An image-forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner cartridge having a first opening; a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a second opening; a positioning part; a transfer unit; and an urging member. The toner cartridge and process cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The positioning part and transfer unit are positioned above the process cartridge attached to the main body. The positioning part fixes the attached process cartridge in position relative to the main body. The urging member urges the attached process cartridge toward the positioning part and urges the process cartridge such that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge through the first opening and the second opening when the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the main body.

There is provided a consumable supply method for supplying a refill consumable stored in a refill consumable container to a consumable container installable in an equipment body. The consumable supply method includes removing a refill information storage device storing information on the refill consumable from the refill consumable container; removing an information storage device storing information on a consumable contained in the consumable container, the information being for exchange with the equipment body, from the consumable container; and attaching the refill information storage device removed from the refill consumable container as an information storage device to the consumable container in place of the information storage device removed from the consumable container.

An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a developing roller, a connecting tube, and a toner container. The main casing includes a sheet supply tray. The developing roller is provided in the main casing. The connecting tube has one end portion and another end portion inside the main casing. The toner container is for accommodating toner. The one end portion of the connecting tube is connected to the toner container. The toner container has an inlet opening for replenishing toner. The toner container is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position about the connecting tube. A position of the inlet opening at the second position is higher than a position of the inlet opening at the first position.

An image forming apparatus is capable of being attached with a toner supply container. The toner supply container stores a toner that is to be supplied to a developing portion. An attachment location of the toner supply container isbelow a light scanning portion in a vertical direction.

A toner conveying device for conveying toner, comprising: a first conveying portion; and a second conveying portion conveying the toner conveyed from the first conveying portion. The first conveying portion further includes: a first screw which includes a first rotation shaft and a first blade portion, the first screw including an engaging portion and a first protruded portion on a first end portion; and a first conveying passage forming member having a first inner wall face which forms a first conveying passage. The second conveying portion includes: a second screw which includes a second rotation shaft and a second blade portion, the second screw including an engaged portion and a second protruded portion on a second end portion; and a second conveying passage forming member having a second inner wall face which forms a second conveying passage, and which is connected with the first conveying passage forming member.

In a toner supply device (40), a horizontal transport portion (42) is connected to a vertical transport portion (41). A stirring transport screw (25) includes a rotary shaft (25a) and a supply blade (25c), and transports toner in the horizontal transport portion (42) toward the rotary shaft (25a). A drive input gear (50) inputs a rotational drive force to the rotary shaft (25a). A crank shaft (47) has a central shaft (47a) connected to the drive input gear (50) and is rotated at a lower speed than the rotary shaft (25a), and an eccentric shaft (47c) extending in parallel to the central shaft (47a) from a position radially outward from the central shaft. One end of the toner loosening member (45) is connected to the eccentric shaft (47c), and the toner loosening member (45) is reciprocatingly moved in the vertical direction in the vertical transport portion (41) due to a circumferential movement operation of the eccentric shaft (47c) centered on the central shaft (47a).

A pressurization device for a toner cartridge includes an inner cover, an airbag and a sliding member. The inner cover is arranged at a toner feeding port of the toner cartridge; the airbag is made of elastic material; the airbag includes a fixed end that is fixed to the inner cover and a free end that extends outward from the fixed end; the fixed end is provided with an airbag opening interconnected to an interior of the toner cartridge; a remaining portion of the airbag is arranged as closed except for the airbag opening; a first end of the sliding member is connected to the free end of the airbag and moves toward the fixed end of the airbag back and forth, so that the airbag ejects gas into the toner cartridge by means of being compressed.

An image forming apparatus includes a toner container, a first conveyance unit, and an apparatus main body. The apparatus main body includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller, a second conveyance unit, a toner conveyance passage, light sensor, an acquisition unit, and a control unit configured to execute an abnormality detection mode. In an abnormality detection mode, the acquisition unit acquires a first acquired value after the driving of the second conveyance unit with the driving of the first conveyance unit stopped. When the first acquired value satisfies a first condition, the acquisition unit further acquires a second acquired value after the driving of the second conveyance unit with the driving of the first conveyance unit stopped. The apparatus main body further includes a notification unit to make notification of the abnormality when the second acquired value satisfies a second condition.

In some examples, an apparatus can include a print material cartridge, a reciprocating pump, a first valve, where the first valve is a one-way valve, and a second valve, where the second valve is a float valve, where the reciprocating pump is to cause print material to be supplied to the print material cartridge via the second valve.

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.