Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier, a developing case and a toner cartridge. The toner cartridge includes a toner case including a first opening and a first blocking member. The developing case includes a second opening, a second blocking member and an opening/closing member. The opening/closing member is swingable among a first position where the toner cartridge is detached from the developing case and the second opening is closed, a second position where the toner cartridge is attached to the developing case and the first opening and the second opening are communicate with each other, and a third position between the first position and the second position where the toner cartridge is attached to the developing case and the first opening and the second opening are closed. The opening/closing member swings from the first position to the third position when the toner cartridge is attached to the developing case.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller that supplies developer, a developing case that supports the developing roller, a toner cartridge that houses the developer and is attachable to and detachable from the developing case in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the developing roller, an abutting member that is swingably provided on the developing case and is abuttable against the toner cartridge from a downstream side in a direction along which the toner cartridge is detached from the developing case, an operating member that is swingably provided on the toner cartridge, and an interlocking member that swings the abutting member between an abutting position and a canceling position, the interlocking member swinging in conjunction with a swinging operation of the operating member, and the toner cartridge being detachable from the developing case when the interlocking member is in the second position.

Abstract: A developer storing container includes: a first storing member including a first storing portion for storing a supplied developer; a second storing member including a second storing portion for storing a collected developer; and a partition member that connects the first storing portion and the second storing member so as to sandwich the partition member therebetween, and that separates the first and second storing portions from each other.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is constituted to be mounted attachably and detachably in a directional orthogonal to a rotating shaft of a developing unit main body and the developer cartridge has a developer containing portion and a developer recovery portion for recovering used developer from the developing unit. A supply port opens to supply the developer from the developer containing portion and a recovery port opens in the developer recovery portion to recover used and recovered developer. A supplying opening portion is formed in a shutter member at a position corresponding to the supply port and a recovering portion is formed in the shutter member at a position corresponding to the recovery port. The shutter member opens and closes both the supply port and the recovery port.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of containers, a container compartment, and a plurality of indicators. The plurality of containers contains developing agent, and may be arranged in parallel with each other in a first sequential order. The container compartment holds the plurality of containers at varied holding heights. The plurality of indicators indicates information of the developing agent in the plurality of containers, and may be arranged in parallel to each other in a second sequential order on the image forming apparatus. The first sequential order of the plurality of containers corresponds to the second sequential order of the plurality of indicators.

Abstract: A developer vent is provided on the wall of the developer container housing developer including toner and carrier for the developing device to overflow developer. The sectional shape of the discharge dam forming the developer vent in the vertical direction to the developer vent is such that the top part of the dam is made thinner than the wall thickness of the developer container and the slanting angle of the dam to the wall of the developer container is made larger than the repose angle of the developer.

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: In a developing apparatus provided with developer container attaching and detaching means that makes a developer container attachable to and detachable from a developing device, inadvertent operation preventing means is provided that disables, when the developing apparatus is detached from an image forming apparatus main body, operation of the developer container attaching and detaching means.

Abstract: A development apparatus according to an embodiment includes a development tank which accommodates developer containing toner and carrier, an agitating screw which agitates and transports the developer in the development tank, and a development roller which is provided close to or in contact with a photosensitive body and visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body. The toner and the carrier are externally replenished to the development tank, and excess developer in the development tank is discharged through a developer discharge outlet to outside of the development container. In the development container, the development apparatus further includes a flow regulating member for regulating a flow of the developer. The flow regulating member is provided facing the developer discharge outlet and extending vertically upward with respect to a bottom plane of the development tank.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a transfer device, cleaning devices, and a waste toner collecting unit. The cleaning devices collect toner remaining on the image carrying member and toner remaining in the transfer device as waste toner after a toner image is transferred by the transfer device from the image carrying member to a recording medium. The waste toner collecting unit includes a container storing the waste toner, a conveying device provided in the container, and a detection unit provided above a position where the waste toner is pressed and up-thrust by the conveying device. The conveying device horizontally conveys the waste toner, and presses and up-thrusts the waste toner after an amount of the waste toner reaches a predetermined value. The detection unit is pressed and displaced by the pressed and up-thrust waste toner, and detected by a sensor.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a waste bin and hopper designed for the elimination of non-essential parts between the waste bin and the hopper via an enhanced interconnection between the waste bin and the hopper, improved drive dogs and cluster gear assembly to facilitate complete engagement with the printer drive mechanism, an improved door to protect the photoconductive drum from light, and improved electrical contacts between the doctor bar, toner adder roller and developer roller.

Abstract: A developer supply container supplies a developer to a process cartridge detachably mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge contains an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a charging member for charging the drum. The developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion, a developer supply opening for supplying the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to the cartridge, a container closing member for opening and closing the developer supply opening, a first container guide guidable by an apparatus main assembly guide, a second container guide guidable by the main assembly guide, a container force receiving portion for receiving a force for opening the supply opening by movement of the closing member by engagement with a cartridge engaging portion provided in the cartridge, and a first container positioning portion engageable with a first main assembly positioning portion.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge and a developer cartridge are independently attachable. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a first developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer used by the roller, a developer receiving port for receiving the developer from the developer cartridge into the first developer accommodating portion when the process cartridge is mounted to the apparatus, a cleaning member for removing the developer from the drum, first and second removed developer accommodating portions for accommodating the developer removed from the drum by the cleaning member, and a developer feeder device for feeding the developer from the first to the second portions. When the process and developer cartridges are mounted to each other, the developer cartridge is disposed above the first developer accommodating portion and at a side of the second removed developer accommodating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on an image carrier and transferring the toner image to a recording medium including a developing device, cleaning device, first toner conveyer, second toner conveyer, third toner conveyer, and a controller for controlling whether the toner removed by the cleaning device is to be conveyed by the second toner conveyer on the basis of an amount of new toner conveyed to the developing device by the third toner conveyer.

Abstract: A toner cartridge wherein the waste bin and the hopper are attached to one another in a non-pivotal interconnection. The parts are attached via a hopper wheel horizontal retainer and a hopper wheel vertical lock formed integrally with the waste bin. The hopper wheel horizontal retainer and the hopper wheel vertical lock are disposed in cooperative relation to one another and are adapted to engage a hopper wheel that forms a part of the hopper. To assemble the toner cartridge, the waste bin is held above the hopper so that the hopper wheel horizontal retainer and the hopper wheel vertical lock are positioned directly above the hopper wheel. The waste bin is lowered until the hopper wheel horizontal retainer engages the hopper wheel and the hopper wheel vertical lock.

Abstract: The developing apparatus includes developer containing parts and a replenishment portion. The developer containing parts contains a developer circularly conveyed in the developer containing parts. The replenishment portion includes a replenish aperture and a regulation surface. The replenishment portion merges a replenishment agent passing through the regulation surface with the developer in the developer containing part. In the developing apparatus, a wall surface of the replenishment portion, located on a downstream side in a developer conveyance direction in the developer containing part facing to the replenishment portion, is formed by being inclined with respect to the developer conveyance direction.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes image forming device for forming a toner image on a recording material, a residual toner collecting container detachably provided on a main body of said image forming apparatus and adapted to collect residual toner discharged from said image forming means, said residual toner collecting container being capable of collecting the residual toner through an opening at a side of said container, and regulation means for preventing said containing container from being attached onto or removed from the main body of said image forming apparatus until the opening of said collecting container is directed upwardly in a gravitational direction and an inclined angle of said collecting container exceeds a set angle. It can prevent from flowing out through the opening more positively.

Abstract: A developer cartridge for a wet-type image forming apparatus including a cartridge body in which developer is stored. The cartridge body has a supply hole formed thereon to supply the developer in the cartridge to the image forming apparatus. A filter is disposed in the cartridge body to improve the dispersion of the developer, and to filter sludge of the developer before the developer flows into the supply hole.

Abstract: A developing device is arranged such that Dg<ds<3Dg, and 3Dg<dc<6Dg, where ds is an end gap, Dg is an upstream gap, and dc is a center gap. The gap ds is a gap between a developer tank 4 and either end portion of a developing roller 1 in the downstream of a transportation direction of the developing roller 1. The end portion of the developing roller 1 is an end portion thereof with respect to a rotation direction of the developing roller 1. The gap Dg is a gap between the developing roller 1 and a doctor blade. The gap dc is a smallest gap between the developer tank 4 and the center portion b of the developing roller 1. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent the toner scattering appropriately in the developing device for use of a two-component developer containing toner and carrier.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes: a developer chamber that contains developer supplied to a developing unit; a waste developer chamber that contains collected waste developer; and a developer supply part that supplies the developer contained in the developer chamber to the developing unit while stirring the developer.

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 unit to develop an image by supplying a developer to a photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, the developing unit includes a container containing a developer and barriers to partition a portion from other portions of an inside of the container, and a space defined by the barrier is not filled with the developer. Also, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus equipped with a photosensitive medium, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on an outer surface of the photosensitive medium by light scanning, and a developing unit to develop an image by supplying a developer to the photosensitive medium, the apparatus includes the developing unit as described above.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a resin sheet 20 contacting a collecting roller 18 between a developing unit casing 11 and a collecting roller 18, wherein a scraper 18a which is provided on the collecting roller and projected over the total length scrapes toner adhered to the resin sheet 20, and the toner is ejected to a duct mechanism 115 provided under the resin sheet.

Abstract: A developer cartridge having a developer cartridge body with a fitting part is coupled to a developer supply path connected to a developing unit. A fitting part shutter unit is detachably mounted to the developer cartridge body and moved by an external force to move between a first position covering the fitting part and a second position expositing the fitting part.

Abstract: A toner container installed in an image forming apparatus includes a toner container main body having a predetermined length and in which toner is accommodated, a discharge port through which the toner is discharged from the toner container main body, a shutter which opens and closes the discharge port, a handle provided on the toner container main body, and a pressed portion provided on the toner container main body and which is pressed by the image forming apparatus to project the handle out from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A trickle collection system including a trickle port formed in a developer housing and communicating with the interior of the developer housing, and a trickle port housing communicating the trickle port with an external vacuum collection source. The trickle port may include an aperture having a variable cross-section, for controlling an amount of flow of trickle through the trickle port. The trickle collection system also may include an air infusion port communicating the interior of the trickle port housing with external air and providing infusion of an amount of external air into the trickle port housing sufficient to facilitate flow of trickle from the trickle port to the external vacuum collection system. An aperture of the air infusion port may be variable, such that the amount of air infusion may be varied in accordance with internal and/or external conditions.

Abstract: A toner container installed in an image forming apparatus, the toner container including a toner container main body having a predetermined length and which accommodates toner, a mixer which stirs the toner in the toner container main body, a discharge port through which the toner in the toner container main body is discharged from the toner container main body, a screw having one end projected from one end surface of the toner container main body, the screw being rotated to convey the toner from the toner container main body to the discharge port, a coupling portion provided at the one end of the screw and rotated by a driving portion provided in the image forming apparatus, and a protruding portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the coupling portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device to move waste toner within an image forming device. In one embodiment, waste toner is formed during the image formation process. The waste toner is captured and moved through a first conduit. The conduit includes an outlet for passing the waste toner to a second conduit. The door is positionable between an open orientation to allow the waste toner to discharge into the second conduit, and a closed orientation. The second conduit includes an inlet for receiving the waste toner. The interface between the first and second conduits allows for the door to move between the open and closed orientations. The interface also greatly reduces or prevents the waste toner from leaking as it passes from the first conduit into the second conduit.

Abstract: A toner supply device is disclosed that supplies toner contained in a toner container to a developing device in an image forming device. The toner supply device includes a conveyance pipe for conveying the toner from the toner container to the developing device downward, and at least one supply pipe for supplying the toner from the conveyance pipe to the developing device downward. The conveyance pipe is connected to the toner container for conveying the toner from the toner container to the developing device. The supply pipe has an upper portion connected to the conveyance pipe and a lower end capable of advancing into the developing device. In addition, a conveyance member is rotatably located in the supply pipe for conveying the toner downward. The supply pipe is located such that a center axis of the supply pipe is slanted relative to the horizontal line at a repose angle of the toner or more.

Abstract: A toner-conveying device includes a movable plate. The movable plate is movable between a holding position such as to couple a cap of a toner container to a nozzle when the toner container is supported by a container holder, and a retreating position such as not to hinder loading or unloading of the toner container in the container holder. The movable plate is placed in the holding position by a cam when the nozzle is coupled to the cap, and is released and moved to the retreating position while the toner container is being loaded or unloaded. In this structure, the cap can be properly positioned in the conveyor device while ensuring the rigidity of a bag of the container within a practically preferable range, without reducing the convenience for the operator.

Abstract: A toner supply device is equipped with a coupling that has a toner supply opening on the side wall, a partition wall provided in this coupling integrally with a specific space provided on the inner wall and a hole larger than a toner supply opening on the side wall. A toner bottle containing toner is provided in the coupling with its cap portion inserted airtight into the partition wall detachably and an opening provided on its cap portion opposing to the hole on the partition wall for replenishing toner to a developing device from this opening through the hole and a toner supply opening.

Abstract: A developer container includes a developer storage unit made of a flexible sheet material for storing developer, and a cap unit from which the developer is discharged. The developer storage unit includes a holding member that holds a folded state when the developer storage unit is folded.

Abstract: A developing unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer accommodating portion accommodating developer to be used by the developing member and having a supply opening for supplying the developer to the developing member, a mover sealing member movable between supply-opening sealing and unsealing positions, a mover for moving the sealing member from the sealing to the unsealing position by receiving a driving force transmitted from the main assembly, and a memory for storing sealing information indicative of a sealed state of the supply opening. When the main assembly detects the sealing information upon mounting of the developing unit, the driving force is transmitted to the mover to move the sealing member from the sealing to the unsealing position, and then, the memory stores the unsealing information.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus includes a development device in which two rotary shafts enclosed in respective separate chambers for spirally circulating the developer between the two chambers to supply the developer to a development roller. The development device is provided with an extended circulation enclosure having a fill opening communicating with the two chambers.

Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus comprising a toner container installation section for mounting a toner container which stores the toner, a developing device which develops an electrostatic images formed on an image carrier based on an image information, an operating mechanism which is capable of moving the toner container from a mounting position in the toner container installation section in a predetermined direction when the toner stored in the toner container is not more than a first predetermined amount, and a movement detecting device which detects the movement of the toner container caused by the operating mechanism and outputs movement information.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a case that accommodates a consumable therein, a land area that protrudes from a surface of the case, and a recess that is formed on a reverse side of the surface at a position corresponding to the land area, a reverse side of a deepest portion of the recess being the land area, wherein the deepest portion of the recess is toward the land area with respect to the surface.

Abstract: A wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a setting method thereof, comprising a body, a developing unit, an ink cartridge unit for supplying an ink to the developing unit, a door unit, an ink recovery unit for discarding waste ink and circulating ink, and a fitting unit connecting the developing unit and the ink cartridge unit. The door unit moves in relation to the movement of at least one of the ink recovery unit and the fitting unit, allowing a user to easily and precisely set the fitting unit and the ink recover unit using the door unit, which can further support and guide the developing unit 20.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image onto a recording medium; a controlling unit that controls the toner image forming unit such that a test image is formed on the recording medium; a sheet transfer unit that transfers the recording medium having the toner image formed thereon by the toner image forming unit; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image formed by the toner image forming unit onto the recording medium; an image detecting unit, disposed downstream from the image fixing unit along the sheet transfer unit, that detects the test image formed on the recording medium; and a calibration unit that performs a color calibration process based upon the test image detected by the image detecting unit.

Abstract: A developer storage device includes a storage container which supplies developer to a developing unit when rotated, and a collecting container for storing developer collected from an image forming section. The developer storage device further includes a first attaching and detaching portion allowing the storage container to be attached to and detached from a developer storage device body, and a second attaching and detaching portion allowing the collecting container to be attached to and detached from the developer storage device body.

Abstract: A developer receiving unit receives developer from a discharging unit. The developer receiving unit includes a path through which the developer is received from the developer discharging unit, the path adapted to expand and contract in length. The developer-receiving unit moves into sealed engagement with the developer-discharging unit so that the developer-receiving unit communicates with the developer-discharging unit through the path. An urging member urges the path in such a direction as to expand in length. An opening-and-closing member receives a drive force from the developer-discharging unit when the developer-discharging unit pushes the developer receiving unit, the drive force acting on the opening-and-closing member in such a way that the opening-and-closing member causes the path to open. The opening-and-closing member opens the path only after the developer discharging unit moves into sealed engagement with the developer receiving unit.

Abstract: A developer supply container for supplying a developer detachably set in an image forming apparatus, the developer supply container includes a main body for containing the developer; a discharge opening, provided in the main body, for discharging the developer; a plurality of feeding projections, provided projected from a curved inner surface, for feeding the developer in the main body toward the discharge opening with rotation of the main body, wherein each of the projections are linear without twisting.

Abstract: A toner cartridge with a universal printer chip that can interpret a signal, identifying a family of printers. The universal printer chip then selects the correct data for the identified printer from the universal printer chip data base. The printer may then be activated with the correct electrical handshake and other required data.

Abstract: A toner container for installation in a toner supply device is provided. The toner container includes a toner accommodation member and a cap member freely attachable to and detachable from the toner accommodation member. The toner accommodation member includes a bag member having an opening, and a connection member attached to the opening of the bag member and having a toner supply opening. The cap member is configured to receive toner supplied from the toner supply opening of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and to discharge the received toner. Either of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and the cap member includes a groove part and the other includes a protrusion part to engage with the groove part, and the cap member is attached to the toner accommodation member by engaging the groove part and the protrusion part with each other. The protrusion part elastically deforms to engage with the groove part.

Abstract: A laser printer includes a coupling including an insert for transmitting driving force to a toner cartridge, a spring biasing the coupling, and a coupling receding arm positionally determining the coupling in a direction toward the toner cartridge. The coupling receding arm is formed of a single member and includes an arm portion in the form of a rod, an engagement rotated around the arm portion's longitudinal axis to move the coupling, and a lock lever connected to the arm portion and rotated around the arm portion's longitudinal axis to lock and unlock the toner cartridge.

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.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes improved sealing mechanisms to prevent the escape of toner from the cartridge. Soft and rigid seals are used to seal the distal ends of the developer roller and doctor bar.

Abstract: Disclosed are a sludge prevention apparatus of a tube member and an image forming apparatus provided with such a sludge prevention apparatus. The sludge prevention apparatus comprises a sludge stirring member located in a tube member to be movable, so that the sludge stirring member stirs the developer sludge deposited or as being deposited in the tube member, the liquid developer being discharged from or flowing into a developer storage chamber through the tube member; and an operating member installed in the developer storage chamber to correspond to the sludge stirring member in such a manner that the operating member operates the sludge stirring member to stir the developer sludge. The sludge prevention apparatus and the image forming apparatus with the same can prevent the tube member from being blocked by the developer sludge deposited in the tube member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner container, an image development mechanism, and a toner container holder. The toner container has a longitudinal length with first and second longitudinal ends, is driven for rotation to move the toner. The image development mechanism develops an electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The toner container holder includes a base plate onto which the toner container is inserted in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner container. The toner container holder further includes first and second supporters. The first and second supporters are mounted in traversal edge sides of the base plate and support the first and second longitudinal ends of the toner container, respectively.