Abstract: A toner conveyance member includes a shaft, a first blade member, at least one paddle member, and a pressure relief path. The shaft extends in a first direction and rotates in a second direction. The first blade member winds around the shaft and continues to extend helically in the first direction. The paddle member is in the form of a plate protruding from a surface of the shaft and having a first principal face and a second principal face positioned opposite to and forward from the first principal face in the second direction. The pressure relief path has an opening. The opening is provided within a predetermined distance range from an intersection point of the shaft, the first blade member, and the second principal face of the paddle member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing member that delivers a developer to an image carrier while rotating, a transport-supply member that extends in one direction and that supplies the developer, which contains a toner, to the developing member while transporting the developer from a first side to a second side in the one direction, and a transport-stirring member that is disposed along a transport-stirring path, which is inclined in an upward direction with respect to a horizontal direction, the transport-stirring member being configured to receive the developer, which is transported by the transport-supply member, from a portion of the transport-supply member on the second side in the one direction, stir the received developer while transporting the developer upward along the transport-stirring path, and deliver the developer to a portion of the transport-supply member on the first side in the one direction.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member which bears a developer, a developing container that includes a developer circulation path, a conveying member which is rotatably installed in the circulation path, and an outlet which is formed on a side surface of the circulation path facing the conveying member to discharge the developer. The conveying member includes a rotating shaft and a helical blade portion which is formed around the rotating shaft. The conveying member has a first region including a region facing the outlet and a second region adjacent to the first region at an upstream in a conveying direction of the conveying member. The helical blade portion is not formed in the first region, a protruding portion protruding from the rotating shaft is formed in at least a part of the first region, and the helical blade portion is formed in the second region.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container for accommodating a developer, a feeding member, including a blade for feeding the developer, and a discharge opening for permitting discharge of excessive developer. A winding direction of the blade ascends toward a downstream developer feeding direction. A first lower intersection position between a downstream edge of the discharge opening and a first cross-section perpendicular to a rotational axis of the feeding member and crossing the discharge opening is a first position, and a second lower intersection position between the downstream edge of the discharge opening and a second cross-section which is perpendicular to a rotational axis of the feeding member and crossing the discharge opening and which is provided downstream of the first cross-section is a second position, and the discharge opening is configured so that the second position is higher than the first position.

Abstract: Provided is a toner cartridge comprising: a toner storage case configured to store toner; and an auger screw rotatably supported in the toner storage case and configured to convey the toner stored in the toner storage case, wherein the toner storage case comprises: a first supporting portion that rotatably supports a downstream end along a toner conveyance direction of the auger screw; a second supporting portion that rotatably supports an upstream end along the toner conveyance direction of the auger screw; a discharge port provided at a downstream side along the toner conveyance direction and below the first supporting portion so as to discharge therefrom the toner conveyed by the auger screw; and an inclined portion that is provided above the discharge port and inclines by a predetermined angle from a plane perpendicular to a rotating shaft of the auger screw toward an upstream side along the toner conveyance direction.

Abstract: A developing device is provided. A rotating shaft of a first transporting member is positioned exactly below a developer carrier. A second virtual tangent to the first transporting member that extends vertically on a side of the first transporting member opposite an image carrier is farther from the image carrier than a first virtual tangent to the developer carrier that extends vertically on a side of the developer carrier opposite the image carrier. A distance between the two virtual tangents is shorter than a distance between the first virtual tangent and a developer container. A developer guiding member that guides a developer toward a downstream side in a direction of transport by the first transporting member is provided on a downstream side in a direction of rotation of the developer carrier with respect to the image carrier, with a gap provided with respect to the developer carrier.

Abstract: In a developing device, the conveying ability of a second screw in a first area that includes an area, which is superposed with, in an axial direction of a developing sleeve, a developer carrying area of the developing sleeve and a downstream communicating portion through which a developer is conveyed from a developing chamber to a collecting chamber, is lower than the conveying ability of the second screw in a second area, which is positioned further downstream than the first area in a direction in which the developer is conveyed and which is superposed with the developer carrying area of the developing sleeve.

Abstract: Disclosed is a developer discharging device for an image forming apparatus, which is installed in a developing unit configured to transfer and discharge a developer collected from a drum unit or a newly introduced developer, such that the developer is discharged to a developer collecting unit, including a first discharging part configured to extend from an end of a transferring screw installed in the developing unit, and a second discharging part disposed above the first discharging part in parallel with the first discharging part, wherein the developer discharged from the second discharging part falls into the developer collecting unit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the developer from being sharply discharged, and thus to constantly maintain an amount of the developer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member, a first chamber, a second chamber, a first feeding member, and a second feeding member. The second feeding member includes first to third spiral portions and a disk portion. The disk portion includes a projected portion. When the disk portion is seen in an axial direction of the second feeding member, on the basis of a line connecting a rotation center of the disk portion and an upstream end portion of the third spiral portion with respect to a feeding direction of the third spiral portion, the projected portion is provided within a range from a position deviated by 90 degrees toward a downstream side with respect to a rotational direction of the disk portion to a position deviated by 30 degrees toward an upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the disk portion.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet and a second magnet are connected to the shaft and rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet pass near at least a portion of an inner wall of the housing forming the reservoir during rotation of the first and second magnets. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet varies depending on an amount of toner in the reservoir.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a plurality of cartridges each including a developing member, a supply member, a developing agent container, and a conveying member. The container is disposed below the developing member and the supply member and has an inner surface defining an internal space. The container has an opening having an upper edge and a lower edge. The conveying member is rotatably disposed in the internal space and is configured to convey the developing agent upward. The container includes a first wall portion extending from the lower edge in a downstream direction with respect to a rotational direction of the conveying member and includes a second wall portion extending from the upper edge in an upstream direction with respect to the rotational direction. The conveying member is in simultaneous sliding contact with both the upper and lower edges to convey the developing agent onto the first wall portion.

Abstract: A developing device has a developer container, first and second stirring members, a developer carrier, a developer supply port, and a developer discharge port. The developer container has transport chambers including the first and second transport chambers, and communication portions through which the first and second transport chambers mutually communicate. The first stirring member has a rotary shaft and a first helical blade. The second stirring member has a rotary shaft and a second helical blade. The second stirring member has a regulating portion for regulating movement of developer toward the developer discharge port. The regulating portion has two or more turns of regulating blades spiraling in the opposite phase to the second helical blade. The gap between the regulating blades and the inner wall surface of the developer container is gradually small from upstream to downstream with respect to the developer transport direction in the second transport chamber.

Abstract: A drawing-up magnetic pole and a control magnetic pole of a magnetic field generator that is disposed in a developer carrier are adjacent to each other and a prevention member is provided that secures, between the prevention member and an upper end of a side wall of a developer supply conveyance path, a supply path through which a developer in the developer supply conveyance path passes toward the developer carrier at least over the entire width of a developing area and that prevents a control retained developer, which is prevented by a developer control member from passing through a control gap, from moving toward the surface of the developer carrier along lines of the control magnetic force. The peak of the magnetic flux density of the drawing-up magnetic pole in the normal direction is disposed below the lower end of the supply path.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a common conveyance path, toner input paths and blades. A screw for conveying a toner is installed in the common conveyance path. The toner input paths extend in an up-down direction and have lower ends connected to the common conveyance path. The blades are installed so as to make contact with a shaft of the screw and are configured to scrape off a toner adhering to the shaft of the screw. The blades are arranged immediately below the toner input paths so as to make contact with the shaft of the screw. The blades are disposed at a pitch of an integer multiple of a pitch of the fin of the screw.

Abstract: Apparatus main body of image forming apparatus includes first rotation portion, second rotation portion, and lever. Toner container includes opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the toner discharge outlet, and first coupling portion that is provided rotatably with respect to the housing and configured to, when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body, be coupled with the first rotation portion of the apparatus main body to be integrally rotatable therewith. The opening/closing mechanism includes second coupling portion configured to, when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body, be coupled with the second rotation portion of the apparatus main body to be integrally rotatable therewith. The opening/closing mechanism is configured to open and close the toner discharge outlet as the second coupling portion is rotated. The second coupling portion and the first coupling portion are configured to rotate in conjunction with each other.

Abstract: A toner crushing wire is disposed in a cleansing housing so as to extend along a rotating shaft of the cleaning roller. The toner crushing wire is allowed to swing along a cleaning housing inner wall facing the peripheral surface of the cleaning roller in non-contact with the cleaning housing inner wall. In this way, remaining toner scraped off from the peripheral surface of a photosensitive drum by a cleaning blade is crushed by the toner crushing wire.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes a binder resin, toner particles containing an acylglycerol, and an external additive, wherein at least one of hydroxyl groups in the acylglycerol is esterified with an alkyl monocarboxylic acid that contains a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and a content of a portion esterified with the alkyl monocarboxylic acid that contains the alkyl group having the same carbon number is 95 % by weight or greater with respect to the total weight of the acylglycerol.

Abstract: A powder container includes a container body to accommodate powder for image forming therein, the container body including an outlet at a bottom thereof through which the powder is supplied to a powder supply device and being detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, a rotary member, an agitator supported by the rotary member, and a powder receiver to guide a transport tube transporting the powder in the container body into the container body. The powder receiver includes a nozzle receiver opening, an opening-closing member to open and close the nozzle receiver, a container-side biasing member to bias the opening-closing member to close, a container opening-closing member supporter, a step and an end portion to contact first and second contact surfaces of the powder container receiver due to a restorative force of the container-side biasing member upon attachment of the powder container to the powder supply device.

Abstract: A developing device includes first and second stirring/transporting members, a developer feeding member, and a developer container that accommodates those components. The first and second stirring/transporting members stir and transport developer. The developer feeding member feeds developer to the first stirring/transporting member. In the developer container, a feeding port through which developer is fed from the developer feeding member to the first stirring/transporting member is formed. The developer feeding member includes a rotary shaft, a first transport blade which stirs and transports developer, a blocking portion which protrudes substantially perpendicularly to the rotary shaft and blocks the developer transported by the first transport blade in a first direction, and a paddle which feeds the developer from a developer supply passage to a first transport chamber.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer container that can store developer, a conveyance portion arranged rotatable in a storage portion formed with a discharge opening, and conveying the developer toward an end, on which the discharge opening is formed, in the longitudinal direction, a conveyance screw including a return screw that applies force of pushing back a flow of the developer, which moves toward the discharge opening, in the opposite direction, and a magnet member provided in the developer container in the vicinity of a level of the developer on at least the return portion. A magnetic brush formed by the magnetic force of the magnet member interferes with the return portion.

Abstract: Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus are provided capable of reducing rotation torque on startup even if a toner is solidified. The toner cartridge includes a toner stirring member having a rotating shaft and a stirring blade; a toner discharge member having a spiral-shaped conveyance blade attached to a conveyance shaft; a second gear having a bearing projection protruding radially inwardly from an inner peripheral surface of an annular base part, which is rotatably supported in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft; an abutment member protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, against which the bearing projection abuts under rotation of the second gear; first and third gears for transmitting rotation of the second gear to the conveyance shaft; and a rotationally driving section for imparting a rotating force to the second gear.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a first transport member that transports developer in a developer container; a second transport member that transports the developer in a direction opposite to a direction of transport by the first transport member; an inflow portion provided at a downstream end in the direction of transport by the second transport member and on an outer side with respect to an end of a developer carrying body, the inflow portion allowing the developer to flow from a second housing into a first housing; a high-speed transport portion provided in a range corresponding to the inflow portion and that transports the developer at a higher speed; and a regulating member provided at a position corresponding to a downstream end of the high-speed transport portion in the direction of transport by the first transport member and that regulates a height of a mound of developer in the first housing.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer, a first developer compartment to supply developer to the developer bearer, a second developer compartment to supply developer to the first developer compartment and positioned adjacent to the first developer compartment, a partition to divide, at least partly, the first developer compartment from the second developer compartment, a communicating opening in the opening, through which developer is transferred from the second developer compartment to the first developer compartment, a rotary conveyor to transport developer inside the second developer compartment to the communicating opening and a flexible sheet provided to the rotary conveyor and positioned facing the communicating opening. The flexible sheet rotates integrally with the rotary conveyor and projects through the communicating opening into the first developer compartment as the rotary conveyor rotates.

Abstract: There is provided a developing unit, including: a body defining a developing chamber and a developer accommodating chamber, and a developer delivery member. The body includes a sliding portion, a restoring portion and a colliding portion at the developer accommodating chamber. The developer delivery member includes an elastic member configured to be made a sliding contact with the sliding portion while being curved elastically, configured to be restored elastically at the restoring portion, and configured to collide with the colliding portion. The developer delivery member is configured so that, the elastic member which has been elastically restored at the restoring portion is collided with the colliding portion to generate an air flow and to deliver the developer in the developer accommodating chamber toward the connection port.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, a first agitating feeding member, a second agitating feeding member, a first developer delivery portion, a second developer delivery portion, and a toner sensor. The developing container includes a first transport path and a second transport path. The first agitating feeding member and the second agitating feeding member agitate and feed developer. The first developer delivery portion delivers the developer from the first transport path to the second transport path. The second developer delivery portion delivers the developer from the second transport path to the first transport path. The toner sensor is disposed at a part of the first transport path near the first developer delivery portion. A ceiling height of a part of the first transport path facing the first developer delivery portion is larger than a ceiling height of other part of the first transport path.

Abstract: A developer conveyance device includes a housing and a conveyance member. The conveyance member is supported to the housing and rotates to convey developer. The conveyance member includes a shaft portion, a helical member, and a plurality of reinforcement members. The plurality of reinforcement members are disposed in a circumferential direction of rotation of the conveyance member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section including an image carrier and a developing device, and a developer recovery mechanism. The developing device includes, a developer carrier, and a developer discharge portion. The image forming section incorporates a developing device employing a first developing method where toner is caused to adhere to the image carrier by a magnetic brush formed on the developer carrier, or a developing device having a toner carrier between the developer carrier and the image carrier, and employing a second developing method where a toner layer is formed on the toner carrier by a magnetic brush formed on the developer carrier, and toner is caused to adhere to the image carrier by the toner layer formed on the toner. These developing devices, in the image forming section, each have a same positional relationship between the developer discharge portion and an image-carrier rotation shaft.

Abstract: A developing device according to the present disclosure is provided with a developing container, a first stirring conveyance member and a second stirring conveyance member that stir and convey a developer within the developing container, and a developer carrying member that carries the developer. The developing container includes a discharge passage where a developer discharge port for discharging surplus developer within the developing container is formed. In the discharge passage, a discharge screw having a rotation shaft and a spiral blade is disposed. Within the discharge passage, at a portion on an upstream side of the developer discharge port in a developer discharge direction, there is provided a discharge regulating member that regulates discharge of the developer.

Abstract: A developing device and image forming apparatus are provided. The developing device includes a chassis; a developer carrying member; a thickness regulating member; a supply member; and a conveying member. In a state in which the developing device is attached to a main body an opening of the chassis faces upward; the thickness regulating member pressure-contacts the developer carrying member from below the developer carrying member; the conveying member is disposed below the developer carrying member; the supply member overlaps a portion of the conveying member in a horizontal direction; and a portion of the conveying member is disposed within a vertical projection plane between a pressure-contact position of the thickness regulating member to the developer carrying member, and a contact position of the supply member to the developer carrying member. The image forming apparatus includes a main body; a plurality of photosensitive members; and a plurality of developing devices.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a transport/supply member disposed in a transport/supply path, formed along a developing roller, to supply a developer to the developing roller while transporting the developer from one end side toward the other end side; a transport/agitation member disposed in a transport/agitation path, inclined with respect to the transport/supply path, to agitate the developer while transporting the developer from the other end side toward the one end side; a first transport member disposed in a first transport path, connecting between the transport/supply path and the transport/agitation path on the other end side, to transport the developer from the transport/supply path to the transport/agitation path; and a second transport member disposed in a second transport path, connecting between the transport/agitation path and the transport/supply path on the one end side, to transport the developer from the transport/agitation path to the transport/supply path.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing-device body that includes a supply opening to which toner is supplied and a transporting member that is provided in the developing-device body and that transports the toner and a carrier while stirring the toner and the carrier. The transporting member includes a rotating shaft, a first transporting section, and a second transporting section. The first transporting section and the second transporting section are spirally formed around the rotating shaft. The number of spirals of the first transporting section is less than the number of spirals of the second transporting section. At least a portion of the first transporting section opposes the supply opening of the developing-device body. The second transporting section is formed at a portion other than the first transporting section that opposes the supply opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a powder container containing powder used for image forming and including an inlet through which the powder is supplied, a powder supply unit including an outlet that is removably connected to the inlet and supplying the powder to the powder container with the outlet connected to the inlet of the powder container, a powder amount detector detecting whether a present powder level in the powder container is equal to or greater than a threshold, and a controller controlling an amount of powder supply from the powder supply unit and controlling the present powder level in the powder container after replenishment to remain in a range from the threshold and a position corresponding to an upper edge of the inlet. A powder transport unit includes a transport decelerating part to decelerate the speed of powder transport and a detection area in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium, includes a developer container configured to store developer, an image bearing member configured to be rotated and on which a latent image is formed, a developer bearing member configured to bear developer and to be rotated to develop the latent image, an agitation member configured to be rotated to agitate the developer stored in the developer container, and a control unit configured to control the rotations of the image bearing member, the developer bearing member, and the agitation member so as to rotate the agitation member while the image bearing member is not rotated.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing, a refill developer storage part, a developing roller, a developer conveyance path, a developer receiving port, a conveyance member, and a magnetic member. The developing roller is driven into rotation in the developing housing and carries a toner on a circumferential surface thereof. The toner is conveyed inside the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path of the developing housing in a circulating manner. A first stirring screw is disposed on the first conveyance path and conveys the toner in a first direction. Downstream of the toner refill port, a magnet is arranged. The magnetic member forms a magnetic brush from a top panel of the developing housing towards the first stirring screw. A refill toner flowed-in through the toner refill port is so conveyed as to fall below the magnetic brush whereby the refill toner is favorably stirred with a surrounding toner.

Abstract: A developer container including: a housing including an inner surface that defines a filling port for filling developer; a cap mounted to the housing and sealing the filling port; and an agitating member having a rotary shaft and configured to be rotated about the rotary shaft to agitate the developer in the housing, wherein a first end portion of the rotary shaft is supported by the inner surface of the housing and the cap mounted to the housing.

Abstract: A developer container includes: a container body that has an opening at an upper part and is configured to accommodate therein developer; a conveyance member that is provided in the container body, and includes a rotation member having a rotary shaft and an elastic part, which is supported by the rotation member, is configured to be elastically deformed and is configured to rotate to convey the developer from the opening to an outside of the container body; and a driving member that is connected to one end portion of the rotary shaft and is configured to rotate the rotary shaft. The container body includes a first support part to which the other end portion of the rotary shaft is loosely fitted and a second support part that supports the one end portion of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: Provided is a toner transport device including a transport member that transports a developer in one direction, a toner feeding member disposed adjacent to, in a direction crossing the one direction, an end portion of the transport member, and a housing that is provided with a toner receiving port which receives supply of toner in an upper section of the toner feeding member, and accommodates the transport member and the toner feeding member, wherein the toner feeding member includes a rotating shaft, and a flat plate portion that protrudes in a direction away from a shaft member with one side thereof being connected to the shaft member and a front end portion away from the shaft member having a tapered shape, the flat plate portion rotating along with rotation of the shaft member to scrape the toner that moves from the toner receiving port toward the toner feeding member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer, a first developer compartment to supply developer to the developer bearer, a second developer compartment to supply developer to the first developer compartment and positioned adjacent to the first developer compartment, a partition to divide, at least partly, the first developer compartment from the second developer compartment, a communicating opening in the opening, through which developer is transferred from the second developer compartment to the first developer compartment, a rotary conveyor to transport developer inside the second developer compartment to the communicating opening and a flexible sheet provided to the rotary conveyor and positioned facing the communicating opening. The flexible sheet rotates integrally with the rotary conveyor and projects through the communicating opening into the first developer compartment as the rotary conveyor rotates.

Abstract: A developing apparatus including a first chamber; a second chamber forming a circulation path for the developer; a rotatable shaft in the first chamber; a first blade provided on the rotation shaft to feed the developer in a predetermined direction in the first chamber; a second blade provided on the rotation shaft to feed the developer fed by the first blade in a direction opposite the predetermined direction; a discharging portion provided downstream of the second blade to discharge the developer in the first chamber; and a regulating member having a regulating surface continuously extending in a rotational moving direction of the rotation shaft, the regulating member being provided on the rotation shaft in a region between the first blade and the second blade, a region connecting with a downstream end of the first blade, or a connecting with a downstream end of the second blade.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrying member; a first chamber; a second chamber; a feeding member; a discharging portion; and a regulating portion, provided above a rotation center of the feeding member so as to oppose a reverse feeding portion of the feeding member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the feeding member, for regulating a gap between an inner wall of the second chamber and the reverse feeding portion so as to be narrowed. The regulating portion is provided at least in a position opposite from the first chamber with respect to the rotation center of the feeding member as seen in the rotational axis direction of the feeding member.

Abstract: A developer container for an image forming apparatus includes a housing configured to store developer, a developer conveying member disposed inside the housing and configured to rotate to convey the developer stored in the housing. The developer conveying member includes a rotary shaft, a rotary base member and a sheet-like main body. The main body has a base end portion fixed to the rotary base member and a free end portion configured to be pressed into contact with an inner wall of the housing. The rotary base member includes an urging member configured to urge the main body from an upstream side toward a downstream side in a direction of rotation thereof.

Abstract: A developing device according to the present disclosure is provided with a developing container, a first stirring conveyance member and a second stirring conveyance member that stir and convey a developer within the developing container, and a developer carrying member that carries the developer. The developing container includes a discharge passage where a developer discharge port for discharging surplus developer within the developing container is formed. In the discharge passage, a discharge screw having a rotation shaft and a spiral blade is disposed. Within the discharge passage, at a portion on an upstream side of the developer discharge port in a developer discharge direction, there is provided a discharge regulating member that regulates discharge of the developer.

Abstract: A developing device is provided. The developing device includes a developer carrier, a regulator, a first developer storing chamber, a plurality of conveyers disposed within the first developer storing chamber, a second developer storing chamber in communication with the first developer storing chamber, and a supply member disposed within the second developer storing chamber. The developer carrier carries developer on its surface and supplies developer to a latent image carrier carrying a latent image. The regulator regulates the thickness of developer on the surface of the developer carrier. The first developer storing chamber stores developer separated from the developer carrier by the regulator and is to be supplied with fresh developer. Each of the plurality of conveyers coveys developer in a different conveyance direction. The second developer storing chamber is to be supplied with developer from the first developer storing chamber. The supply member supplies developer to the developer carrier.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing containing a developer, a developer carrier, a developer conveying path, a developer conveying member, and a plurality of paddle members. The developer conveying path includes a first conveying path and a second conveying path. The developer conveying member is disposed in the second conveying path and includes a rotating shaft and spiral blades formed around the rotating shaft. The developer conveying member is rotationally driven to convey the developer in the second direction and feeds the developer to the developer carrier. The plurality of paddle members project in a radial direction from the rotating shaft of the developer conveying member at one circumferential position on the rotating shaft. The plurality of paddle members is contiguously arranged in the axial direction of the rotating shaft to connect the spiral blades adjacent to each other in the axial direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a first conveying unit provided within a developing agent storage chamber and that is configured to convey a developing agent from one end of the developing agent storage chamber to another end of the developing agent storage chamber in a longitudinal direction of a developing agent carrier that is disposed with in a developing chamber and to supply the developing agent from the developing agent storage chamber to the developing chamber; a second conveying unit provided within the developing chamber and that is configured to convey the developing agent from the other end of the developing chamber to the one end of the developing chamber in the longitudinal direction and to supply the developing agent toward a developing agent carrier; and a third conveying unit provided between the one end of the developing agent storage chamber and the one end of the developing chamber.

Abstract: A development device having a development portion with a developer spout, to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with developer including toner and carrier particles. The development unit also includes a circulation unit to convey developer collected from the development portion to the developer spout, a developer container, provided in the circulation unit, to contain the developer at a position upstream from the development portion in a developer circular direction, the developer container having a cylindrical upper portion and a funnel-shaped lower portion continuous with the cylindrical upper portion through a joint so that a level of the developer contained in the developer container at rest is positioned near the joint between the cylindrical upper portion and the funnel-shaped lower portion. An agitator is provided inside the developer container, to agitate and mix the collected developer and fresh toner supplied to the developer container.

Abstract: There is provided a developer bearing member, a supplying chamber which contains a developer to be supplied to the developer bearing member, a collecting chamber which collects the developer from the developer bearing member, a first conveying member which is disposed in the supplying chamber and conveys the developer, a second conveying member which is disposed in the collecting chamber and conveys the developer in a direction opposite to a conveying direction of the first conveying member, and a third conveying member which is disposed in the collecting chamber and conveys the developer in a direction opposite to a conveying direction of the second conveying member. The third conveying member has a conveyance performance on a downstream side lower than that on an upstream side in the conveying direction of the developer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing chamber which supplies a developer to a developer bearing member, an agitating chamber connected at both ends to the developing chamber and disposed above the developing chamber, a first developer conveying member disposed within the developing chamber, and a second developer conveying member disposed within the agitating chamber. In addition, a third developer conveying member is disposed on a same axis as the first developer conveying member and able to convey the developer toward the developing chamber at a downstream side from a first connecting portion in a conveying direction of the first developer conveying member, and a supplying portion supplies developer to the third developer conveying member and is disposed at a position facing the third developer conveying member.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a casing including a developer accommodation part for accommodating developer; an agitator for agitating the developer and rotatable about a first rotational axis extending in an axial direction; a receiving member rotatable about a second rotational axis upon receipt of a drive force inputted thereto; a first drive-force transmission member rotatable about a third rotational axis upon receipt of the drive force from the receiving member; and a second drive-force transmission member rotatable about the first rotational axis together with the agitator. The second drive-force transmission member can contact the first drive-force transmission member and receive the drive force therefrom, the first rotational axis being positioned closer to the second rotational axis than the third rotational axis is to the second rotational axis when projected in the axial direction of the agitator.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, a first rotary member having a detected portion and a first abutment portion, and a second rotary member having a second abutment portion. The agitator includes: a rotation shaft having an axial end portion at which the second rotary member is supported; and an agitation blade supported to the rotation shaft and resiliently deformable. The second rotary member is configured such that while the agitation blade is being spaced apart from the housing, the second abutment portion contacts the first abutment portion in accordance with rotation of the second rotary member to move the first rotary member from the first position to the second position, thereby transmitting the driving force from the second rotary member to the first rotary member.