A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.

A toner conveying apparatus includes: a first conveying portion to convey the toner, the first conveying portion having a first screw that is rotatable, and a first conveying passage forming member that forms a first conveying space so as to surround the first screw; and a second conveying portion to convey upward the toner from the first conveying portion, the second conveying portion having a second screw that is rotatable, and a second conveying passage forming member that forms a second conveying space so as to surround the second screw and that includes a connecting portion. The first conveying space includes a first region and a second region that is closer to the connecting portion than the first region is, and a cross-sectional area of the first conveying space is smaller in the second region than in the first region.

An image forming apparatus includes a release processing portion, a regulation processing portion, and a second restriction processing portion. The release processing portion releases regulation on removal of a developer storage portion when a storage amount of developer stored in an image forming portion is equal to or smaller than a second threshold smaller than a first threshold. The regulation processing portion regulates removal of the developer storage portion when the storage amount of the developer stored in the image forming portion is larger than the second threshold and removal of the developer storage portion has not been regulated. The second restriction processing portion imposes restriction on processing of the regulation processing portion when the regulation on the removal of the developer storage portion is released and a restriction condition is satisfied.

A cartridge includes a casing including a toner storage chamber storing toner and a toner discharge chamber having an outlet, a conveyance member conveying the toner from the toner storage chamber to the toner discharge chamber, an action member attached to the conveyance member and repeating an action of shifting between an entering state of entering the outlet and a retraction state of retracting from the outlet, and a pump expanding and contracting to be shifted between a first state and a second state in which the internal space is smaller in volume than in the first state, the pump putting air into the toner discharge chamber by being shifted from the first state to the second state, thereby discharging the toner from the toner discharge chamber through the outlet, and the pump taking in air by being shifted from the second state to the first state.

A powder container includes a powder chamber for containing powder for forming images, a powder outlet formed in a face of the powder container, and a shutter assembly to open and close the powder outlet and including first and second shutters. The first shutter is movable between a sealing position to close the powder outlet and an open position to open the powder outlet and includes a pressed member to cancel retention of the first shutter at the sealing position. The second shutter includes a pressing projection that interferes with the pressed member of the first shutter and is movable between a shielding position to cover the pressed member without interference between the pressing projection and the pressed member and a releasing position to press the pressed member with the pressing projection.

A powder container includes a powder chamber for containing powder for forming images, a powder outlet formed in a face of the powder container, and a shutter assembly to open and close the powder outlet and including first and second shutters. The first shutter is movable between a sealing position to close the powder outlet and an open position to open the powder outlet and includes a pressed member to cancel retention of the first shutter at the sealing position. The second shutter includes a pressing projection that interferes with the pressed member of the first shutter and is movable between a shielding position to cover the pressed member without interference between the pressing projection and the pressed member and a releasing position to press the pressed member with the pressing projection.

With a mounting operation of a supply container, a supported portion 11b of a developer receiving portion 11 is supported by a receipt supporting portion 30c of a lifting portion 30. With further mounting operation, a shutter sliding portion 30b of the lifting portion 30 slides on a shutter inclined portion 4f of a shutter 4. The developer receiving portion 11 is displaced so as to bring a receiving opening into communication with a discharge opening by operating, using the shutter 4, the lifting portion 30 supporting the supported portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11. By this, a load required for movement of the developer receiving portion 11 is reduced to achieve smooth mounting of the supply container.

With a mounting operation of a supply container, a supported portion 11b of a developer receiving portion 11 is supported by a receipt supporting portion 30c of a lifting portion 30. With further mounting operation, a shutter sliding portion 30b of the lifting portion 30 slides on a shutter inclined portion 4f of a shutter 4. The developer receiving portion 11 is displaced so as to bring a receiving opening into communication with a discharge opening by operating, using the shutter 4, the lifting portion 30 supporting the supported portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11. By this, a load required for movement of the developer receiving portion 11 is reduced to achieve smooth mounting of the supply container.

With a mounting operation of a supply container, a supported portion 11b of a developer receiving portion 11 is supported by a receipt supporting portion 30c of a lifting portion 30. With further mounting operation, a shutter sliding portion 30b of the lifting portion 30 slides on a shutter inclined portion 4f of a shutter 4. The developer receiving portion 11 is displaced so as to bring a receiving opening into communication with a discharge opening by operating, using the shutter 4, the lifting portion 30 supporting the supported portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11. By this, a load required for movement of the developer receiving portion 11 is reduced to achieve smooth mounting of the supply container.

A cartridge includes a casing including a toner storage chamber storing toner and a toner discharge chamber having an outlet, a conveyance member conveying the toner from the toner storage chamber to the toner discharge chamber, an action member attached to the conveyance member and repeating an action of shifting between an entering state of entering the outlet and a retraction state of retracting from the outlet, and a pump expanding and contracting to be shifted between a first state and a second state in which the internal space is smaller in volume than in the first state, the pump putting air into the toner discharge chamber by being shifted from the first state to the second state, thereby discharging the toner from the toner discharge chamber through the outlet, and the pump taking in air by being shifted from the second state to the first state.