A toner sealing system is described including a seal having first and second alignment features. The seal is selectably installable on one of a first toner container of a first type and a second toner container of a second type. The first alignment feature is matable with a first corresponding alignment feature on the first toner container when the seal is installed on the first toner container for aligning the seal to the first toner container. The second alignment feature is matable with a second corresponding alignment feature on the second toner container when the seal is installed on the second toner container for aligning the seal to the second toner container. Embodiments include those wherein the first alignment feature does not align the seal to the second toner container, and the second alignment feature does not align the seal to the first toner container.

A developing apparatus includes a developer conveyance member including a rotatably supported flexible sheet having a first distance between its rotation axis and an edge of the flexible sheet in a state where the flexible sheet is unbent. A lid of a developing container includes a corner portion that extends a storage space outward of an imaginary circle with a radius of the first distance centered on the rotational axis, and a contact portion which protrudes from an inner surface of the corner portion to an inner side of the imaginary circle and with which the flexible sheet contacts while the conveyance member is being rotated. The contact portion has a distal edge shaped such that a distance between the distal edge and the rotation axis increases toward a downstream side in a rotation direction of the conveyance member as viewed in the direction along the rotation axis.

A toner storage apparatus to which a toner cartridge is mountable by being moved in a moving direction includes a toner storage frame that has a reception port and a seal attachment surface, stores toner supplied from the cartridge via the reception port, and has a protrusion from the attachment surface, and a seal portion that is attached to the attachment surface, has a rubbing surface that rubs against the cartridge when the cartridge is moved in the moving direction, and has a communication hole with the reception port. At least part of the protrusion is inside the communication hole and upstream of the reception port in the moving direction. An end of the protrusion is closer to the attachment surface than the rubbing surface in a direction perpendicular to the attachment surface. The seal portion contacts an outer peripheral surface of the protrusion extending in the perpendicular direction.

A developing device includes a developing container, a developer carrier, a seal member, and a pair of pressing members. The developing container has an opening. The seal member includes a contact end part, a first blocking part, and an interposed end part. Each of the pressing members has a pressing surface in which a cutout recess is formed. The developing container includes a second blocking part that is adjacent to each end part of the first blocking part in a rotary shaft direction and protrudes upward. The interposed end part is located at such a position as to overlap the cutout recess with respect to a circumferential direction, and the second blocking part is located at such a position as to overlap the cutout recess with respect to the rotary shaft direction.

A developing device includes a developer container including first and second chambers between which the developer is circulated, first and communication portions to permit the developer to communicate with the first and second chambers, first and second screws provided in the first and second chambers, respectively, and a developer discharging portion. The developer discharging portion is provided in a passage continuous with the first chamber of an upstream of the second communication portion. In the developing device, a discharging method includes a step for inserting a shield member into the second communication portion via an inserting opening of the developer container, and a step for discharging the developer from the developing device via the developer discharging portion, by rotating the first and second screws in a direction opposite to a direction of rotating during a developing operation in a state where the shielding member is inserted into the second communication portion in the inserting step.

A developing device includes a developer container including first and second chambers between which the developer is circulated, first and communication portions to permit the developer to communicate with the first and second chambers, first and second screws provided in the first and second chambers, respectively, and a developer discharging portion. The developer discharging portion is provided in a passage continuous with the first chamber of a downstream of the first communication portion. In the developing device, a discharging method includes a step for inserting a shield member into the second communication portion via an inserting opening of the developer container, and a step for discharging the developer from the developing device via the developer discharging portion, by rotating the first and second screws in a direction same as a direction of rotating during a developing operation in a state where the shielding member is inserted into the second communication portion in the inserting step.

An example image forming apparatus includes a coupling device to perform coupling or decoupling between the image forming apparatus and a consumable, a sensor to sense an opening of a cover of the image forming apparatus, and a processor. When receiving an opening sensing signal of the cover from the sensor, the processor determines whether the consumable coupled to the image forming apparatus corresponds to a consumable access condition, and based on a result of determination, transmits a signal requesting decoupling of the consumable corresponding to the consumable access condition to the coupling device.

A developing device includes a developing member to carry developer stored by a developing frame, and a regulating blade having a support plate fixed to the developing frame, a plate-like member, and a regulating member. One end portion of the plate-like member is opposed to the developing member, and the other end portion is welded to the support plate. The regulating member is fixed to a plate-like member surface, and contacts the developing member to regulate a developer thickness on a developing surface. The regulating member is provided with a recessed portion recessed at a regulating member end portion. The regulating member end portion is lower than a regulating member central portion. A plate-like member region welded to the support plate is located at the plate-like member other end portion and overlaps the regulating member central portion and the regulating member end portion at which the recessed portion is provided.

A developer discharging method includes inserting a shielding member into a second communication portion via an inserting opening of a developer container to shift the second communication portion from an opening state for opening the second communication portion to a shielding state for shielding the second communication portion, and discharging the developer from a developing device via a developer discharging portion by rotatably driving a first conveying screw in a direction opposite to a direction of rotatably driving the first conveying screw during a developing operation of developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member when the shielding member is inserted into the second communication portion and by rotatably driving the second conveying screw in a direction opposite to a direction of rotatably driving the second conveying screw during the developing operation when the shielding member is inserted into the second communication portion.

A process cartridge includes a photosensitive member and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a frame to store toner, a developing roller to carry the toner, a side seal to contact an end portion of the developing roller and prevent the toner from leaking out, and a sealing sheet to contact a center portion of the developing roller and prevent the toner from leaking out. A toner receiving portion of the frame includes an opening facing the developing roller and is disposed on an upstream side of the side seal and a downstream side of a contact portion where the developing roller contacts the photosensitive member, and moreover is disposed at a position overlapping with the side seal. The developing unit includes a blocking member to block at least a part of the opening, and the blocking member is disposed between the opening and the developing roller.