Patent ID: 7672609

Claim:
A toner container, comprising: a cylindrical toner container body having a toner storing portion filled with toner and a toner discharge port for discharging toner held in the toner storing portion, wherein the toner discharge port is formed on a first end face of the container body that extends in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container body, wherein the toner held in the toner storing portion is discharged out of the container by rotating the toner container body around the longitudinal axis of the toner container body; and a sealing element for sealing the toner discharge port, wherein the sealing element is formed of an arcuate-shaped flexible member having a first end that is attached to the first end face of the container body and that is peeled off the toner container body to open the toner discharge port as the toner container body rotates.