Abstract: A developing device includes: a first transport member and a second transport member that are disposed in a first transport path and a second transport path provided at an upper side and a lower side in a gravitational direction and that transport a developer. The developing device also includes an ejecting path that is provided in the first transport path disposed at the upper side in the gravitational direction and that ejects an excess developer. The developing device includes a reverse helical section that is disposed in front of a support that supports the second transport member. The reverse helical section helically extends in a reverse direction relative to a helical section provided for circulating the developer, the developer being transported to the ejecting path by the reverse helical section.

Abstract: A processing apparatus including an apparatus housing, powder processing unit for processing powder, a powder recovery unit for recovering discharged powder, a powder discharge unit for transporting and discharging the powder to a discharge portion to be recovered, and a powder receiver. The powder recovery unit is attached to the apparatus housing and the power receiver is positioned below the powder recovery unit on the same side of the apparatus housing that the powder recovery unit is attached to the apparatus housing. When the powder recovery unit is detached from the apparatus housing, the powder receiving unit receives powder discharge falling from the discharge portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing and a controller. A cartridge is to be attached to the main casing. The cartridge includes a memory stores usage status information indicating whether the cartridge is a new cartridge or an old cartridge which indicates a used product. The controller reads the usage status information stored in the memory in a case that attachment of the cartridge to the main casing is detected. The controller determines, based on the usage status information, whether the cartridge is the new cartridge or the old cartridge. The controller rewrites the usage status information to information indicating that the cartridge is the old cartridge in a case that the cartridge is determined to be the new cartridge. The rewriting is performed before the controller receives a print instruction and before the material or the part of the cartridge is consumed.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a case in which a hollow transporting path is formed; a transporting member configured to transport a developer in the transporting path; a support portion fixed to an end portion of the case by a fastening member to support the transporting member at an end portion of the transporting path; and a cooling unit fixed by being sandwiched between the support portion and the case.

Abstract: A first development chamber accommodates an agitator. A second development chamber accommodates a development roller and a supply roller. The second development chamber is located above the first development chamber. A toner cartridge contains toner to be supplied to the first development chamber. A transfer device is located above a photosensitive drum in a state where a drum unit is attached to a main housing. The transfer device transfers toner on the photosensitive drum to a sheet. An agitator includes a shaft and a blade. The shaft is rotatably supported by a development housing. The blade is rotatable together with the shaft. The blade has a first end fixed to the shaft and a second end located away from the first end. The agitator is configured such that, when rotated, the second end of the blade reaches a height of an opening in the development housing in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container having a first stirring chamber and a second stirring chamber that are arranged in juxtaposition with each other and a developer carrier that carries toner in the second stirring chamber. The developing container includes a duct, an air suction port, a first filter, and a second filter. The duct is arranged adjacently to the second stirring chamber and allows air in the second stirring chamber to flow out to an exterior. The air suction port is open along a longitudinal direction of the second stirring chamber and allows communication between inside the second stirring chamber and inside the duct. The first filter covers the air suction port. The second filter is arranged on a downstream side of the first filter in an air circulation direction in the duct and covers an air circulation path in the duct.

Abstract: A developing device includes a first transport member and a second transport member that are respectively disposed in a first transport path and a second transport path arranged in a vertical direction and that transport developer so as to circulate the developer between the first transport path and the second transport path. The developing device includes a developing device body in which the first transport path and the second transport path are formed. The developing device also includes a developer discharging structure that discharges excess developer discharged from the first transport path to outside through the second transport path or through a space between an end portion of the second transport path and the developing device body.

Abstract: A developing device including a first transport path in which the developer to be supplied to the development-region passing body is transported at least in a first transport direction; a second transport path in which the developer to be sent to the first transport path is transported at least in a second transport direction; and a first connection portion through which a portion of the first transport path positioned short of a first-transport-direction-downstream end of the first transport path and a portion of the second transport path positioned short of a second transport-direction-upstream end of the second transport path are connected to one another. A first transport member in the first transport path has a helical reverse-transport blade that reverse-transports the developer in a reverse direction reverse to the first transport provided adjacent to the first connection portion.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a replenishment conveyance screw portion to convey replenishment developer from a developer replenishment portion toward a first communication portion. First, second and third blade portions are formed in a spiral shape on an outer circumferential surface of a rotation shaft of the replenishment conveyance screw portion. A pitch of the first blade portion, a pitch of the second blade portion, and a pitch of the third blade portion are each larger than a pitch of a blade of a second conveyance screw portion, and the third blade portion is continuously formed in a region between a terminal end of the first blade portion and a starting end of the second blade portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development device, a toner storage part, a drive unit, a control unit, and an image carrying member. The development device includes a development casing, a developer carrying member, a first stirring transport member, a second stirring transport member, a discharge impeller, and a reverse transport impeller. The development casing includes a first partition wall, a communication part, a developer replenishment port, and a developer discharge part. The first stirring transport member includes a first rotation shaft and a first transport impeller. The second stirring transport member includes a second rotation shaft and a second transport impeller. The control unit can perform a developer discharge mode, in which the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft are rotated reversely during a non image formation period, so that the developer around the reverse transport impeller is discharged through the developer discharge part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a converter configured to convert image data with use of a tone correction condition corresponding to a position in a main scanning direction of the image data, and an image forming unit, which includes a photosensitive member and an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light based on the converted image data, and is configured to form an image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus further includes a holding portion configured to hold a plurality of feedback conditions corresponding to a plurality of tones and a controller configured to control the image forming unit to form a plurality of test images, acquire measurement results for the plurality of test images, and generate the tone correction condition based on the measurement results and the plurality of feedback conditions.

Abstract: An example method of operating an image forming apparatus includes measuring a toner concentration supplied to a developing apparatus and increasing a driving speed of the developing apparatus based on the toner concentration not reaching a target toner concentration. The toner concentration is measured in a state where the driving speed of the developing apparatus is increased, and, based on the toner concentration not reaching the target toner concentration based on the driving speed of the developing apparatus being increased, an operating state of the image forming apparatus is determined based on a remaining amount of toner.

Abstract: A powder container case includes a first member, a second member, a main joint, and an additional joint. The first member and the second member are joined to form an edge portion of a case opening. The main joint is disposed between the first member and the second member, and has an end portion at the edge portion of the case opening. The additional joint is disposed adjacent to the end portion of the main joint.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing device, a voltage applier, a current detector, a cleaning blade, and a control device. The control device acts as a measurer and an estimator. The measurer changes the DC bias to a first value and a second value, and acquires a first magnitude of the developing current corresponding to the first value, and a second magnitude of the developing current corresponding to the second value, from the current detector. The estimator calculates a current ratio between the first magnitude and the second magnitude, and estimates deterioration status of the cleaning blade, according to the value of the current ratio.

Abstract: Provided is a developing device having a first transport member and a second transport member that are disposed in a first transport path and a second transport path provided at an upper side and a lower side in a gravitational direction. The transport members transport a developer so as to cause the developer to circulate between the first transport path and the second transport path. A partition wall that separates the first transport path and the second transport path from each other and has an opening including an open-close member that opens and closes the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plural photosensitive members, a scanner unit for scanning the photosensitive members, and a fixing unit for fixing toner images. The scanner unit includes a rotatable polygonal mirror for reflecting laser beams emitted in correspondence to respective photosensitive members, reflecting members for reflecting the laser beams, and a box for accommodating the polygonal mirror and the reflecting members. The box includes plural outlets for the laser beams. Of the reflecting members, first and second reflecting members reflect laser beams toward corresponding first and second outlets respectively positioned farthest from and closest to the fixing unit.

Abstract: A developing device includes a storage portion storing a developer, a conveying portion stirring and conveying the developer in the storage portion, a sensor, an acquisition processing portion, and a correction processing portion. The sensor outputs an electrical signal in accordance with magnetic permeability at a predetermined detection position in a conveyance path of the developer. The acquisition processing portion acquires a specific value based on the electrical signal outputted during a rotation period of the conveying portion. The correction processing portion corrects the specific value based on a rotation speed of the conveying portion when a fluctuation width of the electrical signal outputted during the rotation period of the conveying portion is less than a predetermined threshold, and corrects the specific value based on the rotation speed of the conveying portion and the fluctuation width when the fluctuation width is equal to or greater than the threshold.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a conveying member which rotates to convey the developer to the developer bearing member. The conveying member includes a sheet portion with one end fixed to a rotation shaft and a free end which enters the developing chamber through an opening when the conveying member rotates around a rotation center, wherein relations C>A and B>A are satisfied, where A is a distance from the rotation center to an upstream end of the opening in a rotational direction, B is a distance from the rotation center to a downstream end of the opening in the rotational direction, and C is a length from the rotation center to the free end of the sheet portion in an unbent state. The upstream end of the opening is lower in a direction of gravitational force than the downstream end at an orientation in use.

Abstract: A pressurization device for a toner cartridge includes an inner cover, an airbag and a sliding member. The inner cover is arranged at a toner feeding port of the toner cartridge; the airbag is made of elastic material; the airbag includes a fixed end that is fixed to the inner cover and a free end that extends outward from the fixed end; the fixed end is provided with an airbag opening interconnected to an interior of the toner cartridge; a remaining portion of the airbag is arranged as closed except for the airbag opening; a first end of the sliding member is connected to the free end of the airbag and moves toward the fixed end of the airbag back and forth, so that the airbag ejects gas into the toner cartridge by means of being compressed.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing in which a developer is contained; a cover member configured to cover an upper opening of the housing; a developer holder that is supported by the housing and holds the developer on an outer surface and rotates; and a regulating member that faces the developer holder and is configured to regulate an amount of the developer on the outer surface. The device also includes a first exit path inclined toward an inside of the housing which is configured to exit air from the inside of the housing to an outside of the cover member. A second exit path connects the first exit path and a filter member provided on the cover member, in which the filter member prevents passage of the developer and allows for passage of air.