Abstract: An insertion passage 104Y for inserting a suction nozzle 73Y fixed to an image forming apparatus is provided on a holder 102Y, and a connecting passage 114Y that connects the insertion passage 104Y and a toner storage section 106Y of the holder 102Y is provided After the toner sent from bottle 101Y to the holder 102Y falls towards the connecting passage 104Y, the toner flows into the suction nozzle 73Y through the connecting passage 114Y and is then discharged out of the holder 102Y An airtightness between the insertion passage 114Y and the suction nozzle 73Y inserted into the insertion passage 114 Y is superior than an airtightness between the bottle 101Y and the holder 102Y engaged with the bottle 101Y

Abstract: A toner container for installation in a toner supply device is provided. The toner container includes a toner accommodation member and a cap member freely attachable to and detachable from the toner accommodation member. The toner accommodation member includes a bag member having an opening, and a connection member attached to the opening of the bag member and having a toner supply opening. The cap member is configured to receive toner supplied from the toner supply opening of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and to discharge the received toner. Either of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and the cap member includes a groove part and the other includes a protrusion part to engage with the groove part, and the cap member is attached to the toner accommodation member by engaging the groove part and the protrusion part with each other. The protrusion part elastically deforms to engage with the groove part.

Abstract: In a toner container of the present invention made up of a toner storing body storing toner thereinside and a toner outlet for discharging the toner from the toner storing body, the toner storing body is caused to discharge the toner by vacuum acting thereon from the outside while decreasing its volume, the toner has a tight bulk density D, which refers to the density of the toner measured in a condition wherein air between toner particles is discharged as far as possible by, e.g., tapping, lying in a range of: 0.5<(T/D)/V<0.9 where V denotes the volume of the toner storing body before the start of toner discharge and T denotes the mass of the toner in the toner storing body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a development mechanism for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member into a visual image, a toner storage detachably installed and provided for storing toner therein, a toner transporting mechanism for transporting the toner from the toner storage to the development mechanism, and a supporting device for detachably supporting the toner storage therein and moving between a set position at which the toner storage is engaged with the toner transporting mechanism and a tilt position at which the toner storage is disengaged from the toner transporting mechanism.

Abstract: A toner container for installation in a toner supply device is provided. The toner container includes a toner accommodation member and a cap member freely attachable to and detachable from the toner accommodation member. The toner accommodation member includes a bag member having an opening, and a connection member attached to the opening of the bag member and having a toner supply opening. The cap member is configured to receive toner supplied from the toner supply opening of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and to discharge the received toner. Either of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and the cap member includes a groove part and the other includes a protrusion part to engage with the groove part, and the cap member is attached to the toner accommodation member by engaging the groove part and the protrusion part with each other. The protrusion part elastically deforms to engage with the groove part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a development mechanism for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member into a visual image, a toner storage detachably installed and provided for storing toner therein, a toner transporting mechanism for transporting the toner from the toner storage to the development mechanism, and a supporting device for detachably supporting the toner storage therein and moving between a set position at which the toner storage is engaged with the toner transporting mechanism and a tilt position at which the toner storage is disengaged from the toner transporting mechanism.

Abstract: A toner conveying device conveys powdery toner with a screw pump including an elastic stator formed with spiral grooves in its inside periphery and a rotor rotatable inside the stator for conveying the toner in the axial direction. The toner includes a polymerized toner having mean circularity of 0.95 to 0.99.

Abstract: A toner container for installation in a toner supply device is provided. The toner container includes a toner accommodation member and a cap member freely attachable to and detachable from the toner accommodation member. The toner accommodation member includes a bag member having an opening, and a connection member attached to the opening of the bag member and having a toner supply opening. The cap member is configured to receive toner supplied from the toner supply opening of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and to discharge the received toner. Either of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and the cap member includes a groove part and the other includes a protrusion part to engage with the groove part, and the cap member is attached to the toner accommodation member by engaging the groove part and the protrusion part with each other. The protrusion part elastically deforms to engage with the groove part.

Abstract: A developer container includes a cap controlling a flow of developer with a hole, the cap detachably engaged with a nozzle connecting to an image forming apparatus, and a developer case containing the developer with an outlet be connected to the hole. The developer case allows the developer to flow through the outlet in a direction different from the flow of developer through the hole.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and associated method is provided and includes a development mechanism, a toner storage, and a toner transportation mechanism. The development mechanism develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member into a visual image. The toner storage is detachably installed in the apparatus and stores toner. The toner transportation mechanism transports the toner from the toner storage to the development mechanism. The toner storage is movable together with a part of the toner transportation mechanism between a closed position which is a normal position of the toner storage containing toner and a tilt position at which the toner storage is exchanged with a new toner storage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and associated method is provided and includes plural image forming mechanisms. Each forming mechanism includes an image carrying member, a development mechanism, and a toner storage. The image carrying member carries an electrostatic latent image. The development mechanism develops the electrostatic latent image into a visual image. The intermediate transfer member sequentially receives toner images into a composite toner image and transfers the composite toner image to a recording sheet. The toner storages have an approximately rectangular shape having a rectangular transverse section. At least one of the toner storages has a greater toner capacity than others of the toner storages, and a length of a short side of the rectangular transverse section of the toner storages having the greater toner capacity is approximately equal to lengths of long sides of the rectangular transverse sections of the others of the toner storages.

Abstract: A toner conveying device of the present invention conveys powdery toner with screw pump means including an elastic stator formed with spiral grooves in its inside periphery and a rotor rotatable inside the stator for conveying the toner in the axial direction. The toner comprises a polymerized toner having mean circularity of 0.95 to 0.99.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a development mechanism for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member into a visual image, a toner storage detachably installed and provided for storing toner therein, a toner transporting mechanism for transporting the toner from the toner storage to the development mechanism, and a supporting device for detachably supporting the toner storage therein and moving between a set position at which the toner storage is engaged with the toner transporting mechanism and a tilt position at which the toner storage is disengaged from the toner transporting mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and associated method is provided and includes plural image forming mechanisms. Each forming mechanism includes an image carrying member, a development mechanism, and a toner storage. The image carrying member carries an electrostatic latent image. The development mechanism develops the electrostatic latent image into a visual image. The intermediate transfer member sequentially receives toner images into a composite toner image and transfers the composite toner image to a recording sheet. The toner storages have an approximately rectangular shape having a rectangular transverse section. At least one of the toner storages has a greater toner capacity than others of the toner storages, and a length of a short side of the rectangular transverse section of the toner storages having the greater toner capacity is approximately equal to lengths of long sides of the rectangular transverse sections of the others of the toner storages.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and associated method if provided and includes a development mechanism, a toner storage, and a toner transportation mechanism. The development mechanism develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member into a visual image. The toner storage is detachably installed in the apparatus and stores toner. The toner transportation mechanism transports the toner from the toner storage to the development mechanism. The toner storage is movable together with a part of the toner transportation mechanism between a closed position which is a normal position of the toner storage containing toner and a tilt position at which the toner storage is exchanged with a new toner storage.