Patent Publication Number: US-10310409-B2

Title: Cartridge with a first and second chamber and image forming apparatus containing the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 15/447,506 filed on Mar. 2, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and methods associated therewith. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When a developing agent is supplied to a developer of an image forming apparatus, a developing agent cartridge is provided in the image forming apparatus apart from a toner cartridge. 
     According to such a configuration, the image forming apparatus is required to have a relative large space therein to accommodate the various supplies. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view schematically illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a developer and peripheral components thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a cartridge. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along a line of F 5 -F 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating a part of a first transportation member. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a flow of process of a controller. 
         FIG. 8  is sectional view illustrating a cartridge of a first modification example. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view illustrating a cartridge of a second modification example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, according to one embodiment, a cartridge includes a case and a transportation member. The case includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a passage. The first chamber communicates with a discharging port and accommodates a developing agent. The second chamber is positioned distant from the discharging port compared to the first chamber and accommodates a toner. The passage allows the discharging port to communicate with the second chamber. The transportation member transports the toner, which is supplied from the second chamber to the passage, toward the discharging port. 
     Hereinafter, the cartridge and the image forming apparatus of the embodiment will be described with reference to drawings. Here, first, “front” and “rear” in the embodiment are defined. The “front” means a side closer than a center portion of an inside of an image forming apparatus  1  with respect to a user standing at a position where characters of a control panel  17  of the image forming apparatus  1  are shown normally. Meanwhile, the “rear” means a side distant from the center portion of the inside of the image forming apparatus  1  with respect to a user standing at a position where characters of the control panel  17  are shown normally. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a configuration example of the image forming apparatus  1  of the embodiment. For example, the image forming apparatus  1  is a complex machine (MFP: Multi Function Peripheral). However, the image forming apparatus  1  is not limited to an example described above, and may be a copy machine, a printer, or the like. 
     Here, first, an entire configuration of the image forming apparatus  1  will be described. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , for example, the image forming apparatus  1  is provided with a housing  11 , a scanner portion  12 , a paper feeding portion  13 , a printer portion  14 , a paper discharging portion  15 , a cartridge  16 , the control panel  17 , a storage portion  18 , and a controller  19 . 
     The housing  11  constitutes a contour of the image forming apparatus  1 . The housing  11  accommodates the scanner portion  12 , the paper feeding portion  13 , the printer portion  14 , the cartridge  16 , the storage portion  18 , and the controller  19 . 
     The scanner portion  12  reads image information of an original document as digital data. 
     The paper feeding portion  13  includes, for example, a paper feeding cassette  13   a  (or paper feeding tray), and a pickup roller  13   b . The paper feeding cassette  13   a  accommodates a sheet S. The pickup roller  13   b  transports the sheet S in the paper feeding cassette  13   a  toward the printer portion  14 . 
     The printer portion  14  forms an image on the sheet S based on image data. In the embodiment, for convenience of description, the printer portion  14  of a direct transfer manner is described as an example. However, a configuration of the embodiment can be applied for the image forming apparatus including a printer portion of an intermediate transfer manner. 
     The paper discharging portion  15  discharges the sheet S on which an image is formed by the printer portion  14 . 
     The cartridge  16  is a cartridge which is provided in the image forming apparatus  1 , for example, when providing the image forming apparatus  1  or replacing a developing agent. The cartridge  16  of the embodiment sequentially supplies a developing agent and a toner to the printer portion  14 . 
     The control panel  17  receives an input of various operation instructions. 
     The storage portion  18  stores various information items which are required for controlling the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The controller  19  controls the entire image forming apparatus  1 . For example, the controller  19  controls operations of the scanner portion  12 , the paper feeding portion  13 , the printer portion  14 , the cartridge  16 , the control panel  17 , and the storage portion  18 . 
     Next, a configuration of each portion of the image forming apparatus  1  will be described. 
     First, the housing  11  will be described. 
     The housing  11  includes a cartridge accommodating portion  21 , an opening portion  22 , and a cover  23 . 
     The cartridge accommodating portion  21  is in a space provided inside the housing  11 . In the cartridge accommodating portion  21 , the cartridge  16  is detachably accommodated. The cartridge accommodating portion  21  is an example of an “accommodating portion”. In addition, the cartridge accommodating portion  21  is capable of accommodating a general toner cartridge (cartridge supplying only toner), instead of the cartridge  16  (cartridge sequentially supplying developing agent and toner) of the embodiment. 
     In the cartridge accommodating portion  21 , a cartridge detecting sensor  26  and a cartridge driving portion  27  are provided (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
     The cartridge detecting sensor  26  detects the cartridge  16  when the cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21 . For example, when the cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21 , the cartridge detecting sensor  26  detects the cartridge  16  by being directly or indirectly in contact with the cartridge  16 . The cartridge detecting sensor  26  transmits a detected result of the cartridge detecting sensor  26  to the controller  19 . The cartridge detecting sensor  26  is an example of a “sensor”. 
     The cartridge driving portion  27  includes, for example, a coupling component (coupling component of main body side)  29  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) connected to the cartridge  16 , and a motor driving the coupling component  29 . When the cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21 , the coupling component  29  is connected to the cartridge  16 . The cartridge driving portion  27  drives first and second transportation members  43  and  44 , to be described later, of the cartridge  16  through the coupling component  29 . The cartridge driving portion  27  is a driving source provided on the outside of the cartridge  16 . The cartridge driving portion  27  is an example of a “driving portion”. 
     The opening portion  22  is provided on a part of a wall portion formed on a contour of the housing  11 . For example, the opening portion  22  is provided on a front wall  11   a  of the housing  11 . When the cover  23  to be described later is opened, the opening portion  22  exposes the cartridge accommodating portion  21  to the outside of the housing  11 . A user of the image forming apparatus  1  and an operator of maintenance (hereinafter, refer to as a “user, or the like”) can accommodate the cartridge  16  in the cartridge accommodating portion  21  through the opening portion  22 , or pulls out the cartridge  16  from the cartridge accommodating portion  21 . However, the opening portion  22  is not limited to providing in the front wall  11   a  of the housing  11 , and may be provided on aside wall, or the like of the housing  11 . 
     The cover  23  openably closes the opening portion  22 . For example, when the opening portion  22  is provided on the front wall  11   a  of the housing  11 , the cover  23  constitutes a part of the front wall  11   a  of the housing  11  by covering the opening portion  22 . 
     Next, the printer portion  14  will be described. 
     The printer portion  14  includes a transferring portion  14   a  and a fixing portion  14   b.    
     The transferring portion  14   a  includes an electrostatic charger  31 , a photoconductive drum  32 , a photosensitive unit  33 , a developer  34 , and a transferring roller  35 . The electrostatic charger  31  charges a surface of the photoconductive drum  32  with a predetermined potential. The photoconductive drum  32  is an image carrier. In the photoconductive drum  32 , a potential of a region irradiated with light is changed by applying light in a state in which a predetermined potential is given. The photosensitive unit  33  forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photoconductive drum  32  by irradiating the photoconductive drum  32  with a laser beam. The developer  34  forms a toner image corresponding to an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photoconductive drum  32  by supplying the toner to the surface of the photoconductive drum  32 . The transferring roller  35  transfers the toner image on the photoconductive drum  32  to the sheet S by applying a predetermined potential to the sheet S. 
     The fixing portion  14   b  fixes the toner image to the sheet S by heating and pressurizing the sheet S to which the toner image is transferred. 
     Here, the developer  34  of the embodiment will be described in detail. 
     The developer  34  of the embodiment accommodates a two-component developing agent as the developing agent. The two-component developing agent is a mixture of a magnetic carrier and a toner. The magnetic carrier is an iron powder or a polymer ferrite particle. The magnetic carrier applies a triboelectric charge to the toner. The developer  34  supplies the toner carried to the inside of the developer  34  to a surface of the photoconductive drum  32 . 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the developer  34  and peripheral components thereof. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the developer  34  is provided with a developer case  34   a , a first mixer  34   b , a second mixer  34   c , a developing roller  34   d , and a magnetic sensor  34   e . The developer case  34   a  is formed on a contour of the developer  34 . The first mixer  34   b  and the second mixer  34   c  stir the developing agent and the toner which are supplied from the cartridge  16  into the developer case  34   a . The developing roller  34   d  supplies the toner carried to the inside of the developer  34  to a surface of the photoconductive drum  32 . The magnetic sensor  34   e  detects a magnetic state (for example, strength of magnetic) of the developing agent inside the developer case  34   a . The magnetic sensor  34   e  is disposed, for example, under the first mixer  34   b . The magnetic sensor  34   e  detects the magnetic state of the developing agent stirred by the first mixer  34   b . The magnetic sensor  34   e  transmits a detected result of the magnetic sensor  34   e  to the controller  19 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the controller  19  is electrically connected to the scanner portion  12 , the paper feeding portion  13 , the printer portion  14 , the control panel  17 , the storage portion  18 , the cartridge detecting sensor  26 , the cartridge driving portion  27 , and the magnetic sensor  34   e  through an electrical connection passage such as a cable. 
     A part or the entirety of the controller  19 , for example, is a software functional portion being realized by executing a program (software component) stored in the storage portion  18  with a processor (hardware processor). Moreover, a part or the entirety of the controller  19  may be realized by a hardware, for example, a large scale integration (LSI), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or may be realized by a combination of a software functional portion and a hardware. 
     The storage portion  18  is formed of at least one of, for example, a hard disc drive (HDD), a flash memory, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a read only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM). 
     Next, the cartridge  16  of the embodiment will be described. 
     The cartridge  16  of the embodiment is a cartridge which supplies both of the developing agent and the toner to the developer  34 . For example, first, the cartridge  16  supplies the developing agent to the developer  34 , and then, supplies the toner to the developer  34  with time difference. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the cartridge  16  of the embodiment.  FIG. 4  illustrates the cartridge  16  in a posture in which the cartridge  16  is provided in the image forming apparatus  1 . Hereinafter, “up” and “down” in description of the embodiment are based on the posture of  FIG. 4 . 
     Here, an “X direction”, a “Y direction”, and a “Z direction” are defined. The X direction and the Y direction are directions along a horizontal plane. The X direction is a longitudinal direction of the cartridge  16 . The Y direction is a direction substantially orthogonal to the X direction. The Z direction is a substantially vertical direction. The Z direction is a direction substantially orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along a line of F 5 -F 5  of the cartridge  16  illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the cartridge  16  in a state before being provided in the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for example, the cartridge  16  is provided with a cartridge case  40 , a first sealing member  41 , a second sealing member  42 , the first transportation member  43 , the second transportation member  44 , an engaging mechanism  45 , and a coupling component (cartridge side coupling component)  46 . 
     The cartridge case  40  (hereinafter, simply refer to as the case  40 ) is formed on a contour of the cartridge  16 . The case  40  includes a first end portion  40   a  and a second end portion  40   b . The first end portion  40   a  is one end portion of the case  40  in an X direction. The first end portion  40   a  is an end portion toward the opening portion  22  of the housing  11  in a state in which the cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21 . In other words, the first end portion  40   a  is positioned close to the opening portion  22  (that is, close to cover  23 ) of the housing  11 , compared to the second end portion  40   b . Meanwhile, the second end portion  40   b  is positioned on a side opposite to the first end portion  40   a  in the X direction. 
     The case  40  includes the discharging port (dropping port)  50  which supplies the developing agent and the toner to the developer  34 . The discharging port  50  is provided under the case  40 . The discharging port  50  is opened to the outside of the case  40 . The discharging port  50  is positioned above of the developer  34  (for example, right above) in a state in which the cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). For example, the developing agent and the toner inside the cartridge  16  are supplied to the developer  34  by being freely dropped from the discharging port  50  toward the developer  34  with gravity. 
     The discharging port  50  is provided on the first end portion  40   a  of the case  40 . Therefore, the discharging port  50  is positioned closer to the opening portion  22  of the housing  11  than a second chamber  52  to be described later in a state in which the cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21 . Accordingly, a user, or the like who provides the cartridge  16  into the image forming apparatus  1  can check with eyes a position of the discharging port  50  with respect to the developer  34 , a supplying state of the developing agent from the discharging port  50  to the developer  34 , and the like, through the opening portion  22  of the housing  11 . 
     The case  40  is provided with an inner space J inside the case  40  as a space accommodating the developing agent and the toner. The inner space J includes a first chamber  51 , the second chamber  52 , and a passage  53 . 
     At least a part of the first chamber  51  is provided in the first end portion  40   a  of the case  40 . The first chamber  51  is connected to the discharging port  50  through the passage  53 . The first chamber  51  accommodates a developing agent which is a mixture of a magnetic carrier and a toner. For example, the first chamber  51  is provided above the discharging port  50  (for example, right above). Therefore, the developing agent inside the first chamber  51  is supplied from the discharging port  50  to the developer  34  by being freely dropped with gravity when the cartridge  16  is provided in the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     At least a part of the second chamber  52  is provided in the second end portion  40   b  of the case  40 . That is, the first chamber  51  and the second chamber  52  are positioned distant from each other at both end portions of the case  40  in the X direction. For example, a distance L 1  between the first chamber  51  and the second chamber  52  in the X direction is longer than a width W 1  of the first chamber  51  in the X direction (or a width W 2  of the second chamber  52  in the X direction). The second chamber  52  is positioned distant from the discharging port  50  compared to the first chamber  51 . The second chamber  52  accommodates a toner. That is, the second chamber  52  does not accommodate a magnetic carrier. 
     The passage  53  is provided along the X direction through the first end portion  40   a  and the second end portion  40   b  of the case  40 . The passage  53  is positioned under the first chamber  51  in the first end portion  40   a  of the case  40 , and is positioned above the discharging port  50 . The passage  53  is positioned under the second chamber  52  in the second end portion  40   b  of the case  40 . The passage  53  allows the second chamber  52  to communicate with the discharging port  50 . The toner supplied from the second chamber  52  to the passage  53  is transported toward the discharging port  50  by the first transportation member  43  to be described later through the inside of the passage  53 . The passage  53  is thinner than the first chamber  51  and the second chamber  52 . For example, a width H (height) of the passage  53  in a Z direction is smaller than a width H 1  of the first chamber  51  in the Z direction (or a width H 2  of the second chamber  52  in the Z direction). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the case  40  includes a partition wall  55  between the second chamber  52  and the passage  53 . The partition wall  55  partitions the second chamber  52  and the passage  53 . A communication port  56  is provided on the partition wall  55 . The communication port  56  allows the second chamber  52  to communicate with the passage  53 . A width W 5  of the communication port  56  in the X direction is shorter than a width W 2  of the second chamber  52  in the X direction. In addition, a distance L between the communication port  56  and the discharging port  50  in the X direction is longer than the width W 1  of the first chamber  51  in the X direction (or the width W 2  of the second chamber  52  in the X direction). 
     The first sealing member  41  is provided in the case  40 , and detachably blocks the discharging port  50 . In a state in which the first sealing member  41  is provided therein, the developing agent accommodated in the first chamber  51  is not leaked to the outside of the case  40  from the discharging port  50 . 
     The second sealing member  42  is provided in the case  40 , and detachably blocks the communication port  56 . In a state in which the second sealing member  42  is provided therein, the toner accommodated in the second chamber  52  is not leaked to the passage  53 . The second sealing member  42  is an example of a “partition member” which partitions between the second chamber  52  and the discharging port  50 . The second sealing member  42  includes a protrusion portion which protrudes to the outside of the case  40 . For example, a user, or the like can pull out the second sealing member  42  from the case  40  by pulling the protrusion portion. However, a position where the second sealing member  42  is provided is not limited to the example described above. For example, the second sealing member  42  may partition between the second chamber  52  and the discharging port  50  by being detachably provided at an arbitrary position between the second chamber  52  and the discharging port  50  (for example, arbitrary position inside passage  53 ). 
     Here, in the embodiment, a wall portion is absent between the first chamber  51  and the passage  53 . However, the case  40  may include a wall portion such as the partition wall  55  and an opening portion such as the communication port  56  between the first chamber  51  and the passage  53 . In this case, the opening portion may be detachably blocked by a sealing member such as the second sealing member  42 . 
     The first transportation member  43  is provided on the passage  53  along the X direction. The first transportation member  43  extends an inside of the passage  53  through the first end portion  40   a  and the second end portion  40   b  of the case  40 . For example, the first transportation member  43  is a transporting auger which transports the toner along the X direction. The first transportation member  43  transports the toner inside the passage  53  from the second end portion  40   b  toward the first end portion  40   a . For example, the first transportation member  43  transports the toner, which is supplied to the passage  53  from the second chamber  52 , toward the discharging port  50 . 
     Here,  FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating a part of the first transportation member  43 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , for example, the first transportation member  43  includes a screw. For example, a pitch p of the screw is 6 mm. That is, the first transportation member  43  moves the toner 6 mm toward the discharging port  50  by one time rotation. 
     When description continues back to  FIG. 5  again, the second transportation member  44  is provided on the second chamber  52  along the X direction. For example, the second transportation member  44  is a transporting auger which transports the toner along the X direction. The second transportation member  44  transports the toner inside the second chamber  52  toward the communication port  56 . For example, the second transportation member  44  includes the same screw as that of the first transportation member  43 . 
     The engaging mechanism  45  is provided on the second end portion  40   b  of the case  40 . The engaging mechanism  45  engages the first transportation member  43  with the second transportation member  44 . For example, the engaging mechanism  45  includes a gear which is connected to the first transportation member  43 , and a gear which is connected to the second transportation member  44 . Accordingly, the engaging mechanism  45  engages a rotation operation of the first transportation member  43  and a rotation operation of the second transportation member  44 . When such an engaging mechanism  45  is provided, the first transportation member  43  and the second transportation member  44  can be driven by one external driving source. 
     The coupling component  46  is connected to any one of the first transportation member  43 , the second transportation member  44 , and the engaging mechanism  45 . The coupling component  46  is connected to the coupling component  29  of the cartridge driving portion  27 . The coupling component  46  is driven and rotated by receiving power from the coupling component  29  of the cartridge driving portion  27 . If the coupling component  46  is rotated, the first transportation member  43  and the second transportation member  44  are rotated through the engaging mechanism  45 . Accordingly, the first transportation member  43  and the second transportation member  44  transport the toner in an inside of the cartridge  16 . 
     Here, a driving unit of the image forming apparatus  1  is disposed at a rear part of the image forming apparatus  1  from a viewpoint of noise, or the like. In the embodiment, the coupling component  46  of the cartridge  16  is also provided closer to the second end portion  40   b  of the case  40  than the first end portion  40   a  of the case  40 . Accordingly, the coupling component  46  of the cartridge  16  can be connected to the coupling component  29  of a main body side which is provided as a part of the driving unit of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     Next, action of the cartridge  16  and an operation example of the controller  19  of the image forming apparatus  1  which is related to the action of the cartridge  16  will be described. 
     The cartridge  16  is provided in the image forming apparatus  1  when the image forming apparatus  1  is provided or the developing agent is replaced. The cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21  of the housing  11  in a state in which the first sealing member  41  and the second sealing member  42  are removed from the case  40 . When the cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21 , the developing agent accommodated in the first chamber  51  is supplied from the discharging port  50  to the developer  34  by being freely dropped. In the embodiment, the second chamber  52  is positioned distant from the discharging port  50  compared to the first chamber  51 . Therefore, the toner accommodated in the second chamber  52  is not moved to the passage  53  and does not reach the discharging port  50 . As a result, the toner accommodated in the second chamber  52  is not supplied to the developer  34 . Accordingly, the developing agent being supplied to the developer  34  can be maintained in a magnetic state the same as a state in which the agent is accommodated in the first chamber  51  (that is, a ratio of the magnetic carrier and the toner can be maintained). 
     Here, the developing agent inside the first chamber  51  of the cartridge  16  is adjusted in advance so that the ratio of the magnetic carrier and the toner falls within at an appropriate range. The controller  19  receives an initial value (for example, initial value of strength of magnetic) of the magnetic state of the developing agent detected by the magnetic sensor  34   e  from the magnetic sensor  34   e , when the developing agent inside the developer  34  is replaced. Also, the controller  19  sets a threshold of the magnetic state for starting supply of the toner from the cartridge  16  to the developer  34 , when the toner is reduced in accordance with a use of the image forming apparatus  1  based on the initial value of the magnetic state of the developing agent. The threshold is a value greater than an initial value of the magnetic state of the developing agent by a value (or ratio) set in advance. The controller  19  controls the cartridge driving portion  27  so that the toner is supplied from the cartridge  16  to the developer  34 , when a value indicating the magnetic state of the developing agent periodically detected by the magnetic sensor  34   e  exceeds the threshold. 
     In addition, when the cartridge  16  is provided in the image forming apparatus  1 , the controller  19  of the embodiment controls the cartridge driving portion  27  in order to start driving of the first and second transportation members  43  and  44  of the cartridge  16  after a preset time elapses from a timing when the cartridge  16  is detected by the cartridge detecting sensor  26 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a flow of process. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the cartridge detecting sensor  26  detects the cartridge  16  when the cartridge  16  is provided in the image forming apparatus  1  at the time of providing the image forming apparatus  1 , replacing the developing agent, or the like (Act A 11 ). 
     Next, regarding driving of the cartridge driving portion  27 , the controller  19  waits without driving the cartridge driving portion  27 , until a predetermined preset time elapses from a timing of receiving a signal indicating detection of the cartridge  16  by the cartridge detecting sensor  26  (Act A 12 ). For example, the predetermined time is set as a sufficient time for supplying at least a certain amount of the developing agent, which is accommodated in the first chamber  51  of the cartridge  16 , to the developer  34  by being freely dropped. For example, the controller  19  may receive information relating to the initial value of the magnetic state of the developing agent detected by the magnetic sensor  34   e  during the predetermined time (during waiting). Also, the controller  19  may set the threshold for starting a supply of the toner from the cartridge  16  to the developer  34  based on the initial value of the magnetic state of the developing agent detected by the magnetic sensor  34   e  during the predetermined time. The threshold set by the controller  19  is stored in the storage portion  18 . Accordingly, the controller  19  is capable of acquiring the initial value of the magnetic state of the developing agent in a state in which the toner from the second chamber  52  is not mixed, and setting the threshold. 
     Moreover, a timing when the controller  19  acquires information relating to the initial value of the magnetic state of the developing agent and a timing when the controller  19  sets the threshold are not limited to an example described above, and a timing after the predetermined time elapses may be used. This is because the second chamber  52  and the discharging port  50  are distant from each other, and the toner does not reach the discharging port  50  immediately even when the predetermined time elapses and the cartridge driving portion  27  starts to be driven. 
     Also, the controller  19  starts to drive the cartridge driving portion  27  after the predetermined time elapses from a timing of receiving a signal indicating detection of the cartridge  16  by the cartridge detecting sensor  26  (Act A 13 ). Accordingly, by rotating the first transportation member  43 , the developing agent remained in the first chamber  51  and the passage  53  is supplied from the discharging port  50  to the developer  34 . 
     Here, when a distance between the second chamber  52  and the discharging port  50  in the X direction is set to L, transportation distance per one second of the first transportation member  43  is set to M, and L/M is set to T (however, L and M are an arbitrary number), if the cartridge driving portion  27  is initially driven after the cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21 , the controller  19  stops the cartridge driving portion  27  at least once, before T seconds elapses from starting driving of the cartridge driving portion  27  (Act A 14 ). In the embodiment, an example of the distance between the second chamber  52  and the discharging port  50  in the X direction is 200 mm or more. The rotation speed of the first transportation member  43  is 50 rpm. In addition, the transportation distance per one rotation of the first transportation member  43  is 6 mm. Therefore, the transportation distance M per one second of the first transportation member  43  is 5 mm. Therefore, T is 40 seconds. In the embodiment, the controller  19  stops the cartridge driving portion  27  after 30 seconds elapses from starting driving of the cartridge driving portion  27 . Accordingly, during dropping of the developing agent, a possibility that the toner reaches the discharging port  50  can be further reduced. Here, “the distance between the second chamber  52  and the discharging port  50  in the X direction” in the description may be switched to “the distance between the communication port  56  and the discharging port  50  in the X direction”. 
     Also, if the toner inside the developer  34  in accordance with a use of the image forming apparatus  1  is reduced, and a value of the magnetic state of the developing agent periodically detected by the magnetic sensor  34   e  excesses the threshold, the controller  19  controls the cartridge driving portion  27  so that the toner is supplied from the cartridge  16  to the developer  34 . Accordingly, the toner supplied from the second chamber  52  to the passage  53  is transported by the first transportation member  43  and reaches the discharging port  50 . Also, the toner is supplied from the discharging port  50  to the developer  34 . 
     According to such a configuration described above, size reduction and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus  1  can be achieved. That is, in the embodiment, the cartridge  16  includes the case  40  and the first transportation member  43 . The case  40  includes the first chamber  51  which communicates with the discharging port  50  and accommodates the developing agent, the second chamber  52  which accommodates the toner and is positioned distant from the discharging port  50  compared to the first chamber  51 , and the passage  53  which allows the discharging port  50  to communicate with the second chamber  52 . The first transportation member  43  transports the toner, which is supplied from the second chamber  52  to the passage  53 , toward the discharging port  50 . According to such a configuration, the developing agent and the toner can be sequentially supplied to the image forming apparatus  1  by one cartridge  16 . Accordingly, the toner cartridge and the developing agent cartridge are not required to be separately provided in the image forming apparatus  1 , and thus an inner space of the image forming apparatus  1  can be reduced. Accordingly, size reduction and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus  1  can be achieved. Further, according to the configuration described above, using a relative simple configuration, the cartridge  16  which sequentially supplies the developing agent and the toner to the image forming apparatus  1  can be realized. Accordingly, the cartridge  16  can also achieve low costs. 
     In the embodiment, the discharging port  50  of the cartridge  16  is disposed on a front part of the image forming apparatus  1  from a viewpoint of visibility. Meanwhile, the coupling component  46  of the cartridge  16  corresponds to a position where the driving unit of the image forming apparatus  1  is disposed and is disposed on a rear part of the image forming apparatus  1 . Therefore, the cartridge  16  is formed in a relative elongated shape from the front part through to the rear part of the image forming apparatus  1 . Meanwhile, an amount of the developing agent required for the developer  34  is smaller than a capacity of the cartridge  16  from the front part through to the rear part of the image forming apparatus  1 . Here, in the embodiment, if the first chamber  51  and the second chamber  52  are provided using a size of the cartridge  16  from the front part through to the rear part of the image forming apparatus  1 , and both the developing agent and the toner are accommodated. 
     Hitherto, an example of the cartridge  16  and the image forming apparatus  1  of the embodiment will be described, but the embodiment is not limited to an example described above. For example, an operation example of the controller  19  is not limited to the example described above. The controller  19  receives a signal indicating that the cartridge  16  is detected by the cartridge detecting sensor  26 , and then the first and second transportation members  43  and  44  of the cartridge  16  may start to be driven immediately. Even in such a case, since the second chamber  52  of the case  40  is positioned distant from the discharging port  50 , the developing agent is firstly supplied to the developer  34 . In addition, when the controller  19  receives a signal indicating that the cartridge  16  is detected by the cartridge detecting sensor  26 , and then the first and second transportation members  43  and  44  of the cartridge  16  starts to be driven immediately, the cartridge driving portion  27  may be stopped before T seconds elapses from starting driving of the cartridge driving portion  27 . In such a case, even when the cartridge  16  is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion  21 , and then the first and second transportation members  43  and  44  of the cartridge  16  starts to be driven immediately, discharge of the toner by the discharging port  50  can be suppressed. 
     In addition, some modification examples of the embodiment will be described later. Moreover, the other configurations in each modification example to be described later are the same as that of the embodiment. Therefore, the same numerals are given to configuration having the same or similar functions, and overlapping description thereof will be omitted. 
     First Modification Example 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the cartridge  16  of a first modification example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the cartridge  16  of the modification example includes a third sealing member  61 , in addition to the first sealing member  41  and the second sealing member  42 . The third sealing member  61  is positioned at an arbitrary position inside the passage  53 , and blocks the passage  53  between the first chamber  51  and the second chamber  52 . Moreover, here, meaning of “blocks” described here also includes a case in which only a part region of an opening section of the passage  53  is blocked, in addition to a case the entire opening section of the passage  53  is blocked. For example, the third sealing member  61  is provided at a position closer to the first chamber  51  than the second chamber  52  in the passage  53 . For example, the third sealing member  61  is disposed at a vicinity position of the first chamber  51 . When the third sealing member  61  is provided, it is possible that the developing agent accommodated in the first chamber  51  is moved toward the second end portion  40   b  of the case  40  inside the passage  53 . 
     Second Modification Example 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the cartridge  16  of a second modification example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the cartridge  16  of the modification example includes an inclined bottom surface  71  provided in the second chamber  52  instead of the second transportation member  44 . The inclined bottom surface  71  is inclined with respect to a vertical surface so as to become lower as the surface comes closer to the communication port  56 . The toner accommodated in the second chamber  52  is guided to the communication port  56  by the inclined bottom surface  71 . According to such a configuration, the second transportation member  44  can be omitted. 
     According to at least one of embodiments described above, since the second chamber which accommodates the toner is provided distant from the discharging port compared to the first chamber which accommodates the developing agent, the developing agent and the toner can be sequentially supplied by one cartridge. Accordingly, size reduction of the image forming apparatus can be achieved. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms, furthermore various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and there equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.