are electrically connected to the terminal surfaces. A guide movably guides the bus bar plate between a first position in which the bus bars are electrically connected to the terminal surfaces and a second position in which the bus bars are separated from the terminal surfaces. A lock supports the bus bar plate in the first position and maintains the bus bars in a state that is forcibly connected to the terminals surfaces.

Abstract: A cleaning device used for removing toner particles remaining on an image bearing member, including a plurality of brush rollers capable of coming into contact with the image bearing member, the brush rollers being disposed around the image bearing member in a row in a direction in which the image bearing member is moved, wherein one of the brush rollers includes brush fibers each containing a conductive agent dispersed homogeneously therein or only in its surface layer, wherein another brush roller includes oblique brush fibers, looped brush fibers, or both of them, each brush fiber containing the conductive agent localized in a center portion thereof without being dispersed in its surface layer, and wherein the oblique brush fibers are obliquely provided in the another brush roller so that tip portions thereof are curled on the image bearing member in a direction in which the image bearing member is moved.

Abstract: A part of a toner supply path is formed in a setting unit (100), and a nozzle (110) coupled to a toner container (20) is provided, wherein the fitting direction of the toner container (20) to the setting unit (100) and the coupling direction of the nozzle (110) to the toner container (20) are different.

Abstract: A part of a toner supply path is formed in a setting unit (100), and a nozzle (110) coupled to a toner container (20) is provided, wherein the fitting direction of the toner container (20) to the setting unit (100) and the coupling direction of the nozzle (110) to the toner container (20) are different.

Abstract: The body member of a powder container of the present invention includes a bag-like powder storing body storing powder and formed with an opening at one end, and a base member affixed to the opening of the powder storing body. The base member allows an outlet member, which is formed with a passage configured to deliver the powder from the powder storing body to an outlet and has a shutter function for selectively blocking or unblocking the passage, to be connected to or disconnected from the base member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a toner and carrier mixture. A toner replenishing device replenishes toner stored in a toner storing portion to the developing unit. A carrier storing portion, storing a carrier therein, is constructed independently of the toner storing portion. The carrier is fed from the carrier storing portion to the developing unit by a toner conveying force available with the toner replenishing device.

Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.

Abstract: A developing device of the present invention develops a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer made up of toner and carrier. The developing device includes a storing member for storing a fresh developer to be replenished. A conveying device conveys the fresh developer from the storing member to a case, which stores the two-ingredient type developer to be deposited on the image carrier, while fluidizing the fresh developer. An excess developer discharging portion is configured to discharge excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to the outside. The developer storing member is implemented as an at least partly flexible bag.

Abstract: A part of a toner supply path is formed in a setting unit (100), and a nozzle (110) coupled to a toner container (20) is provided, wherein the fitting direction of the toner container (20) to the setting unit (100) and the coupling direction of the nozzle (110) to the toner container (20) are different.

Abstract: A powder container for use in an image forming apparatus. The powder container includes a powder storage section, a dispenser, a shutter, and a closing mechanism. The dispenser has an opening which faces horizontally and is oriented to receive a horizontal nozzle. The shutter is horizontally disposed within the dispenser and is movable by a nozzle of the image forming apparatus. The closing mechanism is arranged to receive a force when the nozzle is removed from the opening and when the powder container is disconnected from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a toner and carrier mixture. A toner replenishing device replenishes toner stored in a toner storing portion to the developing unit. A carrier storing portion, storing a carrier therein, is constructed independently of the toner storing portion. The carrier is fed from the carrier storing portion to the developing unit by a toner conveying force available with the toner replenishing device.

Abstract: A developer container storing a developer of the present invention includes a developer outlet formed in the side wall thereof, and a shutter member for selectively opening or closing the developer outlet. The shutter member opens the developer outlet when the developer container is mounted to the body of an image forming apparatus or closes it when the former is dismounted from the latter. The toner container with this configuration surely prevents the developer from leaking when the developer container is dismounted from an image forming apparatus.