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.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a first conveying unit provided within a developing agent storage chamber and that is configured to convey developing agent from one end of the developing agent storage chamber to another end of the developing agent storage chamber in a longitudinal direction of a developing agent carrier that is disposed with in a developing chamber and to supply the developing agent from the developing agent storage chamber to the developing chamber; a second conveying unit provided within the developing chamber and that is configured to convey the developing agent from the other end of the developing chamber to the one end of the developing chamber in the longitudinal direction and to supply the developing agent toward a developing agent carrier; and a third conveying unit provided between the one end of the developing agent storage chamber and the one end of the developing chamber.

Abstract: A developing device includes a shutter moving portion and a receiving-port shutter that are combined together, with a recessed portion and a projecting portion thereof being in engagement with each other, so that a developer receiving port is opened or shut. A gap is provided between the recessed portion and the projecting portion, and the shutter moving portion is swingable with respect to the receiving-port shutter. Even if the shutter moving portion vibrates by following the displacement of a toner conveying portion, the vibration is not transmitted to the receiving-port shutter because the shutter moving portion absorbs the vibration, preventing the receiving-port shutter from flapping. Thus, the leakage of developer that may occur particularly in a case of package shipment of the developing device and an image forming apparatus is suppressed.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a holding member holding a toner container with a discharge port, and a shutter opening/closing the discharge port and having a communicating port communicable with the discharge port; a connecting member forming a toner conveying path, and connecting to/retracting from the shutter in conjunction with an operation of mounting/removing the toner container; a first locking portion movable between a first position to locate the shutter in a non-communicating position and a second position to lock the shutter in a communicating position when the toner container is mounted; and a second locking portion locatable in a position to connect the connecting member to the shutter, and in a position to lock the connecting member in a position where the connecting member is separated away from the shutter when the toner container is mounted.

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: An image forming apparatus comprises a first component, a second component, a first end surface, a second end surface and a sealer. The sealer arranged on the first or second end surface seals the part between the first end surface and the second end surface while keeping the first opening communicated with the second opening when the second component is mounted on the first component.

Abstract: A nozzle receiver for use with a powder container includes: a shutter to open an opening of the nozzle receiver to an opening position when the shutter is pressed by a conveying nozzle of an image forming apparatus, and to close the opening to a closing position when not being pressed by the conveying nozzle, and that includes a sealing portion for sealing the opening; a supporter to support and guide the shutter between the opening position and the closing position; and a cap to cover the supporter when the shutter is located at the closing position.

Abstract: A developer storage body includes a first storage member, a second storage member, a frame and a resiliently deformable partition member. The first storage member includes a first opening, and a first flange provided along an outer periphery of the first opening. The second storage member includes a second opening, and a second flange provided along an outer periphery of the second opening so that the second flange faces the first flange. The frame includes a third flange held between the first flange and the second flange. A partition member includes a peripheral end portion fixed to the frame. The partition member and the first storage member form a first space portion therebetween. The partition member and the second storage member form a second space portion therebetween.

Abstract: A powder storage device includes a powder container that has an opening at one end, stores powder therein, and has, on an inner peripheral surface, a rib configured to transport the powder toward the opening with rotation of the powder container, a lid member that is configured to cover the opening, has an outflow opening through which the powder flows, and is held in a non-rotatable state, and a driving-force transmission member interposed between the powder container and the lid member and having a driving-force receiving portion penetrating the lid member in a rotation axis direction, the driving-force transmission member transmitting a rotating force to the powder container.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body, a lid, a movable wall, and a sealing member. The container body includes an inner circumferential surface defining a cylindrical internal space extending in a first direction, and a wall part defining one end surface of the internal space in the first direction. The container body has a developer discharge port closer to the wall part. The movable wall includes an outer circumferential surface and a conveying surface defining a storage space for the developer. The movable wall is movable in the internal space in the first direction from an initial position closer to the lid of the container body to a terminal position closer to the wall part while conveying the developer in the storage space. The wall part has a developer filling port penetrating the wall part and communicating with the storage space. The sealing member seals the developer filling port.

Abstract: A container for developer detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a rotating body that contains developer and is rotated about a rotational center when drive is transmitted from the apparatus body, a discharge member that supports the rotating body such that the rotating body is rotatable relative to the discharge member and has a discharge port through which the developer is discharged, an anti-leakage member that is disposed in one of the rotating body and the discharge member and suppresses leakage of the developer, and a compressing portion that has a first side and a second side farther from the rotational center than the first side, is disposed in the other of both, and is pressed against the anti-leakage member to compress the anti-leakage member such that a compressing amount is larger on the second side than on the first side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station having an image bearing member for bearing a latent image and a developing device for developing the latent image formed on the image bearing member using toner, a toner container for accommodating toner to be supplied to the developing device, the toner container being provided with an expansion-and-contraction portion capable of being expanded and contracted in a longitudinal direction thereof by being driven, and a holding member for holding the toner container. In addition, a first side plate supports one end portion of the holding member, a second side plate supports the other end portion of the holding member, and a driving device drives the image forming station. The holding member is supported by the first side plate so as to be movable relative to the first side plate in the longitudinal direction and is fixed to the second side plate.

Abstract: A toner case according to the present invention includes a toner supplying portion, a screw portion 50 and a supporting portion 53. The toner supplying portion is arranged at a case body 31 to supply the toner to an apparatus main body. The screw portion 50 includes a screw shaft 51 driven to rotate at an inside of the case body 31 and the conveying blade 52 formed on the screw shaft 51 and rotating with the screw shaft 51 so that the conveying blade 52 conveys the toner to the toner supplying portion. Around the supporting portion 53, a portion of the conveying blade 52 is arranged. The supporting portion 53 is arranged closer to an inside of the case body 31 than a side wall 31a of the case body 31 and configured to support an end portion of the screw shaft 51.

Abstract: A powder container includes a rotatable powder chamber for containing powder used for forming images, having an opening on a first side in an axial direction of the powder container, a conveyor to transport powder contained in the powder chamber to the first side from a second side in the axial direction, a protrusion radially projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the powder chamber, disposed in a circumferential area of the powder chamber, and a facing member disposed facing the outer circumferential surface of the powder chamber. The protrusion contacts the facing member as the powder chamber rotates.

Abstract: A developer container (30) includes a container body (31) and a movable wall (34). The container body (31) includes an inner surface (31K) defining a cylindrical internal space (31H) extending in a longitudinal direction, and a developer discharge port (319). The developer discharge port (319) is formed in a lower part of the inner surface (31K). The movable wall (34) includes an outer surface (34K) disposed slidably in contact with the inner surface (31K) of the container body (31), and a conveying surface (340S). The conveying surface (340S) defines a storage space (31S) for containing developer in cooperation with the inner surface (31K). The movable wall (34) moves in the longitudinal direction from one end side toward the other end side while conveying the developer in the storage space (31S) to the developer discharge port (319).

Abstract: A brilliant toner includes a brilliant pigment, an azo yellow pigment, and a magenta pigment, wherein when a solid image in which a toner applied amount is 4.0 g/m2 is formed, color saturation of the image is 25 to 55, a hue angle is 65° to 95°, and lightness is 50 to 80.

Abstract: A developer container (30) includes a container body (31), a movable wall (34), and a backward movement preventing mechanism (55). The container body (31) includes an inner surface (31K) defining a cylindrical internal space (31H) extending in a longitudinal direction, and a developer discharge port (319). The movable wall (34) includes an outer surface (34K) disposed slidably in close contact with the inner surface (31K) of the container body (31), and a conveying surface (340S). The conveying surface (340S) defines a storage space (31S) for developer. The movable wall (34) moves in the longitudinal direction from an initial position at one end side to the developer discharge port (319) while conveying the developer in the storage space (31S) to the developer discharge port (319). The backward movement preventing mechanism (55) prevents the movable wall (34) at the developer discharge port (319) from moving back toward the initial position.

Abstract: A toner container includes a container body, a toner discharge outlet, a moveable wall, and a stirring member. The container body includes an inner circumferential section having a tubular shape extending in a first direction and an internal space. The toner discharge outlet passes through the container body. The moveable wall includes a conveying surface and an outer circumferential section in sealed contact with the inner circumferential section of the container body. The moveable wall moves in the first direction while conveying developer toward the toner discharge outlet. The stirring member stirs toner in proximity to the toner discharge outlet. A first gear that transmits driving force to the moveable wall and a second gear that transmits driving force to the stirring member are located together outside of the container body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a packing structure of a developer container, including a developer container that contains a developer and is formed with a supply port for supply of the developer, a transport member that is provided in the developer container and transports the developer to the supply port while stirring the developer, a packing member that packs the developer container from an end portion of the transport member in an axial direction thereof to a central portion of the transport member in the axial direction, and a unit that moves the transport member by an operation of detaching the packing member from the developer container.

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 developer container includes a container body, a movable wall, and a detection sensor. The container body includes an inner surface defining a cylindrical internal space. The internal space is in the form of a cylinder extending in a first direction. The container body is formed with a developer discharge port communicating with the internal space. The movable wall includes an outer surface and a conveying surface. The outer surface is disposed in close contact with the inner surface of the container body. The conveying surface defines a storage space configured to contain the developer in cooperation with the inner surface of the container body. The movable wall moves in the first direction from one end side to the other end side of the internal space. The detection sensor is provided on the container body near the developer discharge port and detects the developer in the storage space.

Abstract: A toner container includes a container body, a toner discharge outlet, and a moveable wall. The container body includes an inner circumferential section having a tubular shape extending in a first direction and an internal space. The toner discharge outlet passes through the container body. The moveable wall includes a conveying surface and an outer circumferential section in sealed contact with the inner circumferential section of the container body. The moveable wall moves in the first direction along a shaft while conveying developer toward the toner discharge outlet. The shaft includes a moveable wall support section that supports the moveable wall when the moveable wall reaches a final position.

Abstract: A developer container removably installable in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes a container body to contain developer, a cap connectable to the container body, the cap including a supply opening, and a flange projecting beyond an outer circumferential surface of the cap in a radial direction extending from a center of a cross section of the container body. The flange is formed along a circumference of the container body and provided between the container body and the cap.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body and a movable wall. The container body includes a cylindrical internal space extending in a first direction and defined by an inner surface of the container body. The container body includes a developer discharge port. The movable wall includes an outer surface disposed in close contact with the inner surface of the container body, and a conveying surface defining a storage space configured to contain the developer. The movable wall moves to the developer discharge port in the first direction from one end side toward the other end side of the internal space, while conveying the developer in the storage space to the developer discharge port. The outer surface of the movable wall includes a discharge port sealing portion. When the movable wall is at the developer discharge port, the discharge port sealing portion covers the developer discharge port.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container housing for storing developer, a cylinder section projecting from the container housing and including a developer discharge port, and a rotary member for conveying the developer to the discharge port. The rotary member includes a rotary shaft rotatably supported and having a first part located in the container housing and a second part located in the cylinder section, and a resilient member projecting from the second part of the rotary shaft in a radial direction of rotation of the rotary member and facing the developer discharge port. The resilient member includes a tip end operable to protrude radially outward out of the developer discharge port after rubbing an inner surface of the cylinder section as the rotary shaft of the rotary member makes rotation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image, a mounting detection unit configured to detect that a container T is mounted on a mounting unit, a driving unit configured to rotate the container T, a rotation detection unit configured to detect rotation information about the container T, and a controller configured to control the driving unit based on the rotation information. If the container T is detected to be mounted on the mounting unit, control of the driving unit is not carried out based on the rotation information until replenishment information satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case, an opening/closing member, a lever member, a drive transmission mechanism, and a biasing member. The toner case is attached to an apparatus main body. The opening/closing member opens and closes a toner discharge outlet formed in the toner case. The lever member is operated between a first operation position and a second operation position for the opening/closing member to be moved to a closing position corresponding to the first operation position or to an opening position corresponding to the second operation position. The drive transmission mechanism transmits, to the opening/closing member, a driving force input by operation of the lever member. The biasing member biases the opening/closing member toward the closing position when the lever member is at the first operation position, and biases the opening/closing member toward the opening position when the lever member is at the second operation position.

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 developer container includes a container body, a shaft, a movable wall, and a stirring member. The container body is formed with a developer discharge port. The developer discharge port lies at a position higher than a lowest part of the container body by a predetermined amount. The movable wall includes an outer surface slidably in close contact with an inner surface of the container body, and a conveying surface defining a storage space for the developer in cooperation with the inner surface of the container body. The movable wall moves along the shaft in the internal space while conveying the developer in the storage space to the developer discharge port. The stirring member is rotated around an axis of the shaft in a specified rotational direction to stir the developer, the specified rotational direction proceeding from the lowest part of the container body to the developer discharge port.

Abstract: A developer supply device includes a shaft portion arranged in a container main body, a moving wall movable along the shaft portion, a developer discharge port and a shutter mechanism. A control unit causes the moving wall to be arranged at a first position when a remaining amount of the developer is a predetermined first remaining amount and moves the moving wall to a second position closer to the developer discharge port than the first position in the first direction when the remaining amount is a second remaining amount smaller than the first remaining amount, and causes the shutter mechanism to be set in a first open state with a predetermined opening degree when the moving wall is at the first position and causes the shutter mechanism to be set in a second open state larger than the first open state when the moving wall is at the second position.

Abstract: A developer container is detachably mountable to a developer replenishing apparatus and includes a cylindrical accommodation member for accommodating a developer and a coupling portion for engaging with a main assembly coupling portion provided on the developer replenishing apparatus by movement in an inserting direction. In addition, a contact portion contacts an urging portion in the developer replenishing apparatus and receives a push-off force from the developer replenishing apparatus in a direction opposite to the inserting direction, and an engaging portion is engageable with an opening and closing portion provided in the developer replenishing apparatus to receive a force from the opening and closing portion in the inserting direction and against the push-off force in a closing operation of the opening and closing portion when the developer container is inserted into the developer replenishing apparatus.

Abstract: A toner container includes a housing and a shutter. The housing includes a toner accommodating chamber. A communication hole is formed in the housing. The communication hole communicates an interior with an exterior of the toner accommodating chamber. The communication hole also includes a replenishment hole, through which toner is supplied to the toner accommodating chamber, and a first collection hole. The shutter is configured to slide between an opening position and a closing position of the communication hole to open/close the communication hole. The shutter moves in a closing direction from the opening position to the closing position to close the replenishment hole and the first collection hole in this order.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body, a lid, a developer discharge port, a shaft, and a movable wall. The container body includes an inner surface defining a cylindrical internal space and a wall disposed at one end of the container body. The container body is formed with the developer discharge port. The lid is attached to the other end of the container body. The shaft includes a first engaging portion. The movable wall includes a conveying surface and a carrier bearing. The conveying surface defines a storage space configured to contain the developer. The carrier bearing includes a second engaging portion. The movable wall is movable along the shaft in the first direction while conveying the developer by engagement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion. The first engaging portion includes a small pitch part having a relatively small thread pitch.

Abstract: A developer supply container for use with an image forming apparatus includes a shell having an air passage and a discharge nozzle, a developer storage pouch storing developer contained inside the shell, and a discharging nozzle for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer storage pouch to outside of the developer supply container. In addition, an air passage allows air to communicate between inside and outside of the shell, and a seal attached to the shell seals the air passage to maintain a pressure inside the shell in a negative pressure state which is lower than a pressure outside the shell. The developer storage pouch is deformed to discharge the developer by peeling the seal off the shell to permit air to enter the shell through the air passage.

Abstract: A powder container that includes a container body to contain powder for image formation, a discharge outlet formed in the container body to discharge powder therefrom, a shutter movable between an open position to open the discharge outlet and a closed position to close the discharge outlet, and a seal member to be interposed between the container body and the shutter when the shutter is at the open position. In a state in which the shutter is at the open position, a downstream end of the seal member in an opening direction in which the shutter moves to open the discharge outlet is positioned downstream from a downstream end of the shutter in the opening direction.

Abstract: A powder material container is disclosed, including an elongated tubular container body; and a cap which has formed a temporary containing space which is communicably connected in the longitudinal direction of the container body to an opening of the container body to temporarily contain a powder material conveyed from the opening and which has formed on a side face in the longitudinal direction of the container body a discharging hole which discharges the powder material within the temporary containing space. The powder material container includes a blocking member which can switch between a blocking state in which the powder material within the temporary containing space is blocked from passing through an inlet face of the discharging hole facing the temporary containing space and a non-blocking state in which the powder material within the temporary containing space is not blocked from passing through the inlet face of the discharging hole.

Abstract: A powder container includes a body and a pair of walls that blocks one longitudinal end of the body and the other longitudinal end of the body. Powder is accommodated within the powder container which is mounted to an apparatus using the powder in a posture where a longitudinal direction of the body is a transverse direction of the apparatus. The powder container has an opening, through which the powder is supplied to the apparatus, formed in a lower position of the body in a posture where the powder container is mounted to the apparatus. The powder container includes a shutter and a shield. The shutter is, prior to mounting the powder container to the apparatus, in a closed location to block the opening and, when the powder container is mounted, is moved along an outer peripheral surface of the body to an opened location to open the opening.

Abstract: A toner container includes a substantially tetrahedral toner-containing portion having an openable edge to discharge toner contained in the toner-containing portion, and a reference fold along which the toner container is foldable after the openable edge is opened. The reference fold extends from the openable edge and is provided on medians of two triangular faces of the toner-containing portion adjoining each other along the openable edge.

Abstract: A toner container according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a toner container to be detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus. The toner container includes a container body, a pair of guide portions, and a storage portion. The container body contains toner. The pair of guide portions are provided on a bottom surface of the container body and allow the container body to be guided in a mounting direction toward a mounting position that allows toner to be supplied from the container body to the image forming apparatus. The storage portion is attached at a predetermined position between the pair of guide portions on the bottom surface of the container body. The storage portion stores information about toner contained in the container body.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body, a movable wall, a shaft, and a stirring member. The container body is formed with a developer discharge port. The developer discharge port lies at a position higher than a lowest part of the container body. The movable wall includes an outer surface slidably in close contact with an inner surface of the container body, and a conveying surface defining a storage space for the developer. The movable wall conveys the developer to the developer discharge port from a predetermined initial position owing to repeated movements of the movable wall in the first direction and a second direction. When the shaft is rotated in a first rotational direction, the movable wall moves in the first direction, and when the shaft is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, the movable wall moves in the second direction.

Abstract: A toner container and system for mounting and/or securing the toner container includes a toner container having a toner dispensing hole, a shutter, a protrusion. The shutter is movable relative to the toner dispensing hole, and is to selectively close the toner dispensing hole. The protrusion is connected to the shutter and movement of the protrusion causes the shutter to move relative to the toner dispensing hole to cover the toner dispensing hole. There is a receiver including a movable catch, the movable catch being in a first position when the toner container is initially inserted into the receiver, and the moveable catch moving to a second position upon insertion of the toner container into the receiver.

Abstract: A cap assembly is usable with a print head device having nozzles to eject fluid there through. The cap assembly includes an outer cap member, a sealing member, an intermediate cap member, and at least one resilient member. The outer cap member includes a main portion, at least one hinge portion to engage with the print head device to allow movement of the outer cap member toward the print head device to place the nozzles in a cap state, at least one latch portion to engage the print head device in the cap state, and at least one pedestal support portion extending outward from the main portion. The sealing member may seal the nozzles of the print head device in the cap state. The intermediate cap member may be disposed between the sealing member and the outer cap member. The intermediate cap member may support the sealing member.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body, a movable wall, and a stirring member. The container body is formed with a developer discharge port opening in a circumferential portion of the container body and communicating with an internal space for allowing discharge of developer therethrough. The movable wall includes an outer surface slidably in close contact with an inner surface of the container body, and a conveying surface defining a storage space for the developer, the movable wall being movable in the first direction in the internal space while conveying the developer in the storage space to the developer discharge port. The stirring member faces the developer discharge port in a direction intersecting the first direction and is rotatable to stir the developer in the storage space. The movement of the movable wall and the rotation of the stirring member are controlled independently of each other.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller including a base and a surface layer formed on the base, the surface layer including a polyurethane resin having a fluorine group and a polyfunctional isocyanurate structure, a toner storage chamber being partially in contact with the developing roller and to support the developing roller, and a sealing member provided at opposed ends of an end portion of the toner storage chamber in a rotating axis direction of the developing roller, and to seal in toner moving to the end portion of the toner storage chamber, the sealing member before use having a coefficient of static friction in a range of from 0.08 to 0.19.

Abstract: A developing device mountable in a main body of an image forming device includes: a frame, a developer cartridge attachable to the frame, and a maintaining member. The developer cartridge includes: a casing having an opening; and a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the opening. The developer cartridge is movable between a first position to be attached to the frame and mountable in the main body and a second position to be partially detached from the frame and incapable of being mounted in the main body. The shutter moves from the closed position to the open position while the developer cartridge moves from the second position to the first position. The maintaining member maintains the shutter at the closed position when the developer cartridge moves from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case, an apparatus main body, and a cover. The toner case includes a case main body, a shutter, and an operation part. The case main body has a discharge port discharging a toner. The shutter opens/closes the discharge port. The operation part is connected to the shutter. The operation part is movable between a port closing position where the operation part makes the shutter close the discharge port and interferes with the cover and an port opening position where the operation part makes the shutter open the discharge port and permits the cover to be closed. When the cover is closed in the state in which the operation part is located at the port closing position, the cover presses the operation part and the operation part moves from the port closing position to the port opening position.

Abstract: An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a flexible container, provide with an opening, for accommodating the developer; a frame for accommodating the container; an urging member, rotatably provided inside the frame, for urging the container by rotation thereof to deform the container; and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer on its surface to feed the developer. A distance X from a rotation center of the urging member to the surface of the developer carrying member and a length T from the rotation center of the urging member to a free end thereof for urging the container satisfy a relationship of X<T. A shielding member for preventing contact of the urging member with the developer carrying member is provided between the rotation center of the urging member and the surface of the developer carrying member or in a neighborhood thereof.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer housing which includes a container mounting portion and a toner supply opening, a developer shutter plate which is so held on the developer housing as to be movable in a direction parallel to a developing roller and is displaceable to a closing position for closing the toner supply opening and an opening position, and a biasing spring which biases the developer shutter plate to the closing position. The container main body includes a first pressing plate and the developer shutter plate includes an oblique elongated projection with which the first pressing plate comes into contact. The first pressing plate and the oblique elongated projection are formed to displace the developer shutter plate from the closing position to the opening position against a biasing force of the biasing spring as the toner container moves in an assembling direction in a mounting process.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus having a housing including two opposed end walls and an elongated body therebetween and an exit port. An inner surface of the body defines a toner reservoir that is communication with the exit port. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted within the housing. A toner platform is provided in slidable contact with the inner surface of the body and is nonrotatable relative to the housing. A drive shaft coupling couples the toner platform to the drive shaft. An exit paddle is positioned adjacent the exit port and is rotatable by the drive shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft translates the toner platform toward the exit port and rotates the exit paddle. As the toner platform moves, toner within the reservoir moves toward the exit paddle and exit port and rotation of the exit paddle moves toner through the exit port.