Toner magazine and cleaner for an electrophotographic apparatus

A toner magazine removably mounted to an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

• a developer storing body configured to store a developer therein;
• an agitating member disposed in said developer storing body and mounted on a single rotatable shaft in said developer storing body, said agitating member being rotated by a driving force transmitted to said shaft from an outside of said developer storing body, while agitating the developer;
• a first hole formed in a region of said developer storing body containing one point where said developer storing body intersects a center line of said shaft, said first hole being configured so as to allow said agitating member to pass therethrough along the center line of said shaft;
• and
• a first cap member removably fitted in said first hole for restricting a movement of said agitating member along the center line of said shaft when fitted, or allowing said agitating member to move along the center line of said shaft when removed.

A toner magazine removably mounted to an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

• a developer storing body configured to store a developer therein;
• an agitating member disposed in said developer storing body and mounted on a single rotatable shaft in said developer storing body, said agitating member being rotated by a driving force transmitted to said shaft from an outside of said developer storing body, while agitating the developer;
• a first hole formed in a region of said developer storing body containing one point where said developer storing body intersects a center line of said shaft, said first hole being configured so as to allow said agitating member to pass therethrough along the center line of said shaft;
• a second hole formed in a region of said developer storing body containing another point where said developer storing body intersects the center line of said shaft;
• a hollow cylindrical cap mounting portion formed at an end of said developer storing body around said first hole and formed with a male screw on an outer circumference thereof;
• a first cap member in a form of a cap nut and formed with a female screw engageable with said male screw in an inner circumference thereof, said first cap member sealing said first hole when mounted to said cap mounting portion or uncovering said first hole when removed from said cap mounting portion;
• and
• a second cap member mounted on an end of said shaft remote from said first hole for sealing said second hole when inserted into said second hole from an inside of said developer storing body.

A CTM removably mounted to an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

• a toner magazine storing a developer therein and for feeding the developer to a developing device included in said electrophotographic apparatus for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on a photoconductive element;
• and
• a waste toner tank constructed integrally with said toner magazine for collecting the developer removed from the photoconductive element;
• said toner magazine comprising:
• a developer storing body storing a developer therein;
• an agitating member disposed in said developer storing body and mounted on a single rotatable shaft in said developer storing body, said agitating member being rotated by a driving force transmitted to said shaft from an outside of said developer storing body, while agitating the developer;
• a first hole formed in a region of said developer storing body containing one point where said developer storing body intersects a center line of said shaft, said first hole being so configured as to allow said agitating member to pass therethrough along the center line of said shaft;
• and
• a first cap member removably fitted in said first hole for restricting a movement of said agitating member along the center line of said shaft when fitted, or allowing said agitating member to move along the center line of said shaft when removed.

A CTM removably mounted to an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

• a toner magazine storing a developer therein and for feeding the developer to a developing device included in said electrophotographic apparatus for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on a photoconductive element;
• and
• a waste toner tank constructed integrally with said toner magazine for collecting the developer removed from the photoconductive element;
• said toner magazine comprising;
• a developer storing body storing a developer therein;
• an agitating member disposed in said developer storing body and mounted on a single rotatable shaft in said developer storing body, said agitating member being rotated by a driving force transmitted to said shaft from an outside of said developer storing body, while agitating the developer;
• a first hole formed in a region of said developer storing body containing one point where said developer storing body intersects a center line of said shaft, said first hole being configured so as to allow said agitating member to pass therethrough along the center line of said shaft;
• a second hole formed in a region of said developer storing body containing another point where said developer storing body intersects the center line of said shaft;
• a hollow cylindrical cap mounting portion formed at an end of said developer storing body around said first hole and formed with a male screw on an outer circumference thereof;
• a first cap member in a form of a cap nut and formed with a female screw engageable with said male screw in an inner circumference thereof, said first cap member sealing said first hole when mounted to said cap mounting portion or uncovering said first hole when removed from said cap mounting portion;
• and
• a second cap member mounted on an end of said shaft remote from said first hole for sealing said second hole when inserted into said second hole from an inside of said developer storing body.