Patent ID: 8155566

Claim:
A toner feed unit comprising: a first feed portion including: a first toner feed passage provided therein; and a first shutter member that includes a lever and that is constructed so as to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the toner feed direction of the first toner feed passage and so as to be able to open and close the toner output end of the first toner feed passage; and, a second feed portion including: a second toner feed passage that is provided therein to be able to join to the first toner feed passage; a second shutter member that is constructed so as to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the toner feed direction of the second toner feed passage and so as to be able to open and close the toner input end of the second toner feed passage that is connected to the toner output end of the first toner feed passage; and a pressing member, characterized in that when the first feed portion and second feed portion are separated from each other, the first shutter member and the second shutter member are rotated and set into their close states, and when the first feed portion and second feed portion are joined to feed toner, the first toner feed passage and the second toner feed passage are set into communication with each other by the pressing member pressing on the lever the first shutter member to cause the first shutter member and the second shutter member to integrally rotate while in contact with each other to open the first shutter member and the second shutter member.