Abstract: A developing device includes an accommodating portion for accommodating toner, a developing roller and a stirring member. The developing device is for use with an image forming apparatus and detachably mounts a replenishing container for replenishing the toner. The accommodating portion includes a receiving opening through which the toner replenished from the accommodating portion is received in the accommodating portion, the receiving opening being provide on a first end side of the accommodating portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the developing roller. An opening area of the receiving opening when the developing device is viewed in the rotational direction is wider than the opening area of the receiving opening when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a cartridge mountable to the main assembly, with the cartridge being movable in the main assembly between a developing position at a terminal end of a mounting path and a spaced position moved from the developing position in a direction different from a direction of the mounting path. The cartridge includes a developer carrying member and a coupling member capable of inclining relative to a rotational axis of the developer carrying member. The coupling member is capable of taking a reference position when the cartridge is at a developing position, an at-dismounting position inclined relative to the rotational axis of the developer carrying member when the cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly, and an at-spaced position inclined relative to the rotational axis of the developer carrying member in a direction different from that in the at-dismounting position.

Abstract: In a management system, an apparatus that is present in a user environment obtains a code that is specific to a device containing a consumable agent to be consumed for image formation or specific to a cartridge-type device insertable into an image-forming apparatus. A server apparatus that is present in a remote environment performs authentication for the device based on the code obtained by the apparatus. When the authentication performed by the server apparatus is successful, a replenishment path of the consumable agent from the device to the image-forming apparatus is opened or the replenishment path is allowed to be opened, or an inhibiting mechanism capable of inhibiting the device from being inserted into the image-forming apparatus is put in a state in which the device can be inserted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit including an image bearing member and a second unit. The second unit includes a developing roller to supply the toner to the image bearing member, a mounting portion in which the replenishing container is dismountably mounted and an accommodating portion to accommodate the toner replenished from the replenishing container. The second unit is movable between a first position where the developing roller contacts the image bearing member and a second position where the developing roller separates from the image bearing member. When a moving direction in which the second unit moves from the first position toward the second position is defined as a separating direction, the second unit is urged in the separating direction by a force which the mounting portion receives from the replenishing container when the replenishing container is mounted to the mounting portion.

Abstract: An attachment is used with an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a main assembly including a photosensitive drum and a main assembly portion-to-be-engaged, and includes a developing unit including a developing container, a developing roller, and a mounting portion. The attachment includes a first engaging portion, and a second engaging portion. The attachment is mountable to the mounting portion in a state in which a toner container is not mounted to the mounting portion. The attachment does not include a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a toner container and an image forming apparatus to which the toner container is mountable. The toner container includes a projection that includes an inner peripheral surface centered on a central axis of the toner container. When the toner container is oriented in a predetermined direction, the projection has a downward guide surface facing downward and an upward guide surface facing upward. When the toner container is moved downward in a direction of the central axis toward a mounting portion of the image forming apparatus, (i) the downward guide surface is configured to guide a guided member of the image forming apparatus so that the guided member is rotated in a rotational direction about the central axis, and (ii) the upward guide surface is configured to guide the guided member so that the guided member is moved up after the guided member is rotated in the rotational direction by the downward guide surface.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum unit having a photosensitive drum and a drum frame supporting the photosensitive drum so that the photosensitive drum is rotatable about a rotational axis. The photosensitive drum unit also includes a positioned portion configured to contact a positioning portion of a main assembly so that the photosensitive drum unit is positioned relative to the main assembly and a rotation-prevented portion configured to prevent the photosensitive drum unit from rotating relative to the main assembly. The cartridge further includes a developing unit having a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum. The developing unit also includes a memory unit having an electrical contact surface configured to contact a main assembly contact of the main assembly.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a toner container and an image forming apparatus, the toner container including a first toner containing portion, a container base portion having a discharge port for discharging toner, and a container shutter that is moved between open and closed positions and includes an engaged portion, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a main body base portion that detachably attaches the toner container and has a receiving port for receiving the toner and, a second toner containing portion, a movable member that is moved between first and second positions and includes an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion, a regulating member that is moved between a regulation position and a regulation release position, and an urging member that urges the movable member to move from the first position to the second position when the regulating member is located at the regulation release position.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a toner container and an image forming apparatus to which the toner container is detachably mountable. The image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion to which the toner container is detachably mountable.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum unit including a photosensitive drum, and a first and second positioning portions Configured to position the photosensitive drum unit relative to the main assembly; and a developing unit connected with the photosensitive drum unit, the developing unit including a developing roller, a storing means having a contact surface electrically connectable with a main assembly contact of the main assembly to communicate with the main assembly. As seen in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a first line segment connecting the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion with each other and a first linear line passing through the contact surface and perpendicular to the contact surface crosses with each other.