Combined liquid container and dispensing means

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in a copying machine, comprising: a. a container for a processing liquid, said container being formed with an external concavity in one wall thereof having a cylindrical bottom surface adapted to serve as a dispensing tray when said container is positioned in said machine, with said one wall facing upwardly; b. means defining a liquid passageway between said container and the bottom of said concavity; and, c. means for moving said liquid from said container into said concavity.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said liquid comprises an air pump removably connected with said container and capable of building up sufficient pressure within said container to force liquid through said passageway into said concavity.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein liquid level means are provided to maintain the liquid at a predetermined level within said dispensing tray.

Claim 5

In a copying machine: a. a disposable container for a processing liquid, said container being sealed for shipping before use in said machine and being formed with an external cylindrical concavity in one wall thereof; b. opening and support means removably supporting said container in said machine with said concavity facing upwardly, whereby said concavity defines a liquid tray; c. means defining a liquid passageway between the bottom of said concavity and the interior of said container; d. an air pump; e. a tube connected to said pump and having a beveled extremity; f. means for moving said tube into an operative position to penetrate said one wall; g. said container being formed of a material adapted to establish a sealed connection with said tube beveled extremity in said operative position; h. and means for operating said pump to build up pressure within said container, whereby liquid is transferred from said container to said tray through said passageway and drains from said tray into said container in the absence of pressure.

Claim 6

In a copying machine: a. a disposable container for a processing liquid, said container being sealed for shipping before use in said machine and being formed with an external cylindrical concavity in one wall thereof; b. opening and support means removably supporting said container in said machine with said concavity facing upwardly, whereby said concavity defines a liquid tray; c. means defining a liquid passageway between the bottom of said concavity and the interior of said container; d. an air pump; e. a tube connected to said pump and having a beveled extremity; f. means for moving said tube into an operative position to penetrate said one wall; g. said container being formed of a material adapted to establish a sealed connection with said tube beveled extremity in said operative position; h. and means for operating said pump to build up pressure within said container, whereby liquid is transferred from said container to said tray through said passageway and drains from said tray into said container in the absence of pressure.

Claim 7

In a copying machine: a. a disposable container for a processing liquid, said container being sealed for shipping before use in said machine and being formed with an external concavity in one wall thereof; b. opening and support means for removably inserting said container into said machine with said concavity facing upwardly, whereby said concavity defines a liquid tray; c. a pump; d. a first tube positioned above said one wall connected to said pump; e. means for axially moving said tube to penetrate said inserted container to establish a sealed connection therewith; f. a second tube contained in said first tube and telescopically slidable to a position adjacent the wall of said container opposite to said one wall, said second tube having openings cooperating in said position with openings in said first tube for establishing communication between said second tube and said tray; and g. means for operating said pump, whereby liquid is transferred from said inserted container into said tray through said second tube.

Claim 8

In a copying machine: a. a disposable container for a processing liquid, said container being sealed for shipping before use in said machine and being formed with an external concavity in one wall thereof; b. opening and support means for removably inserting said container into said machine with said concavity facing upwardly, whereby said concavity defines a liquid tray; c. a pump; d. a first tube positioned above said one wall connected to said pump; e. means for axially moving said tube to penetrate said inserted container to establish a sealed connection therewith; f. a second tube contained in said first tube and telescopically slidable to a position adjacent the wall of said container opposite to said one wall, said second tube having openings cooperating in said position with openings in said first tube for establishing communication between said second tube and said tray; and g. means for operating said pump, whereby liquid is transferred from said inserted container into said tray through said second tube.

Claim 9

In a copying machine: a. a receptacle for storing processing liquid; b. means generally above said receptacle defining a tray for dispensing said liquid; c. means defining a fluid passageway between said tray and said receptacle; d. an air pump connected to said receptacle and operable to establish pressure within said receptacle to force liquid therefrom through said passageway into said tray; e. said passageway being arranged to drain liquid by gravity from said try into said receptacle in the absence of said pressure within said receptacle; f. a float element movable to a position corresponding to the level of liquid within said tray; and g. vent means connected to said receptacle and operative in response to said float element moving beyond a predetermined position.

Claim 10

In a copying machine: a. a receptacle for storing processing liquid; b. means generally above said receptacle defining a tray for dispensing said liquid; c. means defining a fluid passageway between said tray and said receptacle; d. an air pump connected to said receptacle and operable to establish pressure within said receptacle to force liquid therefrom through said passageway into said tray; e. said passageway being arranged to drain liquid by gravity from said try into said receptacle in the absence of said pressure within said receptacle; f. a float element movable to a position corresponding to the level of liquid within said tray; and g. vent means connected to said receptacle and operative in response to said float element moving beyond a predetermined position.

Claim 11

In a copying machine: a. a receptacle for storing processing liquid; b. means generally above said receptacle defining a tray for dispensing said liquid; c. means defining a fluid passageway between said tray and said receptacle; d. a tube vertically extending through said tray into said receptacle; e. an air pump connected to said tube and operable to establish pressure within said receptacle to force liquid therefrom through said passageway into said tray; f. said passageway being arranged to drain liquid by gravity from said tray into said receptacle in the absence of said pressure within said receptacle; g. a float element slidably mounted on said tube and movable to a position corresponding to the level of liquid within said tray; h. a venting port in the wall of said tube; and i. said port being covered by said float element when said float element is in a position lower than a predetermined position and uncovered when said float element is in a higher position.

Claim 12

In a copying machine: a. a receptacle for storing processing liquid; b. means generally above said receptacle defining a tray for dispensing said liquid; c. means defining a fluid passageway between said tray and said receptacle; d. a tube vertically extending through said tray into said receptacle; e. an air pump connected to said tube and operable to establish pressure within said receptacle to force liquid therefrom through said passageway into said tray; f. said passageway being arranged to drain liquid by gravity from said tray into said receptacle in the absence of said pressure within said receptacle; g. a float element slidably mounted on said tube and movable to a position corresponding to the level of liquid within said tray; h. a venting port in the wall of said tube; and i. said port being covered by said float element when said float element is in a position lower than a predetermined position and uncovered when said float element is in a higher position.

Claim 13

In a copying machine: a. a receptacle formed of substantially rigid walls for storing processing liquid; b. means generally above said receptacle defining a tray for dispensing said liquid; c. means defining a fluid passageway between said tray and said receptacle; d. an air pump connected to said receptacle for creating pressure within said receptacle to force liquid therefrom through said passageway into said tray; and e. said passageway being arranged to drain liquid by gravity from said tray into said receptacle in the absence of an overriding pressure within said receptacle.

Claim 14

In a copying machine: a. a receptacle formed of substantially rigid walls for storing processing liquid; b. means generally above said receptacle defining a tray for dispensing said liquid; c. means defining a fluid passageway between said tray and said receptacle; d. an air pump connected to said receptacle for creating pressure within said receptacle to force liquid therefrom through said passageway into said tray; and e. said passageway being arranged to drain liquid by gravity from said tray into said receptacle in the absence of an overriding pressure within said receptacle.

Claim 15

For use in a copying machine, a combined shipping container and disposable dispensing tray for a processing liquid comprising a receptacle having a pair of sidewalls, one of said sidewalls having a deformed portion defining a depression therein disposed between the opposite end portions of said sidewall and adapted to serve as a liquid-containing tray, said depression being formed to define an external cylindrical concavity extending longitudinally between said end portions across substantially the entire surface of said sidewall with the space within said depression being confined at either end thereof by raised walls extending transversely, with respect to the axis of said concavity and interconnecting said deformed portion with said end portions to prevent the escape of liquid from the ends of said concavity, at least a part of said concavity being formed of a material adapted to be punctured to place said tray in communication with the interior of said receptacle.

Claim 16

For use in a copying machine, a combined shipping container and disposable dispensing tray for a processing liquid comprising a receptacle having a pair of sidewalls, one of said sidewalls having a deformed portion defining a depression therein disposed between the opposite end portions of said sidewall and adapted to serve as a liquid-containing tray, said depression being formed to define an external cylindrical concavity extending longitudinally between said end portions across substantially the entire surface of said sidewall with the space within said depression being confined at either end thereof by raised walls extending transversely, with respect to the axis of said concavity and interconnecting said deformed portion with said end portions to prevent the escape of liquid from the ends of said concavity, at least a part of said concavity being formed of a material adapted to be punctured to place said tray in communication with the interior of said receptacle.

Claim 17

A combined container and receptacle as defined in claim 9 wherein said container is formed integrally with said dispensing tray and is of plastic material substantially rectangular in configuration having filling and capping means provided at the top thereof, said one sidewall being generally arcuate in cross section.

Claim 18

A construction as defined in claim 10 wherein a plurality of raised external guide ribs are provided in parallel relation across the external surface of said one sidewall for guiding sheet material through said tray.

Claim 19

In a copying machine: a. a disposable container for a processing liquid, said container being formed with an external concavity in one wall thereof; b. opening and support means for removably inserting said container into said machine with said concavity facing upwardly, whereby said concavity defines a liquid tray; c. a pump; d. a tube connected to said pump and having a beveled extremity; e. means for moving said tube to penetrate the bottom of said concavity; and f. means for operating said pump to transfer liquid from said inserted container into said tray.

Claim 20

In a copying machine: a. a disposable container for a processing liquid, said container being formed with an external concavity in one wall thereof; b. opening and support means for removably inserting said container into said machine with said concavity facing upwardly, whereby said concavity defines a liquid tray; c. a pump; d. a tube connected to said pump and having a beveled extremity; e. means for moving said tube to penetrate the bottom of said concavity; and f. means for operating said pump to transfer liquid from said inserted container into said tray.

Claim 21

In a copying machine: a. a receptacle formed of substantially rigid walls for storing processing liquid; b. means generally above said receptacle and integrally formed with one wall thereof defining a tray for dispensing said liquid; c. means defining a fluid passageway between said tray and said receptacle; tray; and d. an air pump connected to said receptacle for creating pressure within said receptacle to force liquid therefrom through said passageway into said tray; e. said passageway being arranged to drain liquid by gravity from said tray into said receptacle in the absence of an overriding pressure within said receptacle.

Claim 22

In a copying machine: a. a receptacle formed of substantially rigid walls for storing processing liquid; b. means generally above said receptacle and integrally formed with one wall thereof defining a tray for dispensing said liquid; c. means defining a fluid passageway between said tray and said receptacle; tray; and d. an air pump connected to said receptacle for creating pressure within said receptacle to force liquid therefrom through said passageway into said tray; e. said passageway being arranged to drain liquid by gravity from said tray into said receptacle in the absence of an overriding pressure within said receptacle.