Patent ID: 8849162

Claim:
A toner cartridge, comprising: a housing having a reservoir enclosed therein for holding a quantity of toner, the housing having an exit port in communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the toner cartridge; a shutter mounted on the housing and moveable between a first position preventing toner from exiting the exit port and a second position allowing toner to exit the exit port, the shutter having a duct therethrough, the duct having a first end in fluid communication with the exit port when the shutter is in the second position; and a passageway in the housing having a first end in fluid communication with a second end of the duct when the shutter is in the second position and a second end in fluid communication with the toner reservoir; wherein when the toner cartridge is aligned with a developer unit of an imaging apparatus and the shutter is in the second position, exiting toner leaves the toner cartridge through the exit port and air entrained within the developer unit is permitted to enter the toner reservoir through the exit port, the duct and the passageway for equalizing pressure between the toner cartridge and the developer unit.