Patent ID: 7110708

Claim:
A developing cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner housing having a toner storage chamber and an opening at one side thereof; a toner-feeding chamber formed between the toner storage chamber and the opening; a communication hole communicating between the toner storage chamber and the toner-feeding chamber; a feeding roller included in the toner-feeding chamber; a developing roller included in the opening to contact the feeding roller; and a shielding device included in the toner storage chamber to be moveable from a shielding position, in which the shielding device shields the communication hole, to an open position in which the shielding device opens the communication hole, wherein the shielding device comprises: a rotary shaft rotatably supported at opposite ends by opposite inner lateral walls of the toner housing; a shielding member selectively connected to the rotary shaft to open and close the communication hole; and connecting means for selectively connecting the shielding member to the rotary shaft, wherein when the shielding member is connected to the rotary shaft and cooperates with the rotary shaft in the shielding position the shielding member shields the communication hole, and when the shielding member is released from the cooperation with the rotary shaft in the opening position the shielding member opens the communication hole.