Abstract: A powder container includes: a powder containing unit which has an opening portion formed at one end portion thereof, contains a powder therein, and is formed of a flexible material; a discharging unit which is provided in the end portion provided with the opening portion, is fixed to a powder conveying apparatus, and discharges the powder delivered from the opening portion out to the powder conveying apparatus; and a portion to be locked which is provided in an end portion opposite to the opening portion and is locked to a locking portion of the powder conveying apparatus while a delivery member is biased in a direction opposite to the movement direction. When the delivery member is pressed inward from the outside of the powder containing unit so as to move toward the opening portion, the powder is delivered out from the opening portion.

Abstract: Toner housing container includes: container body mountable on toner conveying device and housing toner supplied into toner conveying device; conveying portion provided in container body and conveying toner from longer direction one end of container body to other end at which container opening portion is provided; pipe receiving port provided at container opening portion and receiving conveying pipe fixed to toner conveying device; and uplifting portion to move toner conveyed by conveying portion toward toner receiving port of conveying pipe. Toner has loose apparent density of 0.28 g/cm3 to 0.53 g/cm3. Container body includes protruding portion protruding from container body interior side of container opening portion toward one end. Uplifting portion includes uplifting wall surface extending from internal wall surface of container body toward protruding portion, and curving portion curving to conform to protruding portion.

Abstract: A toner housing container includes: a container body housing a toner; a conveying portion; a pipe receiving port; and an uplifting portion. Flow rate index of the toner measured by powder rheometer and represented by “flow rate index=(total energy at a rotation speed of 10 mm/s)/(total energy at a rotation speed of 100 mm/s)” is in a range of “1.8?flow rate index?6.5”. Container body includes protruding portion protruding from container body interior side of container opening portion toward one end of container body. Uplifting portion includes: uplifting wall surface extending from container body internal wall surface toward protruding portion; and curving portion curving to conform to protruding portion. When the toner housing container is mounted on the toner conveying device, the protruding portion is present between the curving portion and the toner receiving port of the conveying pipe being inserted.

Abstract: A toner housing container includes: container body; conveying portion; pipe receiving port; and uplifting portion. Container body includes; protruding portion protruding from container body interior side of container opening portion to one end of container body; and shutter member moving between closing and opening positions to close and open container opening portion. Uplifting portion includes: uplifting wall surface extending from container body internal wall surface toward protruding portion; and curving portion curving to conform to protruding portion. Shutter member moves from closing to opening position upon push by conveying pipe. When toner housing container is mounted on toner conveying device, protruding portion is present between curving portion and toner receiving port of conveying pipe inserted and extends along shutter member moving region. Toner has bulk density of ?0.399 g/cm3 when toner housing container is shaken up-and-down 10 times at 25° C.

Abstract: Toner housing container includes: container body housing a toner; conveying portion conveying the toner from longer direction one end of container body to its other end at which container opening portion is provided; pipe receiving port receiving a conveying pipe fixed to toner conveying device; and uplifting portion moving the toner toward toner receiving port of conveying pipe. Toner has molecular weight distribution having a peak in a range of 103 to 104, and has C/R of from 0.03 to 0.55 between peak height C attributed to crystalline polyester resin and R attributed to non-crystalline resin when measured by FT-IR after stored at 45° C. for 12 hours. Container body includes protruding portion protruding from container body interior side toward the one end. Uplifting portion includes uplifting wall surface extending from container body internal wall surface toward protruding portion. Protruding portion is present between uplifting wall surface and toner receiving port.

Abstract: A replenishing developer housing container according to the present invention includes: a container body housing a replenishing developer; a conveying portion; a pipe receiving port; and an uplifting portion, wherein the replenishing developer contains a toner and a carrier, wherein the container body includes a protruding portion protruding from a container body interior side of the container opening portion toward one end of the container body and a curving portion curving so as to conform to the protruding portion, wherein the uplifting portion includes an uplifting wall surface extending from an internal wall surface of the container body toward the protruding portion, wherein the protruding portion is provided such that when the replenishing developer housing container is mounted on the replenishing developer conveying device, the protruding portion is present between the curving portion and the replenishing developer receiving port of a conveying pipe being inserted.

Abstract: A magnetic permeability detector includes an LC oscillator circuit including a coil and a capacitor; and a resistor connected in series with the coil.

Abstract: A powder conveying apparatus includes a powder containing unit that contains powder and at least a portion of which is deformable; a discharging unit that discharges the powder from the powder housing unit to an outside; a delivery member that moves toward the discharging unit side while pushing the deformable portion of the powder containing unit inward to thereby convey the powder to the discharging unit; and an oscillation applying unit that applies oscillation to the discharging unit. Driving of the oscillation applying unit is controlled in response to an operation of the delivery member.

Abstract: A nozzle insertion member arranged in a powder container includes a nozzle insertion opening; an opening/closing member opening/closing the nozzle insertion opening; a supporting member supporting the opening/closing member; and a biasing member provided to the supporting member to bias the opening/closing member toward a closing position. When the powder is supplied to the conveying nozzle along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container, the supporting member rotates with the rotation of the conveyor. The opening/closing member is rotated by a drive transmitting mechanism with rotation of the supporting member. The mechanism includes an elongated member arranged on the opening/closing member and penetrating through an opening formed on the supporting member; and a drive transmitted portion formed on the elongated member; and a drive transmitting portion formed on an inner surface of the opening and configured to come into contact with the drive transmitted portion.

Abstract: A powder container includes: a powder containing unit that contains powder and at least a part of which is deformable; a discharging unit that receives the powder supplied from an opening of the powder containing unit via an inlet arranged on the discharging unit and discharges the powder to a supply destination; an elastic member that is arranged on a periphery of the inlet of the discharging unit; and a seal member that is arranged on the powder containing unit and seals the opening. The seal member is sandwiched between the discharging unit and the powder containing unit via the elastic member such that the seal member is removable from between the discharging unit and the powder containing unit.

Abstract: A powder container (61) includes a powder containing unit (66) which has an opening portion formed at one end portion thereof, is configured to contain a powder (T) therein and, is formed of a flexible material so as to be deformable. When a delivery member (81) is pressed inward from the outside of the powder containing unit (66) so as to move toward the opening portion, the powder (T) is delivered out from the opening portion. The end portion provided with the opening portion is provided with a discharging unit (67) which is fixed to a powder conveying apparatus, and discharges the powder (T) delivered from the opening portion out to the powder conveying apparatus. In addition, an end portion opposite to the opening portion is provided with a portion to be locked which is locked to a locking portion of the powder conveying apparatus while being biased in a direction opposite toward the movement direction of the delivery member (81).

Abstract: A powder container includes: a housing unit that is horizontally elongated, that contains powder, and that has at least part thereof being deformable; and a discharging unit that is attached to one end of the housing unit in a longitudinal direction. The discharging unit includes a discharge opening through which the powder in the housing unit is discharged outside and a rotary shutter that is provided inside the discharge opening and that opens and closes the discharge opening by rotating about a rotating shaft that is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing unit.

Abstract: A powder conveying apparatus includes a powder containing unit that contains powder and at least a portion of which is deformable; a discharging unit that discharges the powder from the powder housing unit to an outside; a delivery member that moves toward the discharging unit side while pushing the deformable portion of the powder containing unit inward to thereby convey the powder to the discharging unit; and an oscillation applying unit that applies oscillation to the discharging unit. Driving of the oscillation applying unit is controlled in response to an operation of the delivery member.

Abstract: A powder container includes: a powder containing unit that contains powder and at least a part of which is deformable; a discharging unit that receives the powder supplied from an opening of the powder containing unit via an inlet arranged on the discharging unit and discharges the powder to a supply destination; an elastic member that is arranged on a periphery of the inlet of the discharging unit; and a seal member that is arranged on the powder containing unit and seals the opening. The seal member is sandwiched between the discharging unit and the powder containing unit via the elastic member such that the seal member is removable from between the discharging unit and the powder containing unit.

Abstract: A developer bearing member on which grooves slanting in a thrust direction of the developer bearing member cross other grooves reversely slanting relative to the thrust direction, wherein each of the grooves and the reversely slanting grooves is slanting at an angle of greater than 0° and not greater than 40°. Any two adjacent intersections of the grooves and the reversely slanting grooves in the thrust (or peripheral) direction are preferably on different levels in the peripheral (or thrust) direction. The distance between two adjacent intersections in the thrust direction is preferably from 1.3 mm to 4.8 mm. The distance between two adjacent intersections in the thrust direction is preferably from 0.38 Vd/Vi (mm) to 1.1 Vd/Vi (mm). The deviation in depth of grooves present on a 36° arc surface portion of the member is not greater than 15% of the gap between the image bearing member and the developer bearing member.

Abstract: A developer bearing member on which grooves slanting in a thrust direction of the developer bearing member cross other grooves reversely slanting relative to the thrust direction, wherein each of the grooves and the reversely slanting grooves is slanting at an angle of greater than 0° and not greater than 40°. Any two adjacent intersections of the grooves and the reversely slanting grooves in the thrust (or peripheral) direction are preferably on different levels in the peripheral (or thrust) direction. The distance between two adjacent intersections in the thrust direction is preferably from 1.3 mm to 4.8 mm. The distance between two adjacent intersections in the thrust direction is preferably from 0.38 Vd/Vi (mm) to 1.1 Vd/Vi (mm). The deviation in depth of grooves present on a 36° arc surface portion of the member is not greater than 15% of the gap between the image bearing member and the developer bearing member.

Abstract: In a developing device of the present invention for depositing toner on an image carrier to thereby develop a latent image formed thereon, a toner refilling device is configured to refill, when the toner is short, fresh toner at a position where the developing device is situated.

Abstract: In a developing device of the present invention for depositing toner on an image carrier to thereby develop a latent image formed thereon, a toner refilling device is configured to refill, when the toner is short, fresh toner at a position where the developing device is situated.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member having a magnetic field generating device internally and configured to bear and convey two-component developer including toner and magnetic carrier, a first regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the developer born and conveyed by the developer bearing member, a developer container section for storing the developer scraped off by the first regulating member, a second regulating member arranged upstream of the first regulating member in a conveying direction of the developer on the developer bearing member, and a toner container section for supplying toner to the developer bearing member. The developing apparatus changes a toner take-in condition of the developer on the developer bearing member by changing a contact condition between the developer and the toner according to a change of a toner density of the developer on the developer bearing member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member including an internal magnetic field generating device and configured such that a surface thereof moves to carry and convey a developer including toner and carrier. A developer regulating member regulates a quantity of the developer carried and conveyed by the developer bearing member toward a developing area, and a developer accommodating unit accommodates the developer regulated to be conveyed toward the developing area by the developer regulating member. A toner accommodating unit includes a toner supplying opening opposing a surface of the developer bearing surface of the developer bearing member at a position adjacent to and upstream of the developer accommodating unit in a developer conveying direction.