Patent ID: 8213840

Claim:
A developer material holding apparatus configured to be detachably attached to a process cartridge of an image forming apparatus that forms a developer image, comprising: a body that holds a developer material therein and includes a first opening in the form of mesh openings through which the developer material is discharged; and a shutter assembled inside said body, and being movable between an opening position where the developer material is discharged from said body and a closing position where the developer material is not discharged from said body, the shutter having a second opening formed therein and a sealing member attached to an outer surface thereof; wherein the mesh openings in the first opening are in alignment with the second opening when said shutter is at the opening position; and the sealing member is in alignment with the first opening and is configured to close the first opening from inside when said shutter is at the closing position, the sealing member being sandwiched between the shutter and an inner surface of the body and configured to seal gaps between the shutter and close the mesh openings.