Patent ID: 7822369

Claim:
A developer supplying apparatus thr supplying a developer to a developing device, comprising: a developer container which contains the developer and is in the shape of substantially a cylinder; and a container supporting body which supports one end portion of the developer container so that the developer container is able to rotate in a peripheral surface direction, the developer container including: a first developer discharging opening for discharging the developer, the first developer discharging opening being formed on said one end portion, supported by the container supporting body, of the developer container; and developer conveying means for conveying the developer toward the first developer discharging opening by rotation of the developer container in the peripheral surface direction, the container supporting body including: a temporary storage chamber for temporarily storing the developer discharged from the first developer discharging opening of the developer container; and a second developer discharging opening for discharging the developer toward the developing device, the developer contained in the temporary storage chamber being discharged from the second developer discharging opening by the rotation of the developer container, the developer supplying apparatus further comprising a shutter mechanism for opening and closing the second developer discharging opening, the shutter mechanism including: a shutter member which is slidably provided on the container supporting body and opens/closes the second developer discharging opening; and a hook portion which is provided on the developer container, and when the shutter member is located at such a position that the second developer discharging opening is closed, engages with a part of the shutter member so as to stop the rotation of the developer container.