Patent Publication Number: US-7907874-B2

Title: Development device, and process cartridge and image forming apparatus using the device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a development device used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer. Particularly, the invention relates to improvements of a development device which includes a development unit that makes an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member visible and a toner supply unit which can supply at least toner to this development unit, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using this development device. 
     2. Background Art 
     Conventionally, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus usually adopts a type in which an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member such as a photoconductor drum is toner-developed (made visible) by a development device, and this toner image is transferred onto a transfer medium such as paper or an intermediate transfer member by a transfer device, while residual toner on the image bearing member is picked up by a cleaning device. 
     As the development device, as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , a development device  500  has been already provided, which includes a development unit  510  in which developer composed of toner and carrier is housed and used for development, and additionally includes, in order to prolong lift of this development unit  510 , a developer supply unit  520  which supplies the developer for the consumed amount of the developer used in the development unit  510  (refer to JP-A-2001-305861, JP-A-10-239970 and JP-A-11-44997). 
     In a development device shown in JP-A-2001-305861, of the conventional development devices of this type, the development unit  510 , as shown in  FIG. 18 , includes a development housing  511  opposed to an image bearing member  501  such as a photoconductor drum, a developer housing room  512  in which developer G composed of toner and carrier is housed is provided in this development housing  511 , a development roll  513  is arranged at the portion faced to an opening of this development housing  511 , and further agitation-transportation augers  514  and  515  by which the developer G is agitated and transported are provided in the developer housing room  512 . 
     On the other hand, the developer supply unit  520  includes a supply container  521  in which developer composed of toner and carrier is housed, communicates this supply container  521  with the development housing  511  through a communication duct  522 , and can supply the developer in the supply container  521  by dropping by gravity to the upside of the developer G housed in the developer housing room  512 . 
     In  FIG. 18 , the developer supply unit  520  includes a pick-up container  530  by which the developer G that has deteriorated in the developer housing room  512  can be picked up, and communicates this pick-up container  530  with the developer housing  511  through a communication duct  531 . 
     In developing devices shown in JP-A-10-239970 and JP-A-11-44997, a developing unit  510  is nearly similar to that described in JP-A-2001-305861. However, a developer supply unit  520 , as shown in  FIG. 19A , includes a supply housing  541  that uses a part of a development housing  511  of the development unit  510  as a partition wall  550 , includes in this supply housing  541  a developer supply room  542  in which supply developer is housed, includes an agitator  543  for agitation and transportation in this developer supply room  542 , and further includes a developer supply mechanism and a developer pick-up mechanism on the developer unit  510  side of this developer supply room  542 . 
     Here, in the developer supply mechanism, as shown in  FIGS. 19A and 19B , a developer supply path  545  is provided by a path partition wall  544 , a supply auger  546  is provided in this developer supply path  545 , and a supply port  547  is formed in the partition wall  550 . This supply port  547 , in order to supply the developer smoothly without receiving pressure of the developer G from the developer housing room  512  side, is provided in the higher position than an axial center of an agitation-transportation auger  515 , and preferably in the higher position than the surface position of the developer at the portion where the agitation-transportation auger  515  is provided. 
     On the other hand, in the developer pick-up mechanism, as shown in  FIG. 19C , a developer pick-up path  555  is provided by a path partition wall  554 , a pick-up auger  556  is provided in this developer pick-up path  555 , and a pick-up port  557  is formed in the partition wall  550 . This supply port  557 , in order to increase the developer pick-up power from the developer housing room  512 , is provided in the lower position than the axial center of the agitation-transportation auger  515 . 
     However, any developing devices (including the developer supply unit) in JP-A-2001-305861, JP-A-10-239970 and JP-A-11-44997 adopt a system in which the supply developer is supplied onto the developer housed in the developer housing room of the development unit. 
     At this time, since the supply developer has a high concentration, and a filling rate of toner is higher than that of carrier, specific gravity of the supply developer is usually smaller than that of the developer in the developer housing room. Under such the state, when the supply developer is supplied onto the developer in the developer housing room, the supply developer enters a state in which it floats on the existing developer. Even in case that the developer is agitated and transported by the agitation-transportation augers  514  and  515 , such a technical problem exists that the supply developer is not mixed sufficiently with the existing developer, or it takes time till the supply developer is mixed. 
     Regarding this technical problem, particularly, in case that the supply developer is only toner, bad agitation and mixing of the supply developer is easy to appear remarkably, because difference in specific gravity between the supply developer (toner) and the existing developer (toner and carrier) becomes large. 
     As a measure of this technical problem, a technology has been already proposed (refer to, for example, JP-A-10-142916). In this technology, in a type including a development unit and a developer supply unit (toner supply unit), a sub-room is provided adjacently to a developer housing room of the development unit, an agitation-transportation auger is provided in this sub-room, toner supplied from a toner supply port of the toner supply unit is caused to fall in the sub-room to be previously agitated and mixed by the agitation-transportation auger, and thereafter the toner is supplied to the developer housing room. 
     However, in this type development device, since the previously mixing mechanism (sub-room+agitation-transportation auger) is added to the development unit side, not only the constitution of the device is complicated but also the size of the device itself becomes large. Therefore, this development device is not preferable. Further, since it takes time for previously mixing, there is a fear that follow-up performance of toner concentration worsens (delay in time). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention has been made in order to solve the above technical problem. On the assumption that a development device includes a toner supply unit which can supply at least toner, an object of the invention is to provide a development device which improves agitating and mixing power of toner with the existing developer in a developer housing room with simple constitution, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using this development device. 
     Namely, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a development device including: a development unit which includes a developer housing room in which developer composed of toner and carrier is housed, sets a developer agitating and transporting member in the developer housing room, and sets a developer bearing member which can bear and transport the developer agitated and transported by the developer agitating and transporting member; and a toner supply unit which includes a toner supply room in which at least supply toner is housed, sets a toner transporting member in the toner supply room, and communicates the toner supply room with the developer housing room of the development unit through a toner supply port, wherein the toner supply port of the toner supply unit opens so that its lower end is located in the lower position than the surface position of the developer housed in the developer housing room. 
     According to the development device of the invention, in the aspect in which the development unit and the toner supply unit are provided, the toner supply port of the toner supply unit opens so that its lower end is located in the lower position 
     than the surface position of the developer housed in the developer housing room. Therefore, the supply toner can be supplied to the accumulated developer in the developer housing room from the lateral direction, so that agitation and mixing power of the supply toner with the existing developer can be secured without floating the supply toner T on the surface of the developer. 
     Further, according to a process cartridge or a image forming apparatus using such the development device, it is possible to construct readily a process cartridge or an image forming apparatus in which agitation and mixing power of the supply toner is good. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is an explanatory view showing a development device according to the invention, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using this development device, and  FIG. 1B  is a sectional view taken on a line B-B in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  is an explanatory view showing a first embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory view showing the details of the process cartridge used in this embodiment; 
         FIG. 4A  is a diagram showing the process cartridge used in the embodiment, viewed from one side, and  FIG. 4B  is a diagram showing the process cartridge used in the embodiment, viewed from the other side opposite to the side in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory view showing a development cartridge used in the embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory view partially broken on a line VI-VI in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is an explanatory view showing the structure around a toner supply port in the embodiment, and  FIG. 7B  is a sectional view taken on a line B-B in  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory view showing an example of communicating structure between a main toner supply unit and a sub-toner supply unit; 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory view showing a main portion of a cleaning device used in the embodiment; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are explanatory views showing operation states of an energizing spring in advance and retreat of a waste toner transporting member; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11C  are explanatory views showing operation states in retreat of the waste toner transporting member in the cleaning device according to the first embodiment; 
         FIGS. 12A and 12C  are explanatory views showing operation states in advance of the waste toner transporting member; 
         FIG. 13  is an explanatory view showing an example of a transportation drive system and a development drive system used in the embodiment; 
         FIG. 14A  is an explanatory view showing the structure around a toner supply port in a development device according to a second embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 14B  is a sectional view taken on a line B-B in  FIG. 14A , and  FIG. 14C  is a diagram viewed from a C-direction in  FIG. 14B ; 
         FIG. 15A  is an explanatory view showing the structure around a toner supply port in a development device according to a third embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 15B  is a sectional view taken on a line B-B in  FIG. 15A , and  FIG. 15C  is a diagram viewed from a C-direction in  FIG. 15B ; 
         FIG. 16  is an explanatory view showing a development device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 17  is an explanatory view showing a development device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 18  is an explanatory view showing an example of conventional development devices; and 
         FIG. 19A  is an explanatory view showing another example of the conventional development devices,  FIG. 19B  is an explanatory view showing a developer supply mechanism of the development device in  FIG. 19A , and  FIG. 19C  is an explanatory view showing a developer pick-up mechanism of the development device in  FIG. 19A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A development device of the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , includes a development unit  1  which includes a developer housing room  2  in which developer G composed of toner and carrier is housed, sets a developer agitating and transporting member  3  in this developer housing room  2 , and sets a developer bearing member  4  which can bear and transport the developer G agitated and transported by this developer agitating and transporting member  3 ; and a toner supply unit  5  which includes a toner supply room  6  in which at least supply toner T is housed, sets a toner transporting member  7  in this toner supply room  6 , and communicates the toner supply room  6  with the developer housing room  2  of the development unit  1  through a toner supply port  8 . Herein, the toner supply port  8  of the toner supply unit  5  opens so that its lower end is located in the lower position than the surface position of the developer G housed in the developer housing room  2 . 
     In this technical means, the invention presupposes that the development unit  1  and the toner supply unit  5  are provided. 
     As long as the development unit  1  includes the developer housing room  2 , the developer agitating and transporting member (auger)  3  and the developer bearing member  4 , it may include other functional members (a supply member to developer bearing member  4 , a layer forming member, and the like) according to necessity. 
     Here, the developer G housed in the developer housing room  2  is two-component developer that is composed of toner and carrier. Further, as a preferable aspect of this type developer housing room  2 , the developer housing room  2  is divided into two sections by a partition wall  2   a  extending in an axial direction of the developer bearing member  4 , communication ports  2   b  and  2   c  are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of this partition wall  2   a  thereby to form a developer circulating path in the developer housing room  2 , and a pair of developer agitating and transporting members  3  ( 3   a ,  3   b ) are provided in this developer circulating path. 
     Further, the toner supply unit  5  houses the supply toner T in principle. However, in consideration of a so-called trickle system (system in which developer itself is supplied and the used developer is picked up for discard, supply toner of a high concentration which includes partially carrier is also an object of housing in the toner supply unit. 
     Further, as long as the toner supply unit  5  includes the toner supply room  6 , the toner transporting member  7 , and the toner supply port  8 , it may be a single unit or may be divided into plural sections. 
     Here, though the toner supply room  6  may be composed of a room, it preferably had better be composed of plural rooms separated functionally, for example, a toner housing room  6   a  in which the toner is housed and a dispensing room  6   b  which can supply the supply toner quantitatively. Further, as long as the toner transporting member  7  transports at least the toner T to the development unit  2 , any member may be widely included in the toner transporting member  7 . For example, there are a toner agitating and transporting member  7   a  which agitates and transports the supply toner, and a dispensing auger (dispensing member)  7   b  for supplying the agitated and transported supply toner quantitatively. 
     Further, the lower end of the toner supply port  8  must be located in the lower position than the surface position of the developer G housed in the developer housing room  2 . Namely, at least a part of the toner supply port  8  should be buried under the surface of the developer G in the developer housing room  2 , and by supplying the supply toner T to the accumulated developer from a lateral direction as shown by an arrow a, mixing power of the supply toner T with the existing developer G can be secured without floating the supply toner T on the surface of the developer G. 
     Here, as a preferable condition of toner supply from the toner supply part  8 , there is the following: press power by which the supply toner T in the toner supply unit  5  is pushed out from the toner supply port  8  is larger than the internal pressure by the developer G in the developer housing room  2 . According to this aspect, even in case that the toner supply port  8  faces in the lower position than the position of the surface of the developer G, the supply toner T can be stably supplied. 
     Further, as a preferable structure around the toner supply port of the toner supply unit  5 , there is the following: the toner transporting member  7  is arranged faced to the toner supply port  8 ; and the portion facing to the toner supply port  8 , of the toner transporting member  7  is formed as a push-out part from which the toner T can be pushed out toward the toner supply port  8 . 
     Therefore, this aspect is preferable because toner supply from the toner supply port  8  is efficiently performed at the push-out part of the toner transporting member  7 . 
     Further, as a representative aspect of the toner supply unit  5 , there is a toner supply room including a dispensing mechanism. This dispensing mechanism includes, as the toner supply room  6 , in addition to the toner housing room  6   a  in which at least the supply toner T is housed, a dispensing room  6   b  which is formed at the portion faced to the toner supply port  8  and can supply the supply toner quantitatively, and sets a dispensing member  7   b  for quantitative supply in the dispensing room  6   b  as a toner transporting member  7 . Further, in  FIG. 1B , reference numeral  6   c  represents a dispensing room entrance opening which communicates the toner housing room  6   a  with the dispensing room  6   b.    
     The adoption of such the dispensing mechanism is preferable because the toner can be supplied quantitatively. 
     As preferable aspects of such the dispensing mechanism, there are the following. 
     It is preferable that the dispensing room entrance opening  6   c  is wider than the toner supply port  8 . By providing the wide dispensing room entrance opening  6   c , the toner internal pressure in the dispensing room  6   b  increases. Therefore, even in case that the toner supply port  8  is located in the lower position than the surface position of the developer G, the supply toner can be stably supplied. 
     Further, it is preferable that the supply toner transporting length of the dispensing room  6   b  is larger than the dispensing room entrance opening  6   c  length. According to this aspect, the toner internal pressure in the dispensing room  6   b  can be increased uniformly and effectively. 
     Further, it is preferable that the transporting power of the supply toner T by the dispensing member  7   b  is set larger than the transporting power of the developer G applied to the toner supply port  8  by the developer agitating and transporting member  3  (mainly  3   a ). Herein, the transporting power means transporting power per unit area. By thus setting the transporting power of the supply toner T by the dispensing member  7   b  large, the toner quantitatively supplying operation by the dispensing member  7   b  can be provided surely and stably. 
     Furthermore, it is preferable that the supply amount of the supply toner to the dispensing room entrance opening  6   c  by the toner transporting member  7  (for example, toner agitating and transporting member  7   a ) of the toner housing room  6   a  is set larger than the transporting amount of the supply toner T by the dispensing member  7   b . According to this aspect, by setting the supply amount of the supply toner T to the dispensing room entrance opening  6   c  by the toner transporting member  7  larger, the toner internal pressure in the dispensing room  6   b  can be increased uniformly and effectively. 
     Further, it is preferable that: both of the dispensing member  7   b  and the developer agitating and transporting ember  3  are formed of an auger; and the diameter of the dispensing member  7   b  is set the same as that of the developer agitating and transporting member  3  or less. Thus, by devising the diameter-dimension of the dispensing member (auger)  7   b , it is possible to secure the transporting power of the supply toner T by the dispensing member  7   b  and to supply the toner effectively from the dispensing room  6   b  to the developer agitating and transporting member. 
     Further, it is preferable that: both of the dispensing member  7   b  and the developer agitating and transporting member  3  are formed of an auger; and the pitch of the dispensing member  7   b  is set less than that of the developer agitating and transporting member  3 . Thus, by devising the pitch dimension of the dispensing member (auger)  7   b , it is possible to secure the transporting power of the supply toner T by the dispensing member  7   b  and to supply the toner effectively from the dispensing room  6   b  to the developer agitating and transporting member. 
     Further, in the aspect in which the dispensing mechanism is provided, it is preferable that the portion faced to the toner supply port  8 , of the toner dispensing member  7   b  is formed as a push-out part by which the toner can be pushed out toward the toner supply port  8 . 
     Here, as various aspects of the push-out part, there are the following. 
     As an example, the dispensing member  7   b  is formed of an auger, and a vane member for weir is provided at the portion faced to the toner supply port  8 , of this dispensing member  7   b . According to this aspect, the toner transported by the dispensing member  7   b  is dammed up by the vane member for weir, whereby the toner internal pressure can be increased effectively. 
     As another example, the dispensing member  7   b  is formed of an auger, and a vane member along the axial direction is provided at the portion faced to the toner supply port  8 , of this dispensing member  7   b . By this vane member along the axial direction, the toner can be actively pushed out toward the toner supply port  8 , whereby the toner internal pressure can be increased effectively. 
     Further, as another example, the dispensing member  7   b  is formed of an auger, and the vane pitch at the portion faced to the toner supply port  8 , of this dispensing member  7   b  is set narrow than the vane pitch at other portions. According to this aspect, by narrowing the vane pitch, the toner internal pressure faced to the toner supply port  8  can be increased effectively. 
     Further, as a preferable aspect of the toner supply port  8 , an eaves-shaped return part facing in the toner transporting direction is provided at a toner transporting direction downstream side edge of the portion faced to the toner supply port  8 , of the toner supply port  8  edge. By providing such the eaves-shaped return part, it functions as a toner transporting guide to the toner supply port  8 , so that the toner is smoothly exhausted. 
     Further, as a preferable aspect of the toner supply port  8 , the lower end of the toner supply port  8  is located in the lower position than a rotation center of the developer agitating and transporting member  3  (mainly  3   a ). In this case, since the toner is supplied from the lower position than the rotation center position of the developer agitating and transporting member  3 , the supplied toner is rolled in the developer agitating and transporting member  3 , and speedily agitated and mixed. Therefore, this aspect is preferable. 
     Furthermore, in  FIG. 1A , though the upper end of the toner supply port  8  is located in the higher portion than the upper end portion of the developer agitating and transporting member  3  (mainly  3   a ), the invention is not limited to this. Depending on the layout, it is preferable that the upper end of the toner supply port  8  is located in the lower portion. In this case, since the toner is supplied from the lower position than the upper end position of the developer agitating and transporting member  3 , the supplied toner is rolled in the developer agitating and transporting member  3 , and speedily agitated and mixed. Therefore, this aspect is preferable. 
     Further, as a preferable aspect of the toner supply room  6  including the dispensing room  6   b , the capacity of the toner housing room  6   a  other than the dispensing room  6   b , of the toner supply room  6  is set larger than the capacity of the dispensing room  6   b . Alternatively, the capacity of the toner housing room  6   a  other than the dispensing room  6   b , of the toner supply room  6  is set larger than the total capacity of the dispensing room  6   b  and the developer housing room  2 . In this case, the toner can be stably supplied to the developer housing room  2 . Here, the capacity means the toner housing amount or the developer housing amount. 
     Further, as a preferable aspect of the toner supply unit including the dispensing mechanism, a toner agitating and transporting member  7   a  as the toner transporting member  7  is provided in the toner housing room  6   a  other than the dispensing room  6   b , of the toner supply room  6 , and a rotation center of this toner agitating and transporting member  7   a  is located in the higher position than the dispensing member  7   b . According to this aspect, it is not necessary to lift the toner from the toner housing room  6   a  to the dispensing room  6   b . Therefore, the toner internal pressure in the dispensing room  6   b  can be effectively increased. 
     Further, as another aspect, a toner agitating and transporting member  7   a  as the toner transporting member  7  is provided in the toner housing room  6   a  other than the dispensing room  6   b , of the toner supply room  6 , and a rotation center of this toner agitating and transporting member  7   a  is located in the higher position than the developer agitating and transporting member  3  (mainly  3   a ). According to this aspect, it is not necessary to lift the toner from the toner housing room  6   a  to the developer housing room  2 . Therefore, without losing the toner internal pressure in the dispensing room  6   b , the toner can be smoothly supplied to the developer housing room  2 . 
     Furthermore, it is preferable that a center of the dispensing member  7   b  is set at the same height as the height of a rotation center of the developer agitating and transporting member  3  (mainly  3   a ) or in the lower position. In this case, since the toner is supplied from the lower position than the rotation center position of the developer agitating and transporting member  3 , the supplied toner is rolled in the developer agitating and transporting member  3 , and speedily agitated and mixed. In addition, flattening of the development unit  1  is also possible. 
     The invention is not limited to the above development device, but can be also applied to the following process cartridge and image forming apparatus. 
     Namely, a process cartridge according to the invention, as shown in  FIG. 1A , is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus body; and includes an image bearing member  11 , and the above development device  12  which is arranged opposed to this image bearing member  11  and can make an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member  11  visible. 
     Further, as long as an image forming apparatus according to the invention includes an image bearing member  11 , and the above development device  12  which is arranged opposed to this image bearing member  11  and can make an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member  11  visible, the development device  12  may be not only a process cartridge type but also a not-process cartridge type. 
     With reference to embodiments shown in attached drawings, the invention will be described below in detail. 
     Embodiment 1 
     Whole Construction of Image Forming Apparatus 
       FIG. 2  shows a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the invention is applied. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the image forming apparatus is a so-called tandem type color image forming apparatus, in which image forming units  22  (specifically  22   a  to  22   d ) of four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in this embodiment) are arranged lengthways in an apparatus housing  21 , a paper supply cassette  23  in which paper  24  for supply is housed is provided for the lower portion of the apparatus, and a paper transporting path  25  that is a transporting path of the paper  24  from the paper supply cassette  23  is vertically arranged correspondingly to the respective image forming units  22 . 
     In the embodiment, the image forming units  22  ( 22   a  to  22   d ) form toner images for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in order from the upstream side of the paper transporting path  25 ; and each unit includes a process cartridge  30  incorporating various process units, and an exposure device  40  which radiates scanning light for imaging to this process cartridge  30 . 
     Here, in the process cartridge  30 , for example, a photoconductor drum  31 , a charge roll  32  which previously charges this photoconductor drum  31 , a development device  33  which develops an electrostatic latent image exposure-formed on the charged photoconductor drum  31  by the exposure device  40  with the corresponding color toner (for example, negative polarity in the embodiment) a cleaning device  34  which removes water toner on the photoconductor drum  31 , and an erasable lamp  35  which erases electricity from the surface of the charged photoconductor drum  31  are integrally formed into a cartridge. 
     On the other hand, the exposure device  40  houses a not-shown semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror  42 , an imaging lens  43 , and a mirror  44  in a case  41 . The exposure device  40  deflection-scans the light from the semiconductor laser by the polygon mirror  42  thereby to lead a light image to an exposure point on the photo conductor drum  31  through the imaging lens  43  and the mirror  44 . 
     Further, in the embodiment, in the portion corresponding to each photoconductor drum  31  of each image forming unit  22 , a transporting belt  53  which circulates along the paper transporting path  25  is provided. 
     This transporting belt  53  is formed of a belt material (rubber or resin) which can electrostatically absorb the paper  24 , and laid between a pair of tension rolls  51  and  52 . In the embodiment, the upper tension roll  52  functions as a drive roll, and the lower tension roll  51  functions as a driven roll. 
     Furthermore, at an entrance portion (portion opposed to the tension roll  51 ) of the transporting belt  53 , a paper absorption roll  54  is provided. By applying absorption voltage that is high voltage to this paper absorption roll  54 , the paper  24  is absorbed onto the transporting belt  53 . Further, on a back side of the transporting belt  53  corresponding to the photoconductor drum  31  of each image forming unit  22 , a transfer roll  50  is provided. This transfer roll  50  brings the paper  24  on the transporting belt  53  closer to the photoconductor drum  31 . Between the transfer roll  50  and the photoconductor drum  31 , the predetermined transfer bias is appropriately applied by a transfer bias power supply. 
     Further, in the embodiment, near the paper supply cassette  23 , a pick-up roll  61  which feeds out the paper  24  at the predetermined timing is provided, whereby the paper is fed through a feed roll  62  and a registration roll  63  in a transfer position. 
     Further, on the paper transporting path  25  located on the downstream side of the most downstream image forming unit  22   d , a fixing device  64  is provided. On the downstream side of this fixing device  64 , a discharge roll  66  for discharging paper is provided. By the discharge roll  66 , the discharged paper is caught in a catch tray  67  formed at the upper portion of the apparatus housing  21 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , reference numeral  80  represents a high voltage power supply which supplies high voltage to the device for high voltage, and reference numeral  81  represents a low voltage power supply which supplies low voltage to the device for low voltage. 
     An image forming process by such the image forming apparatus is as follows. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in each image forming unit  22  ( 22   a  to  22   d ), the photoconductor drum  31  is charged by the charge roll  32 , a latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum  31  by the exposure device  40 , and thereafter a visible image (toner image) is formed by the development device  33 . 
     On the other hand, the paper  24  is fed out from the paper supply cassette  23  by the pick-up roll  61  at the predetermined timing, fed through the feed roll  62  and the registration roll  63  in the absorption position of the transporting belt  53 , and fed in the transfer position in a state where the paper  24  is absorbed onto the transporting belt  53 . 
     The toner image on the photoconductor drum  31  in each image forming unit  22  is transferred onto the paper  24  by the transfer roll  50 , and the non-fixed toner image of each color component on the paper  24  is fixed by the fixing device  64 . Thereafter, the paper  24  on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged into the catch tray  67 . 
     Summary of Process Cartridge 
       FIG. 3  shows the details of the process cartridge  30  used in the embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the process cartridge  30  includes, in addition to the photoconductor drum  31 , the charge roll  32 , a part of the development device  33 , and the cleaning device  34 , a photoconductor cartridge  30   a  including the erasable lamp  35  which erases the electricity of the photoconductor drum  31  before the cleaning operation; and a development cartridge  30   b  which is provided under this photoconductor cartridge  30   a  swingably and in a positioned state in relation to the photoconductor cartridge  30   a , and includes main parts of the development device  33 . 
     Particularly, in the embodiment, the development device  33  includes a development unit  100  which is opposed to the photoconductor drum  31  and makes an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum  31  visible with developer G composed of toner and carrier, and toner supply units  110  and  120  which supply toner T to this development unit  100  (a separation type including a main toner supply unit  110  and a sub-toner supply unit  120  is adopted in the embodiment). 
     The photoconductor cartridge  30   a  is formed by uniting a cleaning unit  200  in which the cleaning device  34  is unitized and the sub-toner supply unit  120  in the lateral direction. Further, the development cartridge  30   b  is formed by uniting the development unit  100  and the main toner supply unit  110  in the lateral direction. 
     Further, in the embodiment, the development cartridge  30   b  is provided swingably by a pivot  30   c  of the development unit  100  portion in relation to the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing  21 , and a scanning path  135  in which the scanning light from the exposure device  40  can pass is secured between the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  and the development cartridge  30   b . On both sides of each part-cartridge  30   a ,  30   b  near the entrance of this scanning path  135 , spacers  130  made of an elastic member are interposed, and pressurizes and energizes the development cartridge  30   b  against the photoconductor cartridge  30   a . Further, in place of the spacer  130 , or in addition to the spacer  130 , an energizing element such as an energizing spring may be used. 
     Further, in the embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A, and  4 B, a pair of support projections  141  extending in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photoconductor drum  31  are provided for the sub-toner supply unit  120  of the photoconductor cartridge  30   a.    
     When the process cartridge  30  is attached to a cartridge reception part (not shown) of the apparatus housing  21 , both ends of a support shaft of the photoconductor drum  31  are fixed in the predetermined position by a fixing-reception member (not shown) provided for the cartridge reception part, and a drive transmission member (drive transmission gear) provided for one end of the photoconductor drum  31  which is rotatable around the support shaft is coupled and fitted to a drive system (not shown) provided for the cartridge reception part. Further, the support projection pair  141  is fitted to a fitted part (recess part or hole) of the cartridge reception part, whereby the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  is positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing  21 . Here, as long as the cartridge reception part of the apparatus housing  21  can receive and hold the process cartridge  30 , the housing frame itself may be used as the reception part, or another member may be provided for the housing frame. 
     Particularly, in the embodiment, since the support projection  141  is provided for a unit outer wall distant from the photoconductor drum  31 , and positioned in the direction different from the axial direction of the photoconductor drum  31 , it can stably supports the photoconductor cartridge  30   a . Further, the support projections  141  are provided in pair, weight loads onto the process cartridge  30  at each of four support points of the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  are reduced, and distortion of the process cartridge  30  is also corrected. 
     In  FIG. 4 , reference numeral  142  is a hold arm used when the process cartridge  30  is attached or detached. 
     Development Device 
     The respective units  100 ,  110 , and  120  constituting the development device  33  used in the embodiment will be described. 
     Development Unit 
     In the embodiment, the development unit  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 , adopts a so-called two-component development system. The development unit  100  includes, below the photoconductor drum  31 , a development housing  101  which opens toward the photoconductor drum  31  side. The inside of this development housing  101  is constituted as a developer housing room  102  in which developer G composed of toner and carrier can be housed, and a development roll  103  for bearing the developer is provided at the portion faced to the opening of the development housing  101 . In this development unit  100 , the developer housing room  102  is divided into two rooms by a partition wall  106  extending in the axial direction of the development roll  103 , and communication ports  107  and  108  are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of this partition wall  106  thereby to form a developer circulating path in the developer housing room  102 . In this developer circulating path, a pair of agitating and transporting augers  104  and  105  is provided in the axial direction of the development roll  103 , whereby the developer G in the developer circulating path is transported while being agitated. 
     Here, the agitating and transporting auger  104  is an admixing auger which has the main aim of devotedly agitating and mixing the supplied toner T with the existing developer G, while the agitating and transporting auger  105  is a supply auger which takes, in addition to the toner agitating and mixing function, a function of supplying developer to the developer roll  103 . 
     In the embodiment, though the agitating and transporting auger  105  near the development roll  103  takes the function of supplying developer to the developer roll  103 , a developer supply member (roll or paddle) may be added separately from the agitating and transporting auger  105 . Further, around the development roll  103 , a trimming member for regulating developer layer thickness or a pick-up member for picking up unused developer may be provided according to necessity. 
     Main Toner Supply Unit 
     Further, the main toner supply unit  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 , includes a main supply housing  111  which uses partially the backside partition wall of the development housing  101  of the development unit  100 . The inside of this main supply housing  111  is used as a toner supply room in which the supply toner T is housed in a suppliable state. 
     Particularly, in the embodiment, the toner supply room is divided into a toner housing room  112  in which the supply toner T is housed, and a dispensing room  113  which communicates with this toner housing room  12  and supplies the toner T to the development unit  100  quantitatively. Here, the dispensing room  113  has a thick portion  101   b  near the lower portion of a backside partition wall  101   a  of the development housing  101 , and is formed as a long path (tunnel-shaped path) which extends in this thick portion  101   b  in the axial direction of the development roll  103 . 
     At the portion faced to the toner housing room  112  on the backside in the longitudinal direction of the thick part  101   b , a dispensing room entrance opening  114  is provided. Further, at the portion faced to the developer housing room  102  of the thick portion  101   b , and on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction to the dispensing room entrance opening  114  side, a toner supply port  115  is provided. 
     Further, in the toner housing room  112 , an agitator  116  for agitating and transporting the supply toner T, and an agitator  117  for agitating and transporting the toner T agitated and transported by this agitator  116  toward the dispensing room entrance opening  114  of the dispensing room  113  are provided. 
     Here, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the agitator  116  has an agitation film  402  made of a PET film at a leading end of a clunk-shaped rotary rod  401 , and this agitation film  402  transports the toner along the wall surface of the toner supply room. On the opposite side to the agitation film  402  side of the rotary rod  401 , the appropriate number of agitation rods  403  extending in the diameter direction of the rotary rod  401  are provided in order to agitate the toner in the toner supply room. The agitator  117  may be constituted similarly to the agitator  116 . However, it is preferable that the toner transporting direction is adjusted toward the dispensing room entrance opening  114  by, for example, appropriately providing nicks in the agitation film. Further, as the agitators  116  and  117 , an agitating and transporting coil spring may be used. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the forms of the agitators  116  and  117  are shown schematically. 
     On the other hand, in the dispensing room  113 , a dispensing auger  118  is provided in the longitudinal direction. Particularly, in the embodiment, the dispensing auger  118  includes a spiral vane of the nearly same diameter as the diameter of the spiral vane of the agitating and transporting auger  104 ,  105  in the development unit  100 , or a spiral vane of smaller diameter. Further, the vane pitch of the dispensing auger  118  is set less than the vane pitch of the agitating and transporting auger  104 ,  105 . 
     Further, in the embodiment, the toner supply port  115 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , opens so that its lower end is located in the lower position than the surface position of the developer G housed in the developer housing room  102 . Namely, as long as the supply port  115  is at least buried in the surface position of the developer G in the developer housing room  102 , the supply toner T can be supplied from the latent side to the accumulated developer in the developer housing room  102 , whereby agitating and mixing power of the supply toner T with the developer G is secured. 
     Particularly, in the embodiment, press power by which the supply toner T in the toner supply unit  110  is pushed out from the toner supply port  115  is set larger than the internal pressure by the developer G in the developer housing room  102 . 
     Specifically, the dispensing room entrance opening  114  is formed wider than the toner supply port  115 . Further, the longitudinal length of the dispensing room  113  is set longer than the length of the dispensing room entrance opening  114 . Further, the amount of supplying toner to the dispensing room entrance opening  114  by the agitator  117  is set larger than the amount of toner transportation (corresponding to the supply amount of the toner exhausted from the toner supply port  115 ) by the dispensing auger  118 . 
     Furthermore, the diameter size, the vane pitch, the number of turns of the dispensing auger  118  are selected so that the toner internal pressure based on the toner transporting power by the dispensing auger  118  becomes larger than the internal pressure (depending on the transporting power of the agitating and transporting auger  104 ) of the developer G in the developer housing room  102 , which is applied to the toner supply port  115 . 
     Further, in the embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the dispensing auger  118  includes, in addition to the usual agitating and transporting auger vane  118   a , an auger vane for weir  118   b  at the portion faced to the toner supply port  115 . The toner T dammed up by this auger vane  118   b  for weir is pushed out from the toner supply port  115  to the developer housing room  102 . 
     In the embodiment, though the toner supply port  115  opens in the position distant from the end position of the developer housing room  102 , the supply toner T is pushed out from the toner supply port  115  by pushing-out action by the auger vane for weir  118   b.    
     Further, in the embodiment, the upper end of the toner supply port  115  is located in the higher position than the upper end portion of the admixing auger  104 . However, depending on a layout, for example, by setting the upper end of the toner supply port  115  so as to be located in the lower position, the toner is supplied from the lower position than the position of the upper end portion of the admixing auger  104 . Correspondingly, the supplied toner is rolled in the admixing auger  104 , and speedily agitated and mixed (refer to, for example, Embodiment 5). 
     Furthermore, since the lower end of the toner supply port  115  is set in the lower position than a rotation center position of the admixing auger  104 , the toner T is supplied from the lower position than the rotation center position of the admixing auger  104 . Correspondingly, the supplied toner T is rolled in the admixing auger  104 , and speedily agitated and mixed. 
     Further, since a center of the dispensing auger  118  is set at the same height as the rotation center height of the admixing auger  104  or in the lower position, the toner is supplied from the lower position of the rotation center position of the admixing auger  104 . Correspondingly, the supplied toner T is rolled in the admixing auger  104 , and speedily agitated and mixed. 
     Further, in case that the capacity of the toner housing room  112  is made larger than the capacity of the dispensing room  113 , or the total capacity of the dispensing room  113  and the developer housing room  102 , the toner from the toner supply port  115  can be continuously supplied stably. Here, the capacity means the toner housing amount or the developer housing amount. 
     Further, in the embodiment, the agitators  116  and  117  are arranged so that each rotation center of them is located in the higher position than each position of the dispensing auger  118  and the agitating and transporting augers  104  and  105 . 
     Therefore, it is not necessary to lift the toner from the toner housing room  112  to the dispensing room  113  and the developer housing room  102 . Therefore, the toner internal pressure in the dispensing room  113  can be effectively increased. Further, without losing the toner internal pressure in the dispensing room  113 , the toner can be smoothly supplied to the developer housing room  2 . 
     Sub Toner Supply Unit 
     In the embodiment, the sub-toner supply unit  120 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , includes a sub-supply housing  121  adjacent to the backside of the cleaning unit  200 , and the inside of this sub-supply housing  121  is used as a toner housing room  122  in which the supply toner T is housed suppliably. 
     In the toner supply room  122 , a pair of agitators  123  and  124  for agitating and transporting the supply toner T is provided. 
     As a communication structure of the sub-toner supply unit  120  and the main toner supply unit  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , a spacer  130  made of an elastic member, in which a communication path (toner supply path)  131  is formed, is used. In the embodiment, the spacers  130  are provided at two points on both sides between the units  110  and  120 , and the toner supply path  131  is formed in each spacer  130 . However, the toner supply path  131  may be formed in either of the spacers  130 , or the spacer  130  may be provided at one point on one side and the toner supply path  131  may be formed in this spacer  130 . 
     In the embodiment, when the sub-toner supply unit  120  is not used, it is preferable that the joint portion to the toner supply path  131  is closed by a seal member  125  which can be opened in use as shown by an imaginary line in  FIG. 8 . In this case, when the process cartridge  30  is not used (for example, in conveyance), there is no fear that the toner in the sub-toner supply unit  120  enters the toner supply path  131  and causes cogging. Further, it is possible to effectively prevent that the toner in the sub-toner supply unit  120  is filled into the main toner supply unit  110  in an offset state thereby to increase unnecessarily the filling concentration of the toner in the main toner supply unit  110 . 
     In the embodiment, when the predetermined amount of the toner T is supplied from the main toner supply unit  110  to the development unit  100 , simultaneously, the toner T in the sub-toner supply unit  120  is supplemented to the main toner supply unit  110 . Therefore, the main toner supply unit  110  is filled with the nearly constant amount of the toner T till the sub-toner supply unit  120  empties, so that change in weight of the development cartridge  30   b  is kept low. 
     At this time, since the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  is positioned and fixed to the cartridge reception part of the apparatus housing  21 , change in the toner housing amount of the sub-toner supply unit  120  does not give any influence to the change in weight of the development cartridge  30   b.    
     Therefore, till the sub-toner supply unit  120  empties, the variation of pressure applying power of the development cartridge  30   b  to the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  is suppressed. Correspondingly, image trouble can be effectively prevented. 
     Further, since the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  is positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing  21 , at least the downside position of the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  forming the scanning path  135  does not change. Therefore, even if the position of the development cartridge  30   b  supported swingably by the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  changes, there is little fear that the scanning path  135  is obstructed. 
     Cleaning Device 
     Further, in the embodiment, the cleaning device  34 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , is incorporated into the photoconductor cartridge  30   a  as the cleaning unit  200 . 
     This cleaning unit  200  includes a cleaning housing  201  which opens opposed to the photoconductor drum  31 , uses the inside of this cleaning housing  201  as a waste toner housing room  203  in which waste toner can be housed, and is formed by extending an upper wall  201   a  of the cleaning housing  201  toward the photoconductor drum  31  side in the shape of an eaves. 
     At an opening lower edge  201   b  of this cleaning housing  201 , a cleaning blade  210  is provided. In this cleaning blade  210 , a nearly L-shaped blade holder  212  is attached to side wall portions (not shown) hanging down from both sides of the opening lower edge  201   b  and the upper wall  201   a  of the cleaning housing  201 , a blade body  211  made of an elastic member such as urethane rubber is attached to a leading end outside of this blade holder  212 , and a leading end of this blade body  211  is brought into elastic contact with the photoconductor drum  31  so as to be opposed to the rotary direction (counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 9 ) of the photoconductor drum  31 . 
     On the other hand, at an opening upper edge of the cleaning housing  201  (near a leading end of the upper wall  201   a  in the embodiment), a film seal  215  made of polyurethane is provided. A leading end portion of this film seal  215  is brought into elastic contact with the photoconductor drum  31  in the rotary direction of the drum  31  thereby to prevent scatter of the waste toner collected by the cleaning blade  210 . 
     In the embodiment, the portion other than the attached portion of the cleaning blade  210  to the cleaning housing  201  is arranged nearly in parallel to the eaves-shaped portion of the upper wall  201   a  of the cleaning housing  201 , and used as a waste toner storing part  213  (corresponding to the blade holder  212  inner surface in this example) in which the waste toner scraped by the cleaning blade  210  is temporarily stored. Particularly, in this example, the waste toner storing part  213  slopes down toward the waste toner housing room  203 , which can improve transportability of the waste toner Td. 
     Further, in the embodiment, though the waste toner storing part  213  is formed by only the cleaning blade  210 , it may be formed by using also a part of the cleaning housing  201  together with the cleaning blade  210 . 
     Further, between this cleaning housing  201  and the cleaning blade  210 , a recess space for the photoconductor drum  31  is secured, and the charge roll  32  is arranged using this recess space. 
     At the leading end of the upper wall  201   a  of the cleaning housing  201 , a holding block  202  for the erasing lamp  35  is provided. 
     Further, in the embodiment, in the cleaning housing  201 , a waste toner transporting member  220  is provided, which transports the waste toner Td scraped by the cleaning blade  210  to the waste toner housing room  203  side. 
     This waste toner transporting member  220  includes a transporting plate  221  as a member element extending from the waste toner housing room  203  to the waste toner storing part  213 . At an end on the waste toner housing room  203  side of this transporting plate  221 , a drive input part  222  which can input drive power from the external portion is provided; and at an end of the photoconductor drum  31  side of the transporting plate  221 , a protrusion part  223  which can come into contact with the waste toner storing part  213  is provided. 
     Here, the transporting plate  221  may be a plate-shaped member. However, from viewpoints of weight reduction and effective prevention of accumulation of the waste toner Td on the upper surface portion, it is preferable that an opening  224  is provided in another portion than the protrusion part  223  of the transporting plate  221  and the drive input part  222 . Further, the forming position of the protrusion part  223  must not be always the end portion of the transporting plate  221  but may be a portion distant from the end portion. Further, though the number of the protrusion parts  223  should be at least one, the plural protrusion parts  223  may be provided. Further, the protrusion part  223  may be formed by bending the leading end of the transporting plate  221 , or may be formed at a part of the transporting plate  221  integrally or separately. 
     Further, the member element of the waste toner transporting member  220  must not be always the transporting plate  221 , but may use, for example, a flame structure. 
     In the embodiment, as shown in, for example, FIG.  9 , rotary locus-shaped drive power is input to the drive input part  222  of the waste toner transporting member  220 . This rotary locus-shaped drive power is readily obtained by rotating a clunk shaft  231  that is a kind of rotation drive mechanism  230  around a rotation center. 
     Further, in the embodiment, an attitude regulating mechanism  240  for regulating the moving attitude of the waste toner transporting member  220  is additionally provided in the waste toner transporting member  220 . 
     In the embodiment, the attitude regulating mechanism  240  is composed of an energizing spring  241  having one end which fits to the protruding part  223  side of the waste toner transporting member  220  and the other end which fits to a part of the cleaning housing  201 , by which the waste toner transporting member is energized in the direction separating from the drive input part  222 . 
     Particularly, in the embodiment, the energizing spring  241  is provided slantingly to the advance or retreat direction of the waste toner transporting member  220 . 
     Here, as the attachment structure of the energizing spring  241 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , fixing hooks  242  and  243  are provided at both ends of the energizing spring  241 , one  242  of the fixing hooks is fitted to a fitting projection  204  on the cleaning housing  201  side, and the other fixing hook  243  is fitted to a fitting piece  225  provided at the end on the protrusion part  223  side of the waste toner transporting member  220 . 
     In the embodiment, though the fitting projection  204  is provided, as the attachment structure of the energizing spring  241 , in the cleaning housing  201 , the invention is not limited to this. For example, a fitting hole that communicates with the outside may be provided in the cleaning housing  201 . Though there is fear of waste toner leakage in this case, this fear is removed by sealing the fitting hole with a seal member. As this seal member, a label stuck to CRU is preferable. 
     Thus, by additionally providing the energizing spring  241  in the waste toner transporting member  220 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , when the rotary locus-shaped drive power is input in the drive input part  222  of the waste toner transporting member  220 , with this input, the protruding part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  advances or retreats along the waste toner storing part  213 . 
     At this time, the energizing spring  241  regulates the attitude change range of the waste toner transporting member  220  in relation to the positional change of the drive input part  222  of the waste toner transporting member  220 . In this example, when the waste toner transporting member  220  retreats, the protrusion part  223  moves along the waste toner storing part  213  while contacting the waste toner; and when the waste toner transporting member  220  advances, the protrusion part  223  moves in a non-contact state with the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213 . The concrete motion will be described later. 
     Particularly, in the embodiment, since the energizing spring  241  is arranged slantingly to the advance or retreat direction of the waste toner transporting member  220 , the arrangement space can be reduced, and the expansion and contraction amount of the energizing spring  241  in relation to the moving amount of the waste toner transporting member  220  can be set small. Since variation of the driving power loads onto the waste toner transporting member can be correspondingly relaxed, this embodiment is preferable. 
     Next, the operation of the cleaning device  34  used in the embodiment will be described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 11A , when the residual toner on the photoconductor drum  31  is scraped by the cleaning blade  210 , the scraped waste toner Td accumulates on and near the cleaning blade  210 , and is succeedingly pushed out by the scraped toner. Thereafter, the waste toner Td accumulates on the waste toner storing part  213  (on the inner surface of the blade holder  211  in this example). 
     Under this state, when the drive input part  222  of the waste toner transporting member  220  is in a position shown by  FIG. 11A , the waste toner transporting member  220  is arranged in the advancemost position. 
     At this time, the energizing spring  241  energizes the waste toner transporting member  220  in the direction separating from the drive input part  222 . However, by adjusting a relation between the drive input part  222  position of the waste toner transporting member  220  and the fixing point position of the energizing spring  241  on the cleaning housing  201  side, a part of the energizing power components of the energizing spring  241  acts in the direction where the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  is brought into contact with the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213 . Hereby, the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  comes into contact with the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213 . 
     As the drive input part  222  position is rotated downward from this state by the rotation drive mechanism  230 , the waste toner transporting member  220 , as shown in  FIG. 11B , gradually retreats while slanting. At this time, the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  transports the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213  toward the waste toner housing room  203  side. 
     When the drive input part  222  of the waste toner transporting member  220  reaches the downmost point, the attitude of the waste toner transporting member  220  enters the most sharply slant state. In this case, from a viewpoint of keeping the contact state between the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  222  and the waste toner storing part  213 , it is efficient to bring the other portions of the waste toner transporting member  220  than the protrusion part  223  into non-contact with the waste toner storing part  213 . 
     Thereafter, when the drive input part  222  of the waste toner transporting member  220  rotates up to the position shown in  FIG. 1C , the waste toner transporting member  220  more retreats while relaxing the slant attitude gradually. At this time, since the energizing spring  241  is acting yet so as to press the waste toner transporting member  220  on the waste toner storing part  213  side, the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  moves along the waste toner storing part  213  in the contact state with the waste toner Td thereby to move the waste toner Td to the waste toner housing room  203  side. 
     In the embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 11C and 12A , even in case that the waste toner transporting member  220  reaches the retreatmost position, the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  does not move to the end close to the waste toner housing room  203  of the waste toner storing part  213 . However, the waste toner transported near the end close to the waste toner housing room  203  of the waste toner storing part  213  is pushed by the waste toner transported sequentially, and housed into the waste housing room  203  in order. 
     Further, in the embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 12A , when the waste toner transporting member  220  reaches the retreatmost position, it is pulled by the energizing power of the energizing spring  241 , and the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  separates from the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213  and enters the state immediately before the protrusion part  223  is arranged in the non-contact state. 
     Namely, since the waste toner transporting member  220  is energized in the predetermined direction by the energizing spring  241 , on the basis of the relation between the drive input part  222  position of the waste toner transporting member  220  and the fixing point position on the cleaning housing  201  side of the energizing spring  241 , the arrangement attitude of the waste toner transporting member  220  is determined. At this time, in the stage in which the waste toner transporting member  220  proceeds to the advance movement, such a layout that the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  is arranged in the non-contact state with the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213  is necessary. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 12B , when the drive input part  222  of the waste toner transporting member  220  rotates upward, the waste toner transporting member  220  advances, while changing the slant attitude so that the drive input part  222  side ascends. 
     At this time, since the waste toner transporting member  220  is energized by the energizing spring  241 , when the drive input part  222  position of the waste toner transporting member  220  becomes high, the arrangement position of the waste toner transporting member  220  becomes further high. Therefore, the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  remains arranged in the non-contact state with the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213 . 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 12C , when the drive input part  222  of the waste toner transporting member  220  rotates from the upper dead centre position in the descending direction, the waste toner transporting  220  advance while changing the slant attitude again, and gradually comes close to the waste toner storing part  213  side. When the waste toner transporting member  220  reaches the advancemost position, the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  is arranged again in the contact state with the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213 . 
     Thus, since the protrusion part  223  of the waste toner transporting member  220  moves in the non-contact state with the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213  when the waste toner transporting member  220  advances, it is effectively prevented that the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213  is pushed back with the advance operation of the waste toner transporting member  220 , so that transportability of the waste toner is kept good. 
     Thereafter, the motions shown in  FIGS. 11A to 11C , and  FIGS. 12A to 12C  are repeated. 
     In the embodiment, the waste toner transporting member  220 , throughout the retreating time, moves while contacting the waste toner storing part  213 . However, the invention is not limited to this. For example, in the retreat area, firstly the waste toner transporting member  220  may move while not contacting the waste toner storing part  213 , and halfway the waste toner transporting member  220  may move while contacting the waste toner storing part  213 . 
     Particularly, in the embodiment, the waste transporting member  220 , when the drive input part  222  is located in the upper dead centre position, keeps the nearly horizontal uppermost attitude, and moves in a locus in which the member  220  does not protrude upward from this uppermost attitude. Further, since the waste toner transporting member  220  advances while keeping the nearly horizontal attitude, it is possible to set narrow the space on the upper portion side of the waste toner housing room and the upper space of the waste toner storing part  213 , so that the cleaning device  34  can be slimmed down. 
     Further, in the embodiment, since the waste toner transporting member  220  has the opening  224 , there is no fear that the waste toner accumulates on the waste toner transporting member  220  in the waste toner transportation by the waste toner transporting member  220 , and there is also no fear that the waste toner scatters due to wind pressure by air resistance. 
     Further, in the embodiment, though the waste toner transporting member  220 , in the retreating time, moves in contact along the waste toner storing part  213 , the invention is not limited to this. The waste toner transporting member  220 , though does not contact the waste toner storing part  213 , may move while contacting the waste toner on the waste toner storing part  213 . In this case, since the waste toner transporting member  220 , in the retreating time, does not contact directly the waste toner storing part  213 , there is little fear that vibration is unnecessarily transmitted to the photoconductor drum  31  side with the movement of the waste toner transporting member  220 . Therefore, from this point, the embodiment is preferable. 
     Drive System of Development Device and Cleaning Device 
     In the embodiment, it is safe to select appropriately a drive system  300  of the development device  33  and the cleaning device  34 . For example, the following is used as the drive system. 
     Namely, the drive system  300  used in the embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 13 , includes a transportation drive system  301  which drives, by the same drive source, each driven element of the toner supply units  110 ,  120  in the development device  33 , and each drive element of the cleaning unit  200  as the cleaning device  34 ; and a development drive system  302  which drive, by another drive source than the drive source in this transportation drive system  301 , each drive element of the development unit  100  in the development device  33 . 
     Here, the transportation drive system  301  includes a drive input gear  311  coupled to a not-shown drive source, brings a drive transmission gear  312  of a first stage into mesh with this drive input gear  311 , sets a coaxial transmission gear  313  which is coaxial to this drive transmission gear  312 , brings drive transmission gears  315  and  316  connected to the agitators  116  and  117  of the main toner supply unit  110  into mesh with this coaxial transmission gear  313  through an idler gear  314 , and further brings a dispensing gear  318  connected to the dispensing auger  118  into mesh with the drive transmission gear  316  through an idler gear  317 . 
     Further, this transportation drive system  301  brings drive transmission gears  319  and  320  connected to the agitators  123  and  124  of the sub-toner supply unit  120  into mesh with the coaxial transmission gear  313 , and also brings a drive transmission gear  321  connected to the rotary shaft of the rotation drive mechanism  230  in the cleaning unit  200  into mesh with the coaxial transmission gear  313 . 
     On the other hand, the development drive system  302  includes a drive transmission gear  331  which is coaxial to the photoconductor drum  31 , brings a drive transmission gear  332  connected to the development roll  103  into mesh with this drive transmission gear  331 , and further brings, in order, drive transmission gears  334  and  335  connected to the agitating and transporting augers  105  and  104  into mesh with this drive transmission gear  332  through an idler gear  333 . 
     Further, the drive source of the development drive system  302  may be different from the drive source of the transportation drive system  301 , or the same drive source may be used as long as it can drive individually each drive system. 
     Thus, according to the embodiment, the transportation drive system  301  and the development drive system  302  are the different drive systems. Therefore, compared with the aspect in which the transportation drive system  301  and the development drive system  302  are cooperated, it is not necessary to drive always, in the development operation, the toner transporting members (agitators  116 ,  117 , dispensing auger  118 , and agitators  123 ,  124 ), and the waste toner transporting member  220 . Accordingly, wear-out deterioration of the toner transporting member and the waste toner transporting member  220  can be suppressed, so that lift of the process cartridge  30  can be improved. 
     Further, since the toner transporting member and the waste toner transporting member  220  which are large in load variation are driven separately from the photoconductive drum  31  and the development roll  103  which require rotary accuracy, the vibration caused by the load variations of the toner transporting member and the waste toner transporting member  220  does not affect the rotations of the photoconductor drum  31  and the development roll  103 , so that the image defect can be previously prevented. 
     Further, by providing a connective and disconnective element (oscillation gear) which can connect and disconnect the drive to each drive element of the toner supply units  110 ,  120 , only the waste toner transporting operation can be performed separately from the toner supplying operation. Further, by providing a connective and disconnective element which can connect and disconnect the drive to a part of the drive elements of the toner supply unit  110 , for example, the dispensing auger  118 , the toner supplying operation by the dispensing auger  118  is not performed, but only the toner agitating and transporting operation by the agitators  116 ,  117 ,  123 , and  124  in the toner supply units  110  and  120 , whereby the supply toner can be periodically disentangled. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIGS. 14A to 14C  show the structure around a toner supply port of a development device according to a second embodiment to which the invention is applied. 
     In the drawings, the basic constitution of the structure around the toner supply port is nearly the same as that in the first embodiment. Namely, a toner supply port  115  opens so that its lower end is located in the lower position than the surface position of developer G housed in a developer housing room  102 . However, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a push-out paddle  150  along the axial direction is provided for the portion of a dispensing auger  118  faced to the toner supply port  115 . The components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed description is omitted. This is similar also in following embodiments. 
     According to the embodiment, near the toner supply port  115 , supply toner T is pushed out by the push-out paddle  150  from the toner supply port  115  to the developer housing room  102 . Therefore, the toner T is supplied from the lateral side to the developer G in the developer housing room  102 , and agitated and mixed by an admixing auger  104 . 
     Using the development device according to the embodiment, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus may be constructed. This is similar also in following embodiments. 
     Embodiment 3 
       FIGS. 15A to 15C  show the structure around a toner supply port of a development device according to a third embodiment to which the invention is applied. 
     In the drawings, the basic constitution of the structure around the toner supply port is nearly the same as that in the first embodiment. Namely, a toner supply port  115  opens so that its lower end is located in the lower position than the surface position of developer G housed in a developer housing room  102 . However, the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an auger vane pitch P 2  of the portion faced to the toner supply port  115 , of a dispensing auger  118  is set narrower than an auger vane pitch P 1  for toner transportation. In this example, the pitch P 1  is set to about 4 to 10 mm, and the pitch P 2  is set to a value smaller than the value of P 1  by about 2 to 6 mm. Further, it is preferable that an auger vane pitch P 3  of an admixing auger  104  is larger than the pitch P 1  in consideration of the toner internal pressure and agitation power by the dispensing auger  118 . 
     According to the embodiment, near the toner supply port  115 , the auger vane pitch P 2  is set narrower than the auger vane pitch P 1 . Therefore, toner filling concentration in the portion in a dispensing room  113  faced to the toner supply port  115  increases, and supply toner T is supplied, by push-out action by the auger vane pitch P 2  portion, through the toner supply port  115  to developer G in the developer housing room  102  from the lateral side. In result, the supply toner T does not float on the developer G but is surely agitated and mixed with the existing developer G by the admixing auger  104 . 
     In the embodiment, though the vane pitch P 2  of the dispensing auger  118  is set narrow, for example, by combination with the aspect in the first embodiment (auger vane for weir), the toner filling concentration in the portion in the dispensing room  113  faced to the toner supply port  115  can be increased more. 
     Embodiment 4 
       FIG. 16  is an explanatory view (corresponding to  FIG. 6 ) showing a development device according to a fourth embodiment to which the invention is applied. 
     In the drawing, the basic constitution of a development device  33  is nearly the same as that in the first embodiment. However, the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the structure different from that in the first embodiment is added to a toner supply port  115  edge. 
     In this embodiment, of the toner supply port  115  edge, at a toner transporting direction downstream side edge of the portion faced to the toner supply port  115 , an eaves-shaped return part  161  faced to the transporting direction of toner T is protrusively provided. 
     According to the embodiment, this eaves-shaped shaped return part  161  protrudes to the dispensing room  113  side, and functions as a guide which exhausts the toner in the dispensing room  113  to the toner supply port  115  side, so that the toner can be stably supplied from the toner supply port  115 . 
     Further, in case that such the eaves-shaped return part  161  protrudes too much, an obstruction occurs in the original transporting operation of the toner T. Therefore, within the range in which the obstruction does not occur, the protruding amount of the part  161  should be appropriately selected. Namely, by appropriately selecting the protruding amount of this eaves-shaped return part  161 , the supply of the toner T is smoothly performed. 
     Embodiment 5 
       FIG. 17  shows a development device according to a fifth embodiment to which the invention is applied. 
     In the drawing, a development device  33  communicates and connects a development unit  100  and a toner supply unit  170  through a toner supply port  177 . The fifth embodiment is different from the first to fourth embodiments in that a transporting direction of toner supplied from the toner supply unit  170  to the development unit  100  is along the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of a development roll  103  of a developer housing room  102  in the development unit  100 . 
     Namely, in the embodiment, the development unit  100  includes the nearly similar components to those in the first embodiment (development housing  101 , developer housing room  102 , development roll  103 , agitation and transporting augers  104 ,  105 , partition wall  106 , and communication ports  107 ,  108  (refer to  FIG. 6 )). 
     On the other hand, the toner supply unit  170  includes a toner housing  171 , sets in this toner housing  171  a toner housing room  172  in which supply toner is housed, set an agitating and transporting agitator  173  in this toner housing room  172 , sets a coupling duct  174  between the toner housing  171  and the developing housing  101  at one sides in their longitudinal directions thereby to couple the toner housing  171  and the developing housing  101 , secures a dispensing room  175  in this coupling duct  174 , provides a dispensing room entrance opening  176  and a toner supply port  177  respectively near the communication port  107  of the toner housing  171  side wall of the dispensing room  175  and the development housing  101  side wall (refer to  FIG. 6 ), and sets a dispensing auger  178  for supplying toner quantitatively in the dispensing room  175 . 
     Particularly, in the embodiment, a toner supply port  177  opens so that its lower end is located in the lower position than the surface position of developer G housed in the developer housing room  102 , and so that its upper end is located in the lower position than the upper ends of the agitating and transporting augers  104  and  105 . 
     Therefore, according to the embodiment, the toner supply unit  170  supplies toner T in the toner housing room  172  through the dispensing room  175  to the developer housing room  102  of the development unit  100 . 
     At this time, near the toner supply port  177 , the toner in the dispensing room  175  is supplied by push-out power of the dispensing auger  178  through the toner supply port  177  to the developer housing room  102  from the lateral direction, whereby the toner is agitated and mixed by the admixing auger  104  with the existing developer G.