# US 10,310,409 B2 · Cartridge with a first and second chamber and image forming apparatus containing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,409 B2 - Document ID: US10310409B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/972,338 - Filed: 2018-05-07 - Published: 2018-09-06 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-02 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takafumi Amano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310409B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0865: {Arrangements for supplying new developer} - G03G 15/0875: {cartridges having a box like shape} - G03G 15/0877: {Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract According to one embodiment, a cartridge is provided with 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 to the passage from the second chamber, toward the discharging port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge comprising: a case comprising a first chamber in communication with a discharging port and accommodating a developing agent, a second chamber positioned distant from the discharging port compared to the first chamber and accommodating a toner, and a passage which allows the discharging port to communicate with the second chamber; and a first transportation member that transports the toner, from the second chamber to the passage, toward the discharging port, wherein the first chamber is positioned above the discharging port when the cartridge is provided in an image forming apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are separated from each other in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a partition member that is detachably provided at a position between the second chamber and the discharging port, and the partition member forming a partition between the second chamber and the discharging port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the case comprises a communication port which allows the second chamber to communicate with the passage, and the partition member detachably blocks the communication port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cartridge according to claim 4, further comprising: a second transportation member that transports the toner inside the second chamber toward the communication port. ### Claim 6 An image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge comprising a case comprising a first chamber in communication with a discharging port and accommodating a developing agent, a second chamber which is positioned distant from the discharging port compared to the first chamber and accommodating a toner, a passage which allows the discharging port to communicate with the second chamber, and a transportation member transporting the toner from the second chamber to the passage toward the discharging port; and a developer supplying the developing agent and the toner from the cartridge, wherein the first chamber is positioned above the discharging port when the cartridge is provided in an image forming apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a housing comprising an accommodating portion which accommodates the cartridge; a driving portion that drives the transportation member of the cartridge; a sensor that detects the cartridge in the accommodating portion; and a controller that controls the driving portion to initiate driving the transportation member of the cartridge, after a preset time elapses from receiving a signal indicating that the cartridge is detected by the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a housing comprising an accommodating portion which accommodates the cartridge; a driving portion that drives the transportation member of the cartridge; and a controller that stops the driving portion at least once before T seconds elapses from initiating the driving portion, when the driving portion is initially driven after the cartridge is accommodated in the accommodating portion, if a distance between the second chamber and the discharging port in a transportation direction of the transportation member is set to L, a transportation distance of the transportation member per one second is set to M, and L/M is set to T. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a housing comprising an accommodating portion which accommodates the cartridge, an opening portion which exposes the accommodating portion to the outside, and a cover which openably closes the opening portion, wherein the discharging port is positioned closer to the opening portion than the second chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are separated from each other in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a partition member that is detachably provided at a position between the second chamber and the discharging port, and the partition member forming a partition between the second chamber and the discharging port. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the case comprises a communication port which allows the second chamber to communicate with the passage, and the partition member detachably blocks the communication port. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a second transportation member that transports the toner inside the second chamber toward the communication port. ### Claim 14 An image forming method comprising: supplying a developing agent from a first chamber in communication with a discharging port in a cartridge; and supplying simultaneously a toner from a second chamber through a passage allowing the discharging port to communicate with the second chamber in the cartridge, the second chamber positioned distant from the discharging port compared to the first chamber, wherein the first chamber is positioned above the discharging port when the cartridge is provided in an image forming apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image forming method according to claim 14, further comprising: detecting the cartridge; and initiating supplying the developing agent and toner after a preset time elapses from receiving a signal indicating that the cartridge is detected. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The image forming method according to claim 14, further comprising: stopping supplying the developing agent and toner at least once before T seconds elapses from initiating the supplying, when the supplying is initiated after the cartridge is detected, if a distance between the second chamber and the discharging port in a transportation direction is set to L, a transportation distance per one second is set to M, and L/M is set to T. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The image forming method according to claim 14, further comprising: exposing the cartridge to the outside by opening a cover, wherein the discharging port is positioned closer to the opening portion than the second chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The image forming method according to claim 14, wherein the partition member detachably blocking the second chamber from the passage with a partition member detachably provided at a position between the second chamber and the discharging port.