US3356248A

US3356248A - Container with a rotatable closure

Info

Publication number: US3356248A
Application number: US497104A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vecchio George D Del
Original assignee: Xerox Corp
Current assignee: Xerox Corp
Priority date: 1965-10-18
Filing date: 1965-10-18
Publication date: 1967-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-05
Also published as: GB1166618A

Description

G. D. DEL VECCHIO 3,356,248

Dec. 5, 1967 I CONTAINER WITH A ROTATABLE CLOSURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTOR.

GGE D. DELV ECCH IO A T TORNE VS Dec. 5, 1967 G. D. DEL veccr-uo 3,356,248

CONTAINER WITH A ROTATABLE CLOSURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTOR. GEORGE D. DELVECCHIO BY a n44,

ATTORNEYS 1967 c. D. DEL VECCHIO 3,35

CONTAINER WITH A ROTATABLE CLOSURE Filed Oct. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. GEORGE D. DELVECCHIO A TTORNE VS 1967 G. D. DEL VECCHIO 3,35 ,2

CONTAINER WITH A ROTATABLE CLOSURE Filed Oct. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 66 g; 64 O 1 o 40 L6 57 0 1 F/G 7 I GEORGE DFEEEKFE mm A TTOR/VEYS Dec. 5, 1967 5. D. DEL veccr-no 3,355,248

7 CONTAINER WITH A ROTATABLE CLOSURE Filed Oct. 18, 1965 5 sheets-sheet a FIG. 8

FIG. /0 FIG. 9

INVENTOR. GEORGE D. DELVECCHIO ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,356,248 CONTAINER WITH A ROTATABLE CLOSURE George D. Del Vecchio, North Rose, N.Y., assignor to Xerox Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,104 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-41) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container capable of dispensing powdered material contained therein. The container is formed of two cylinders concentrically arranged one within the other. The exterior cylinder is imperforate in its major extent but includes a powder dispensing opening. The interior cylinder has an imperforate section positionable over the opening of the external cylinder to prohibit dispensing of the contents of the contained. The interior cylinder also has an apertured section so that upon rotation thereof, the aperture and opening cooperate for dispensing the contents of the container. An end face of the interior cylinder ha a boss movable in an arcuate groove of the external cylinder to limit rotation of the cylinders with respect to each other.

This invention relates to containers and particularly to sealed receptacles for fine granular or powder material.

More specifically, this invention relates to a sealed container for xerographic toner material as used in any of the various xerographic reproducing machines.

In the process of xerography, for example, as disclosed in Carlson Patent 2,297,691, a xerographic plate comprising a layer of photoconductive material on a conductive backing is given a uniform electric charge over its surface and then exposed to the subject matter to be reproduced, usually by conventional projection techniques. This exposure discharges the plate in accordance with the light intensity reachin it thereby creating an electrostatic latent image on or in the plate.

Development of the image is elfected by developers which comprise, in general, a mixture of a suitable pigmented or dyed resin based powder, hereinafter referred to as toner, and a granular carrier material which functions to carry and to generate triboelectric charges on the toner. More specifically, the function of the carrier material is to provide mechanical control of the toner, or to carry the toner to an image surface and, simultaneously, provide almost complete homogenity of charge polarity. In the development of the image, the toner powder is brought into surface contact with the photoconductive coating and is held thereon electrostatically in a pattern corresponding to the electrostatic latent image. Thereafter, the developed xerographic image i usually transferred to a support material to which it may be fixed by any suitable means.

In the mixture of toner particles in carrier material, the toner particles, which are many times smaller than the carrier particles, adhered to and coat the surface of the carrier particles due to the electrostatic attraction between them. During development, as the toner coated carrier particles roll or tumble over thexerographic plate carrying an electrostatic image of opposite polarity to the charge on the toner, toner particles are pulled away from the carrier by the latent electrostatic image and deposited on the plate to form a developed toner image. As toner powder images are formed, additional toner must be supplied to the developer mixture to replenish the toner deposited on the xerographic plate. The toner material which is to be contained in applicants invention may be of the type disclosed in Carlson Patent No. 2,940,934, wherein the toner particles comprise a finely divided pig- 3,356,248 Patented Dec. 5, 1967 mented resin having a particle size less than 20 microns and preferably an average particle size between about 5 and about 10 microns and consisting of a finely divided uniform mixture of pigment in a non-tacky, low melting resin. Desirably, the pigment will be a black pigment such as carbon black or other minutely divided carbonaceous pigment.

The disadvantage of handling toner material in prior containers is the tendency of the toner powder, due to its minute size, to become airborne when the container is opened by the machine operator. This airborne toner powder contaminates the surrounding area with carbon black particles, blackening the operators hands and clothing, creating a undesirable Working condition. These prior containers, if not of the above-described nature, have been of the type wherein the package is placed into the machine by the operator and kept therein to be used as a dispensing unit. After the toner supply is exhausted, the operator removes the empty container from the machine and replaces it with a full one. The minute toner particles which cover the empty container due to the dispensing operation and the residual portion remaining inside the opened container create the same problem as described above but of a more aggravated nature.

The new invention of this application provides a sealed container for toner material to be used in cooperation with a loader mechanism such as that disclosed and claimed in copending application Ser. No. 497,314, filed on Oct. 18, 1965, in the name of George D. Del Vecchio et al. The container is placed in the mechanism, the seal is broken and the toner emptied into a dispenser, and the container reclosed providing a white gloves hands-free method of loading the toner into the dispenser mechanism. The container, being destroyed, is then removed from the loading mechanism and discarded.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to improve receptacles for containing xerographic toner material.

Another object of this invention is to control the dispensing of the receptacles contents.

A further object of this invention is to improve containers whereby the contents are prevented from becoming airborne.

Still another object of this invention is to prevent contamination by the material contained therein.

In addition, it is another object of this invention to improve xerographic toner containers whereby the receptacle is reclosed and disposed of after use.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an automatic xerographic reproducing machine utilizing an embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of an embodiment of the invention showing the drive means which coaets with a suitable loading mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with parts broken away to better illustrate the construction and features thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention cooperating with a suitable loading mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an end view of a loader mechanism suitable for use with the subject invention;

FIG. 6 is a section view of the loader mechanism taken along line -66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the loading mechanism when not in cooperation with the subject invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism of the loader to better illustrate the cooperative relationship of the mechanism to the subject invention;

FIG. 9 is an end profile view of the subject invention showing the means to rotate the closure portion; and

FIG. 10 is an opposite end profile view of an embodiment of the subject invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 an embodiment of the subject invention in a suitable environment such as an automatic xerographic reproducing machine, although it should be noted that the invention is not intended to be so limited.

As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the automatic xerographic reproducing machine includes a xerographic plate including a photoconductive layer or light receiving surface on a conductive backing journaled in a frame to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow to cause the plate surface sequentially to pass a plurality of xerographic processing stations.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, several xerographic processing stations in the path of movement of the plate surface may be described functionally, as follows:

A charging station 1 which a uniform electrostatic charge is deposited on the photoconductive layer;

An exposure station 2 at which a light or radiation pattern of copy to be reproduced is projected onto the plate surface to dissipate the charge in exposed areas thereof and thereby form a latent electrostatic image of the copy to be reproduced;

A developing station 3 at which the xerographic de- Veloping material including toner particles having an electrostatic charge opposite to that of the electrostatic latent image are cascaded over the plate surface, whereby the toner particles adhere to the electrostatic latent image to form a xerographic powder image in the configuration of the copy being reproduced;

A transfer station 4 at which the xerographic powder image is electrostatically transferred from the plate surface to a transfer material or a support surface; and

A drum cleaning and discharge station 5 at which the plate surface is brushed to remove residual toner particles remaining thereon after image transfer, and at which the plate surface is exposed to a relatively bright light source to effect substantially complete discharge of any residual electrostatic charge remaining thereon.

It is felt that the preceding description of the xerographic process is sufiiicent for a better understanding of this invention. Referring now to the subject matter of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the toner loader 100 cooperates with the toner container to discharge the contents of the container into a toner metering mechanism 6 whereby the toner is metered into the developer apparatus 3 as the supply of toner in the developer mixture 7 becomes depleted through development of the latent electrostatic image on or in the rotatable xerographic plate 8.

The toner container 10, shown in FIG. 2, includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve or receptacle 11 having an opening in its peripheral surface 12 through which the toner material is discharged. A substantially cylindrical core or liner having a closure portion 21 is rotatably mounted in the receptacle 11 forming a closure of the sleeve opening 12 to retain the contents therein. The liner 20 has a closed end portion 22 cooperating with an end member 13 secured to receptacle 11 and having a circular opening therein in which a fibrous washer 14 is positioned, forming a toner-tight seal. The opposite end portion 24 of the liner 20, having an opening therein for filling the receptacle with toner, is formed with a groove 25 in which the boss 16 of end member 15, secured to the receptacle 11 forming a closure thereof, coacts to limit the relative rotation of the liner 20 within the receptacle 11. The liner 20 is rotated within the receptacle 11, moving the closure portion 21 into or out of interference with the opening '12 of the receptacle, by operation of a lever-actuated drive hub of toner loader 100 ccoperating with a drive portion 23 of liner 20 wherein the drive portion 23 is inserted in a suitable slot 31 of drive hub 39 and rotated thereby. p

The cover plate 37 of toner loader 100 is raised, and the toner container 10 is positioned on the loader over the opening 41 in base plate 40 on gaskets 42 with a lock portion 17 of the container end member 15 engaged in a suitable slot 44 of the gasket plate 43 to provent rota-' tion of the entire container 10 when the drive hub 30 rotates. A guide portion 18 is provided on the container end member 15 to prevent the container from being positioned on the loader mechanism without the container opening 12 in cooperation with the opening 41 in base plate 40.

The base plate 40 of the toner loader 100, which is secured to the top of the developer housing 3 forming a toner-tight seal therewith by means of gaskets 47 and flange 48 of the toner meter 6, is formed with

suitable hinge portions

45 and 46 for mounting the cover plate 37 and folding opener mechanism 60, respectively, and a recessed housing portion 49 for containing the folding opener mechanism hereinafter described in detail.

The opener mechanism 60, the operation of which opens and closes the toner container 10 by rotating a liner relative to the receptacle 11, is secured to the hinge portion 38 of the cover 37 by link bar 61 pinned to the hinge portion at one end and secured at its opposite end to a bearing 62 mounted on pivot support whereby the link bar 61 may be rotated relative to the pivot support 80. Rightand left-

hand angle arms

64 and 65, re spectively, are mounted on hearing 62 for rotation rela tive to pivot support 80 to raise or lower support arm 66. The

angle arms

64 and 65, at their opposite ends,- support a bifurcated support arm 66 in which the drive hub 30 is rotatably mounted on bearing surfaces of sup port arm 66 and rotated by operation of handle 94, pinned to a cylindrical portion 32 of drive hub 36 and nor mally biased in a counterclockwise direction to a horizontal stop position, as seen in FIG. 5, by a torsion spring 33 encircling the cylindrical portion 32 of drive hub 39 and secured at its ends in slot portions of the support arm 66. The support arm 66 is formed with a stop portion 69 which engages handle 94 to limit its rotation and the rotation of the coacting drive hub 30. A cam portion 34 on the periphery of drive hub 30 cooperates with a follower latch 54 to lock the toner container 10 onto the toner loader mechanism upon the rotation of the drive hub 30 through operation of the handle 94. This follower latch 54 is rotatably mounted on a pin 55 secured in a bifurcated portion 70 of support arm 66 and biased out of interference with a toner container being placed on or removed from the toner loader mechanism by a spring 56 secured at one end to the follower latch 54 and at its opposite end to a tab portion 57 of support arm 66. R0- tation of handle 94 cams follower latch 54 into engagement with the end member 13 of toner container 16 preventing the removal of the container from the loader when the closure portion 21 is out of interference with the opening 12 of the receptacle 11. The handle 94 is rotated back to its original position closing the opening 12 in receptacle 11 and the follower latch 54 moves out of engagement with the end member 13 to permit removal of the emptied container.

To enable the opener mechanism 60 to be folded into the recessed housing portion 49 of the loader base plate 40 when the cover plate 37 is lowered, the support arm 66 is pivotable at its end opposite the drive hub 30 in bearing portions 73 of bracket 74, secured to base plate 40, and rightand left-hand lock bars 75 and 76, respectively, which are secured to base plate 40 by shoulder pins 91 extending through a boss portion of the base plate and through a suitable opening 92 in each lock bar. Both rightand left-hand lock bars 75 and 76, respectively, are formed with

lock portions

77 and 78, corresponding to rightand left-hand lock bars, for rigidly securing the opener mechanism in operating position when the cover is opened by extending

positions

81 and 82 of pivot support 80 engaging the

respective lock portions

77 and 78 of the lock bars.

The operation of the above-disclosed mechanism will now be briefly described to more clearly illustrate the subject invention.

As the cover plate 37 is opened, the link bar 61, secured to the cover plate, is moved up out of the housing portion 49 of base plate 40 and to the right, as seen in FIG. 5. A guide 51 secured to the base plate controls the movement of the linkage from the housing portion to the

lock portions

77 and 78 of lock bars 75 and 76. The link bars movement raises the

angle arms

64 and 65 rotating them in a counterclockwise direction and securing the

extensions

81 and 82 of pivot support 80 in the

lock portions

77 and 78, respectively. Due to the connection of the angle arms to the support arm 66, the opener mechanism is locked in operating position.

A toner container is placed onto the loader mechanism 100 with the drive portion 23 of toner liner 20 engaged in the slot 31 of the drive hub 30, and the lock portion 17 of the container end member engaged in the slot 44 of the toner loader gasket plate 43. As the handle 94 is rotated, breaking the seal and opening the toner container, the cam portion 34 on drive hub 30 cams the follower latch 54 into engagement with the end member 13 of the container preventing the removal of the toner container 10. After the contents of the toner container are emptied into the toner meter, the handle 94 is rotated back to its original position closing the container and releasing the follower latch 54 to permit removal of the container from the loader.

The cover plate 37 is then lowered, moving the link bar 61 to the left and downward, releasing the

extensions

81 and 82 of pivot bar 80 from engagement with the

lock portions

77 and 78 of

lock bar

75 and 76, respectively. The

angle arms

64 and 65 are moved downward and rotated clockwise lowering the support arm 66, drive hub 30 and handle 94, into the housing portion 49 of the base plate 40. A latch 85 fastened to the developer housing 3 secures the cover plate 37 by engaging a suitable latch portion 36 formed thereon.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structure disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, but is intended tocover such modifications or changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container including a sleeve member having at least one opening therein,

said sleeve member having one end closed and the opposite end having an opening therein,

a hollow core member mounted in said sleeve member in cooperation with the end of said sleeve member having an opening therein forming a closure thereof and adapted to be rotated relative to said sleeve mem ber,

said core member having a closure portion to cover the opening in said cylindrical member, and

a seal between the closure portion of said core mem ber and the opening in said sleeve member.

2. A container including a hollow cylindrical member having an opening therea first disk-shaped end member secured to one end of said cylindrical member and having an opening therein,

a second disk-shaped end member secured to said cylindrical member at the end opposite said first end member forming a closure thereof,

said second end member having a boss portion,

a hollow cylindrical element rotatably supported in said cylindrical member having a closed first end portion,

said cylindrical element having a second end portion engaging said boss portion of said second disk-shaped end member to limit rotation of said cylindrical element relative to said cylindrical member.

said cylindrical element having a closure portion adapted to cover the opening in said cylindrical mem ber, and

means to rotate said cylindrical element relative to said cylindrical member to empty the contents of the container.

3. A container including a hollow cylindrical member having an opening therea first disk-shaped end member secured to one end of said cylindrical member and having an opening there- 1n,

said second end member having a boss portion,

said cylindrical element having a second end portion engaging said boss portion of said second disk-shaped end member to limit rotation of said cylindrical element relative to said cylindrical member,

said cylindrical element having a closure portion adapted to cover the opening in said cylindrical member,

a seal between the closure portion of said cylindrical element and the opening in said cylindrical member, and

means to rotate said cylindrical element relative to said cylindrical member breaking said seal and emptying the contents of the container.

4. A container including a hollow cylindrical member having an opening therein,

a first disk-shaped end member secured to one end of said cylindrical member and having an opening therein,

said second end member having a boss portion,

a hollow, substantially cylindrical element rotatably supported in said cylindrical member having a closed first end portion forming a protruding member extending through the opening in the first disk-shaped end member and ooacting with said first disk-shaped end member to form a seal therewith,

said cylindrical element having a second end portion with an opening therein formed to coact with the boss portion of said second disk-shaped end member to limit rotation of said cylindrical element relative to said cylindrical member,

said cylindrical element having a closure portion to cover the opening in said cylindrical member, and

said protruding member adapted to rotate said cylindrical element relative to said cylindrical member to empty the contents of the container.

5. A container including a hollow cylindrical member having an opening therea first disk-shaped end member secured to one end of said cylindrical member and having an opening therein,

said second end member having a boss portion,

a hollow, substantially cylindrical element rotatably supported in said cylindrical member having a closed first end portion forming a protruding member extending through the opening in the first disk-shaped end member and coacting with said first disk-shaped end member to form a seal therewith,

said cylindrical element having a closure portion to cover the opening in said cylindrical member,

a seal between said closure portion and said opening,

and

6. A container for dispensing powdered material contained therein including:

a hollow drum-shaped member formed of end members and a peripheral surface therebetween, said peripheral surface having a powdered dispensing opening formed therein,

a hollow core member formed of end members and a peripheral closure portion therebetween, said closure portion having a powder dispensing aperture formed therein, said core member being concentrically mounted within said drum-shaped member for rotational movement relative to said drum-shaped member from a first position wherein said closure portion covers the opening in said drum-shaped member to a second position wherein said aperture is in registration with the opening of said drum-shaped member and rotation limiting means including a boss and coacting groove formed on adjacent end members whereby the ends of said groove define the amount of movement said boss can make within said groove and consequently control the amount of rotational movement between the core member and drum-shaped member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,130,975 9/1938 Stevens 222553 X 20 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A CONTAINER INCLUDING A SLEEVE MEMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENING THEREIN, SAID SLEEVE MEMBER HAVING ONE END CLOSED AND THE OPPOSITE END HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A HOLLOW CORE MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID SLEEVE MEMBER IN COOPERATION WITH THE END OF SAID SLEEVE MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FORMING A CLOSURE THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED RELATIVE TO SAID SLEEVE MEMBER,