Toner replenishing device

Claim 1

A toner replenishing device for use in a developing apparatus, said toner replenishing device comprising: a toner supply device including a toner supplying roller and a toner supply casing positioned above said roller, said casing defining therein a toner chamber open at an end thereof and opening downwardly to said roller; a toner cartridge housing having an opening in the bottom thereof, a removable flexible sheet sealing said bottom opening and enclosing toner within the interior of said housing, and a sheet-tearing member connected to said sheet and having a free end removably attached to said housing; said housing being slidably insertable into said toner chamber through said open end of said casing in a first direction parallel to the axis of said roller to a predetermined position above said roller, with said housing being supported by support surfaces of said casing; said casing having retaining means for engaging said housing such that, upon detachment of said free end of said sheet-tearing member from said housing and pulling of said sheet-tearing member in a second direction opposite to said first direction, to thereby remove said sheet from said bottom opening of said housing such that said toner therein falls through said bottom opening to said roller, said housing is maintained in said predetermined position within said toner chamber of said housing without moving therefrom in said second direction; said housing being displaced downwardly within said toner chamber within said casing, upon removal of said sheet-tearing member and said sheet, by a distance equal at least to the thickness of said sheet; cam means, provided on at least one of said housing and said retaining means, for, upon pulling of said housing in said second direction, causing said retaining means to move out of engagement with said housing and enabling said housing, emptied of said toner, to be removed from said casing; and cover means, positionable adjacent an outer end of said housing, for, upon removal of said housing from said casing in said second direction, slidably receiving said housing and covering said bottom opening thereof, thereby preventing any toner remaining in said housing from scattering therefrom through said bottom opening.