Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a casing, a feeding member and a pump. the casing includes a toner accommodation chamber accommodating toner, and a toner discharging chamber having a discharge opening for discharging the toner, and a communication port for fluid communication between the toner accommodation chamber and the toner discharging chamber. A part of the feeding member is provided inside the communication port. When a minimum cross-sectional area of the communication port in a plane perpendicular to a toner feeding direction of the feeding member is Asmin, the toner discharging chamber has a cross-sectional area Bs larger than Asmin, and the toner accommodation chamber has a cross-sectional area Cs larger than Asmin.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member to bear a developing agent image, a second unit including a development frame member in which a developing agent bearing member to bear a developing agent to be supplied to the image bearing member is supported, and a coupling portion that can couple the first and second units such that the second unit is swingable with the coupling portion as a rotation center. The development frame member includes a replenishing opening for the developing agent, and an elastically-deformable sealing member that seals the supply portion and the replenishing opening. As viewed along a compression direction of the sealing member, in a section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge, the rotation center is disposed at a position overlapping with the sealing member.

Abstract: A toner transport apparatus includes: a storing portion that stores toner used by a developing apparatus; an ejection port for outputting the toner from the storing portion; a transport path unit that includes a receiving part which receives the toner ejected from the ejection port, and that constitutes a transport path for transporting the toner to the developing apparatus; a pump for outputting the toner stored in the storing portion from the ejection port toward the transport path unit; and an optical sensor unit that is disposed in a passage area through which the toner output by the pump from the ejection port to the transport path unit passes, the optical sensor unit detecting whether or not toner is present.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member to bear a developing agent image, a second unit including a development frame member in which a developing agent bearing member to bear a developing agent to be supplied to the image bearing member is supported, and a coupling portion that can couple the first and second units such that the second unit is swingable with the coupling portion as a rotation center. The development frame member includes a replenishing opening for the developing agent, and an elastically-deformable sealing member that seals the supply portion and the replenishing opening. As viewed along a compression direction of the sealing member, in a section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge, the rotation center is disposed at a position overlapping with the sealing member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a frame having an accommodation chamber where a developer is accommodated, and a replenishing port replenishing a developer to the accommodation chamber from outside; and a stirring member stirring the developer in the accommodation chamber, the stirring member including a rotating shaft portion rotatably supported by the frame and a sheet member having one end fixed to the rotating shaft portion and another end as a free end and being rotatable with the rotating shaft portion. When the stirring member is rotated, the free end of the sheet member is capable of contacting an inner wall surface of the accommodation chamber in which the replenishing port is formed, and a through hole penetrating in a thickness direction of the sheet member is provided in a region of the sheet member that comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the accommodation chamber.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container includes a developer accommodating portion, a stirring member, and a drive transmitting member. The developer accommodating container further includes an elastic member fixed to the stirring member at one end portion thereof and capable of expanding and contracting in a direction along a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating portion. With respect to the longitudinal direction, the stirring member is disposed so as to form (1) a first gap between one end portion thereof and an inner surface of the developer accommodating portion on one side and (2) a second gap between the other end portion thereof and another inner surface of the developer accommodating portion on the other side. The stirring member is supported by the developer accommodating portion so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the developer accommodating portion.

Abstract: An image forming unit including a photosensitive member including a gear portion on a one end side of the photosensitive member in a rotational axis direction, a roller that comes in contact with the photosensitive member, a bearing member that rotatably supports the roller, and an elastic member that urges the bearing member. In the image forming unit, directions of moments about a rotational axis of the roller acting on the bearing member disposed on the one end side of the photosensitive member in the rotational axis direction are the same in a case in which the roller is rotated and in a case in which the roller is stopped.

Abstract: A cartridge configured to be attachable to an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus includes a first unit including a photosensitive drum, a second unit attached to the first unit and including a developing roller, and a second frame member including a toner storage portion and including a toner reception port, the toner storage portion including a first end portion and a second end portion in a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum, the toner reception port provided in the first end portion, a toner container configured to be attachable to the second unit, the toner container including a toner discharge port configured to discharge the toner to the toner storage portion through the toner reception port, and a memory, the memory provided in an end portion of the cartridge on the same side as the second end portion of the toner storage portion.

Abstract: A developer container includes a developer accommodating portion, a rotatable member, and a flexible sheet member. The developer container further includes an elastically deformable elastic member. With respect to a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating portion, between an end portion of the rotatable member and an inside surface of the developer accommodating portion, a gap is formed to permit movement of the rotatable member relative to the developer accommodating portion. In an unused state, the sheet member is elastically deformable together with the elastic member by the movement of the rotatable member relative to the developer accommodating portion in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A remanufacturing method for remanufacturing a second developing device from a first developing device, the first developing device including a frame provided with a developer accommodating chamber for accommodating a developer, the frame having an opening for communicating the developer accommodating chamber with the outside of the frame; and a first cap member configured to seal the opening, the first cap member being adhesively bonded to a first region of the frame with a first adhesive capable of dissolving the frame, and the remanufacturing method including: removing the first cap member from the first region such that a rough surface is formed in the first region; filling the developer accommodating chamber with the developer; and bonding a second cap member different from the first cap member to a second region of the frame different from the first region to seal the opening with the second cap member.

Abstract: A developer container is manufactured in which, in molding, a recess is disposed in an area in which a confluence in which first resin poured from a first inlet and second resin poured from a second inlet merge is formed.

Abstract: An image forming unit including a photosensitive member including a gear portion on a one end side of the photosensitive member in a rotational axis direction, a roller that comes in contact with the photosensitive member, a bearing member that rotatably supports the roller, and an elastic member that urges the bearing member. In the image forming unit, directions of moments about a rotational axis of the roller acting on the bearing member disposed on the one end side of the photosensitive member in the rotational axis direction are the same in a case in which the roller is rotated and in a case in which the roller is stopped.

Abstract: An image forming unit including a photosensitive member including a gear portion on a one end side of the photosensitive member in a rotational axis direction, a roller that comes in contact with the photosensitive member, a bearing member that rotatably supports the roller, and an elastic member that urges the bearing member. In the image forming unit, directions of moments about a rotational axis of the roller acting on the bearing member disposed on the one end side of the photosensitive member in the rotational axis direction are the same in a case in which the roller is rotated and in a case in which the roller is stopped.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container includes a developer accommodating portion, a stirring member, and a drive transmitting member. The developer accommodating container further includes an elastic member fixed to the stirring member at one end portion thereof and capable of expanding and contracting in a direction along a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating portion. With respect to the longitudinal direction, the stirring member is disposed so as to form (1) a first gap between one end portion thereof and an inner surface of the developer accommodating portion on one side and (2) a second gap between the other end portion thereof and another inner surface of the developer accommodating portion on the other side. The stirring member is supported by the developer accommodating portion so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the developer accommodating portion.