Abstract: A cartridge includes: a casing having a first opening; a storage bag accommodated in the casing and having a second opening; a seal for closing the second opening; a shaft rotatable; and a cap for closing the first opening. Toner is configured to be replenished through the first opening. Toner stored in the storage bag is configured to be discharged into the casing through the second opening. The shaft is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction together with the seal such that the seal closing the second opening is peeled off to open the second opening. The cap is attachable to and detachable from the casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first process unit, a second process unit, a first toner cartridge, and a second toner cartridge. The first toner cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a first shutter movable between a first closed position and a first open position. The cartridge housing includes one end portion and the other end portion. The cartridge housing is rotatable between a first position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first closed position and a second position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first open position. When the cartridge housing moves from the second position to the first position, the one end portion of the cartridge housing comes close to the second toner cartridge and the other end portion of the cartridge housing goes away from the second toner cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a magnetic roller; a transfer belt; a drum cleaning roller for collecting toner on the photosensitive drum and discharging collected toner to the photosensitive drum; a belt cleaner; a waste toner accommodating unit; and a controller configured to perform a printing operation for forming an image on a sheet and a cleaning operation for cleaning the drum cleaning roller. The controller is configured to perform: when performing the printing operation, collecting toner on the photosensitive drum using the drum cleaning roller; and when performing the cleaning operation, discharging the toner on the drum cleaning roller collected in the collecting to the photosensitive drum; transferring the toner on the photosensitive drum onto the transfer belt; and collecting the toner on the transfer belt using the belt cleaner so that the collected toner is accommodated in the waste toner accommodating unit.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a transfer medium includes four sets of a photoconductor drum and a development roller, respectively, for forming toner images of first, second, third and fourth colors, arranged in this order, in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the transfer medium moving toward a detector configured to detect a toner image formed on the transfer medium. A controller executes a bias-corrective test image forming process in which a first bias-corrective test image of the first color is arranged in a position downstream of other three first bias-corrective test images, and a second bias-corrective test image of the first color is arranged in a position between two first bias-corrective test images selected among other three first bias-corrective test images, in the direction of movement of the transfer medium.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a transfer medium includes four sets of a photoconductor drum and a development roller, respectively, for forming toner images of first, second, third and fourth colors, arranged in this order, in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the transfer medium moving toward a detector configured to detect a toner image formed on the transfer medium. A controller executes a bias-corrective test image forming process in which a first bias-corrective test image of the first color is arranged in a position downstream of other three first bias-corrective test images, and a second bias-corrective test image of the first color is arranged in a position between two first bias-corrective test images selected among other three first bias-corrective test images, in the direction of movement of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first process unit, a second process unit, a first toner cartridge, and a second toner cartridge. The first toner cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a first shutter movable between a first closed position and a first open position. The cartridge housing includes one end portion and the other end portion. The cartridge housing is rotatable between a first position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first closed position and a second position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first open position. When the cartridge housing moves from the second position to the first position, the one end portion of the cartridge housing comes close to the second toner cartridge and the other end portion of the cartridge housing goes away from the second toner cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first process unit, a second process unit, a first toner cartridge, and a second toner cartridge. The first toner cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a first shutter movable between a first closed position and a first open position. The cartridge housing includes one end portion and the other end portion. The cartridge housing is rotatable between a first position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first closed position and a second position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first open position. When the cartridge housing moves from the second position to the first position, the one end portion of the cartridge housing comes close to the second toner cartridge and the other end portion of the cartridge housing goes away from the second toner cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit and a toner cartridge. The toner cartridge includes a cartridge housing having a first shutter and a second shutter. The process unit includes a conveying tube. The cartridge housing is movable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position in which (a) the first shutter is positioned at a first open position, (b) the second shutter is positioned at a second open position, and (c) a second opening is aligned with the conveying tube in a second direction. The second position is a position in which (a) the first shutter is positioned at a first closed position, (b) the second shutter is positioned at a second closed position, (c) the second opening is spaced apart from the conveying tube, and (d) the toner cartridge is mountable and removable on and from the process unit.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a housing capable of accommodating toner and having six peripheral walls, a first shutter, and a second shutter. The housing includes (i) a first surface formed on a first peripheral wall and having a first circumferential surface and (ii) a second surface and having a second circumferential surface, the first peripheral wall having a first hole, the second peripheral wall having a second hole. The first shutter is movable relative to the housing along the first circumferential surface between a first closed position at which the first opening is closed and a first open position at which the first opening is opened. The second shutter is movable relative to the housing along the second circumferential surface between a second closed position at which the second opening is closed and a second open position at which the second opening is opened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first process unit, a second process unit, a first toner cartridge, and a second toner cartridge. The first toner cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a first shutter movable between a first closed position and a first open position. The cartridge housing includes one end portion and the other end portion. The cartridge housing is rotatable between a first position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first closed position and a second position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first open position. When the cartridge housing moves from the second position to the first position, the one end portion of the cartridge housing comes close to the second toner cartridge and the other end portion of the cartridge housing goes away from the second toner cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit and a toner cartridge. The toner cartridge includes a cartridge housing having a first shutter and a second shutter. The process unit includes a conveying tube. The cartridge housing is movable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position in which (a) the first shutter is positioned at a first open position, (b) the second shutter is positioned at a second open position, and (c) a second opening is aligned with the conveying tube in a second direction. The second position is a position in which (a) the first shutter is positioned at a first closed position, (b) the second shutter is positioned at a second closed position, (c) the second opening is spaced apart from the conveying tube, and (d) the toner cartridge is mountable and removable on and from the process unit.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a housing capable of accommodating toner and having six peripheral walls, a first shutter, and a second shutter. The housing includes (i) a first surface formed on a first peripheral wall and having a first circumferential surface and (ii) a second surface and having a second circumferential surface, the first peripheral wall having a first hole, the second peripheral wall having a second hole. The first shutter is movable relative to the housing along the first circumferential surface between a first closed position at which the first opening is closed and a first open position at which the first opening is opened. The second shutter is movable relative to the housing along the second circumferential surface between a second closed position at which the second opening is closed and a second open position at which the second opening is opened.

Abstract: A toner cartridge supporting apparatus includes a storage portion, an insertion port, an opening/closing cover, a detecting portion for detecting a toner remaining amount, a control portion for controlling toner supply, a judging portion to judge whether or not a toner in a toner cartridge is exhausted, a message generating portion for generating a replacement message, a display portion for displaying the message, a toner cartridge replacement icon, and a toner cartridge moving portion, wherein a toner cartridge replacement message display function and a toner cartridge movement instruction function are provided as the control portion.

Abstract: A toner cartridge supporting apparatus includes a storage portion, an insertion port, an opening/closing cover, a detecting portion for detecting a toner remaining amount, a control portion for controlling toner supply, a judging portion to judge whether or not a toner in a toner cartridge is exhausted, a message generating portion for generating a replacement message, a display portion for displaying the message, a toner cartridge replacement icon, and a toner cartridge moving portion, wherein a toner cartridge replacement message display function and a toner cartridge movement instruction function are provided as the control portion.

Abstract: A toner cartridge supporting apparatus includes a storage portion, an insertion port, an opening/closing cover, a detecting portion for detecting a toner remaining amount, a control portion for controlling toner supply, a judging portion to judge whether or not a toner in a toner cartridge is exhausted, a message generating portion for generating a replacement message, a display portion for displaying the message, a toner cartridge replacement icon, and a toner cartridge moving portion, wherein a toner cartridge replacement message display function and a toner cartridge movement instruction function are provided as the control portion.

Abstract: Toner of one aspect of the present invention has a weight average molecular weight Mw of 30,000?Mw?95,263 as determined from a molecular weight distribution based on GPC, includes a THF-insoluble gel component at a weight proportion of less than 5%, and includes components each having a molecular weight of 500 to 1500 which components have an area occupancy of 4% to 10% on a chart of the molecular weight distribution based on GPC.

Abstract: Toner of one aspect of the present invention has a weight average molecular weight Mw of 30,000?Mw?95,263 as determined from a molecular weight distribution based on GPC, includes a THF-insoluble gel component at a weight proportion of less than 5%, and includes components each having a molecular weight of 500 to 1500 which components have an area occupancy of 4% to 10% on a chart of the molecular weight distribution based on GPC.

Abstract: A toner cartridge supporting apparatus includes a storage portion, an insertion port, an opening/closing cover, a detecting portion for detecting a toner remaining amount, a control portion for controlling toner supply, a judging portion to judge whether or not a toner in a toner cartridge is exhausted, a message generating portion for generating a replacement message, a display portion for displaying the message, a toner cartridge replacement icon, and a toner cartridge moving portion, wherein a toner cartridge replacement message display function and a toner cartridge movement instruction function are provided as the control portion.

Abstract: A toner cartridge supporting apparatus includes a storage portion, an insertion port, an opening/closing cover, a detecting portion for detecting a toner remaining amount, a control portion for controlling the supply of toner, a judging portion to judge whether or not the toner in a toner cartridge is exhausted, a message generating portion for generating a replacement message, a display portion for displaying the message and a toner cartridge replacement icon, and a toner cartridge moving portion. A toner cartridge replacement message is displayed when toner in a toner cartridge has been exhausted. A toner cartridge movement instruction function is performed in response to a user instruction to replace a toner cartridge.

Abstract: A two-component color developer containing a toner and a resin-coated carrier, the toner containing at least a polyester resin as a binding resin, an organic pigment as a colorant and inorganic fine particles as an external additive, wherein the inorganic fine particles have a negative polarity, the toner has a volume resistivity of 40×109 to 220×109 ?cm and a negative polarity, and the carrier has a coat durability of 90% or greater.