Patent Publication Number: US-9897939-B2

Title: Developer cartridge

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-070262 filed on Mar. 31, 2016, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
     Aspects of the disclosure relate to a developer cartridge including a casing, and a developer container disposed in the casing and containing developer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A known cartridge contains developer therein and may also hold a developing roller therein. The developer in the cartridge may deteriorate before use, for example, due to moisture over a long period of storage. One solution to this problem is to keep developer in a sealed separate container, and dispose the sealed container in a casing of the cartridge. A known developer cartridge includes a casing and a baglike developer container that is disposed in the casing and contains developer. The developer container has an outlet sealed by a film. Removing the film causes the outlet to be open, allowing the developer to flow out of the developer container through the outlet. 
     SUMMARY 
     The developer tends to flow out of the baglike developer container due to its own weight, but some developer may remain in the developer container. 
     One or more aspects of the disclosure provide a developer cartridge including a casing and a developer container detachably attached to the casing. The developer container may include a tubular member, a conveyor, an end member, and a sealing member. The tubular member may be configured to contain developer therein and may have an axis. The conveyor may be disposed in the tubular member and may be configured to convey the developer toward one end of the tubular member along the axis. The end member may be disposed at a predetermined distance away from the one end of the tubular member. The sealing member may be attached to an outer peripheral surface of the end member and an outer peripheral surface of the tubular member, and may be configured to be broken with rotation of at least one of the tubular member and the conveyor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a developer cartridge in an illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge according to one or more aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge taken along an axis of a developer container of the developer cartridge according to one or more aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate toner flowing out of the developer container into a portion of a casing of the developer cartridge according to one or more aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a developer cartridge in a second illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure, wherein the developer cartridge is taken along an axis of a developer container of the developer cartridge. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate toner flowing out of the developer container in the second illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of a developer cartridge in a third illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure, wherein the developer cartridge is taken along an axis of a developer container of the developer cartridge. 
         FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge viewed along a line X-X in  FIG. 7A  according to one or more aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7C  is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge viewed along a line Y-Y in  FIG. 7A  according to one or more aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate toner flowing out of the developer container in the third illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a developer cartridge in a modification according to one or more aspects of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrative embodiments and modifications thereof according to one or more aspects of the disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference numerals may correspond to similar components throughout the various drawings. 
     First Illustrative Embodiment 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , a developer cartridge  1  according to a first illustrative embodiment includes a casing  10  and a developer container  20 . A portion of the developer container  20  containing developer, e.g., toner T, is received in the casing  10 . The casing  10  includes a side wall  11 A having an opening  16 , and a side wall  11 B (in  FIG. 3 ) opposite to the side wall  11 A. Hereinafter, the side wall  11 B may be referred to as the “first side wall” and the side wall  11 A may be referred to as the “second side wall”. The developer container  20  may be disposed into and removed from the casing  10  through the opening  16 . The developer container  20  includes a drive force transmitter, e.g., a gear  27 . The gear  27  is disposed outside the casing  10 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the developer cartridge  1  includes a developing roller  12 , a supply roller  13 , a blade  14 , and an agitator  15  that are housed in the casing  10 . The developer cartridge  1  further includes a developer chamber  11  configured to receive and store the toner T discharged from the developer container  20 . 
     The developing roller  12  is rotatably support by the casing  10 . 
     The supply roller  13  is also rotatably supported by the casing  10 , and configured to supply the toner T to the developing roller  12 . 
     The blade  14  contacts the developing roller  12  to regulate a thickness of a toner layer on a surface of the developing roller  12 . 
     The agitator  15  is disposed in the developer chamber  11  and rotatably supported by the casing  10 . The agitator  15  is configured to be rotated by external drive force to agitate the toner T in the chamber  11 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the developer container  20  includes a tubular member  21 , an end member  22 , a sealing member  23 , a conveyor, e.g., an auger  24 , a cap  25 , and the gear  27 . An end of the developer container  20  opposite to the gear  27  may be referred to as the “first” end and the other end of the developer container  20  having the gear  27  may be referred to as the “second” end as will various other parts of the developer cartridge  1 . 
     The tubular member  21  has a cylindrical shape and an outer peripheral surface  21 A. The tubular member  21  contains the toner T. 
     The end member  22  also has an outer peripheral surface  22 A. The end member  22  has the same diameter as the tubular member  21 . The end member  22  is disposed to the left of the tubular member  21  with a space therebetween. The end member  22  has a cross-shaped recess  22 B formed into a first end surface thereof. The first side wall  11 B of the casing  10  has a cross-shaped protrusion  17  protruding from an inner surface thereof. The recess  22 B and the protrusion  17  engage with each other to prevent the end member  22  from rotating relative to the casing  10 . 
     The sealing member  23  is attached to the outer peripheral surface  21 A of the tubular member  21  and the outer peripheral surface  22 A of the end member  22 , thereby sealing a space between the members  21  and  22 . In the illustrative embodiment, the sealing member  23  is attached to the tubular member  21  and the end member  22  by adhesives  31 . In another embodiment, the sealing member  23  may be attached to those members  21  and  22  by, for example, gluing agent or welding. 
     The sealing member  23  has a weakened portion, e.g., a perforation  23 P, that may be weaker than other or remaining portions of the sealing member  23 . The sealing member  23  is likely to break along the perforation  23 P rather than other areas of the sealing member  23 . The perforation  23 P runs along a rotating direction of the auger  24 . The perforation  23 P divides the sealing member  23  into a first portion  23 A and a second portion  23 B. The first portion  23 A is attached to the end member  22  and the second portion  23 B is attached to the tubular member  21 . 
     The perforation  23 P may include through-holes extending through the sealing member  23 . Alternatively, the perforation  23 P may include notches and scores formed into, but not through, the sealing member  23 . In the illustrative embodiment, the perforation  23 P is provided facing the outer peripheral surface  22 A of the end member  22 . This configuration may prevent or reduce the toner T from leaking out of the tubular member  21  through the through-holes of the perforation  23 P before the sealing member  23  breaks. 
     The auger  24  includes a shaft  24 A and a helical screw blade  24 B integrally provided around the shaft  24 A. The shaft  24 A has a first end portion  24 E disposed at an end portion thereof (e.g., a left end portion in  FIG. 3 ) and a second end portion disposed at an opposite end portion thereof (e.g., a left end portion in  FIG. 3 ). The first end portion  24 E is rotatably supported by the end member  22 . The second end portion has an engaging portion  24 C with a D-shaped cross section. The auger  24  is configured to rotate integrally with the gear  27  with the engaging portion  24 C of the auger  24  engaging a D-shaped opening  27 C in the gear  27 . Rotating force transmitted to the auger  24  through the gear  27  may cause the auger  24  to rotate in a particular direction, thereby conveying the toner T along an axis of the tubular member  21  toward the first end of the tubular member  21 , e.g., leftward in  FIG. 3 . 
     The cap  25  seals or covers the second end of the tubular member  21  (e.g., the right end in  FIG. 3 ). The cap  25  includes a disk portion  25 A, a small diameter portion  25 B, a large diameter portion  25 C, and a flange  25 D. The disk portion  25 A has an opening through which the shaft  24 A is inserted. The small diameter portion  25 B is cylindrical and extends rightward in  FIG. 3  from a peripheral edge of the disk portion  25 A. The large diameter portion  25 C is cylindrical and extends from the second end of the small diameter portion  25 B to have a greater diameter than the small diameter portion  25 B. The flange  25 D extends from the second end of the large diameter portion  25 C in a radial direction of the large diameter portion  25 C. 
     The small diameter portion  25 B engages in the tubular member  21 . This allows the cap  25  and the tubular member  21  to rotate together. The small diameter portion  25 B includes a sponge sealing member  26 . The sealing member  26  may reduce leakage of the toner T from a portion between the shaft  24 A and the gear  27 . 
     The large diameter portion  25 C has an outside diameter slightly greater than an outside diameter of the tubular member  21 . The large diameter portion  25 C is supported by a wall of the casing  10  defining the opening  16 , via a bearing  33 . The bearing  33  serves as a sealing member that fills a space between the casing  10  and the cap  25 . 
     The gear  27  includes a gear portion  27 A, and a shaft portion  27 B cylindrically extending from the first end of the gear portion  27 A. The shaft portion  27 B receives the shaft  24 A. The shaft portion  27 B is press-fitted into the large diameter portion  25 C of the cap  25 . This allows the cap  25  and the gear  27  to rotate together. Accordingly, all of the gear  27 , the cap  25 , the tubular member  21 , and the auger  24  may integrally rotate relative to the casing  10 . In contrast, the end member  22  may not rotate relative to the casing  10 . Rotation of the gear  27  may cause the tubular member  21  to rotate, which may cause the sealing member  23  to be twisted and break at the perforation  23 P. 
     In operation, the gear  27  may receive drive force from an image forming apparatus (not depicted). As depicted in  FIG. 4A , the drive force may cause the gear  27  to rotate integrally with the tubular member  21  and the auger  24 . The first portion  23 A of the sealing member  23  is attached to the outer peripheral surface  22 A of the end member  22 , which may be non-rotatable relative to the casing  10 . The second portion  23 B is attached to the outer peripheral surface  21 A of the tubular member  21 , which may be rotating with the gear  27 . Shearing force is applied to the perforation  23 P, which is the boundary between the first portion  23 A and the second portion  23 B. The shearing force may cause the sealing member  23  to start breaking at the perforation  23 P. A break in the sealing member  23  at the perforation  23 P may allow the toner T to flow out of the developer container  20  therethrough into the developer chamber  11 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 4B , further rotation of the gear  27  and the auger  24  may cause the toner T in the tubular member  21  to be conveyed toward the first end of the developer container  20 , and further rotation of the gear  27  and the tubular member  21  may cause the sealing member  23  to further break and be split apart into the first portion  23 A and the second portion  23 B. The toner T conveyed toward the first end of the developer container  20  may flow out of the developer container  20  into the developer chamber  11  through the break in the sealing member  23  or through the split between the first portion  23 A and the second portion  23 B. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 4C , further rotation of the gear  27  and the auger  24  may cause the toner T left in the tubular member  21  to be conveyed toward the first end. The majority of the toner T may flow out of the developer container  20  into the developer chamber  11  through the break or split. Only tiny amount of the toner T may thus be left in the developer container  20 . 
     In the first illustrative embodiment, rotation of the tubular member  21  of the developer cartridge  1  may cause the sealing member  23  to break and open at the perforation  23 P. The toner T in the tubular member  21  may be conveyed by the auger  24  toward the first end of the developer container  20  and flow out of the tubular member  21  into the developer chamber  11  through a break or a split in the sealing member  23 , which is also provided or formed at a first end portion of the developer container  20 . This configuration may allow the toner T to be conveyed by the auger  24  for efficient discharge from the developer container  20 , which is disposed in the casing  10 , and may reduce the residual toner T in the developer container  20 . 
     The perforation  23 P faces the outer peripheral surface  22 A of the end member  22 . This configuration may reduce leakage of the toner T contained in the tubular member  21  through the through-holes of the perforation  23 P, before the sealing member  23  breaks. 
     The developer container  20  is configured to be attached to and removed from the casing  10 . This configuration may allow the empty developer container  20  to be replaced with a new developer container  20 , for example, for replenishing the developer chamber  11  with the toner T. The developer cartridge  1  is thus usable with a replacement developer container  20 , which may enhance the reusability of the developer cartridge  1 . 
     Second Illustrative Embodiment 
     Next, a developer cartridge  100  according to a second illustrative embodiment is described referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6A-6C . Like numerals in the drawings denote like components and the detailed description of those components described above is omitted, with respect to  FIGS. 5 and 6A-6C . 
     The developer cartridge  100  of the second illustrative embodiment differs from the developer cartridge  1  of the first illustrative embodiment in that a tubular member  121  of a developer container  120  is configured not to rotatable relative to a casing  110  but an end member  122  is configured to rotate relative to the casing  110 . 
     The developer container  120  includes the tubular member  121 , the end member  122 , a sealing member  123 , an auger  124 , the cap  25 , and a gear  127 . 
     The tubular member  121  has an outer peripheral surface  121 A. The second end of the tubular member  121  is fitted over the small diameter portion  25 B of the cap  25 . The large diameter portion  25 C of the cap  25  is press-fitted into an opening  116  in the casing  110  without any components (e.g., a bearing) between the casing  110  and the cap  25 . This configuration may prevent the tubular member  121  from rotating relative to the casing  110 . 
     The auger  124  includes a shaft  124 A having a first end portion  124 E and a second end portion  124 F. The first end portion  124 E is supported by a bearing  117  provided at an inner surface of the first side wall  11 B of the casing  110 . The second end portion  124 F is supported by the large diameter portion  25 C of the cap  25  via a bearing  133 . This configuration may allow the auger  124  to rotate relative to the casing  110 . 
     The end member  122  has an opening with a greater diameter than the first end portion  124 E of the shaft  124 A. The first end portion  124 E is inserted into the opening in the end member  122 . Thus, the end member  122  is fixedly mounted on the first end portion  124 E of the shaft  124 A. This configuration may allow the end member  122  to rotate integrally with the shaft  124 A. The end member  122  has an outer peripheral surface  122 A and a diameter equal to that of the tubular member  121 . 
     The sealing member  123  has a perforation  123 P provided along a rotating direction of the auger  124 . The perforation  123 P divides the sealing member  123  into a first portion  123 A and a second portion  123 B. The first portion  123 A is attached to the outer peripheral surface  122 A of the end member  122  with the adhesive  31 . The second portion  123 B is attached to the outer peripheral surface  121 A of the tubular member  121  with the adhesive  31 . The perforation  123 P is positioned between the tubular member  121  and the end member  122 . 
     In operation, the gear  127  may receive drive force from the image forming apparatus (not depicted). As depicted in  FIG. 6A , the drive force may cause the gear  127  to rotate integrally with the auger  124 . The first portion  123 A of the sealing member  123  is attached to the outer peripheral surface  122 A of the end member  122 . The end member  122  is fixedly mounted on the first end portion  124 E of the auger  124 , which is rotatable relative to the casing  110 . In contrast, the second portion  123 B of the sealing member  123  is attached to the outer peripheral surface  121 A of the tubular member  121 , which is not rotatable relative to the casing  110 . Shearing force is applied to the perforation  123 P, which is the boundary between the first portion  123 A and the second portion  123 B. The shearing force may cause the sealing member  123  to start breaking at the perforation  123 P. A break in the sealing member  123  may allow the toner T to flow out of the developer container  120  therethrough into the developer chamber  11 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 6B , further rotation of the gear  127  and the auger  124  may cause the toner T in the tubular member  121  to be conveyed toward the first end of the developer container  120 , and rotation of the gear  127  and the end member  122  may cause the sealing member  123  to further break and be split apart into the first portion  123 A and the second portion  123 B. The toner T conveyed toward the first end of the developer container  120  may flow out of the developer container  120  into the developer chamber  11  through the break in the sealing member  123  or through the split between the first portion  123 A and the second portion  123 B. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 6C , further rotation of the gear  127  and the auger  124  may cause the toner T left in the tubular member  121  to be conveyed toward the first end. The majority of the toner T may flow out of the developer container  120  into the developer chamber  11  through the break or split. Only tiny amount of the toner T may thus be left in the developer container  120 . 
     In the second illustrative embodiment, rotation of the auger  124  of the developer cartridge  100  may cause the sealing member  123  to break and open at the perforation  123 P. The toner T in the tubular member  121  may be conveyed by the auger  124  toward the first end of the developer container  120  and flow out of the tubular member  121  into the developer chamber  11  of the casing  110  through a break or a split in the sealing member  123 , which is also provided or formed at a first end portion of the developer container  120 . This configuration may allow the toner T to be conveyed by the auger  124  for efficient discharge from the developer container  120 , which is disposed in the casing  110 , and reduce the residual toner T in the developer container  120 . 
     The perforation  123 P is positioned between the tubular member  121  and the end member  122 . This configuration may allow smooth flow and efficient discharge of the toner T from the developer container  120  through the break in the sealing member  123 . 
     Third Illustrative Embodiment 
     Next, a developer cartridge  200  according to a third illustrative embodiment is described referring to  FIGS. 7A-7C and 8A-8C . Like numerals in the drawings denote like components and the detailed description of those components described above is omitted, with respect to  FIGS. 7A-7C and 8A-8C . 
     The developer cartridge  200  of the third illustrative embodiment differs from the developer cartridge  100  of the second illustrative embodiment in that the developer cartridge  200  includes a conveyor, e.g., a piston conveyor  224  employing a ball screw mechanism, instead of the auger  124 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 7A , the developer cartridge  200  includes a developer container  220 . The developer container  220  includes a tubular member  221 , the end member  22 , a sealing member  223 , the piston conveyor  224 , the cap  25 , and the gear  127 . 
     Similar to the second illustrative embodiment, the second end of the tubular member  221  is fitted over the small diameter portion  25 B of the cap  25 . The large diameter portion  25 C of the cap  25  is fixedly press-fitted into the opening  16  in the casing  10  without any components (e.g., a bearing) therebetween. This configuration may prevent the tubular member  221  from rotating relative to the casing  10 . 
     The tubular member  221  has an outer peripheral surface  221 A. The tubular member  221  includes a stopper, e.g., a rail  221 B. The rail  221 B extends from an inner surface of the tubular member  221  between the first end and the second end of the tubular member  221 . The rail  221 B prevents the tubular member  221  from rotating relative to a piston  224 B as described below. 
     The piston conveyor  224  includes a threaded shaft  224 A and the piston  224 B. 
     The threaded shaft  224 A has a first end portion  24 E rotatably supported by the end member  22 , and a second end portion rotatably supported by the large diameter portion  25 C of the cap  25  via the bearing  133 . The second end portion of the threaded shaft  224 A has an engaging portion  24 C that engages in the hole  27 C of the gear  127 . With the engaging portion  24 C of the threaded shaft  224 A engaging in the hole  27 C of the gear  127 , the threaded shaft  224 A may rotate integrally with the gear  127 . The threaded shaft  224 A has a cutter  228  fixed to a first end portion thereof. The cutter  228  is configured to rotate integrally with the threaded shaft  224 A. The cutter  228  is slightly spaced apart from the end member  22 . The cutter  228  has a distal end  228 A situated away from the threaded shaft  224 A in a radial direction of the tubular member  221 . 
     The piston  224 B has a female or internal screw threads (not depicted) that mate with male or external screw threads of the threaded shaft  224 A. As depicted in  FIG. 7B , the piston  224 B has a recess  224 C formed in an outer surface thereof. The recess  224 C receives the rail  221 B of the tubular member  221 . This configuration may allow, when the threaded shaft  224 A is rotating, the piston  224 B to slidably move along an axis of the tubular member  221  without rotating relative to the tubular member  221 . 
     The sealing member  223  has a first end portion attached to the outer peripheral surface  22 A of the end member  22  with the adhesive  31 , and a second end portion attached to the outer peripheral surface  221 A of the tubular member  221  with the adhesive  31 . As depicted in  FIG. 7C , the sealing member  223  includes a cut portion  223 A and a non-cut portion  223 B. The cut portion  223 A is a portion of the sealing member  223  to be cut by the cutter  228 . The cut portion  223 A is disposed within an imaginary cylindrical plane  228 B whose radius is equal to a distance from an axis of the threaded shaft  224 A to the distal end  228 A of the cutter  228 . The non-cut portion  223 B is a portion of the sealing member  223  not to be cut by the cutter  228 . The non-cut portion  223 B protrudes away from the cutter  228  in the radial direction of the tubular member  221  relative to the cut portion  223 A. 
     The gear  127  may receive drive force from the image forming apparatus (not depicted). As depicted in  FIG. 8A , the drive force may cause the gear  127  to rotate integrally with the threaded shaft  224 A and the cutter  228 . The cutter  228  may cut or break, during rotation, the cut portion  223 A of the sealing member  223  other than the non-cut portion  223 B. In short, rotation of the threaded shaft  224 A, which is a portion of the conveyor, may cause the sealing member  223  to break. The toner T may flow out of the developer container  220  into the developer chamber  11  through a break or cut in the sealing member  223 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 8B , further rotation of the gear  127  and the threaded shaft  224 A may cause the piston  224 B to move from the second end toward the first end of the developer container  220 , thereby conveying the toner T in the tubular member  221  toward the first end. Also, further rotation of the gear  127  and the threaded shaft  224 A may cause the cutter  228  to further cut the sealing member  223 . The toner T conveyed toward the first end may flow out of the developer container  220  into the developer chamber  11  through the break or cut in the sealing member  223 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 8C , further rotation of the gear  127  may cause the piston  224 B to move further toward the first end of the developer container  220 , thereby conveying the toner T left in the tubular member  221  toward the first end. The majority of the toner T in the tubular member  221  may flow out of the developer container  220  into the developer chamber  11  through the break or cut in the sealing member  223 . Only tiny amount of the toner T may thus be left in the developer container  220 . 
     In the third illustrative embodiment, rotation of the threaded shaft  224 A may cause the cutter  228  to cut and open the sealing member  223 . The toner T in the tubular member  221  may be conveyed by the piston  224 B toward the first end of the developer container  220  and may flow out of the tubular member  221  into the developer chamber  11  through a break or cut in the sealing member  223 , which is also provided or formed at a first end portion of the developer container  220 . This configuration may allow the toner T to be conveyed by the piston  224 B for efficient discharge from the developer container  220  disposed in the casing  10 , and reduce the residual toner T in the developer container  220 . 
     While the disclosure is described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, this is merely an example, and various changes, arrangements and modifications may be applied therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     For example, in the illustrative embodiments, the casing is configured to receive one developer container. In a modification as depicted in  FIG. 9 , a developer cartridge  300  may include a casing  310  configured to receive a plurality of developer containers  20 . In this configuration, a drive gear  327  may be provided that engages with each of the gears  27  of the developer containers  20 . The drive gear  327  may be configured to drive both gears  27 . 
     In the first illustrative embodiment, a weakened portion, e.g., the perforation  23 P, is disposed facing the outer peripheral surface  22 A of the end member  22 . In another embodiment, a weakened portion may be disposed facing the outer peripheral surface  21 A of the tubular member  21 . This configuration may also prevent or reduce toner leakage through through-holes of the perforation  23 P, similar to the first illustrative embodiment. 
     In the third illustrative embodiment, rotation of the threaded shaft  224 A may cause the piston  224 B to slidably move. In another embodiment, a threaded shaft may be fixed and a tubular member and a piston may be configured to rotate. The piston may slidably move, while rotating, along the threaded shaft. 
     In the illustrative embodiments, the developer container is partially inserted into the casing. In another embodiment, the developer container may be fully inserted into the casing. 
     In the illustrative embodiments, the drive force transmitter is a gear configured to receive and transmit drive force. In another embodiment, the drive force transmitter may be a coupling that engages with a conveyor. 
     In some illustrative embodiments, the weakened portion is a perforation. In another embodiment, the weakened portion may be a score line, which is thinner than other portion of a sealing member. The sealing member may not necessarily have the weakened portion. For example, a sealing member may be formed with a material that is more readily breakable than a material of the tubular member. Alternatively, the sealing member may be lightly or weakly attached to the tubular member or the end member, to permit the sealing member to readily detach from the tubular member or the end member. 
     In the illustrative embodiments, the developer cartridge includes the developer roller. In another embodiment, the developer cartridge may not necessarily include the developing roller.