Image forming apparatus with simple configuration capable of opening and closing shutter of developing agent container in conjunction with opening and closing operation of cover portion

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an apparatus main body having an attachment portion therein to which one or more developing agent containers are attached, the developing agent containers having a storage portion configured to store a powder developing agent and a shutter input portion configured to receive an external force for opening and closing a shutter that closes a developing agent outlet, the apparatus main body having a main opening communicating with the attachment portion;
• a cover portion supported by the apparatus main body and capable of opening and closing the main opening;
• one or more shutter output portions provided in the apparatus main body corresponding to the developing agent container, each shutter output portion configured to engage with a shutter input portion and to be supported displaceably between an open position that opens the shutter via the shutter input portion and a closed position that closes the shutter via the shutter input portion;
• and
• a main linking mechanism that is provided in the apparatus main body and that by linking the shutter output portion with the opening and closing operation of the cover portion is configured to cause the shutter output portion to displace to the open position when the cover portion is closed and cause the shutter output portion to displace to the closed position when the cover portion is opened;
• wherein
• the main linking mechanism comprises:
• a pivoting portion configured to pivot in conjunction with rotation of a rotation shaft of the cover portion that is rotatably supported;
• a rack gear configured to displace in a linear direction in conjunction with the pivoting of the pivoting portion;
• one or more pinion gears configured to mesh with the rack gear and cause the shutter output portion to displace in conjunction with displacement of the rack gear;
• and
• a switching mechanism configured to release the linking of the shutter output portion with a closing operation of the cover portion in response to a predetermined release operation and enable the linking in response to a predetermined enable operation.