Abstract: A toner cartridge is provided removably fitted to a toner supply pipe for supplying toner to a developing device. The toner cartridge includes, as a toner discharging mechanism, a toner discharging portion having a toner discharge port, a toner conveyor screw for conveying toner inside toner container and a shutter for opening and closing the toner discharge port. The shutter has a loosening member. When the toner cartridge is fitted to the toner supply pipe, the loosening member moves inside the toner container as the shutter moves along the toner discharge port.

Abstract: A supply passage assembly arranged under a toner bottle for conveying toner supplied from the toner bottle to a developing unit arranged below, includes: a toner passage having a toner input port at top and a toner discharge port at bottom and incorporating rotators for agitating the toner supplied from the toner bottle and is constructed so that the toner passage includes a first swing member for agitating toner near the toner input port and a second swing member for agitating toner near the toner discharge port.

Abstract: When a predetermined processing is performed on image data, a target area to be subjected to the predetermined processing in an image based on the image data is received, the predetermined processing is performed only on the target area, a position of a processed image in the target area where the predetermined processing is performed is changed, and the processed image and a non-target image in a non-target area except for the target area are synthesized with each other. When the synthesis is performed, an overlapped area where the non-target image and the processed image overlap with each other is extracted, and processing for reflecting image density data of the processed image and that of the non-target image at a predetermined ratio is performed, with respect to the extracted overlapped area.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer reservoir having developer stored therein, a developing roller for carrying developer, a sealing member which is brought into close contact with the developer portion so as to cover a communication port in communication with inside of the developer reservoir, and a sealing passing member for passing the sealing member peeled off the developer reservoir, wherein the sealing member is peeled off the developer reservoir to open the communication port and the sealing passing member has an opening with an approximately elliptical shape, through which the sealing member passes.

Abstract: Accumulation and coagulation of toner inside a vertically-disposed toner carrying path is properly prevented. The toner carrier apparatus includes: a toner carrier pipe which includes therein a toner carrying path through which toner is carried and is disposed so that the toner carrier path vertically extends; a pipe supporting member which supports the toner carrier pipe in such a way as to allow the toner carrier pipe to be vertically movable; a rotational member and operation wings, which cause the toner carrier pipe to reciprocally move in the vertical direction and horizontally swing; and a knocking mechanism which horizontally hits the toner carrier pipe.

Abstract: A waste developer collecting device included in a color tandem image forming apparatus which forms an image using K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) developers includes a collecting container which can be attached to a developing device storing the C developer, a developing device storing the M developer, and a developing device storing the Y developer at the same time and which collects the C, M, and Y developers discharged from the respective developing devices. With this, it is possible to efficiently discharge and collect the developers.

Abstract: A waste developer collecting device ejects and collects a waste developer used in a developing unit employing a two-component developing system in which a developer that contains toner and carrier is used. The waste developer collecting device includes: an opening and closing section for opening and closing a developer ejection opening formed on a bottom portion of the developing unit; an opening operation prohibiting section for prohibiting the opening operation of the opening and closing section; a collecting container for collecting the developer ejected through the developer ejection opening; and a collecting container fixing section for fixing the collecting container at a position where the developer ejected from the developing unit is collected. The opening operation prohibiting section allows the opening operation of the opening and closing section when the collecting container is coupled to the collecting container fixing section.

Abstract: By rotating a first and a second screw axle, developer is repeatedly cyclically carried from a first developer path, via an opening portion, a second developer path and an opening to return to the first developer path. While being recirculated and carried, the developer is stuck to an external peripheral face of a development roller, and is carried to a development region between the development roller and a photosensitive drum, wherein an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum is developed by the toner. Furthermore, a first cut-out portion is formed on the first screw axle, and a second and third cut-out portions are formed on the third screw axle, and thus by allowing the developer to back flow from the recycle transport path to the toner supply path, the developer can mix with the toner in the toner supply path, and it is possible to prevent solidification of the toner in the toner supply path.

Abstract: A communication unit has a first conveyance part connected to a toner cartridge and provided with a feed port for a toner from the toner cartridge, and a second conveyance part connected to a developing device and provided with a replenishment port for a toner to the developing device. In a state locked by the lock mechanism, the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part are connected to each other, and the feed port of the first conveyance part and the replenishment port of the second conveyance part are opened, allowing for a toner replenishment. In a lock-released state, the feed port of the first conveyance part and the replenishment port of the second conveyance part are closed by a circular arc-shaped shutter member and a rotary shutter member, allowing the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part to be separable from each other.

Abstract: A toner conveyance unit is provided that can reliably prevent a toner from leaking and scattering. And an image forming apparatus is also provided having the toner conveyance unit. When a circular arc-shaped shutter member and a rotary shutter member are closed, a first conveyance part and a second conveyance part are adapted to separate from each other. When the circular arc-shaped shutter member and the rotary shutter member are open, the circular arc-shaped shutter member and the rotary shutter member rotate integrally so as to be enclosed in the tubular cylinder part, and to move a through hole to a position such as to constitute a portion of a second toner conveyance path, whereby the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part are adapted to be connected to each other so that a first toner conveyance path and the second toner conveyance path communicate with each other.

Abstract: In the developing apparatus including a developing bath and a toner transport pipe for supplying toner to the developing bath, a toner supply portion opening/closing mechanism is provided, that includes a shutter member for opening and closing a toner supply port of the toner transport pipe that is contained in a base portion of the toner transport pipe, a shaft for moving the shutter member back and forth in a longitudinal direction of the developing bath, a second spring member provided such that the shaft is inserted therein, a first spring member for supporting the shaft detachably to the shutter member through its extension and contraction, and a lever member for extending and contracting the first spring member through its releasing and closing.

Abstract: A toner transport device includes a toner transport path for passing toner, and a toner transport pipe disposed so as to have an up-and-down direction in which the toner transport path extends. Further, the toner transport device includes a pipe supporting member for supporting the toner transport pipe, which is supported so as to move up and down. This allows the toner transport pipe to vibrate up and down, thereby properly preventing retention and solidification of toner inside the toner transport path.

Abstract: The toner transport device of the present invention includes a toner transport pipe, internally having a toner transport path for allowing toner to pass therethrough, which is disposed so that the toner transport path extends in an up-and-down direction and which vibrates in upward and downward directions. Further, on an upper joint section and a lower joint section of the toner transport pipe are provided an upper foamed elastic member and a lower foamed elastic member which internally has a toner passage for allowing the toner transported to/from the toner transport path to pass therethrough, wherein a wall surface of the toner passage is coated with a resin layer which does not allow the toner to pass therethrough. As a result, it is possible to properly prevent retention and solidification of toner in the toner transport path by the upward-and-downward vibration of the toner transport member and it is possible to properly prevent toner from leaking from the toner transport device.

Abstract: In a supply passage assembly having a toner passage arranged under a toner bottle for conveying toner supplied from the toner bottle to a developing unit arranged below, a toner conveying pipe for forming the toner passage is formed of an elastic material and a toner conveying pipe deforming member is arranged adjacent to the toner conveying pipe for elastically deforming the toner conveying pipe.

Abstract: A supply passage assembly arranged under a toner bottle for conveying toner supplied from the toner bottle to a developing unit arranged below, includes: a toner passage having a toner input port at top and a toner discharge port at bottom and incorporating rotators for agitating the toner supplied from the toner bottle and is constructed so that the toner passage includes a first swing member for agitating toner near the toner input port and a second swing member for agitating toner near the toner discharge port.

Abstract: Accumulation and coagulation of toner inside a vertically-disposed toner carrying path is properly prevented. The toner carrier apparatus includes: a toner carrier pipe which includes therein a toner carrying path through which toner is carried and is disposed so that the toner carrier path vertically extends; a pipe supporting member which supports the toner carrier pipe in such a way as to allow the toner carrier pipe to be vertically movable; a rotational member and operation wings, which cause the toner carrier pipe to reciprocally move in the vertical direction and horizontally swing; and a knocking mechanism which horizontally hits the toner carrier pipe.

Abstract: A pair of indentations is formed with a vertical spacing on a side wall of a toner cartridge, respective translucent windows are arranged on opposing upper and lower surfaces of the indentations protruding into the toner cartridge, and a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element of a remaining toner sensor are inserted to the indentations such that the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the remaining toner sensor face each other via the translucent windows of the indentations.

Abstract: A particle discharge apparatus includes cylindrical particle discharge unit(s) having toner dispensing outlet(s) provided at upper portion(s) on one side of particle discharge unit(s), and particle discharge outlet(s) provided at lower portion(s) on the other side of particle discharge unit(s); and conveyor screw(s), provided at the interior of particle discharge unit(s), having rotatable shaft(s) and helical conveyor vane(s) secured to rotatable shaft(s). The conveyor vane(s) is/are divided into first vane segment(s) and second vane segment(s); and wherein there is/are vaneless region(s), where no portion of conveyor vane(s) is present, between first vane segment(s) and second vane segment(s).

Abstract: In the developing apparatus including a developing bath and a toner transport pipe for supplying toner to the developing bath, a toner supply portion opening/closing mechanism is provided, that includes a shutter member for opening and closing a toner supply port of the toner transport pipe that is contained in a base portion of the toner transport pipe, a shaft for moving the shutter member back and forth in a longitudinal direction of the developing bath, a second spring member provided such that the shaft is inserted therein, a first spring member for supporting the shaft detachably to the shutter member through its extension and contraction, and a lever member for extending and contracting the first spring member through its releasing and closing.

Abstract: A particles supply apparatus is equipped with cylindrical particles discharge unit(s) provided with particles discharge outlet(s) at lower portion(s) thereof, and is equipped with cylindrical shutter cap(s) covering outside circumferential surface(s) of particles discharge unit(s). Shutter cap(s) is/are provided with opening(s) for opening and/or closing particles discharge outlet(s) of particles discharge unit(s), and shutter cap(s) is/are disposed so as to be capable of moving in substantially parallel fashion with respect to axial direction(s) of particles discharge unit(s) while rotating in helical fashion.