Powder filling method, powder container, developer replenishing device, developer replenishing method, and image forming apparatus

A powder-filled powder container, which is obtained by filling a powder container with at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities,

• wherein the at least two kinds of powders are filled into the powder container by means of a powder filling method having the steps of:
• mixing air with a first powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which comprises at least one powder that does not include a powder with the highest specific gravity, and then introducing the air into particles of the first powder to increase the bulk of the first powder;
• starting to fill a second powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which includes a powder with the highest specific gravity, into the powder container after starting to fill the first powder into the powder container;
• and
• completing filling of the second powder before the air is released from the particles of the first powder within the powder container and thereby the bulk of the first powder is reduced and then stabilized.

A developer replenishing device, comprising:

• a developer container that contains a developer comprising a toner and a carrier;
• and
• developer conveying means for conveying the developer to a destination of conveyance,
• wherein the developer container is a powder-filled powder container, which is obtained by filling a powder container with at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities, the at least two kinds of powders being filled into the powder container by means of a powder filling method having the steps of:
• mixing air with a first powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which comprises at least one powder that does not include a powder with the highest specific gravity, and then introducing the air into particles of the first powder to increase the bulk of the first powder;
• starting to fill a second powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which includes a powder with the highest specific gravity, into the powder container after starting to fill the first powder into the powder container;
• and
• completing filling of the second powder before the air is released from the particles of the first powder within the powder container and thereby the bulk of the first powder is reduced and then stabilized.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a latent image carrier;
• a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the latent image carrier using a developer contained in a developer containing portion;
• and
• developer replenishing means for supplying the developer to the developer containing portion,
• wherein the developer replenishing means is a developer replenishing device having:
• a developer container that contains a developer comprising a toner and a carrier;
• and
• developer conveying means for conveying the developer to a destination of conveyance, and
• the developer container is a powder-filled powder container, which is obtained by filling a powder container with at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities, the at least two kinds of powders being filled into the powder container by means of a powder filling method having the steps of:
• mixing air with a first powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which comprises at least one powder that does not include a powder with the highest specific gravity, and then introducing the air into particles of the first powder to increase the bulk of the first powder;
• starting to fill a second powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which includes a powder with the highest specific gravity, into the powder container after starting to fill the first powder into the powder container;
• and
• completing filling of the second powder before the air is released from the particles of the first powder within the powder container and thereby the bulk of the first powder is reduced and then stabilized.

A developer replenishing method for replenishing a developer comprising a toner and a carrier having different specific gravities, from a developer container to a developing device, the method comprising the steps of:

• mixing air with the toner and then introducing the air into particles of the toner to increase the bulk of the toner;
• starting to fill the carrier into the developer container after starting to fill the toner into the developer container;
• completing filling of the carrier before the air is released from the particles of the toner within the developer container and thereby the bulk of the toner is reduced and then stabilized;
• and
• discharging the developer from the developer container filled with the developer comprising the toner and the carrier, to replenish the developer into the developing device.

A powder-filled powder container manufacturing method for manufacturing a powder container filled with at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities, the method comprising the steps of:

• mixing air with a first powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which comprises at least one powder that does not include a powder with the highest specific gravity, and then introducing the air into particles of the first powder to increase the bulk of the first powder;
• starting to fill a second powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which includes a powder with the highest specific gravity, into the powder container after starting to fill the first powder into the powder container;
• and
• completing filling of the second powder before the air is released from the particles of the first powder within the powder container and thereby the bulk of the first powder is reduced and then stabilized.