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 0.60 to 0.95.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing device main body and a developer cartridge detachably mounted to the developing device main body and storing a developer. The developer cartridge includes a case member that stores a developer, a supplying opening provided on the case member, and a first shutter that opens and closes the supplying opening. The developing device main body includes a housing that stores the developer supplied by the developer cartridge, a receiving opening provided on the housing, and a second shutter that opens and closes the receiving opening. The first shutter and the second shutter are configured to move in conjunction with each other.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller and a feed roller accommodated in a developing chamber of a developing frame, a first agitating member accommodated in a storing chamber of the developing frame for agitating the developer by rotating in a prescribed rotational direction while moving the developer in the rotational direction, a second agitating member accommodated in a developer accommodation chamber of a developer cartridge, a wall portion provided between the storing chamber and the developer accommodation chamber and formed with an opening for circulating the developer between the storing chamber and the developer accommodation chamber to face the storing chamber on a position above the upper end portion of the feed roller, and a conveyance member arranged between the opening of the wall portion and the developer accommodation chamber for conveying the developer in an axial direction of the developing roller.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer includes: a flexible container provided with a plurality of openings for permitting discharge of developer. The openings are formed and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating unit. The openings have opening areas such that with respect to the longitudinal direction, the opening area of the opening provided at an end portion is larger than the opening area of the opening provided at a central portion.

Abstract: A toner container includes container main body, conveying screws and container gear. A developing device includes developer housing including container mounting portion, gear holder including output gear which rotates upon receiving rotational drive force from motor and displaceable to engaged position where the output gear is engaged with the container gear and retracted position retracted outward from the engaged position, and biasing spring. The container main body includes a second pressing plate and the gear holder includes a contact portion with which the second pressing plate comes into contact. The second pressing plate and the contact portion displace the gear holder from the engaged position to the retracted position as the toner container moves in a mounting process. When the toner container reaches a predetermined assembled position, the gear holder is returned to the engaged position by a biasing force of the biasing spring.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. The housing has an exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir. A cover is mounted on an exterior portion of the housing that is pivotable between a closed position blocking the exit port and an open position unblocking the exit port. The cover is biased toward the closed position. The cover has a projection extending therefrom such that a force on the projection causes the cover to move toward the open position.

Abstract: A toner container includes a housing and a shutter. The housing includes a toner accommodating chamber. A communication hole is formed in the housing. The communication hole communicates an interior with an exterior of the toner accommodating chamber. The communication hole also includes a replenishment hole, through which toner is supplied to the toner accommodating chamber, and a first collection hole. The shutter is configured to slide between an opening position and a closing position of the communication hole to open/close the communication hole. The shutter moves in a closing direction from the opening position to the closing position to close the replenishment hole and the first collection hole in this order.

Abstract: A powder feed device includes a casing having an opening for receiving a powder from a powder housing portion housing the powder, at least an inner side of the casing having a cylindrical shape; a transport member that is arranged in the casing, extends in a powder transport direction, and rotates and transports the powder to the fed body; and a shutter member that is arranged at a closed position for closing the opening, receives a force from the transport member by its rotation, and moves to an open position for opening the opening. The transport member includes a transport portion that contributes to the powder transport, and a non-transport portion that does not contribute to the powder transport, and handles the movement of the shutter member to the open position. The shutter member moves to the open position when receiving an effect of the non-transport portion.

Abstract: A module installable in an electrostatographic printing apparatus includes a first housing suitable for retaining marking material, and extending substantially a width of a rotatable charge receptor. The first housing includes an input port and an output port. The module includes a second housing external to the first housing, the second housing forms a conduit between the output port and the input port. The second housing contains a quantity of marking material, the quantity being suitable as at least part of an initial fill of marking material for the first housing.

Abstract: A developer supply apparatus includes a buffer portion for storing a developer supplied from a developer container, a feeding device for feeding the developer, stored in the buffer portion, toward a developing device, and a pair of light transmitting members which permit light transmission for detecting the developer in the buffer portion. In addition, a vibrating device vibrates the pair of light transmitting members in an optical axis direction.

Abstract: A toner supply device includes a toner storage, a supply opening, a toner conveyer, a toner supply opening, and an air passage. The toner storage stores toner. Through the supply opening, the toner is supplied to a developing device. The toner conveyer includes an area of space different from an area of space of the toner storage. The toner conveyer conveys the toner stored in the toner storage to supply the toner from the supply opening to the developing device. Through the toner supply opening, the toner is supplied from the toner storage to the toner conveyer. The air passage is at a position different from the toner supply opening. The air passage connects the toner storage to the toner conveyer so as to allow air flowing through the supply opening into the toner conveyer to be supplied to the toner storage through the air passage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station including a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member, using toner; a toner container for accommodating toner, the toner container including an expansion-and-contraction portion capable of being expanded and contracted in a longitudinal direction thereof; opposing side plates; holding members, provided on the side plates, respectively, for holding the toner container; a drive transmission mechanism for transmitting a drive to the image forming station, wherein the drive transmission mechanism is provided on one of the side plates, and wherein the holding member is mounted to the one of the side plates so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the other side plate.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating developer; a discharge opening for discharging the developer from said developer accommodating portion; a pump portion capable of changing an internal pressure of said developer accommodating portion so as to discharge the developer through said discharge opening; a venting portion for permitting venting between an inside and an outside of said developer accommodating portion while preventing flowing of the developer out of said developer accommodating portion; and a ventilation blocking portion for blocking venting of said venting portion at least when said pump portion operates.

Abstract: A powder supply device including a powder storage, a powder discharge part, and an air suction part. The powder storage stores a powder. The powder discharge part is adapted to discharge the powder from the powder storage to a powder container. The powder discharge part is communicatable with the powder storage and connectable to the powder container. The air suction part is adapted to suck an air from the powder container to generate an air current flowing from the powder storage to the powder container.

Abstract: A powder container includes a container body that can be attached to and detached from a powder processing apparatus and that includes an outer wall having an opening; a lid that covers the opening and that is held by a lid holder such that the opening is not covered by the lid when the container body is attached to the powder processing apparatus; a retaining frame that projects from the periphery of the opening and retains the lid in a movable manner; and a suppressing body that projects from the lid by an amount set such that the suppressing body does not come into contact with the outer wall when the lid is moved and such that, if the lid is inclined while being held, the suppressing body comes into contact with the outer wall to suppress the inclination of the lid before the lid is released.

Abstract: A development device can include a developer containing part containing developer, a carrier to carry developer that is supplied from the developer containing part to a development range, a partition dividing the developer containing part into a supply part and a circulation part beneath the supply part to collect developer from the carrier, a first transport member in the supply part of the developer containing part to supply developer from the supply part to the carrier, and a second transport member in the circulation part to transport developer in the circulation part in an axial direction of the carrier. The device can also include a removable seal member, which seals a supplied-developer and/or a collected-developer communicating area.

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: In one example, a toner container for an electrophotographic printer includes a toner supply reservoir having a capacity sufficient to store enough toner to print a minimum number of pages that corresponds to a predetermined expected useful life of the printer. In another example, a toner container for an electrophotographic printer includes a toner supply reservoir that, when the container is installed in the printer, extends longitudinally a distance greater than the distance between the light source and the photoconductor and laterally substantially the full axial length of the photoconductor. In another example, a toner container for an electrophotographic printer includes an opening for the imaging light beam and a toner supply reservoir that includes a lower chamber extending laterally under the opening and an upper chamber connected to the lower chamber along both sides of the opening.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving powder material dispensing from containers, including toner dispensing from rotating toner cartridge components. The disclosed systems and methods separately agitate a rotating toner bottle, including an apparently, or indicated, expended toner bottle, in an image forming device to dislodge residual toner in the toner bottle without the need to remove the toner bottle from the image forming device to perform manual agitation by modifying a physical configuration of the rotating toner bottle in a manner that improves the performance of the rotating toner bottle by improving the flow of the toner material within the toner bottle. The disclosed physical configurations of the rotating toner bottle impart agitating pulses or disturbances onto rotating toner bottles to disturb any layers of residual toner material formed within the rotating toner bottle that may inhibit flow of the toner material in the rotating toner bottle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a guide member to guide movement of a developing device receiving member, which receives a plurality of developing devices, between the exterior and the interior of an image forming apparatus body. The guide member supports the developing device receiving member to enable rotation of the developing device receiving member within the body.

Abstract: A developing device includes a transporting unit that rotates while facing an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, the transporting unit transporting developer toward the image carrier; a feeding unit that contacts the transporting unit to feed the developer to the transporting unit; a transport path that connects a containing chamber that contains the developer to a feeding chamber that houses the feeding unit; a supplying unit that retains the developer to be supplied in the transport path and supplies the developer to the feeding unit in a supply region that is separated from a contact region in which the feeding unit contacts the transporting unit; and an attaching unit that is disposed downstream of the contact region and upstream of the supply region in a rotation direction of the feeding unit and that attaches the developer to the feeding unit at a location below the contact region.

Abstract: A developer supplying device includes an inflow path; a guide path having an inlet to which a lower end of the inflow path is connected, the guide path extending diagonally downward from the inlet, the guide path guiding the developer to a developing unit; and a transport unit disposed in the guide path, the transport unit including a helical screw blade and a holder that holds the helical screw blade, the transport unit transporting the developer to the developing unit by rotating. In at least a part of a region in the guide path facing the inlet, a pitch of the helical screw blade in a horizontal direction is greater than or equal to a width of the inlet, and the holder is located at a position displaced from the rotation axis of the transport unit.

Abstract: A toner cartridge is supported on a supporting apparatus and includes a chamber that holds toner therein. A shutter has a first engagement portion and is slidably mounted on the toner cartridge and is configured to open and close the opening. A second engagement portion is formed on a body of the toner cartridge. The supporting apparatus includes a supporting surface that supports the toner cartridge thereon. A first limiting element limits movement of the toner cartridge in an insertion direction of the toner cartridge. A stopper limits movement of the shutter in the insertion direction when the toner cartridge is inserted into the supporting apparatus. A second limiting element engages the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion to limit movement of the toner cartridge in a pull-out direction of the toner cartridge and movement of the shutter in the pull-out direction.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, an attachment member and a conveying member. The case main body has a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The attachment member is provided at the case main body to be rotatable in normal and reverse rotation directions around a rotation axis. The conveying member is rotatable in the normal and reverse rotation direction around the rotation axis to convey the toner from/to the inside of the case main body to/from a side of the discharge port. When the attachment member is reversely rotated, the conveying member is moved in a direction of the rotation axis between a first position in which the conveying member is reversely rotated together with the attachment member and a second position in which the attachment member runs idle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer tank which houses two-component developer containing toner and carrier, and a supply unit which supplies the developer tank with supply developer containing toner and carrier, wherein, when the ratio of mass of inorganic fine particles attached to the carrier contained in the two-component developer to mass of the carrier contained in the two-component developer is A, and when the ratio of mass of inorganic fine particles attached to the carrier contained in the supply developer to mass of the carrier contained in the supply developer is B, the following Formula (1) is satisfied: 0.7<B/A<0.96??(1).

Abstract: A developer conveyance device includes a developer reservoir for containing developer, and a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by varying a volume of space therein to transport developer from the developer reservoir to a destination. When Qp represents a volume of developer moved by a single pumping action of the pump, calculated by multiplying a maximum flow amount of the pump per unit time by an operation time of the pump; Qd represents a volume of developer contained in the developer reservoir; and Qe represents a volume of developer present in a virtual columnar space defined by vertically raising the developer outlet to a level of developer contained in the developer reservoir, either Qp>Qd or Qp>Qe is satisfied.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing unit; a toner cartridge; a shutter drive member; and a second gear. The toner cartridge is mountable on or detachable from the developing unit and includes a casing defining an internal space for accommodating a developing agent and formed with a communication hole for supplying the developing agent to the developing unit, and a shutter movable between an open position in which the communication hole is open and a closed position in which the communication hole is closed. The shutter drive member includes a first gear that extends in the moving direction of the shutter. The shutter drive member is engageable with the shutter to be movable together with the shutter when the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing unit. The second gear is meshingly engageable with the first gear to transmit a drive force to the first gear. The first gear is disengaged from the second gear when the shutter is in at least one of the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge which is detachably mounted from a first direction to store a toner; and a processing unit which is detachably mounted from a second direction vertical to the first direction and is provided with a photoconductor, a developing section for supplying a toner fed from the toner cartridge to the surface of the photoconductor to convert an electrostatic latent image to a toner image and a cleaning section for collecting the toner adhered on the surface of the photoconductor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image developer to develop an electrostatic latent image and a toner provider to provide a toner from a toner container to the image developer in a direction of gravitational force. The toner container is capable of taking a first position of directing a toner outlet in a horizontal direction; a second position of directing the toner outlet in a direction of gravitational force; and a position of being removed, directing the toner outlet upward relative to the horizontal direction when further rotating from the first position. The toner container includes a main cap member to close the toner outlet when taking the first position and the position of being removed; and a sub-cap member to cover the main cap member while the toner container is displaced from the first position to the position of being removed.

Abstract: A toner transport structure has a transport passage that extends in an intersecting direction that intersects a vertical direction. The toner transport structure includes a path member that has an upper end and a lower end, an exit on a lower end side thereof, and an entrance on an upper end side thereof. The exit and the entrance have respective openings, and the path member guides toner downward in the vertical direction. The toner transport structure also includes a transport member disposed in the transport passage that is connected to the exit on the lower end side of the path member. The transport member transports along the transport passage the toner having been guided downward by the path member. In the toner transport structure, an area of the opening at the exit is larger than an area of the opening at the entrance.

Abstract: A powder container includes a containing portion having an opening and including: an opening/closing member movable between an open position and a closed position, an opening restrained portion on one of the opening/closing member and the containing portion, an opening restraining portion on the other of the opening/closing member and the containing portion at a position corresponding to the opening restrained portion when the opening/closing member is at the closed position, the opening restraining portion restraining movement of the opening/closing member toward the open position by contacting the opening restrained portion, an urged portion on one of the containing portion and the opening/closing member, and an urging portion on the other of the containing portion and the opening/closing member at a position corresponding to the urged portion when the opening/closing member is at the closed position, the urging portion making the opening restraining portion contact the opening restrained portion.

Abstract: A temperature sensor detects information regarding humidity in an atmosphere of a developing container. A temperature sensor detects information regarding humidity in an atmosphere of a toner hopper. An inductance sensor detects information regarding a toner density within the developing container. A printer controller controls a replenishing operation of a replenishing screw member based on image information. The printer controller controls the replenishing operation of the replenishing screw member so that a toner density within the developing container is less than or equal to a predetermined value based on a detection result of the inductance sensor. The printer controller controls the predetermined value to be small when a difference between humidity detection results detected by each of the temperature sensors is large as compared to when the difference is small.

Abstract: An image formation unit includes an image carrier, a developer carrier configured to supply developer to the image carrier to form a developer image on the image carrier, first and second developer supply members configured to supply the developer to the developer carrier, a first developer container room configured to contain therein the developer and accommodating therein the first developer supply member, and a second developer container room configured to contain therein the developer and accommodating therein the second developer supply member.

Abstract: In a disclosed developing device, a developing part includes a developer carrier for circulating a developer inside the developing part and for supplying the developer to an image carrier, a developer supply member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier, and a developer collection member for collecting the developer which is not used. A developer stirring part is arranged at a different position from a position of the developing part. A developer conveyance part carries the developer by an air conveyance in a developer conveyance path from the developer stirring part to the developing part. A developer detection part includes an opening which communicates between the developer supply member and the developer collection member, is arranged at a downstream side in a flow direction of the developer below and near the developer supply member, and detects whether the developer exists in a vicinity of the developer supply member.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer includes: a toner seal member for unsealably sealing an opening of the developer accommodating container; an unsealing member, connected to an end portion of the toner seal member, for unsealing the opening by moving at least a part of the toner seal member; and an auxiliary unsealing member for assisting unsealing by changing a pulling direction of the toner seal member by the unsealing member. The auxiliary unsealing member includes a shaft portion or a projected portion. The shaft portion or the projected portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case containing a toner and an installed member in which the toner case is installed. The toner case has a case main body in which rotating members are installed, and a following coupling. The case main body has a discharge port discharging the toner. The following coupling is connected to the rotating member and has a pressured part. The installed member has a drive coupling and a drive source rotating the drive coupling. The drive coupling is linked to the following coupling and has a pressuring part. The drive coupling and following coupling are rotated in the same rotation direction around the same rotation axis by pressuring the pressured part by the pressuring part. The pressured part is provided so as to come close to the rotation axis from an upper stream side to a lower stream side in the rotation direction.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a toner chamber; and a toner supplying chamber for supplying a toner through a developer supply opening communicating with the toner chamber. The toner chamber includes: a feeding portion, including a rotatable member and a feeding sheet connected with the rotatable member, for feeding the toner from the toner chamber to the toner supplying chamber; and a toner seal member, including a first end portion and a second end portion, for unsealing the toner supply opening by being wound up by the rotatable member. During start of unsealing of the toner supply opening, the feeding portion is located below a powder surface of the toner with respect to a direction of gravitation, and the feeding sheet is located in a position where the feeding sheet is contactable to an inner wall of the toner chamber.

Abstract: A development device includes a development portion, to develop a latent image formed on a latent image carrier with developer, disposed close to the latent image carrier; a developer agitation container to agitate the developer, provided separately from the development portion; a transport system connecting the development portion and the developer agitation container, through which the developer is transported from the developer agitation container to the development portion by air; and a developer retainer to temporarily retain the developer, disposed downstream from the transport system, to which the developer remaining in the transport system escapes.

Abstract: A toner discharging device has a toner containing section, a toner discharging member, and a toner discharging section. The toner discharging section has a toner discharge port formed by opening a vertically lower part of the cylindrical wall. The toner discharging member has a rotation axis; a toner discharge plate fixed to the rotation axis at a position facing the discharge port in the vicinity of one end of the discharging section and vertically above the discharge port; an elastic helical blade being fixed, to the discharge plate and being stretchable in a direction of the rotation axis; and a helical blade section having a helical blade fixed to the rotation axis over an area in the vicinity of another end of the discharging section and an area within the containing section where the discharge plate and the elastic helical blade are not formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing unit; an intermediate hopper including a toner detector, for replenishing the developing unit with toner; a container that replenishes toner to the intermediate hopper and includes a replenishment amount storage unit for storing an accumulated toner replenishment amount; a control unit for determining whether or not the container is empty and whether or not the container has been replaced; a reader/writer for causing the replenishment amount storage unit to update the accumulated toner replenishment amount; and a storage unit for storing an integrated value of toner replenishment amounts in a container empty mode, and the reader/writer causes the replenishment amount storage unit of the container after being replaced to store the accumulated toner replenishment amount.

Abstract: An apparatus has a controller that controls a first supply mode in which a drive portion is driven under a first drive condition based on a detection result of a developer detection portion in an executable manner, in a case where the controller detects the absence of developer even when the container main body is driven for a predetermined time after the developer detection portion detects the absence of developer, the controller changes the mode from the first supply mode to a second supply mode in which the container main body is driven under a second drive condition in which a quantity of rotation of the container main body per unit time is less than the first drive condition.

Abstract: A powder container includes a body and a pair of walls that block one end of the body and the other end. The powder container is mountable in an apparatus. The body has an opening in a location closer to the one end to supply the powder to the apparatus. The powder container includes a shutter, a guide portion and a boss. The shutter is situated in a closed location before the powder container is mounted in the apparatus and is moved to an opened location to open the opening when the powder container is mounted in the apparatus. The guide portion maintains the shutter on the body and guides the shutter. The boss is located between the shutter and an outer wall surface of the one of walls and next to the end of the shutter at the closed location in a movement direction of the shutter.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes: a flexible container including an opening for permitting discharge of a developer; a sealing member for forming a bonding portion between itself and the flexible container; an unsealing member; and an accommodating container. The bonding portion includes a first bonding portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the sealing member at a periphery of the opening in an upstream side of a peeling direction of the sealing member, a second bonding portion extending in the longitudinal direction at the periphery of the opening in a downstream side of the peeling direction, and a third bonding portion bonded upstream of the first bonding portion with respect to the peeling direction. When the sealing member exposes the opening, the bonding portion is peeled in the order of the third bonding portion, the first bonding portion and the second bonding portion.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes: a flexible container, provided with an opening for permitting discharge of a developer, for accommodating the developer; and a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer discharged from the flexible container. The flexible container includes a projected, portion projected from a part of a side forming the flexible container toward an outside of or toward an inside of the flexible container.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer includes: a flexible container, provided with an opening for permitting discharge of the developer, for accommodating the developer; and a frame. The flexible container is provided with a fastening hole for fastening said flexible container in said frame. The frame includes a fixing shaft portion fixed in the fastening hole by being inserted into the fastening hole and includes a retaining portion for preventing the fixing shaft portion from being disengaged from the fastening hole. The fastening hole is locked by fitting the fastening hole around the fixing shaft portion while an edge of the fastening hole rides over the retaining portion by elastic deformation thereof.

Abstract: A developing unit includes: a frame; a flexible container, provided inside the frame, for accommodating a developer, wherein the flexible container includes an opening for permitting discharge of the developer; an urging member, provided inside the frame, for urging the flexible container to deform the flexible container; and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer discharged from the opening of the flexible container. The flexible container includes a projected portion projecting toward an outside of the flexible container. The projected portion is moved depending on deformation of the flexible container, by urging of the flexible container, to stir the developer discharged from the opening.

Abstract: A developer container 1 includes (i) a developer vessel 2, having a cylindrical shape, that carries and discharges toner contained therein through its first discharge opening 31 while the developer vessel 2 is being driven to rotate, and (ii) a developer supply section 3 which (a) supports the developer vessel 2 such that the developer vessel 2 can rotate, (b) temporarily stores the toner discharged from the first discharge opening 31, and (c) discharges the toner outside of the developer supply section 3 from a second discharge opening 5. The first discharge opening 31 is formed in an inclined surface 31a of an edge part of the developer vessel 2. The inclined surface 31a inclines, upstream of a direction in which the toner is carried along a shaft line L1, so as to be at angles with a surface perpendicular to the shaft line L1.

Abstract: A developer case has a main body, a cylindrical portion, and a rotating unit. The main body has a bottom wall. The cylindrical portion has a discharge port. The rotating unit is located so as to extend across the main body and the cylindrical portion, transports developer in the main body, and has a rotating shaft, a first transport member, a second transport member, and dispersing members. The rotating shaft has a first portion located in the main body and a second portion located in the cylindrical portion. The first transport member transports developer in a first transport direction from the cylindrical portion to the main body. The second transport member transports developer in a second transport direction from the main body to the cylindrical portion. The dispersing members move developer in the radial direction.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus is provided, to which developing devices, each having an opening, and developer cartridges for respectively supplying a developing agent to the openings of the developing devices are mountable. The apparatus includes developing device shutters, each configured to open and close a respective one of the openings of the developing devices mounted to the apparatus; and a link mechanism configured to move the developing device shutters linked with each other.

Abstract: In a new printer, a toner cartridge is mounted in the state where there is no toner in a reserve tank, and toner of the amount of filling toner D therein is supplied with the amount of full accommodation toner E for filling up the reserve tank by a toner supply mechanism. The toner of the amount of remaining surplus toner F remains in the toner cartridge. The amount of toner consumption G is measured by a dot counter during a printing execution. In the case where a toner density sensor detects a toner decreasing, the toner is supplied to a developing unit from the reserve tank. When it becomes G>F, it display-informs a user of “toner cartridge exchange is allowed”. Hereby, it enables to exchange the toner cartridge without stopping operation of the main body of the image forming apparatus using a two-component developer.