Abstract: A unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a developer accommodating portion having a developer inlet hole; a first opening and closing member for opening and closing the inlet hole; and a second opening and closing member for opening and closing the inlet hole, the second opening and closing member being movable above the first opening and closing member.

Abstract: A developer supply container is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus and includes a containing chamber for containing a developer. A first feeding member is provided in the containing chamber and feeds the developer to an outlet of the containing chamber. A feeding chamber communicates with the containing chamber. A second feeding member is provided in the feeding chamber and feeds the developer coming from the containing chamber to an outlet of the container. A partition member partitions the developer supply container into the containing chamber and the feeding chamber. A partitioning area of the partition member is larger than an area of the outlet of the containing chamber. An image forming apparatus includes a developing device and the developer supply container.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a process device actable on the photosensitive member, a first cartridge guiding portion for being guided by a main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the first cartridge guiding portion being provided at one end, with respect to a mounting direction in which the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of apparatus of the cartridge frame; and a second cartridge guiding portion for being guided by the main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of apparatus, the second cartridge guiding portion being provided at the other end, with respect to the mounting direction, of the cartridge frame, wherein when the process cartridge is mounted to

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes (a) a developing unit for supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer; (b) a charging unit for supporting a charging member for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the charging unit being rotatable in a first rotational direction about a rotational center relative to the developing unit in which the charging member moves toward the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and in a second rotational direction about the rotational center in which the charging member moves away from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developer replenishing container detachably attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus which has a container body including an developer containing portion for containing a developer, a replenishing opening portion for replenishing the developer contained in the developer containing portion to a cartridge including a developing device detachably attachable to the main body of the image forming apparatus, a shutter member movable between an opened position and a closed position for opening and closing the replenishing opening portion, and a force receiving portion for receiving force, which moves the shutter member from the closed position to the opened position, from the cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member by a developer. A developer supplying unit is detachably attachable to a main body of the image forming apparatus and supplies the developer to the developing device. A density detecting device detects a density of the developer in the developing device. A developer remaining amount detecting device detects information regarding an amount of the developer in the developing supplying unit. A state of the developer supplying unit is judged on the basis of a result of the detection by the density detecting device and a result of the detection by the second detecting device.

Abstract: A unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a developer accommodating portion having a developer inlet hole; a first opening and closing member for opening and closing the inlet hole; and a second opening and closing member for opening and closing the inlet hole, the second opening and closing member being movable above the first opening and closing member.

Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion; a developer discharging portion; and a cover cover in the developer discharging portion, the cover being movable between a first position in which the cover covers the developer discharging portion and a second position in which the developer discharging position is exposed, wherein the second position is closer to the developer accommodating portion than the first position.

Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a containing chamber for containing a developer, a first feeding member that is provided in the containing chamber and feeds the developer to an outlet of the containing chamber, a feeding chamber communicating with the containing chamber, and a second feeding member that is provided in the feeding chamber and feeds the developer coming from the containing chamber to an outlet of the container.

Abstract: Using two or more developer replenishing units, each of which has a first storage for storing identification information related to developer and a second storage for storing history information related to the developer, if the identification information read out from each developing replenishing unit accords with unique information stored in an image forming main body, the history information is read out from the developing replenishing unit and analyzed to judge whether the utilization amount of the developing replenishing unit is at the end of its life. If the developing replenishing unit is not at the end of its life, the discharge amount of the developer replenished from the developer replenishing unit is controlled according to the history information and image output results formed by means of the image forming main body.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes: a container mounting portion for attachable/detachably mounting a developer replenishing container having a developer containing portion containing a developer and a discharge port for discharging a developer contained in the developer containing portion, a cartridge mounting portion for attachable/detachably mounting a cartridge having a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member using a developer, a developer containing portion for containing the developer used in developing with the developing device, and a developer receiving port for receiving a developer from the developer replenishing container to the developer containing portion, wherein the discharge port in the developer replenishing container and the developer receiving port in the cartridge are communicatively connected to each other in a state where the developer replenishin

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; process means actable on the photosensitive member: a first cartridge guiding portion for being guided by a main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the first cartridge guiding portion being provided at one end, with respect to a mounting direction in which the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of apparatus, of the cartridge frame; and a second cartridge guiding portion for being guided by the main assembly guide provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of apparatus, the second cartridge guiding portion being provided at the other end, with respect to the mounting direction, of the cartridge frame, wherein when the process cartridge is mounted to t

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member are a plurality of developing units for developing electrostatic latent images formed on the image bearing member with different color images. A rotatable developing rotary supports the plurality of developing units, which are detachably movable to the rotary member. A heat fixing device fixes the toner on a recording material after the toner image is transferred onto the recording material from the image bearing member. A controller executes, an intermittent rotating operation, before the image forming apparatus is brought into a stand-by state, when a fixing temperature of the fixing device is lower than a predetermined level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a seal member contacted with a rotatable body for sealing a developer borne on the rotatable body which has a surface layer contacted with the rotatable body, wherein the seal member's surface layer includes felt. The surface layer has a first portion formed by a plurality of fibers being intertwined, and a second loop portion in which the fibers are raised in a loop shape.

Abstract: A developing apparatus having a developer containing portion including an opening portion for supplying a developer to a developer bearing member, a sheet member for unsealably sealing the opening portion, and a partition wall for partitioning a space of a developer containing portion into a first space and a second space more remote from the developer bearing member than the first space. The partition wall has an angle of 30 degrees or less with respect to a surface on which the sheet member is supported, and has an angle of 40 degrees or more with respect to a horizontal plane when the developing apparatus is attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus. A first carrying and a second carrying member are disposed in the first space and the second space respectively to carry the developer to the opening portion.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a process cartridge actable on the photosensitive member; a cartridge frame; a first projection for positioning the process cartridge relative to the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the first projection being outwardly projected from a first frame of the cartridge frame adjacent an axial end of the photosensitive member; a second projection for positioning the process cartridge relative to the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the second projection being outwardly projected from a second frame of the cartridge frame adjacent another axial end of the photosensitive member; a confining contact portion, in the cartridge frame, for contacting a first fixed portion of the main assembly and cooperating with the first projection and second projection to correctly position the process cartridge

Abstract: A developing cartridge for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developing cartridge for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge includes a developing member for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member by the developing member; a driving force receiving portion for receiving, from the main assembly, driving force for rotating the developing member when the developing cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the driving force receiving portion being provided at a leading side of the developing cartridge when the developing cartridge is mounted to the main assembly in a longitudinal direction of the developing member; an exposed developing bias contact, provided at the leading side, for receiving from the main assembly a developing bias to be supplied to the developing memb

Abstract: A roller including a cylindrical member and an engagement member, wherein the engagement member has plural fitting portions pairs each having two opposed fitting portions. The cylindrical member and the engagement member will be connected, while leaving at least one of the plural fitting portion pairs unused, by fitting end portions of the cylindrical member to at least one of the fitting portion pairs by cutting and bending the end portions. The roller may be a photoconductive drum or a developing roller for use in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an image bearing member, a processor for acting on the image bearing member, a driving force receiver provided at one end of the image bearing member, a protection member shiftable between a protection position to protect the image bearing member and a retract position, a first projection provided on the side of a toner containing portion, a guide member protruded in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the image bearing member, a second projection protruded in the moving direction of the image bearing member, and a third projection protruded from the protection member.