Abstract: An apparatus for heat-treating a toner includes a raw-material supply unit configured to supply a toner treatment space with a raw-material toner, a hot-air supply unit configured to heat-treat the raw-material toner in the toner treatment space, a suction and ejection unit configured to eject hot air used for the heat treatment of the raw-material toner, and a waste-heat recovery and supply unit configured to recover heat from the hot air ejected by the suction and ejection unit and supply the hot-air supply unit with the recovered heat.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a main body for containing toner, a toner discharging portion having an opening, and a coupling member. The coupling member includes an extended portion. The extended portion includes an engaging projection. The engaging projection is configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters a hollow cylindrical driving member of an assembly of the image forming apparatus, and is also configured and positioned to engage with a slot of the hollow cylindrical driving member when the extended portion elastically restores in an outward direction. The engaging projection includes a tapered surface portion configured and positioned to receive a force for displacing in the inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters the hollow cylindrical driving member, and a side surface portion.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a main body for containing toner, a toner discharging portion having an opening, and a coupling member. The coupling member includes an extended portion. The extended portion includes an engaging projection. The engaging projection is configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters a hollow cylindrical driving member of an assembly of the image forming apparatus, and is also configured and positioned to engage with a slot of the hollow cylindrical driving member when the extended portion elastically restores in an outward direction. The engaging projection includes a tapered surface portion configured and positioned to receive a force for displacing in the inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters the hollow cylindrical driving member, and a side surface portion.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a toner discharging portion having an opening; and a coupling member. The coupling member includes a supporting portion and an engaging portion. The engaging portion is configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the supporting portion as the engaging portion enters a hollow cylindrical driving member of an assembly of the image forming apparatus, and is also configured and positioned to engage with a slot of the hollow cylindrical driving member when the supporting portion elastically restores in an outward direction. The engaging portion includes a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a circumferential direction of the hollow cylindrical driving member to receive a rotational drive force from the hollow cylindrical driving member to rotate the main body with the toner discharging portion.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner having the transfer efficiency and the cleanability in combination, exhibiting excellent stress resistance, and ensuring the low-temperature fixing. A toner characterized in that the average circularity of the above-described toner is 0.960 or more, and 0.985 or less, where the average circularity is analyzed by dividing particles having a circle equivalent diameter of 1.98 ?m or more, and 200.00 ?m or less, the number A of toners having a circularity of 0.990 or more, and 1.000 or less is 25.0 percent by the number or less, and the percentage of the number of particles B having a circle equivalent diameter of 0.50 ?m or more, and 1.98 ?m or less relative to the total particles of 0.50 ?m or more, and 200.00 ?m or less is 10.0 percent by the number or less.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a container body for containing toner and a coupling member. The coupling member includes a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion which is elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of the container body and is elastically restorable in an outward direction away from such axis, an engaging portion configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the supporting portion and to engage with a slot of a hollow cylindrical driving member of the image forming apparatus when the supporting portion elastically restores in an outward direction, and a displacing force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a force from a hollow cylinder of the image forming apparatus and cause the supporting portion to elastically displace in an inward direction.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a container body for containing toner; and a sealing member. The sealing member includes a sealing portion and a coupling portion. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion and an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion. The engaging portion includes a rotational force receiving portion and a locking portion. The rotational force receiving portion is capable of being abutted in a circumferential direction of a hollow cylindrical driving member of the image forming apparatus. The locking portion is capable of being abutted in an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical driving member to prevent the sealing member from moving in the axial direction of the container body when the container body moves away from the hollow cylindrical driving member.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A developer collecting container detachably mountable to a rotatable member which is provided in an image forming apparatus to rotate a developing device, the developer collecting container which is rotatable while being substantially fixed to the rotatable member with the developing device, the developer collecting container includes a receiving port for receiving a developer discharged from the developing device; an accommodating portion for accommodating the developer collected from the developing device; a guiding pipe, having a discharge opening for permitting discharging of the developer into the accommodating portion, for guiding the developer receiver at the receiving port with rotation of the rotatable member to the discharge opening, wherein the discharge opening is disposed adjacent a center of gravity of the developer collecting container.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a container body with a discharge opening formed thereon. A sealing member, which unsealably seals the discharge opening, includes an engageable projection engageable with an engaging member provided in the image forming apparatus and a support for displaceably supporting the portion. The sealing member is moved relative to the container body away therefrom to unseal the discharge opening. The engageable projection is with the engaging member. A releasing projection, is provided in the supporting member, for receiving, from a releasing member provided in the image forming apparatus, a force for displacing the engageable projection in a direction of disengagement from the engaging member.

Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.

Abstract: A developer container for feeding and discharging developer by rotationally moving about a rotation axis includes a container body for containing developer and is provided with a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the developer, and developer movement suppression means disposed inside and adjacent to the discharge opening. The developer movement suppression means includes a first wall member for scooping the developer contained in the container body by rotational movement of the container body and a second wall member, disposed at an end portion of the first wall member with respect to a direction of the rotation axis, for suppressing movement of the developer scooped by the first wall member while permitting the developer to partly move from one side to the other side thereof.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.