The present disclosure provides a process cartridge and a detection method. A process cartridge, detachably installed on an image-forming apparatus, includes a main body configured to store a developer; and a working element disposed on the main body and configured to detect or obtain a first parameter related to the process cartridge, where when the first parameter or a second parameter obtained based on the first parameter does not meet expectation, the image-forming apparatus controls the process cartridge to stop conveying the developer.

A developer container includes: a containing unit that contains developer; a transport unit that transports the developer; and a receiving unit that receives a driving force transmitted from a transmitting unit of a body of an image forming apparatus and transmits the driving force to the transport unit. The developer container is removably attachable to the body of the image forming apparatus. The developer container includes a first rotation stopping portion and a second rotation stopping portion that is farther from the receiving unit than the first rotation stopping portion. When the developer container is attached to the body of the image forming apparatus, the first rotation stopping portion comes into contact with a first rotation stopper portion provided on the body of the image forming apparatus, and the second rotation stopping portion comes into contact with a second rotation stopper portion provided on the body of the image forming apparatus. A spatial allowance between the first rotation stopping portion and the first rotation stopper portion is less than a spatial allowance between the second rotation stopping portion and the second rotation stopper portion.

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a first positioning portion, a first cartridge including a developer bearing member, and a second positioning portion, the first cartridge being attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body, and a second cartridge including a storage portion configured to accommodate the developer, a first positioned portion, and a second positioned portion. The second cartridge is configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body in a state where the first cartridge is attached to the apparatus body, and a position of the second cartridge in the attachment direction and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the attachment direction with respect to the apparatus body and the first cartridge is determined by the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion coming into contact with the first positioned portion and the second positioned portion, respectively.

An assembly for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a toner container removably installable in the image forming device and a latch movable between a latching position restraining the toner container along a longitudinal dimension of the toner container and an unlatching position freeing the toner container to move along the longitudinal dimension of the toner container. A latch actuator has a user engagement surface that is movable along the longitudinal dimension of the toner container between a home position and an actuating position. Pushing the user engagement surface moves the latch actuator from the home position toward the actuating position causing the latch actuator to move the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position to free the toner container for removal from the image forming device.

An image formation unit according to an embodiment may include: an image formation part with a developer reception port; a developer cartridge including: a developer storage section with a developer supply port; a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position; a lock engagement member; and an operation part configured to be operated to move the shutter and rotate the lock engagement member. When the shutter moves from the open position to the closed position that closes the developer supply port and the lock engagement member rotates in conjunction with movement of the operation part, the lock engagement member is engaged with the image formation part to separate the developer cartridge from a peripheral portion of the developer reception port.

An image forming apparatus includes a rotary which is rotatable and to which a cartridge is detachably attached, a drive source, a transmission device, a moving device configured to be driven by driving force of the drive source transmitted via the transmission device to move the cartridge, the moving device including a driven portion that is provided in the rotary and is configured to receive the driving force from the transmission device, and a locking mechanism capable of taking a locking state in which the locking mechanism restricts a rotation of the rotary and a lock releasing state in which the locking mechanism allows the rotation of the rotary, the locking mechanism being configured to take the locking state in a state in which the rotary is in the replacement posture.

An image forming apparatus includes a body frame, a cartridge movable to an attached position and a retracted position, a moving device configured to move the cartridge, a driving device configured to drive the moving device and to perform a first operation of driving the moving device to move the cartridge from the attached position toward the retracted position and a second operation of driving the moving device to move the cartridge from the retracted position toward the attached position, and a controller configured to control the driving device and to cause the driving device to perform the second operation in a case where the cartridge has not reached the retracted position even after elapse of a predetermined time since the driving device is caused to start the first operation in a state in which the cartridge is positioned at the attached position.

A toner container according to one example embodiment includes an alignment guide for contacting an electrical connector of an image forming device during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device to move the electrical connector of the image forming device relative to the toner container during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device with the first end of the body leading in order to align the electrical connector of the image forming device with an electrical contact of the toner container.

A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a drive coupler and an electrical contact positioned on a first longitudinal end thereof. A first guide post and a second guide post project outward along a longitudinal dimension of the toner container from the first longitudinal end of the body. The first guide post is spaced toward a first side of the body from the drive coupler, and the second guide post is spaced toward a second side of the body from the drive coupler. The first guide post and the second guide post overlap with the drive coupler along a vertical dimension of the toner container such that an imaginary horizontal plane intersects the first and second guide posts and the drive coupler. Bottom surfaces of the first and second guide posts may be positioned lower in the vertical dimension than a rotational axis of the drive coupler.

A toner container for use in an image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner, a paddle positioned within the reservoir, and a rotatable drive member positioned to push the paddle in a first rotational direction. The paddle is free to rotate ahead of the drive member in the first rotational direction. A magnet is rotatably coupled to one of the paddle and the drive member. A shield is rotatably coupled to the other of the paddle and the drive member such that the shield is movable between a blocking position for attenuating a magnetic field of the magnet to block detection of the magnetic field by a magnetic sensor and an unblocking position for unblocking the magnetic field of the magnet to permit detection of the magnetic field by the magnetic sensor based on a rotational position of the paddle relative to the drive member.