Patent Abstract:
A material supplying container comprises: a plurality of containers each of which contains a material; a plurality of supply openings respectively formed correspondingly to said plurality of containers; and a plurality of seal members that respectively close said supply openings, wherein said plurality of supply openings can be opened by simultaneously operating said plurality of seal members.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    (i) Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a material supplying container which is used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, a complex machine of these factors, etc. which forms an image on a recording medium such as recording paper, employing electro photographic system. 
         [0003]    (ii) Related Art 
         [0004]    The image forming apparatus employing the electro photographic system such as a copying machine and a printer is so constructed that an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductive drum, for example, is developed with a developer (toner) by a developing device to form a toner image, and this toner image is transferred to a recording medium such as recording paper to be fixed thereon. 
         [0005]    Developing system in the developing device to be employed in the image forming apparatus of the above described type includes one-component developing system in which magnetic toner is used, and two-component developing system in which two-component developer containing toner and magnetic carrier mixed is used. Recently, particularly in a color image forming apparatus, the two-component developing system in which color toner not containing magnetic particles is used is a mainstream. 
         [0006]    In whichever developing device of the one-component developing system or the two-component developing system, it is necessary to provide a structure for replenishing the toner which will be consumed along with formation of images. 
         [0007]    Generally, replenishment of the toner is performed by using a developer container (a toner cartridge) which is detachably mounted on the developing device. 
         [0008]    The toner cartridge is provided with an opening for supplying the toner to the developing device. The opening is closed by a seal member to contain the toner in the toner cartridge. 
         [0009]    The seal member which closes the opening is so constructed that the opening can be opened by operation from the exterior, after the toner cartridge has been mounted on the developing device. In this manner, the toner can be prevented from scattering, when it is supplied to the developing device. 
         [0010]    As the seal member for this purpose, use of a seal tape is known. In a structure where the seal tape is used, the seal tape is bonded to the toner cartridge so as to cover the opening, and folded back at one end of the opening in a longitudinal direction to be returned to the other end side, so that a distal end of the seal tape is projected outward. Accordingly, by pulling the tip end which is projected outward, the seal tape will be removed from a depth in the toner cartridge, whereby the opening can be opened. 
         [0011]    As the seal tape, a so-called heat seal is used in many cases. The heat seal is made of a resin tape as a substrate having a fusible layer which will be fused by heat formed on its one face, and when the fusible layer is heated and pressurized with a hot plate or the like, the fusible layer will be fused and bonded to an objective position (the opening). 
         [0012]    Moreover, as another system for replenishing the toner, there has been known an image forming apparatus which is so constructed that an image forming unit (a so-called process cartridge) in which a developing device having a toner storage container and a photoconductive drum are integrally incorporated can be exchanged as a whole. The image forming unit is detachably mounted on a main body of the image forming apparatus. Generally, in the image forming unit, components of other mechanisms related to electro photographic process to be disposed around the photoconductive drum are also integrally incorporated. 
         [0013]    Even in the image forming unit as described above, a toner containing room which contains the toner is shut from the developing device by the seal member so that the toner can be prevented from leaking outside through the developing device during transportation or so. As the seal member, the structure using the above described seal tape is employed in many cases, so that opening operation can be done from outside of the image forming unit. In order to exchange the image forming unit, a new image forming unit with its seal member removed will be mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. Because the seal member isolates the toner containing room from the developing device in the image forming unit, the toner will not be scattered immediately, when the seal member is removed to do the mounting work. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0014]    According to the invention, there is provided a material supplying container comprising: a plurality of containers each of which contains a material; a plurality of supply openings respectively formed correspondingly to said plurality of containers; and a plurality of seal members that respectively close said supply openings, wherein said plurality of supply openings can be opened by simultaneously operating said plurality of seal members. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figure, wherein 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic structural view showing an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic structural view showing the image forming apparatus in a state where a front cover is opened; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a process cartridge; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along a line A-A in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a lower housing; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a sub housing as seen from a diagonally front side; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an upper housing in a state inverted upside down; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an end part of the upper housing; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an end part of the lower housing; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the end parts in a state where the upper housing has been assembled to the lower housing; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an outer appearance of a holding member in a state not locked to sealing tapes; and 
           [0027]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  are sectional views showing operation of the holding member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Now, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in detail, referring to the attached drawings. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a schematic structural view showing an image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a schematic structural view showing the image forming apparatus in a state where a front cover thereof is opened. 
         [0030]    An image forming apparatus  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  is of a so-called tandem type in which process cartridges  30  ( 30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K) of four colors are vertically arranged in a main body  10   a . A conveying path  12  for conveying recording paper P to respective positions corresponding to the process cartridges  30  substantially vertically from below to above is arranged. Further below (at an upstream side) the process cartridge  30 Y in the lowermost stage (the most upstream), there is provided a paper supply cassette  13  for storing sheets of the recording paper P which are conveyed along the conveying path  12  so that toner images may be sequentially transferred thereon. 
         [0031]    The process cartridges  30  ( 30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K) are successively arranged in order of the process cartridge  30 Y which forms a toner image of yellow (Y), the process cartridge  30 M which forms a toner image of magenta (M), the process cartridge  30 C which forms a toner image of cyan (C), and the process cartridge  30 K which forms a toner image of black (K), from an upstream side (a lower side in the drawings) of the conveying path  12 . These process cartridges  30  have substantially the same structure except the color of the toner, and will be described hereunder as “the process cartridge  30 ”, unless they need to be described separately. The process cartridge  30  integrally incorporates a photoconductive drum (an image holding body)  14 , and various devices for electrophotographic process which are successively arranged around the photoconductive drum  14 , into a cartridge. When the toner contained therein has been consumed, the whole process cartridge  30  will be exchanged for a new one. This process cartridge  30  in this exemplary embodiment corresponds to a material supplying container and an image forming unit according to the invention, and its structure will be fully described below. 
         [0032]    On the other side of the conveying path  12  interposing the process cartridges  30 , there is provided an exposing device  15  which is common to all the process cartridges  30 . This exposing device  15  will light on four semiconductor lasers which are not shown, according to image data corresponding to the four colors. Then, the lights from these four semiconductor lasers are subjected to polarity scanning by a polygon mirror which is not shown, and introduced to exposure points on the photoconductive drums  14  by way of an fθ lens and a plurality of reflective mirrors which are not shown, whereby optical images are formed on the photoconductive drums  14 . 
         [0033]    A conveying belt  16  which circularly moves along the conveying path  12  is arranged at positions corresponding to the photoconductive drums  14  of the respective process cartridges  30 . This conveying belt  16  is formed of a belt material which can electrostatically suck the recording paper P, and stretched around a drive roller  17 A and a driven roller  17 B in a pair. Moreover, a suction roller  18  for enabling the conveying belt  16  to electrostatically suck the recording paper P is provided on the conveying path  12 . 
         [0034]    Transfer rollers  19  are respectively provided on a back face side of the conveying belt  16  corresponding to the photoconductive drums  14  of the respective process cartridges  30 . These transfer rollers  19  are provided for the purpose of bringing the recording paper P on the conveying belt  16  into tight contact with the photoconductive drums  14  there by to transfer the toner images formed on the photoconductive drums  14  to the recording paper P. 
         [0035]    A fixing device  20  is provided on the conveying path  12  further above the process cartridge  30 K (at a downstream side) in the uppermost stage (the most downstream). A paper discharge part  21  for receiving the recording paper P which has been discharged with the toner image fixed thereon by the fixing device  20  is provided in an upper part of the main body  10   a  integrally therewith. The main body  10   a  is further provided with a reverse conveying path  22  for conveying the recording paper P whose one face has been fixed by the fixing device  20  again to the conveying path  12 , after it has been reversed upside down. 
         [0036]    The main body  10   a  of the image forming apparatus  10  is provided with a front cover  25  which can be rotated around a rotation journal J provided at its lower end, as shown in  FIG. 2 . This front cover  25  serves as an exterior cover in cooperation with the main body  10   a  in a closed state. Specifically, the front cover  25  constitutes a side wall part of the image forming apparatus  10  at a front side thereof, above the paper supply cassette  13 . 
         [0037]    The conveying belt  16 , the drive roller  17 A, the driven roller  17 B, the suction roller  18 , the transfer rollers  19  and the reverse conveying path  22  are attached to the front cover  25 . Accordingly, when the front cover  25  is opened, these components will be separated from the main body  10   a  following the opening motion. In this manner, by opening the front cover  25 , the process cartridges  30  will be exposed, and easy access of the user to the conveying path  12  can be obtained. 
         [0038]    In this exemplary embodiment, the respective process cartridges  30  are detachably mounted on the main body  10   a  in a substantially horizontal direction, as exemplified by the process cartridge  30 K in  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, by opening the front cover  25 , it will be possible to conduct mounting and detaching operations of the process cartridges  30 . In addition, set detection sensors which are not shown will detect conditions of the respective process cartridges  30  when they are set, and will output results of the detection to a control device which is not shown. 
         [0039]    In this manner, the process cartridges  30  can be exposed and exchanged, by opening the front cover  25 . Moreover, clogged paper can be removed (jam clear) in a state where the photoconductive drums  14  are exposed. 
         [0040]    The image forming apparatus  10  having the above described structure will be operated as follows to conduct image forming process. 
         [0041]    As a first step, image data will be inputted into the image forming apparatus  10  from an image reading device (a scanner) or a computer which is not shown. After a determined image process has been performed on the image data using an image processing device which is not shown, the data will be outputted to the exposing device  15 , as the image data of the respective colors (Y M C K). 
         [0042]    According to the inputted image data of the respective colors, the exposing device  15  will irradiate exposing beams which are emitted from the respective semiconductor lasers, to the photoconductive drums  14  of the process cartridges  30 . In the respective process cartridges  30 , the electrostatic latent images which have been formed by exposure on the photoconductive drums  14  will be developed with toners of the respective colors thereby to be formed into toner images. 
         [0043]    Then, in the transfer parts which are in contact with the respective transfer rollers  19 , the toner images formed on the respective photoconductive drums  14  of the process cartridges  30  will be successively superposed and transferred to a recording paper P which is supplied from a paper supply part  26  in the paper supply cassette  13  in a state sucked to the conveying belt  16  by an action of the suction roller  18 . 
         [0044]    The recording paper P to which the toner images have been electrostatically transferred will be conveyed to the fixing device  20 , while the recording paper P is electrostatically sucked to the conveying belt  16 . After the toner images have been fixed by fixing process with heat and pressure in the fixing device  20 , the recording paper P will be discharged to the paper discharge part  21  which is provided in the upper part of the image forming apparatus  10 . In this manner, a series of the image forming process will be completed. 
         [0045]    Now, each of the process cartridges  30  will be described in detail. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of the process cartridge  30 , and  FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the same, taken along a line A-A in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0047]    The process cartridge  30  in this exemplary embodiment has an outer shape of a flat rectangular parallelopiped, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The process cartridge  30  is generally divided in two, namely, an upper stage and a lower stage. A space for an optical path which the exposing beam from the exposing device  15  passes through is formed between the upper and lower stages. 
         [0048]    The process cartridge  30  is provided with the photoconductive drum  14 , an electrifying device  31 , a developing device  32 , a diselectrifying device  33 , and a cleaning device  34 . The process cartridge  30  is further provided with a sub toner replenishing unit  35  and a handle  36 . 
         [0049]    The cleaning device  34  and the sub toner replenishing unit  35  are mounted on the upper stage, while the developing device  32  is mounted on the lower stage. The photoconductive drum  14  and the electrifying device  31  are positioned between the upper and lower stages. 
         [0050]    In the following description, an axial direction of the photoconductive drum  14  is referred to as a lateral direction, a horizontal direction perpendicular to the axial direction is referred to as a longitudinal direction, and a direction perpendicular to both the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction is referred to as a vertical direction. 
         [0051]    The photoconductive drum  14  is rotatably mounted, and will be rotated by a drive motor, which is not shown, in a direction as shown by an arrow mark in  FIG. 4 . A photosensitive layer is formed on an outer peripheral face of the photoconductive drum  14 , although not shown in the drawings. The electrifying device  31 , the developing device  32 , the diselectrifying device  33 , and the cleaning device  34  are arranged around the photoconductive drum  14  along the direction of its rotation which is shown by the arrow mark in  FIG. 4 . Along with the rotation of the photoconductive drum  14 , the electrifying device  31  will electrify the photosensitive layer on the peripheral face, and the developing device  32  will develop the electrostatic latent image which has been formed by the aforesaid exposing device  15  thereby to form the toner image. The diselectrifying device  33  will erase electrification history of the photosensitive layer, after the toner image has been transferred to the recording paper, and the cleaning device  34  will mechanically remove the toner which remains on the photosensitive layer. 
         [0052]    Structures of the respective mechanisms in the process cartridge  30  will be described below. 
         [0053]    The electrifying device  31  includes an electrifying roll  31   a  which is arranged in contact with the photoconductive drum  14 , and an electrifying cleaner  31   b  which is arranged in contact with the electrifying roll  31   a . The electrifying roll  31   a  is rotatably mounted, and will be rotated following the rotation of the photoconductive drum  14 . An electrifying bias for electrifying the photoconductive drum  14  to a determined potential (negative in this exemplary embodiment) will be applied to the electrifying roll  31   a  from a power supply which is not shown. The electrifying cleaner  31   b  includes a roll member or a brush member or the like which can be rotated, and will be rotated following the rotation of the electrifying roll  31   a . The electrifying cleaner  31   b  will remove foreign substances such as the toner which has been transferred from the photoconductive drum  14  and adhered to the electrifying roll  31   a.    
         [0054]    The diselectrifying device  33  includes a transparent rod member  33   a  extending in the axial direction of the photoconductive drum  14 , a frame  33   b  which holds the rod member  33   a , and an LED (not shown) which is opposed to an end face of the rod member  33   a  in the axial direction. The rod member  33   a  is formed of plastic, for example, and provided with a plurality of grooves on its outer peripheral face in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. 
         [0055]    The cleaning device  34  includes a cleaning blade  34   a , a bracket  34   b , and a toner recovering mechanism  34   c . The cleaning blade  34   a  is a strip-shaped member which is mounted along the axial direction of the photoconductive drum  14 , and formed of urethane rubber or the like, for example. The cleaning blade  34   a  is arranged in pressure contact with the photoconductive drum  14  in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the photoconductive drum  14 . The cleaning blade  34   a  is fixed to a housing of the cleaning device  34  by way of the bracket  34   b . The toner recovering mechanism  34   c  includes an arm  34   e  which is arranged so as to rotate around an axis  34   d , and a scraping member  34   f  which is attached to a free end of the arm  34   e.    
         [0056]    The sub toner replenishing unit  35  includes a first sub agitator  35   b  and a second sub agitator  35   c  provided in a sub toner containing room  35   a  which contains the toner. This sub toner replenishing unit  35  is connected to a main toner replenishing unit  60  by way of a connecting passage  66 . The connecting passage  66  is disposed in a backward position of the process cartridge  30  in the drawing so as not to interfere with the optical path of the exposing beam from the exposing device  15 . 
         [0057]    The handle  36  will enhance operability of the user when the process cartridge  30  is mounted or exchanged, and at the same time, has a function of securing the process cartridge  30  at a determined position, through oscillating operation. 
         [0058]    Then, the developing device  32  will be described in detail. The developing device  32  is contained in a housing  41  having an opening  42  at a position opposed to the photoconductive drum  14 , and includes a developing unit  40  for developing with the toner the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum  14 , and the main toner replenishing unit  60  for replenishing the toner to the developing unit  40  which are integrally provided in a horizontal direction. The above described sub toner replenishing unit  35  also constitutes a part of the developing device  32 , and will replenish the toner to the main toner replenishing unit  60 , as will be described below. It is to be noted that this developing device  32  is of the two-component developing system in which developer containing toner and carrier is used. 
         [0059]    In this exemplary embodiment, the developing unit  40  is positioned diagonally below the photoconductive drum  14 , and the opening  42  formed in the housing  41  is directed upward. 
         [0060]    The housing  41  includes a lower housing  41   a , an upper housing  41   b  fitted to the lower housing  41   a , and a sub housing  41   c  which is fitted to both the lower housing  41   a  and the upper housing  41   b  inside the lower and upper housings. 
         [0061]    A toner replenishing room  64  is formed between the sub housing  41   c  and an upper face of the lower housing  41   a . A partition wall  61   a  which is formed upright on the upper face is engaged with a lower face of the upper housing  41   b , whereby an interior of the housing  41  is divided into the developing unit  40  (an agitation area  47 ) and the main toner replenishing unit  60  (a toner containing room  61 ). 
         [0062]    Moreover, a developer room  70  is formed below a lower face of the upper housing  41   b  and adjacent to the partition wall  61   a  at a side of the developing unit  40 . This developer room  70  is defined by two wall plates  41   d  which are suspended at a determined distance in the longitudinal direction and side plates  41   e  (See  FIG. 7  which will be described below) at both ends in the lateral direction, and projected in a shape of rectangular frame. The developer room  70  is positioned above the agitation area  47  and opens downward (an opening  71 ). This developer room  70  in this exemplary embodiment corresponds to one of containers which contain material, and one of a first or second powdery material containing parts according to the invention. The opening  71  corresponds to a supply opening according to the invention. 
         [0063]    The developing unit  40  includes a developing roll  43 , a pair of augers (a supply auger  44  and an agitation auger  45 ), and a film thickness regulating member  50 . 
         [0064]    The developing roll  43  is attached to a position opposed to the opening  42  of the housing  41 . The developing roll  43  includes a magnet roll  43   a  which is fixed inside, and a developing sleeve  43   b  which is rotatably fitted to an outer peripheral face of the magnet roll  43   a . A determined developing bias is applied to the developing sleeve  43   b  from a power supply which is not shown. The developing sleeve  43   b  is driven to rotate by a drive mechanism which is not shown. 
         [0065]    The supply auger  44  and the agitation auger  45  are disposed at a back side of the developing roll  43  in a lower part in the housing  41 . 
         [0066]    The back side of the developing roll  43  is divided into a supply area  46  and the agitation area  47  by a partition wall  48  which is uprightly formed on the lower housing  41   a . It is to be noted that the partition wall  48  is not provided in determined regions near both ends in the lateral direction, and passage of the developer between the supply area  46  and the agitation area  47  is made possible in these regions. This supply area in this exemplary embodiment corresponds to a supply space according to the invention. 
         [0067]    The supply auger  44  is disposed in the supply area  46  which is close to the developing roll  43 , and the agitation auger  45  is disposed in the agitation area  47  which is close to the main toner replenishing unit  60 , at an opposite side to the supply area  46  interposing the partition wall  48 . 
         [0068]    The film thickness regulating member  50  is provided in the housing  41 , at a diagonally left side above the developing roll  43  in the drawing. This film thickness regulating member  50  has a certain gap with respect to the developing roll  43  along the axial direction of the developing roll  43 . The film thickness regulating member  50  is formed as a shaft in a columnar shape and will regulate the developer maintained on the developing roll  43  to a determined thickness. 
         [0069]    The main toner replenishing unit  60  includes the toner containing room  61  which is separated from the developing unit  40  by the partition wall  61   a  uprightly provided on the sub housing  41   c , and the toner replenishing room  64  which is formed between the sub housing  41   c  and the lower housing  41   a . A first agitator  62  and a second agitator  63  are provided inside the toner containing room  61 . A replenishing auger  65  is provided in the toner replenishing room  64 . This toner containing room  65  in this exemplary embodiment corresponds to one of the containers for containing material, and one of the first and the second powdery material containing parts according to the invention. 
         [0070]    A toner inlet port  67  which connects the toner containing room  61  to the toner replenishing room  64  is formed in the sub housing  41   c  at a backward side in the drawing. Moreover, a toner replenishing port  68  which connects the toner replenishing room  64  to the agitation area  47  is formed in the sub housing  41   c  at a front side in the drawing. In this manner, the toner contained in the toner containing room  61  can be supplied to the developing unit  40  (the supply area  46 ) through the toner inlet port  67 , the toner replenishing room  64 , and the toner replenishing port  68 . This toner replenishing port  68  in this exemplary embodiment corresponds to the supply opening according to the invention. 
         [0071]    The developing device  32  having the above described structure functions as follows, on occasion of image forming operation. 
         [0072]    In the developing unit  40 , the supply auger  44  will convey the developer from the back side to the front side in the drawing in the supply area  46 , and the agitation auger  45  will convey the developer from the front side to the back side of the drawing in the agitation area  47 . Because the supply area  46  and the agitation area  47  are connected for communication at both ends in the longitudinal direction as described above, the developer will be circularly conveyed while it is agitated in the housing  41 . On this occasion, the carrier has positive electrification polarity, while the toner has negative electrification polarity. Accordingly, the toner and the carrier in the developer will be rubbed against each other, and the carrier will be electrified to positive polarity, while the toner will be electrified to negative polarity. 
         [0073]    When the agitated developer has been supplied to the supply area  46  which is opposed to the developing roll  43 , the carrier in the developer will be magnetically sucked by magnetic attraction of a magnetic pole provided on the magnet roll  43   a , and will be transferred to adhere to the developing sleeve  43   b . On this occasion, the toner will be also transferred to adhere to the developing sleeve  43   b  following the carrier, because the toner which has been electrified to the negative polarity is electrostatically sucked to the carrier which has been electrified to the positive polarity. As the results, the developer containing the toner and the carrier will adhere to the developing sleeve  43   b . Then, the developer on the developing sleeve  43   b  will be conveyed in a state held on the developing sleeve  43   b  by the rotation of the developing sleeve  43   b  and magnetic attraction of the magnet roll  43   a , and regulated to a determined thickness by the film thickness regulating member  50 , to be conveyed to the opening  42  which is opposed to the photoconductive drum  14 . 
         [0074]    A determined developing bias is applied to the developing sleeve  43   b  from a power supply which is not shown. Accordingly, in a developing area adjacent to the photoconductive drum  14 , the toner will be transferred from a film of the developer on the developing sleeve  43   b  to the electrostatic latent image which is formed on the photoconductive drum  14  thereby to visualize the latent image into a visible image (a toner image). 
         [0075]    The film of the developer on the developing sleeve  43   b  which has passed the opening  42  of the housing  41  and finished development will be removed by a repulsive magnetic field which is formed between magnetic poles having the same polarity on the magnet roll  43   a  and falls in the supply area  46 . The developer which has fallen in the supply area  46  will be again agitated and conveyed by the supply auger  44  and the agitation auger  45 , to be supplied for the next developing process. 
         [0076]    In the developing unit  40 , a ratio of the toner (density of the toner) in the developer will be gradually lowered, while the electrostatic latent images on the photoconductive drum  14  are developed into the visual images. For this reason, in this exemplary embodiment, fresh toner will be replenished from the main toner replenishing unit  60  to the developing unit  40  in which the toner density has been lowered. 
         [0077]    In order to replenish the toner from the main toner replenishing unit  60  to the developing unit  40 , the toner in the toner containing room  61  of the main toner replenishing unit  60  will be supplied to the toner replenishing room  64  through the toner inlet port  67 , and the toner in the toner replenishing room  64  will be conveyed by the replenishing auger  65  to the agitation area  47  in the developing unit  40  through the toner replenishing port  68 . The toner which has been replenished to the agitation area  47  in the developing unit  40  in this manner will be agitated together with the developer which is already present in the developing unit  40 , by the agitation auger  45 . The developer and the toner which has been newly supplied will be mixed by agitation, and will be conveyed from the agitation area  47  to the supply area  46  to be supplied for the developing process. 
         [0078]    Moreover, when the toner contained in the toner containing room  61  has been supplied to the developing unit  40  and has decreased, the toner contained in the sub toner replenishing unit  35  will be replenished by way of the connecting passage  66 . 
         [0079]    In this manner, as the toner in the developing unit  40  is consumed, the toner will be replenished from the main toner replenishing unit  60  to the developing unit  40 , and also from the sub toner replenishing unit  35  to the main toner replenishing unit  60 . Accordingly, the density of the toner in the developer in the developing unit  40  can be maintained substantially constant, until the life of the process cartridge  30  expires. 
         [0080]    In this exemplary embodiment, the process cartridge  30  is intended to be solely packed and transported, and will be mounted to the main body  10   a  of the image forming apparatus  10  by the user, for example. 
         [0081]    In case where the process cartridge  30  is transported, the developer including the carrier and toner which have been mixed at a determined ratio, and the toner to be replenished are contained in the developing device  32 , without anxiety of leak. The developer and the toner to be replenished in this exemplary embodiment correspond to the material, and the first or second powdery material according to the invention. 
         [0082]    Then, structure for containing the developer and the toner during the transportation, and structure for enabling the developer and the toner to be supplied, when the process cartridge  30  is mounted to the main body  10   a  of the image forming apparatus  10 , will be described referring to  FIG. 4  and the following drawings. 
         [0083]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the lower housing  41   a ,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the sub housing  41   c  as seen from a diagonally front side (from the developing unit  40 ), and  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the upper housing  41   b  inverted upside down. The lower housing  41   a , the upper housing  41   b  and the sub housing  41   c  are integrally assembled to constitute the housing  41 .  FIGS. 5 to 7  are the drawings for explanation only, but do not show that the housing  41  can be actually disassembled in this manner. Further,  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an end part of the upper housing  41   b ,  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an end part of the lower housing  41   a , and  FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the end parts in a state where the upper housing  41   b  has been assembled to the lower housing  41   a.    
         [0084]    As described above, the developer room  70  which contains the developer is formed in a shape of a rectangular frame enclosed by the two wall plates  41   d  on the lower face of the upper housing  41   b  and two side plates  41   e  at both ends in the lateral direction, and positioned above the agitation area  47  to open at the opening  71  in the bottom. The developer is contained in this developer room  70 , and the opening  71  is closed with a developer sealing tape  81  as a seal member, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . 
         [0085]    Moreover, the main toner replenishing unit  60  and the sub toner replenishing unit  35  are filled with the toner, and the toner replenishing port  68  between the toner replenishing room  64  and the developing unit  40  (the agitation area  47 ) is closed with a toner sealing tape  82 , as a seal member attached to a face of the sub housing  41   c  at a side of the developing unit  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . 
         [0086]    In other words, in a state where the process cartridge  30  is supplied, the toner and the developer are not present in the agitation area  47  and the supply area  46  in the developing device  32 , but both the areas are empty. By removing the developer sealing tape  81 , the opening  71  will be opened and the developer room  70  will communicate with the supply area  46  through the agitation area  47 , and by removing the toner sealing tape  82 , the toner replenishing port  68  will be opened and the toner replenishing room  64  will communicate with the supply area  46  through the agitation area  47 . As the results, the developer and the toner can be supplied to the supply area  46 , for the first time. 
         [0087]    In this exemplary embodiment, the opening  71  of the developer room  70  are slightly inclined from the horizontal direction toward the toner replenishing room  64 . The toner replenishing port  68  is positioned diagonally below the opening  71  and slightly inclined upward. The opening  71  and the toner replenishing port  68  are arranged at an angle of approximately 90 degree. 
         [0088]    Each of the developer sealing tape  81  and the toner sealing tape  82  is formed of a resin tape having a heat fusible layer on its one face. In a state where a bonding face (the face formed with the heat fusible layer) is in contact with the area to be bonded (the opening  71  or the toner replenishing port  68 ), by heating and pressurizing them with a hot plate from a front face (the face which is not provided with the heat fusible layer), the heat adhesive layer will be melted and bonded to the member to be bonded. An adhesion force is determined to such an extent that the developer or toner may not leak, and that the tape can be easily removed. 
         [0089]    The developer sealing tape  81  which seals the opening  71  of the developer room  70  is attached to the wall plates  41   d  and the end faces of the side plates  41   e  which define the developer room  70  thereby to close the opening  71 . The tape  81  has a length twice or more of a longitudinal length of the opening  71 , and its tip end corresponds to one end of the opening  71 . The tape  81  is folded back at the other end of the opening  71 , and a free end thereof is extended outward from a side end of the upper housing  41   b , as shown in  FIG. 8 . This free end forms an operating part  81   a . The operating part  81   a  in this exemplary embodiment corresponds to a first or second operating part according to the invention. 
         [0090]    On the other hand, the toner sealing tape  82  which seals the toner replenishing port  68  is attached to a circumferential edge of the toner replenishing port  68 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , thereby to close the toner replenishing port  68 . A tip end of the toner sealing tape  82  corresponds to one end of the toner replenishing port  68 . The tape  82  is folded back at the other end of the toner replenishing port  68 , and a free end thereof is extended outward from the lower housing  41   a , as shown in  FIG. 9 . This free end forms an operating part  82   a . The operating part  82   a  in this exemplary embodiment corresponds to one of the first or second operating part according to the invention. 
         [0091]    In this exemplary embodiment, the developer sealing tape  81  and the toner sealing tape  82  are positioned close to each other, although at different angles, and the free end of both the tapes are substantially at the same position. Moreover, the bonding faces of both the tapes are opposed to each other at a certain angle. In a state where the developer sealing tape  81  is superposed on the toner sealing tape  82  with their bonding faces opposed to each other, the free ends  81   a  and  82   a  of both the tapes pass between the side plate  41   e  of the developer room  70  and an inner face of the side edge of the lower housing  41   a , and are guided outward from a side end of the housing  41 , through a slit  41   f  which is formed between the lower housing  41   a  and the upper housing  41   b , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0092]    The slit  41   f  is formed at a substantially same angle as the end face of the opening  71  of the developer room  70 , whereby the developer sealing tape  81  will be guided out keeping its posture as it is. On the other hand, the toner sealing tape  82  for closing the toner replenishing port  68  which has a certain angle with respect to the opening  71  will be twisted in a passage defined by the side plate  41   e  of the developer room  70  and guided out in a state superposed under the developer sealing tape  81 . 
         [0093]    Because the developer sealing tape  81  and the toner sealing tape  82  are superposed and guided out through the slit  41   f  in a state where their bonding faces are opposed to each other, surfaces which are not the bonding faces will come into contact with the outside, thus enabling smooth sliding motion to be effected when the tapes are withdrawn. 
         [0094]    It is apparent that respective widths of the developer sealing tape  81  and the toner sealing tape  82  should be set larger than widths of the objects to be closed (the opening  71  and the toner replenishing port  68 ). Apart from this factor, the developer sealing tape  81  positioned above is set to be larger in width by a determined amount than the toner sealing tape  82  positioned below. 
         [0095]    Then, the developer sealing tape  81  and the toner sealing tape  82  are bonded to each other at their free ends ( 81   a ,  82   a ) which are extended outside of the housing  41 , and integrated into one piece as a superposed tape part  80 . The free ends may be heat welded, since the bonding faces (the heat fusible layers) are opposed to each other. Alternatively, a double-faced boding tape or bonding agent can be used. In this case, because the heat fusible layers are to be bonded to each other, they cannot be easily separated, and favorable bonding can be attained. These boding sections in this exemplary embodiment correspond to a connecting section and a pasting section according to the invention. 
         [0096]    Moreover, because the developer sealing tape  81  positioned above is set to be larger in width than the toner sealing tape  82  positioned below, the toner sealing tape  82  pasted with the double-faced bonding tape, for example, may be pasted to the developer sealing tape  81 . By doing so, even in case where the toner sealing tape  82  has been displaced when bonded to the developer sealing tape  81 , side edges of the toner sealing tape  82  will be hidden behind the developer sealing tape  81 , and ugly appearance will be avoided. Therefore, it would be unnecessary to pay delicate attention to the bonding work. 
         [0097]    The superposed tape part  80  formed of the developer sealing tape  81  and the toner sealing tape  82  which have been guided out from the side end of the housing  41  and bonded to each other into one tape is attached to a side face of the process cartridge  30  by means of a holding member  90 . A cover  37  for covering projecting members such as bearings so as to form a flat side face is mounted on the side face of the housing  41 . The holding member  90  is engaged with an outer face of this cover  37  to be fixed thereto. 
         [0098]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an outer appearance of the holding member  90  in a free state.  FIGS. 12A and 12B  are sectional views showing operation of the holding member  90 , in which  FIG. 12A  is a sectional view taken along a line B-B in  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 12B  is a sectional view taken along the same line showing the holding member  90  and the superposed tape part  80  in a locked state. 
         [0099]    The holding member  90  is a molded product of synthetic resin, and provided with a tape locking part  92  between left and right securing parts  91 L and  91 R at both ends thereof. 
         [0100]    The tape locking part  92  includes a support plate  92 A which is provided so as to bridge the left and right securing parts  91 L and  91 R, and a guide bar  92 B. 
         [0101]    The support plate  92 A is in a shape of flat plate having a plate surface in a vertical direction in the drawings, and provided with a lock slit  92 C which opens substantially all over the support plate  92 A in the lateral direction. An inner face of the lock slit  92 C at a lower side is formed in an angle shape. 
         [0102]    Besides, a lock part  92 E is formed at an upper end of the support plate  92 A via flexible parts  92 D. A lock ridge  92 F is projected from a tip end of the lock part  92 E. By elastically bending the flexible parts  92 D, as shown by an arrow mark in  FIG. 12A , the lock part  92 E will be inserted into the lock slit  92 C so that the lock ridge  92 F at the tip end may be engaged with the angle shaped inner face of the lock slit  92 C. The flexible parts  92 D each having a determined width are provided only at both ends of the support plate  92 A, in such a manner that the superposed tape part  80  can pass between the support plate  92 A and the lock part  92 E. 
         [0103]    The guide bar  92 B is provided diagonally below the support plate  92 A leaving such a gap that the superposed tape part  80  can pass through. 
         [0104]    In the tape locking part  92  having the above described structure, the superposed tape part  80  will be inserted between the support plate  92 A and the lock part  92 E from a right side to a left side in the drawing, and further, passed downward from a front side (a left side in the drawing) of the support plate  92 A through the gap between the support plate  92 A and the guide bar  92 B, as shown in  FIG. 12A . Thereafter, by bending the flexible parts  92 D, the lock part  92 E is engaged with the lock slit  92 C, whereby the lock part  92 E will bite the superposed tape part  80  to lock it into the lock slit  92 C, as shown in  FIG. 12B . In this manner, the holding member  90  is fixed to the superposed tape part  80 . This lock between the holding member  90  and the superposed tape part  80  is such that when a distal end of the superposed tape part  80  is pulled with a force while the holding member  90  is held, the lock part  92 E will be pushed out from the lock slit  92 C by the superposed tape part  80 , whereby the lock can be released. 
         [0105]    Each of the left and right securing parts  91 L and  91 R is provided with a butting part  91 A to be butted against the side face of the cover  37 , and a lock securing part  91 B to be locked into a lock hole which is formed in the cover  37 . Moreover, one of the securing parts  91 L has an interference projection  91 C which is projected outward at a determined height. 
         [0106]    The holding member  90  having the above described structure, is attached to the superposed tape part  80  by means of the tape locking part  92 , and fixed by engagement to the cover  37  of the process cartridge  30 . Accordingly, the superposed tape part  80  can be held neatly along the side face of the process cartridge  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . On this occasion, the distal end of the superposed tape part  80  is projected downward from the holding member  90  by a determined length, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Engaging strength of the holding member  90  with respect to the cover  37  is set to be at such extent that the engagement can be easily released. 
         [0107]    According to the above described structure, by pulling the distal end of the superposed tape part  80  projecting downward from the holding member  90  in a direction away from the process cartridge  30 , the holding member  90  will be detached from the cover  37  (the process cartridge  30 ). Thereafter, by removing the two sealing tapes  81  and  82  at the same time, the opening of the developer room  70  and the toner replenishing port  68  can be opened simultaneously. In short, it is possible to easily and simply open both the opening of the developer room  70  and the toner replenishing port  68  by only one removing operation. 
         [0108]    Moreover, while the holding member  90  is mounted to the process cartridge  30  (the cover  37 ), the holding member  90  is fixed in a state projected from the side face of the process cartridge  30 . In this exemplary embodiment, as shown by a phantom line in  FIG. 3 , a width of the main body  10   a  of the image forming apparatus  10  at a position where the process cartridge  30  is to be installed (an installation opening  10   b ) is set to be such a size that only the process cartridge  30  can be inserted. Accordingly, the process cartridge  30  in a state provided with the holding member  90  cannot be installed into the main body  10   a , because the holding member  90  interferes with a circumferential edge of the installation opening  10   b  which is hatched in  FIG. 3 . In other words, unless the holding member is detached and the superposed tape part  80  (the sealing tapes  81  and  82 ) is removed, the process cartridge  30  will be unable to be installed in the main body  10   a . In this manner, the process cartridge  30  cannot be installed in case where the sealing tapes  81 ,  82  are forgotten to be removed, and a trouble resulting from the forgotten sealing tapes  81 ,  82  will be prevented beforehand. 
         [0109]    It is to be noted that the invention is not limited to the above described exemplary embodiment, but can be appropriately modified. For example, although in this exemplary embodiment, the developer sealing tape  81  and the toner sealing tape  82  are bonded to each other at their free ends outside the housing  41  to be formed into the superposed tape part  80 , they need not be bonded, but can be formed into one by the holding member  90 . In short, the holding member  90  may be used also as the connecting section. 
         [0110]    Moreover, also the image forming apparatus to which the invention is applied is not limited to the structure as described in the exemplary embodiment.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6