Abstract: A powder container includes a powder chamber for containing powder for forming images, a powder outlet formed in a face of the powder container, and a shutter assembly to open and close the powder outlet and including first and second shutters. The first shutter is movable between a sealing position to close the powder outlet and an open position to open the powder outlet and includes a pressed member to cancel retention of the first shutter at the sealing position. The second shutter includes a pressing projection that interferes with the pressed member of the first shutter and is movable between a shielding position to cover the pressed member without interference between the pressing projection and the pressed member and a releasing position to press the pressed member with the pressing projection.

Abstract: In a developing apparatus, a housing has a first opening. A shutter is movable between an open position and a closed position. A locking member is movable between a lock position and a release position. The locking member is located between the housing and the shutter in a cartridge-attachment direction. The locking member is located at the lock position in a case where the toner cartridge is detached from the developing apparatus. The locking member is in contact with the toner cartridge, thereby moving from the lock position to the release position in a case where the toner cartridge is attached to the developing apparatus. A cover having a second opening that is in communication with the first opening in a state where the shutter is at the open position is located at an opposite side of the locking member with respect to the shutter in the cartridge-attachment direction.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing portion to supply toner, a toner storing portion to store the toner, a partition wall formed between the developing portion and the toner storing portion and having a toner supply section, and a storing-portion agitating member rotatably disposed in the toner storing portion to intermittently rotate to move the toner in the toner storing portion while the developing portion supplies the toner.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes a waste toner container having an opening at an upper portion, and a shutter mechanism that opens or closes the opening. The shutter mechanism includes a receiving portion including an insertion port through which the waste toner discharging unit is inserted, the receiving portion having an inner space connected with an inner space of the waste toner container through the opening, a shutter member disposed in the receiving portion to be movable between an open position and a closing position, and an urging member that urges the shutter member to the closing position. The shutter member includes a ridge on an upper portion of an outer circumferential surface. The ridge has a protrusion height corresponding to a gap between the outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface of the receiving portion.

Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.

Abstract: A toner container attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming device and including: a first chamber containing toner; a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber through a partition wall and downstream of the first chamber in a toner supply direction; and a switching member in the second chamber that is movable or rotatable and has a shell structure. The partition wall has a first aperture. A bottom wall of the second chamber opposing the partition wall has a second aperture and sits on the main body. The shell has third and fourth apertures. The fourth aperture coincides with the second aperture when the third aperture coincides with the first aperture, and the first aperture is closed by the shell when the third aperture faces an inner wall surface of the second chamber.

Abstract: A developing device includes developer, a developer bearing member, and a supply member that is in contact with the developer bearing member and supplies the developer. The developing device further includes a developing chamber in which the developer bearing member and the supply member are disposed, a developer containing chamber that contains the developer, a partition wall that partitions the developing chamber and the developer containing chamber from each other and is provided with an opening that communicates the developing chamber and the developer containing chamber with each other, and a conveyance member that conveys the developer from the developer containing chamber to the developing chamber. The conveyance member is provided with a hole through which the developer can pass or has a protrusion that generates a gap between the conveyance member and the partition wall.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a shutter that opens and closes when the cartridge is attached and detached to a developing unit or image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a casing having a chamber with a first opening at one end portion allowing toner to flow out of the casing. The cartridge includes a cover that covers the first opening, movable with the casing and having a second opening allowing toner to flow out of the cover. The shutter is located at the one end portion and has a protrusion further from the one end portion than the cover. The developing unit supports the protrusion when the cartridge is mounted thereon, and the casing pivots with the cover relative to the developing unit between a first position where the shutter closes the second opening and a second position where a third opening of the shutter overlaps the second opening.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer, with the developer accommodating body being rotatable about a rotational axis. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body including a discharge opening through which the developer can be discharged from the developer discharging body. A track is provided on each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a developing device, and a supplying device including a storage unit and a transport unit, wherein the storage unit stores toner and includes a bag having a flexible material, the transport unit uses suction pressure to transport the toner from the storage unit and supplies to the developing device, the toner contains an amorphous polyester resin, toner particles of the toner have a weight average molecular weight Mw and a number average molecular weight Mn, the weight average molecular weight Mw is in a range of 25,000 to 60,000, a ratio Mw/Mn is in a range the range of 5 to 10, a ratio (P2/P1) of a peak height of an absorption peak of the toner particles at a wavenumber of 820 cm?1 (P2) to a peak height of the absorption peak at a wavenumber of 720 cm?1 (P1) is 0.

Abstract: The powder container includes a container body containing a powder for image formation, the powder being to be supplied to a powder replenishing device; a conveyor configured to convey the powder from one end in a longitudinal direction to the other end at which a cylindrical container opening is formed, the conveyor being provided inside the container body; a gear configured to rotate the conveyor with an external driving force; a container cover configured to cover the gear, the container cover having a gear exposing hole for partially exposing a gear tooth; and a nozzle receiver configured to guide the conveying nozzle inside of the container body, the nozzle receiver being provided on the container opening. The container cover includes a container engaged portion provided outer than the tooth of the gear in a radial direction.

Abstract: A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.

Abstract: A toner cartridge supporting apparatus includes a storage portion, an insertion port, an opening/closing cover, a detecting portion for detecting a toner remaining amount, a control portion for controlling toner supply, a judging portion to judge whether or not a toner in a toner cartridge is exhausted, a message generating portion for generating a replacement message, a display portion for displaying the message, a toner cartridge replacement icon, and a toner cartridge moving portion, wherein a toner cartridge replacement message display function and a toner cartridge movement instruction function are provided as the control portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transferor to rotate in a predetermined rotation direction, a plurality of image bearers disposed along the intermediate transferor to bear latent images, a plurality of developing devices to develop the latent images, a plurality of developer containers to contain developers, and a plurality of conveyance paths each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of developing devices and a respective one of the plurality of developer containers to supply the developers to the plurality of developing devices respectively. An arrangement of the plurality of developing devices in the predetermined rotation direction is configured to be changed without changing an arrangement of the plurality of developer containers. A layout of the plurality of conveyance paths is configured to be changed without changing connections between a supply source and a supply destination of the plurality of conveyance paths.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a shutter that opens and closes when the cartridge is attached and detached to a developing unit or image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a casing having a chamber with a first opening at one end portion allowing toner to flow out of the casing. The cartridge includes a cover that covers the first opening, movable with the casing and having a second opening allowing toner to flow out of the cover. The shutter is located at the one end portion and has a protrusion further from the one end portion than the cover. The developing unit supports the protrusion when the cartridge is mounted thereon, and the casing pivots with the cover relative to the developing unit between a first position where the shutter closes the second opening and a second position where a third opening of the shutter overlaps the second opening.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing tank that is long in shape and that stores a developer; and a developer carrier that carries the developer stored in the developing tank. The developing tank includes a filling portion through which the developing tank is filled with the developer, the developer carrier is provided on one side in a width direction that is orthogonal to both a longitudinal direction of the developing tank and a vertical direction of the developing tank, and the filling portion is provided on the other side of the developing tank in the width direction, the other side is apart from the developer carrier.

Abstract: A toner container includes a container body, a tubular body, and a screw feeder. The tubular body forms a toner conveyance path communicating with an inside of the container body. The screw feeder feeds toner in the container body to the toner conveyance path by being rotationally driven inside the container body. The screw feeder pushes toner that has arrived inside the toner conveyance path further along the toner conveyance path by feeding pressure of succeeding toner.

Abstract: A toner container is detachably attachable to a developing device. The developing device includes an inlet to be poured with a toner, an inlet shutter to move between a closed position, at which the inlet is closed, and an open position, at which the inlet is open, a biasing mechanism to bias the inlet shutter toward the closed position, an engaged structure provided in the inlet shutter, an engaging structure to engage with the engaged structure and to retain the inlet shutter at the open position against a biasing force of the biasing mechanism, and an engagement releasing structure provided in the inlet shutter and to release an engaging state between the engaged structure and the engaging structure. The toner container includes a contacting surface to contact with the engagement releasing structure and to make the engagement releasing structure release the engaging state.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a toner cartridge which is housed in a cartridge housing portion, and a pushing-out unit, and the toner cartridge includes a CRUM chip. The CRUM chip stores specific information about whether the toner cartridge can be extracted at a housed position where the toner cartridge is housed in the cartridge housing portion. The pushing-out unit pushes-out the toner cartridge in a direction that the toner cartridge can be extracted from the cartridge housing portion in a case where the specific information indicates that the toner cartridge cannot be extracted at the housed position.

Abstract: A toner container is detachably attachable to a developing device. The developing device includes an inlet to be poured with a toner, an inlet shutter to move between a closed position, at which the inlet is closed, and an open position, at which the inlet is open, a biasing mechanism to bias the inlet shutter toward the closed position, an engaged structure provided in the inlet shutter, an engaging structure to engage with the engaged structure and to retain the inlet shutter at the open position against a biasing force of the biasing mechanism, and an engagement releasing structure provided in the inlet shutter and to release an engaging state between the engaged structure and the engaging structure. The toner container includes a contacting surface to contact with the engagement releasing structure and to make the engagement releasing structure release the engaging state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a photoconductor; an exposing device configured to expose the photoconductor and form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor; a developing device including a developing roller configured to form a developer image on the photoconductor; a developer storage storing developer; a supplier configured to supply the developer from the developer storage to the developing device; and a controller configured to execute: a rotating process of rotating the developing roller; a developing process of developing, by the developing device, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor; a supplying process of supplying, by the supplier, the developer to the developing device; and a stopping process of stopping rotation of the developing roller after the supplying process has been suspended in a case where the supplying process is being executed.

Abstract: Provided is a developing device including a developer carrier that holds developer, a supply member that supplies the developer to the developer carrier while agitating the developer, a transport member that is disposed obliquely upward in a vertical direction of the supply member, delivers and transports the developer with agitating the developer through a passageway portion provided at each end portion in an axial direction of the supply member, and a regulating member that is provided at a position corresponding to the passageway portion that delivers the developer from the supply member to the transport member, to regulate movement of the developer from the supply member to the developer carrier.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a second rotator and a case side joint. The case main body contains a toner supplied to a development device which includes a first rotator. The second rotator is disposed inside the case main body. The case side joint couples the second rotator to the first rotator. The case main body includes a case having a case side bonded area and a lid having a lid side bonded area. The lid has a lid main body, a rotator storage and a joint storage. The lid main body includes a circumferential edge around which the lid side bonded area is formed. The rotator storage extends inside the circumferential edge and stores the second rotator. The joint storage is connected to the rotator storage and formed so as to avoid the lid side bonded area. The joint storage stores the case side joint.

Abstract: A removable device is to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body. The removable device includes a conveying drive gear attached to a first rotational shaft, an agitating drive gear attached to a second rotational shaft, and a torque transmission gear attached to a third rotational shaft. When an addendum circle diameter of the conveying drive gear is A, and an addendum circle diameter of the agitating drive gear is B, B>A is satisfied. The torque transmission gear moves around the conveying drive gear to access the agitating drive gear.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer, with the developer accommodating body being rotatable about a rotational axis. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body having a discharge opening provided in a bottom portion of the developer discharging body and configured to discharge the developer from the developer discharging body, and with the developer accommodating body being rotatable relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided on each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.

Abstract: In a developing apparatus, a housing has a first opening. A shutter is movable between an open position and a closed position. A locking member is movable between a lock position and a release position. The locking member is located between the housing and the shutter in a cartridge-attachment direction. The locking member is located at the lock position in a case where the toner cartridge is detached from the developing apparatus. The locking member is in contact with the toner cartridge, thereby moving from the lock position to the release position in a case where the toner cartridge is attached to the developing apparatus. A cover having a second opening that is in communication with the first opening in a state where the shutter is at the open position is located at an opposite side of the locking member with respect to the shutter in the cartridge-attachment direction.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer, with the developer accommodating body being rotatable about a rotational axis. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body having a discharge opening provided in a bottom portion of the developer discharging body and configured to discharge the developer from the developer discharging body, and with the developer accommodating body being rotatable relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided on each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.

Abstract: A developer supply device includes a container body that receives and contains a developer with which a toner cartridge is filled and that has a supply port used for supplying the developer, which is contained in the container body, to a developing device, a sensing member that detects the developer contained in the container body, a first transport member that is rotatably disposed in the container body and that transports the developer at a first transport speed by rotating, and a second transport member that is rotatably disposed in the container body in such a manner as to face the sensing member and that transports the developer at a second transport speed that is higher than the first transport speed by rotating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a toner reservoir, a toner replenishing device, a development driving device, a developer amount detecting sensor, and a controller. The developing device includes a developing container, a first stirring-conveyance member, a second stirring-conveyance member, and a developer carrier. The developing container includes a first conveyance chamber and a second conveyance chamber disposed above the first conveyance chamber. The developer amount detecting sensor detects an amount of developer that falls from the second conveyance chamber to the vicinity of a toner replenishing port in the first conveyance chamber. The controller controls the driving of the toner replenishing device or the driving of the development driving device based on a result of detection performed by the developer amount detecting sensor, and thereby keeps a replenished-toner concentration in the developer substantially constant in the vicinity of the toner replenishing port.

Abstract: The present disclosure features an image forming apparatus having a first developing unit having a first developing roller; and a first toner supply unit configured to supply toner to the first developing unit, the first toner supply unit having: a first container configured to accommodate the toner therein, the first container having a first inlet opening through which the toner is received in the first container and a first outlet opening through which the toner in the first container is discharged; a first lid configured to close the first inlet opening; and a first shutter configured to open the first outlet opening when the first lid closes the first inlet opening, and to close the first outlet opening when the first lid opens the first inlet opening.

Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner and a drive shaft positioned in the reservoir. The drive shaft is rotatable about a rotational axis in an operative rotational direction. A toner agitator extends from the drive shaft in the reservoir. The toner agitator is rotatable around the rotational axis of the drive shaft as the drive shaft rotates. The toner agitator folds relative to the drive shaft counter to the operative rotational direction if resistance to rotation of the toner agitator provided by toner in the reservoir exceeds a threshold amount. The toner agitator is biased relative to the drive shaft in the operative rotational direction. A radial length of the toner agitator decreases when the toner agitator folds relative to the drive shaft counter to the operative rotational direction.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer, with the developer accommodating body being rotatable about a rotational axis. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body having a discharge opening provided in a bottom portion of the developer discharging body and configured to discharge the developer from the developer discharging body, and with the developer accommodating body being rotatable relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided on each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.

Abstract: In the case that a developer supply container is provided with a feeding portion for feeding a developer by receiving a rotational force and a pump portion for discharging the developer by reciprocation, and the rotational force and a reciprocating force are received from a main assembly side of an image forming apparatus, there is a liability that a driving connection is not properly established between a portion of the developer supply container for receiving the reciprocating force and a portion of the main assembly side for applying the reciprocating force. The developer supply container is provided with a drive converting mechanism for converting the rotational force received from the main assembly side to a force for operating a volume changing type pump.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion configured to accommodate developer, and a discharge opening configured and positioned to permit discharging of the developer in the developer accommodating portion, with the discharge opening having an area not more than 12.6 mm2. In addition, a driving force receiving portion is configured and positioned to receive a driving force, and a pump portion is configured and positioned to act on the developer accommodating portion by the driving force received by the driving force receiving portion to alternately change an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion between a pressure lower than an ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure to discharge the developer through the discharge opening.

Abstract: A toner receiving device includes a toner receiving port, a seal member, an opening/closing member, and an elastic member. The toner receiving port receives toner supplied from a toner case. The seal member is elastic and provided on a peripheral edge of the toner receiving port. The opening/closing member closes and opens the toner receiving port by moving between a closing position to close the toner receiving port while contacting the seal member and an opening position to open the toner receiving port. The opening/closing member moves from the closing position to the opening position when attaching the toner case to a predetermined attachment position. The elastic member applies to the opening/closing member an elastic biasing force that is obliquely downward in a closing direction in which the opening/closing member moves from the opening position to the closing position.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a rotatable developer bearing member, a first conveyance screw in a first chamber to convey the developer, and a second conveyance screw in a second chamber to convey the developer. The second conveyance screw includes a first screw portion facing a communication portion between the first and second chambers, a second screw portion downstream of the first screw portion, and a third screw portion downstream of the first screw portion and upstream of the second screw portion and facing the second communication portion. The first screw portion includes a first blade portion formed spirally around a rotation shaft of the second conveyance screw, the second screw portion has a second blade portion formed spirally around the rotation shaft of the second conveyance screw, and the third screw portion comprises no blade portion formed spirally around the rotation shaft of the second conveyance screw.

Abstract: A locking device includes a locking cover that is opened and closed when a toner container is attached and detached, an engagement part that is engaged with the locking cover in a closed state, a tension member that pulls the engagement part, thereby allowing the engagement part to be engaged with the locking cover, a movement part that moves the engagement part in an opposite direction to release an engagement state between the engagement part and the locking cover, and a mounting member that is mountable at an image forming apparatus body at two postures, and limits movement of the movement part in the opposite direction to maintain the engagement state when the mounting member is mounted at one posture while permitting the movement of the movement part in the opposite direction to allow the engagement state to be releasable when the mounting member is mounted at the other posture.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter, a moving mechanism and a shutter. The case main body has a discharge port. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter is arranged outside the case main body. As the shutter moves along a rotation axis direction of the rotator from a closing position where the shutter closes the discharge port to an opening position where the shutter opens the discharge port, the moving mechanism moves the transmitter from a first position to a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in the rotation axis direction. As the shutter moves from the opening position to the closing position, the moving mechanism moves the transmitter from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: In a developing apparatus, a housing has a first opening. A shutter is movable between an open position and a closed position. A locking member is movable between a lock position and a release position. The locking member is located between the housing and the shutter in a cartridge-attachment direction. The locking member is located at the lock position in a case where the toner cartridge is detached from the developing apparatus. The locking member is in contact with the toner cartridge, thereby moving from the lock position to the release position in a case where the toner cartridge is attached to the developing apparatus. A cover having a second opening that is in communication with the first opening in a state where the shutter is at the open position is located at an opposite side of the locking member with respect to the shutter in the cartridge-attachment direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case and an attachment part. The toner case includes a discharge shutter movable between a first closing position where a discharge port is closed and a first opening position where the discharge port is opened. The attachment part includes a replenishment shutter movable between a second closing position where a replenishment port is closed and a second opening position where the replenishment port is opened. As the discharge shutter moves from the first closing position to the first opening position, the discharge shutter presses the replenishment shutter to move the replenishment shutter from the second closing position to the second opening position. As the discharge shutter moves from the first opening position to the first closing position, the discharge shutter presses the replenishment shutter to move the replenishment shutter from the second opening position to the second closing position.

Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus includes a pump portion provided to act at least on said developer discharging chamber and having a volume changeable with expansion and contraction with reciprocation, the cam groove for converting the rotational force received by a gear into a force for decreasing the volume of pump portion, a cam groove for converting the received force into a force for increasing the volume of the pump portion, a cam groove not converting the received force for operating the pump portion, and a phase detecting portion for stopping the rotation of a feeding portion using one of said cam grooves.

Abstract: A replaceable imaging unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes an electrical contact positioned within a pocket of an electrical connector of the imaging unit that has an opening facing toward the front of a housing of the imaging unit to permit a corresponding electrical connector of the image forming device to enter the pocket and contact the electrical contact when the replaceable imaging unit is installed in the image forming device. A guide wall on a first side of the housing is spaced toward the front of the housing from the opening of the pocket of the electrical connector. The guide wall is unobstructed to contact the corresponding electrical connector of the image forming device during insertion of the replaceable imaging unit into the image forming device for aligning the corresponding electrical connector of the image forming device along a vertical dimension of the housing.

Abstract: A developer container includes a memory device with a first marker; and a main body with a second marker, the main body being configured to accommodate a developer. The memory device is attached to the main body such that both the first marker and the second marker are visually recognized.

Abstract: A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.

Abstract: A developing device develops, with developer, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member, and includes a developing tank, a developer carrying member, and a drive input portion. The developing tank stores the developer and has a receiving port and a discharge port through which the developer is received and discharged respectively. The developer carrying member rotates in the developing tank while carrying the developer. The drive input portion receives a rotational force from outside the developing device and transmit the rotational force to a driven rotation shaft that is a rotation shaft of the developer carrying member. The receiving port, the discharge port, and the drive input portion are provided in the developing tank to be close to an end of the developing tank in a longitudinal direction of the developing tank.

Abstract: A powder container includes a discharge port, and a container identifier shape portion provided on a front end surface of the powder container in an insertion direction and that functions to identify a type of the powder container, the insertion direction being a direction in which the container body is inserted. The powder container further includes a driven portion that interlocks with a first main-body interlocking portion of the image forming apparatus at the time of setting in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and an identifier opening group that starts to interlock with a second main-body interlocking portion of the image forming apparatus after the driven portion starts to interlock with the first main-body interlocking portion. A position of the identifier opening group relative to the driven portion in the circumferential direction varies depending on a type of the powder container to be identified.

Abstract: A unit includes a part that is detachably attachable relative to an other unit, wherein the other unit includes an opening through which image forming powder is supplied from or received by the other unit, and a shutter that opens and closes the opening, and a collecting member that collects the image forming powder falling from at least one of the opening and the shutter by making contact with the shutter when detaching the unit from the other unit.

Abstract: A toner container is detachably attachable to a developing device. The developing device includes an inlet to be poured with a toner, an inlet shutter to move between a closed position, at which the inlet is closed, and an open position, at which the inlet is open, a biasing mechanism to bias the inlet shutter toward the closed position, an engaged structure provided in the inlet shutter, an engaging structure to engage with the engaged structure and to retain the inlet shutter at the open position against a biasing force of the biasing mechanism, and an engagement releasing structure provided in the inlet shutter and to release an engaging state between the engaged structure and the engaging structure. The toner container includes a contacting surface to contact with the engagement releasing structure and to make the engagement releasing structure release the engaging state.

Abstract: A misattachment prevention device for an image forming unit includes multiple developer containing parts that contain individual color developers, and process parts each of which is capable to be engaged with any of the developer containing parts, and forms the image forming unit for an individual color by having one of the developer containing parts engaged, wherein (c) each of the process parts is provided with an intermediate locking member guide part in a place opposing the one of the developer containing parts, and (d) the intermediate locking member guide part is provided with an intermediate locking member that is locked with a locking part formed on the one of the individual developer containing parts, protruded from the intermediate locking member guide part to a side of an apparatus main body, and locked with a locked part formed on the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a housing having first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the housing, respectively, and that run along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Third and fourth alignment guides extend outward from the first side of the housing. The third alignment guide is spaced toward the front of the housing from the fourth alignment guide. Bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are unobstructed to sit on top of a corresponding guide surface in an image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device. The bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are aligned with each other in a vertical dimension of the housing and are positioned higher than the first and second alignment guides.