[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.

A cartridge includes a shutter that opens and closes when the cartridge is attached and detached to a developing unit or image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a casing having a chamber with a first opening at one end portion allowing toner to flow out of the casing. The cartridge includes a cover that covers the first opening, movable with the casing and having a second opening allowing toner to flow out of the cover. The shutter is located at the one end portion and has a protrusion further from the one end portion than the cover. The developing unit supports the protrusion when the cartridge is mounted thereon, and the casing pivots with the cover relative to the developing unit between a first position where the shutter closes the second opening and a second position where a third opening of the shutter overlaps the second opening.

An image forming apparatus includes: a housing having an opening providing a first region and a second region; first and second covers for opening and closing the first and second regions, respectively; a drum cartridge detachably attachable to the housing in a first direction through the first region; and a toner cartridge. A part of the toner cartridge attached to the drum cartridge is movable between a first position and a second position. The toner cartridge is detachable from the drum cartridge attached to the housing through the second region in a second direction crossing the first direction when the first cover is closed, the second cover is opened, and the part of the toner cartridge is at the second position. The part of the toner cartridge is movable from the first position to the second position in a third direction crossing the first and second directions.

A toner container for use with a developer unit of an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a body having a front that leads during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device and a rear that trails during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device. An outlet port is positioned on a bottom of the body and adjacent to the front of the body for exiting toner from the toner container. An engagement surface is positioned at the bottom of the body and adjacent to the front of the body for contacting and pushing open a developer shutter of an inlet port of the developer unit in a direction of insertion of the toner container into the image forming device during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is dismounted from the receiving device and (d) a retracted position retracted from the engaging position, and wherein the engaging portion is movable from the retracted position to the engaging position with rotation of the open/close member from the closing position to the opening position.

A shutter unit to be installed in a toner container attachable to and detachable from an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes: a shutter to be pushed by a nozzle disposed in the apparatus body, with movement of the container in an insertion direction into the apparatus body, to insert the nozzle into the container and communicate the nozzle and the container via an opening of the nozzle; a shutter holder holding the shutter movable in the insertion direction; a seal to contact a circumferential surface of the shutter in a closed state and slide on the circumferential surfaces of the shutter and the nozzle during an opening operation in which the shutter is pressed by the nozzle; and a seal holder detachably holding the seal at an inner portion of the seal holder. The shutter holder and the seal holder are integrated in a detachable manner.

Toner cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, an auger, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The housing includes a first toner accommodating portion having and a second toner accommodating portion. The auger is rotatable about a second axis extending in a first direction and is configured to convey toner from a first toner accommodating portion to the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion is positioned at a first side of the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion extends in the first direction. The second protrusion is positioned at a second side of the second toner accommodating portion and extends in the first direction.