Image forming apparatus and cartridge

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an electrostatic latent image bearing member that has an electrostatic latent image formed thereon;

a toner cartridge that contains toner and comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

a developing member that supplies the toner from the toner cartridge onto the electrostatic latent image bearing member, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image;

a transfer member that transfers the toner image from the electrostatic latent image bearing member to a recording medium;

a developing device, to which the toner cartridge is removably coupled and which incorporates the developing member;

a toner-circulating member that is incorporated in the developing device and that circulates toner between the developing device and the toner cartridge, wherein the toner-circulating member is positioned to be attached to the developing device when the toner cartridge is removed from the developing device;

a drive-force output unit that is provided in the toner cartridge and that is configured to output to the developing device a drive force for driving the toner-circulating member;

a drive-force input unit, to which the drive force to be outputted from the drive-force output unit is inputted; and

a circulating-member driving unit that is provided in the developing device and that is configured to drive the toner-circulating member upon receiving the drive force outputted from the drive-force output unit while the toner cartridge is being coupled to the developing device,

wherein the drive-force input unit is provided on the first side of the toner cartridge and the drive-force output unit is provided on the second side of the toner cartridge.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing, the developing device being detachably mounted in the housing.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing, the electrostatic latent image bearing member being detachably mounted in the housing.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the developing device further comprises a drive-force transmitting member that transmits the drive force to the developing member from a main body of the image forming apparatus irrespective of whether or not the toner cartridge is coupled to the developing device.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the drive-force transmitting member transmits the drive force to both of the developing member and the drive-force input unit while the toner cartridge remains coupled to the developing device.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the drive-force input unit receives the drive force from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the drive-force input unit receives the drive force from the main body of the image forming apparatus, independently from the drive-force transmitting member.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the toner-circulating member comprises a toner-supplying auger member that supplies toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device, and a toner-recovering auger member that recovers toner from the developing device to the toner cartridge.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an apparatus housing; and

an apparatus-side drive-force output unit that is provided in the apparatus housing and that outputs a drive force,

wherein the drive-force input unit of the toner cartridge is configured to receive the drive force from the apparatus-side drive-force output unit.

10. A toner cartridge, which is capable of being removably coupled to a development cartridge that includes a developing member, the toner cartridge comprising:

a casing defining a toner containing portion that contains toner, wherein the casing comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

a drive-force input unit which is provided on the casing and which is configured to receive a drive force from outside of the casing;

an agitating member that agitates the toner contained in the toner containing portion by receiving the drive force from the drive force input unit; and

a drive-force output unit that is provided on the casing and that is configured to receive the driving force from the agitating member and to output the drive force to the outside of the casing,

wherein the agitating member, the drive-force input unit, and the drive-force output unit operate as being interlocked with one another, and

wherein the drive-force input unit is located on an outer surface of the casing at the first side thereof, and the drive-force output unit is located on the outer surface of the casing at the second side thereof.

11. The toner cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the drive-force output unit is configured to output the drive force to the development cartridge.

12. The toner cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the drive-force output unit includes an output gear that communicates with a gear provided in the development cartridge when the toner cartridge is coupled to the development cartridge.

13. The toner cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the drive-force input unit includes a coupling gear provided in the first side, the output gear being provided in the second side.

14. The toner cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the drive-force input unit is configured that the drive force is inputted from the development cartridge when the toner cartridge is coupled to the development cartridge.

15. The toner cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein a drive force is inputted to the drive-force input unit from an image forming apparatus when the toner cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus.

16. The toner cartridge according to claim 15 , wherein the drive force is communicable with the development cartridge when the toner cartridge is coupled with the development cartridge.

17. The toner cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein

the drive-force output unit includes an output gear rotatable about an axis, and

the agitating member is supported by the casing, the agitating member being rotatable about the axis.

18. The toner cartridge according to claim 17 , wherein the output gear communicates with a gear provided in the development cartridge when the toner cartridge is coupled to the development cartridge.

19. A development cartridge which is capable of being detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus, the development cartridge comprising:

a casing;

a developing member that is mounted in the casing and that supplies toner from a toner cartridge to an electrostatic latent image bearing member, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image;

a toner-circulating member that circulates toner, wherein the toner-circulating member is positioned to be attached to the development cartridge when the toner cartridge is separated from the development cartridge; and

a circulating-member driving unit that is configured to drive the toner-circulating member upon receiving a drive force from the toner cartridge.

20. A process cartridge which is capable of being detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:

a casing;

an electrostatic latent image bearing member provided in the casing, an electrostatic latent image being formed on the electrostatic latent image bearing member;

a developing member that is mounted in the casing and that supplies toner from a toner cartridge to the electrostatic latent image bearing member, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image bearing member into a toner image;

a toner-circulating member that circulates toner between the casing and the toner cartridge, wherein the toner-circulating member is positioned in the casing when the toner cartridge is separated from the casing; and

a circulating-member driving unit that is configured to drive the toner-circulating member upon receiving a drive force transmitted from the toner cartridge.

21. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an electrostatic latent image bearing member that has an electrostatic latent image formed thereon;

a toner cartridge that contains toner;

a developing member that supplies the toner from the toner cartridge onto the electrostatic latent image bearing member, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image;

a transfer member that transfers the toner image from the electrostatic latent image bearing member to a recording medium;

a developing device, to which the toner cartridge is removably coupled and which incorporates the developing member;

a drive-force output unit that is provided in the toner cartridge and that is configured to output a drive force to the developing device while the toner cartridge is being coupled to the developing device;

a toner-circulating member that is incorporated in the developing device and that circulates toner, wherein the toner circulating member is positioned to be attached to the developing device when the toner cartridge is removed from the developing device; and

a circulating-member driving unit that is provided in the developing device and that is configured to drive the toner-circulating member upon receiving a drive force outputted from the driving-force output unit while the toner cartridge is being coupled to the developing device.

22. A development cartridge which is capable of being detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus, the development cartridge comprising:

a casing;

a developing member that is mounted in the casing and that supplies toner from a toner cartridge to an electrostatic latent image bearing member, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image;

a drive-force receiving unit that is configured to receive a drive force from the toner cartridge while the toner cartridge is being coupled to the casing;

a toner-circulating member that circulates toner, wherein the toner circulating member is positioned in the casing when the toner cartridge is removed from the casing; and

a circulating-member driving unit that is configured to drive the toner-circulating member upon receiving a drive force from the driving force receiving unit.

23. A process cartridge which is capable of being detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:

a casing;

an electrostatic latent image bearing member provided in the casing, an electrostatic latent image being formed on the electrostatic latent image bearing member;

a developing member that is mounted in the casing and that supplies toner from a toner cartridge to the electrostatic latent image bearing member, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image bearing member into a toner image;

a drive-force receiving unit that is configured to receive a drive force transmitted from the toner cartridge while the toner cartridge is being coupled to the casing;

a toner-circulating member that is provided in the casing and that circulates toner between the casing and the toner cartridge, wherein the toner circulating member is positioned in the casing when the toner cartridge is removed from the casing; and

a circulating-member driving unit that is configured to drive the toner-circulating member upon receiving a drive force from the driving force receiving unit.