Dispensing apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus to dispense a finely divided xerographic toner including a housing having end walls and elongated sidewalls for retaining toner therein, said end walls and sidewalls coacting to form an elongated opening in the bottom of the housing, a resilient cylindrical member having an outer surface formed of an opened celled material having cavities of such a size as to be capable of holding therein toner to be transported thereby, the open celled cavities also being of such a size that when expandEd they are capable of permitting toner to be discharged therefrom, a loading station above and in communication with said cylindrical member, a discharge station beneath and in communication with said cylindrical member, said sidewalls positioned to extend downwardly terminating in boss members extending a substantial distance into said cylindrical member to expand the open-celled cavities at the loading station which is located between said boss members, supplemental boss means below said first mentioned boss members extending a substantial distance into said cylindrical member adjacent said discharge station whereat said open-celled cavities are expanded to permit the toner to be discharged therefrom, an intermediate conveying zone between said stations whereat said open-celled cavities are maintained in a nonexpanded state for retaining toner therein and transport means for rotating said cylindrical member whereby sequential portions of its surface move through said loading station whereat toner is received into the expanded open-celled cavities thereof through said conveying zone with the opencelled cavities in a nonexpanded state and through said discharge station whereat the toner is discharged from the expanded open-celled cavities.