Patent ID: 8391753

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a powder containing portion that has a first opening formed thereon and contains powder inside thereof, the powder containing portion being attached to an attachment portion of the image forming apparatus by inserting the powder containing portion in a predetermined direction, the attachment portion comprises: a second opening, a main-body closing member which covers and uncovers the second opening, a regulation member which holds the main-body closing member so that the main-body closing member slides with regard to the regulation member and which is loosely fixed to the attachment portion so that the regulation member slides in the predetermined direction and an opposite direction to the predetermined direction with regard to the attachment portion, and a closing portion as part of the attachment portion; a container closing member which covers and uncovers the first opening and is arranged to move in the predetermined direction and the opposite direction of the predetermined direction with regard to the powder containing portion and, when the powder containing portion is being attached to the attachment portion of the image forming apparatus in the predetermined direction, whose movement is regulated by striking against the regulation member to make the container closing member uncover the first opening and to make a through path between the first opening and the second opening, and the container closing member, when the powder containing portion is being detached from the image forming apparatus in the opposite direction to the predetermined direction, whose movement is regulated by contacting the closing portion to cause the container closing member to cover the opening; and a moving portion that engages the regulation member with the powder containing portion and moves the regulation member in the opposite direction of the predetermined direction, when the powder containing portion is being detached from the image forming apparatus until the movement of the regulation member is regulated by the closing portion, the regulation member pushing the container closing member in the opposite direction of the predetermined direction, wherein when the powder containing portion is being detached from the image forming apparatus to the opposite direction in the predetermined direction, the first opening is covered by the container closing member after the regulation member is regulated by contacting with the closing portion.