The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 1990
Filed:
Jun. 28, 1989
Thomas W Mort, Rochester, NY (US);
Philip A Stern, Chili, NY (US);
Scott W Garner, Penfield, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
An efficient, clean and inexpensive apparatus for adding fresh toner to a development station in an electrostatographic copier or printer includes a pivotable member for holding and transporting a container of such toner, without retouching, regrasping or directly rehandling such container, between a first position in which the container, substantially in an upright orientation, is non-slidably attachable to the pivotable member, and a second position in which the container is fully inverted over the development station automatically locating such container in place for toner therein to flow gravitationally into the development station. The apparatus further includes: (a) a slide that is movable between a toner shut-off position and a toner-flow position, for shutting off or allowing the flow of toner out of the container; (b) devices associated with the development station for mounting and for latching the apparatus; and (c) a device associated with the slide for preventing the pivotable member from pivoting when the slide, and hence the apparatus, is in the toner-flow position.