Abstract: An electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoconductor drum 61 of a copying apparatus is caused to be visible by a developing device 4. The developing device 4 comprises a toner tank 43 and a toner supply roller 44 for supplying toner to a developer container 45. A toner density in the developer container 45 is detected by a sensor 11 and a detecting circuit 1. When irregular supply of toner is requested through a switch 91, a control circuit 2 compares the detected toner density with a prescribed density and drives the roller 44 to supply toner till the detected density attains the prescribed density. If copy operation is instructed through a switch 92 during the supply of toner, the control circuit 2 permits the copy operation and the supply of toner is continued during the copy operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding bulk material includes a housing which accommodates a rotor arranged between an inlet port and an outlet port of the housing and having a plurality of radially extending vanes. The vanes are fixed on a shaft and provided with sealing strips for sealing the vanes against the housing. For compensating occurring wear and maintaining the sealing action, the sealing strips are corrected by an adjusting bar with two spaced conical sufaces which cooperate with push rods having one end lying against the conical surfaces and another end in force-locking connection with the sealing strips.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a comparatively fine, particulate material uniformly over a subjacent surface. The disclosed apparatus comprises a hopper assembly adopted to be mounted over the surface. The hopper assembly has sides defining a downwardly open, horizontally extending, elongated discharge mouth. An elongated, cylindrical drum member extends the length of the mouth. Wiper blades extend from the sides of the hopper assembly into engagement with the drum. A multiplicity, of narrow, shallow grooves extend circumferentially about the drum. The grooves are sized such that the particulate material will not normally flow therethrough except upon rotation of the drum. For this reason structure is provided for selectively rotating the drum in at least a first direction to cause discharge of the particulate material. To produce uniform dispersion of the particulate material, divider-deflector members are associated with each groove.

Abstract: A metering sleeve having radial openings in which radially extending plungers reciprocate to vary the effective volume of the openings, and a weight within the sleeve and connected to the plungers to reciprocate the latter in response to rotation of the sleeve. The plungers are loosely connected to the weight to lessen the tendency of the plungers to jam during rotation of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coffee powder metering device for coffee vending machines which, besides ensuring that all the coffee powder is metered out with no residue left behind, is also easy to manufacture.The metering device comprises in a structure: a tubular main part, an end wall for closing off one end of the the tubular main part and a thrust wall in the tubular main part opposite the end wall. The tubular main part, end wall and thrust wall thus form a compartment for receiving a given quantity of coffee powder, through an inlet in one of the sides, and forcing it out through the end by utilizing the thrust wall. On the wall facing the compartment, the thrust wall is fitted with at least one movable lip held firmly by way of an elastic device against the tubular main part so as to scrape it clean.

Abstract: An improved developing material supplying device for use in a developing apparatus of an electrophotographic copying machine which includes a developing material supplying roller having at least one developing material measuring recess formed by cutting the peripheral surface of the supplying roller into flat shape and rotatably provided at a developing material supplying opening of a developing material storage tank, a driving mechanism for the supplying roller, a developing material measuring regulating member provided where the recess of the supplying roller at the supplying opening is rotated from inside to outside of the storage tank, and a shield member capable of covering the entire surface of the recess and provided where the recess at the supplying opening moves from outside to inside of the storage tank.

Abstract: A conveyor having a plurality of indentations sufficiently wide to receive a single article and a bar transverse to the movement of the conveyor, the bar being suspended from filaments above the conveyor a distance sufficient to pass a single layer of articles and to gently nudge superposed articles into a successive unoccupied indentation.