A developing apparatus includes a developer container, a conveyance screw, a wall portion, and a sheet member. The wall portion forms a first chamber and a second chamber respectively comprising an opening portion that is opened to a conveyance screw side. The sheet member sealing an opening portion of the first chamber when developer is stored in the first chamber, the sheet member configured to be peeled off from the opening portion of the first chamber. The second chamber includes a sheet discharge port that communicates the second chamber and an outer side of the developer container, a portion of the sheet member reaching the outer side of the developer container through the sheet discharge port in a state sealing the opening portion of the first chamber. The sheet discharge port is arranged above the opening portion of the first chamber.

A method for manufacturing a cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus, includes preparing a unit that includes a frame including a developer storage unit storing developer and an opening connecting to the outside from the developer storage unit, and a first sheet member, one edge of which is attached to the frame, arranging a connecting member on the first sheet member, fixing a second sheet member to the first sheet member via the connecting member, and attaching a rotation member onto the opening so that the rotation member abuts on the second sheet member.

A remanufactured toner cartridge and related method includes a modified driven gear that is associated with an internal seal removal mechanism. The driven gear is modified so that driving rotational force from a printer is not transmitted to the seal removal mechanism during a post test of the remanufactured cartridge. When the post test is complete a fixing member, which may include a pin, is used to return the modified driven gear to an operational configuration so that when the cartridge is subsequently installed in a printer, driving rotational force from the printer is transmitted to the removal mechanism to remove the internal toner seal, thereby permitting cartridge operation.

An image forming apparatus includes a developing device that is mountable and dismountable and has a sealing member for sealing to be removed at a time of start using the developing device. The image forming apparatus further includes a winding shaft, a drive source, a detector, and a controller. The winding shaft rotates for removal processing for removing the sealing member. The drive source drives the winding shaft. The detector detects a value corresponding to a load torque applied to the drive source. The controller notifies of an error in a case where the value detected by the detector has become smaller than a predetermined value before a predetermined period of time elapses from start of the drive by the drive source.

A remanufactured toner cartridge and related method includes a modified driven gear that is associated with an internal seal removal mechanism. The driven gear is modified so that driving rotational force from a printer is not transmitted to the seal removal mechanism during a post test of the remanufactured cartridge. When the post test is complete a fixing member, which may include a pin, is used to return the modified driven gear to an operational configuration so that when the cartridge is subsequently installed in a printer, driving rotational force from the printer is transmitted to the removal mechanism to remove the internal toner seal, thereby permitting cartridge operation.

An image forming apparatus is provided which can reduce occurrence of unusual noise. The image forming apparatus includes a driving motor configured to drive a developer bearing member and a control unit which can control the driving motor between a first driving speed and a second driving speed higher than the first driving speed. In a case where the first driving speed is equal to the driving speed of the image forming operation, the control unit controls the driving motor to drive at the second driving speed while an unsealing operation is being performed.

A developer accommodating member for accommodating a developer includes a flexible container provided with a single opening for permitting discharge of the developer, a sealing member bonded to a periphery of the opening and configured to seal the opening, a bonding portion bonding the periphery of the opening and the sealing member, and a reinforcing member. The container includes a fixing portion fixable in a neighborhood of the opening. The opening is formed so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the container. The reinforcing member is provided on a side opposite from the fixing portion with respect to the opening, and as seen in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the opening. The bonding portion and the reinforcing member at least partially overlap with each other.

A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation includes a flexible container provided with an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer, a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer to be discharged from the flexible container, and an urging member 21 for urging a developer accommodating bag toward the frame for accommodating the developer accommodating bag 16. By this, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the flexible developer accommodating bag 16.

A developing cartridge includes a developing portion to supply toner, a toner storing portion to store the toner, a partition wall formed between the developing portion and the toner storing portion and having a toner supply section, and a storing-portion agitating member rotatably disposed in the toner storing portion to intermittently rotate to move the toner in the toner storing portion while the developing portion supplies the toner.

A sheet-shaped sealing member to be pulled out from a front side of the sheet-shaped sealing member in a pull-out direction that is a longitudinal direction of the sheet-shaped sealing member includes a sealing portion and a cutout portion. The sealing portion seals a sealed portion. The cutout portion is cut out to be cantilevered with a position different from the sealing portion as a root portion. The cutout portion has a free end as a fixing portion to be removably fixed to the sealed portion or a fixed portion of a housing in which the sheet-shaped sealing member is installed.