US Patent 7899370 Toner container

A toner cartridge includes a cylindrical supplying pipe having a toner opening port arranged on a side surface thereof; a cylindrical cover that is attached to the supplying pipe and has a cover opening port arranged on a side surface thereof, and a cam mechanism that is provided to the supplying pipe and the cover, and that reciprocates the cover between an opening position where the toner opening port and the cover opening port align with each other and a closing position where the toner opening port is closed by the cover, which closing position is in a skewed position with respect to the opening position. This arrangement provides a toner container that reduces toner leakage when being removed from a toner hopper.