A developing device includes a developing unit, swingably supported, for supplying a developer to an image bearing member, and including an inwardly extending wall portion. In an attitude during use, when against an urging force of an urging member configured to urge the developing unit in a first direction toward the image bearing member, the developing unit is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the inwardly extending wall portion is contactable to a restricting member for restricting an amount of movement of the developing unit in the second direction.

A toner cartridge includes a housing, a toner conveying shaft and a percussion device. The housing has a barrel portion, in which toners are contained, and a transmission portion rotatably disposed at an end of the barrel portion. The toner conveying shaft is rotatably disposed inside the barrel portion of the housing and drivenable by the transmission portion of the housing to rotate. The percussion device is configured to intermittently vibrate the barrel portion of the housing when the toner conveying shaft rotates. As such, when the percussion device intermittently vibrates the barrel portion of the housing, the toners attached on an inner wall surface of the barrel portion will be shaken down for being further discharged out of barrel portion, thereby reducing the residual amount of the toners that are contained in the barrel portion of the housing.

A toner cartridge includes a housing, a toner conveying shaft and a percussion device. The housing has a barrel portion, in which toners are contained, and a transmission portion rotatably disposed at an end of the barrel portion. The toner conveying shaft is rotatably disposed inside the barrel portion of the housing and drivenable by the transmission portion of the housing to rotate. The percussion device is configured to intermittently vibrate the barrel portion of the housing when the toner conveying shaft rotates. As such, when the percussion device intermittently vibrates the barrel portion of the housing, the toners attached on an inner wall surface of the barrel portion will be shaken down for being further discharged out of barrel portion, thereby reducing the residual amount of the toners that are contained in the barrel portion of the housing.

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body and a unit detachably mounted to the apparatus body and comprising a unit body, a cam, a first movement member, and a second movement member. The unit includes a first contact portion, an urging portion, and a second contact portion. The second movement member is attachable to the first movement member in a first manner or a second manner. A detection pattern of a detection signal differs between a state in which the second movement member is in contact with the first contact portion and a state in which the second movement member is in contact with the second contact portion, and differs between a state in which the second movement member is attached in the first manner and a state in which the second movement member is attached in the second manner.

An image forming apparatus including a rotatable developer container; a receiving device which receives the container which is inserted in a direction along a rotational axis of the container and which receives the developer discharged from the container when the container is in a first position; and a regulating member provided on the container, the regulating member being effective to prevent, during transportation of the image forming apparatus, the container from moving to the first position from a second position which is upstream of the first position with respect to an inserting direction of the container and in which the developer is not discharged from the container.

A developer container holder for holding a developer container including a developer supply port and a shutter for opening and closing the developer supply port guides the developer container in a first direction when the developer container is attached to the developer container holder and in a second direction when the developer container is removed from the developer container holder, and includes: a holder that holds the developer container; a support that supports the holder slidably within a region in a direction in which the developer container is attached to and removed from the developer container holder; and an elastic member placed between the holder and the support to urge the holder in the first direction when the holder is on a first side of a position in the region and in the second direction when the holder is on a second side of the position in the region.

A packing member includes: a cushion surrounding an object and containing gas; an elastic member attachable and detachable from the cushion; and a container box containing the cushion to which the elastic member is attached. The container box includes: a container having an opening; and a lid that opens and closes the opening. The cushion includes: a first portion surrounding a portion of the object and containing the gas; a no-gas containing portion containing no gas; and a pair of second portions containing the gas, communicating with the first portion, and respectively provided on opposite sides of the object. The elastic member includes: a base disposed between the lid and the no-gas containing portion; and a pair of nipping portions respectively extending from opposite ends of the base and each disposed between the container and a corresponding one of the pair of second portions.

A packaging member for cleaning blades each having a blade main body and a holder part comprises at least one set of packaging member main bodies for supporting, respectively, opposite ends and of the holder parts of the cleaning blades. A first packaging member main body which is one of the set of packaging member main bodies has a plurality of first support parts disposed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the packaging member main body. The first support parts each support one end portion of the holder part. A second packaging member main body which is the other of the set of packaging member main bodies has a plurality of second support parts disposed at the predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the packaging member main body. The second support parts each support the other end portion of the holder part.

An image forming apparatus includes: a main body that forms an image on a sheet; and a removable unit that is attachable and removable to and from the main body, wherein the removable unit includes a first unit attachable to an outside of the main body, and is packable separately from the main body in a state removed from the main body.

A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface.