Toner loading apparatus with replenishing supply container

Abstract

To add toner to the toner hopper of an electrostatic reproduction machine without contaminating either the operator or the interior of the machine, an improved toner bottle and receiver coact so as to eliminate or minimize the danger of generating toner clouds or spilling toner during the loading operation. The bottle has a body and a cap rotatably mounted on one end of the body. The body has a plurality of locating and locking lugs which coact with corresponding channels in the receiver so that the bottle can be inserted into the receiver in only one position. When a closed toner bottle is inserted into the receiver, a lip serves both to position the cap relative to an inlet opening of the receiver, and to retain the cap in this position as the body is rotated so that openings in the body and cap are aligned with the inlet opening; a suitable mechanism stops the body when the three openings are aligned. As the body is rotated, the bottle is simultaneously locked onto the hopper by the lugs being moved out of alignment with their corresponding channels. After being locked onto the hopper a bellows portion of the body is compressed to expel toner into the hopper. In order to remove the bottle from the hopper, it must be returned to its initial position which also closes the bottle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.