[Problem] To provide a form of a container for use with an image forming apparatus

[Solution] A container for use with an image forming apparatus and for accommodating a content of powder or a liquid, the container includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the content; an end portion including a discharging portion which includes a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the content to an outside of the container and a passage configured so that the content passes through the passage toward the discharge opening, and including a shutter configured to be movable relative to the discharging portion between a shielding position where the shutter shields the discharge opening and an open position where the shutter opens the discharge opening; and a cap mounted to the end portion so as to cover at least a part of the end portion and configured to be dismounted from the end portion by being rotated relative to the end portion.

An image forming system includes a toner container and an image forming apparatus to which the toner container is mountable. The toner container includes a projection that includes an inner peripheral surface centered on a central axis of the toner container. When the toner container is oriented in a predetermined direction, the projection has a downward guide surface facing downward and an upward guide surface facing upward. When the toner container is moved downward in a direction of the central axis toward a mounting portion of the image forming apparatus, (i) the downward guide surface is configured to guide a guided member of the image forming apparatus so that the guided member is rotated in a rotational direction about the central axis, and (ii) the upward guide surface is configured to guide the guided member so that the guided member is moved up after the guided member is rotated in the rotational direction by the downward guide surface.

A toner container includes a storage portion configured to store toner and a communicating member including a receiving port, a discharge port, and a passage. The passage includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface connecting the first inclined surface and the discharge port to each other. When viewed in a third direction perpendicularly intersecting with both of a first direction and a second direction, the first inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the first inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction, and the second inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the second inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction.

An image forming apparatus includes a first unit including an image bearing member and a second unit. The second unit includes a developing roller to supply the toner to the image bearing member, a mounting portion in which the replenishing container is dismountably mounted, and an accommodating portion to accommodate the toner replenished from the replenishing container. The second unit is movable between a first position where the developing roller contacts the image bearing member and a second position where the developing roller separates from the image bearing member. When a moving direction in which the second unit moves from the first position toward the second position is defined as a separating direction, the second unit is urged in the separating direction by a force which the mounting portion receives from the replenishing container when the replenishing container is mounted to the mounting portion.

A toner container includes a toner storage unit, a container base portion including a discharge port provided on an outer surface of the container base portion, the outer surface extending in a first direction, the discharge port communicating with the toner storage unit, and a container shutter configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a direction along the first direction between a shielding position and an open position. The container base portion includes an engaging portion configured to be engaged with an engaged portion of the image forming apparatus so that rotation of the container base portion with respect to the image forming apparatus about the rotation axis is restricted. At least a part of the engaging portion of the container base portion is exposed from the container shutter in a case where the container shutter is in the shielding position.

A toner container includes a toner accommodating portion, a discharge portion, a shutter, a sealing member, and a guiding portion. In a case where a direction from the toner accommodating portion toward the discharge portion in a rotational axis direction is a first direction, where a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction, and where an end portion of the sealing member on a downstream side of the first direction is a first end portion, a downstream end portion of the guiding portion is positioned downstream of the first end portion of the sealing member with respect to the first direction. The downstream end portion of the guiding portion overlaps with the sealing member as viewed in the rotational axis direction, and includes an inclined surface inclined so as to approach the contact surface of the seal member as it goes in the second direction.

A developer container includes a pouch, a communication member, and a cap. A marking including an arrowhead part and a parting line are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cap. A rear end of the arrowhead part is disposed between a first position that is a position 45 upstream from a reference position in a direction of rotation and a second position that is a position 45 downstream in the direction of rotation. The rear end of the arrowhead part overlaps the parting line.

A fixing portion 18c for suppressing movement of a developer bag 16 when the developer bag 16 is unsealed by moving a sealing member 19 is provided. By this, unsealing becomes easy.

A fixing portion 18c for suppressing movement of a developer bag 16 when the developer bag 16 is unsealed by moving a sealing member 19 is provided. By this, unsealing becomes easy.

A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation includes a flexible container provided with an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer, a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer to be discharged from the flexible container, and an urging member 21 for urging a developer accommodating bag toward the frame for accommodating the developer accommodating bag 16. By this, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the flexible developer accommodating bag 16.