Abstract: An object of this disclosure is to reduce differences in the drawn amount of the parison around the mouth of the toner container, thereby reducing the amount of resin for the toner container and the weight thereof. A powder container includes a cylindrical container body to rotate in a horizontal posture, a cylindrical mouth at a first end of the container body, smaller in diameter than the container body, a conveyor to convey the powder inside the container body toward the mouth, a scooping portion deeper in the container body than the mouth, to lift the powder above a powder inlet of a conveying tube inserted from the mouth and drop the powder to the powder inlet, and a radially inner face continuous with an inner end of the scooping portion, extending in a direction crossing the scooping portion and disposed inward in the radial direction than an outermost face of the container body.

Abstract: A developer supply container is detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion provided with a receiving opening for receiving a developer, and a portion-to-be-engaged 11b integrally displaceable with the developer receiving portion. The developer supply container includes a discharging portion provided with a shutter opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion. An operation portion 21 displaces the developer receiving portion to bring the receiving opening into communication with the shutter opening by engagement between the engaging portion 21d and the portion-to-be-engaged 11b by a predetermined operation executed after the developer supply container is mounted to a predetermined position of the developer receiving apparatus.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus has a discharge portion and a guide member. The discharge portion has a space surrounded by wall surfaces of a chassis, and a side opening portion to open the space. The discharge portion receives a sheet to be discharged from a discharge port of the chassis, and houses the sheet in the space so that the sheet can be taken out from the side opening portion. The guide member is arranged at an end portion in the side opening portion, and extends toward upward from the rear side toward the front side of the chassis.

Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner in a reservoir of an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes rotating a shaft positioned in the reservoir. By rotating the shaft, a first magnet and a second magnet having a variable angular offset between them are rotated around an axis of rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet are continually sensed at a point in their rotational paths. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet is continually determined from the sensing. An estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir is continually updated based on a predetermined correlation between the determined amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet and the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a screw configured to send stirred toner to an outlet through which the toner is discharged. The toner cartridge includes a partition between the screw and a toner stirrer. The toner stirrer at a default position is in contact with a top of the partition and covers the screw from above to define a closed space around the screw. The closed space is separate from a remaining space having the toner therein. The closed space is in communication with the remaining space when the toner stirrer rotates from the default position to be away from the toner transport screw, enabling the toner to move toward the toner transport screw.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a casing, an auger rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, an auger gear rotatable with the auger, an agitator aligned with the auger in a second direction, an agitator gear rotatable with the agitator, and a detection gear positioned opposite to the auger gear with respect to the agitator gear in the second direction. The detection gear is rotatable from a first position to a second position. At the first position, a through-hole or a cutout of the detection gear is positioned farther away from the auger than an outer surface of another end portion of the casing in the second direction is. At the second position, a portion of the detection gear different from the through-hole or the cutout is positioned farther away from the auger than the outer surface of the another end portion of the casing is.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge storage portion that is installed in an image forming apparatus main body, and a toner cartridge that is configured so as to be able to be inserted into and removed from the cartridge storage portion. The cartridge storage portion has a storage opening that receives the toner cartridge, and has a gap between an end part of the toner cartridge and the storage opening, through which the end part of the toner cartridge is not able to be held, when the toner cartridge is stored in the cartridge storage portion.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion 2a for accommodating toner, a developer supply opening 5b for discharging the toner accommodated in the developer accommodating portion 2a from the developer supply container 1, a feeding portion 2b for feeding the toner in the developer accommodating portion 2a toward the developer supply opening 5b, a rotatable drive receiving portion 7a for receiving a rotational force for rotating the feeding portion 2b, and a holding projection 4h held by a holding mechanism 304 provided in the developer supply container 1 to determine a position of the developer supply container 1, wherein the developer supply opening 5b is disposed between the drive receiving portion 7a and the holding projection 4h. By this, a stability of connection between the discharge opening of the developer supply container and the receiving port of the image forming apparatus side is improved.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer, with the developer accommodating body being rotatable about a rotational axis. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body having a discharge opening provided in a bottom portion of the developer discharging body and configured to discharge the developer from the developer discharging body, and with the developer accommodating body being rotatable relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided on each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.

Abstract: A developer housing container includes a container main body, a moving wall, a sealing member, and at least one communicating mechanism. The container main body has an inner circumference surface which defines an internal space tubularly extending, and is provided with a developer discharge port. The moving wall has an outer circumference surface arranged to be opposed to the inner circumference surface, and a transport surface which defines a housing space. The moving wall moves in a first direction while transporting the developer toward the developer discharge port. At least one communicating mechanism is arranged at a predetermined position in the first direction in the container main body and allows the housing space and the internal space positioned more upstream of the moving wall in the first direction to communicate with each other by partly deforming the sealing member.

Abstract: A cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a container configured for storing a volume of particulate image forming material and a dispensing port in communication with the container. The dispensing port includes a perimeter lip extending around a delivery passage. A dispensing spindle is rotatable relative to at least the dispensing port. The dispensing spindle includes a spindle core a plurality of arms extending from the spindle core. Each of the arms includes a sweeping face configured to sweep across the perimeter lip to convey a quantity of the particulate image forming material to the dispensing port.

Abstract: A developer container includes a first sheet member installed on a rotation shaft disposed in a developer containing portion and transporting the developer to a developer carrying member, and a second sheet member installed on the rotation shaft and rotating in the same phase as the first sheet member. One end of the first sheet member and one end of the second sheet member are fixed to the rotation shaft so as to rotate in the same phase, and the other ends of the first and second sheet members are free ends. When the rotation shaft rotates in a state in which at least a part of the developer elevated by the first sheet member is positioned above the rotation shaft, the second sheet member rotates on the downstream side of the first sheet member, so as to control falling of developer on the first sheet member.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotating member, a transmitting member and a cover. The case main body contains a toner. The rotating member is disposed in the case main body and is rotatable around a rotation axis. The transmitting member rotates along an outer face of a side wall of the case main body on one side in a direction of the rotation axis so as to transmit a rotation to the rotating member. The cover covers at least a portion of the transmitting member. The transmitting member has a movable part which moves as the transmitting member rotates. The cover has a hole part through which the movable part is exposed.

Abstract: Provided are a developer storage container in which a large change of a developer distributed state due to a backward movement of a moving wall is restrained and an image forming apparatus provided with the developer storage container. A toner container includes a container body, a moving wall and a shaft. The moving wall includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion. When the shaft is rotated in a first rotating direction, the second wall portion presses the first wall portion, whereby the second wall portion moves in a first direction integrally with the first wall portion. When the shaft is rotated in a second rotating direction, the second wall portion relatively moves to an upstream side in the first direction with respect to the first wall portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container having a movable wall therein, a determination unit, a movable wall driving unit, and a movable wall driving controller. The determination unit outputs first determination information when a number of outputs of a signal indicating that a detection sensor has detected a developer is less than a threshold value, and outputs second determination information when the number of outputs thereof is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The movable wall driving unit includes a first driving motor for moving the movable wall and a first driving circuit for controlling driving thereof. The movable wall driving controller includes a signal controller. The signal controller transmits a drive permission signal for the first driving motor when the first determination information is output, and transmits a drive non-permission signal for the first driving motor when the second determination information is output.

Abstract: A toner case includes a toner storage portion, a cylindrical portion, a shutter member, and a biasing member. The cylindrical portion has an interior space and communicated with the interior of the toner storage portion through a toner discharge port. An opening is formed at one of opposite ends of the interior space, and a closing wall is formed at the other of the opposite ends of the interior space. The shutter member is supported so as to be slidable in an extension direction of the cylindrical portion, and is movable between a closing position and an opening position. The shutter member at the closing position closes the toner discharge port, and the shutter member at the opening position opens the toner discharge port. The biasing member configured to position the shutter member to the closing position by applying a biasing force to the shutter member.

Abstract: A cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a container configured for storing a volume of particulate image forming material and a dispensing port in communication with the container. The dispensing port includes a perimeter lip extending around a delivery passage. A dispensing spindle is rotatable relative to at least the dispensing port. The dispensing spindle includes a spindle core a plurality of arms extending from the spindle core. Each of the arms includes a sweeping face configured to sweep across the perimeter lip to convey a quantity of the particulate image forming material to the dispensing port.

Abstract: A cartridge for mounting in an image forming apparatus includes a developer storage chamber, a discharge port fluidly connected to the developer storage chamber, a toner storage chamber, a fluid communication path extending in a first direction and fluidly connecting the toner storage chamber to the developer storage chamber, an auger disposed in the fluid communication path, rotatable inside the fluid communication path about a rotation axis extending in the first direction, and configured to transport the toner from the toner storage chamber along the fluid communication path toward the developer storage chamber when rotated about the rotation axis, and a sealing member disposed on the auger and configured to seal a gap between the auger and an inner surface of the fluid communication path when the sealing member is inside the fluid communication path and move along the first direction when the auger is rotated about the rotation axis.

Abstract: A toner case includes an accommodating unit that accommodates toner, a conveying member that is arranged in the accommodating unit, has a shaft body and a spiral part protruding in a spiral shape from one end side to the other end side of the shaft body, has a recess across whole circumference in a circumferential direction at a portion of the other end side than an end of one end side portion of the shaft body, and rotates in a predetermined direction to convey the toner from the one end side to the other end side, the one end side facing the other end side, and a slide bearing that is provided in the accommodating unit, has a cylindrical shape, and surrounds the one end side portion.

Abstract: A cartridge top cover includes a drive coupler, a cartridge top cover housing and a rotary cap. Two notches are respectively provided on both sides of a top portion of the cartridge top cover housing, the rotary cap has a toner outlet which is selectively communicated with the notches, a driving member is located inside the cartridge top cover housing, the driving member is in clearance fit with the cartridge top cover housing, the drive coupler is located at the top portion of the cartridge top cover housing, a transmission rod is located at a bottom of the drive coupler, the transmission rod is sleeved through the top portion of the cartridge top cover housing and is connected with the driving member by a one-way bearing which is fixed inside the driving member. The present invention also provides a cartridge including a cartridge body and the cartridge top cover.

Abstract: A shutter has two engagement portions projecting from a shielding portion, and extending in an attachment direction of the shutter. A lock portion is formed elastically deformably, and a lock claw portion is provided on a tip portion of each lock portion. The lock claw portion is projected toward an outer side in a width direction intersecting an attachment direction of the shutter. Two different inclined surfaces, a second inclined surface and a first inclined surface, are formed on a tip side of the lock claw portion. According to this arrangement, it becomes possible to realize both weakened sliding resistance between the second inclined surface and the attachment contact portion by minimizing an inclination angle of the second inclined surface, and increased sliding resistance between the first inclined surface and a return contact portion by maximizing the inclination angle of the first inclined surface. Thereby, both shutter attachment and return of the shutter to the initial position can be realized.

Abstract: A nozzle receiver is to be arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus. The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening; and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter includes an end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end surface portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member.

Abstract: A cartridge of an image forming apparatus includes a conveying member configured to convey toner from a tonner accommodating part of the cartridge to a developing device, and a switching lever configured to switch a state of the conveying member between a driven state and a non-driven state. The toner replenishment lever is movable between a first position at which the replenishment lever pushes the switching lever and a second position at which the replenishment lever is spaced from the switching lever. The contacting part is retracted to outside of a space through which the cartridge passes when attached to or detached from the attachment position. The switching lever is configured to switch the state of the conveying member between the driven state and the non-driven state depending on whether the contacting part of the toner replenishment lever is located at the first position or the second position.

Abstract: An image forming unit has a configuration in which, when an opening-closing member causes respective first openings to be opened by the engagement of the opening-closing member and an engaging section in association with an operation of attaching a developer container to an attachment unit, a first surface and a second surface are separated away from each other until arrival of the first openings at positions corresponding to respective second openings, and the first surface and the second surface are brought into proximity to each other upon the arrival of the first openings at the positions corresponding to the respective second openings.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a developing roller, a connecting tube, and a toner container. The main casing includes a sheet supply tray. The developing roller is provided in the main casing. The connecting tube has one end portion and another end portion inside the main casing. The toner container is for accommodating toner. The one end portion of the connecting tube is connected to the toner container. The toner container has an inlet opening for replenishing toner. The toner container is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position about the connecting tube. A position of the inlet opening at the second position is higher than a position of the inlet opening at the first position.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a transmission member, and a cover. The case main body contains a toner and rotates around a rotation axis line. The transmission member is attached to an outer circumferential face of the case main body and configured to transmit rotation driving force to the case main body. The cover is configured to cover an opening part arranged at the case main body. The case main body includes a rotation restricting part and a movement restricting part. The rotation restricting part is configured to restrict a rotation of the transmission member with respect to the case main body. The movement restricting part is configured to restrict a movement in a direction of the rotation axis line of the transmission member with respect to the case main body. The transmission member is positioned between the cover and the movement restricting part.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a cover, and a seal member. The case main body is configured to contain a toner and to rotate. The cover is configured to cover an opening part arranged at the case main body and to maintain a rotation stop state when the case main body rotates. The seal member is interposed between the case main body and the cover and configured to maintain a rotation stop state when the case main body rotates. At least a part of the seal member is composed of an elastic material.

Abstract: A toner container includes an elongated container main body, a first toner storage portion provided in one side of the container main body in its longitudinal direction, a first rotation member rotatably provided in the first toner storage portion, a second toner storage portion provided in the other side of the container main body in the longitudinal direction, and a second rotation member rotatably provided in the second toner storage portion. The container main body includes a flat plate-like lid member closing opening portions of a first housing of the first toner storage portion and a second housing of the second toner storage portion. First and second bearing portions rotatably supporting a first end portion of a first rotation shaft of the first rotation member and a second end portion of a second rotation shaft of the second rotation member are provided on an inner surface of the lid member.

Abstract: A toner container includes a first rotation member rotatably provided in a container main body, a stirring member rotatably provided in such a way as to be parallel to the first rotation member, a lid member closing an opening portion of the container main body, a first bearing portion provided on an inner surface of the lid member and rotatably supporting a first end portion of a first rotation shaft of the first rotation member, a stirring bearing portion provided on the inner surface of the lid member and rotatably supporting a lid-side end portion of a stirring rotation shaft of the stirring member, a storage concave portion formed on the lid member and recessed from an outer surface of the lid member inward, and a transmission mechanism provided in the storage concave portion to transmit a rotation of the first rotation shaft to the stirring rotation shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable bottle which is detachably attached to an apparatus main body and which stores toner, the rotatable bottle having a discharge port from which the stored toner is discharged, a shutter which is disposed on the bottle, and which opens and closes the discharge port, and an engaging member, which is movably disposed on the apparatus main body, and which is able to engage the shutter. The image forming apparatus further includes a driving portion which transfers a driving force to the rotatable bottle, and an opening mechanism which is configured to open the shutter by the driving force from the driving portion.

Abstract: A developer storage container (30) includes a container body (37), a developer discharge port (377), a movable wall (32) and a stirring member (35). The movable wall moves in a first direction in an internal space from an initial position on one end side in the first direction to a final position on the other end side while conveying developer in a container space toward the developer discharge port. At the final position of the movable wall, an upstream end portion of an outer circumferential portion of the movable wall in the first direction is disposed upstream, in the first direction, of an upstream end portion of the developer discharge port in the first direction and a conveying surface of the movable wall is disposed at a distance from the stirring member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a toner container, a toner amount detection unit, a driving unit, a toner accommodating unit, a remaining toner amount detection unit, and a control unit is provided. The toner container supplies the toner to the toner accommodating unit by being rotated in a first direction. The toner amount detection unit detects a value related to an amount of the toner in the toner container. The control unit controls the driving unit so as to rotate the toner container in a second direction in a case where the remaining-toner amount detection unit has detected that the amount of the toner accommodated by the toner accommodating unit is smaller than a first set amount and the amount of the toner contained in the toner container detected by the toner amount detection unit reaches a second set amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable bottle which is detachably attached to an apparatus main body and which stores toner, the rotatable bottle having a discharge port from which the stored toner is discharged, a shutter which is disposed on the bottle, and which opens and closes the discharge port, and an engaging member, which is movably disposed on the apparatus main body, and which is able to engage the shutter. The image forming apparatus further includes a driving portion which transfers a driving force to the rotatable bottle, and an opening mechanism which is configured to open the shutter by the driving force from the driving portion.

Abstract: In a case where a developer bottle is not attached to a bottle attachment portion, a movable support portion is kept to be at a support position, by an elastic force of a second spring, at which to support the bottle attachment portion to be higher than a reference level in position. In a case where the developer bottle is attached to the bottle attachment portion, a movable arm portion extending from the movable support portion toward an attachment space contacts the developer bottle and is displaced to outside the attachment space, which causes the movable support portion to be displaced from the support position to a release position at which to release a support of the bottle attachment portion. A control portion prohibits an image forming process when the position of the bottle attachment portion is not equal to or lower than the reference level.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer cartridge and a developing unit. The developer cartridge, in some instances, may include a shutter. This shutter may have a wall for closing a developer supply hole, and be movable, with respect to a developer cartridge casing, between an open position where the supply hole is opened by the wall and a closed position where the supply hole is closed by the wall. The shutter may further include a protrusion that is movable with respect to the wall of the shutter between a first position and a second position in an axial direction. The protrusion, in the first position, is engageable with a developing unit and, in the second position, would be disengaged from the developing unit.

Abstract: A developer container is described that is capable of preventing the developer held inside the container from being squirted to the outside. A cartridge, an image formation unit and an image formation apparatus are described that are each provided with the developer container. The developer container has: a first member; a second member that is combined with the first member such that the first and second members form a developer storage room; and a third member that covers a boundary portion between the first member and the second member. An aspect of the invention is that it can prevent the developer from being squirted to the outside of the developer container.

Abstract: A developer cartridge assembled to a developing device defining therein a developing chamber. The developer cartridge includes a first accommodating portion, and a first agitator. The first accommodating portion accommodates therein a developing agent and is positioned beside the developing device. The first accommodating portion includes a first wall part neighboring the developing device. The first wall part is formed with a first through-hole and a second through-hole. The first through-hole is open diagonally downward from the first accommodating portion to the developing device. The second through-hole is open diagonally upward from the first accommodating portion to the developing device. The first through-hole and the second through-hole allow communication between an interior of the first accommodating portion and the developing chamber. The first agitator is rotatably disposed in the first accommodating portion and in sliding contact with the first wall part in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a cylinder having an opening and accommodating carbon powder, a transmission member having a pipe portion sleeved onto the cylinder, an end portion and at least one outlet communicating with the opening, a powder guiding member having a main body disposed at the end portion and blades extended from the main body radially, and a powder storing cover having a cover body sleeved onto the pipe portion and a powder exit located under the powder guiding member. As a result, the carbon powder can leave the cylinder through the opening, enter the powder storing cover through the outlet, and be driven by the rotation of each blade of the powder guiding member to move to the powder exit, thereby discharged for usage in an electronic imaging device. The toner cartridge is simple in structure, convenient and fast in assembly, and less possibly has false actions.

Abstract: A toner container installed in an image forming apparatus includes a toner container main body having a predetermined length and in which toner is accommodated, a discharge port through which the toner is discharged from the toner container main body, a shutter which opens and closes the discharge port, a handle provided on the toner container main body, and a pressed portion provided on the toner container main body and which is pressed by the image forming apparatus to project the handle out from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a shell, a sleeve and a knocking block. The shell has an internal space, an opening communicating with the internal space and exterior of the shell, and an imaginary axis. The shell is rotatable about the imaginary axis. The sleeve is disposed at an outside of the shell and includes an internal path extended along an imaginary line not parallel to the imaginary axis, and two stopping portions located at two ends of the internal path. The knocking block is accommodated in the internal path, and movable along the internal path to knock the stopping portion when the shell rotates, so as to vibrate the shell, so that the carbon powder sticking on the inner wall of the toner cartridge can be shaken off and then discharged by the toner cartridge. Therefore, the remnant carbon powder in the toner cartridge is effectively decreased.

Abstract: Provided is a developer cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus. The developer cartridge includes: a memory unit including a contact portion moved to a first position hidden inside the developer cartridge and a second position protruding outside the developer cartridge; an operating portion configured to move the contact portion to the first position and the second position; an outlet configured to discharge a developer; and a first shutter having an opening position and a closing position for opening and closing the outlet and moved to the closing position and the opening position when the contact portion is moved to the first position and the second position.

Abstract: Provided is a powder containing device including a powder container that contains powder, that has a first end which is closed, that has a second end which is opened, that includes a main body section and a tapered section which is disposed on the second end side from the main body section and has a diameter reduced as close to the second end side, and that has an inner circumferential surface on which a protruding ridge is formed to convey the powder to the second end side by rotating around a rotation axis extending in a direction in which the first end and the second end is connected, and a lid member that is provided with an outlet of the powder, is maintained in a non-rotating state, and causes the powder flowing from the opening to flow out from the outlet.

Abstract: A developer container according to the invention includes a developer containing unit, a partition member, and a moving restricting member. The developer containing unit has a developer containing chamber for containing an unused developing agent and a waste developer containing chamber for containing a waste developing agent. The partition member partitions the developer containing chamber and the waste developer containing chamber. The moving restricting member permits the partition member moving from a side of the waste developer containing chamber to a side of the developer containing chamber and restricts the partition member moving from the side of the developer containing chamber to the side of the waste developer containing chamber.

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: A cartridge including a housing configured to accommodate therein developer, a driving receiving part configured to receive a driving force, a first rotary member configured to rotate by a driving force transmitted from the driving receiving part, a conveyance member to which a driving force is configured to be transmitted by rotation of the first rotary member and configured to convey the developer, a second rotary member configured to rotate by a driving force transmitted from the driving receiving part, and a detected part configured to move by the rotation of the second rotary member, wherein the second rotary member is arranged to overlap with the first rotary member in an axis direction parallel with an axis of the first rotary member.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source that emits light that is to be applied to an original document, a light receiving portion that receives reflected light, which is reflected off the original document, and multiple light reflection members that guide the reflected light, reflected off the original document, to the light receiving portion. At least one of the multiple light reflection members is used as a light guide to guide light from the light source to the original document.

Abstract: Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container.

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 developer supply container includes a developer accommodating chamber; a discharge opening; a fluid communication path connecting with the discharge opening; a pump portion having a volume changing with reciprocation and actable at least on the discharge opening; a regulating portion configured to regulate flow of the developer into an entrance region of the fluid communication path; a movable portion configured to move the regulating portion toward and away from the entrance of the fluid communication path; an air flow path provided inside the regulating portion to permit fluid communication between the pump portion and the discharge opening; and an elastic member provided between the regulating portion and the chamber adjacent to the entrance of the fluid communication path.