A toner container includes an encoded member that is encoded with identifying information of the toner container and that is operatively connected to an input gear of the toner container such that rotation of the input gear causes movement of the encoded member for communicating the identifying information to a sensor. A first alignment guide on the first side of the toner container includes a top surface that is unobstructed to contact a sensor housing from below when the toner container is installed in an image forming device. At least a portion of the top surface of the first alignment guide inclines upward and rearward for contacting and lifting the sensor housing upward during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device for aligning the sensor with an exposed portion of the encoded member.

A replaceable unit is removably installable in an image forming device. The replaceable unit includes a rotatable input gear that is positioned to mate with an output gear of the image forming device. The replaceable unit includes an encoded member that is encoded with identifying information of the replaceable unit and that is operatively connected to the input gear such that rotation of the input gear causes movement of the encoded member. The replaceable unit includes an alignment guide on the exterior of the replaceable unit. The image forming device includes a sensor supported by a sensor housing. The alignment guide is positioned to contact and move the sensor housing during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device to align the sensor with an exposed portion of the encoded member for reading the identifying information from the encoded member by the sensor.

A toner container includes an encoded member that is encoded with identifying information of the toner container and that is operatively connected to an input gear of the toner container such that rotation of the input gear causes movement of the encoded member for communicating the identifying information to a sensor. A first alignment guide on the first side of the toner container includes a top surface that is unobstructed to contact a sensor housing from below when the toner container is installed in an image forming device. At least a portion of the top surface of the first alignment guide inclines upward and rearward for contacting and lifting the sensor housing upward during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device for aligning the sensor with an exposed portion of the encoded member.

A toner container includes a container main body, a conveying body, at least one first rotating body, and a second rotating body. The container main body has a compartment and an exit port. The compartment contains toner. The exit port allows the toner to be ejected from the compartment. The conveying body is located inside the compartment. The conveying body moves in a direction approaching the exit port while rotating to convey the toner to the exit port. The first rotating body engages with an outer circumferential surface of the conveying body and rotates according to rotation of the conveying body. The second rotating body rotates according to a first driving force generated by rotation of the first rotating body. The first rotating body is located at a prescribed position. The first rotating body rotates in response to the conveying body arriving at the prescribed position.

A toner container includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An input gear is positioned on the housing for mating with a corresponding output gear in an image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. A toner agitator is movably positioned in the reservoir. The toner agitator is operatively connected to the input gear such that rotation of the input gear in a first rotational direction causes movement of the toner agitator for agitating toner in the reservoir. An encoded member is encoded with authentication information of the toner container and is operatively connected to the input gear such that rotation of the input gear in a second rotational direction causes movement of the encoded member for communicating the authentication information of the toner container to a controller of the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device.

A toner container includes a container main body, a conveying body, at least one first rotating body, and a second rotating body. The container main body has a compartment and an exit port. The compartment contains toner. The exit port allows the toner to be ejected from the compartment. The conveying body is located inside the compartment. The conveying body moves in a direction approaching the exit port while rotating to convey the toner to the exit port. The first rotating body engages with an outer circumferential surface of the conveying body and rotates according to rotation of the conveying body. The second rotating body rotates according to a first driving force generated by rotation of the first rotating body. The first rotating body is located at a prescribed position. The first rotating body rotates in response to the conveying body arriving at the prescribed position.

A toner container includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An input gear is positioned on the housing for mating with a corresponding output gear in an image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. A toner agitator is movably positioned in the reservoir. The toner agitator is operatively connected to the input gear such that rotation of the input gear in a first rotational direction causes movement of the toner agitator for agitating toner in the reservoir. An encoded member is encoded with authentication information of the toner container and is operatively connected to the input gear such that rotation of the input gear in a second rotational direction causes movement of the encoded member for communicating the authentication information of the toner container to a controller of the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device.

An image forming apparatus on which a developer container is replaceably mounted and which is improved in usability. An image forming unit of the apparatus forms an image using developer contained in a container which is mounted on a mount section. A replenishment mechanism replenishes the developer in the container to the image forming unit, and a cover is opened to mount the container on the mount section and is closed to protect the container mounted on the mount section. If the cover is opened after it is closed in a state in which the container has been removed from the mount section while a predetermined condition related to a remaining amount of the developer in the container is not satisfied, a remount screen is displayed for prompting a user to remount the removed container.

A replaceable unit is removably installable in an image forming device. The replaceable unit includes a rotatable input gear that is positioned to mate with an output gear of the image forming device. The replaceable unit includes an encoded member that is encoded with identifying information of the replaceable unit and that is operatively connected to the input gear such that rotation of the input gear causes movement of the encoded member. The replaceable unit includes an alignment guide on the exterior of the replaceable unit. The image forming device includes a sensor supported by a sensor housing. The alignment guide is positioned to contact and move the sensor housing during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device to align the sensor with an exposed portion of the encoded member for reading the identifying information from the encoded member by the sensor.

A toner container includes an encoded member that is encoded with identifying information of the toner container and that is operatively connected to an input gear of the toner container such that rotation of the input gear causes movement of the encoded member for communicating the identifying information to a sensor. A first alignment guide on the first side of the toner container includes a top surface that is unobstructed to contact a sensor housing from below when the toner container is installed in an image forming device. At least a portion of the top surface of the first alignment guide inclines upward and rearward for contacting and lifting the sensor housing upward during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device for aligning the sensor with an exposed portion of the encoded member.