A cartridge is configured to be attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus and configured to receive toner supplied from a supply container. The cartridge includes a supply port configured to receive the toner supplied from the supply container, a shutter member configured to cover the supply port, and a locking member. The locking member is moved from a lock position to an unlock position to allow movement of the shutter member by using electric power supplied from the main body.

A cartridge is configured to be attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus and configured to receive toner supplied from a supply container. The cartridge includes a supply port configured to receive the toner supplied from the supply container, a shutter member configured to cover the supply port, and a locking member. The locking member is moved from a lock position to an unlock position to allow movement of the shutter member by using electric power supplied from the main body.

A toner conveying device conveys toner supplied from outside. The toner conveying device includes a housing, a plurality of toner acceptors, a plurality of legs, a bracket, and a vibration generator. The housing has a toner conveyance path inside. The toner acceptors are provided on the housing to accept toner supplied from outside and guide the toner to the toner conveyance path. The legs are fixed near the toner acceptors on the housing, respectively, and protrude outward from a side surface of the housing. The bracket is supported by each of the legs. The vibration generator is attached to the bracket.

A powder-container attachment device includes a powder container that accommodates powder, and a device body. The device body includes an attachment portion to and from which the powder container is attached and removed with a pushing operation and a pull-out operation, a receiving port, a lid that is moved in interconnection with the pushing operation and the pull-out operation to open and close the receiving port, and an engaging portion with which the lid is engaged in the state of closing the receiving port. The powder container includes a protrusion and a disengagement portion. The lid includes a holding portion that removably holds the protrusion, and an engaged portion that is engaged with the engaging portion during the pull-out operation. The powder container is movable in a direction in which the protrusion moves away from the disengagement portion during the pull-out operation.

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a developer roll and a toner adder roll. First and second drive gears are rotatably connected to and coaxial with the developer roll and toner adder roll, respectively. The toner cartridge includes a drive coupler exposed to receive rotational motion when the toner cartridge is installed in an image forming device. Gear teeth of the first drive gear are directly meshed with gear teeth of the drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The second drive gear is rotatably connected to the drive coupler through a pair of idler gears.

A method for adapting a printer for operating with more colours, the printer including an inner framework and a dispenser assembly associable with said framework, includes the steps of application of at least one first quick release connector for electric cables at the dispenser assembly; and application of at least one corresponding second quick release connector at the inner framework of the printer.

An image forming unit includes an image carrier, a developer carrier, a development housing, and a guide member. The image carrier forms an electrostatic latent image. The developer carrier is in contact with the image carrier while rotating about a rotation axis and facing the image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image. The development housing accommodates a developer and rotatably supports the developer carrier at one end with an opening portion that is open to the image carrier. The development housing includes an agitation path in which the developer is agitated and a feed path through which the developer is fed to the developer carrier. The guide member is disposed below the opening portion and includes an inner surface opposing the development housing to form a flow path that guides a current of air produced with rotation of the developer carrier in a direction away from the developer carrier, and to guide a recording medium to the image carrier with an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. Dust contained in the current of air is deposited on the inner surface of the guide member.

In one aspect an apparatus for use in an electrographic printer includes a tray defining a cavity, the tray having an internal surface, and an ink developer electrode disposed in the cavity for developing an ink. There is a first layer disposed on the internal surface, the first layer including a dielectric material, and a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer adhering to the first layer and being resistant to the adhesion of ink. In another aspect manufacturing such apparatus includes applying respective polymer precursor compositions to form the two layers and crosslinking the second polymer composition.

An image forming unit includes an image carrier, a developer carrier, a development housing, and a guide member. The image carrier forms an electrostatic latent image. The developer carrier is in contact with the image carrier while rotating about a rotation axis and facing the image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image. The development housing accommodates a developer and rotatably supports the developer carrier at one end with an opening portion that is open to the image carrier. The development housing includes an agitation path in which the developer is agitated and a feed path through which the developer is fed to the developer carrier. The guide member is disposed below the opening portion and includes an inner surface opposing the development housing to form a flow path that guides a current of air produced with rotation of the developer carrier in a direction away from the developer carrier, and to guide a recording medium to the image carrier with an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. Dust contained in the current of air is deposited on the inner surface of the guide member.

A developing device according to an embodiment includes a housing, a developing roller, a gap forming member, and a guide section. The gap forming member forms a first gap between the gap forming member and the developing roller. The gap forming member forms a second gap between the gap forming member and the housing. The second gap includes an upstream side opening on a rotating direction upstream side of the developing roller. The guide section directs an air current discharged from the second gap via the upstream side opening to the first gap. A relation of H1/H2<5 is satisfied, where H1 is a minimum interval between the developing roller and the gap forming member in the first gap and H2 is a minimum interval between the housing and the gap forming member in the second gap when viewed from an axial direction of the developing roller.