Abstract: A toner container includes a longitudinal container body, a held portion, and an electric component. The longitudinal container body has a first end and a second end distal to the first end in a length direction of the container body. The held portion is attached to the first end of the container body and configured to be detachably attached to the toner-container holder. The held portion includes a toner outlet for discharging the toner. The electric component electrically communicates with a component in the main body to detect whether the toner container is operatively set in the toner-container holder. The electric component is attached to the held portion such that when the held portion is attached to the toner-container holder the electric component is located above the toner outlet with respect to a vertical direction.

Abstract: A toner container includes a longitudinal container body and a held portion. The longitudinal container body has a first end and second end distal to the first end in a length direction of the container body and a gripper attached to the second end. The held portion is attached to the first end of the container body and is configured to be detachably attached to the toner-container holder. The held portion includes a toner outlet for discharging the toner contained in the container body, and an open/close member for opening/closing the toner outlet in synchronization with an attachment/detachment operation to/from the toner-container holder.

Abstract: A part of a toner supply path is formed in a setting unit (100), and a nozzle (110) coupled to a toner container (20) is provided, wherein the fitting direction of the toner container (20) to the setting unit (100) and the coupling direction of the nozzle (110) to the toner container (20) are different.

Abstract: An agent containing unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a container, a discharge port unit, and a support plate. The container stores an agent and has an opening on one end portion of the container. The discharge port unit is attached to the opening of the container, and covers the opening of the container and has a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the container. The support plate supports the container, fixed detachably on the support plate, and has a second discharge port, which is aligned with the first discharge port.

Abstract: A packaging box includes a first wall portion (11) and a second wall portion (12) opposed to the first wall portion (12). A shrinkable container (140a) filled with the contents is sandwiched between the first wall portion (11) and the second wall portion (12), and the container (140a) is held firmly due to a friction between an outer surface of the container (140a) and inner surfaces of the first wall portion (11) and the second wall portion (12).

Abstract: A part of a toner supply path is formed in a setting unit (100), and a nozzle (110) coupled to a toner container (20) is provided, wherein the fitting direction of the toner container (20) to the setting unit (100) and the coupling direction of the nozzle (110) to the toner container (20) are different.

Abstract: The body member of a powder container of the present invention includes a bag-like powder storing body storing powder and formed with an opening at one end, and a base member affixed to the opening of the powder storing body. The base member allows an outlet member, which is formed with a passage configured to deliver the powder from the powder storing body to an outlet and has a shutter function for selectively blocking or unblocking the passage, to be connected to or disconnected from the base member.

Abstract: The toner bottle exchangeably used in an image forming apparatus. The toner bottle includes a bottle body having a substantially cylindrical shape and configured to contain toner, a gear configured to rotate a part of the toner bottle, a cap attached to the bottle body and including an opening arranged in a circumferential surface of the cap and configured to output toner to a development apparatus of the image forming apparatus, a toner conveyance mechanism arranged in the bottle body and configured to convey the toner to the opening.

Abstract: A part of a toner supply path is formed in a setting unit (100), and a nozzle (110) coupled to a toner container (20) is provided, wherein the fitting direction of the toner container (20) to the setting unit (100) and the coupling direction of the nozzle (110) to the toner container (20) are different.

Abstract: A powder container for use in an image forming apparatus. The powder container includes a powder storage section, a dispenser, a shutter, and a closing mechanism. The dispenser has an opening which faces horizontally and is oriented to receive a horizontal nozzle. The shutter is horizontally disposed within the dispenser and is movable by a nozzle of the image forming apparatus. The closing mechanism is arranged to receive a force when the nozzle is removed from the opening and when the powder container is disconnected from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The toner bottle exchangeably used in an image forming apparatus. The toner bottle includes a bottle body having a substantially cylindrical shape and configured to contain toner, a gear configured to rotate a part of the toner bottle, a cap attached to the bottle body and including an opening arranged in a circumferential surface of the cap and configured to output toner to a development apparatus of the image forming apparatus, a toner conveyance mechanism arranged in the bottle body and configured to convey the toner to the opening.

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 is disclosed that includes a substantially flat top face and a slanted front face, the bottom side of which recedes backward. The image forming apparatus may includes a paper discharge tray disposed at a lower portion of the slanted front face, the paper discharge tray protruding forward. The paper discharge tray may be tiltable upward and downward. Because the bottom side of the slanted front face recedes backward, the flat top face can be provided, and simultaneously, enough space for the feeding and discharging of paper can be secured.

Abstract: An image reading system includable in an image forming apparatus includes a document feed tray to contain original documents including either or both of a non-electronic recording medium and an electronic paper that includes a memory and a first communication element, a primary sensor to read the electronic data from the memory of each electronic paper before transfer of the original documents starts, a secondary sensor to sequentially detect the original documents during the transfer thereof and determine a media type of each original document, a transfer unit to transfer the non-electronic recording medium to a scanning position, a transfer controller to control the transfer unit based on the determination result of the secondary sensor, and an optical image reader to optically read an image formed on each non-electronic recording medium at the scanning position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a substantially flat top face and a slanted front face, the bottom side of which recedes backward. The image forming apparatus may includes a paper discharge tray disposed at a lower portion of the slanted front face, the paper discharge tray protruding forward. The paper discharge tray may be tiltable upward and downward. Because the bottom side of the slanted front face recedes backward, the flat top face can be provided, and simultaneously, enough space for the feeding and discharging of paper can be secured.

Abstract: The body member of a powder container of the present invention includes a bag-like powder storing body storing powder and formed with an opening at one end, and a base member affixed to the opening of the powder storing body. The base member allows an outlet member, which is formed with a passage configured to deliver the powder from the powder storing body to an outlet and has a shutter function for selectively blocking or unblocking the passage, to be connected to or disconnected from the base member.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is disclosed. The ink cartridge comprises an ink refill bag, and an ink refill bag housing in which the ink refill bag is accommodated. The ink refill bag includes a cap having an ink passage through which ink is supplied to an inkjet recording apparatus that ejects ink droplets for printing, and an ink storing section formed in a bag-like shape by thermally welding plural flexible film members together. The ink refill bag housing is provided with at least one bag loading opening through which the ink refill bag is loaded and removed.

Abstract: A part of a toner supply path is formed in a setting unit, and a nozzle coupled to a toner container is provided, wherein the fitting direction of the toner container to the setting unit and the coupling direction of the nozzle to the toner container are different. There is a powder container having an upper section and a multi-part lower section. The multi-part lower section has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having an opening which is perpendicular to an opening of the upper portion. The upper and lower portions are rotatably engaged such that the upper portion and the lower portion are engaged with each other when rotated to a first position relative to each other, and the upper portion and the lower portion are unengaged with each other when rotated to a second position relative to each other.

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 reading system, in which an image reading method is performed, includes a document feeder, a media determination unit, a transfer controller, an image reader, and a read controller. The document feeder feeds and transfers an original document consisting of at least one of a non-electronic medium and an electronic paper including a memory, a display unit, and a conductive member. The media determination unit determines whether the original document is the non-electronic medium or not. The transfer controller controls a transfer operation performed by the document feeder, based on results obtained by the media determination unit. The image reader optically reads either an image on the non-electronic medium or on the electronic paper. The read controller controls a reading operation performed by the image reader.