Patent ID: 8600269

Claim:
A powder container, removably installable horizontally in an apparatus, the powder container comprising: a powder containing compartment for containing a powder, having a powder outlet connectable to a powder inlet of a horizontally extending tube of the apparatus in conjunction with installation of the powder container in the apparatus, the powder outlet from which the powder contained in the powder containing compartment is discharged to the tube through the powder inlet thereof; a tube inlet for receiving the tube of the apparatus; a removably insertable plug member to open and close the powder outlet of the powder containing compartment in conjunction with installation of the powder container in the apparatus; and at least one discrimination protrusion projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the powder container and positioned such that a downstream end of the discrimination protrusion is disposed downstream from a downstream end of the powder outlet of the powder containing compartment in an installation direction in which the powder container is installed in the apparatus, at least one of shape, arrangement, and quantity of the discrimination protrusion being unique to the type of powder contained in the powder container, the powder container further comprising: a horizontally extending tube connection compartment into which the tube of the apparatus is inserted horizontally after passing through the tube inlet, and in which the plug member is contained, the tube connection compartment communicating with the powder outlet of the powder containing compartment, wherein the plug member prevents discharge of the powder from the powder container when the plug member is in a closed position, wherein the powder containing compartment comprises: a container body having an opening in an upstream end portion thereof, the opening facing in the installation direction of the powder container; and a cap to cover the opening of the container body, wherein the powder outlet and the tube connection compartment are formed in the cap, and wherein the tube inlet faces in an opposite direction as the opening of the container body.