Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: A developer container storing a developer of the present invention includes a developer outlet formed in the side wall thereof, and a shutter member for selectively opening or closing the developer outlet. The shutter member opens the developer outlet when the developer container is mounted to the body of an image forming apparatus or closes it when the former is dismounted from the latter. The toner container with this configuration surely prevents the developer from leaking when the developer container is dismounted from an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.

Abstract: A powder replenishing device and method having a replaceable powder container and a reciprocating mechanism. The replaceable powder container is configured to contain a powder to be replenished to an associated apparatus and is made of a material which allows a change in volume of the replaceable powder container. The powder container has a powder discharge port which discharges the powder from the container. The reciprocating mechanism is configured to reciprocate the powder container such that the volume of the replaceable powder container changes on reciprocation and the powder moves toward the discharge port.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, atoner container removably set on the apparatus and a developing section included in the apparatus are communicated to each other by a delivery passage. Toner can be delivered from the toner container to the developing section via the delivery passage by a stream of air even when the container and developing section are located at remote positions.

Abstract: A powder pump includes a stator having a through hole that includes two spirally extended grooves, and a rotor, which is rotatably provided to the through hole of the stator and is spirally extended such that a cavity to convey a powder is formed between an outer peripheral surface of the rotor and an inner peripheral surface of the through hole of the stator. The rotor is configured to convey the powder enclosed in the cavity while moving the cavity. The expressions ((RA−SN)≧0.45) and ((RB−(SN+SX)/2)≧0.45) are satisfied when a diameter of a cross section of the rotor, an outer diameter of the rotor, a minimum inner diameter of the through hole of the stator, and a maximum inner diameter of the through hole are in millimeters and represented by RA, RB, SN, and SX, respectively.

Abstract: A toner container for an image forming apparatus is made up of a deformable, hermetic bag packed with toner and a box accommodating the bag. A mouth member is affixed to the bag. A powder pump sucks the toner out of the bag and replenishes it to a developing device included in the image forming apparatus. After the toner container has run out of toner, it can be transported or otherwise dealt with at an extremely low cost. In addition, the toner preserves its property despite the delivery to the developing device.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a casing, an image forming unit, and an air conditioning device. The image forming unit includes a case accommodating at least a photoconductive element therein and formed with an opening for image transfer via which the photoconductive element is partly exposed to the outside. The opening is the only opening that might allow substances harmful to image formation into the case when the image forming unit is mounted to the casing. The air conditioning device removes the harmful substances flowing into the image forming unit from the outside.

Abstract: A developer container storing a developer of the present invention includes a developer outlet formed in the side wall thereof, and a shutter member for selectively opening or closing the developer outlet. The shutter member opens the developer outlet when the developer container is mounted to the body of an image forming apparatus or closes it when the former is dismounted from the latter. The toner container with this configuration surely prevents the developer from leaking when the developer container is dismounted from an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A powder pump includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a through-hole formed with two grooves extended in a stator spiral form. The rotor is rotated inside the through-hole of the stator. The rotor extends in a rotor spiral form such that spaces for accommodating a powder are formed between an outer circumferential surface of the rotor and an inner circumferential surface of the through-hole of the stator. The rotor is rotated to move the spaces and to transfer the powder. A cross-sectional engagement amount formed in the stator. An outer diameter engagement amount is formed in the rotor. When the rotor has a cross-sectional diameter RA millimeters and an outer diameter RB millimeters, and the through-hole of the stator has a least inner diameter SN millimeters and a largest inner diameter SX millimeters, RA, RB, SN, and SX are defined to satisfy formulas of RA−SN≧0.4 and RB−(SN+SX)/2≧0.4.

Abstract: The powder container includes a powder discharging outlet at one end portion of one side wall of the powder container. The powder replenishing device further includes a reciprocating motion device that reciprocates the powder container between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the powder toward the powder discharging outlet so as to move the powder in the powder container toward the powder discharging outlet in a state that the powder discharging outlet is directed downward in substantially a vertical direction.

Abstract: A developer container of the present invention includes a flexible bag whose volume decreases in accordance with the decrease in pressure inside the bag. An outlet forming member forms an outlet for discharging a developer stored in the bag. When the volume of the bag decrease due to the drop of the pressure, a deformation assisting member helps the bag deform to a preselected shape. A developer conveying device and an image forming apparatus practicable with the developer container are also disclosed.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a main body and a toner container setting part configured to set a plurality of toner containers individually therein. Each toner container contains a toner of a different color, and the setting part includes a receiving member configured to receive the plurality of toner containers inserted therein. The plurality of toner containers, inserted in the receiving member, are partially exposed.

Abstract: A powder pump includes a stator having a through hole that comprised of two spirally extended grooves, and a rotor, which is rotatably provided to the through hole of the stator and is spirally extended such that a cavity to convey a powder is formed between an outer peripheral surface of the rotor and an inner peripheral surface of the through hole of the stator. The rotor is configured to convey the powder enclosed in the cavity while moving the cavity. Wherein the expressions ((RA−SN)≧0.45 and ((RB−(SN+SX)/2)≧0.45), one satisfied when a diameter of a cross section of the rotor, an outer diameter of the rotor, a minimum inner diameter of the through hole of the stator, a maximum inner diameter of the through hole, are in millimeters and represented by RA, RB, SN, and SX, respectively.

Abstract: A method of delivering sample pictures containing information about how to purchase the original picture data. A computer system stores picture data received from mobile stations over a network. It then creates sample pictures from the stored picture data. Each sample picture contains ordering information that shows where to purchase the original version of the picture data. When a request is received from a terminal station on the network, the computer transmits such sample pictures to the requesting station.

Abstract: A powder pump includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a through-hole formed with two grooves extended in a stator spiral form. The rotor is rotated inside the through-hole of the stator. The rotor extends in a rotor spiral form such that spaces for accommodating a powder are formed between an outer circumferential surface of the rotor and an inner circumferential surface of the through-hole of the stator. The rotor is rotated to move the spaces and to transfer the powder. A cross-sectional engagement amount formed in the stator. An outer diameter engagement amount is formed in the rotor.

Abstract: A toner conveying device for an image forming apparatus includes a nozzle capable of penetrating into a toner container when the toner container is mounted to the image forming apparatus. The nozzle has a tubular structure forming an air passage for sending air into the toner container and a toner passage for delivering toner discharged from the toner container. Air sent into the toner container via the air passage fluidizes toner existing in the toner container, so that the toner can be surely replenished to a developing unit.

Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.

Abstract: A powder replenishing device includes a replaceable powder container and a reciprocating mechanism. The replaceable powder container is made of a material which allows a change in volume for containing powder replenished to the apparatus. The powder container has a powder discharge port for discharging the powder on one side wall near one end thereof. The reciprocating mechanism is configured to reciprocate the powder container such that the powder moves toward the discharge port.