Developer cartridge, developing device, and image forming apparatus having the same

A developing device of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a developing cartridge;
• a developer containing unit which is replaceably disposed in the developing cartridge to form a developer transfer path fluidly communicating with the developing cartridge;
• and
• a shutter unit, which is elastically biased in a direction of closing the developer transfer path, and which opens the developer transfer path as the developer containing unit is mounted in the developing cartridge.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a developer cartridge which has a supply path shutter to open and close a supply path for supplying a developer, and a first collecting path shutter to open and close a waste developer collecting path for collecting waste developer;
• and
• a developing cartridge, in which the developer cartridge is mounted, and which has a second collecting path shutter disposed in proximity of the first collecting path shutter to open and close the waste developer collecting path,
• wherein, after the developer supply path shutter and the first collecting path shutter open the supply path and the collecting path, the second collecting path shutter opens the collecting path.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a developer cartridge having a supply path shutter to open and close a supply path for supplying a developer and a first collecting path shutter to open and close a waste developer collecting path for collecting a waste developer;
• and
• a developing cartridge, in which the developer cartridge is mounted, and which has a second collecting path shutter disposed in proximity of the first collecting path shutter to open and close the waste developer collecting path,
• wherein, after the second collecting path shutter closes the collecting path, the supply path shutter and the first collecting path shutter close the supply path and the collecting path.

A developing device of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a developing cartridge which contains a predetermined amount of developer therein;
• a waste developer container which is mounted in the developing cartridge to collect waste developer;
• and
• a shutter unit which opens and closes a waste developer collecting path through which the waste developer is transferred between the developing cartridge and the waste developer container,
• wherein the shutter unit opens the waste developer collecting path when the waste developer container is mounted in the developing cartridge, and closes the waste developer collecting path when the waste developer container is not mounted in the developing cartridge.

A developer cartridge, comprising:

• a developer cartridge body which is replaceably mounted in a developing cartridge, the developer cartridge body having a developer transfer path fluidly communicating with the developing cartridge;
• and
• a shutter unit which opens and closes the developer transfer path as the developer cartridge body is mounted in the developing cartridge,
• wherein the developer transfer path comprises a supply path through which developer is transferred from the developer cartridge body to the developing cartridge, and a collecting path through which waste developer is transferred from the developing cartridge to the developer cartridge body.

A developing device detachably supported in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a developing device body having formed thereon a mounting recess defining a mounting space into which to receive a developer containing unit configured to accommodate developer therein;
• a developer transfer path provided between the mounting space and an inner volume defined by the developing device body;
• and
• a shutter unit configured to open the developer transfer path when the developer containing unit is mounted in the mounting recess so as to allow transfer of developer at least in one direction between the developer containing unit and the inner volume, and to close the developer transfer path when the developer containing unit is removed from the mounting recess.