Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner container and a development device. The toner container includes a container main body being provided with a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The development device includes a development device main body being provided with a replenishment port configured to receive a toner discharged from the discharge port and a shutter configured to open/close the replenishment port. The shutter opens/closes the replenishment port by turning along the outside face of the development device main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device; a sealing member for unsealably sealing a space containing an initial developer; a first supplying device communicatable with the space to supply the developer into the developing device; a second supplying device for supplying the developer into first supplying device; an unsealing mechanism for unsealing the sealing member; and a controller capable of executing an operation in an unsealing mode in which the unsealing mechanism is operated, after supplying operation of second supplying device, to unseal the sealing member.

Abstract: A developer storage container includes a storage portion for storing a developer therein, an opening for ejecting the developer stored in the storage portion, and an opening-and-closing member for opening and closing the opening. A concave portion is formed on the opening-and-closing member so that the concave portion faces the opening.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer introduction port, a developer conveyance portion, a first conveyance ability suppressing portion, and a connecting conveyance portion. The conveyance ability suppressing portion is disposed on a downstream side of the developer introduction port in a first direction in which the developer is conveyed in order to partially suppress a developer conveyance ability of the developer conveyance portion such that a developer accumulation portion is formed in a position opposing the developer introduction port. A first direction downstream side of the first conveyance ability suppressing portion opposes a first connecting passage in a third direction that intersects the first direction. The connecting conveyance portion is joined to the first direction downstream side of the conveyance ability suppressing portion and opposes the first connecting passage in the third direction in order to pass the developer from a first conveyance passage to a second conveyance passage.

Abstract: A developer storage container includes a container body, a discharging member, and a regulating member. The regulating member is disposed in a space formed by the container body and the discharging member, and partitions the space into a storage space to store developer in the container body and a discharging side space to store developer to be discharged from a discharging port. Further, the regulating member forms a passage hole to allow developer to pass through and regulates an amount of developer to be conveyed from the storage space to the discharging side space.

Abstract: A cap is configured to be attached to a developer container that discharges developer contained in the container body out of the container body through a discharge port defined in a portion of the container body. The cap includes a first attaching member and a second attaching member that are detachably assembled into one piece. When the first attaching member or the second attaching member receives a rotary force, the first attaching member and the second attaching member are separated from each other, and only the first attaching member is released from the container body.

Abstract: A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.

Abstract: A developing device comprises a first and a second developer conveyance path. A first conveyance member is provided in the first developer conveyance path in a freely rotatable manner and has a helical blade. A developing roller supplies the developer in the first developer conveyance path to a photoconductor drum. A developer collection path guides two-component developer left on a surface of the developing roller from the first developer conveyance path. A developer surface adjustment window comprises a predetermined level for allowing excess developer exceeding the level of the window to be guided from the first developer conveyance path to the developer collection path.

Abstract: An apparatus body of an image forming apparatus is provided with a drive transmission mechanism including a first rotation portion and a second rotation portion. An operation portion of a toner container includes a first connection portion to be connected to the first rotation portion. An opening and closing mechanism of the toner container includes a second connection portion to be connected to the second rotation portion. The opening and closing mechanism opens and closes a toner outlet by the second connection portion being rotated.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A portion of a main interface gear for providing rotational power to a toner delivery system is exposed on the front of the housing near a top of a second side of the housing and engagable with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device. A projection extends forward from the housing further forward than a frontmost portion of the exit port and is spaced from the exit port toward the first side of the housing. A front of the projection is unobstructed for engaging a developer unit when the toner cartridge is inserted into the image forming device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing device having a developing vessel, a developing roller and a toner supply port; a toner supply device; a toner supply detecting sensor for detecting the toner concentration inside the developing vessel; a toner concentration controller for directing toner supply; a toner empty detector; and a sheet conveyance detecting sensor. The toner concentration controller has a toner supply device control function; and a toner supply stopping function of stopping toner supply when the last sheet of image printout being executed has passed by the predetermined position in the sheet conveyance path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a bottle which is detachably mounted on an apparatus body to store toner; a shutter which is disposed on the bottle to open and close a discharge port which discharges the toner; and a shutter slider which is disposed in the apparatus body to open and close the shutter by engaging therewith along with an insertion operation of the bottle. The shutter slider is disposed to be movable from a first position, which allows the shutter to be located at a closed position at which the discharge port is closed by the shutter when the bottle is mounted on the apparatus body, to a second position, in which the discharge port is to be opened and closed by the shutter along with an operation of attaching and detaching the bottle to and from the apparatus body.

Abstract: A developer container includes: a developer accommodating chamber provided with an opening; a first shutter, including a first portion-to-be-urged, movable between a closing position and an opening position; a second shutter, including a second portion-to-be-urged and being provided outside the first shutter with respect to the opening, movable between a closing position and an opening position; and a partitioning portion provided so as to block between the first and second portions-to-be-urged along moving ranges of the first and second portions-to-be-urged. Movement distances, when the first and second shutters are moved simultaneously from the closing positions, of the first and second shutters from the closing positions to the opening positions are different from each other so that after one of said first and second shutters reaches the opening position, the other shutter is moved to the opening position.

Abstract: A shutter mechanism capable of opening and closing an opening through which a developer accommodated in a container is movable includes a shutter member movable to open and close the opening; and a limiting member for limiting movement of the shutter member in a direction of opening the opening. When the container is inclined, the limiting member moves to a position where the limiting member limits the movement of the shutter member.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body having an inner space capable of containing a developer and an opening communicating with the inner space; an opening and closing portion that is disposed on the container body and that opens and closes the opening; and a pair of restraining portions that are disposed on the opening and closing portion and that each restrain the opening and closing portion from being moved from a closed position to an open position. The opening and closing portion is permitted to be moved to the open position if the restraint on the movement of the opening and closing portion by each of the pair of restraining portions is independently removed.

Abstract: A toner conveying path forming member forms a toner conveying path with a hollow capable of conveying toner. The toner conveying path forming member includes an inner wall a part of which is pressed by an elastic toner conveying member provided in the toner conveying path; and a protrusion that is provided on an inner wall surface of at least a part of the inner wall to protrude toward the hollow.

Abstract: A powder supplying device includes a powder container frame, a powder container detachably installable in the powder container frame horizontally and including a container body in which a discharge port through which powder is discharged from the container body is formed, a shutter member attached to the container body to open and close the discharge port by moving along the container body in a direction in which the powder container is installed, and at least one shutter control member movably attached to the powder container frame. The shutter control member opens and closes the shutter member by moving together with the powder container as the powder container is fitted into and pulled out from the powder container frame.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is detachably mounted to a main apparatus, and includes a storage portion storing a developer, an ejection opening for ejecting the developer from the storage portion, and a first opening-and-closing member for opening and closing the ejection opening. The first opening-and-closing member is able to take a first position where the first opening-and-closing member opens the ejection opening and causes the developer cartridge to be fixed to the main apparatus, a second position where the first opening-and-closing member closes the ejection opening and makes the developer cartridge detachable from the main apparatus, and a third position where the first opening-and-closing member closes the ejection opening and causes the developer cartridge to be fixed to the main apparatus.

Abstract: A shutter assembly includes an internal shutter and an external shutter. The internal shutter including a contact member is movable between a first position at which the internal shutter closes the outlet, a third position at which the internal shutter opens the outlet, and a second position between the first position and the third position. The internal shutter at the second position is movable to the third position while closing the outlet. The external shutter is movable between a closed position at which the external shutter closes the outlet and an open position at which the external shutter opens the outlet, and includes an interlocking member to contact the contact member to move the internal shutter. As the external shutter is moved from the closed position to the open position, the internal shutter is moved from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the external shutter.

Abstract: A developer storage container includes a container main body, a tubular portion projecting from the container main body and including a developer discharge opening, and a rotary member extending from the container main body to the tubular portion and having a function of conveying the developer in the container main body. The rotary member includes a first section located in the container main body and a second section located in the tubular portion. A first conveying member for conveying the developer from the tubular portion side toward the container main body side, a second conveying member for conveying the developer in an opposite direction, and a flexible member are mounted on the rotary shaft. The flexible member includes a fixed end portion fixed onto the circumferential surface of the rotary shaft and a free end portion arranged at a side radially outward of the second conveying member.

Abstract: A developer unit for an image forming apparatus is provided. The developer unit includes a developer device with a developer agent carrier and a developer agent supplier, and a developer agent container, which contains the developer agent and is arranged in a lower position with respect to the developer device. The developer agent container is formed to have a fitting wall, which is curved inward at a position to be adjacent to the developer device. The fitting wall is formed to have a feeding opening and a collecting opening. The developer unit is further provided with a first conveyer, which is rotated about a rotation axis to sweep an inner surface of the developer agent container and convey the developer agent toward the feeding opening, and a second conveyer, which is arranged along the developer agent supplier and conveys the developer agent toward the collecting opening.

Abstract: A developer container includes: an accommodating portion accommodating a developer and being provided with an opening through which the developer is passable; a shutter member for opening and closing the opening; a projection for moving the shutter member; and a guiding portion for guiding the projection. When said projection is pushed in a pushing direction, the projection is moved in a direction different from the pushing direction by being guided by the guiding portion in contact with the guiding portion and thereafter is moved in the pushing direction, thereby to move the shutter member to open the opening.

Abstract: A developer container includes: an accommodating frame, provided with an opening through which a developer is passable, for accommodating the developer; a first shutter and a second shutter which are movable between an open position where the opening opens and a closed position where the opening is closed; a first lever, provided on the first shutter, for moving the first shutter by being urged and moved; and a second lever, provided on the second shutter, for moving the second shutter by being urged and moved. Each of the first shutter and the second shutter is moved from the closed position to the open position by moving the first shutter and the second shutter in mutually spacing direction to open the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner supply section that supplies toner to a plurality of developing sections; a carrier supply section that supplies carrier to the plurality of developing sections; and a control section that controls an operation of the carrier supply section. The carrier supply section includes: a carrier housing section; a carrier distributing section that receives a predetermined amount of carrier that has freely fallen from the carrier housing section and guides the predetermined amount of carrier to each of the plurality of developing sections; a support frame section that slidably supports the carrier distributing section; and a vibration exciter section that vibrates the carrier distributing section.

Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear positioned between a first side and a second side of the housing. The housing has an elongated shape extending from the first side to the second side. The housing defines a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port on the front of the housing is in fluid communication with the reservoir. A port surface surrounding the exit port is positioned to seal against a corresponding surface when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The port surface is angled upward with respect to the bottom of the housing and faces generally downward.

Abstract: A powder feeding device includes a powder container, a feeding tank in communication with the powder container, a negative pressure room in communication with the feeding tank via a suction port communicating tube; an air suction device in communication with the negative pressure room via a negative pressure room communication tube; a suction port opening and closing unit that opens and closes the suction port communicating tube; a negative pressure room opening and closing unit that opens and closes of the negative pressure room communication tube; an output port opening and closing unit that opens and closes an output port of the feeding tank; and a controller that performs negative pressure generation control, powder supply control, and powder discharge control. Further, the controller simultaneously starts the negative pressure generation control and the powder discharge control.

Abstract: A control unit drives a driving unit for a correction driving time to supply toner to a developing unit from a toner supplying unit, when a detecting unit detects that an amount of toner stored in the developing unit is equal to or less than a threshold value. A calculating unit calculates an amount of toner consumption from when the toner is supplied to the developing unit to when the detecting unit detects that the amount of the toner stored in the developing unit is equal to or less than the threshold value. The control unit calculates a unit amount of toner supply from the correction driving time and the amount of toner consumption, and supplies the toner to the developing unit by driving the driving unit on the basis of the calculated unit amount of toner supply.

Abstract: A toner supply device including a casing and a shutter member. The casing includes a toner container for containing toner, a discharge aperture for discharging the toner from the toner container, and an aperture. The shutter member includes an elastic part having at least one bending portion and the elastic part is elastically deformable. The shutter member is insertable into the casing through the aperture to be movable between a closed position at which the discharge aperture is closed and an opened position at which the discharge aperture is opened while the elastic part is kept elastically deformed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge, a toner supply unit, and a developing device. The toner cartridge includes a toner discharge port configured to discharge stored toner, and a shutter configured to open and close the toner discharge port. The toner supply unit includes an engagement unit configured to engage with the shutter of the toner cartridge, a toner supply port configured to communicate with the toner discharge port and to receive the toner supplied from the toner discharge port when the shutter is open, an opening member configured to open the shutter and an elastic member configured to cause the opening member to move following the shutter by being in contact with the shutter until at least the engagement between the engagement unit and the shutter is released during dismounting of the toner cartridge from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear positioned between a first side and a second side of the housing. The housing has an elongated shape extending from the first side to the second side. The housing defines a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port on the front of the housing is in fluid communication with the reservoir. A port surface surrounding the exit port is positioned to seal against a corresponding surface when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The port surface is angled upward with respect to the bottom of the housing and faces generally downward.

Abstract: A developing unit comprises a developing portion, a first developer storage portion and a partitioning wall. The developing portion includes a rotatable developer carrier, a rotatable supply member configured to supply the developer to the developer carrier, a regulating member contacting with the developer carrier to regulate the thickness of the developer on the developer carrier, and a developer feeding member arranged below the regulating member and configured to feed the developer. The partitioning wall is configured to partition between the developing portion and the first developer storage portion. The partitioning wall has a supply port for supplying the developer from the first developer storage portion to the developing portion. The regulating member is contacting with the developer carrier at a contact position located above an upper level of the developer in the developing portion.

Abstract: A toner cartridge, a main casing accommodates therein toner and is formed with an opening which provides communication between an interior and an exterior of the main casing. A shutter is movable along the main casing by an external driving force applied in a force direction between a closed position at which the shutter closes the opening and an open position at which the shutter opens the opening. A toner seal is formed with a seal opening opposing the opening of the main casing, and interposed between the main casing and the shutter when the shutter is positioned at the closed position. A guide portion is configured to guide a movement of the shutter in an inclined direction inclined with respect to the force direction.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an apparatus main body, an operation member, a toner container, a shutter, and an interlocking mechanism. The operation member is a member for turning on and off a power supply of the apparatus main body, and takes an ON posture and an OFF posture. The toner container is a container configured to store the toner and including an opening section configured to allow communication between the inside and the outside of the container. The shutter can take an opening posture for opening the opening section and a closing posture for closing the opening section. The interlocking mechanism interlocks the posture of the operation member and the posture of the shutter to set the shutter in the opening posture when the operation member takes the ON posture and to set the shutter in the closing posture when the operation member takes the OFF posture.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member for carrying developer containing a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier to a position where the developer carrying member is opposed to an image bearing member, and a developing container including a first chamber for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the developer carrying member, a second chamber provided below the first chamber, and an opening for circulating the developer between the first chamber and the second chamber. In addition, a first feeding member and a second feeding member are rotatably provided in the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, for stirring and feeding the developer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotation restricting member that includes, a shaft that is inserted into a shaft insertion hole with a predetermined angle relationship, and a plurality of rotation restriction portions, each of which is formed at a different position around the shaft insertion hole and performs a rotation restriction function of the shaft by engaging with an external portion, where the shaft insertion hole is set to have a shape of the shaft and is formed around the shaft with a different angle corresponding to the shape of the shaft to allow any of the plurality of rotation restriction portions to engage with the external portion.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a developer container, an agitating member, a first shutter, and a first rotatable member. The developer container includes a first arc-shaped wall having an arc shape that is concave inward in a cross-sectional view. A first opening is formed in the first arc-shaped wall. The agitating member is positioned in the developer container and configured to agitate the developer. The first shutter has an arc shape in the cross-sectional view and is configured to rotate along a periphery of the first arc-shaped wall between a first position to open the first opening and a second position to close the first opening. The first rotatable member is positioned at at least one axial end of the first shutter. The first shutter is configured to rotate in response to rotating of the first shutter.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge includes a first wall having a first opening, a first shutter configured to open and close the first opening, and a first operating portion configured to operate together with the first shutter. The second cartridge is mountable onto and demountable from the first cartridge and contains a developer. The second cartridge includes a. second wall facing the first wall and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, a second shutter configured to open and close the second opening, and a second operating portion configured to operate together with the second shutter. The first cartridge further includes a third operating portion. When the second cartridge is mounted onto the first cartridge, the first operating portion and the third operating portion operate together through the second operating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a developer container removably connected thereto, a developer feeding mechanism, a drive mechanism, and a torque limiter. The developer container includes a cylindrical container body having a developer discharge port, and a shutter fitted to be rotatable to open and close the developer discharge port. When the drive mechanism rotates the developer container in the developer feeding direction, while the torque limiter keeps the shutter stationary, the container body rotates through a predetermined angle to open the developer discharge port, and as the developer container continues to be rotated, the developer is fed through the developer discharge port. When the developer container is rotated in the direction reverse to the developer feeding direction, while the torque limiter keeps the shutter stationary, the container body rotates through a predetermined angle in the reverse direction to close the developer discharge port.

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a developer accommodating portion; a shutter portion movable between a closed position and an open position; and a movable portion for moving the shutter portion. The movable portion is movable between a first position where the shutter portion is positioned in the closed position. The movable portion performs a preventing operation for preventing movement thereof to the first position by engagement thereof with an engaging portion, provided in the main assembly side, when the movable portion is positioned in the second position during movement of the developer supply cartridge to the main assembly.

Abstract: A toner cartridge having a pressure equalization system for equalizing a pressure differential between a toner reservoir in the toner cartridge and a toner sump developer unit containing ingested air utilizing a ducted shutter that opens and closes an exit port on the housing of the toner cartridge in combination with a passageway in fluid communication with the ducted shutter and the toner reservoir wherein, when the toner cartridge is mated with a developer unit of the imaging apparatus and the shutter is in the open position, exiting toner leaves the cartridge through the exit port and enters the developer unit while air entrained within the developer unit enters the toner reservoir via the exit port, the duct and the passageway equalizing pressure between the toner cartridge and the to developer unit.

Abstract: A powder feeding device includes a powder container, a feeding tank in communication with the powder container, a negative pressure room in communication with the feeding tank via a suction port communicating tube; an air suction device in communication with the negative pressure room via a negative pressure room communication tube; a suction port opening and closing unit that opens and closes the suction port communicating tube; a negative pressure room opening and closing unit that opens and closes of the negative pressure room communication tube; an output port opening and closing unit that opens and closes an output port of the feeding tank; and a controller that performs negative pressure generation control, powder supply control, and powder discharge control. Further, the controller simultaneously starts the negative pressure generation control and the powder discharge control.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for use in an imaging device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir enclosed therein for holding a quantity of toner. The housing has an exit port in communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. A shutter is mounted on the housing and has a toner path through the shutter. The toner path includes an exit opening. The shutter is moveable between a closed position where the toner path is closed to the exit port preventing toner from exiting the toner cartridge and an open position where the exit opening is open to the exit port allowing toner to exit the toner cartridge. The shutter has an air duct therethrough separated from the toner path. The air duct has a first end in fluid communication with the exit port when the shutter is in the open position.

Abstract: A powder container includes a container body having an opening corresponding to a powder opening of a container receiver; an open/close lid that closes the opening; a first restricting portion inclined to face a contact surface, which is located upstream of the powder opening and inclined with respect to an open/close operation direction of the open/close lid, when the container body is attached to the container receiver, the first restricting portion contacting the contact surface to restrict a position of the open/close lid in the open/close operation direction; and a second restricting portion restricting a posture of the open/close lid with respect to the container receiver in a direction in which the first restricting portion is tilted down toward the contact surface, when the container body is attached to or detached from the container receiver and a press member restricts movement of the open/close lid.

Abstract: A toner supply system having: a receiving section that is set in a body of an image forming apparatus so as not to rotate; and a substantially cylindrical toner container that is mountable in and dismountable from the receiving section and that can be driven to rotate on an axis while being mounted in the receiving section, wherein: the toner container has a first toner feeder for feeding toner stored therein toward the receiving section while the toner container is rotated; and the receiving section has a supply port that permits toner fed thereto with rotation of the toner container to drop down and a toner stirrer that extends to a position close to the first toner feeder located inside the toner container while the toner container is mounted in the receiving section.

Abstract: An example toner cartridge includes a reservoir for containing toner and an exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir. A shutter is positioned at the exit port and movable between an open position and a closed position. A first linkage member is operatively connected to the shutter to open the shutter upon being actuated by a first engagement feature. A second linkage member is pivotally attached to a side wall of the housing and biased toward a home position. A third linkage member is movable with the second linkage member. When the second linkage member is in the home position, the third linkage member is in a blocking position preventing the first linkage member from opening the shutter. When the second linkage member pivots away from the home position, the third linkage member moves to a non-blocking position permitting the first linkage member to open the shutter.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body in which a developer containing chamber and a discharge outlet are formed, a developer conveyance member disposed inside the developer containing chamber and including a first conveyance portion and a second conveyance portion downstream from the first conveyance portion in a developer conveyance director, a canopy disposed inside the container body and facing the discharge outlet, a developer conveyance chamber defined by the canopy and an inner face of the container body in which the discharge outlet is formed, and a return opening formed in the canopy downstream from the discharge outlet. A developer conveyance velocity (Q2) of the second conveyance portion of the developer conveyance member to transports the developer toward the return opening is slower than a developer conveyance velocity (Q1) of the first conveyance portion of the developer conveyance member.

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a developer accommodating portion; a shutter portion movable between a closed position and an open position; and a movable portion for moving the shutter portion. The movable portion is movable between a first position where the shutter portion is positioned in the closed position. When the movable portion is positioned in a position other than a first position provided in an apparatus main assembly side of an image forming apparatus before being engaged with the first engaging portion, the movable portion is moved, until being engaged with the first engaging portion, to the first position by engagement thereof with a second engaging portion provided in the accommodate main assembly side.

Abstract: A developer container includes: a developer container body including a developer supply port and a first shutter movement restriction groove on a surface of the developer container body; a shutter member movable from a close position to an open position of the developer supply port, the shutter member including a second shutter movement restriction groove such that the first and second shutter restriction grooves define a guide path when the shutter member closes the developer supply port at the close position; and a restriction member movable in the guide path and configured, when the restriction member is positioned in both the first and second shutter movement restriction grooves depending on an inclination of the developer container body, to prevent the shutter member from moving from the close position to the open position.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer includes: a flexible container provided with a plurality of openings for permitting discharge of developer. The openings are formed and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating unit. The openings have opening areas such that with respect to the longitudinal direction, the opening area of the opening provided at an end portion is larger than the opening area of the opening provided at a central portion.