Patent ID: 7596338

Claim:
A toner container for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising: a container body comprising a toner storing portion that is provided with a toner feed recess at an outer peripheral surface of the toner storing portion, wherein said toner feed recess is provided with a toner discharge aperture; and a supporting structure configured to support the container body in a rotatable manner; wherein the supporting structure is configured to enclose at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface along a rotational direction of the container body so as to also enclose the toner feed recess; wherein the supporting structure comprises a toner feed aperture; wherein the supporting structure further comprises a shutter opening and closing mechanism having an approximately plate-like shutter element that is movable along a fixed direction for opening and closing the toner feed aperture; wherein a surface of the container body comprises an engaging projection configured to engage the shutter opening and closing mechanism when said toner feed aperture is closed; and wherein said engaging projection does not engage said shutter opening and closing mechanism when said toner feed aperture is open.