Imaging apparatus assembly with pressure equalization

An assembly for an imaging device, the assembly comprising:

• a developer unit and a toner cartridge, the developer unit and toner cartridge being positionable so as to be in fluid communication with one another;
• the developer comprising:
• a housing having a toner sump therein for holding a first quantity of toner, the housing having an entry port for receiving toner exiting the toner cartridge;
• and
• a shutter assembly positioned between the toner sump and the entry port, the shutter assembly having a shutter rotatable between a first position where the entry port is closed and a second position where the entry port is in fluid communication with the toner sump, the shutter further having a channel extending from an inner end of the shutter to an entry opening on a side of the shutter, the entry opening aligning with the entry port when the shutter is in the second position, the channel receiving toner entering the entry port;
• and
• the toner cartridge comprising:
• a housing having a reservoir enclosed therein for holding a second quantity of toner, the housing having an exit port in communication with the reservoir for receiving toner exiting the toner cartridge;
• a shutter assembly positioned between the toner reservoir and the exit port, the shutter assembly having a shutter rotatable between an first position where the exit port is closed and a second position where the exit port is open, the shutter having an duct therethrough, the duct having a first end in fluid communication with the exit port when the shutter is in the second position, the shutter further having a channel extending from an inner end of the shutter to an exit opening on a side of the shutter, the exit opening aligning with the exit port when the shutter is in the second position, the channel receiving toner exiting the toner reservoir;
• an enclosed channel having a first end in fluid communication with a second end of the duct when the shutter is in the second position and a second end within the toner reservoir;
• and
• a one way valve positioned within the housing having an inlet in fluid communication with the second end of the channel and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir;
• wherein, when the exit port of the toner cartridge is aligned with the entry port of the developer unit, toner exiting the toner cartridge through the channel and the exit opening of the shutter in the toner cartridge and exit port enters the entry port of the developer unit while air in the developer unit exits via entry port and the enters the toner reservoir of the toner cartridge via the exit port, the duct, the enclosed channel and the one way valve.

An assembly for an imaging apparatus, the assembly comprising:

• a toner cartridge comprising:
• a housing having a reservoir enclosed therein for holding a first quantity of toner, the housing having an exit port in communication with the reservoir via a channel in the housing, the channel and the exit port for receiving toner exiting the reservoir and the toner cartridge, the channel having an open portion for receiving toner from the reservoir and an enclosed portion;
• a shutter mounted within the enclosed portion of the channel in the housing and rotatable between an first position closing the exit port and a second position where the exit port is open, the shutter having an duct therethrough, the duct having a first end in fluid communication with the exit port when the shutter is in the second position;
• an auger rotatably mounted in the channel in the housing of the toner cartridge for transporting toner from the reservoir to the shutter;
• a reed valve positioned within the reservoir above the toner and having an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir;
• and
• a passageway formed in the housing of the toner cartridge having a first end in fluid communication with a second end of the duct when the shutter is in the second position and a second end in fluid communication with an inlet of the reed valve;
• and
• a developer unit cartridge comprising:
• a housing having a toner sump enclosed therein for holding a second quantity of toner, the housing having an entry port for receiving toner exiting the toner cartridge and in communication with the toner sump via a channel in the housing, the channel having an enclosed portion and an open portion, the open portion of the channel having a plurality of spaced openings along a bottom thereof;
• a shutter mounted within the enclosed portion of the channel in the housing and rotatable moveable between an first position closing the entry port and a second position where the entry port is open;
• and
• an auger rotatably mounted in the channel in the housing of the developer unit for transporting toner from the shutter to the toner sump via the channel;
• wherein when the exit port of toner cartridge is aligned with the entry port of the developer unit, toner exiting the toner cartridge through the exit port enters the developer unit while air within the developer unit exits the developer unit and enters the duct and the passageway and enters the reservoir through an outlet of the reed valve.