Replenisher mechanism for a development station of a reproduction apparatus

In a reproduction apparatus, a mechanism for replenishing marking particle material from a marking particle receptacle to a remote developer station reservoir, said replenisher mechanism comprising:

• a housing having a sensor for sensing a level of particulate material within said housing, a pair of spaced end walls, and a pair of spaced side walls, at least a portion of said side walls being flexible;
• an interface providing flow communication of marking particle material between said marking particle receptacle and said housing;
• a delivery assembly providing flow communication of marking particle material between said housing and said remote developer station reservoir;
• and
• a pair of paddle assemblies operatively associated with said flexible portions of said side walls respectively for moving such flexible portions in a manner to substantially prevent agglomeration and flake production in the particulate material within said housing, said paddle assemblies respectively including a first pivot rod mounted in fixed spatial relation to the housing, a paddle supported on said first pivot rod, a second pivot rod carried by said paddle, a reciprocating actuator arm connected to said second pivot rod to selectively move said paddle about said first pivot rod, a lever pivotably mounted on said second pivot rod, whereby when said paddle is rotated about said first pivot rod by reciprocation of said actuator arm, said lever rotates about said second pivot rod providing movement of said flexible portion of said side wall adjacent to said first pivot rod causing breaking of any particulate material bridges at that point.