Device for transferring particulate material

Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for enabling the clean transfer of particulate material such as xerographic toner from a refill container (70) into a hopper (21) for the material. The apparatus includes a hopper (21) which has a substantially horizontal filling aperture closable by a lid (43). On opening the lid, a hinged chute member (41) sealingly engaging the filling aperture and containing a receiving orifice for the refill container is spring urged (52) out of the aperture so that the receiving orifice is inclined to the horizontal. The refill container may then be introduced into the receiving orifice without the need for it to be completely inverted, and, once it is engaged in the receiving orifice, may be inverted against the spring force to empty the material into the hopper. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus is adapted for use with a refill container (70) having a sealing membrane (71), the hopper including means to perforate the sealing membrane. The perforating means is positioned so as to engage the sealing membrane of the refill container only when the refill container is sealingly engaged in the receiving orifice of the chute member.

Inventors

• 👤 Anthony James Skeels

Bibliographic Details