Patent ID: 9298134
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A toner supply apparatus which comprises a toner cartridge, having a toner accommodating portion and a shutter to close a discharge port of toner disposed in the toner accommodating portion, and a toner cartridge holding member from which the toner cartridge is separated by sliding the toner cartridge, the toner supply apparatus comprising: the shutter comprising shutter-side coupling portions projecting toward the toner cartridge holding member, the toner cartridge holding member comprising: holding member-side coupling portions to allow the shutter to slide with respect to the toner accommodating portion to close the discharge port by being coupled with the shutter-side coupling portions when the toner accommodating portion is slid in a separating direction of the toner cartridge; a toner cartridge position restricting portion to restrict movement of the toner cartridge in a direction in which coupling between the shutter-side coupling portions and the holding member-side coupling portions is released in a sliding position of the toner accommodating portion until the toner accommodating portion is slid in the separating direction of the toner cartridge so that the discharge port is closed by the shutter; and an inducing portion to induce the toner cartridge in a direction in which the coupling between the shutter-side coupling portions and the holding member-side coupling portions is released in a sliding position of the toner accommodating portion after the toner accommodating portion is slid in the separating direction of the toner cartridge so that the discharge port is closed by the shutter, and the toner accommodating portion comprising a shutter position restricting portion to restrict movement of the shutter in a direction in which the coupling between the shutter-side coupling portions and the holding member-side coupling portions is released in the sliding position of the toner accommodating portion until the toner accommodating portion is slid in the separating direction of the toner cartridge so that the discharge port is closed by the shutter.