Toner filling apparatus including an anti-dribbling nozzle having air discharge ports

Abstract

Apparatus has been provided for directing toner from a hopper containing a supply of toner to fill as well as cleanly cutoff filling of a container without post-cutoff dribbling. The apparatus includes (a) a conduit member connected to the hopper and having a discharging end for permitting a toner to be moved therethrough; (b) a conveyor device located at least partially within the conduit member for moving the toner from the hopper in a toner moving direction towards the container; and (c) an anti-dribbling nozzle device for directing the toner from the conveyor to cleanly fill the container. The anti-dribbling nozzle device includes a source of pressurized air, a controller, and a nozzle member that has a first end connected to the discharge end of the conduit member, a second and opposite end for dispensing moving toner into the container, and a nozzle wall connecting the first end to the second thereof. The nozzle wall includes slanted air discharging ports for discharging directed pulses of positive pressure air to forcibly remove powder from the nozzle wall, thereby enabling clean cutoff of powder flowing into the container without post-cutoff dribbling.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for directing powder from a hopper containing a supply of powder to fill as well as cleanly cutoff filling of a container without post-cutoff dribbling, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a conduit member connected to the hopper and having a discharging end for permitting a quantity of powder to be moved therethrough;    (b) a conveyor device located at least partially within said conduit member for moving the quantity of powder from the hopper in a powder moving direction towards the container; and    (c) an anti-dribbling nozzle device for directing the powder from said conveyor device to cleanly fill the container, said anti-dribbling nozzle device including a source of pressurized air, a controller and a nozzle member having a first end connected to said discharge end of said conduit member, a second and opposite end for dispensing moving powder into the container, and a nozzle wall connecting said first end to said second end, said nozzle wall including slanted air discharge ports for selectively discharging directed pulses of positive pressure air to forcibly remove powder from the nozzle wall, thereby enabling clean cutoff of powder flowing into the container without post-cutoff dribbling.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said nozzle wall is porous to air.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said slanted air discharge ports are located uniformly around said nozzle member and between said first end and said second thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is connected to said source of pressurized air for controlling the application of positive and negative air pressure through said slanted air discharge ports in said wall for forcibly removing any powder from said nozzle wall.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is connected to said conveyor device for controlling stopping and starting said conveyor device to move or halt movement of powder.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said conveyor device comprises an auger.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said slanted air discharge ports are each slanted forwardly relative to a direction of powder flow into the container.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said controller is adapted for stopping said conveyor device before applying positive and negative air pressure through said slanted air discharge ports.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said controller includes means for varying the application of positive air pressure through said slanted air discharge ports from uniform positive air pressure to short bursts of positive air pressure.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said slanted air discharge ports each form an angle of less than 15 degrees with said wall.