Powder discharging device and image forming apparatus using the same

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier by depositing visible powder on said latent image;
• and
• a powder discharging device for replenishing the powder to said developing device;
• said powder discharging device comprising:
• a powder container storing the powder therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet at one end portion for discharging said powder vertically downward, said powder discharged via said outlet being replenished to said developing device;
• and
• container moving means for moving said powder container toward the one end portion and then generating an acceleration opposite in direction to a movement of said powder container in said powder container to thereby cause the powder in said powder container to move toward said outlet;
• wherein a maximum value of the acceleration is between 40 m/sec2 and 200 m/sec2,
• wherein a period of time for which said container moving means continuously generates an acceleration of 20 m/sec2 or above is between 3 msec and 30 msec.

A powder discharging device comprising:

• a flexible powder container including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging powder stored in said powder container and a rigid reinforcing plate affixed to an entirety of the bottom wall;
• and
• shock applying means for applying a shock to said powder container to thereby cause the powder to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet;
• wherein the powder has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device.

A powder discharging device comprising:

• a powder container including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging powder stored in said powder container;
• and
• shock applying means for applying a shock to said powder container to thereby cause the powder to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet;
• wherein the powder has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device,
• wherein said shock applying means applies the shock to said powder container by generating, while causing said powder container to move together with support means supporting said powder container, a speed variation of 0.1 m/sec or above, but 0.6 m/sec or below, and
• wherein said powder container and said support means have a total weight of 0.3 kgf or above, but 2 kgf or below.

A powder discharging device comprising:

• a flexible powder container storing powder therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging said powder and a rigid reinforcing plate affixed to an entirety of the bottom wall;
• and
• shock applying means for applying a shock to said powder container to thereby cause the powder in said powder container to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet;
• wherein the powder has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a toner discharging device configured to discharge a powdery toner;
• and
• toner image forming means for forming a toner image with the toner discharged from said toner discharging device;
• said toner discharging device comprising:
• a flexible toner container including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging the toner stored in said toner container and a rigid reinforcing plate affixed to an entirety of the bottom wall;
• and
• shock applying means for applying a shock to said toner container to thereby cause the toner to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet;
• wherein the toner has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a toner discharging device configured to discharge a powdery toner;
• and
• toner image forming means for forming a toner image with the toner discharged from said toner discharging device;
• said toner discharging device comprising:
• a flexible toner container storing the toner therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging said toner and a rigid reinforcing plate affixed to an entirety of the bottom wall;
• and
• shock applying means for applying a shock to said toner container to thereby cause the toner in said toner container to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet;
• wherein the toner has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device.

A powder discharging device comprising:

• a powder container storing powder therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging said powder;
• shock applying means for applying a shock to said powder container to thereby cause the powder in said powder container to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet;
• and
• an agitating member configured to agitate the powder in interlocked relation to said shock applying means.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a toner discharging device configured to discharge a powdery toner;
• and
• toner image forming means for forming a toner image with the toner discharged from said toner discharging device;
• said toner discharging device comprising:
• a toner container storing the toner therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging said toner;
• shock applying means for applying a shock to said toner container to thereby cause the toner in said toner container to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet;
• and
• an agitating member configured to agitate the toner in interlocked relation to said shock applying means.