Patent ID: 8792809
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A toner container for attachment to a body of an image forming apparatus that includes a first holding member, a second holding member, and a shutter closing mechanism such that a longitudinal direction of the toner container is kept horizontal, the toner container comprising: a toner outlet for discharging toner; a shutter unit that moves along an outer periphery of the toner container to open and close the toner outlet; a shutter rail for guiding the shutter unit to move in the longitudinal direction for opening and closing the toner outlet; and a projection that protrudes from the toner container in the longitudinal direction so as to protrude from an end portion of the shutter unit in a closing direction with the end portion located at a position where the toner outlet is closed, wherein the shutter rail includes two surface members that are disposed, respectively, on one side and another side of the toner container, and extend in the longitudinal direction, the projection includes surfaces that are respectively in the same planes as planes of the surface members of the shutter rail, the toner outlet is opened and closed by moving the shutter unit on the shutter rail, the surface members are to be sandwiched by the first holding member, the shutter unit is switched between a held state in which the shutter unit is held by the second holding member and a released state in which holding of the shutter unit by the second holding member is released in accordance with rotation of the second holding member, and the shutter unit is prevented by the shutter closing mechanism, which makes the second holding member incapable of rotating, from being open while the surface members are sandwiched by the first holding member.