Patent ID: 9268259
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A supporting apparatus configured to hold a developer material holding apparatus that is mounted on the supporting apparatus, the developer material holding apparatus including a shutter configured to open and close a developer material discharging opening formed in the developer material holding apparatus, the supporting apparatus comprising: a supporting surface that supports the developer material holding apparatus thereon; a first limiting element that limits movement of the developer material holding apparatus in an insertion direction in which the developer material holding apparatus is inserted into the supporting apparatus; a shutter movement limiting element that limits movement of the shutter in the insertion direction; a second limiting element that limits movement of the developer material holding apparatus in a pull-out direction in which the developer material holding apparatus is pulled out of the supporting apparatus and movement of the shutter in the pull-out direction, the pull-out direction being opposite to the insertion direction, the second limiting element being resiliently deformable and extending in the pull-out direction, the second limiting element including a third limiting element that limits displacement of the free end portion when the second limiting element resiliently deforms, wherein as the developer material holding apparatus is pulled out in the pull-out direction, a part of the developer material holding apparatus climbs over the projection, causing the second limiting element between the projection and the securing portion to resiliently deform until the free end portion abuts the third limiting element and the projection abuts the shutter; wherein as the developer material holding apparatus is further pulled out in the pull-out direction after the projection has abutted the shutter, the shutter climbs over the projection causing the second limiting element between the projection and the free end portion to resiliently deform, and then the shutter moves together with the developer material holding apparatus in the pull-out direction.