Abstract: A toner cartridge (1000) that is attached to a development unit of an image forming apparatus in order to supply toner to the development unit comprises a toner bottle (100) containing toner, a lid member (200) fitted on a toner outlet (114d) of the toner bottle (100), and an armoring member (300) in which the toner bottle (100) is housed and to which the lid member (200) is attached. The lid member (200) is provided with a toner supply mechanism for supplying the toner contained in the toner bottle (100) to the development unit when the toner cartridge (1000) is attached to the development unit of the image forming apparatus. In the toner cartridge (1000), both of or one of the lid member (200) and the armoring member (300) is shaped quadrangularly in external appearance. The armoring member (300) and the toner bottle (100) are individually constructed so that the toner cartridge (1000) has a double construction comprising the armoring member (300) and the toner bottle (100).

Abstract: A toner bottle (38) has projections (38c, 38c') on its bottom surface. The projections (38c, 38c') extend in the axial direction but are spaced away from the central-axis line of the toner bottle (38). The projections (38c, 38c') are engaged with convex portions (62b, 62b') formed in a joint (62) of a drive portion (60). When the drive portion (60) starts rotating, the torque is transferred to the toner bottle (38) via the projections (38c, 38c') and the convex portions (62b, 62b'). Since the torque is transferred from the bottom side of the toner bottle (38), the toner bottle (38) can be attached to or detached from a body of an image forming apparatus in a direction of the central-axis line. Toner discharged from the toner bottle (38) is introduced into a process cartridge through an opening portion (48) of a toner hopper portion (40) and a toner introducing cover (52). A shutter member (88) is disposed in the toner introducing cover (52).

Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.

Abstract: An opening portion formed in the head of a toner bottle containing a toner is attached to a body of a development device of an image forming apparatus. The toner bottle is then turned so as to supply the development device with the toner. A projection for turning the toner bottle is formed on a circumferential surface on the bottom side of the toner bottle. On the development device side, a driving source is mounted which drives and turns the toner bottle through the projection when the toner bottle is attached to the development device body.

Abstract: A toner bottle has a bottle body (1) containing toner and a cap (5) closing an opening portion (3) formed in the bottle body (1), and toner is supplied through the opening portion (3). A plateshaped toner scraping member (20) extending into the opening portion (3) and having elasticity is provided on the back surface of the cap (5) in the diameter direction of the cap (5). Also, the outer end of the toner scraping member (20) is positioned inside of the bottle body (1) beyond the opening portion (3) even when the cap (5) is in its cap-opened position. If the toner bottle is constructed in this way, the toner on the opening portion (3) will be scraped by the toner scraping member (20) and toner condensation can be reliably prevented at the opening portion (3) when toner is supplied from the bottle body (1) by rotation of the toner bottle.

Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.

Abstract: In a developing device included in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a device for replenishing toner to the developing device has a toner container having a hollow cylindrical body. The body is formed with a toner outlet at the center of one end thereof. A holder arrangement holds the container such that the toner can be delivered to a toner inlet portion included in the developing device. A drive mechanism causes the container to rotate about its own axis. The holder arrangement is formed with an opening for feeding the toner flowing out via the toner outlet to the toner inlet portion. The opening is covered with an elastic member having a holed portion. The device is capable of replenishing a predetermined amount of toner to the developing device at all times.

Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an operating section accessible for entering various information and commands is implemented as a plurality of key units. The key units are each removably connected to the body of the operating section via cooperative connectors. When any one of the key units is damaged or or the life thereof expires, only the defective unit is replaced while the other units are continuously used.

Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus and a cleaning device therefor are disclosed. Toner of different colors left on a photoconductive element image transfer are sequentially collected by respective cleaning units. A recycling mechanism, including conveyor screws, returns the collected toners from the cleaning units to corresponding developing units for reuse.

Abstract: A developing unit incorporated in an image forming apparatus and capable of transporting a developer or a toner deposited on a developing roller in a predetermined direction without rotating the developing roller, or developer carrier. The developing roller has an unrotatable base roller, a stationary body provided on the base roller and made of an insulating material, and a plurality of drive electrodes buried in the stationary body. The drive electrodes are divided into three electrode groups. Voltages whose polarities change at predetermined intervals are applied to the three electrode groups, causing the toner to be transported by the coaction of the charge of the toner and the charges of the drive electrodes. The drive electrodes are arranged at a pitch which is substantially one-third of the particle size of the toner, so that the toner may be deposited on the developing roller substantially without any clearance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a developing device which includes a developing roller. A developer or a toner is transported on and along the developing roller without the roller being rotated. The developing roller has a shaft and ultrasonic transport members provided on the shaft. The ultrasonic transport members are made up of a plurality of electrodes, a piezoelectric member surrounding the electrodes and made of, for example, piezoelectric ceramic, and an elastic member surrounding the piezoelectric member and made of, for example, copper alloy or similar alloy. A plurality of standing waves are caused to flow through the electrodes with the result that the piezoelectric member waves. The toner is transported on the waving surface of the elastic member.