Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing device, first and second drive portions, and a controller. The developing device includes first, second, and third conveying screws, and a developer bearing member. A ratio of a rotational driving speed (Vsc) of the first and second conveying screws by the first drive portion to a rotational driving speed (Vs1) of the developer bearing member by the second drive portion is Vsc/Vs1. A ratio of a rotational driving speed (Vsc3) of the third conveying screw by the second drive portion to the developer bearing member rotational driving speed (Vs1) is Vsc3/Vs1. In a control mode, the controller controls the first and second drive portions so that Vsc/Vs1 in a non-image forming period becomes less than Vsc/Vs1 in an image forming period such that Vsc3/Vs1 in the non-image forming period is equal to Vsc3/Vs1 in the image forming period.

Abstract: A particle conveying device includes a storage portion that stores pressure sensitive adhesive particles that contain at least a binder resin, have a pressure-induced phase transition property, and have a sulfur content in a range of 0.1 mass % or more and 0.5 mass % or less relative to the entire pressure sensitive adhesive particles as measured by X-ray fluorescence; and a conveying member that is disposed in the storage portion and rotates about a shaft that extends in one direction inside the storage portion to thereby convey the pressure sensitive adhesive particles in a direction along the shaft inside the storage portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes a rotatable sleeve for carrying a developer including a magnetic material to develop a latent image on an image bearing member, a developer chamber, a rotatable stirring member provided inside the chamber to stir the developer while being in contact with at least a part of an inner surface of the chamber and a magnet generating a magnetic field in at least a part of a contact region between the stirring member and the inner surface. A magnetic flux density of the magnetic field at a first position in the contact region generated by the magnet is different from that in a second position which is adjacent to the first position in a rotational axis direction of the sleeve.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developer casing that accommodates a developer; a developer detector that is disposed in the developer casing, and that detects, based on magnetic force, the developer from a plurality of detection ranges that is close to each other and is disposed side by side in a vertical direction in the developer casing; and a hardware processor that performs control of detecting a liquid level position of the developer in the developer casing, based on a detection result detected by the developer detector.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a first screw disposed within a first chamber and conveying developer in a first direction, a second screw disposed within a second chamber and having a conveyance portion conveying the developer in a second direction opposite to the first direction and a return portion provided downstream of a first communication port in a first wall dividing the first and second chambers. A discharge portion in the second chamber, downstream of the return portion, discharges the developer out of the second chamber, and a second wall through which a third communication port is disposed upstream of the discharge portion is defined to deliver the developer from the second chamber to the first chamber. The second wall faces at least a part of the return portion in a view from a horizontal direction such that a lower end of the third communication port is located above a lower end of the first communication port.

Abstract: A toner cartridge including a carrier container in which one surface needed for discharge of carriers faces a toner discharge outlet, an image forming apparatus, and a method for controlling the image forming apparatus are provided. The toner cartridge includes a case, a toner container in the case so as to contain the toners; a toner outlet disposed over the case so as to discharge the container toner to the outside; and a carrier container including carriers therein such that one surface of the carrier container, through which the included carriers are discharged, is arranged to face the toner outlet.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing, a developing roller, a developer conveyance path, a partition plate, a developer supply port and a developer conveying member. The developer conveying member rotates such that an outer peripheral part thereof moves from top to bottom in a first area between a second shaft portion and the partition plate and moves from bottom to top in a second area between the second shaft portion and the side wall. The developer supply port is obliquely open above the second area. The housing includes a first space formed above the second area of the first conveyance path and a second space formed up to a position higher than the partition plate above the first area of the first conveyance path. The ceiling plate includes a ceiling portion. The ceiling portion restricts a movement of replenishing developer in the first direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a circulation path along which the developer is circulated; a carrier supplying portion; a discharge opening, provided in the circulation path, through which a portion of the developer is to be overflowed and discharged; and a feeding member comprising a rotation shaft and a blade portion including a helical portion. An outer diameter of the blade portion formed in a first region including at least a portion opposing the discharge opening is smaller than that in a second region adjacent to the first region with respect to a rotation shaft direction. A smaller average angle formed between the rotation shaft and a developer feeding surface of the blade portion in the first region is smaller than that in the second region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding body, a developing device, a transfer device, a collection device, a container, and a transport member. The image holding body includes a surface on which a latent image is formed. The developing device develops the latent image into a visual image with developer. The transfer device transfers the visual image onto a transfer medium. The collection device collects the developer remaining on the surface of the image holding body after the visual image has been transferred. The container contains new developer supplied to the developing device. The image forming apparatus has a channel that has a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel. The developer flows into the first sub-channel from one of the collection device and the container and the second sub-channel from the other of the collection device and the container.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container; a developer carrier; a first transport member having a rotation shaft and a transport blade; a second transport member having a rotation shaft and a transport blade; a partition member; a guide member; a first inflow portion; a second inflow portion; and a movement portion. The rotation shaft of the first transport member is located within a projection area of the developer carrier projected from above. A second imaginary tangent line extending vertically and touching an outer end of the transport blade of the first transport member is farther from the image carrier than a first imaginary tangent line extending vertically and touching an outer surface of the developer carrier. A first distance between the first and second imaginary tangent lines is smaller than a second distance between a rotation center of the image carrier and an inner surface of the developer container.

Abstract: A developer unit for an image forming apparatus is provided. The developer unit includes a developer device with a developer agent carrier and a developer agent supplier, and a developer agent container, which contains the developer agent and is arranged in a lower position with respect to the developer device. The developer agent container is formed to have a fitting wall, which is curved inward at a position to be adjacent to the developer device. The fitting wall is formed to have a feeding opening and a collecting opening. The developer unit is further provided with a first conveyer, which is rotated about a rotation axis to sweep an inner surface of the developer agent container and convey the developer agent toward the feeding opening, and a second conveyer, which is arranged along the developer agent supplier and conveys the developer agent toward the collecting opening.

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 developing unit includes a toner storage portion for containing toner and a development portion for containing the toner supplied from the toner storage portion. The development portion includes a developing roller for supplying the toner to a photosensitive body, a supply roller and an auxiliary supply roller. The supply roller and the auxiliary supply roller rotate while facing each other to supply the toner to the developing roller. In the developing unit, an inequality that |D?(R1+R2)|?1.0 mm is satisfied, where a distance between the centers of the auxiliary supply roller and the supply roller in a region where the auxiliary supply roller and the supply roller face each other is D, a radius of the supply roller is R1, and a radius of the auxiliary supply roller is R2.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, a first agitating/conveying member, a second agitating/conveying member, a developer supply member, a supply port, and a supply section. The developing container is separated into a developer supply passage, a first conveying chamber, and a second conveying chamber, which are arranged substantially parallel to one another. The supply section is disposed between the developer supply passage and the first conveying chamber, and through the supply section, the developer is supplied from the developer supply passage into the first conveying chamber.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit. Further, a developer receptacle for storing developer that is supplied to the image forming unit is arranged adjacent to one longitudinal end of the developer carrier.

Abstract: A developing device of this disclosure has: a housing, a developing roller, a developer conveying path, a partition board, a second communication path, a developer receiving port, a first conveying member, a second conveying member, and a conveyance capability inhibition part. A toner is cyclically conveyed in a first conveying path and a second conveying path. A first stirring screw is disposed in the first conveying path and driven into ration around a first rotation axis for toner conveyance. Formed downstream of the first stirring screw by the conveyance capability inhibition part is a toner accumulation part, and the amount of toner refilled from a toner refill port is adjusted. Where an aperture area of the first communication path is A1 and a circular area formed by an outer circumferential edge of the first stirring screw in section orthogonal to the first rotation axis is A2, relationship 0.5×A2<A1<1.2×A2 is satisfied.

Abstract: A toner replenishment device includes a toner receiving port, a toner feed unit feeding toner from the toner receiving port into the device, a toner detector detecting that the device has been filled with a specified amount of the toner, an agitating member having an agitating blade and rotating so as to agitate the toner in the device, a position detector detecting a rotational position of the agitating member and generating a signal indicative thereof, and a recognition unit recognizing the rotational position based on the signal output from the position detector. The toner feed unit feeds the toner into the device when an end edge of the agitating blade is within a specified range, in which a flow path of the toner from the toner receiving port to the toner detector is not blocked by the agitating blade, based on the recognition performed by the recognition unit.

Abstract: Provided is a powder transport device including a guide tube that guides a falling powder, a guide member that guides transport of the fallen powder, a transport member that is disposed in the guide member, has a helical member extending in a transport direction of the powder, and transports the fallen powder through rotation, and a swing member that is disposed at a lower end portion of the guide tube, and has a portion which is folded or bent in a direction of enclosing inner wall surfaces of the guide tube and a convex portion which intermittently contacts with the helical member so as to swing the portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a developing device, a support frame, a developer case, and an intermediate hopper. The support frame selectively positions the developing device to a detachment position and a developing position. The intermediate hopper includes a first hopper, a second hopper, and a third hopper. The first hopper receives developer from the developer case through a developer inlet port. The second hopper has a developer outlet port, through which the developer is supplied to the developing device. The upper and lower end portions of the third hopper are respectively connected to the first and second hoppers. Parts where the first to third hoppers are connected one another are rotatable in directions that allow the support frame to move.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing apparatus and a toner container which replenishes the developing apparatus with toner. The developing apparatus includes a first conveyance member having a first rotational shaft and a toner replenishment port. The toner container includes a second conveyance member having a second rotational shaft and a toner discharge port. The developing apparatus and the toner container are assembled in such a manner that the first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft are in mutually perpendicular directions, and the toner replenishment port and the toner discharge port are mutually overlapping in a vertical direction. The second conveyance member rotates in a direction whereby the toner is discharged from the toner discharge port to the toner replenishment port at a position on an upstream side of the toner replenishment port in terms of the toner conveyance direction.

Abstract: A toner supplying device including a secondary toner container, a first feeding member performing a first feeding operation of feeding toner from a toner container to the secondary container on demand, a second feeding member performing a second feeding operation of feeding the toner from the secondary container to a developing device on demand, and a toner supply controller controlling the amount of the toner in the secondary container to be greater than a predetermined amount. The controller performs first control in which when the first feeding operation is performed, the amount of the toner fed in the second feeding operation per unit of time is decreased, or second control in which when the amount of the toner fed in the second feeding operation is greater than a predetermined amount, the amount of the toner fed in the first feeding operation per unit of time is decreased.

Abstract: A powder transport device includes a transport path having a supply port. Powder supplied through the supply port together with old powder already contained in the transport path is transported through the transport path. The powder transport device also includes a transport member, which is rotatably disposed in the transport path and includes a rotational shaft and a spiral blade disposed on the rotational shaft. The powder supplied through the supply port and the old powder are transported toward a downstream side in a powder transporting direction and mixed with each other by rotation of the transport member. The transport path includes a regulating portion regulating transportation of powder that is a mixture of the powder supplied through the supply port and the old powder toward the downstream side. The transport member includes an accumulation portion that opposes the regulating portion and causes the powder to accumulate.

Abstract: A toner replenishment device includes a toner receiving port, a toner feed unit feeding toner from the toner receiving port into the device, a toner detector detecting that the device has been filled with a specified amount of the toner, an agitating member having an agitating blade and rotating so as to agitate the toner in the device, a position detector detecting a rotational position of the agitating member and generating a signal indicative thereof, and a recognition unit recognizing the rotational position based on the signal output from the position detector. The toner feed unit feeds the toner into the device when an end edge of the agitating blade is within a specified range, in which a flow path of the toner from the toner receiving port to the toner detector is not blocked by the agitating blade, based on the recognition performed by the recognition unit.

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 blush 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 blush whereby the refill toner is favorably stirred with a surrounding toner.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body in which a developer containing chamber and a discharge outlet are formed, a developer conveyance member disposed inside the developer containing chamber and including a first conveyance portion and a second conveyance portion downstream from the first conveyance portion in a developer conveyance director, a canopy disposed inside the container body and facing the discharge outlet, a developer conveyance chamber defined by the canopy and an inner face of the container body in which the discharge outlet is formed, and a return opening formed in the canopy downstream from the discharge outlet. A developer conveyance velocity (Q2) of the second conveyance portion of the developer conveyance member to transports the developer toward the return opening is slower than a developer conveyance velocity (Q1) of the first conveyance portion of the developer conveyance member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control portion. The control portion determines a developer near end when the residual amount of a developer is in a range from a first predetermined amount to a second predetermined amount, and determines a developer end when the residual amount of the developer is equal to or lower than the second predetermined amount. Besides, in a case where the control portion determines the developer end after a predetermined number of printings are executed in a developer near end state, the control portion supplies the developer from a developer supply device to a development device via a first supply opening, and in a case where the control portion determines the developer end after more than the predetermined number of printings are executed, the control portion supplies the developer from the developer supply device to the development device via a second supply opening.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container, a developing unit, a developer outlet and a replenishment developer inlet. The developer container contains a developer composed of a toner and a first carrier. The developing unit develops an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier using the developer. The developer outlet discharges the developer. The replenishment developer inlet supplies a replenishment developer to the developer container. The replenishment developer includes a second carrier. A ratio of a poured bulk density of the second carrier to a poured bulk density of the first carrier ranges from 1.05 to 1.65.

Abstract: A toner case includes a main body that contains toner, a discharge port located in the main body through which toner is discharged, an agitating unit rotatably positioned in the main body for agitating the toner, a transportation unit rotatably positioned in the main body for transporting the toner toward the discharge port, and a driving unit that drives the transportation unit and the agitating unit. The driving unit is rotatable forward and backward. When the driving unit rotates in one rotation direction, the agitating unit and the transportation unit rotate. When the driving unit rotates in the other rotation direction, the transportation unit does not rotate and the agitating unit rotates in the same direction as a direction in which the agitating unit rotates when the driving unit rotates in the one rotation direction.

Abstract: A toner replenishment device includes a toner receiving port, a toner feed unit feeding toner from the toner receiving port into the device, a toner detector detecting that the device has been filled with a specified amount of the toner, an agitating member having an agitating blade and rotating so as to agitate the toner in the device, a position detector detecting a rotational position of the agitating member and generating a signal indicative thereof, and a recognition unit recognizing the rotational position based on the signal output from the position detector. The toner feed unit feeds the toner into the device when an end edge of the agitating blade is within a specified range, in which a flow path of the toner from the toner receiving port to the toner detector is not blocked by the agitating blade, based on the recognition performed by the recognition unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that may securely mix a toner and a carrier in a minimum space when high-speed printing is performed. The image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; and a developing unit, wherein the developing unit includes: a receiving or transferring unit for receiving or transferring a two-component developing agent in an axial direction of a developing roller; and a preparatory agitation unit disposed on an end part of the receiving or transferring unit and including an agitation screw that has a large diameter and for mixing the newly-supplied toner and the carrier.

Abstract: A developing device of this disclosure has: a housing, a developing roller, a developer conveying path, a partition board, a second communication path, a developer receiving port, a first conveying member, a second conveying member, and a conveyance capability inhibition part. A toner is cyclically conveyed in a first conveying path and a second conveying path. A first stirring screw is disposed in the first conveying path and driven into ration around a first rotation axis for toner conveyance. Formed downstream of the first stirring screw by the conveyance capability inhibition part is a toner accumulation part, and the amount of toner refilled from a toner refill port is adjusted. Where an aperture area of the first communication path is A1 and a circular area formed by an outer circumferential edge of the first stirring screw in section orthogonal to the first rotation axis is A2, relationship 0.5×A2<A1<1.2×A2 is satisfied.

Abstract: A developing device comprises a first and a second developer conveyance path; a first conveyance member; a second conveyance member; and, a developing roller. A developer collection path guides the developer left on a surface of the developing roller in a direction away from the first developer conveyance path. A third conveyance member is provided in a third developer conveyance path. A toner supply port supplies new toner to the third developer conveyance path. A developer drawing and conveyance path guides the developer supplied with the new toner to the second developer conveyance path. A developer drawing member is provided in the developer drawing and conveyance path for simultaneously agitating and conveying the developer.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier configured to carry on a surface thereof a developer, the developer carrier being disposed to face a latent image carrier, a developer tank having the developer carrier, a developer container configured to house the developer to be supplied to the developer tank, the developer container being connected to the developer tank through a partition having an opening, and a developer carrier member configured to carry the developer in the developer container, the developer being supplied to the developer tank from the opening while being carried by the developer carrier member, and the amount of developer to be supplied to the developer tank from the opening being gradually increased in a developer carrying direction of the developer carrier member.

Abstract: A development device mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a photoconductive drum in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface thereof, the development device comprising: a developer tank; a development roller that is provided in the developer tank; first and second developer conveying paths; and first and second developer conveying spiral members that conveying the developer in the circulating manner in the first and second developer conveying paths, wherein at least one of the first and second developer conveying spiral members further includes an end blade that is provided at one end of the rotary shaft, the end blade includes: a spiral blade portion that is fixed to the circumferential surface of the rotary shaft; and a circumferential agitating plate portion that is fixed to a circumferential portion of the spiral blade portion.

Abstract: A toner replenishment apparatus for a dry electrophotographic (EP) printer includes a rotatable transport subsystem in the developer. The subsystem includes an elongated housing with a feed port and various apertures arranged along its length. A channel within the housing receives toner from the toner supply through the feed port. A toner transport member in the channel moves toner received through the feed port to the apertures, and a developer-mixing member attached to the outside of the housing mixes toner and carrier particles in the developer. The toner transport member is stationary or rotates at a different angular velocity than the housing. When the rotation of the transport subsystem brings a selected one of the apertures below the center of the housing, toner passes through the selected aperture into the developer in the sump, and is mixed into the developer by the developer-mixing member as the transport subsystem rotates.

Abstract: A developing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a developer container, a stirring member, a magnetic roller, a developing roller, a developer supply port, and a developer discharge portion. The developer discharge portion includes a discharge blade having a spiral blade and conveying an excess developer, a developer discharge port through which the excess developer conveyed by the discharge blade is discharged outside of the developer container, and an air outlet through which an airflow in the developer container passes toward the outside of the developer container. The developer discharge port is located at a position lower than the upper surface of the developer present in the developer discharge portion; and the air outlet is located at a position higher than the upper surface of the developer present in the developer discharge portion.

Abstract: A development device includes a development portion to develop a latent image; an agitation container to contain developer; a circulation system through which the developer is circulated between the development portion and the agitation container; a developer replenishing device to supply fresh developer to the agitation container; an agitator, provided inside the agitation container, to agitate and mix the developer collected from the development portion and the fresh developer from the developer replenishing device; and a developer escape chamber to discharge surplus developer in the agitation container, projecting from and continuous with the agitation container, the developer escape chamber defining a communication pathway in a side of the agitation container between the agitation container and the developer escape chamber through which the developer is moved between the agitation container and the developer escape chamber and having a discharge opening whose lower end is positioned higher than the commun

Abstract: A developer tank of a developing device is partitioned into a first conveyance path, a second conveyance path, a first communicating path and a second communicating path with a partition. A first developer conveying member that conveys a developer in a first developer conveying direction is provided in the first conveyance path. A second developer conveying member that conveys the developer in a second developer conveying direction is provided in the second conveyance path. In the first developer conveying member, a double spiral blade is provided on a downstream side in the first developer conveying direction from a first conveying blade of the first developer conveying member, the double spiral blade including an inner spiral blade that conveys the developer in a first direction and an outer spiral blade that conveys the developer in a second direction.

Abstract: A developing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developer cartridge detachably mounted on the developing unit, a developing case in which a developing member and a first supply member are provided, a developer supply passage to supply a developer stored in the developer cartridge to the developing case, and a developer supplement unit mounted in a portion connecting the developing case and the developer supply passage, to agitate the developer supplied through the developer supply passage and to supply the agitated developer to the developing case.

Abstract: A developing device for supplying a developer to an image bearing member is provided with a housing configured to define a passage for movement of the developer and a replenishment path configured to communicate with the passage and supply the developer to the passage; a conveyor configured to move the developer in the passage and the replenishment path; and a switching device configured to switch one moving direction to another moving direction of the developer by the conveyor to selectively move the developer toward the replenishment path.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member; a first feeding path in which a developer is to be supplied and fed to the developer carrying member at a position in which the first feeding path opposes the developer carrying member; a second feeding path, communicating with the first feeding path, for forming a circulation path with the first feeding path; a discharge opening for permitting discharge of an excessive developer in the developing device; a first supply opening, located downstream of the first feeding path opposing the developer carrying member with respect to a developer feeding direction and located upstream of the discharge opening with respect to the developer feeding direction, for permitting supply of a first developer containing at least toner; and a second supply opening, located upstream of the first feeding path with respect to the developer feeding direction and located downstream of the discharge opening with respect to the developer feeding direction, for permitting supply

Abstract: Provided is a toner dispersing mechanism, including: a housing arranged between a toner storage container and a developing device and provided with a toner filling port communicating to the toner storage container and a toner discharge port communicating to the developing device; and a dispersing member constituted by a large number of dispersing protrusions formed of an elastic material on a rotary shaft rotatably supported in the housing and on an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft, in which toner replenished from the toner storage container is dispersed and discharged into the developing device.

Abstract: Provided is a toner dispersing member including a rotary shaft and dispersing protrusions formed of a flexible film member wound along an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft, the flexible film member including a large number of cuts formed on one side thereof and are directed outward. The toner dispersing member is rotated about the rotary shaft so that a lump of toner coming into contact with the dispersing protrusions is dispersed.

Abstract: A powder conveyance device includes a powder container, a conveyance pipe extending downward and including first, second, and third conveyance portions disposed in that order, a first bent portion connecting together the first and second conveyance portions, bent in a direction to increase a horizontal gradient of the second conveyance portion from that of the first conveyance portion, and a second bent portion connecting together the second and third conveyance portions, bent in a direction to reduce a horizontal gradient of the third conveyance portion from that of the second conveyance portion, a powder conveyance member disposed inside the conveyance pipe, and a first powder regulator movably disposed inside the third conveyance portion of the conveyance pipe, to restrict an amount of powder discharged through the discharge port by varying a cross sectional area of a space present above a discharge port in the conveyance pipe.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which a latent image is formed, a charging device that charges the image carrier, an exposing device that irradiates the image carrier, thereby forming a latent image on the image carrier, a developing device that develops the latent image into a visible image by using a monocomponent developer that is carried and transferred by a developer carrier and that is charged to a predetermined polarity, and a toner supply container that is installed in the developing device for toner supply. Used old toner is conveyed from the developing device to the toner supply container and mixed with unused new toner within the toner supply container and thus a mixed toner is produced, and the mixed toner is supplied to the developing device.

Abstract: A casing of a developing apparatus defines a developing chamber and a developer accommodating chamber, that accommodates developer, therein. The developing chamber and the developer accommodating chamber are arranged side by side. The casing is formed with a replenishing port for supplying new developer from a developer replenishing unit into the developing chamber. The replenishing port is located right above a supply roller when the developing apparatus is disposed in an orientation in which the developing apparatus is intended to be placed in a main casing of an image forming apparatus. The control unit controls the supply roller to rotate when the developing apparatus is mounted in the main casing. The supply roller stirs old developer that have already been located in the developing chamber and the new developer, and transports the old developer and the new developer from the developing chamber into the developer accommodating chamber.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device having a toner supply sensor, a toner supply device supplying toner to the developing device, a toner supply controller controlling toner supply from the toner supply device to the developing device based on predetermined conditions, a toner empty determiner determining whether toner is present inside the toner supply device. In the image forming apparatus, the toner supply device includes a storage for recording multiple measured values of toner supply detected by the toner supply sensor, and the toner supply controller corrects the amount of toner supply, based on the moving average of multiple measured values of the amount of toner supply.

Abstract: A method of applying toner to a photoconductor in an electrophotographic printing apparatus includes feeding developer from a feed auger channel to a roller; transferring toner from the development roller to a photoconductor; removing depleted developer from the development roller to a return auger channel; refreshing the depleted developer with fresh toner; combining the refreshed developer with unused developer in the feed auger channel; transferring the combined refreshed developer to a mixing channel; transferring the mixed developer to the feed auger channel; and wherein an axis of the development roller is tilted with respect to an axis of the toning roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying toner to a photoconductor in an electrophotographic printing apparatus includes a feed auger for feeding developer from a channel to a toning roller. The toning roller transfers toner to a photoconductor. Depleted developer is removed from the toning roller to a return auger channel where it is refreshed with fresh toner. The refreshed developer is combined with the unused developer in the feed auger channel. The combined refreshed developer is transferred to a mixing channel. The mixed developer is transferred to the feed auger channel. An axis of the feed auger is tilted with respect to an axis of the toning roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is supplied capable of informing user just after developer in an accommodating section is exhausted.