Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing configured of a first frame and a second frame with a space formed therebetween; and a developer-carrying member that is supported in the first frame and that is configured to carry developer. The first frame includes a bottom wall and a pair of side walls erected from both sides of the bottom wall and has a box shape that is open on a side opposite the bottom wall. The second frame is mounted over the pair of side walls so as to cover the open side of the first frame and has a partition extending into the space formed in the casing. The partition contacts the bottom wall of the first frame and spans between the pair of side walls of the first frame, thereby separating the space within the casing into a first chamber on a side near the developer-carrying member and a second chamber on a side far from the developer-carrying member. Developer is accommodated in the first chamber only.

Abstract: A developer supply container is detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus, which includes a driving gear. The container includes a developer containing portion; a rotatable discharging member provided in the containing portion to discharge the developer when the container is positioned at a developer discharging position; and a drive receiving member engageable with the driving gear for rotating the discharging member; a regulating portion for regulating a mounting attitude of the container relative to the apparatus so as to prevent an engagement between the drive receiving member and the driving gear, and thereafter the drive receiving member is revolvable in a setting direction to a set position where the drive receiving member is engageable with the driving gear.

Abstract: A developing device including a developer container configured to store a developer and a developing unit provided below the developer container. The developer container includes a first developer agitation member, and a developer guide member extending along a rotation path of the first developer agitation member, configured to conform to a shape of the rotation path. The developing unit includes a developer bearing member and a restriction member. The developer guide member prevents the developer from being directly supplied to a restriction nip formed between the developer bearing member and the restriction member and guides the developer to the developer bearing member. An edge of the developer guide member is positioned between the restriction nip and a center of rotation of the first developer agitation member.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for containing toner is provided with a lever for operating the toner cartridge, and a cover partly surrounding the lever. The cover forms an uncovering area where the lever is not covered, and a user can access the lever through the uncovering area.

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 cartridge includes: a toner storing portion for storing toner; a toner discharging portion having a toner discharge port; and a screw auger having a rotary shaft and a helical blade for conveying the toner in the toner storing portion to the toner discharging portion. The helical blade includes a first helical blade portion located over the toner discharge port and a second helical blade portion located in the toner storing portion. The first toner thrust face of the first helical blade portion, located on the downstream side with respect to the toner conveying direction is formed at a first inclination angle to the axial direction of the rotary shaft. The second toner thrust face of the second helical blade portion, located on the downstream side with respect to the toner conveying direction is formed at a second inclination angle to the axial direction of the rotary shaft. The first inclination angle is formed to be smaller than the second inclination angle.

Abstract: A developer storing apparatus which includes a developer storing portion for receiving and storing a developer. The developer storing apparatus also includes a developer carrying member including a rotary shaft and a spiral blade rotatably disposed in the developer storing portion and configured to carry the developer in the developer storing portion in a predetermined direction, an agitating member extending outside the spiral blade rotatably disposed in the developer storing portion and configured to agitate the developer in the developer storing portion, and a driving force transmitting portion that transmits a driving force to the developer carrying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing units respectively including developer inlets, the developing units are arranged side by side in a first direction, a plurality of developer containers to contain developers to be supplied to the plurality of developing units and respectively including developer outlets, the developer units are arranged side by side in the first direction to face the plurality of developing units, and a plurality of developer supplying paths respectively to connect the developer inlets to the developer outlets, wherein the plurality of developer containers include first and second developer containers, and a position of the developer outlet of the second developer container is different from position of the developer outlet of the first developer container.

Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a rotatable container body provided with a portion-to-be-engaged on an inner surface thereof; an opening for permitting discharging of the developer; a sealing portion for sealing the opening; an extended portion being displaceable toward a rotational axis of the container body; an engaging portion engageable with the portion-to-be-engaged; and a limiting portion to substantially hold the sealing portion in a sealing position by engagement between the engaging portion and the portion-to-be-engaged, and a non-limiting portion to permit the relative movement of the sealing portion by disengagement between the engaging portion and the portion-to-be-engaged.

Abstract: A toner cartridge has a toner storage chamber, a discharge outlet, a conveying screw, and a blocking wall. The discharge outlet serves to send out toner stored in the toner storage chamber, and the conveying screw serves to convey the toner stored in the toner storage chamber. Further, before the toner cartridge mounted into an image forming apparatus, the blocking wall is located in a space between a toner area, which is an area in the toner storage chamber where the toner exists, and the discharge outlet, thereby putting the space in a blocked state. The toner cartridge further includes a driving mechanism for, when the toner cartridge has been mounted into the image forming apparatus, driving the conveying screw by power transmitted from the image forming apparatus, so as to cancel the blocked state.

Abstract: A toner bottle includes a bottle main body for discharging toner contained therein by rotation of the bottle main body and a scraping member disposed inside the bottle main body for rubbing the inner wall surface of the bottle main body 20 by rotation of the bottle main body. A shaft section for supporting a rubbing section included in the scraping member has an inclined support section extending with a predetermined angle inclined in a direction deviating from a direction in which an axis of rotation of the bottle main body extends.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier facing an image carrier, a first developer transport path and a second developer transport path disposed vertically, a closably openable developer discharge port provided in the second developer transport path, a detector to detect whether the developer carrier carries the developer, a driving unit to drive the first and the second transporters, and a controller. The first developer transport path and the second developer transport path include a first transporter and a second transporter, respectively, to transport the developer in a longitudinal direction. The controller starts rotating the developer carrier and the first transporter and the second transporter in normal directions and opens the developer discharge port simultaneously. When a predetermined time period has elapsed after determining that no developer is carried on the developer carrier, the controller starts rotating the first transporter and the second transporter in reverse.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a housing for accommodating developer, a rotation shaft rotatably supported by the housing and passing across an inside of the housing. Also, the cartridge includes a supply opening formed in a wall of the housing opposite in a diameter direction of the rotation shaft, and a return opening formed in a wall of the housing at a position displaced from the supply opening in an axial direction of the rotation shaft. In addition, the cartridge includes a first agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the return opening along an inner surface of the housing from above to below the position opposite the return opening along with a rotation of the rotation shaft, and a second agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the supply opening along an inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a container body, a developer conveyance member, and a clog prevention member. The container body includes an outlet port and contains developer therein. The developer conveyance member includes a rotational shaft and a conveyance-member body. The conveyance-member body is supported by the rotational shaft and has flexibility. The developer conveyance member is disposed in the container body and conveys the developer to the outlet port for discharge. The clog prevention member is formed in the conveyance-member body in a position corresponding to the outlet port. The clog prevention member goes into the outlet port to protrude to outside of the container body as the rotational shaft rotates.

Abstract: The toner bottle exchangeably used in an image forming apparatus. The toner bottle includes a bottle body having a substantially cylindrical shape and configured to contain toner, a gear configured to rotate a part of the toner bottle, a cap attached to the bottle body and including an opening arranged in a circumferential surface of the cap and configured to output toner to a development apparatus of the image forming apparatus, a toner conveyance mechanism arranged in the bottle body and configured to convey the toner to the opening.

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

Abstract: A toner container holds toner and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. A housing holds the toner therein and includes a first engagement portion and an opening through which the toner is discharged into the image forming apparatus. The first engagement portion includes a first surface and either a first projection formed on the first surface or a first recess formed in the first surface. A shutter is fitted into the housing and is slidable relative to the housing. The shutter includes a second engagement portion that engages the first engagement portion when the shutter slides relative to the housing. The second engagement portion includes a second surface. Either a second projection is formed on the second surface or a second recess is formed in the second surface.

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: A developing device including a flexible agitating blade attached to an agitating member is described. The developing device may receive developer from a developer cartridge via a replenishing port. The replenishing port may be configured to prevent the flexible agitating blade from flinging toner outside of the developing device. In one example, an upstream opening of the replenishing port may be located such that, when a free end of the flexible agitating blade rotates to the opening, the surface of the agitating member has rotated to vertical or inclined downward.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a movable holding member, a plurality of operation members and a plurality of developer cartridges detachably mountable on the holding member. The holding member has a plurality of photosensitive members and developing devices. Each operation members is disposed on the holding member in correspondence with each developing device. Each of the photosensitive member, the operation member and the developer cartridge extends in a first direction. Each developer cartridge is formed with an opening and has a shutter member linearly movable between an open position and a closed position in the first direction. The shutter member opens the opening at the open position to allow developer to flow and closes the opening at the closed position to prevent developer from flowing. Each operation member is linearly movable in the first direction to move the shutter member between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: A toner cartridge has first and second toner hosing portions configured to house toner. The first toner housing portion has a first bottom part that is arcuately curved. The second toner housing portion has a second bottom part that is arcuately curved. The second bottom part is next to the first bottom part and is situated at a position lower than the first bottom part. A third bottom part is provided between the first bottom part and the second bottom part. The third bottom part has a toner discharge port.

Abstract: A developer cartridge and developing device are provided. The developer cartridge is attachable to and detachable from a developing housing, the developing housing comprising a drive gear for transmitting a driving force to the developer cartridge. The developer cartridge includes a cartridge housing that is configured to accommodate developer; a first passage portion provided in the cartridge housing to allow a passage of a detection light for detecting an amount of the developer accommodated in the cartridge housing; an agitator provided in the cartridge housing and configured to agitate the developer by the driving force; a transmission gear configured to mesh with the drive gear to transmit the driving force to the agitator, the transmission gear meshing with the drive gear when the developer cartridge is installed in the developing housing; and a second passage portion provided in the transmission gear to allow the passage of the detection light.

Abstract: A developer storage container includes a developer storage portion in which a developer is stored, the developer storage portion having a wall, a rotating body rotatably provided in the developer storage portion, and an agitating plate that engages the rotating body and agitates the developer at least in the vicinity of the wall.

Abstract: A toner cartridge is provided removably fitted to a toner supply pipe for supplying toner to a developing device. The toner cartridge includes, as a toner discharging mechanism, a toner discharging portion having a toner discharge port, a toner conveyor screw for conveying toner inside toner container and a shutter for opening and closing the toner discharge port. The shutter has a loosening member. When the toner cartridge is fitted to the toner supply pipe, the loosening member moves inside the toner container as the shutter moves along the toner discharge port.

Abstract: A developer containing device includes: a developer container having an opening through which developer can be filled in; a closing member that is removably installed to the developer container to close the opening; a stirring and feeding member that is rotatably supported in the closing member and stirs and feeds the developer contained in the developer container by rotating in one direction; and a fitting part that fixes the closing member to the developer container by rotating the closing member in the same direction as the rotational direction of the stirring and feeding member.

Abstract: A toner conveying apparatus comprising: a toner conveying barrel having a toner conveying path arranged inside, a toner inlet arranged on an upstream side of the toner conveying path in order to introduce toner from an outside into the toner conveying path and a toner outlet arranged on a downstream side of the toner conveying path in order to discharge the toner out of the toner conveying path; and a screw shaft provided in the toner conveying barrel rotatably and conveying the toner in the toner conveying path from the upstream side to the downstream side, wherein the screw shaft has a rotating shaft and a spiral blade mounted to the rotating shaft, the spiral blade has a rigid spiral section fixed to the rotating shaft, and a spiral spring section arranged on a position facing the toner outlet on a downstream side with respect to a downstream side end portion of the rigid spiral section, only an upstream side end portion of the spiral spring section is fixed to the downstream side end portion of the ri

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor drum, a charger, an exposure device, a developing device, a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developing device, a transfer device and a fixing device. The toner cartridge includes: a toner container, a toner discharge port, a toner discharger having a toner agitator. The toner discharger includes a toner discharger rotary shaft, around which a helical magnet is provided; and magnetic particles that form a helical magnetic brush along the magnet on the surface of the toner discharger rotary shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner container system, such as a toner cartridge, comprising a housing including a first reservoir for containing toner and a second reservoir for receiving toner from the first reservoir and transferring the toner to an image forming apparatus, and a toner transfer mechanism that includes a rotatable roller member having in the surface thereof a recess defined by a concave surface having a radius of curvature, and wherein the roller member is rotatable from a first position at which the recess is open to the first reservoir and a second position at which the recess is open to the second reservoir, for conveying toner from the first reservoir to the second reservoir upon rotation of the roller member from the first position to the second position, and a rotatable wiper member disposed within the second reservoir and being sized and having a flexible distal end rotatable through the recess in contact with the concave surface when the roller member is in the second position.

Abstract: A toner bottle for containing toner has a cylindrical body and a scraper. The bottle body can be rotated on its axis by a driving source. The scraper is supported movably in the bottle body. The bottle body has an opening and ribs. The toner in the toner bottle is supplied through the opening to a developing unit. When the bottle body rotates, the ribs convey the toner toward the opening. The scraper includes a shaft and a scraping part. The shaft extends over the whole length of the bottle body and supports the scraping part. A portion of the scraping part is in contact with the inner cylindrical surface of the bottle body. When the bottle body rotates, the scraper moves perpendicularly to the axis of the body.

Abstract: A developer storage case includes: a storage case that includes a discharge opening formed in the horizontal direction side surface thereof, that is formed in a flat shape having a horizontal direction width larger than the vertical direction height thereof, and that stores a developer therein; a delivery member that has a center of rotation disposed shifted to the discharge opening, that is rotatably supported on one end wall of the storage case, and that delivers the developer stored within the storage case; and a drive transmission member that is supported on the end portion of the delivery member, and that drives and rotates the delivery member.

Abstract: A toner replenishing apparatus is provided. The toner replenishing apparatus includes a toner replenishing container for replenishing toner stored therein to a developing section by a rotation of the container itself, a toner scraping member provided to be movable without being fixed in the toner replenishing container and to rub against an inner wall surface of the container, including a plurality of magnetic bodies arranged in a predetermined direction and a support section that extends in an arranging direction of the magnetic bodies and supports an one end portion of each of the magnetic bodies, and a magnet for attracting the magnetic bodies with a magnetic force, disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the toner replenishing container.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a toner receptacle that houses toner, a plurality of stirring members housed in the toner receptacle, a plurality of gears meshing with each other on outside of the toner receptacle, and a phase display section. The stirring members are arranged next to each other in the toner receptacle and rotate to stir the toner. Each of the stirring members has a scraper that scrapes off the toner adhering to an inner surface of the toner receptacle. The gears rotate to rotate the stirring members in an interlocked manner with each other. The phase display section shows a meshing position of the gears so that the gears mesh with each other at a position where a phase difference along a rotating direction of the stirring members occurs between the scrapers of the stirring members that are next to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body, and a plurality of developing devices to develop a color image on the photosensitive body. The plurality of developing devices include fixed-position developing devices, of which positions relative to the photosensitive body are fixed, and moveable developing devices, of which positions relative to the photosensitive body are changed. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus can be manufactured compactly, by mounting four developing devices, e.g., for yellow, magenta, cyan and black for the color printing such that three developing devices stand by at the respective development positions and one developing device variably moves to the development position so that the photosensitive body is reduced in diameter when compared to a conventional photosensitive body which opposes four developing devices.

Abstract: A developer conveying apparatus includes a first developer storing portion, a second developer storing portion, and a conveying pipe that connects the first and second developer storing portions. The conveying pipe includes a tubular main body and a conveying member rotatably provided in the main body. A groove is formed on a surface of the conveying member, and the groove has a depth less than or equal to 5 ?m.

Abstract: A toner discharging device, a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus in which occurrence of a locking phenomenon can be suppressed are provided. A toner discharging device includes a discharge container having a wall portion which defines an internal space thereof and has a reception port and a discharge port, and a discharge member including a rotation shaft and a discharge blade as a decay spiral blade. At least a part of the wall portion of the discharge container surrounds the discharge blade along an axial line direction of the rotation shaft, and the discharge port is formed on the part of the wall portion.

Abstract: A developer storage body includes a developer storage portion storing a developer and having an elongated shape, an outlet opening provided at a substantially center portion of the developer storage portion in a longitudinal direction of the developer storage portion, inclined portions provided on both end portions of the developer storage portion in the longitudinal direction, a rotation member rotatably provided in the developer storage portion, and a film member provided on the rotation member. The film member is brought into contact with the inclined portions when the rotation member rotates.

Abstract: A developing device and a developer cartridge are provided. The developing device includes a first housing that receives a developing roller; a second housing that is disposed adjacent to and detachable from the first housing and stores developer; first and second communication paths that allow an inside of the first housing to communicate with an inside of the second housing and an agitator that is provided within the second housing and conveys the developer from the first communication path toward the second communication path. The developing cartridge includes a housing that stores developer and an agitator including a rotational shaft that is disposed in one direction and a first blade that is provided at a midpoint in the axial direction of the rotational shaft and conveys the developer from the midpoint in the axial direction of the rotational shaft to both end portions of the rotational shaft.

Abstract: A toner container is mounted to an image forming apparatus in a state of containing toners. The toner container includes: a container body for containing toners; and an agitating unit provided in the container body for agitating the toners. The agitating unit includes: a cylindrical member having a cylindrical peripheral wall and rotating about an axis of cylinder; an opening formed in the cylindrical peripheral wall for allowing the toners to pass through; and a conveying section for conveying the toners in a direction of the axis of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner discharge mechanism which is attached to a toner cartridge includes an auger screw for conveying and discharging a toner stored in the toner cartridge, the auger screw having an end portion downstream thereof, the end portion forming a taper portion having a predetermined length and an outer diameter diminishing toward a tip thereof; a cover member for covering the taper portion, the cover member having a conical inner wall configured to correspond to a taper shape of the taper portion; and a toner discharge outlet formed on the cover member.

Abstract: A toner discharging device, a toner cartridge, and an image forming apparatus in which the occurrence of the locking phenomenon is prevented are provided. A toner discharging device includes a discharge container including a wall portion which defines an inner space and has a reception port and a discharge port, and a discharge member which includes an inner spiral blade moving toner in a direction H1, an outer spiral blade moving toner in a direction H2, and a rotation shaft. At least a part of the wall portion surrounds both the inner spiral blade and the outer spiral blade along an axial line direction of the rotation shaft, and the discharge port is formed on the part of the wall portion.

Abstract: A toner cartridge is described. The toner cartridge may include: a first frame storing a developing agent and having a first opening for passing the developing agent therethrough; a second frame relatively movable with respect to the first frame in a direction orthogonal to a direction of passage of the developing agent through the first opening, and opening/closing the first opening; and a seal member provided on either one of the first frame and the second frame for coming into contact with the other frame to prevent leakage of the developing agent from the first opening. A first edge of the seal member and an edge of the other frame, coming into contact with each other when the second frame opens/closes the first opening, intersect with each other as viewed from the direction of passage.

Abstract: A toner cartridge comprising a toner cartridge body, a screw shaft, a paddle member, and a toner inflow block piece coupled to a part of the paddle member, wherein the toner cartridge body includes therein a toner storage section being a large-capacity space where the paddle member is disposed and most of the toner is stored; and a toner conveying passage being a small-capacity space where the screw shaft is disposed, the toner conveying passage being adjacent to and communicating with the toner storage section and having a toner discharge port disposed on an one end side in a longitudinal direction of the toner conveying passage, the toner inflow block piece is disposed at a block position where an inflow of the toner in the toner conveying passage toward the toner discharge port is blocked while the toner cartridge body is yet to be attached to an image forming apparatus, and rotates together with the paddle member so as to be away from the block position while the toner cartridge body is attached to the im

Abstract: The developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitation conveyance path in a developer conveyance direction becomes larger than the amount of developer to be transported from a recovery conveyance path to the agitation conveyance path, by making the developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitating screw in the developer conveyance direction equal to or larger than the developer conveyance amount on the downstream side of a recovery screw in the developer conveyance direction. Accordingly, the bulk of the developer existing on the downstream side of the recovery conveyance path in the developer conveyance direction can be prevented from reaching the level where the recovered developer re-adheres to a developing roller, and further the developer existing on the downstream side of the recovery conveyance path in the developer conveyance direction can be prevented from re-adhering to the developing roller.

Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.

Abstract: A developing unit includes: a developer carrier; a toner supplying member having a porous surface layer; a toner storage storing therein toner; a stirring member that is rotated to stir the toner; a toner amount detecting unit that detects an amount of the toner; a toner supplying unit that supplies new toner to the toner storage based on a detection result; and a toner removing member that removes the toner carried in the porous surface layer, wherein the toner removing member is arranged in a separable and contactable manner from and with the porous surface layer, and the developing unit has a stirring mode in which the toner removing member is brought into contact with the porous surface layer, and the toner supplying member is rotated while the stirring member is rotated to stir the toner.

Abstract: An image forming unit including a toner supplier that comprises a cylindrical conveying passage member and a toner conveying rotational body that is inserted into the cylindrical conveying passage member, includes first/second spiral blades formed on different areas of a rotational axis in an axis direction, wound in directions opposite to each other and is rotated so that the first/second spiral blades convey toner in convergent directions. The rotational axis is inclined such that the second spiral blade is higher than the first spiral blade, and the cylindrical conveying passage member comprises a fresh toner receiving opening that receives fresh toner, a collected toner receiving opening that receives collected toner, and a toner supplier opening disposed at a position where the fresh toner conveyed by the first spiral blade and the collected toner conveyed by the second spiral blade meet, so as to supply the toner to the developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing units respectively including developer inlets, the developing units are arranged side by side in a first direction, a plurality of developer containers to contain developers to be supplied to the plurality of developing units and respectively including developer outlets, the developer units are arranged side by side in the first direction to face the plurality of developing units, and a plurality of developer supplying paths respectively to connect the developer inlets to the developer outlets, wherein the plurality of developer containers include first and second developer containers, and a position of the developer outlet of the second developer container is different from position of the developer outlet of the first developer container.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a toner holding container having an outlet formed thereon; a partition wall separating the inside of toner holding container to a toner discharging portion in which the outlet is formed and a toner stirring portion other than the toner discharging portion; a toner discharging member axially and rotatably supported in the toner discharging portion for carrying the toner contained in the toner discharging portion to the outlet; a toner stirring member axially and rotatably supported in the toner stirring portion for stirring and carrying to the toner discharging portion the toner in the toner stirring portion; and an upper lid with a recess formed to surround, like a tunnel, the toner discharging member at a portion above the outlet, together with the partition wall and the toner holding container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an electrostatic latent image bearing member; a toner cartridge; a developing member; a transfer member; a developing device; and a circulating member. The toner cartridge is removably coupled to the developing device. The developing device incorporates the developing member. The circulating member is capable of operating while the toner cartridge remains coupled to the developing device, to circulate the toner between the developing device and the toner cartridge irrespective of whether the developing member is operating.

Abstract: A toner supplying device which is capable of individually supplying toners of different colors. The toner supplying device can include a driving source; a plurality of toner receptacles in which different color toners are contained and respective toner discharging members are provided in order to discharge toners while being driven by power transmitted from the driving source; and a plurality of spring clutches to selectively transmit power from the driving source to the toner discharging members. The toner supplying device according to the present general inventive concept can be advantageously employed in toner-refill type color image forming apparatuses in view of the miniaturization of the apparatus and reduction in the manufacturing costs.