Abstract: The present invention prevents a toner bottle from being erroneously determined to be empty and allows toner to be reliably refilled into a hopper and thus a developing unit in an image forming apparatus including the developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, using toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which has an improved follow-up property indicating how a toner supply amount follows a toner consumption amount to prevent a defective image, including: a photosensitive drum; a developing device; a toner replenishing device; a toner sensor configured to detect a toner amount inside the developing device; and a controller configured to drive the toner replenishing device to replenish the developing device with toner based on a detection result of the sensor during a developing device driving time and to stop the toner replenishing device during a non-image forming period to stop replenishing the developing device with toner, wherein if the toner amount inside the developing device detected by the sensor is reduced to a level equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, the controller drives the developing device and the toner replenishing device even during the non-image forming period.

Abstract: Provided is a developing device capable of, with a simple structure, preventing occurrence of image degradation ascribable to a distribution of an amount of fall in a longitudinal direction due to developer replenishment within a developer container. An upper rim portion of a developer regulating wall for adjusting an amount of a developer falling along a developer transport direction of a developer transport path is inclined so as to become low in height in the developer transport direction of the developer transport path. A width of a surface in the developer transport direction of the developer transport path is enlarged along the developer transport direction of the developer transport path. A wall is formed by the developer transported on the developer transport path, and the developer transported in a longitudinal direction is transported in the longitudinal direction while breaking a wall of the developer itself.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which has an improved follow-up property indicating how a toner supply amount follows a toner consumption amount to prevent a defective image, including: a photosensitive drum; a developing device; a toner replenishing device; a toner sensor configured to detect a toner amount inside the developing device; and a controller configured to drive the toner replenishing device to replenish the developing device with toner based on a detection result of the sensor during a developing device driving time and to stop the toner replenishing device during a non-image forming period to stop replenishing the developing device with toner, wherein if the toner amount inside the developing device detected by the sensor is reduced to a level equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, the controller drives the developing device and the toner replenishing device even during the non-image forming period.

Abstract: Provided is a developing device capable of, with a simple structure, preventing occurrence of image degradation ascribable to a distribution of an amount of fall in a longitudinal direction due to developer replenishment within a developer container. An upper rim portion of a developer regulating wall for adjusting an amount of a developer falling along a developer transport direction of a developer transport path is inclined so as to become low in height in the developer transport direction of the developer transport path. A width of a surface in the developer transport direction of the developer transport path is enlarged along the developer transport direction of the developer transport path. A wall is formed by the developer transported on the developer transport path, and the developer transported in a longitudinal direction is transported in the longitudinal direction while breaking a wall of the developer itself.

Abstract: The present invention prevents a toner bottle from being erroneously determined to be empty and allows toner to be reliably refilled into a hopper and thus a developing unit in an image forming apparatus including the developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, using toner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exchangeable toner cartridge which can be attached to or detached from an apparatus main body. The toner cartridge includes the toner transfer member which is provided along a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge and which can rotate. At the first range of the upstream side in a toner transfer direction the toner transfer member is formed into a substantially spiral shape, and at the second range of the downstream side in the toner transfer direction on a side of a toner supply port, toner transfer member has a shape different from that of the first range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner cartridge of replaceable type that is removably loaded into an apparatus main body, the toner cartridge including: a first section that is substantially cylindrical shape and at which a toner conveying member is disposed; and a second section that is provided at a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge, the substantially central portion being a portion other than an upstream side in a toner conveyance direction of the first section and a downstream side in the toner conveyance direction of the first section at which a toner supply opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exchangeable toner cartridge which can be attached to or detached from an apparatus main body. The toner cartridge includes the toner transfer member which is provided along a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge and which can rotate. At the first range of the upstream side in a toner transfer direction the toner transfer member is formed into a substantially spiral shape, and at the second range of the downstream side in the toner transfer direction on a side of a toner supply port, toner transfer member has a shape different from that of the first range.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exchangeable toner cartridge which can be attached to or detached from an apparatus main body. The toner cartridge includes the toner transfer member which is provided along a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge and which can rotate. At the first range of the upstream side in a toner transfer direction the toner transfer member is formed into a substantially spiral shape, and at the second range of the downstream side in the toner transfer direction on a side of a toner supply port, toner transfer member has a shape different from that of the first range.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exchangeable toner cartridge which can be attached to or detached from an apparatus main body. The toner cartridge includes the toner transfer member which is provided along a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge and which can rotate. At the first range of the upstream side in a toner transfer direction the toner transfer member is formed into a substantially spiral shape, and at the second range of the downstream side in the toner transfer direction on a side of a toner supply port, toner transfer member has a shape different from that of the first range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner cartridge of replaceable type that is removably loaded into an apparatus main body, the toner cartridge including: a first section that is substantially cylindrical shape and at which a toner conveying member is disposed; and a second section that is provided at a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge, the substantially central portion being a portion other than an upstream side in a toner conveyance direction of the first section and a downstream side in the toner conveyance direction of the first section at which a toner supply opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a development roller disposed in proximity of a photosensitive body which is charged by a charging member and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, the development roller performing development by transferring toner to the photosensitive body. The development roller includes a toner layer formation area where a toner layer is formed on a surface of a development roller main body portion and a small diameter portion which has a diameter smaller than that of the toner layer formation area and which is located in at least a part of an area where the toner layer is not formed on the surface of the development roller main body portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a development roller disposed in proximity of a photosensitive body which is charged by a charging member and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, the development roller performing development by transferring toner to the photosensitive body. The development roller includes a toner layer formation area where a toner layer is formed on a surface of a development roller main body portion and a small diameter portion which has a diameter smaller than that of the toner layer formation area and which is located in at least a part of an area where the toner layer is not formed on the surface of the development roller main body portion.