Abstract: A sealing member seals an opening provided at one axial end of a rotatable container body of a toner supply container detachably mountable to an assembly of an image forming apparatus having a hollow cylindrical driving member. The sealing member includes a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body to seal the opening, and a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body to receive a rotational drive force. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion, and a displacing force receiving portion provided closer to the container body than the engaging portion. The engaging portion includes a rotational force receiving portion being abuttable in a circumferential direction of the driving member, and a locking portion being abuttable in an axial direction of the driving member.

Abstract: A powder filling apparatus and a powder filling method which enable powder to be densely filled in a short period of time is to be provided. This is a powder filling apparatus having a pressure hopper wherein the pressure hopper has a discharger for discharging powder and a gas inlet positioned above at least the surface of a powder layer formed by the powder in the pressure hopper; the powder layer is so formed as to blockade the discharger in the pressure hopper; in the powder filling apparatus, the inside of the pressure hopper is pressurized by leading in gas through the gas inlet in a state in which the discharger is closed, and the powder layer so formed as to blockade the discharger is discharged by opening the discharger after the pressurization thereby to utilize that pressure to load the powder into the filling container.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a main body for containing toner, a toner discharging portion having an opening, and a coupling member. The coupling member includes an extended portion. The extended portion includes an engaging projection. The engaging projection is configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters a hollow cylindrical driving member of an assembly of the image forming apparatus, and is also configured and positioned to engage with a slot of the hollow cylindrical driving member when the extended portion elastically restores in an outward direction. The engaging projection includes a tapered surface portion configured and positioned to receive a force for displacing in the inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters the hollow cylindrical driving member, and a side surface portion.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.

Abstract: A powder filling apparatus and a powder filling method which enable powder to be densely filled in a short period of time is to be provided. This is a powder filling apparatus having a pressure hopper wherein the pressure hopper has a discharger for discharging powder and a gas inlet positioned above at least the surface of a powder layer formed by the powder in the pressure hopper; the powder layer is so formed as to blockade the discharger in the pressure hopper; in the powder filling apparatus, the inside of the pressure hopper is pressurized by leading in gas through the gas inlet in a state in which the discharger is closed, and the powder layer so formed as to blockade the discharger is discharged by opening the discharger after the pressurization thereby to utilize that pressure to load the powder into the filling container.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a main body for containing toner, a toner discharging portion having an opening, and a coupling member. The coupling member includes an extended portion. The extended portion includes an engaging projection. The engaging projection is configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters a hollow cylindrical driving member of an assembly of the image forming apparatus, and is also configured and positioned to engage with a slot of the hollow cylindrical driving member when the extended portion elastically restores in an outward direction. The engaging projection includes a tapered surface portion configured and positioned to receive a force for displacing in the inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters the hollow cylindrical driving member, and a side surface portion.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a toner discharging portion having an opening; and a coupling member. The coupling member includes a supporting portion and an engaging portion. The engaging portion is configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the supporting portion as the engaging portion enters a hollow cylindrical driving member of an assembly of the image forming apparatus, and is also configured and positioned to engage with a slot of the hollow cylindrical driving member when the supporting portion elastically restores in an outward direction. The engaging portion includes a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a circumferential direction of the hollow cylindrical driving member to receive a rotational drive force from the hollow cylindrical driving member to rotate the main body with the toner discharging portion.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a container body for containing toner and a coupling member. The coupling member includes a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion which is elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of the container body and is elastically restorable in an outward direction away from such axis, an engaging portion configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the supporting portion and to engage with a slot of a hollow cylindrical driving member of the image forming apparatus when the supporting portion elastically restores in an outward direction, and a displacing force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a force from a hollow cylinder of the image forming apparatus and cause the supporting portion to elastically displace in an inward direction.

Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a container body for containing toner; and a sealing member. The sealing member includes a sealing portion and a coupling portion. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion and an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion. The engaging portion includes a rotational force receiving portion and a locking portion. The rotational force receiving portion is capable of being abutted in a circumferential direction of a hollow cylindrical driving member of the image forming apparatus. The locking portion is capable of being abutted in an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical driving member to prevent the sealing member from moving in the axial direction of the container body when the container body moves away from the hollow cylindrical driving member.

Abstract: A powder filling apparatus and a powder filling method which enable powder to be densely filled in a short period of time is to be provided. This is a powder filling apparatus having a pressure hopper wherein the pressure hopper has a discharger for discharging powder and a gas inlet positioned above at least the surface of a powder layer formed by the powder in the pressure hopper; the powder layer is so formed as to blockade the discharger in the pressure hopper; in the powder filling apparatus, the inside of the pressure hopper is pressurized by leading in gas through the gas inlet in a state in which the discharger is closed, and the powder layer so formed as to blockade the discharger is discharged by opening the discharger after the pressurization thereby to utilize that pressure to load the powder into the filling container.

Abstract: A powder filling apparatus and a powder filling method which enable powder to be densely filled in a short period of time is to be provided. This is a powder filling apparatus having a pressure hopper wherein the pressure hopper has a discharger for discharging powder and a gas inlet positioned above at least the surface of a powder layer formed by the powder in the pressure hopper; the powder layer is so formed as to blockade the discharger in the pressure hopper; in the powder filling apparatus, the inside of the pressure hopper is pressurized by leading in gas through the gas inlet in a state in which the discharger is closed, and the powder layer so formed as to blockade the discharger is discharged by opening the discharger after the pressurization thereby to utilize that pressure to load the powder into the filling container.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for a developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. By increasing a rotation load of a second gear which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member of the developer receiving apparatus by a function of a locking member, the developer supply container mounted to the developer receiving apparatus is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member for developer supply is smooth.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for a developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. By increasing a rotation load of a second gear which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member of the developer receiving apparatus by a function of a locking member, the developer supply container mounted to the developer receiving apparatus is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member for developer supply is smooth.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for a developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. By increasing a rotation load of a second gear which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member of the developer receiving apparatus by a function of a locking member, the developer supply container mounted to the developer receiving apparatus is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member for developer supply is smooth.