A powder constant-volume feeder includes a canister having on the inner surface thereof a fin for transferring powder upwards and is inclined to form a return portion for the powder which has been transferred by the fin. A bucket wheel has a plurality of buckets for continuously transferring the powder from the interior of the return portion to a powder hopper. The powder hopper receives the powder from the interior of the buckets of the bucket wheel. A constant volume of powder can thus be fed continously at a constant bulk density.
A toner container is rotatably mounted to a toner replenishing device for discharging toner thereto upon rotation of the toner container. The toner container includes a cylindrical member for containing toner to be discharged. A cap member covers the mouth portion of the cylindrical container and is rotationally mounted thereon. A shutter selectively closes an opening of the cap member. When the toner container is mounted to the toner replenishing device and rotationally driven thereby, the cap member is prevented from rotation and the shutter is opened to permit discharge of toner.
A method and system for maintaining a uniform volume of powder in a powder feeder provided. The system includes a supply hopper that is spared from a powder feeder. The powder includes a receiving opening and a discharge opening. A rotatable brush is in communication with the supply hopper for causing powder withdrawn from the supply hopper to be transported to the powder feeder and disposed uniformly across the receiving opening of the powder feeder. The brush is immersed within the powder and extends across the receiving opening of the powder feeder, and maintains a filled level powder feeder.
An apparatus and method for unloading powder from a drum shaped container permits the container to be loaded vertically onto an unlaoding assembly but then supported in a tilted unloading position while the container is being rolled about its axis. A cover assembly is secured to the top end of the container. The cover has channels on its interior surface disposed about a central opening. The cover rolls with the drum. The cover assembly has a central outlet tube from the central opening and a bearing assembly mounted to the outlet tube. The bearing assembly includes a tongue which is supported in a fixed position as the drum is rolled to receive powder deposited on the tongue from the channels. A bleed tube blows powder from the tongue into the inlet of a pump mounted to the bearing assembly to pump powder from the drum. A second embodiment is directed to a system for automatically transferring drum shaped containers fitted with the cover assembly to an unloading station where the container is supported with an axis therethrough tilted with respect to horizontal. Powder is evacuated from within container while the container is being rolled. Then, each drum-shaped container is individually transferred from unloading station.
