Toner cartridge and mechanism of installing and removing the same

A toner supply apparatus in which a toner cartridge having a toner pouring opening is removably set in a predetermined setting position, said toner supply apparatus comprising an engaging member that engages with said toner cartridge, wherein

• said toner cartridge includes:
• a guide member that guides insertion of said toner cartridge into a main unit of said toner supply apparatus;
• a shutter member configured to freely slide between a close position in which said toner pouring opening is closed and an open position in which said toner pouring opening is opened;
• a first engaging member that engages with this shutter member and, when said toner cartridge is inserted into said setting position, restricts the movement of said shutter member in a direction opposite to an insertion direction;
• a second engaging member that engages with said toner cartridge and, when said toner cartridge is replaced from said setting position, regulates said shutter member to the close position;
• and
• an engagement release mechanism that, when said toner cartridge is replaced, disengages said first engaging member to slide said toner cartridge in a replacing direction and engages with said second engaging member to restrict said shutter member to the close position, and
• the engaging member engages with said first engaging member when said toner cartridge is inserted and engages with said engagement release member when said toner cartridge is replaced.

A method of inserting a toner cartridge into and replacing the toner cartridge from a toner supply apparatus disposed in an image forming apparatus, said method comprising:

• sliding a shutter member from a close position thereof to open and close the shutter member and peeling off a sealing member that seals the toner pouring opening, the shutter member being provided in the toner cartridge and freely sliding to the close position in which a toner pouring opening is closed and an open position in which the toner pouring opening is opened;
• returning said shutter member of said toner cartridge to the close position and sliding said toner cartridge on a guide member that guides insertion and replacement of said toner cartridge to be pushed thereinto;
• preventing, with an engaging member, the movement of said shutter member in a pull-out direction opposite to the push-in direction while engaging said shutter member with said guide member to be held by said guide member;
• further pushing said toner cartridge into the push-in direction while the movement of said shutter member is prevented, setting said toner cartridge in a setting position, and displacing said shutter member to the open position;
• putting aside, in said setting position of said toner cartridge, said shutter member and said guide member in an escape position;
• and
• bringing, in the escape position, said shutter member into contact with said toner cartridge and preventing said toner cartridge from being pulled out from the setting position.