Eastman-kodak Company

Victoria Lynn Decker

Michael William Didas

Alex Saveliev

Kenneth D Corby

William G Hoyt

A cylindrical container for containing a film cassette includes a bottom surface having a pair of radially extending rib members for engaging with a centering apparatus. According to the invention, the radially extending members are diametrically opposed to one another to reduce axial misalignment of the container when it is being centered on the centering apparatus. The centering apparatus includes a pair of restricting elements which engage the rib members when the container is mounted to the apparatus and which more accurately locate the container to a predetermined radial location due to the engagement of each restricting element with each of the rib members.

Film container having centering rib elements

A reusable container for a photographic film includes a body section having an open end, and a cap for covering the open end including an engagement portion for engaging the open end of the container body. According to the invention, the engagement portion of the cap includes a circumferential rib member for engaging a corresponding recess of the body for releasably securing the cap to the body, as well as a separately defined sealing surface having a radius which is larger than a corresponding sealing surface of the body in order to tightly seal and thereby prevent the significant passage of light, dust or moisture into the container when the cap is secured to the body of the container.

Film canister with independent sealing surfaces

Cassette container having effective centering capability

Methods of and apparatus for adding toner to an electrostatographic development station from a flat-flanged container containing toner minimizes spillage of toner by automatically uncovering and recovering the container. The flat-flanged container has a mouth surrounded by a peripheral flange which is covered by a flexible cover folded upon itself and adhered to the flange. A slide cover is slidably mounted on the flange with the flexible cover attached at one end to the slide cover. The container is emptied by inserting the container into a sump lid positioned over a hopper within the electrostatographic development station and moving the container so that the mouth of the container is in alignment with an opening through the sump lid. As the container is moved into alignment with opening, the slide cover is automatically removed from the container simultaneously peeling the flexible cover from the flange and opening the container to empty the toner. As the container is slid back to its initial position, the flexible cover readheres to the flange and the slide cover is automatically slidably received back over the flange. The container is then removed from the sump lid and disposed of.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Victoria Lynn Decker