Abstract: A powder storage device includes a powder container that has an opening at one end, stores powder therein, and has, on an inner peripheral surface, a rib configured to transport the powder toward the opening with rotation of the powder container, a lid member that is configured to cover the opening, has an outflow opening through which the powder flows, and is held in a non-rotatable state, and a driving-force transmission member interposed between the powder container and the lid member and having a driving-force receiving portion penetrating the lid member in a rotation axis direction, the driving-force transmission member transmitting a rotating force to the powder container.

Abstract: A container for developer detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a container body, a discharge member, a resistive member, and a resistance reduction mechanism. The container body contains developer and is rotated when drive is transmitted from the image forming apparatus body. The discharge member supports the container body rotatable relative to the discharge member and has a discharge port through which the developer is discharged. The resistive member is brought into contact with the container body so as to apply resistance to the rotation of the container body. The resistance reduction mechanism changes a contact state between the resistive member and the container body so as to reduce the resistance between the resistive member and the container body when the container is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developer container having a containing portion which contains developer and is rotated when a driving force is transmitted to the containing portion from an image forming apparatus body, a discharge portion that rotatably supports the containing portion and has a discharge port through which the developer is discharged, and a restricting member provided at the discharge portion and movable between a restricting position where the restricting member restricts rotation of the containing portion and a releasing position where the restricting member releases the restriction of rotation of the containing portion, the developer container being removably attached to the image forming apparatus body; and a releasing member that is supported on the image forming apparatus body and moves the restricting member to the releasing position when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus body.

Abstract: A powder storage device includes a powder container that has an opening at one end, stores powder therein, and has, on an inner peripheral surface, a rib configured to transport the powder toward the opening with rotation of the powder container, a lid member that is configured to cover the opening, has an outflow opening through which the powder flows, and is held in a non-rotatable state, and a driving-force transmission member interposed between the powder container and the lid member and having a driving-force receiving portion penetrating the lid member in a rotation axis direction, the driving-force transmission member transmitting a rotating force to the powder container.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier that has a cylindrical shape and that rotates while carrying developer to supply the developer to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a container that contains the developer carrier, and a discharge-path forming member that is provided along an outer peripheral surface of the developer carrier, that covers a top portion of a path along which the outer peripheral surface moves, the top portion being located at an uppermost position of the path, and that forms a discharge path, through which air is discharged from inside of the container to outside of the container, between the discharge-path forming member and an inner wall surface of the container, the discharge path having an outlet located closer to the developer carrier than the top portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier that has a cylindrical shape and that rotates while holding developer to supply the developer to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a container that contains the developer carrier; a discharge-path forming member that forms a discharge path along which air is discharged out of the container from inside the container; and a magnetic member that generates a magnetic field that acts on the developer in the discharge path and causes the developer to stay in the discharge path.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier that has a cylindrical shape and that rotates while carrying developer to supply the developer to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a container that contains the developer carrier, and a discharge-path forming member that is provided along an outer peripheral surface of the developer carrier, that covers a top portion of a path along which the outer peripheral surface moves, the top portion being located at an uppermost position of the path, and that forms a discharge path, through which air is discharged from inside of the container to outside of the container, between the discharge-path forming member and an inner wall surface of the container, the discharge path having an outlet located closer to the developer carrier than the top portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier that has a cylindrical shape and that rotates while holding developer to supply the developer to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a container that contains the developer carrier; a discharge-path forming member that forms a discharge path along which air is discharged out of the container from inside the container; and a magnetic member that generates a magnetic field that acts on the developer in the discharge path and causes the developer to stay in the discharge path.

Abstract: A powder container includes a container section that contains powder, an opening that is formed in the container section so as to pass the powder therethrough, a first covering member that is supported by the container section, a second covering member that is supported by the container section, a disengagement restricting portion that is disposed in an area where the second covering member moves between the second uncovered position and the second covered position, and a restricted portion that is disposed in the second covering member so as to restrict the disengagement of the second covering member by coming in contact with the disengagement restricting portion when the second covering member having moved to the second covered position moves to disengage from the container section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a developer carrying member facing the image carrying member in a horizontal direction and configured to carry a developer containing magnetic particles and to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof, a transport pole provided inside the developer carrying member and above a center of rotation of the developer carrying member and allowing the developer carrying member to transport the developer, and a developer regulating member facing the developer carrying member at a position between the transport pole and the image carrying member in a direction of rotation of the developer carrying member and configured to regulate a thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member. The developer accumulates at a position where an amount of bending in the developer carrying member in a vertical direction becomes larger than or equal to that in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A powder container includes a containing portion having an opening and including: an opening/closing member movable between an open position and a closed position, an opening restrained portion on one of the opening/closing member and the containing portion, an opening restraining portion on the other of the opening/closing member and the containing portion at a position corresponding to the opening restrained portion when the opening/closing member is at the closed position, the opening restraining portion restraining movement of the opening/closing member toward the open position by contacting the opening restrained portion, an urged portion on one of the containing portion and the opening/closing member, and an urging portion on the other of the containing portion and the opening/closing member at a position corresponding to the urged portion when the opening/closing member is at the closed position, the urging portion making the opening restraining portion contact the opening restrained portion.

Abstract: A powder container includes a containing portion that has an opening; a first opening/closing member that is movable between a first open position at which the opening is open and a first closed position at which the opening is closed; and a second opening/closing member that is movable between a second closed position at which the second opening/closing member covers an outside of the first opening/closing member and a second open position at which the first opening/closing member is exposed, wherein a direction in which the second opening/closing member moves from the second open position to the second closed position is different from a direction in which the first opening/closing member moves from the first open position to the first closed position, and wherein the second opening/closing member contacts the first opening/closing member and pushes the first opening/closing member into the first closing position when the second/closing member moves.

Abstract: A powder container includes a containing portion having an opening; an opening/closing member that is movable between an open position and a closed position and supported with play; an opening restraining portion provided on the containing portion; an opening restrained portion provided on the opening/closing member; an urging member that urges the opening/closing member; and an opening/closing contact portion provided on the opening/closing member and contactable with an opening/closing contacted portion of an apparatus into which the containing portion is installed, wherein the opening restrained portion is disposed such that a direction of force generated when the containing portion is installed into the apparatus is inclined with respect to the direction in which the opening/closing member moves, and the opening restrained portion is disposed downstream of an imaginary line extending from a contact position at which the opening/closing contact portion contacts the opening/closing contacted portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensor member having first and second ends opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction of the sensor member and supported by support structures consisting of the first and second ends, and first and second support portions supporting the first and second ends; a first support structure including a first protruding portion fitted on a first recess portion supporting the first protruding portion; and a second support structure including a second protruding portion fitted on a second recess portion supporting the second protruding portion. The second protruding portion has first and second cylinder portions extending in a longitudinal direction of the second protruding portion. The second recess portion has an insertion portion allowing the second protruding portion to be inserted, a pass portion allowing the first cylinder portion to pass therethrough, and a positioning portion fitted on the second cylinder portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a developer carrying member facing the image carrying member in a horizontal direction and configured to carry a developer containing magnetic particles and to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof, a transport pole provided inside the developer carrying member and above a center of rotation of the developer carrying member and allowing the developer carrying member to transport the developer, and a developer regulating member facing the developer carrying member at a position between the transport pole and the image carrying member in a direction of rotation of the developer carrying member and configured to regulate a thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member. The developer accumulates at a position where an amount of bending in the developer carrying member in a vertical direction becomes larger than or equal to that in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A powder container includes a containing portion having an opening; an opening/closing member movable between an open position and a closed position; an opening restrained portion on one of the opening/closing member and the containing portion; an opening restraining portion on the other of the opening/closing member and the containing portion at a position corresponding to the opening restrained portion when the opening/closing member is at the closed position, the opening restraining portion restraining movement of the opening/closing member toward the open position by contacting the opening restrained portion; an urged portion on one of the containing portion and the opening/closing member; and an urging portion on the other of the containing portion and the opening/closing member at a position corresponding to the urged portion when the opening/closing member is at the closed position, the urging portion making the opening restraining portion contact the opening restrained portion.

Abstract: A powder container includes a containing portion that has an opening; a first opening/closing member that is movable between a first open position at which the opening is open and a first closed position at which the opening is closed; and a second opening/closing member that is movable between a second closed position at which the second opening/closing member covers an outside of the first opening/closing member and a second open position at which the first opening/closing member is exposed, wherein a direction in which the second opening/closing member moves from the second open position to the second closed position is different from a direction in which the first opening/closing member moves from the first open position to the first closed position, and wherein the second opening/closing member contacts the first opening/closing member and pushes the first opening/closing member into the first closing position when the second/closing member moves.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensor member having first and second ends opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction of the sensor member and supported by support structures consisting of the first and second ends, and first and second support portions supporting the first and second ends; a first support structure including a first protruding portion fitted on a first recess portion supporting the first protruding portion; and a second support structure including a second protruding portion fitted on a second recess portion supporting the second protruding portion. The second protruding portion has first and second cylinder portions extending in a longitudinal direction of the second protruding portion. The second recess portion has an insertion portion allowing the second protruding portion to be inserted, a pass portion allowing the first cylinder portion to pass therethrough, and a positioning portion fitted on the second cylinder portion.

Abstract: A powder container includes a containing portion having an opening; an opening/closing member that is movable between an open position and a closed position and supported with play; an opening restraining portion provided on the containing portion; an opening restrained portion provided on the opening/closing member; an urging member that urges the opening/closing member; and an opening/closing contact portion provided on the opening/closing member and contactable with an opening/closing contacted portion of an apparatus into which the containing portion is installed, wherein the opening restrained portion is disposed such that a direction of force generated when the containing portion is installed into the apparatus is inclined with respect to the direction in which the opening/closing member moves, and the opening restrained portion is disposed downstream of an imaginary line extending from a contact position at which the opening/closing contact portion contacts the opening/closing contacted portion.

Abstract: A powder container includes a container section that contains powder, an opening that is formed in the container section so as to pass the powder therethrough, a first covering member that is supported by the container section, a second covering member that is supported by the container section, a disengagement restricting portion that is disposed in an area where the second covering member moves between the second uncovered position and the second covered position, and a restricted portion that is disposed in the second covering member so as to restrict the disengagement of the second covering member by coming in contact with the disengagement restricting portion when the second covering member having moved to the second covered position moves to disengage from the container section.