Patent Publication Number: US-7711288-B2

Title: Developer storing container, method of assembling developer storing container and method of recycling developer storing container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC §119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-348347 filed Dec. 25, 2006. 
   BACKGROUND 
   (i) Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to a developer storing container such as a toner cartridge, a method of assembling a developer storing container, and a me hod of recycling a developer storing container. 
   (ii) Related Art 
   Developer storing containers used in image forming apparatus employing the electro-photographic method according to the related art such as copiers, printers, and facsimile machines include containers configured to supply developer stored in a supplied developer-storing portion thereof to a developing device mounted in an image forming apparatus at a timing and to collect developer to be collected including a carrier, which has been deteriorated by being used at a developing step in the developing device, into a collected developer-storing portion from the developing device. 
   In such a developer storing container, not only developer to be supplied to a developing device but also developer collected from the developer must be stored. Therefore, the interior of the developer storing container must be partitioned by a partition member into a supplied developer-storing portion and a collected developer-storing portion to store the supplied developer and the collected developer such that the supplied developer and the collected developer will not be mixed. 
   In the initial state of the developer storing container, the collected developer-storing portion is vacant whereas the supplied developer-storing portion is substantially fully filled with the developer. As the container is used, the amount of the supplied developer in the supplied developer-storing portion gradually decreases, and the amount of the developer collected into the collected developer-storming portion gradually increases. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a developer storing container comprising: 
   a first storing member (a supplied developer-storing member) including a first storing portion (a supplied developer-storing portion) for storing a supplied developer; 
   a second storing member (a collected developer-storing member) including a second storing portion (a collected developer-storing portion) for storing a collected developer; and 
   a partition member that connects the first storing portion and the second storing member so as to sandwich the partition member therebetween, and that separates the first and second storing portions from each other. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective configuration view showing an exploded state of a toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a configuration diagram showing a tandem type full-color printer as a direct transfer type image forming apparatus employing toner cartridges as developer storing containers, a method of assembling the toner cartridges, and a method of recycling the cartridges according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an external perspective view of the tandem type full-color printer; 
       FIG. 4  is an external view showing the tandem type full-color printer with a cover of the same opened; 
       FIG. 5  is an external perspective view of a toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an external perspective view of the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective configuration view showing an exploded state of the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of major parts of the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 9A ,  9 B, and  9 C are sectional views of the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective configuration view showing a section of the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of major parts of the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an agitator of the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 13A ,  13 B, and  13 C are sectional views of the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the agitator at the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an agitator film; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a driving portion of the agitator; 
       FIG. 17  is a configuration view showing a state of mounting of the toner cartridge; 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective configuration view showing a state of mounting of the toner cartridge; 
       FIG. 19  is a sectional configuration view showing a state of mounting of the toner cartridge; 
       FIG. 20  is a sectional configuration view showing a state of mounting of the toner cartridge; 
       FIG. 21  is a configuration view showing a supply path for supplying toner from the toner cartridge to a developing device; 
       FIG. 22  is a configuration view showing a collection path for collecting toner from a cleaning device into the toner cartridge; 
       FIG. 23  is a sectional configuration view showing a state of mounting of the toner cartridge; 
       FIGS. 24A and 24B  are perspective configuration views showing a step of assembling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 25  is a perspective configuration view showing a step of assembling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 26  is a perspective configuration view showing a step of assembling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 27  is a perspective configuration view showing a step of assembling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, 
       FIG. 28  is a perspective configuration view showing a step of recycling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 29  is a perspective configuration view showing a step of recycling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 30A and 30B  are perspective configuration views showing a step of recycling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 31  is a perspective configuration view showing a step of recycling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 32  is a perspective configuration view showing a step of recycling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 33  is a perspective configuration view showing a step of recycling the toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
     FIG. 2  shows a tandem type full-color printer as a direct transfer type image forming apparatus employing toner cartridges as developer storing containers, a method of assembling the toner cartridges, and a method of recycling the cartridges according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The full-color printer is configured to perform a printing operation based on image data transmitted from, for example, a personal computer or scanner obviously, the image forming apparatus may be a copier or facsimile machine including a scanner or a combined machine configured to have the functions of the those apparatus. 
   In  FIG. 2 , reference numeral  1  represents a body of the tandem type full-color printer, and an image forming unit  2  is disposed substantially in the middle of the interior of the full-color printer body  1  so as to extend in the vertical direction. Inside the full-color printer body  1 , a sheet conveying belt unit  3  is disposed on one side (left side in the illustrated example) of the image forming unit  2 , the unit conveying a transfer material absorbed thereon on which toner images in a plurality of colors formed by the image forming unit  2  are transferred. A control unit  4  including a control circuit is disposed on the other side (right side in the illustrated example) of the image forming unit  2 , and a power supply circuit unit  5  including a high voltage power supply circuit is disposed diagonally above the image forming unit  2 . A sheet feeder  6  for feeding a transfer sheet  18  as the transfer material is disposed on the inner bottom of the full-color printer body  1 . 
   The image forming unit  2  includes four image forming portions  7 Y,  7 M,  7 C, and  7 B, which are listed in the order of their closeness to the bottom of the unit, for forming toner images in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B). The four image forming portions  7 Y,  7 M,  7 C, and  7 B are disposed in series in the vertical direction at predetermined intervals. 
   The four image forming portions  7 Y,  7 M,  7 C, and  7 B are similar in configuration except for the colors of images that they form. As shown in  FIG. 2 , each portion is generally comprised of a photosensitive drum  8  ( 8 Y,  8 M,  8 C and  8 B) rotating at a predetermined rotating speed in the direction of the arrow, a charge roll  9  ( 9 Y,  9 M,  9 C and  9 B) used for primary charging, i.e., for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum a uniformly, an ROS (Raster Output Scanner)  10  ( 10 Y,  10 M,  10 C and  10 B) for exposing an image in the associated color on the surface of the photosensitive drum  8  to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing device  11  ( 11 Y,  11 M,  11 C and  11 B) for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum  8  with toner in the associated color, a cleaning device  12  ( 12 Y,  12 M,  12 C and  12 B) for cleaning any residual toner left on the photosensitive drum  8  after a transfer, and a toner cartridge  13  ( 13 Y,  13 M,  13 C and  13 B) for supplying toner to the developing device  11 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the developing device  11  supplies two-component or one-component developer stored therein to a developing roll  14  ( 14 Y,  14 M,  14 C and  14 B) while agitating the same, conveys the developer supplied to the developing roll  14  to a developing area facing the photosensitive drum  8  while regulating the thickness of the developer, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  8  with the toner which is in a predetermined color. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cleaning device  12  removes residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum  8  with a cleaning blade  15  ( 15 Y,  15 M,  15 C and  15 B), and the residual toner thus removed is conveyed into the cleaning device  12  and stored therein. 
   Further, the control unit  4  is disposed in the full-color printer body  1  as show in  FIG. 2 , and an image processor (IPS)  16  for performing, for example, a predetermined image process on image data is provided in the control unit  4 . Image data in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) are sequentially output from the image processor  16  to the ROS  10 , and four laser beams LB emitted from the ROS  10  according to the image data are scanned for exposure on respective photosensitive drums  8 Y,  8 M,  8 C, and  8 B to form electrostatic; latent images on them. The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drums  8 Y,  8 M,  8 C, and  8 B are developed into toner images in the respective colors, i.e., yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B). 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sheet conveying belt unit  3  includes a sheet conveying belt  17  which is moved to circulate as an endless belt. The sheet conveying belt  17  is configured to convey a transfer sheet  18  electrostatically absorbed thereon as a transfer material to which toner images in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) formed by the image forming portions  7 Y,  7 M,  7 C, and  7 B are transferred. 
   The sheet conveying belt  17  is stretched under predetermined tension between a drive roil  19  and a driven roll  20  as stretching rolls disposed in the vertical direction as shown in  FIG. 2 , and the belt is configured to be moved for clockwise circulation at a predetermined speed by the drive roll  19  which is rotated by a drive motor (not shown). 
   For example, the distance between the drive roll  19  and the driven roll  20  is set substantially equal to the length of a transfer sheet of A4 size. However, the invention is not limited to such a distance, and it is obvious that the distance between the drive roll  19  and the driven roll  20  may be arbitrarily set. For example, a flexible synthetic resin film made of polyimide formed like an endless belt ray be used as the sheet conveying belt  17 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , an absorption roll  22  for electrostatically absorbing the transfer sheet  18  onto the surface of the sheet conveying belt  17  is disposed so as to contact the surface of the drive roll  19  through the sheet conveying belt  17 . For example, the absorption roll  22  is formed by coating the surface of a metal core with conductive rubber in a manner similar to that used for the charge rolls  9  of the image forming portions  7 Y,  7 M,  7 C, and  7 B. A predetermined bias voltage for absorption is applied to the metal core. The absorption roll  22  electrostatically charges the transfer sheet  18  fed from the sheet feeder  6  to absorb the sheet onto the surface of the sheet conveying belt  17 . It is not essential to provide the absorption roll  22 . 
   Toner images in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) formed on the photosensitive drums  8 Y,  8 M,  8 C, and  8 B of the image forming portions  7 Y,  7 M,  7 C, and  7 B are transferred by transfer rolls  23 Y,  23 M,  23 C, and  23 B on a multi-pass basis in an overlapping relationship with each other onto the transfer sheet  18  which is absorbed and conveyed on the surface of the sheet conveying belt  17  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The transfer roll  23 Y,  23 M,  23 C, and  23 B are integrally mounted on the sheet conveying belt unit  3 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the transfer sheets  18  are supplied from the sheet feeder  6  disposed on the bottom of the printer body  1 . The sheet feeder  6  includes a sheet tray  24  containing the transfer sheets  15  which have a desired size and quality. The transfer sheets  18  having a desired size and quality are supplied from the sheet tray  24  by a feed roll  25  while being separated into each sheet by a handling roll  26  and are conveyed to an absorbing position on the sheet conveying belt  17  at predetermined timing. 
   Referring to the transfer sheets  18 , various sheet members may be used including sheets in various sizes such as A4, A3, B5, and B4 sizes, sheets of various thicknesses such as plain paper and coated paper, and sheets of various quality such as OHP sheets. 
   The transfer sheet  18  having toner images in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) transferred on a multi-pass basis is separated from the sheet conveying belt  17  by the stiffness (rigidity) of the transfer sheet  18  itself. The sheet is thereafter conveyed to a fixing device  29  through a conveying path  28 , and the toner image in each color is fixed on the transfer sheet  18  by heat and pressure from the fixing device  29 . The sheet conveying belt  17  and the fixing device  29  are disposed close to each other, and the transfer sheet  18  separated from the sheet conveying belt  17  is conveyed to the fixing device  29  by a conveying force of the sheet conveying belt  17 . Referring to the configuration of the fixing device  25 , a heating roll  30  and a pressure belt  31  are rotated while being pressed against each other, and the transfer sheet  18  is passed through a nip portion formed between the heating roll  20  and the pressure belt  31  to perform a fixing process on the sheet using heat and pressure. Thereafter, the transfer sheet  18  having the toner image in each color fixed thereon is discharged by a discharge roll  32  onto a discharge tray  33  provided on the top of the full-color printer body  1  with the printed surface facing downward, and the printing operation is terminated. 
   The full-color printer can print not only full-color images but also images in desired colors including monochromatic images. A toner image is formed by all or some of the image forming portions  7 Y,  7 M,  7 C, and  7 B for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) depending on the color(s) of the image to be printed. 
   In  FIG. 2 , reference numeral  34  represents an operation panel having a display portion such as a liquid crystal panel mounted on a front side of the printer body  1 . The operation panel  34  is configured to display states of the printer and to allow required operation to be performed. 
   A developer storing container according to the present embodiment includes a supplied developer-storing member forming a supplied developer-storing portion for storing supplied developer, a collected developer-storing member forming a collected developer-storing portion for storing collected developer, and a partition member which is sandwiched by the supplied developer-storing member and the collected developer-storing member by connecting the supplied developer-storing member and the collected developer-storing member and which separates the supplied developer-storing portion and collected developer-storing portion from each other. 
   In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the developing devices  11 Y,  11 M,  11 C, and  11 B for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) include toner cartridges  13 Y,  13 M,  13 C, and  13 B as developer storing containers for supplying toner in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B), respectively. 
   The toner cartridges  13 Y,  13 M,  13 C, and  13 B for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) are removably mounted by mounting them in cartridge holders  41  at an opening  40  which is exposed on a side of the printer body  1  as shown in  FIG. 4  by opening an openable cover  100  provided on the side of the printer body  1 , the openable cover  100  being opened by pulling a handle  101  provided thereon with a hand to unlock a hook  101   a  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The toner cartridges  13 Y,  13 M,  13 C, and  13 B are basically the same in configuration except for the colors of the toner stored in them. 
   The cartridge holders  41  are rotabaly mounted with ends of arms  42  protruding as shown in  FIG. 4 , and the ends of the arms  42  are configured to engage portions  43  to be engaged provided on the openable cover  100 . The cartridge holders  41  rotate from the printer body  1  in conjunction with an operation of opening the openable cover  100  to a mounting/removing position. 
   The toner cartridges  13 Y,  13 M,  13 C, and  13 B are mounted in an operating position in the opening  40  of the printer body  11 , and handle members  129  provided on the toner cartridges  13 Y,  13 M,  13 C, and  13 B are operated to secure the cartridges. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  are external perspective views of a toner cartridge as a developer storing container according to the embodiment taken in different directions. 
   In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , reference numeral  13  represents the toner cartridge, and the toner cartridge  13  is configured as an elongated box which is substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The toner cartridge  13  includes a supplied toner-storing container  104  having a supplied toner-storing portion  102  serving as a supplied developer-storing portion for storing supplied developer constituted by fresh toner or a combination of fresh toner and a carrier. The cartridge also includes a collected toner-storing container  106  which is connected to one longitudinal end of the supplied toner-storing container  104  and which has a collected toner-storing portion  103  serving as a collected developer-storing portion for storing collected toner removed by the cleaning device  12  or collected toner or collected developer collected from the developing device  11 . In the present embodiment, collected toner removed by the cleaning device  12  is stored in the collected toner-storing portion  103 . The volume of the supplied toner-storing portion  102  is set greater than that of the collected toner-storing portion  103 . For example, the supplied toner-storing portion  102  is set to occupy about ¾ of the volume of the toner cartridge  13 . Obviously, the supplied toner-storing portion  102  may have a greater or smaller volume. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the supplied toner-storing portion  102  includes the supplied toner-storing container  104  that forms a part of the same. The supplied toner-storing container  104  is formed as an elongated box which is substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped and which has an opening  105  that entirely occupies the end face of the container  104  on the side of the collected toner-storing portion  103 . The collected toner-storing portion  103  includes the collected toner-storing container  106  that forms a part of the same. The collected toner-storing container  106  is formed as a substantially cubic box which has an opening  107  that entirely occupies the end face of the container  106  on the side of the supplied toner-storing portion  102 . It is desirable to form the supplied toner-storing portion  102  and the collected toner-storing portion  106  in the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and the substantially cubic shape in that a great amount of fresh toner and collected toner can be stored in spite of limited spaces to accommodate the portions. However, the invention is not limited to the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and the substantially cubic shape, and it is obvious that other shapes such as cylindrical shapes and polygonal shapes may alternatively be employed. 
   Further, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , a connecting portion  108  is provided at the end of the supplied toner-storing container  104  where the opening  105  is located, and a connecting portion  109  to be fitted to an inner circumference of the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  is provided at the end of the collected toner-storing container  106  where the opening  107  is located. 
   In the neighborhood of the opening of the supplied toner-storing container  104 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , the connecting portion  108 , which has a rectangular shape a size larger than a step portion  108   a , is formed around the outer circumference of an end portion  104   a  of the supplied toner-storing portion  102  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  formed with a substantially rectangular sectional shape, the step portion  108   a  intervening between the connecting portion and the end portion. The connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106  is formed in a rectangular shape smaller than the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  such that it will be fitted into the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104 . The inner circumference of the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  has a length substantially equal to the length of the outer circumference of the connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  has two small rectangular connection holes  132  provided at a predetermined interval on each of top and bottom surfaces thereof, the connecting holes being snap-fitted into engagement with the connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106  to connect the containers with each other. The connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106  has two small rectangular protrusions  133  provided on each of top and bottom surfaces thereof in association with the connection holes  132 , the protrusions being snap-fitted into engagement with the connection holes provided at the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  no connect the containers with each other. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a protrusion  133  is formed with an inclined surface  133   a  and is formed in a trapezoidal shape having a predetermined height at a rear end  133   b  of the protrusion. The connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106  is pushed into the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104 , and the protrusions  133  on the connection portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container are thereby engaged with the connection holes  132  on the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104 , which allows the containers to be snap-fitted and connected with each other. 
   The snap-fit connection between the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the collected toner-storing container  106  can be released by inserting the tip of a screw driver into the connection holes  132  on the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  and giving a twist to the screw driver, which allows the containers to be easily disassembled. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9A , the supplied toner-storing container  104  is formed to have a substantially rectangular sectional shape in the neighborhood of the opening  105 . Referring to a portion  110  of the container extending in the longitudinal direction thereof from the end opposite to the opening  105  to occupy about ⅔ of the container length, a side surface  110   a  at the bottom right of the portion is formed in an arcuate shape as shown in  FIG. 9B . At a longitudinal end of the side surface  110   a  formed in an arcuate shape, as shown in  FIG. 9C , a toner supply port  111  for supplying toner to the developing device  11  is provided. A square frame portion  112  is provided integrally with the toner supply port  111  so as to protrude outward from the port. Upper and lower edges  112   a  and  112   b  of the frame portion  112  constitute guide members for guiding a shutter  113  which will be described later. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a shutter  113  for closing and disclosing the toner supply port  111  is mounted on the upper and lower edges  112   a  and  112   b  of the frame portion  112  constituting guide members such that the shutter can be slid in the horizontal direction. A seal member  114  is disposed and bonded onto an inner surface of the shutter  113  as shown in  FIG. 7 , A driving piece  115  for moving the toner cartridge protrudes from the side surface  111   a  at the right bottom of the supplied toner-storing container  104  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the portion  110  of the container  104  extending in the longitudinal direction thereof from the end opposite to the opening  107   r  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 9C , a recess  116  is provided on a side surface at the top right part of the portion, the recess extending to occupy about ⅓ of the container length. 
   The supplied toner-storing container  104  and the collected toner-storing container  106  are connected to each other by fitting the connecting portion  108  provided around the opening  105  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  with the connecting portion  109  provided around the opening  107  of the collected toner-storing container  106  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 10 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the containers are separated from each other with a partition member  117  and sealing members  118  and  119  serving as leakage preventing members provided integrally with the partition member on both sides thereof. As a result, the supplied toner-storing portion  102  for storing supplied toner is formed inside the supplied toner-storing container  104 , and the collected toner-storing portion  103  for storing collected toner is formed inside the collected toner-storing container  106 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the partition member  117  is constituted by a planar and rectangular plate made of a synthetic resin. The seal members  118  and  119  in the form of planar and rectangular bands are formed along outer circumferential edges of surfaces of the partition member  117  facing the supplied toner-storing portion  102  and the collected toner-storing portion  103 , respectively, the seal members being formed integrally with the partition member  117 . In order to provide high sealing properties, the seal members  118  and  119  are formed by an elastic body such as silicon rubber. However, when operability in inserting the partition member  117  into the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  is considered, the seal members  118  and  119  must be prevented from directly contacting an inner wall of the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  to avoid generation of sliding resistance. For this reason, the length of the outer circumference of the partition member  117  is made smaller than the length of the inner circumference of the connecting portion  108  such that the member will not interfere with the connecting portion  108 . Referring to the seal members provided in the form of hands extending along the outer circumferential edge of the partition member  117  without covering up to the outer circumferential end of the same as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , although the seal member is preferably provided on both sides of the partition member  117 , the seal member may alternatively be provided on one side only. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the partition member  117  is formed with a hole constituting a cylindrical bearing portion  117   a  as an integral part thereof for pivotally supporting an agitator shaft  141  of an agitator  140  serving as an agitating member which will be described later. The cylindrical bearing portion  117   a  is formed such that a closed end of the same protrudes toward the collected toner-storing container  106 , and the closed end is formed to protrude toward the collected toner-storing portion  103  beyond the end of the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104 . Further, the bearing portion  117   a  of the partition member  117  also serves as a handle to allow the member to be gripped by a robot hand of an automatic assembling machine when the partition member  117  is mounted in the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  by the automatic assembling machine to assemble the toner cartridge  13 . Such a handle may be provided separately from the bearing portion  117   a.    
   The partition member  117  is partially or entirely made transparent as occasion demands to allow the agitator shaft  141  of the agitator  140  located inside the supplied toner-storing container  104  to be observed from outside when the partition member  117  is mounted in the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104 . The member may be semi-transparent as long as the agitator shaft  141  can be observed when it is mounted. 
   The outer circumferences of the connecting portions  108  and  109  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the collected toner-storing container  106  are covered by a tape  122  as shown in  FIG. 7  to form the toner cartridge  13  such that the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the collected toner-storing container  106  will not be separated from each other by mistake. The toner cartridge  13  can be easily disassembled by removing the tape  122 , which allows the cartridge to be easily recycled. 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , a circular collected toner introduction port  123  is formed on an end face of the collected toner-storing container  106 , and a duct seal  124  constituted by sponge for preventing the leakage of collected toner is secured by means of bonding or the like on the outer surface of the collected toner-storing container  106  where the collected toner introduction port  123  is provided. The duct seal  124  has a circular opening  125  having a diameter a size smaller than that of the collected toner introduction port  123 . A collected toner shutter  126  formed in a cylindrical shape is disposed in the collected toner  123  of the collected toner-storing container  106  such that it can be slid in the directions of protruding and retracting the same. The collected toner shutter  126  is urged by a shutter spring  127  in the direction of protruding the same. A tip  126   a  of the collected toner shutter  126  is fitted into the opening  125  of the duct seal  124  while the collected toner shutter  126  is being urged in the direction of protruding the same, which allows the collected toner introduction port  123  to be closed. 
   As will be described later, when the toner cartridge  13  is mounted in a predetermined position in the printer body  1 , a waste toner transport path  190  having a cylindrical shape provided at the printer body  1  is inserted into the collected toner introduction port  123 . By pushing the collected toner shutter  126  against the urging force of the shutter spring  127 , collected toner can be introduced from the waste toner transport path  190  in the printer body  1  into the collected toner-storing portion  103  in the toner cartridge  13 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a handle member  128  for mounting and securing the toner cartridge  13  in the predetermined position is mounted on the collected toner-storing container  106  such that it can be rotated about a fulcrum  129 . A spring portion  130  for urging the handle member  128  clockwise is integrally provided on an inner surface of the handle member  128 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a RAM  131  is detachably mounted on the bottom of the collected toner-storing container  106 , the RAM serving as storage means for storing data such as the color of the toner stored in the toner cartridge  13 , the serial number of the same, and the history of use of the toner cartridge  13 . The RAM  131  is connected to the printer body  1  through an electrical contact  131   a  when the toner cartridge  13  is mounted in the predetermined position in the printer body  1 . 
   An agitator  140  as an agitation/transportation member for transporting the supplied toner stored in the supplied toner-storing portion  102  while agitating the same is disposed in the supplied toner-storing portion  102  of the toner cartridge  13  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The agitator  140  is generally comprised of an agitator shaft  141  as a rotary shaft member and an agitator film  142  as a rotating blade member. For simplicity,  FIG. 10  shows the agitator film  142  in a stretched state. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the agitator  140  is rotated in a spirally deformed state of the same as a result of deflection of the agitator film  142  caused by contact of an end of the film with an inner surface of the supplied toner-storing portion  102 . The agitator is configured to gradually supply the toner stored in the supplied toner-storing portion  102  through the toner supply port  111  provided at an end of the supplied toner-storing portion  102  while agitating the supplied toner. 
   A tip part  141   a  of the agitator shaft  141  is elongated as shown in  FIG. 14 , and the tip portion  141   a  is inserted in a bearing hole  117   b  at the bearing portion  117   a  and rotatably supported in the same as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 15 , the agitator film  142  has insertion holes  150  and  151  and cuts  152  for inserting protrusions  146  and  147  on the agitator shaft  141  to mount the film. The film is also formed with slits  162 , a recess  160 , and cuts  161  for adjusting the amount of toner transported. 
   Further, as shown in  FIG. 16 , a drive gear  156  for rotating the agitator shaft  141  is mounted at a base end part of the agitator shaft  141  with a seal member  165  interposed. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the drive gear  156  is disposed outside the supplied toner-staring container  104  and at the end of the container opposite to the collected toner-storing container  106 . The drive gear  156  has a great diameter, and a gear part of the same protrudes outward from the recess  116  (see  FIG. 9C ) provided at a corner of the supplied toner-storing container  104 . 
   The agitator  140  is basically configured such that the agitator shaft  141  is rotated slowly at a predetermined angle at predetermined timing in order to control the amount of toner supplied from the toner supply port  111  adequately. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the toner cartridge  13  having the above-described configuration is mounted in a cartridge holder  41  at the printer body  1  with the openable cover  100  of the printer body  1  opened. The cartridge holder  41  is provided in the printer body  1  such that it can be rotated about a fulcrum  170  as shown in  FIG. 17 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , the cartridge holder  41  is in the form of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped which is open at an end thereof and which has a ceiling wall  171 , a bottom wall  172 , left and right sidewalls  173  and  174 , and a further wall  175  constituting a top surface, a bottom surface, left and right side surfaces, and an end face on the further side of the toner cartridge  13 , respectively. 
   As shown in  FIG. 17 , a substantially semi-circular recess  177  to be engaged with a substantially semi-circular protrusion  176  provided on the top and of the toner cartridge  13  is provided at the end of the ceiling wall  171  where the opening of the cartridge holder  41  is located. The protrusion  176  and the recess  177  are not limited to the substantially semi-circular shapes, and it is obvious that other shapes such as a planar V-like shape may alternatively be used. 
   As shown in  FIG. 18 , a columnar protrusion  179  to be engaged with an engaging portion  179  for regulating provided on the top end face of the toner cartridge  13  is provided on an inner surface of the ceiling wall  171  of the cartridge holder  41 . 
   The toner cartridge  13  is mounted by pushing it deep into the cartridge holder  41  as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 19 . Thereafter, the handle member  128  is gripped with a hand to slide the cartridge downward in  FIG. 19 , and the handle member  129  is then anchored by an anchoring portion, which is not shown, provided in the printer body  1  to stop the cartridge as shown in  FIG. 20 . In this state, the shutter member  113  of the toner cartridge  13  is opened to establish communication between the toner supply port  111  of the toner cartridge  13  and a toner introduction port  195  at the printer body  1 . At the same time, an end of the collected toner transport path  190  provided at the printer body  1  is connected to the toner collection port  125  of the toner cartridge  13 , and the drive gear  156  of the toner cartridge  13  engages a gear  191  provided at the printer body  1 . Reference numeral  100   a  in  FIG. 17  represents a fulcrum of the cover  100 . 
   An alternative configuration may be employed, in which the toner cartridge  13  is stopped with the further end of the cartridge abutting on one end of a lever  42  and in which the cartridge holder  41  is rotated in conjunction with the operation of closing the openable cover  100  to be mounted in a predetermined position in the printer body  1 , as shown in  FIG. 1-9 . 
   When the toner cartridge  13  is pushed to a predetermined position in the cartridge holder  41 , as shown in  FIG. 19 , a groove  180  provided at an end of the lever  42  engages a portion  43  to be engaged provided on the openable cover  100 . The lever  42  is mounted on the cartridge holder  41  to be rotatable about a fulcrum  181  in a state in which it is urged by a compression spring  182  in the direction of urging the same counterclockwise. The lever is configured such that the end of the same protrudes outward from an opening  183  provided on the cartridge holder  41 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 19 , the engaging portion  178  for regulation provided on the top end face of the toner cartridge  13  is engaged with the protrusion  179  provided on the inner surface of the ceiling wall  171  of the cartridge holder  41  to regulate the movement of the toner cartridge  13 . 
   When the toner cartridge  13  is pushed into the cartridge holder  41 , the protrusion  179  on the cartridge holder  41  is first located in a groove  178   a  of the engaging portion  178  for regulation. When the toner cartridge  13  is thereafter pushed to a predetermined position in the cartridge holder  41  to be mounted in the printer body  1 , the cartridge holder  41  rotates clockwise. In this state, since the protrusion  179  on the cartridge holder  41  moves along a groove  178   b  provided at the engaging portion  178  for regulation, the holder is restrained from movement in the direction of causing the toner cartridge  13  to protrude. 
   When the toner cartridge  13  is finally pushed to a predetermined position in the cartridge holder  41 , as shown in  FIG. 19 , the protrusion  179  on the cartridge holder  41  is located in a groove  178   c  at the engaging portion  178  for regulation, which allows the toner cartridge  13  to move in the protruding direction. 
   As shown in  FIG. 18 , the toner cartridge  13  is configured such that it is moved inside the cartridge holder  41  by a cartridge moving mechanism  184 . The cartridge moving mechanism  184  includes a ball screw  187  constituted by a threaded shaft  185  rotatably disposed in the printer body  1  and a nut portion  186  engaged with the threaded shaft  185 . A slit  189  on a driving portion  188  provided at the nut portion  186  is engaged with the driving piece  115  (see  FIG. 5 ) on the toner cartridge  13  to rotate the threaded shaft  185  in a direction A or direction B, whereby the nut portion  186  is moved in a direction C or direction D. Thus, the toner cartridge  13  can be moved. 
   When the toner cartridge  13  is moved by the cartridge moving mechanism  184 , as shown in  FIG. 20 , the waste toner transport path  190  having a cylindrical shape provided at the printer body  1  is connected to the waste toner collection port  123  provided on one end of the toner cartridge. 
   Further, when the toner cartridge  13  is moved to the position shown in  FIG. 20 , the driving gear  156  provided on the toner cartridge  13  engages a driving force transmitting gear  191  provided at the printer body  1 . Thus, a rotary driving force of a driving motor  193  provided at the printer body  1  is transmitted to the driving gear  156  of the toner cartridge  13  through an intermediate gear  192 . 
   When the toner cartridge  13  moves to the position shown in  FIG. 20 , the shutter member  113  closing the toner supply port  111  provided on a side of the toner cartridge  13  is opened to put the port in communication with a toner introduction port  195  of a toner transport member  194  provided at the printer body  1 . Thus, the toner to be supplied stored in the supplied toner-storing portion  105  of the toner cartridge  13  is supplied to the developing device  11  at the printer body  1  as shown in  FIG. 21 . 
   At predetermined timing, e.g., when the amount of toner collected in the cleaning device  11  reaches a predetermined value as a result of a printing operation as shown in  FIG. 2 , augers  196  and  197  provided at the printer body  1  for transporting collected toner are driven for rotation by a second driving motor  198  and gears  199  and  200  as shown in  FIG. 22 . Then, the collected toner is stored in the collected toner-storing portion  103  of the toner cartridge  13  through the waste toner transport path  190  which is formed by a cylindrical member disposed around the auger  197  for transporting collected toner. 
   In the toner cartridge utilizing the agitator according to the embodiment having the above-described configuration, the structure of the toner cartridge allows the supplied developer-storing portion and the collected developer-storing portion to be separated with the partition member by connecting the supplied developer-storing member and the collected developer-storing member as described below. As a result, the partition member can be disposed with high operability, and assembly and recycling of the cartridge can be performed with ease. 
   Specifically, when the toner cartridge  13  of the present embodiment is assembled, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 24 , the supplied toner-storing container  104  is substantially vertically set in an assembling apparatus, which is not shown, with the opening  105  facing upward, and the agitator shaft  141  is inserted in the supplied toner-storing container  104  through the opening  105 . At this time, the tip part  141   a  of the agitator shaft  141  protrudes in a predetermined amount from the top end of the supplied toner-storing portion  102 . Obviously, the agitator  140  may be mounted in the supplied toner-storing container  104  in advance before setting the toner cartridge  13  in the assembling apparatus. 
   Then, the supplied toner-storing container  104  is filled with a predetermined amount of fresh toner T supplied through the opening  105  using a toner filling machine as shown in  FIG. 25 . At this time, since the agitator  140  is accommodated in advance in the supplied toner-storing container  104  to partition the interior of the supplied toner-storing container  104  as shown in  FIG. 25 , the container is filled with the supplied toner such that the toner is stored on both sides of the agitator  140  as evenly as possible. 
   Thereafter, the partition member is mounted in the supplied toner-storing container  104  through the opening  105  as shown in  FIG. 26 . At this time, the agitator shaft  141  may be decentered because the container has been filled with the toner T with the shaft  141  cantilevered. Therefore, the partition member is mounted on the step portion  103   a  in the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  while gripping the bearing portion of the same formed in a cylindrical shape with the assembling machine to guide it to a right position with the tip part  141   a  of the agitator shaft  141  inserted in the bearing portion  117   a  of the partition member  117 . 
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 27 , the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the collected toner-storing container  106  are snap-fitted to be integrally connected with each other by engaging the connection holes  132  at the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  with the protrusions  133  at the connecting portion  109  of the container  106  with the connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106  inserted in the connecting portion of the supplied toner-storing container. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the partition member  117  is mounted so as to separate the supplied toner-storing portion  102  and the collected toner-storing portion  103  from each other, the partition member being sandwiched between the step portion  108   a  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106 . Thus, the supplied toner-storing portion  102  and the collected toner-storing portion  103  are sealed. 
   At this time, a double seal is provided by the step portion  108   a  and the connecting portion  108  at the supplied toner-storing portion and by the connecting portion  109  and the connecting portion  108  at the collected toner-staring portion. Further, the seal members  118  and  119  are provided integrally with the partition member  117  at the peripheries of the surfaces thereof facing the supplied toner-storing portion and the collected toner-storing portion, respectively. Therefore, the openings  105  and  107  of the supplied toner-storing portion and the collected toner-storing portion are reliably sealed by the seal members  118  and  119 . 
   Thereafter, the seal  122  is wound around the connecting portions of the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the collected toner-storing container  106  and a label L is applied thereon as shown in  FIG. 7 , which terminates the assembling step. As thus described, when the toner cartridge is assembled, it is possible to mount the agitator shaft  141 , to fill the cartridge with toner T, to dispose the partition member  117 , and to connect the collected toner-storing container from one direction. 
   When a used toner cartridge  13  as described above is recycled at a recycling process, the recycling process is carried out by performing the steps of the assembling process in reverse. 
   Specifically, the used toner cartridge  13  is disassembled, At the disassembling step, the seal  122  wound around the toner cartridge  13  is first removed; the cartridge is held with a hand or set in a disassembling device (not shown) with the collected toner-storing container  106  located at the bottom; the snap-fit connection between the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the collected toner-storing container  106  is released using a jig such as a screw driver as occasion demands; and the collected toner-storing container  106  is removed from the toner cartridge  13  as shown in  FIG. 29 . A cleaning step is then performed using an air brush as occasion demands to remove collected toner deposited in the collected toner-storing container  106 . 
   Then, the above-described assembling step is performed. Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 30 to 33 , the supplied toner-storing container  104  is substantially vertically set in the assembling device, which is not shown, with the opening  105  facing upward. At this time, the tip portion  141   a  of the agitator  141  protrudes in a predetermined amount from the top end of the supplied toner-storing portion  102 . 
   Then, as shown in  FIG. 31 , the supplied toner-storing portion  102  is filled with a predetermined amount of fresh toner T supplied through the opening  105  using a toner filling machine  210 . At this time, since the agitator  140  is accommodated in advance in the supplied toner-storing container  104  to partition the interior of the supplied toner-storing container  104  as shown in  FIG. 25 , the container is filled with the supplied toner such that the toner is stored on both sides of the agitator  140  as evenly as possible. 
   Thereafter, the partition member is mounted in the supplied toner-storing container  104  as shown in  FIG. 32 . At this time, the connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106  is mounted in the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  with the tip part  141   a  of the agitator shaft  141  inserted in the bearing portion  117   a  of the partition member  117  by gripping the bearing portion formed in a cylindrical shape of the partition member with the assembling device. 
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 33 , the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the collected toner-storing container  106  are snap-fitted to be integrally connected with each other by engaging the connection holes  132  at the connecting portion  108  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  with the protrusions  133  at the connecting portion  109  of the container  106  with the connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106  inserted in the connecting portion of the supplied toner-storing container. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the partition member  117  is mounted so as to separate the supplied toner-storing portion  102  and the collected toner-storing portion  103  from each other to seal them again, the partition member being sandwiched between the step portion  108   a  of the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the connecting portion  109  of the collected toner-storing container  106 . 
   Thereafter, a seal  122  is wound around the connecting portions of the supplied toner-storing container  104  and the collected toner-storing container  106  and a label L is applied thereon as shown in  FIG. 7 , which completes the recycling process. 
   At the recycling process, when there is deformation of, for example, the agitator film  142 , a step of replacing or repairing the agitator  140  may be added as occasion demands. 
   Although an automatic assembling machine is used in the present embodiment, the same steps may be performed manually. 
   The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.