Example implementations relate to shafts with blades with tapered surfaces consistent with the disclosure. For example, a device including a shaft, a blade with a plurality of tapered surfaces, the surfaces tapered from a center of the shaft to an outer edge of the shaft, and a membrane attached to the plurality of tapered surfaces to facilitate print substance transport from the center of a print substance container towards the edges of the print substance container.

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.

A developer accommodating container includes a developer accommodating portion, a stirring member, and a drive transmitting member. The developer accommodating container further includes an elastic member fixed to the stirring member at one end portion thereof and capable of expanding and contracting in a direction along a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating portion. With respect to the longitudinal direction, the stirring member is disposed so as to form (1) a first gap between one end portion thereof and an inner surface of the developer accommodating portion on one side and (2) a second gap between the other end portion thereof and another inner surface of the developer accommodating portion on the other side. The stirring member is supported by the developer accommodating portion so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the developer accommodating portion.

A stirring device includes a stirrer configured to stir a stirred object, at least another component of the stirring device, and a coating layer. The coating layer is disposed on at least one of a contact part of the stirrer that contacts the at least another component and a contacted part of the at least another component contacted by the stirrer.

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.

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.

A developing device includes a developer container configured to accommodate a developer containing toner and a carrier, and a feeding screw provided rotatably in the developer container and configured to feed the developer in a predetermined feeding direction. The feeding screw includes a rotation shaft, and a first helical blade and a second helical blade which are formed around the rotation shaft and which form a multi-thread helical blade. The feeding screw includes a region in which a plate-like projection portion is provided on the rotation shaft between the first helical blade and the second helical blade. The plate-like projection portion is provided to contact an adjacent helical blade on a downstream side with respect to the feeding direction without contacting an adjacent helical blade on an upstream side with respect to the feeding direction.

A fluid storage device includes a container and a torsion sensor. The container stores a fluid to be agitated. The torsion sensor has a substrate and detects torsion of the substrate. The substrate has a first end inserted in the container and a second end fixed to the container or a housing.

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.

A developing device includes a developing roller, a casing, a dividing wall, and a shutter. A first chamber and a second chamber are formed in the casing. An opening is formed in the casing. The opening permits the first chamber to communicate with the outside and faces the developing roller. The dividing wall is disposed in the casing. The dividing wall divides the first chamber and the second chamber. At least one communicating window is formed on the dividing wall. The communicating window connects the first chamber and the second chamber. The shutter is selectively switched between a first state in which the communicating window is opened and a second state in which the communicating window is blocked.