Patent ID: 8862036

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a developer container which is removably connected to an image forming apparatus main body and which includes: a cylindrical container body in which developer is contained; a developer discharge port which is formed at one end of the container body and through which the developer inside the container body is discharged; and a shutter which is rotatable through a predetermined angle relative to the container body and which is so fitted as to restrict rotation relative to the container body at both ends of the predetermined angle, the shutter having an opening formed in part of a surface thereof facing the developer discharge port, the container body being rotated in a circumferential direction to cause the developer to be discharged through the developer discharge port; a developer feeding mechanism which rotatable supports the developer container and which feeds the developer discharged through the developer discharge port to a developing device; a drive mechanism which drives the developer container to rotate in a developer feeding direction; and a torque limiter which is provided on the developer feeding mechanism and which engages with the shutter when the developer container is connected to the image forming apparatus main body, the image forming apparatus being configured such that when the developer container is rotated in the developer feeding direction, while the torque limiter keeps the shutter stationary, the container body rotates through a predetermined angle to open the developer discharge port, and as the developer container continues to be rotated, the shutter, while keeping the developer discharge port open, rotates together with the container body to allow the developer to be fed through the developer discharge port, and when the developer container is rotated in a direction reverse to the developer feeding direction, while the torque limiter keeps the shutter stationary, the container body rotates through a predetermined angle in a reverse direction to close the developer discharge port.