Eastman-kodak Company

Michael E Baister

David M Gaudino

Kenneth D Corby

Michael E Jacobs

Satyan R Kalyandurg

Michael William Didas

Arthur E Dunn

Purnendu S Ojha

Suzanne M Lenhard

A toner container receiving apparatus has a sump and a sump opening with box-like upwardly extending vertical walls around the sump opening. A toner container includes box-shaped downwardly extending walls which fit around the sump walls when the container is positioned over the sump. A flexible cover is movable from a covering position above the box-shaped walls through a curved path to a position alongside an exterior vertical wall of the container. A lever on the receiving apparatus is movable to a vertical position and is coupled to structure which locks the container to the sump during that movement. A handle connected to the cover is positioned to fit into a slot into the lever and prevent moving of the lever away from its vertical locking position until the cover has been moved to its covering position. The cover is flexible enough to move through the curved path but stiff enough to be pushed back to its covering position.

Toner container and receiving apparatus therefor

Image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing electrostatic images with dry toner. The developing device has more than one developing unit supported on a carriage for movement through a development position. A unitary sump component defines the sump for each unit and includes a mixing device in each sump. The sump component is removable for replacement of developer. The sump component includes a shaft extending from the component which is engageable by a drive in the developing device.

Image forming apparatus having a sump component for multiple developing

Growing community of inventors

Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Michael E Baister