Toner loading system and method

A toner refill method for refilling a toner housing of a reprographic device using a refill cartridge which is mounted on the housing, the cartridge having a removable seal on a bottom wall of the cartridge which can be removed using an integral pull tab, the housing having a bottom defining a storage cavity of a depth, the method comprising the sequential steps of:

• (a) attaching the cartridge body to the toner housing to position the cartridge in a raised position above the housing;
• (b) lowering the cartridge into the storage cavity until the bottom wall of the cartridge has been lowered substantially the entire depth of the storage cavity;
• (c) removing the seal using the pull tab to release toner from the cartridge and into the storage cavity;
• (d) raising the cartridge from within the storage cavity back to the raised position;
• and
• (e) removing the cartridge from the toner housing.

A toner refill method for refilling a toner housing of a reprographic device using a refill cartridge which is mounted on a flange for longitudinal movement when the flange is in an open position and fixedly retained when the flange is in a closed position, the cartridge having a removable seal on a bottom wall of the cartridge which can be removed using an integral pull tab, the housing having a bottom defining a storage cavity of a depth, an opening which communicates with the cavity and a mating feature for attaching the flange onto the housing, the method comprising the sequential steps of:

• (a) attaching the cartridge body to the toner housing using the flange and the mating feature to position the cartridge in a raised position above the housing;
• (b) positioning the flange of the cartridge in the open position;
• (c) lowering the cartridge into the storage cavity until the bottom wall of the cartridge is lowered substantially the entire depth of the storage cavity;
• (d) removing the seal using the pull tab to release toner from the cartridge and into the storage cavity;
• (e) raising the cartridge from within the storage cavity back to the raised position;
• (f) returning the flange to the closed position;
• and
• (g) removing the cartridge from the toner housing.

A toner refill system for a reprographic device comprising:

• a cartridge body having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls which enclose an interior storage area for retaining toner powder, said side walls extending about a longitudinal axis, said body defining a longitudinal periphery, said bottom wall having an aperture in communication with said storage area;
• a toner housing affixed to the reprographic device, said toner housing defining a toner housing storage cavity having a depth and having an upper surface which releasably mates with said cartridge and includes an opening communicating with said toner housing storage cavity sized equal to or greater than the longitudinal periphery of said cartridge body allowing said cartridge body to be substantially insertable through the entire depth of said storage cavity;
• a removable seal covering the aperture;
• and
• a flange for releasably retaining said cartridge, said flange having flexible tabs which releasably retain said cartridge in a raised position.