Packaging unit including image forming apparatus with developer cartridge mounted therein and packaging member in which image forming apparatus is packaged

A method for packaging an image forming apparatus in which a toner cartridge is mounted, the toner cartridge having a first opening for passing toner therethrough, the toner cartridge including a shutter member movable between a first open position and a first closed position, the shutter member exposing the first opening and allowing the toner to pass through the first opening when the shutter member is in the first open position, and the shutter member covering the first opening when the shutter member is in the first closed position, the image forming apparatus including a rotating member, the shutter member moving from the first closed position to the first open position in association with rotation of the rotating member in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• mounting the toner cartridge into the image forming apparatus in a first posture, with the shutter member maintained in the first closed position, the image forming apparatus being in the first posture when an image is formed;
• and
• packaging the image forming apparatus with the toner cartridge mounted therein in a packaging member such that the image forming apparatus is in a second posture, leakage of the toner through the first opening of the mounted toner cartridge is less likely to occur when the image forming apparatus is in the second posture compared to when the image forming apparatus is in the first posture, and the second posture being rotated 90 degrees with respect to the first posture.

A packaging unit comprising:

• an image forming apparatus in which a toner cartridge and a drum cartridge are mounted, the toner cartridge having a first opening for passing toner therethrough and the drum cartridge having a second opening capable of communicating with the first opening when the image forming apparatus is in a first posture, the toner cartridge including a first shutter member movable between a first open position and a first closed position, the first shutter member exposing the first opening and communicating with the second opening to allow the toner to pass through the first opening when the first shutter member is in the first open position, and the first shutter member covering the first opening and interrupting communication with the second opening when the first shutter member is in the first closed position, the image forming apparatus including a rotating member, the first shutter member moving from the first closed position to the first open position in association with rotation of the rotating member in a state where the toner cartridge and the drum cartridge are mounted in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus being in the first posture when an image is formed;
• and
• a packaging member in which the image forming apparatus is packaged in a second posture with the first shutter member maintained in the first closed position, leakage of the toner through the first opening of the toner cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus is less likely to occur when the image forming apparatus is in the second posture compared to when the image forming apparatus is in the first posture.

A packaging unit comprising:

• an image forming apparatus in which a toner cartridge is mounted, the toner cartridge having a first opening, the toner cartridge including a first shutter movable between a first open position and a first closed position, the first shutter exposing the first opening when the first shutter is in the first open position, the first shutter covering the first opening when the first shutter is in the first closed position, the image forming apparatus including a rotating member, the first shutter moving from the first closed position to the first open position in association with a rotation of the rotating member in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus being in a first posture when an image is formed;
• and
• a packaging member in which the image forming apparatus is packaged in a second posture, the image forming apparatus packaged in the second posture being rotated 90 degrees with respect to the first posture,
• wherein, in a state where the image forming apparatus is packaged in the packaging member, the first shutter is in the first closed position.