Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.

Tsukasa Ichimaru

Takeshi Konuma

Yoshifumi Okauchi

Kazuo Johroku

Toner cartridge

A toner cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a toner storing unit having two flexible stirring rods disposed therein. Two tapered bearing portions disposed on a first side wall of the toner storage unit extend partially into the first side wall without piercing the first side wall, and two bearing portions on a second side wall extend completely through the second side wall. First ends of each of the stirring rods is tapered and fits into the tapered bearing portions on the first side wall of the toner storage unit. Second ends of the stirring rods extend through the bearing portions of the second side wall of the toner storage unit. Flange members are disposed on the second ends of the stirring rods, and a seal is interposed between each flange member and the second side wall. In another embodiment of the present invention, two of the bearing portions on the first side wall are generally square, and the first ends of the stirring rods have a generally spherical tip. The second ends of the stirring rods also include generally spherical portions which are in contact with the two bearing portions on the second side wall.

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Osaka, Japan

Tsukasa Ichimaru