Abstract: The developer container includes a rotator that is rotated in the container body, a sequence of gears disposed outside the developer container that transmits a torque to the rotator, and a container guiding portion that fits with a main body side guiding portion and guides the developer container in a direction in which the developer container is attached to a mounting portion of an image forming device main body. A first gear included in the sequence of the gears is movable between an operating position where the first gear engages with a second gear and a retracted position where the first gear is retracted. On a surface on which the container guiding portion is disposed, a part of the container guiding portion is disposed within a projected area of the first gear being disposed at the operating position.

Abstract: A developer container is fitted in a first direction to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet. The developer container includes a main body and a protrusion. An inner space filled with a developer is formed in the man body. The protrusion protrudes outward from an outer wall of the main body. The protrusion includes a plurality of wall surface parts facing in a direction opposite to the first direction. An order in which the plurality of wall surface parts are arranged when viewed in the first direction is different from an order in which the plurality of wall surface parts are arranged when viewed in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. A plurality of wall parts are formed integrally to connect the plurality of wall surface parts through the plurality of wall parts.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a casing, which accommodates a developer and is formed with an opening through which the developer is discharged. A shutter is movable between a first position to close the opening and a second position to open the opening. A first engaging part is movable between an advanced position and a retracted position. The first engaging part at the advance position allows the shutter to move between the first and second positions, and the first engaging part at the retracted position prevents the shutter from moving between the first and second positions. A maintaining member maintains the first engaging part at the retracted position in a condition where the shutter is at the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus mounted with a toner cartridge having a memory unit includes a toner cartridge which stores a plurality of control data depending on toner in the memory unit, an acquisition unit which selects one of the plurality of control data in the memory unit and acquires image formation-related information and a setting unit which sets image formation parameters on the basis of the image formation-related information.

Abstract: A toner box includes: a main body; a shutter; and a shutter cover. The main body is configured to accommodate toner therein and has a main-body-side communication through-hole, through which an interior and an exterior of the main body communicate. The shutter is disposed so as to be capable of moving between an open position in which the shutter opens the main-body-side communication through-hole, and a closed position in which the shutter closes the main-body-side communication through-hole. The shutter cover is configured to cover part of the shutter and that is elastically deformable.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a toner containing section which contains a toner therein; a toner discharging unit which is disposed in one side of the toner containing section and has a toner discharging port; a screw member which is disposed inside the toner containing section and transports a toner inside the toner containing section to the toner discharging unit; a bearing member which holds an end of the screw member; a rotary shutter which is disposed in the toner discharging unit to be rotatable about a rotation axial line of the screw member and has a circular-arc-shaped cross-section; and a shutter opening and closing mechanism which opens the rotary shutter in conjunction with rotation of the screw member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording medium cassette storing recording medium; an image forming unit, a feed unit; an upper frame that supports the image forming unit and the feed unit; and a lower frame in which the recording medium cassette is detachably attached, the upper frame being disposed on the lower frame, and the lower frame having rigidity lower than the rigidity of the upper frame, the lower frame including a rail for guiding the recording medium cassette to a predetermined receiving position, wherein the feed unit has a groove portion formed along a direction parallel to a horizontal direction, the recording medium cassette has a first convex portion which is fitted in the groove portion when the recording medium cassette is attached in the lower frame, the recording medium cassette having a second convex portion which is contact with a portion of the rail of the lower frame.

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

Abstract: A first shutter covers a first supply port formed in an outer peripheral surface of a main body, and can move in an outer peripheral direction along the outer peripheral surface of the main body. A pair of guiding members respectively formed on both ends of the first shutter guide the first shutter in the outer peripheral direction. A lock mechanism fixes the first shutter to achieve a closed sate of the first supply port. The lock mechanism includes a protrusion provided to the first shutter, the protrusion being capable of engaging with a recess formed in the outer peripheral surface. Fixing by the lock mechanism is released when the protrusion elastically deforms and is disengaged from the recess. The protrusion, the recess, and the first supply port are disposed along a virtual curve between the pair of guiding members.

Abstract: A process cartridge, which includes a developing cartridge and a photosensitive cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus including a driving force output part and a feeding part, is provided. The developing cartridge includes a developer carrier, a first electrode provided at one side thereof, and a driving force receiving part provided at another side thereof and aligned with the first electrode such that the driving force receiving part overlaps the first electrode in a side view. The photosensitive cartridge, to which the developing cartridge is removably mounted, includes a photosensitive member, and a second electrode that contacts the first electrode when the developing cartridge is mounted in the photosensitive cartridge and that contacts the feeding part when the photosensitive cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first electrode is pressed toward the driving force receiving part by contact with the second electrode.

Abstract: A developer container, which contains a developer to be supplied to a developing chamber in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developer container including: a partition wall partitioning the container from the chamber; a conveying member conveying the developer to an opening in the partition wall to supply the developer to the chamber; a sealing member attached to a wall surface of the partition wall to cover the opening; an extending portion extending from the sealing member to an outside of the container, wherein, when the extending portion is pulled, the sealing member is separated into a remaining portion and a removal portion, and a free end of the remaining portion is positioned below an upper edge of the opening; and a spacing holding member disposed between the wall surface of the partition wall and the sealing member to hold a spacing between the wall surface and the sealing member.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles that contain a colorant, a binder resin and a release agent, and an external additive, in which the external additive contains inorganic particles including an aliphatic alcohol having 5 or more carbon atoms and a melting point of 20° C. or lower on the surfaces thereof.

Abstract: The toner for developing an electrostatic charge image includes toner particles containing a colorant, a binder resin, and a release agent, and an external additive, wherein the external additive contains inorganic particles having fluorine atom-containing oil on the hydrophobization-treated surfaces.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner including toner particles containing a colorant, a binder resin and a release agent; and an external additive, in which the external additive contains inorganic particles having hydrocarbon oil that contains a saturated hydrocarbon having a ring structure on the surfaces thereof.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles containing a colorant, a binder resin, and a release agent; and an external additive, wherein the external additive contains inorganic particles which include a compound represented by Formula (1) below on the surfaces thereof: wherein in Formula (1), R1 and R8 each independently represents an alkyl group, R2 to R7 each independently represents an alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, and at least three groups of R2 to R7 each independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image contains at least one of an oxidation polymerizable monomer and a polymer having an ethylenically unsaturated group, and an oxidation polymerization catalyst in a form of a composite with inorganic particles, wherein a temperature T(10 Mpa) and a temperature T(1 Mpa) satisfies the following expression (1): 20° C.?T(1 MPa)?T(10 MPa)??(1) wherein, the temperature T(10 Mpa) is a temperature at which a viscosity of the toner under a pressure of 10 Mpa applied with a flow tester becomes 104 Pa·s, and the temperature T(1 Mpa) is a temperature at which a viscosity of the toner under a pressure of 1 Mpa applied with a flow tester becomes 104 Pa·s.

Abstract: A powder storage container includes a powder storage unit, a conveying member, and an elastic member. The powder storage unit stores powder. The conveying member is rotatably disposed in the powder storage unit and conveys the powder stored in the powder storage unit to an outlet. The elastic member includes: an upper end portion fixed to the inside of the powder storage unit; and a lower end portion which is a swingable free end and is disposed above the conveying member. A part of the lower end portion along the conveying direction of the conveying member is configured to contact with the conveying member to be elastically deformed.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus, includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing container having a first chamber that contains a developer made of toner and a toner additive therein, and a receive port that communicates with the first chamber; a developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum with toner in the developing container; a toner cartridge having a second chamber that contains a supply of toner to the developing container therein, and a discharge port that communicates with the second chamber and transports the supply of toner to the receive port; a storage medium fixed to the toner cartridge, and is rewritable and stores specific data therein; a sensor that detects a toner concentration in the toner cartridge; and a controller that rewrites specific data stored in the storage medium by random data upon detecting the toner empty by the sensor.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles containing a colorant, a binder resin, and a release agent, and an external additive, wherein the external additive includes particles having oil-treated surfaces and composite particles containing silica and titania, and the toner has a content ratio of titania with respect to silica on the surface of the toner, as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, of equal to or less than 5 atomic %.

Abstract: A polyester resin for a toner is a polycondensate of a carboxylic acid component and an alcohol component including rosin diol that is represented by the following formula (1) and has an alicyclic structure (alicyclic alcohol), wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents hydrogen or a methyl group, L1 represents a divalent linking group having an alicyclic structure, L2 and L3 each independently represents a divalent linking group selected from a group consisting of a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, an ether group, a sulfonyl group, a chain-like alkylene group which may have a substituent, a cyclic alkylene group, a phenylene group, and combinations thereof, and A1 and A2 represent a rosin ester group, provided that a divalent linking group having the alicyclic structure represented by L1 may be a divalent linking group having an alicyclic structure formed through linking with any of R1, R2, L2 or L3.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner contains toner particles that contain a binder resin and a pigment; and an external additive that contains inorganic particles, a ratio (C/D) of an average maximum thickness C to an average equivalent circle diameter D in the toner particles is from 0.05 to 0.7, the inorganic particles include silicone oil-treated inorganic particles in which the amount of free silicone oil with respect to the inorganic particles is from 0.1% by weight to 10% by weight, and the amount of the silicone oil-treated inorganic particles added with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner particles is from 0.1 part by weight to 10 parts by weight.

Abstract: A polyester resin for a toner is a polycondensate of a dicarboxylic acid component and an alcohol component including rosin diol that is represented by the following formula (1), and has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from 40000 to 150000, and a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of from 12 to 25: wherein, R1 and R2 each independently represents hydrogen or a methyl group; L1, L2, and L3 each independently represents a divalent linking group selected from a group consisting of a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, an ether group, a sulfonyl group, a chain-like alkylene group which may have a substituent, a cyclic alkylene group which may have a substituent, an arylene group which may have a substituent, and combinations thereof, and L1 and L2 or L1 and L3 may form a ring; and A1 and A2 represent a rosin ester group.

Abstract: A toner including a resin particle (C) is provided. The resin particle (C) includes a resin particle (B) and; a resin particle (A) or covering layer (P) that is adhered to a surface of the resin particle (B). The resin particle (B) includes a resin (b) having a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid skeleton. The resin particle (A) or covering layer (P) includes a resin (a). The resin (a) is a polyester resin having a polybasic acid unit and a polyol unit and has a weight average molecular weight within a range from 9,500 to 100,000.

Abstract: A powder container includes a housing configured to house powder therein, the housing including a hole connecting between inside and outside of the housing. The powder container also includes a cover member detachably attached to the housing to close the hole; and a signal exchanging unit configured to transmit and receive a signal to and from an apparatus to which the powder container is mounted. The signal exchanging unit is provided in the cover member.

Abstract: A polyurethane resin which is an addition polymer, includes an isocyanate compound containing at least a compound having two or more isocyanate groups; and an alcohol compound containing rosin diol represented by Formula (1): wherein in Formula (1), R1 and R2 represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, L1, L2, and L3 each independently represent a carbonyl group, an ester group, an ether group, a sulfonyl group, a chain alkylene group which may have a substituent, a cyclic alkylene group which may have a substituent, an arylene group which may have a substituent, and a divalent linking group selected from a group consisting of combinations of the above-described groups, wherein L1 and L2 or L1 and L3 may form a ring together, and A1 and A2 represent a rosin ester group.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge includes a first wall having a first opening, a first shutter configured to open and close the first opening, and a first operating portion configured to operate together with the first shutter. The second cartridge is mountable onto and demountable from the first cartridge and contains a developer. The second cartridge includes a second wall facing the first wall and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, a second shutter configured to open and close the second opening, and a second operating portion configured to operate together with the second shutter. The first cartridge further includes a third operating portion. When the second cartridge is mounted onto the first cartridge, the first operating portion and the third operating portion operate together through the second operating portion.

Abstract: A developer container for an image forming apparatus includes a developer accommodating chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the opening; a feeding member, provided in the developer accommodating chamber and having an elasticity, for feeding the developer by rotation thereof; a deforming portion, provided in the developer accommodating chamber and contactable to the feeding member, for deforming the feeding member against the elasticity with the rotation of the feeding member; and a restoration portion for permitting the feeding member deformed by the deformed portion to restore elastically, thereby to throw the developer toward the opening, wherein a boundary portion between the deformed portion the restoration portion is disposed below a lower end of the opening.

Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller, a cleaning blade, a developer container including an opening, a developer conveyance member, a driving force transmission member having a driving force transmitted from the developer conveyance member, a seal member configured to seal the opening, and a winding member configured to wind the seal member such that the opening is opened, and the driving force transmission member is configured to take a first position at which the driving force is not transmitted to the winding member and a second position at which the driving force is transmitted to the winding member, and wherein the driving force transmission member is further configured to move from the first position to the second position after rotation of the developer conveyance member.

Abstract: A transparent electrostatic charge image developing toner contains a binder resin, europium, and bismuth.

Abstract: A developing cartridge detachably mountable to image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a protecting member, demountable in the axial direction of said developer carrying member from said frame; an accommodating portion accommodating the developer to be supplied to said developer carrying member; a sealing member sealing an opening for permitting the developer to be supplied from said accommodating portion to said developer carrying member; and a grip portion, provided at one longitudinal end of said sealing member, for being gripped when said sealing member is removed from said opening, said grip portion being movable between a first position on a movement locus of said protecting member when said protecting member is dismounted from said frame, and a second position outside the movement locus.

Abstract: A transparent toner for developing an electrostatic latent image includes toner particles containing a binder resin; and an external additive containing cerium oxide, in which a content of cerium in all toner particles is from 0.05% by weight to 0.20% by weight, the cerium oxide contains a praseodymium, and a content of praseodymium in all toner particles is from 0.001% by weight to 0.050% by weight.

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 toner replenishing container includes a storage chamber, a hole and an identification member. The storage chamber stores a toner for replenishment. The hole is engaged with the toner replenishing container identifying portion of the mounting portion when the toner replenishing container is mounted on the mounting portion, is formed at a predetermined position on a front surface of the toner replenishing container in a mounting direction, and has a polygonal cross-section. The identification member is detachably inserted into the hole in a form corresponding to the polygonal shape of the hole when an orientation of the identification member is rotated about a center line of the hole.

Abstract: A powder container includes a body and a pair of walls that blocks one longitudinal end of the body and the other longitudinal end of the body. Powder is accommodated within the powder container which is mounted to an apparatus using the powder in a posture where a longitudinal direction of the body is a transverse direction of the apparatus. The powder container has an opening, through which the powder is supplied to the apparatus, formed in a lower position of the body in a posture where the powder container is mounted to the apparatus. The powder container includes a shutter and a shield. The shutter is, prior to mounting the powder container to the apparatus, in a closed location to block the opening and, when the powder container is mounted, is moved along an outer peripheral surface of the body to an opened location to open the opening.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing that has an elongated shape extending from a first side to a second side. The housing defines a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port is in fluid communication with the reservoir and faces downward on the front of the housing near the first side. A first leg portion and a second leg portion each projects from the bottom of the housing and extends along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. The first leg portion has a first outer side spaced inward from the first side of the housing and the second leg portion has a second outer side spaced inward from the second side of the housing. The first outer side and the second outer side are unobstructed to limit the side-to-side travel of the toner cartridge during insertion into the image forming device.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing carrier has magnetic particles and a coating resin layer that coats surfaces of the magnetic particles and contains a hindered amine compound.

Abstract: A two component developer storage product to replenish a two component developer containing at least toner and carrier includes: a cylindrical container having an opening at one end thereof; a lid to close the opening; a toner layer stored in the cylindrical container; and a carrier layer stored in the cylindrical container; wherein the toner layer and the carrier layer are stacked, and the cylindrical container has a spiral projection on an inner spherical surface thereof, and is configured such that when the cylindrical container is rotated, the toner layer and the carrier layer are conveyed by the spiral projection and toner and carrier are discharged from the opening.

Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus and settable in a developer receiving apparatus by a setting operation including at least a rotation toward a setting position, includes a containing portion for containing the developer; a rotatable discharging member for discharging the developer out of said containing portion; drive transmitting means, engageable with a driving gear provided in said developer receiving apparatus and rotatable in a direction opposite the setting direction, for transmitting a rotating force from said driving gear to said discharging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case, a driving mechanism and an installed part. The toner case includes a container main body, a rotating member and a transmission coupling. The container main body is provided with a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The rotating member is installed into the container main body. The transmission coupling is connected with the rotating member. The driving mechanism includes a drive coupling and a drive unit. The drive coupling is detachably connected with the transmission coupling. The toner case has a lever supported onto the container main body. The driving mechanism has a movement mechanism which works in accordance with the operation of the lever, in a state of installing the toner case into the installed part, to move the drive coupling from a disconnecting position to a connecting position with the transmission coupling.

Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the toner supply container including a rotatable container body for containing toner; and a sensor, rotatable integrally with the container body, for detecting a remaining toner amount in the container body.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a support member and a plurality of operation members supported on the support member. The support member is movable relative to a main casing. A plurality of toner cartridges is detachably mounted on the support member, and each includes a casing formed with an opening for supplying toner to a corresponding developing unit and a shutter movable relative to the casing to selectively open and close the opening. Each operation member is operated in a direction substantially parallel to an axial direction of photosensitive drums to press one of the casing and the shutter, thereby moving the shutter relative to the casing in the direction to open the opening.

Abstract: A polyester resin for a toner containing: a repeating unit derived from a dicarboxylic acid component; and a repeating unit derived from a dial component represented by Formula (1): wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, each of L1, L2 and L3 independently represents a divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of carbonyl groups, ester groups, ether groups, sulfonyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted chained alkylene groups, substituted or unsubstituted cyclic alkylene groups, substituted or unsubstituted arylene groups, and combinations thereof, L1 and L2 or L1 and L3 optionally forms a ring, each of A1 and A2 independently represents a rosin ester group, and the acid value is from 3 mgKOH/g to 30 mgKOH/g.

Abstract: A developer storage unit includes first and second rotary members. The first rotary member includes: first contacting portion capable of contacting with the second rotary member, first non-contacting portion not in contact with the second rotary member, and first stopper portion offset from the first contacting portion in an axial direction of the first rotary member. The second rotary member includes: second contacting portion capable of contacting with the first rotary member, second non-contacting portion not in contact with the first rotary member, second stopper portion offset from the second contacting portion in an axial direction of the second rotary member, and detected portion detected by detector. The second stopper portion comes into contact with the first stopper portion when the detected portion is moved from used product detecting position to new product detecting position while the first non-contacting portion is positioned to face the second rotary member.

Abstract: An opening/closing member is movable between an open position in which a passage opening through which developer passes is open and a closed position in which the passage opening is closed. The opening/closing member includes a protrusion that protrudes toward an edge of the passage opening with respect to a scrape limiting portion, the protrusion being disposed on each of two sides with respect to a direction that is perpendicular to directions of movement between the open position and the closed position. A front end of the opening/closing member in a closing direction from the open position to the closed position is disposed so as to be separated from a surface of the edge of the passage opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including: a toner cartridge including a memory to provide first authentication information, and an authentication key circuit to provide a second authentication information; and a controller to authenticate the toner cartridge when the first authentication information and the second authentication information are identical. Furthermore, the controller intentionally destroys the first authentication information or the second authentication information when there is no toner in the toner cartridge. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an unauthorized use of the toner cartridge, and thus to perform an ideal print operation.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic charge image developing toner, each toner particle including a core portion, a first shell layer, and a second shell layer, wherein the core portion contains a first polyester resin, a colorant, and a release agent, the first shell layer contains a second polyester resin and covers the core portion, the second shell layer contains a polymer of an aromatic vinyl monomer and a third polyester resin having an ethylenic unsaturated double bond that is polymerizable with the aromatic vinyl monomer, and covers the first shell layer, and a total amount of the first shell layer and the second shell layer is within a range of from 16% by weight to 40% by weight of the toner particle.

Abstract: A method for delaying the start of a gage for tracking the life of a consumable item for an imaging device according to one exemplary embodiment includes counting the number of revolutions of a rotating imaging component having a correlation with the life of the consumable item and determining whether a predetermined delay threshold is satisfied based on the number of revolutions of the imaging component counted. Until the predetermined delay threshold is satisfied, starting the gage and tracking the remaining life of the consumable item are delayed.

Abstract: A powder container includes an open/close lid that closes an opening partly formed in a container body corresponding to a powder opening of a container receiver; a first restricting portion that, upon attachment of the container body to the container receiver, contacts a contact surface formed upstream of the powder opening to restrict a position of the lid in an open/close operation direction thereof; a flexible sealing member that protrudes from an opening-side edge of an open position, and closes an opening-side portion of a gap between the contact surface and the first restricting portion; and a second restricting portion that, upon detachment of the container body, when a press member restricts movement of the lid, restricts a posture of the sealing member so as to be pressed against an edge portion of the powder opening at a position where the first restricting portion contacts the contact surface.

Abstract: A developing device is provided that includes a developing container, a developing roller, a developer supplying roller, a sheet member, a communication hole, and a filter member. The communication hole is provided so as to be connected to an enclosed space defined by an inner wall of the developing container defining a smaller one of spaces provided by dividing the developing container by a plane including a rotation axis of the developer supplying roller and a rotational axis of the developing roller, a phantom plane which is included in the plane and extends from a surface of the developer supplying roller to the inner wall of the developer container, the sheet member, a surface of the developing roller, and a surface of the developer supplying roller.