Ulllted States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,903,806
`
`Matsuoka et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`May 11, 1999
`
`US005903806A
`
`[54] DEVELOPING AGENT REPLENISHING
`APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors:
`
`Isao Matsuoka; Yozo Fujii, both of
`~
`~~
`HaCh1°J1’Japan
`[73] Assignee: Konica Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
`
`........................ .. 399/120
`
`5,481,344
`5,495,323
`5,500,719
`
`1/1996 Yasuda et al.
`2/1996 Meetze, Jr..
`3/1996 Ichikawa et al.
`..................... .. 399/238
`;:sum%etta11~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 399/262
`nam1 e a. .
`,
`,
`4/1997 Brony .................................... .. 604/406
`5,620,434
`
`6/1998 Yoshikietal.
`..
`399/258
`5,765,079
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/902,898
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 30, 1997
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Aug. 7, 1996
`Aug. 21, 1996
`
`[JP]
`[JP]
`
`Japan .................................. .. 8—208287
`Japan .................................. ..8—219810
`
`Int. Cl.6 ................................................... .. G03G 15/08
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`................... .. 399/258; 399/262; 222/DIG. 1
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 399/258, 262,
`399/263; 222/DIG. 1, 444, 449, 518, 633,
`549, 559; 220/348, 350, 380
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5/1969 Serio .
`3,446,403
`7/1976 Williams .
`3,971,493
`6/1981 Stecker .................................. .. 222/151
`4,271,986
`1/1988 Mears .................................... .. 141/301
`4,719,949
`5,074,342 12/1991 Kraehn.
`5,154,212 10/1992 Weber.
`5,248,847
`9/1993 Aoyama ................................ .. 399/238
`
`0604999 A2
`87 08 034
`19541680 A1
`3—87864
`7—295356
`
`7/1994
`6/1987
`5/1996
`4/1991
`11/1995
`
`.
`
`European Pat. Off.
`Germany .
`Germany .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`
`Primary Examiner—Robert Beatty
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman,
`Langer & Chick
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A developing agent replenishing apparatus includes a devel-
`oping agent receiving port for receiving a developing agent
`from a replenishment cartridge which stores developing
`agent when the cartridge is mounted and a conveyor for
`conveying the developing agent received in the receiving
`port to a developing device. The developer agent receiving
`port has a receiving opening and the replenishment cartridge
`has a replenishment opening. Cylindrical expandable covers
`are provided at the receiving and replenishment openings for
`opening or closing these openings.
`
`39 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets
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`GPI EXHIBIT 1006
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`GENERAL PLASTIC V. CANO
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`GPI EXHIBIT 1006
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`May 11, 1999
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`Sheet 1 of 19
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 11,1999
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`May 11,1999May 11,1999
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`May 11,1999
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`May 11,1999
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 11,1999
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`May 11,1999
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 11,1999
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`Sheet 14 of 19
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`U.S. PatentU.S. Patent
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`May 11,1999May 11,1999
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`Sheet 16 of 19Sheet 16 of 19
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`17
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`
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`U.S. PatentU.S. Patent
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`
`
`May 11,1999May 11,1999
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`
`
`Sheet 17 of 19Sheet 17 of 19
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`5,903,8065,903,806
`
`18
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 11,1999
`
`Sheet 18 of 19
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`5,903,806
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`FIG. 18(a)
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 11,1999
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`Sheet 19 of 19
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`5,903,806
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`FIG. 19 (a)
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`1
`DEVELOPING AGENT REPLENISHING
`APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a powder storing con-
`tainer containing powder, a developing agent cartridge
`which rotates to replenish a developing agent, a developing
`agent replenishing apparatus on which the developing agent
`cartridge is attached to supply a developing agent
`to a
`developing agent receiving port, and a color image forming
`apparatus loaded with a plurality of developing agent car-
`tridges.
`Heretofore, as a means to replenish a developing agent to
`a developing agent storing section of an image forming
`apparatus from a developing agent cartridge containing a
`developing agent, there has been known a device of a type
`wherein a developing agent cartridge is set in a main body
`when replenishing a developing agent,
`then developing
`agents in the developing agent cartridge are supplied to a
`developing agent receiving port, and after supplying is
`finished, the developing agent cartridge is removed from the
`main body. However, there has been a possibility in the
`replenishing method of the above-mentioned type that the
`developing agents are excessively supplied and overflow the
`developing agent receiving port because developing agents
`are supplied to the developing agent receiving port in a
`manner, which has required a means to prevent excessive
`replenishment of a developing agent. However, it is diflicult
`to prevent excessive replenishment, and the conventional
`apparatus has been required to be high in cost and large in
`size, even if a means to prevent excessive replenishment can
`be installed on the apparatus. With the foregoing as a
`background,
`there has been developed a replenishing
`method of a type (Japanese Patent Application No. 088807/
`1994) published as Japanese Tokkai-Hei 7-295356 wherein
`a developing agent cartridge having therein a spiral-shaped
`protrusion is set in the apparatus main body, the developing
`agent cartridge is rotated around its central axis, developing
`agents are ejected from a developing agent outlet of the
`developing agent cartridge, and the developing agents are
`replenished to a developing agent receiving port. Since a
`developing agent cartridge is always loaded on the apparatus
`main body in the replenishing method of this type, it is
`possible to replenish developing agents to the developing
`agent receiving port by rotating the developing agent
`cartridge, when developing agents in the developing agent
`receiving port are reduced, which makes it unnecessary to
`prevent aforesaid excessive replenishment of a developing
`agent.
`However, the developing agent cartridge and the devel-
`oping agent replenishing apparatus which is loaded with the
`developing agent cartridge have the following problems.
`(1) In the developing agent cartridge wherein it is mounted
`on or dismounted from a rotating force transmission member
`which transmits rotating force to the developing agent
`cartridge, while the developing agent cartridge is rotated,
`and an opening/closing cover provided at a developing agent
`replenishment opening is opened and closed respectively
`when the developing agent cartridge is mounted and
`dismounted,
`the opening is opened and closed when a
`cartridge fixing cover for the developing agent cartridge and
`a cartridge opening/closing cover are slid, but it is diflicult
`that an entire circumferential surface of one cover comes in
`
`contact with that of the opponent cover. Therefore, there is
`a possibility that a developing agent exists in a clearance
`between both covers, which makes sealing of the opening/
`closing cover to be problematic.
`
`5,903,806
`
`2
`
`(2) In the developing agent cartridge wherein it is mounted
`on or dismounted from a driving and rotating force trans-
`mission member by moving the developing agent cartridge
`horizontally, and an opening/closing cover of the developing
`agent cartridge or the like is opened and closed respectively
`when the developing agent cartridge is mounted and
`dismounted, when the outlet of the developing agent car-
`tridge is closed, a recessed portion of the developing agent
`cartridge is engaged with a protrusion of the cartridge
`opening/closing cover. Under this structure, a part of the
`protrusion touches a circumferential surface of the develop-
`ing agent cartridge when the opening/closing cover opens or
`closes, and therefore, considerable amount of force is
`required for opening/closing operations.
`(3) Some of developing agent replenishing apparatuses are
`represented by one wherein an opening/closing cover which
`opens or closes a developing agent outlet is provided on a
`developing agent cartridge, and the opening/closing cover
`opens or closes when the developing agent cartridge is
`loaded on or unloaded from the apparatus, with the opening/
`closing cover and a developing agent cartridge loading
`section both being in contact with each other. However, if
`the position of this contact is not appropriate, the opening/
`closing cover can not be opened or closed smoothly in the
`course of an operation to load or unload the developing
`agent cartridge, resulting in the problem that an action to
`replenish to the apparatus main body can not be conducted,
`or developing agents overflow when the developing agent
`cartridge is removed.
`(4) In a plurality of detachable cartridges which can be
`loaded on and unloaded from the developing agent replen-
`ishing apparatus provided on a color image forming
`apparatus,
`it
`is necessary to prevent a disadvantage that
`developing agent cartridges containing developing agents
`used for different apparatuses or developing agent cartridges
`containing developing agents of different colors are loaded,
`resulting in existence of different developing agents in the
`developing agent replenishing apparatus.
`Further,
`in some of developing agent cartridges for
`replenishing developing agents by rotating, there is provided
`an opening/closing cover which opens and closes a devel-
`oping agent outlet of the developing agent cartridge.
`In such a cartridge, the opening/closing cover is required
`to be closed to cover the developing agent outlet so that
`developing agents remaining in the cartridge do not over-
`flow when the cartridge is dismounted from an image
`forming apparatus.
`However, it has also been a problem that poor sealing of
`the opening/closing cover caused developing agents to over-
`flow and soil user’s hands despite the closed opening/closing
`cover when the cartridge was removed.
`Therefore, it has been necessary to design the structure of
`the cartridge by taking the sealing characteristics of the
`opening/closing cover into consideration.
`With regard to the cartridge mentioned above, there has
`been a possibility that the opening/closing cover is acciden-
`tally opened during transportation to cause developing
`agents to overflow.
`Accordingly,
`it has also been necessary to design the
`structure of a cap member to be attached to the cartridge so
`that the opening/closing cover is not accidentally opened
`during transportation.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An object of the invention is to solve the aforesaid
`problems in a developing agent cartridge or in a developing
`agent replenishing apparatus which supplies developing
`agents from the developing agent cartridge to a developing
`means.
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`5,903,806
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`The object mentioned above can be attained by a devel-
`oping agent replenishing apparatus having the following
`structure:
`
`a developing agent receiving port which is a cylindrical
`expandable covering member and receives developing
`agents from a cartridge when the cartridge containing
`developing agents is attached; and
`a conveyor for conveying developing agents from the
`developing agent receiving port to a developing unit.
`Or the above-mentioned object can be attained by a
`developing agent cartridge having the following struc-
`ture:
`
`a replenishment opening in which a cylindrical expand-
`able covering member is arranged.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 sectional structure view of a color printer that is an
`example of a color image forming apparatus equipped with
`a plurality f developing units of the invention.
`FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the
`developing apparatus equipped with a plurality of develop-
`ing units.
`FIG. 3 is perspective view showing a cartridge, a devel-
`oping agent receiving port and a part of a developing unit.
`FIGS. 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) and 4(d) respectively represent a top
`view, a left side view, a right side view and an exploded top
`view, all of the cartridge.
`FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) respectively represent a partial
`section of a cartridge, a sectional view of a fixed cover taken
`on line 5b—5b, and another section of the cartridge.
`FIG. 6 represents a sectional view of a developing agent
`receiving port that is under the state where a cartridge is
`attached on a cartridge attachment section and a sectional
`view of a developing agent conveying section.
`FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) respectively represent an exploded
`sectional view of a cartridge and an exploded sectional view
`of a rotation power transmission member to be connected to
`the cartridge.
`FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) respectively represent a top
`view, a front view and a side view of the rotation power
`transmission member.
`
`FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) respectively represent a sectional
`view of the state right before the attachment of a cartridge
`on a developing agent replenishing apparatus and a sectional
`view of the state of the start of the attachment.
`
`FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) respectively represent a sectional
`view showing the intermediate process of the attachment of
`a cartridge on a developing agent replenishing apparatus.
`FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing that a cartridge has
`just been attached on a developing agent replenishing appa-
`ratus.
`
`FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing another example of
`a cartridge of the invention. mission member.
`FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) respectively represent a sectional
`view of primary parts of a cartridge whose replenishment
`opening of the fixed cover is about to be opened and of a
`developing agent replenishing apparatus, and an enlarged
`sectional view of part A.
`FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b) respectively represent a sectional
`view of primary parts of a cartridge whose replenishment
`opening of the fixed cover is being closed and of a devel-
`oping agent replenishing apparatus, and an enlarged sec-
`tional view of part B.
`FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a cartridge of the invention
`equipped with a discriminator for preventing erroneous
`attachment and of a developing agent replenishing appara-
`tus.
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`FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) respectively represent a front view
`of the aforesaid cartridge and a side view thereof.
`FIGS. 17(a)/and 17(b) respectively represent a general
`perspective view of a developing agent cartridge and a
`partial perspective view thereof.
`FIGS. 18(a)—18(c) respectively represent a top view with
`a partial section of a developing agent cartridge, a sectional
`side view taken on line 18b—18b thereof, and an exploded
`top view thereof taken on line 18c—18c.
`FIGS. 19(a) and 19(b) respectively represent a top view
`with a partial section of a developing agent cartridge, and an
`enlarged sectional view of part A.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Prior to explanation of examples of the invention, the
`structure of a color printer which is an example of a color
`image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of devel-
`oping units of the invention and its operations will be
`explained as follows, referring to a sectional structure view
`in FIG. 1.
`
`This color printer is a color image forming apparatus of a
`type for superposing toner images each having a different
`color formed on an image forming body in succession, then
`forming a color image by transferring collectively the toner
`images onto a recording sheet at a transfer section, and then
`separating the color image from the image forming body by
`a separating means.
`In FIG. 1,
`the numeral 10 is a photoreceptor drum
`representing an image forming body wherein OPC photo-
`receptor (organic photoreceptor) is coated on a drum base
`body to be formed thereon, and it is grounded and driven to
`be rotated clockwise in the drawing. The numeral 11 is a
`scorotron charger which gives uniform charging of high
`voltage VH to the circumferential surface of photoreceptor
`drum 10 through corona discharge by means of a grid kept
`to grid voltage VG and a corona discharge wire. Prior to
`charging by means of this scorotron charger 11, the circum-
`ferential surface of the photoreceptor is neutralized through
`exposure by means of PCL (pre-charging neutralizer) 12
`employing a light-emitting diode, for eliminating hysteresis
`accumulated on the photoreceptor during a period up to the
`preceding print.
`After uniform charging on photoreceptor drum 10, image-
`wise exposure based on image signals is carried out by
`imagewise exposure means 13. In the imagewise exposure
`means 13, a beam emitted from an unillustrated light source
`of laser diode passes through rotary polygon mirror 131, f0
`lens 132 and cylindrical lens 133, and its optical path is
`deflected by reflecting mirror 134 for primary scanning
`which forms a latent image together with rotation (sub-
`scanning) of the photoreceptor drum 10. In the present
`example, exposure is conducted for the image portion to
`form a reversal latent image in which an image portion is at
`low voltage of VL.
`Surrounding a portion of the circumferential surface of
`the photoreceptor drum 10, there is provided developing
`device 20 composed of developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C and
`20K containing respectively 2-component developing
`agents each being composed of carrier and toner such as
`yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) or black toner. First,
`development for the first color of yellow is conducted by
`developing agent carrier (developing sleeve) which houses
`magnets and rotates while holding therein developing
`agents. The developing agent
`is composed of a carrier
`having therein a core of ferrite coated on its surface with
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`5,903,806
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`5
`insulating resin and of toner whose primary material is
`polyester to which a pigment depending on toner color, a
`charge controlling agent, silica and titanium oxide are
`added. The developing agents are regulated by a layer
`forming means to be of a layer thickness (developing agents)
`of 100-600 ym on developing sleeve 22, to be conveyed to
`the developing area.
`A clearance between the developing sleeve 22 and pho-
`toreceptor drum 10 in the developing area is 0.2-1.0 mm
`which is greater than a developing agent layer thickness, and
`AC bias of VAC and DC bias of VDC are superimposed and
`impressed into the aforesaid clearance. Since VDC, VH and
`toner charging are of the same polarity, the toner urged by
`VAC to leave carrier does not stick to the portion where
`voltage is VH that is higher than VDC but sticks to the portion
`of VL that is lower than VDC so that image visualization
`(reversal development) is carried out.
`After completion of visualization for the first color, a
`sequence enters an image forming process for the second
`color of magenta, and uniform charging is conducted by
`scorotron charger 11 again, and a latent image based on
`image data for the second color is formed by imagewise
`exposure means 13. In this case, neutralizing conducted by
`PCL 12 in the image forming process for the first color is not
`conducted, because toner stuck to the image portion for the
`first color may scatter due to sharp drop of surrounding
`voltage.
`In the photoreceptor where entire surface of the circum-
`ferential surface of photoreceptor drum 10 is of voltage of
`VH, for the portion having no image for the first color, there
`is formed a latent image identical to that for the first color
`to be developed, but for the portion which has an image for
`the first color and is to be developed again, a latent image of
`VM‘ is formed by light-shielding of the adhering toner for the
`first color and by charge owned by toner itself, thus devel-
`opment depending on the voltage difference between VDC
`and VM‘ is conducted. In the portion where the image for the
`first color and that for the second color are superposed, when
`the development for the first color is conducted after making
`a latent image of VL, a balance between the first color and
`the second color is lost. Therefore, medium voltage satis-
`fying the condition of VH>VM>VL is sometimes used by
`reducing an amount of exposure for the first color.
`For the third color of cyan and the fourth color of black,
`an image forming process identical to that for the second
`color of magenta is also conducted, and four visual images
`each having a different color are formed on the circumfer-
`ential surface of photoreceptor drum 10 accordingly.
`The developing agent replenishing apparatus which
`refreshes fresh developing agent of each color by controlling
`it to each of the aforesaid developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C
`and 20K is composed of cartridge attaching section 41
`which enables a plurality of developing agent cartridges
`(hereinafter referred to as cartridges) 30 (Y, M, C and K) to
`be attached or detached, developing agent receiving ports 42
`(Y, M, C and K) which temporarily receive developing
`agents contained in cartridges 30, and developing agent
`conveyor 43 (Y, M, C and K) which convey developing
`agents in the developing agent receiving poets 42 to the
`developing units 20.
`On the other hand, a sheet of transfer material (transfer
`sheet or the like) p fed out of paper cassette 50 through
`woodruff roller 51 passes through a pair of paper feed rollers
`52 and 53, then temporarily stops at the point close to a pair
`of registration rollers 54, and is conveyed, when the timing
`for transfer is synchronized,
`to a transfer section by the
`rotation of the paired registration rollers 54.
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`In the transfer section, transfer means 60 is brought into
`pressure contact with the circumferential surface of photo-
`receptor drum 10 in synchronization with the transfer
`timing, and whereby, multi-color images are collectively
`transferred onto the transfer material p which is conveyed
`and sandwiched in the transfer means.
`
`Then, the transfer material p is neutralized by separating
`means 61, then is separated from the circumferential surface
`of photoreceptor drum 10 and is conveyed to fixing unit 70
`where toner is fixed by heat and pressure given respectively
`by heat roller (upper roller) 71 and pressure roller (lower
`roller) 72. After that, the transfer material p passes through
`ejection rollers 81 and 82 and is ejected on copy tray 83
`located on the outside of an apparatus. Incidentally, the
`transfer means 60 leaves, after the transfer material p has
`passed through it, the circumferential surface of photore-
`ceptor drum 10 to be away of it to be ready for the following
`formation of toner images.
`On the other hand, the photoreceptor drum 10 from which
`the transfer material p has been separated is neutralized by
`neutralizing unit 14, then is cleaned by blade 151 of cleaning
`unit 15 that is in pressure contact with the photoreceptor
`drum to be free from residual toner thereon, and is subjected
`again to neutralizing by means of the PCL 12 and charging
`by means of scorotron charger 11 to enter the succeeding
`image forming process. Incidentally, the blade 151 moves to
`be away of the circumferential surface of photoreceptor
`drum 10 immediately after cleaning the photoreceptor sur-
`face. Waste toner scraped off by the blade 151 into the
`cleaning unit 15 is ejected by screw 152, and then is
`accumulated in an unillustrated container for collected waste
`toner.
`
`FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of
`developing device 20 equipped with a plurality of develop-
`ing units. Surrounding a portion of the circumferential
`surface of the photoreceptor drum 10,
`there is provided
`developing device 20 composed of developing units 20Y,
`20M, 20C and 20K containing respectively developing
`agents each being composed of carrier and toner such as
`yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) or black toner. In the
`upper space of the developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C and 20K,
`there are provided developing agent replenishment openings
`28Y, 28M, 28C and 28K which are communicated with the
`developing agent conveyor 43 (Y, M, C and
`Since the developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C and 20K are
`mostly the same in terms of structure, the developing device
`20 representing these developing units will be explained as
`follows.
`
`In FIG. 2, the numeral 21 represents a developing unit
`casing containing 2-component developing agent composed
`of toner and carrier, 22 represents a developing agent carrier
`(hereinafter referred to as a developing sleeve) which is a
`developing agent conveying meats equipped with magnetic
`field generating means (magnet roll) 23 having therein a
`fixed magnet body, 24 represents a developing agent sup-
`plying roller (hereinafter referred to also as a supply paddle),
`25 represents a developing agent layer thickness regulating
`member (hereinafter referred to as a layer thickness regu-
`lating bar) which regulates the thickness of a developer layer
`on the developing sleeve 22 to a prescribed value, 26 and 27
`represent a developing agent stirring screw (hereinafter
`referred to as a stirring screw), and 28 (Y, M, C and K)
`represents a developing agent replenishment opening
`formed on the upper part of the developing unit casing 21,
`and it receives developing agents replenished from the
`cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 1 through developing agent
`receiving port 42 and developing agent conveyor 43.
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`5,903,806
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`7
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing cartridges 30Y,
`30M, 30C and 30K, developing agent receiving ports 42Y,
`42M, 42C and 42K, and a part of developing units 20Y,
`20M, 20C and 20K. Cartridge attaching section 41 makes
`four cartridges 30Y, 30M, 30C and 30K to be set, on a
`detachable basis, in parallel with each other on the mostly
`same plane. It is arranged so that each developing agent in
`each of the cartridges 30Y, 30M, 30C and 30K may be
`controlled and replenished when an amount of toner in each
`of the aforesaid developing units 20Y, 2DM, 20C and 20K
`is reduced. Since the cartridges 30Y, 30M, 30C and 30K are
`mostly the same in terms of structure,
`the cartridge 30
`representing these cartridges 30 (Y, M, C and K) will be
`explained as follows.
`FIGS. 4(a)—4(a) and FIGS. 5(a)—5(c) represent cartridge
`30, wherein FIG. 4(a) is a top view of the cartridge 30, FIG.
`4(b) represents a left side view, FIG. 4 (c) is a right side
`view, FIG. 4(a) is an exploded top view, FIG. 5(a) is a partial
`section of the cartridge 30, FIG. 5 (b) is a sectional view
`taken on line 5b—5b of fixed cover 32 of the cartridge 30,
`and FIG. 5(c) is another sectional view of the cartridge 30.
`The cartridge 30 is composed of container main body 31
`which is a cylinder whose inner surface is provided with
`guide portion (developing agent leading portion) 311 com-
`posed of a spiral protruded groove and contains developing
`agents, fixed cover 32 which is fixed solidly with opening
`312 of the container main body 31 and has opening
`(replenishment opening) 321, and cartridge opening/closing
`cover 33 which is engaged inside the fixed cover 32 and
`takes a form of expandable bellows. Engagement claw
`portion 313 provided on the surrounding of the opening 312
`of the container main body 31 is engaged closely with
`recessed portion 322 provided on the inner surrounding of
`the fixed cover 32 to be nipped and united solidly with the
`recessed portion. Grip portion 314 makes an operation to
`position cartridge 30 easy when attaching the cartridge 30 on
`the cartridge attaching section 41.
`On the inner surface of the opening 321 of the aforesaid
`fixed cover 32,
`there is solidly formed 4-blade-shaped
`developing agent agitating portion (paddle) 323. Further,
`there is interposed cartridge opening/closing cover 33
`between bottom portion 324 in the inner part of the fixed
`cover 32 and a projected portion protruded on the inner
`surface of the opening 321. The cartridge opening/closing
`cover 33 is one made to be bellow-shaped through blow
`molding, and it is fixed (welded) on the bottom portion 324
`through ultrasonic welding. This fixing can also be done
`with adhesives. On the central portion of the bottom portion
`324, there is projected hollow and cylindrical positioning
`portion 326. At two locations on the tip portion of the
`positioning portion 326, there is formed engagement pro-
`jection 327 which regulates the position in the rotating
`direction of the cartridge 30. The numeral 328 is an engage-
`ment portion which engages, on a detachable basis, with
`cartridge coming