Sealing member for toner cartridge

The sealing film of the preceding claim, in which the elements of a series are spaced from each other with a distance of less than 10 mm.

The sealing film of claim l in which the elements have a maximum depth corresponding to 75% of the thickness of the layer.

A toner holder selected from the group consisting of toner container and toner cartridge, said holder being provided with a sealing film for closing an opening of the toner holder, said sealing film having a longitudinal portion to be torn out, said longitudinal portion extending between a first line and a second line and to be torn between a first end and a second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm and with a preferred substantially linear tearing direction, said layer being provided with:

• at least with a first longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the first line and
• a second longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the second line,
• whereby said longitudinal surface elements extend in a direction of at least 5° with respect to the preferred substantially linear tearing direction.

The toner holder of the preceding claim, in which the elements of a series are spaced from each with a distance of less than 10 mm.

A method for opening a sealing film closing a longitudinal opening of a toner cartridge or container, said film having a longitudinal portion to be torn out, said longitudinal portion extending between a first line and a second line and to being adapted to be torn between a first end and a second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm and with at least one preferred substantially linear tearing direction, said layer being provided with:

• at least with a first longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the first line and
• a second longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the second line,
• whereby said longitudinal surface elements extend in a direction of at least 5° with respect to the preferred substantially linear tearing directions.

A sealing means for a toner cartridge, said sealing means comprising a film structure, a first portion of which is adapted for sealing an opening of the toner cartridge, said first portion having a central portion intended to be torn, while a second portion of which is adapted for making a pulling means connected to the central portion to be torn.

A sealing member for sealing an opening of a toner holder or a toner cartridge, said sealing member comprising a film with a central portion adapted to be torn out and being adapted to be connected to a pulling means, whereby said film is a monolayer film with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 400 μm.