Abstract: An imaging material replenishment system for a reproduction apparatus, with an imaging material container removably insertable into an insertion guide, which container has a containment lid automatically removed upon insertion, with a lid latching member with a latching notch normally latching the containment lid to the container. The insertion guide has a latch engaging member such as a fixed pin positioned to engage an unlatching ramp surface of the lid latching member as the container is inserted, a locking slot returning the pin therein during dispensing, and thus holding the lid there, and another, oppositely inclined, ramp surface automatically relatching the lid to the container as the container is removed after dispensing. An integrated contents encoding and interlock system is also provided.

Abstract: An original equipment type seal for recharged toner cartridges can be installed without splitting the cartridge itself, by screening a border of "hot-melt" type adhesive, preferably wax-based, onto a strip of polyester, the adhesive being capable of softening or melting at a temperature above the softening or coagulating point of the toner powder itself, but below the softening points of the plastic components of the cartridge. The polyester seal is inserted into the cartridge with the aid of a room temperature or even cold, metallic insertion tool, preferably made of a high magnetic permeability steel. Heating this cold tool, or subsequently inserting a hot tool, will cause the adhesive to melt and seal the cartridge.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a container having a developer discharge opening, and a table formed around the discharge opening. A slidable plate-shaped lid is slidably mounted on the table, and the lid includes first and second lid portions which are interconnected to each other. A film member is attached to the table and is peelably adhered around the discharge opening. The film member includes a sealing portion for closing the discharge opening, and a second portion folded back over the sealing portion. The second portion extends through the gaps between the first and second lid portions. A grip is fixed to a free end of the second portion of the film member and is provided with an urging portion releasably engaged with a plate surface of the lid.

Abstract: A sealed system for collecting and removing waste imaging material from a reproduction apparatus in a waste collection container removably insertable into the reproduction apparatus so that the inlet opening of the container is positioned at discharge outlet of a pneumatic cleaning system, especially, the outlet of a cyclone air/toner separator. The container has a dual mode resilient pneumatic seal surrounding its inlet, and an integral insertion guide member. The cleaning system discharge outlet includes a spring loaded sled member and a flexible pneumatic seal connecting between the sled member and the discharge outlet to allow limited movement of the sled member. The insertion guide member of the container slides on an entrance guide path into compressed superposed engagement with the sled member to form a pneumaticaly-sealed waste material path between the discharge outlet of the reproduction apparatus cleaning system and the interior of the waste container when so inserted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing cartridge adapted to discharge material to a receiving member during a dispensing operation. The dispensing cartridge comprises an outer member which defines a chamber and an outer port therein and an inner member. The inner member defines a chamber for storing the material and an inner port therein. The inner member is located within the chamber of the outer member with the inner port thereof being aligned with the outer port of the outer member during the dispensing operation. The inner member is adapted to change shape during the dispensing operation to facilitate the dispensing of material from the chamber of the inner member, through the inner and outer port, and to the receiving member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is arranged so that a toner container having an opening portion which can be opened or closed is engaged with a toner replenishing opening of a toner hopper so as to open the opening portion of the toner container. A rotary shaft extends through the toner container, has a toner stirring member mounted thereto, and is coupled with a driving shaft of an agitator. When rotated by the driving shaft of the agitator, the rotary shaft causes the toner in the toner container to drop into the toner hopper due to rotation of the stirring member within the toner container, which rotates simultaneously with the agitator in the hopper.

Abstract: A developer dispensing assembly for dispensing developer to an electrostatographic development apparatus has a developer dispensing tube, a toner supply at a first end of the tube, a developer supply adjacent the toner supply, an auger to transport toner and developer from the first end of the tube to the opposite end of the tube, the developer dispensing tube having an array of developer dispensing apertures arranged in a geometric pattern having a spatial relationship with respect to each other to dispense toner enriched developer through the apertures to the development apparatus at a substantially uniform dispensing profile as said developer and toner are transported from the first end of the tube to the opposite end of the tube for varied feed rates of developer and toner to the dispensing tube.

Abstract: Image forming equipment of the type supplying a toner to a developing device thereof by using a cartridge which is filled with a toner. The cartridge has a sealed opening and is brought to a toner supply position in the equipment without having the opening unsealed by the operator. Even when the cartridge is pulled out during the loading operation, the toner is not scattered about. A new cartridge for replacing a used empty cartridge is brought to the toner supply position without requiring the operator to remove the empty toner. During the replacement, the toner remaining on the walls of the empty cartridge is prevented from being sprinkled.

Abstract: A replacement toner cartridge sealing strip having a smooth support layer (3), a resilient layer (7) attached to the support layer and a smooth, compliant outer layer (9). A finger hole (5) provides a handle. The strip can be inserted by external force into the existing channel of an emptied cartridge to be refilled. The smooth compliant surface does not collect toner as the strip is removed.

Abstract: A toner delivering apparatus and method for supplying toner to the toner hoppers of toner cartridges used in printer, copier and facsimile machines. In one embodiment a balloon is filled with toner. A string or wire is wrapped aroound the center of the balloon. The balloon is sealed in a toner hopper, with the balloon attached to the inside walls of the hopper and a free end of the string or wire tied or otherwise secured to the toner lumping-prevention paddle. When the toner cartridge is loaded in the machine and operated, the paddle rotates, pulling and tightening the string or wire around the balloon. The balloon breaks or tears, releasing toner evenly along thelength of the toner hopper. In another embodiment, a plastic, cellophane-like material is used for the toner packaging. A pull-tear strip extends along the package and is also attached to the paddle. When the paddle rotates, the pull-tear strip is removed from the package, opening the package and distributing toner within the toner hopper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a first toner container storing a toner to be supplied to a developing device, and a second toner container storing a toner to be supplemented to the first toner container. A first and a second sensor are mounted on the wall of the first toner container at a comparatively high level and a comparatively low level, respectively. When the first sensor senses the absence of the toner, the toner is supplemented from the second toner container to the first toner container. When the second sensor senses the absence of the toner, the toner supplementing ability is increased to increase the amount of toner supplement from the second toner container to the first toner container.

Abstract: A toner container has three chambers for holding three different color toners. The container is receivable by a receiving structure having a pair of opposing slots for receiving flanges on the base of the toner container. The receiving mechanism is part of a development device which includes a movable carriage for moving a plurality of development units into alignment with a development position. A portion, for example, an applicator of each development unit is movable with respect to the rest of the unit into toning relation with an image member at the development position.

Abstract: A liquid supply system with a pump for discharging fixed amounts of liquid composed of a liquid supply vessel which holds a liquid therein; a cylinder device composed of a cylinder cover and a cylinder with a bottom portion having a piston hole, a first liquid suction hole with a liquid suction valve and a second liquid suction hole; a piston device which is slidably disposed within the cylinder, including a piston with a liquid suction inlet and a liquid inlet valve, and a valve-pressing member, a piston cover provided above the piston to form an inner space therebetween to hold the liquid therein, a piston shaft which, in a sealed state, passes through the piston hole formed in the bottom portion of the cylinder, and is integrally connected with the piston in such a manner as to slidably move the piston device along the inner side of the cylinder when pressed upward or downward, the piston shaft including herein a liquid discharge conduit which is connected to the inner space of the piston device and from w

Abstract: A toner container receiving apparatus has a sump and a sump opening with box-like upwardly extending vertical walls around the sump opening. A toner container includes box-shaped downwardly extending walls which fit around the sump walls when the container is positioned over the sump. A flexible cover is movable from a covering position above the box-shaped walls through a curved path to a position alongside an exterior vertical wall of the container. A lever on the receiving apparatus is movable to a vertical position and is coupled to structure which locks the container to the sump during that movement. A handle connected to the cover is positioned to fit into a slot into the lever and prevent moving of the lever away from its vertical locking position until the cover has been moved to its covering position. The cover is flexible enough to move through the curved path but stiff enough to be pushed back to its covering position.

Abstract: A movable frame member is so mounted on a stationary frame member as to be movable reciprocatingly. A plurality of developing mechanisms are provided on the movable frame member to perform developing in different colors. The same number of toner containers as the number of developing mechanisms are arranged in a fixed manner, and toner feeders for feeding toner into the corresponding developing mechanisms are provided.Each of the toner feders includes a toner conveying device for conveying toner to an upper end portion of a cylindrical member, and a toner dropping passage means for feeding toner conveyed to the upper end portion of the cylindrical member to the developing mechanism. The toner dropping, passage includes an expansion/contraction device so disposed as to extend along the moving direction of the developing mechanism.

Abstract: A toner loading system for use with reprographic machines which reduces powder clouding and minimizes toner spill during loading. A toner cartridge is mountable on a toner housing. The housing includes an opening sized to accept the cartridge. When in a raised position, the cartridge is on top of the housing. When in a lowered position, the cartridge is positioned within the housing through the opening. A removable seal on the bottom of the cartridge includes a long pull tab which can be grasped from above the housing, when the cartridge is lowered, to allow removal of the seal and allow flow of toner from the cartridge to the housing while the cartridge is extended substantially or completely within the housing, thus reducing powder clouding, providing more even toner flow, and reducing mess or spillage. The reduced powder clouding is due to a substantially reduced height from which the toner has to fall when being loaded into the housing.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with a copier having a toner hopper with a first interlocking seal including a second interlocking seal being specially adapted to mate with the first interlocking seal of the toner hopper, a hinged movable panel being disposed at the bottom portion of the toner cartridge, a movable panel, seal and a filament for manipulating the movable panel.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner cartridge is removably set to a toner supply device and used while being set to the toner supply device, and the toner cartridge includes a main body with a toner supply port and a spiral agitator being disposed within the main body and rotated by drive means.The apparatus also includes a reserve tank for a toner dispensing section including a toner container for containing toner supplied from a cartridge, and a toner supply section for receiving toner from the toner container and supplying the received toner to a developing unit. The toner container includes a spiral agitator for supplying toner to the toner supply section. An auger for transferring toner to the developing unit is disposed in the toner supply section. A toner transfer power of the spiral agitator is larger than that of the auger.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus in which toner particles are moved from the toner hopper or dispenser cartridge to the developer housing and onto the donor roller in a single component development system for use in color reprographic systems. A rotating holey tube toner agitator is modified to incorporate structure or grooves on the outer peripheral surface. Further, by placing a shrouded toner dispense auger inside the holey tube, the development system architecture stays compact and improved toner powder pushing through the pre-load of toner on the donor roller results, thereby insuring delivery of fresh toner evenly across the length of the developer housing. With more efficient pre-load, agitator rotational speed and bias can be reduced, leading to less toner effluents emanating from the developer housing without adversely affecting the cycle to cycle donor roller toner reload.

Abstract: A seal-forming device for a replenishment toner receiving aperture of a development apparatus includes a resilient member mounted to the development apparatus and around the aperture. The seal-forming device also includes a woven fabric that is mounted to the resilient member and to a part of the development apparatus. The woven fabric has warp and filling fibers. The warp fibers are larger than the filling fibers and are mounted to lie in the direction of loading and unloading a replenishment toner container relative to the seal-forming device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner container is provided for stocking a toner. In a body of the image forming apparatus, an opening is provided for supplying the toner to the toner container, and an opening cover for closing the opening when the toner is not supplied to the toner container. In the toner container, a rotator is provided so as to discharge the toner from the toner container into a developing device via a toner feed device. Moreover, the image forming apparatus includes an opening cover detector and a control section. The opening cover detector detects whether the opening cover is opened, and the control section prevents the rotator from driving when the opening cover detector detects that the opening cover is opened.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a removable closure seal between the toner hopper and the toner feed roller compartment of a toner cartridge assembly used in printers, copy machines and facsimile machines. The seal prevents toner from leaking from the toner hopper into the feed roller compartment during shipping and handling. In one embodiment, the seal has a slotted seal insert placed over the passage between the hopper and roller compartment. A removable tape closes the slot. In another embodiment, a slotted seal insert is slid between grooves in the toner cartridge assembly into position between the hopper and feed roller compartment. The insert is attached to the cartridge assembly by glue, tape, or other adhesive. An insert tool is used to facillitate this attachment. A reusable, removable closure seal is slid between the grooves to close the slot. The closure seal may have a metal spine to increase its rigidity.

Abstract: A developer supplying device includes: a substantially cylindrical developer container having on its peripheral surface a spiral groove, and being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the groove; a supplying element in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of the container to supply the developer therethrough; and a regulating device provided in the container, regulating an amount of the developer supplied from the supplying element, and being so formed to reduce a sectional area between the regulating device and an inner surface of the container in the vicinity of the supplying element. The supplying device can have a container-supporting device having a guide device for guiding the developer supplied by the supplying element; and a supplying element-covering device provided at the peripheral surface of the container, and being opened to uncover the supplying element when the latter confronts the guide device for supplying the developer.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for use with a photoreceptor to form a toner image, including a housing to store toner therein; an agitator having a shaft whose length is smaller than the inside dimension of the housing; a gear mechanism to transmit a driving force to the shaft member; and a coupling to couple the gear and the shaft, wherein the coupling is positioned inside the housing.

Abstract: A developer dispensing apparatus includes a coiled spring used as a slinky auger which is rotated through a developer mixture of toner and carrier beads for dispensing developer through a dispensing opening. The spring auger has a driven end attached to a gear shaft in such a manner that the axis of rotation of the auger is fixed relative to the shaft axis. As the spring auger rotates the tendency of the driven end to ride up on the carrier beads is prevented by the a centering yoke which drivingly connects the drive shaft and the slinky auger. The centering yoke fixes the axis of rotation of the auger so as to inhibit the riding up of the slinky auger on the carrier beads disposed on the bottom of the dispenser.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit which supplies toner to an image carrier for developing a latent image. A toner cartridge is normally mounted on the developing unit and covers an opening thereof. In order to minimize toner spillage, a lug on the developing unit can cooperate with a stationary projection on the apparatus body to permit installation of the developing unit into the apparatus body only when the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing unit. Alternatively, a lug on the developing unit can cooperate with a stationary projection on the apparatus body for prohibiting mounting or removal of the toner cartridge only when the developing unit is installed in the apparatus. Alternatively, guide ribs are formed on both the developing unit and the toner cartridge for guiding the developing unit and toner cartridge for installation in the apparatus body only when the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing unit.

Abstract: A toner hopper seal-insert and slide-seal to provide for the shipping and transporting of a refilled toner cartridge. The seal-insert is comprised of two slotted rectangular strips or pieces of material. A middle piece or layer of a resilient two-sided foam tape is sandwiched between the two slotted pieces, holding them together such that their slots align. The tape is configured such that it also has a slot which is wider than the slots in the two outer pieces and open at one end, providing a channel for the slide-seal. The seal-insert is attached to the toner hopper of the toner cartridge, and the slide-seal is slid into or out of position in the seal-insert to seal or unseal the opening of the toner hopper, creating a reusable leakproof seal system. For ease of placing the seal-insert in the toner hopper, the ends of the outer pieces opposite the slot opening in the tape layer may be bent and fused together, then cut into a shape extending to a point.

Abstract: A detachable toner cartridge for use in an electrophotographic printer includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder contacting each other and having respective toner discharge outlets that can be overlapped with each other by turning the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder so as to discharge toner. The inner cylinder is pressed against the outer cylinder in the circumferential direction to bring the cylinders into close contact to prevent toner leakage. The toner cartridge does not require so high accuracy in manufacturing thereof.

Abstract: A vibrating member (3) having an elasticity is provided in which an end (A) is mounted to a rotating part (6) in a toner conveying section (4) and which has a size such that the other end (B) thereof extends far beyond the tip of a blade (5) of the rotating part (6), whereby the rotation of the rotating part (6) causes the other end (B) of the vibrating member (3) to collide with the opening or inner wall of a toner cartridge (1). This collision allows a toner to drop efficiently, prevent the toner from being blocked, and noise to be reduced.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus includes a developing device for toning electrostatic images on an image member such as a photoconductive drum. The development device includes four developing units indexable through a single development position. Applicators for the developing units are fixed together and gimballed with respect to the image member. The applicator at the development position is accurately spaced from the image member by a pair of rollers that ride on rails fixed to the applicators.

Abstract: A toner pack for use with the developing device includes a toner box in which toner is stored and which is detachably set at the developing device, an endless seal sheet a portion of which is peelably bonded to the toner box to cover an opening of the toner box, a flat cylindrical cover member through which that portion of the endless seal sheet which does not cover the opening of the toner box is freely movably passed, and a pull portion which is freely movably passed through the cover member and one end of which is made continuous from the endless seal sheet.

Abstract: A sealing method is provided for preventing leakage of toner from the initial fill or refill of a toner cartridge, in particular an IBM 4019/4029 cartridge used for a laser printer. The sealing method includes a tape, partially coated with adhesive, which extends substantially along the entire length of a slot formed by a pair of flexible guide members at the bottom of the toner hopper. Preferably, the tape has adhesive edge portions which attach to the guide members and a non-adhesive central portion which extends over the length of the slot. At least one end, and preferably both ends, of the tape extend from the ends of the slot and attach adhesively to one or more arms of a stirring member which is rotatably mounted in the hopper. Pairs of transverse slits which extend through the adhesive portion of the tape at a location between the ends of the slot and the ends of the tape enable the non-adhesive central portion of the tape to peel away from the adhesive portions upon rotation of the stirrer.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing and dispensing pigmented marking particles into the development mechanism of a reproduction apparatus. The storing and dispensing apparatus comprises a cartridge including a housing for storing pigmented marking particles, and an elongated opening in the housing through which such marking particles may be dispensed. A cover is removably secured to the cartridge housing to seal the housing opening to prevent contamination of the environment by escape of such marking particles through the opening. The cover, in the preferred embodiment being a flexible sheet member, is selectively removed from sealing relation with the cartridge housing opening and held adjacent to the cartridge away from exposure to the environment when the cartridge is located relative to the development mechanism, whereby marking particles may readily be dispensed into the development mechanism through the housing opening and contamination of the environment is substantially prevented.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for supplying a toner to the toner hopper of a developing apparatus incorporated in image forming equipment. A take-up roller is rotatably mounted on a case which stores a toner therein. A seal member covers an opening formed in the bottom of the case and is affixed to the take-up roller at one end thereof. The seal member is automatically attached to and detached from the case without resorting to manual operations.

Abstract: A composite seal for preventing leakage of dry toner material from a toner hopper of a toner cartridge is made by interposing a resilient material between two generally smooth elongated rectangular sheets that have slightly different widths. This construction of the seal allows it to be pushed into thin entry slots, but also to expand to fill and seal a pre-existing channel between the toner hopper and the rest of the cartridge. The seal is most advantageously inserted into the cartridge by using a tool formed from two thin sheets of material that have curved ends.

Abstract: A pump-equipped liquid developer supply vessel is composed of a liquid developer supply vessel which holds a liquid developer therein; a cylinder with a bottom portion including a piston hole therein, a liquid developer suction hole with a liquid developer suction valve; a piston device which is slidably disposed within the cylinder, the piston device including a piston with a liquid developer inlet and a liquid developer inlet valve, a piston cover which is provided above the piston to form an inner space therebetween to hold the liquid developer therein, a piston shaft which, in a sealed state, passes through the piston hole formed in the bottom portion of the cylinder, and is integrally connected with the piston in such a manner as to slidably move the piston device along the inner side of the cylinder, when pressed upward or downward, the piston shaft including therein a developer discharge conduit which is connected to the inner space of the piston device and from which the liquid developer can be discha

Abstract: A toner cartridge is provided for dispensing toner on demand to the development station of a xerographic copier machine. The cartridge is modified so as to improve the dispensing of toner through dispensing ports located at one end of the cartridge by the provision of a relatively stiff, coiled spring element which is fixed in position adjacent the interior walls of the cartridge. As the cartridge rotates, the spring moves through the toner acting as an auger-type transport mechanism to move the toner towards the dispensing ports. The spring also serves to agitate the toner so as to make its consistency more fluid thereby aiding the augering transport motion. In one embodiment, the toner cartridge is tilted so as to utilize additional gravitational forces to assist in the toner transport towards the dispensing end.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops a latent image recorded on an image receiving member with developer material. A chamber in the developer housing stores a supply of developer material. A donor roll is positioned in the chamber of the housing so as to transport developer material into contact with the latent image to develop the latent image. A rotating, elongated member fluidizes the developer material. As developer material is discharged from a storage container into the chamber of the developer housing, it exerts pressure on the fluidized developer material to move the developer material from one end of the housing to the other end thereof. An electrical bias is applied between the elongated member and the donor roll so that developer material is attracted to the donor roll as the developer material advances from one end of the developer housing to the other end thereof.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image developing device, a toner chamber, for accommodating toner to be used to develop an image, is arranged to be selectively coupled to one of a toner cartridge and an additional toner holding member. The additional toner holding member functions as an expansion of substantial toner accommodating space in the image developing device. In the toner hopper to be coupled with the toner holding member, the upper surface of the toner accommodated therein is leveled before it is transferred to the toner chamber. Alternately, the cartridge is constructed so that it is able to be coupled with the toner hopper.

Abstract: A developing device incorporated in a copier for supplying a toner from a toner container to a reservoir to feed a toner-containing liquid developer to a developing unit. A developer feeding mechanism is disposed in the reservoir for feeding the toner-containing liquid developer to the developing unit. The liquid developer is circulated from and to the developing feeding mechanism along a circulation path. A discharging device for discharging the toner has an outlet which is open to the circulation path.

Abstract: A toner hopper is arranged to feed the toner stored in itself to a developing unit and have a stirring roller and a feeding roller respectively supported rotatably, an interlocking mechanism for transmitting the force of rotation to the stirring roller, a manually rotating mechanism for manually rotating the stirring roller, and an interlocking restricting mechanism. The interlocking mechanism restricts the operation of the interlocking mechanism such that the force of rotation of the stirring roller is not transmitted to the feeding roller while the manually rotating mechanism supplies force of rotation to the stirring roller.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is provided to prevent toner from overflowing a toner hopper into a development tank, and to prevent a toner supply roller from being deformed by heavy pressure. In order to achieve the object, the developer cartridge is provided with a seal member (8) in the toner hopper (2). The seal member has one end blocking a toner supply port (9) and the other end secured to a rotary shaft (7a) of an agitating member (7). The seal member is rolled up by rotating the agitating member when using the cartridge for the first time.

Abstract: A developing device including a device body which has a toner reception port and supplies toner stored therein to a photosensitive member, a toner cartridge, which is detachably mounted in the device body has a toner discharge port opposed to the toner reception port, and supplies toner stored therein to the device body through the ports, and a toner cartridge cover which has a side that is connected to the device body without a gap. When the toner cartridge is removed from the device body of the developing device to the toner cover, the toner left in the toner cartridge doesn't leak out the gap between the toner cartridge and the cartridge cover and the surroundings of the developing device are not soiled with the toner.

Abstract: A toner cartridge employed in an electrophotographic printer and capable of attachment to or detachment from the electrophotographic printer. The toner cartridge includes a stirring member (4) which touches the inner wall of the cartridge (100) to reliably stir the toner contained in the cartridge (100). The stirring member (4) is rotatable and is interlocked with a gear (5) which is rotated by an external drive force.

Abstract: An integral type processing unit has a photosensitive drum, a developing unit for forming a developer toner image on the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning unit for scraping off residual toners from the drum. The developing unit does not have sufficient internal volume for accumulating therein the developer toners whose amount meet with the service life of the other components. Therefore, toner containers are replaceably attached to the developing unit for supplementing the developer toners therein. In order to limit the replacement times of the toner containers, each of the toner containers are provided with a segment separable therefrom. Further, a receiving segment is provided at the developing unit engageable with the separable segment. The receiving segment has a predetermined number of receiving portions. If all receiving portions are filled with the separable segments, it becomes no longer possible to further replace the toner container with a new container.

Abstract: A toner cartridge in which a container defines an open ended chamber. The container is adapted to store a supply of toner in the chamber thereof. The open end of the chamber is sealed. A passageway is formed through the toner in the chamber. As the seal is peeled from the open end of the chamber, toner is discharged therefrom. As toner is discharged from the chamber, air displaced from the hopper receiving the toner moves from the hopper through the passageway onto the upper surface of the toner. In this way, displaced air does not impede the flow of toner particles and maintains a substantially uniform pressure on the discharging toner particles.

Abstract: A process cartridge is provided for use in an electrographic apparatus having control means therein which is actuable responsive to insertion of the process cartridge in the apparatus to control operation of selected elements in the apparatus. The process cartridge is typically provided with a rotatable photosensitive drum upon which an image to be reproduced is formed and a plurality of processing components for acting on the drum. A toner hopper assembly is provided which includes a housing provided with a cavity having toner particles therein for deposition on the drum. The toner hopper defines one of the processing components, and actuating means is secured on the toner hopper for engagement with the control means in the apparatus for actuation thereof.

Abstract: A toner residual amount detecting mechanism comprises a stirring device and a photosensor. The photosensor has a protrusion, and rotates together with a stirring shaft while the protrusion contacts with a pin planted on the stirring shaft. The stirring device rotates by its gravity when it reaches a top dead point thereof. The stirring device also includes a magnetic rotor attracted by a permanent magnet in a sensor lever to thereby turn the sensor lever about the fulcrum of the sensor lever to a predetermined position. The sensor lever is stopped by a stopper when the stirring device reaches the bottom dead point thereof. The photosensor cannot detect light when the sensor lever is positioned at the bottom dead point since the light is intercepted by the sensor lever but can detect the light when the sensor lever reaches the predetermined position. The mechanism can inform an operator of a toner supply time since the photosensor operates depending on the resistance of toner against the stirring device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit for toner-developing a latent image formed on a photoreceptor, and a dual-component developer consisting of carrier particles and toner particles is contained in the developing unit. A toner concentration in the developing unit is sensed by a magnetic sensor. An output voltage of the magnetic sensor is applied to a microcomputer through an analog-to-digital converter. The microcomputer sets a toner supply time in accordance with a fuzzy inference based on the output voltage of the magnetic sensor and a change amount of the output voltage of the magnetic sensor. A toner supply motor is driven for the set time. Consequently, the toner supply roller supplies toner particles to the developing unit from a toner box.