Abstract: A developer storing body is detachably attached to an image forming unit main body of an image forming unit. The developer storing body includes a cartridge main body for storing a developer. The cartridge main body has a developer outlet opening through which the developer is ejected. The developer storing body includes an outlet shutter member movable with respect to the cartridge main body so as to open and close the developer outlet opening. A movable direction of the outlet shutter member is substantially the same as a direction in which the developer storing body is attached to or detached from the image forming unit main body.

Abstract: A developer cartridge holds toner therein. A chamber is A shutter rotates in slide contact with the arcuate surface of the chamber, being movable either to a closing position where the shutter closes the first opening or to an opening position where the shutter opens the first opening. A rotating shaft is rotatably supported in the chamber. A resilient scraper blade has one end fixed to the rotating shaft and extends from the rotating shaft to scrape the arcuate surface when the rotating body rotates. When the scraper blade extends through the first opening, the scraper blade extends in a direction at an angle with a line tangent to an arcuate plane in which the arcuate surface lies, the scraper blade. The angle is in the range of 30 to 70 degrees.

Abstract: A developer regulating member regulates a thickness of a layer of a developer on a surface of a developer bearing body. The developer has a degree of circularity in a range from 0.94 to 0.97. The developer regulating member includes a resilient plate member composed of a metal material and having a bent portion. An outer surface of the bent portion contacts the surface of the developer bearing body so that a ridge line of the outer surface of the bent portion crosses a moving direction of the surface of the developer bearing body. A curvature radius R (?m) of the outer surface of the bent portion and a mean crystal grain diameter D (?m) of the metal material satisfy the relationship: 60×10?3×R?11?D?93.75×10?3×R?6.875.

Abstract: A developer storing container includes a developer storing portion having a developer outlet opening at a substantially longitudinal center portion, and an agitation member rotatable about a rotation axis to thereby agitate and eject the developer via the developer outlet opening. The agitation member includes a mounting portion with a mounting surface along the rotation axis, and an elongated flexible member having first and second ends. The flexible member is mounted to the mounting portion at the first end so that the second end defines a sliding end portion at which the flexible member slides in a sliding direction. Both longitudinal end portions of the sliding end portion of the flexible member slide along the inner surface of the developer storing container, ahead of a substantially longitudinal center portion of the sliding end portion in the sliding direction, and are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging member and at least one projection formed on the charging member. The charging member includes a surface that faces the surface of a photoconductive body. The at least one projection is formed on the first surface to extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the photoconductive body. The projection is in contact with the surface of the photoconductive body.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a storing portion that stores developer and has an opening, a shutter member that opens and closes the opening, and a seal member that seals between the shutter member and the storing portion. The seal member is so provided that both end portions thereof face each other. One end portion of the seal member has at least one angled portion provided inside both side end edges of the seal member in width direction of the seal member, and the other end portion has an angled portion along the angled portion of said one end portion.

Abstract: A powder material cartridge includes a waste toner chamber that prevents the waste toner from spilling. A receiving section is provided in the chamber and includes a first opening therein through which the powder material is received into the chamber. A first shutter is rotatably received in the receiving section and includes a second opening formed therein. The first shutter is rotatable either to a first opening position where the second opening is in alignment with the first opening, or to a first closing position where the second opening is not in alignment with the first opening. A second shutter is received in the first shutter and is slidable straight in the first shutter. When the second shutter slides to a second closing position, the second shutter closes the second opening. When the second shutter slides to a second opening position, the second shutter opens the second opening.

Abstract: A fitting construction for a developer holding apparatus includes a housing member and a lid. The housing member has a developer chamber having a first wall that defines an opening. The lid fittingly closes the opening, the lid having a smaller tensile modulus of elasticity than the housing member and a groove that is formed in a peripheral portion of the lid and receives the projection therein. The groove extends all around the opening. The first wall fittingly engages into the groove to seal the opening. The lid includes a second wall that closes the opening, an third wall that projects from the second wall, and an fourth wall that projects from the second wall and extends to surround the third wall to define the groove between the third wall and the fourth wall.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller, a toner-supplying roller, and at least one toner-supplying member. The developing roller develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductive drum with toner. The toner-supplying roller is formed of a foamed material and rotates in contact with the developing roller to supply the toner to the developing roller. The toner-supplying member is disposed over the toner-supplying roller and opposes an upper surface of the toner-supplying roller. The toner-supplying member approaches the toner-supplying roller periodically to supply the toner to the toner-supplying roller. When the toner-supplying member is closest to the toner-supplying roller, the developer-supplying member and the toner-supplying roller are either in contact with each other or are spaced apart by a distance not longer than 0.8 mm.

Abstract: A developer cartridge holds toner therein. A chamber is A shutter rotates in slide contact with the arcuate surface of the chamber, being movable either to a closing position where the shutter closes the first opening or to an opening position where the shutter opens the first opening. A rotating shaft is rotatably supported in the chamber. A resilient scraper blade has one end fixed to the rotating shaft and extends from the rotating shaft to scrape the arcuate surface when the rotating body rotates. When the scraper blade extends through the first opening, the scraper blade extends in a direction at an angle with a line tangent to an arcuate plane in which the arcuate surface lies, the scraper blade. The angle is in the range of 30 to 70 degrees.

Abstract: A toner draining mechanism has a hollow member and a conveying member which is arranged in the hollow member and conveys toner. A toner draining port for draining the conveyed toner is formed in the hollow member. The toner draining port is formed above a bottom surface of the hollow member. Therefore, when a toner cartridge is exchanged, the toner near the toner draining port does not drop into an image forming apparatus. Thus, it is possible to prevent the toner from dirtying the inside of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A fitting construction for a developer holding apparatus includes a housing member and a lid. The housing member has a developer chamber having a first wall that defines an opening. The lid fittingly closes the opening, the lid having a smaller tensile modulus of elasticity than the housing member and a groove that is formed in a peripheral portion of the lid and receives the projection therein. The groove extends all around the opening. The first wall fittingly engages into the groove to seal the opening. The lid includes a second wall that closes the opening, an third wall that projects from the second wall, and an fourth wall that projects from the second wall and extends to surround the third wall to define the groove between the third wall and the fourth wall.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller, a toner-supplying roller, and at least one toner-supplying member. The developing roller develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductive drum with toner. The toner-supplying roller is formed of a foamed material and rotates in contact with the developing roller to supply the toner to the developing roller. The toner-supplying member is disposed over the toner-supplying roller and opposes an upper surface of the toner-supplying roller. The toner-supplying member approaches the toner-supplying roller periodically to supply the toner to the toner-supplying roller. When the toner-supplying member is closest to the toner-supplying roller, the developer-supplying member and the toner-supplying roller are either in contact with each other or are spaced apart by a distance not longer than 0.8 mm.

Abstract: A toner draining mechanism has a hollow member and a conveying member which is arranged in the hollow member and conveys toner. A toner draining port for draining the conveyed toner is formed in the hollow member. The toner draining port is formed above a bottom surface of the hollow member. Therefore, when a toner cartridge is exchanged, the toner near the toner draining port does not drop into an image forming apparatus. Thus, it is possible to prevent the toner from dirtying the inside of the image forming apparatus.