Patent ID: 6334037
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A developer cartridge which is inserted in a direction of a rotating axis thereof and rotatably mounted in a developing unit of an image forming apparatus, and supplies a developer to said developing unit while rotating, comprising a cylindrical cartridge main body having a developer outlet hole in an outer surface near one end, and a ring-like cartridge-side shutter which is fitted on the outer surface near said one end of said cylindrical cartridge main body to be movable along said direction of the rotating axis between a position where the developer outlet hole is opened and a position where the developer outlet hole is closed,wherein said developing unit has a guide for inserting said developer cartridge and a driving unit for rotating said developer cartridge, said guide has a main body-side shutter with a hole, and when said developer cartridge is inserted, said cartridge-side shutter of said cylindrical cartridge main body moves from the position where the developer outlet hole is closed to the position where the developer outlet hole is opened, the developer outlet hole aligns itself with the hole of said main body-side shutter, and every time said cylindrical cartridge main body and said main body-side shutter integrally rotate to align the developer outlet hole and the hole of said main body-side shutter with a developer replenishment port formed below said main body-side shutter, the developer in said developer cartridge is supplied from the developer replenishment port to said developing unit via the developer outlet hole and the hole of said main body-side shutter.