Sealing member for toner cartridge

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6782220
  • Patent Number
    6,782,220
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, February 27, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 24, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
Sealing member formed by a sealing film with a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out, wherein the sealing film is connected to a pulling strip made of a layer, with fibers extending in a direction forming an angle between −60° and +60° with respect to the tearing direction of the longitudinal portion to be torn out.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a sealing film for toner cartridge ensuring the formation of an opening with a substantially constant width after tearing a central longitudinal portion of said sealing film.




THE PRIOR ART




Up to now many researches have been made in order to find a sealing film for sealing a toner cartridge, which is flexible and which after longitudinal tearing, is suitable for defining an opening with a substantially constant width.




Prestel et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,646) discloses a sealing member not having a preferred tearing direction, which is provided with a series of adjacent perforations. Such perforations cause leakage of toner particles, whereby the use of such sealing member has not be considered as useful by the man skilled in the art.




Films having a preferred tearing linear direction are nowadays used extensively for sealing toner container. However, even with means for lowering the initial tearing force, the opening formed after tearing a central strip is reduced most of the time, some times increased, from the initial tearing end up to the terminal tearing end.




For ensuring a substantially constant width of the opening formed after tearing a central strip from the sealing film, EP-0 788 033 (Canon) has proposed to use a sealing film comprising a base layer having a tearing directionality, a guide layer having a tearing guide portion formed by a laser processing, and a laser barrier layer provided between said base layer and said guide layer. Such a film is expensive and the risk to have an undesired tearing is high as the base layer and barrier layer can induce an undesired tearing.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,828 (Canon) discloses a sealing film provided with a flexible tape, a first portion of which attached to the film defines the strip to be torn out, while the other portion of which acts as pulling means. The aim of the first portion of the flexible strip which extends on one surface of the sealing film (i.e. from one free end of the film up to the opposite free end of the film) is to ensure a minimum width of the strip to be torn so as to define an opening or passage for the toner with a minimum width.




Tests made by Applicant have shown that when a film with a tearing directionality is provided with two grooves parallel to the preferred tearing direction, a constant width of the opening formed after tearing the central strip could not be ensured.




It has now been observed that when making cuts or grooves perpendicular to the preferred tearing direction of the film and when tearing the strip in a direction perpendicular to the preferred tearing direction, it was possible to obtain an opening with a substantially constant width.




It has also been observed by Applicant that by selecting the correct material for the sealing member, it was possible to avoid the problem of contamination of the toner with fibrous material.




It has further been observed that when using a too thin film for making an one piece material comprising:




the sealing film provided with cuts or grooves perpendicular to the preferred tearing direction, and




the pulling means,




a risk exists that the pulling means is broken, especially at the place where the pulling means is bent over the sealing film. The present invention has thus for aim to further solve this problem.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention relates to a sealing member for a toner cartridge, said sealing m having a sealing film with a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out be first end and a second end, said longitudinal portion extending between a first line a second line and to being adapted to be torn between the first end and the second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm, whereby said layer is connected to a pulling means, said pulling means comprising at least a layer comprising fibres extending in a direction forming an angle comprised between −60° and +60° advantageously between −45° and +45°, preferably between −15° and +15°, with respect to the tearing direction of the longitudinal portion to be torn.




The fibres of the layer of the pulling means are advantageously substantially parallel to each other, for example welded together.




Preferably, the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending at least partly on the longitudinal portion to be torn out.




According to an embodiment, the sealing film layer has at least one preferred substantially linear tearing direction, said layer being provided with at least:




a first longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the first line, and




a second longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the second line,




whereby said longitudinal surface elements extend in a direction of at least 5° with respect to the preferred substantially linear tearing direction.




According to another embodiment,




the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out is associated to a pulling means having a portion intended to extend at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of said portion,




whereby at least the portion of the pulling means adjacent to the first end of the portion to be torn out has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during at least the tearing of the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out.




Advantageously, at least the portion of the pulling means intended to extend at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out from its first end up to its second end.




According to an embodiment, the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out is associated to a pulling means having a portion intended to extend at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of said portion, whereby at least the portion of the pulling means is intended to be bent before the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion, so that the pulling means extends at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film. The pulling means has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out from its first end up to its second end.




According to a preferred embodiment, the pulling means is made in a material having a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a rupture of the pulling means during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion from its first end up to its second end. Such a pulling means is for example a longitudinally oriented film (for example a film having for example a preferred tearing direction perpendicular to the preferred tearing direction of the sealing film), film comprising a mat of fibres, thicker flexible film made of adjacent fibres, for example welded together, films made in a material comprising fibres with a high tearing resistance, film with fibres with a high stretching resistance, fibres laminated with one or more layers, etc.




According to a detail of an embodiment, the sealing film is provided with a means for lowering the initial tearing force. When the sealing film comprises surface elements, the longitudinal surface elements (grooves, recesses, etc.) are preferably associated with a means for lowering the initial tearing force.




Preferably, the surface elements are located on a face of the film intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge. Possibly said elements are located on a face of the film not intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge. According to a possible specific embodiment, the two opposite faces of the film are provided with one or more surface elements.




For example, the longitudinal surface elements form an angle comprised between 5° and 175° with respect to the preferred substantially linear tearing direction and extend only partially into the thickness of the sealing layer so as not to transverse the sealing layer. Preferably, the longitudinal surface elements form an angle between 45° and 135° with respect to the preferred substantially linear direction. Most preferably, longitudinal surface elements form an angle of about 90° with respect to the preferred substantially linear direction.




The layer of the pulling means has advantageously a portion extending on the longitudinal portion to be torn out from the first end up to about the second end. Preferably, the sealing means has a first face intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge and a second face opposite to said first face, whereby the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending on the second face of the portion of the film to be torn out from its first end up to its second end.




According to an embodiment, at least one connecting means links the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out with the pulling means, whereby said connecting means has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during at least the tearing of the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out.




Advantageously, at least one connecting means links the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out with the pulling means, whereby said connecting means has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion from its first end up to its second end.




For example, said connecting means is selected from the group consisting of welding means, gluing means, clipping means, and mixtures thereof.




Preferably, said connecting means is selected from the group consisting of welding lines, welding points, welding surfaces, gluing points, gluing lines, gluing surfaces, and mixtures thereof.




According to a detail of an embodiment, the pulling means is made in a material having a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a rupture of the pulling means during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion from its first end up to its second end.




According to an embodiment, the connecting means is a means increasing the tearing resistance of the pulling means at least for a portion of the pulling means adjacent to the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out.




For example, the connecting means is a means increasing the tearing resistance of the pulling means at least for a portion of the pulling means adjacent to the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out, as well as the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out.




For example, the connecting means increasing the tearing resistance is selected from the group consisting of flexible tapes, longitudinal welding lines, flexible layers attached to the layer with preferred substantially linear tearing direction, and mixtures thereof.




According to an embodiment, the film and pulling means are made from a same material consisting of fibres welded together or bound together by means of a resin or glue. In this case, the fibres of the pulling means are directed so as to form an angle with respect to the direction of the fibres of the sealing layer, for example an angle comprised between 60° and 120°.




According to a specific embodiment, the sealing film has a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out between a first end and a second end with a variable width, said longitudinal portion extending between a first line and a second line and to being adapted to be torn between a first end and a second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm (preferably with at least one preferred substantially linear tearing direction), said layer being provided with a means reducing the width of the portion adjacent to the second end of the longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of said second end.




Advantageously, the surface elements are located on a face of the film intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge. Possibly said elements are located on a face of the film not intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge. According to a possible specific embodiment, the two opposite faces of the film are provided with one or more surface elements.




For example, the longitudinal surface elements form an angle comprised between 5° and 175°, preferably between 45° and 135°, most preferably about 90°, with respect to the preferred substantially linear tearing direction and extend only partially into the thickness of the layer so as not to transverse the layer.




According to an embodiment of the sealing member,




the longitudinal portion of the sealing film extends between a first upper line and a second lower line, whereby when the toner cartridge is placed in a copier, laser printer, fax machine or printer, the second lower line is substantially horizontal and extends at a level lower than the level at which the first upper line extends, and




the first upper line is associated to a means intended for reducing the width of the portion adjacent to the second end of the longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of said second end.




The sealing member of the invention can be associated to or can further comprise a slotted support (such as a foam support) and/or gluing means for attaching the sealing film on a face of the toner holder or for attaching the slotted support on a face of the toner holder, and/or a removable support for facilitating the placement of the sealing film on a toner holder, and/or a removable paper (silicon paper for example) for protecting the gluing means or layer for attaching the sealing film or slotted support on the toner holder, and/or a cleaning means so as to remove possible toner particles present on the portion to be torn during the tearing operation, etc.




The invention relates also to a toner holder provided with one sealing member as disclosed here above.




The invention relates thus also to a toner holder selected from the group consisting of toner container and toner cartridge, said holder being provided with a sealing member with a sealing film for closing an opening of the toner holder, said sealing film having a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out between a first end and a second end, said longitudinal portion extending between a first line and a second line and to being adapted to be torn between the first end and the second end, wherein sail sealing film comprises a sealing layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm, whereby said sealing layer is connected to a pulling means, said pulling means, said pulling means comprising at least a layer comprising fibres extending in a direction forming an angle comprised between −60° and +60° with respect to the tearing direction of the longitudinal portion to be torn.




The toner holder of the invention has advantageously one or more characteristics of the sealing film of the invention.




With respect to the sealing film suitable for the invention, reference is made to U.S. Ser. No. 10/071,254, filed on Feb. 8, 2002 in the name of Jan De Kesel.




Suitable sealing film is disclosed hereafter. Such a film is for example a sealing film for toner cartridge, said film having a longitudinal portion to be torn out, said longitudinal portion extending between a first line and a second line and to be torn between a first end and a second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm and with a preferred substantially linear tearing direction. Said layer is provided at least with a first longitudinal surface recess, such as a groove, preferably a cut, extending along the first line and a second longitudinal surface recess such as a groove, preferably a cut, extending along the second line, whereby said longitudinal surface elements extend in a direction of at least 5° with respect to the preferred substantially linear tearing directions.




The total thickness of the sealing film or at least of the portion thereof to be torn out is preferably lower to 400 μm, such as lower than 300 μm, lower than 200 μm. Examples of thickness are 40 μm, 50 μm, 75 μm, 100 μm, 120 μm, 125 μm, 150 μm, 175 μm.




The film can have a laminated structure, but has preferably a structure comprising at most two laminated layer. When the film is a laminated structure of two layers having parallel tearing directions, it is advantageous to provide the film on both faces with surface elements selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof.




A preferred substantially linear tearing direction is the direction along which a linear tear line extends due to a tearing force.




The layer provided with the longitudinal surface elements (cuts, grooves, recesses, combinations thereof) is preferably a layer which requires means for lowering the initial tearing force, such as cuts, perforations, etc.




Advantageously, said longitudinal surface cuts, grooves, recesses or combinations thereof form an angle comprised between 5° and 175° with respect to the preferred substantially linear tearing direction and extend partially into the thickness of the layer so as not to transverse the layer.




Advantageously, the longitudinal surface cuts, grooves, recesses or combinations thereof form an angle between 45° and 135° with respect to the preferred substantially linear direction.




Preferably, the longitudinal surface cuts, grooves, recesses or combinations thereof form an angle of about 90° with respect to the preferred substantially linear direction.




Advantageously, the longitudinal surface cuts, grooves, recesses or combinations thereof extend at least at a distance of more than 1 cm from the first end of the portion




Preferably, the longitudinal surface cuts, grooves, recesses or combinations thereof are associated with a means for lowering the initial tearing force.




For example, the cuts, grooves, recesses or combinations thereof are located on a face of the film intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge. Possibly said elements are located on a face of the film not intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge. According to a possible specific embodiment, the two opposite faces of the film are provided with one or more surface elements.




According to a specific embodiment, the first and second longitudinal surface cuts, recesses or grooves are substantially perpendicular to the preferred linear tearing direction, while said first and second longitudinal surface cuts, grooves or recesses extend substantially from the first end up to the second end.




According to a possible embodiment, the film comprises a first series of longitudinal surface cuts, grooves or recesses extending along the first line and a second longitudinal surface cuts, grooves or recesses extending along the second line. For example, the cuts, grooves or recesses of a series are spaced from each other with a distance of less than 10 mm, advantageously of less than 2 mm, preferably of less than 1 mm.




According to a detail of a embodiment, the cuts, grooves or recesses have a maximum depth corresponding to 95% of the thickness of the layer. The maximum depth of the cuts, grooves or recesses depends from the material, its thickness, its rigidity, etc. For example for a polypropylene film (with a linear preferred tearing direction) with a thickness of 125 μm, the maximum depth can be 90% of the mean thickness, advantageously lower than 80% of said mean thickness.




According to another detail of an embodiment, at least one portion of cuts, grooves or recesses has a minimal depth corresponding to at least 10% of the thickness of the layer, preferably corresponding to at least 20% of the thickness of the layer, most preferably corresponding to at least 30% of the thickness of the layer. For material such as polypropylene with a thickness of about 125 μm, the mean depth of the grooves, recesses, etc. is comprised between 10% and 90%, advantageously between 50% and 80% of the mean thickness, for example 60%, 70%, 75%. The minimum depth depends also from the material used, its thickness, its rigidity, etc.




The cuts, grooves or recesses may have a constant or variable depth.




The film is preferably a monolayer film provided with adhesive means. The film can be a bidirectional film or even a tri-directional film (stretched in the three orthogonal direction). The adhesive can be a contact glue, a pressure glue, a hot-melt glue, etc. The adhesive, preferably the hot-melt adhesive can be associated to heating means (which can be removed or not from the adhesive after a heating step), such as conductive means, conductive layer, electric conducting wire or layer, etc. Such adhesive (with or without heating means or removable heating means) can also be used in sealing member comprising a multilayered film. The monolayer film has advantageously a thickness of less than 400 μm, preferably of less than 300 μm, such as 400 μm, 500 μm, 700 μm, 900 μm, 110 μm, 125 μm.




The sealing film is advantageously provided with adhesive means and with a removable protecting layer to be removed for attaching the film on the toner cartridge. The sealing film is preferably provided with a pulling means connected to the portion to be torn. The pulling means is for example be a band attached to the strip to be torn or to a portion of the film forming a prolongation of the strip to be torn out.




The layer of the sealing film and of the pulling means is for example a layer selected from the group consisting of uniaxially oriented polyethylene film, uniaxially oriented polypropylene film, bi phase polymer film, films made of incompatible compounds, biaxially oriented polypropylene, biaxially oriented polyethylene, and mixtures thereof. The layer can be reinforced (for example with a mat of fibres, a non woven material or fabric), non reinforced, laminated or not laminated, glued or not glued to a flexible support, etc.




It has also been observed that the tearing is facilitated or more precise, when reinforcing the lateral edges of the pulling means of the sealing strip, when the pulling means is integral with the sealing member. The invention relates thus also to a sealing member provided with an integral pulling means, the lateral edges of which are reinforced.




Advantageously the surface elements are at least partly made by a ultrasonic treatment.




Preferably, the film has a melting temperature, and the ultrasonic treatment is sufficient for ensuring a heating of the material up to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the film where said surface elements selected among the group consisting of grooves, recesses, series of distant recesses, series of distant grooves, and mixtures thereof have to be made.




The ultrasonic treatment is advantageously combined with one or more other treatments, such as compression, rolling, etc.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an upper view of a sealing member of the invention;





FIGS. 2

to


4


are cross section views along the line II—II, III—III and IV—IV respectively;





FIG. 5

is an exploded view of the sealing member of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is an upper view of another embodiment of the invention;





FIGS. 7

to


9


are cross section views along the line VII—VII, VIII—VIII and IX—IX respectively;





FIG. 10

is an upper view of still another embodiment;





FIG. 11

is a cross section view along the line XI—XI;





FIG. 12

is a view similar to the view of

FIG. 10

, with the pulling means in a bent position;





FIG. 13

is an upper view of another sealing member of the invention;





FIG. 14

is a cross section view of

FIG. 12

along the line XIV—XIV;





FIG. 15

is a view similar to

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 16

is a cross section view of

FIG. 15

along the line XVI—XVI;





FIG. 17

is an upper view of still another embodiment of the invention;





FIGS. 18 and 19

are longitudinal cross section views of

FIG. 16

along the line XVIII—XVIII and in bending position;





FIG. 20

is a view similar to

FIG. 19

of a further embodiment;





FIG. 21

is an upper view of still a further embodiment;





FIG. 22

is a lateral view of the sealing film of

FIG. 21

with the pulling means extending along a face of the film;





FIGS. 23 and 24

are view similar to

FIGS. 21 and 22

;





FIG. 25

is a schematic view of a further embodiment similar to the embodiment of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 26

is a schematic view showing the effect of the heat treatment;





FIG. 27

an enlarged view of a portion of the sealing member of

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 28

is an upper view of an embodiment of a sealing member similar to the embodiment of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 29

is an enlarged upper view of a portion of the sealing film attached to the pulling means of the embodiment of

FIG. 28

, with partial cutaway of the pulling means;





FIG. 30

is an upper view of another embodiment of a sealing member similar to the embodiment of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 31

is an enlarged upper view of a portion of the sealing film attached to the pulling means of the embodiment of

FIG. 30

with partial cutaway of the pulling means, and





FIG. 32

is a schematic perspective view of a toner container provided with a sealing member of the invention.











DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The sealing member


1


of

FIG. 1

is intended to be used for sealing a toner cartridge, such as a recycled toner container of a toner cartridge. Toner cartridge provided with sealing member are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,140, the content of which is incorporated by reference.




The sealing member


1


comprises:




a sealing film


2


made for example in a mono oriented polymer (such as uniaxially oriented polymer, preferably non foamed mono oriented polymer, most preferably non foamed stretched mono oriented polypropylene), said film being a mono layer with a thickness E greater than 110 μm, such as 110, 150, 200, 250 μm, or even more




an adhesive layer


3


on a face of the film (face intended to be directed towards the surface with the opening to be sealed of the toner cartridge),




a pulling means


6


, and




a removable protection layer or film


4


(such as a silicone paper) to be removed so as to render the adhesive layer free for contacting a surface of the toner container.




The sealing film


2


comprises:




a sealing portion


5


with a central portion


51


intended to be torn out and two lateral portions


52


, the pulling means


6


having the form of a band, a first portion


6


A of which is attached to the central portion


51


of the sealing film, while the other portion


6


B forms an extension of the central portion


51


.




The other face of the film can be possibly provided with a foam layer with a central opening. In this case the central portion of the film is not bound (for example by adhesive) to said foam layer.




The sealing film is oriented and has a preferred tearing direction X. It means that in case a cut is formed in the film in the direction X, the film can be cut with an easy manual tearing. In another direction than direction X, the force required for developing a linear cut from an initial cut is not possible, except along the grooves or recesses


7


I,


7


S formed in the films. As it can be seen the central portion or strip


51


is intended to be torn in a direction which is perpendicular to the preferred tearing direction of the film (X). The film have substantial tensile strength in the axial direction X and relatively less strength in a directional perpendicular to said direction X. The film is for example a fibrous non-woven material having aligned fibres (parallel to the direction X) lightly fused together in a synthetic resinous layer. The film is preferably a non stretched film.




The grooves, cuts or recesses


7


I,


7


S have a depth D corresponding to about 10% to 90% of the thickness E of the film (for example about 70%-80% for a polypropylene film with a thickness of about 125 μm). The depth depends of many factors, such as rigidity, thickness, mechanical properties, etc.




Said grooves, cuts or recesses are preferably formed by a heating process, for example by using a heated cutting means or by pressing a heating means provided with one or more longitudinal heated lines or protuberances. Said grooves, cuts or recesses are preferably made at a temperature higher than the soft temperature of the film, most preferably at a temperature higher than a glass transition temperature of the material of the film, most preferably at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of at least one polymer material present in the film or at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the film. For example, when the film is made of a blend of two incompatible or substantially incompatible polymers, the heating step is carried out at a temperature sufficient for melting one polymer, while not melting the other. When the film consists of a series of linear wires or fibres made in a first composition or polymer, said series of wires or fibres being connected or laminated with a polymer layer, said laminated polymer layer has advantageously a softening temperature higher than the softening temperature of the first polymer, preferably a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the melting temperature of the first polymer or polymer composition. The grooves or recesses or cuts are for example formed by means of a linear welding head, so as to exert a pressure on the film during the fusing of at least a portion of the film, preferably the fusing of at least a portion of the longitudinal polymer fibres of the film at the place of the groove or recesses or cuts


7


I,


7


S. The welding operation, when used is advantageously an ultrasonic welding. A laser can possibly be used for making the groove, however the risk to perforated the film is too high, when the thickness is lower than 300 μm. Now, it is preferred to have thickness of less than 300 μm, in order to have sufficient flexibility, so as to bent correctly the pulling means and the strip during its tearing.




The sealing film


5


is provided with two cuts


8


(a lower cut and an upper cut) at the end of the central portion


51


adjacent to the pulling means or strip


6


, said cuts forming a means for lowering the initial tearing force required for tearing central portion


51


. Depending of the used material, means for lowering the initial tearing force or for initiating the tearing are or not required for enabling a manual tearing of the strip


51


. Preferably, in order to avoid accidental tearing, the film made in a material requiring means for lowering the initial tearing force or for initiating the tearing.




When the sealing member


1


is attached to a toner cartridge placed in fax machine, a printer, a laser printer, a copier, etc., the lower cut or groove


7


I is substantially horizontal and extend at a level lower than the level at which the upper cut or groove


7


S extends.




The film


2


is provided with a means for lowering the width W of the opening after tearing the central portion


51


near its free end


9


. For lowering said width, the upper groove


7


S has an inclined portion


7


SA, portion extending in a zone of the film defined between the lower cut or groove


7


I and a line


70


(dashed lines) prolong major portion


7


SM of the upper line


7


S. The angle φ between the inclined portion


7


SA and the prolonging line


70


is for example comprised between 10° and 80°, advantageously between 20° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°, such as about 45° The ratio width WE at the end


9


of the strip


51


/maximum width W of the strip


51


is for example comprised between 0.1 and 0.7, advantageously between 0.15 and 0.5, preferably between 0.2 and 0.4.




In

FIG. 1

, the film is provides with longitudinal cuts


7


I,


7


S extending partially in the thickness of the film (so as to avoid the perforation of the film), said longitudinal surface cuts


7


I,


7


S extending from the means for lowering the initial tearing force (


8


) up to the end


9


of the strip


51


opposed to the end


10


of the strip


51


adjacent to the portion of the pulling means


6


extending outside the sealing film.




The pulling means


6


is a band made of adjacent fibres welded together, such as polypropylene fibres. The fibres of said band


6


extend in a direction H v substantially parallel to the tearing direction of the central portion


51


of the sealing film. The band


6


has a width W6 which is lower to the width W of the central


51


of the sealing film, except in the portion of the portion


51


with a reduced WF. The portion


6


A of the band contacting the central portion is glued or welded to said central portion to be torn. For example, the portion


6


A is welded to the portion


51


by means of two welding lines, a first extending substantially parallel and adjacent to the groove


7


S, while the other extends substantially parallel and adjacent to the groove


7


I. The band


6


is attached on the face of the sealing film opposite to the face intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge. The welding lines


6


A


1


and


6


A


2


(show dashed lines) are parallel to each other. Advantageously, the band


6


is not attached to the end portion WE of the central strip


51


to be torn with a reduced width.




After bending the portion


6


B of the band towards the sealing film, said portion


6


B contacts the portion


6


A. The face of the band (before bending) not directed towards to the sealing film is advantageously provided with an anti adhesion and/or antifriction layer or coating, such as a fluoro containing layer or coating. In such a case the gliding of the portion


6


B on the portion


6


A, as well as the gliding of two parts of the portion


6


A during a tearing operation are facilitated.




The band has for example a thickness comprised between 20 and 250 μm, such as for example 50 μm, 75 μm, 100 μm, 125 μm, 150 μm.




The sealing member is advantageously associated with one or more substantially rigid supports (


100


shown schematically in dashed lines in

FIG. 2

) or elements suitable for increasing the rigidity of at least a portion of the sealing member. Said support(s) or element(s) can be removed after placement of the sealing member on the toner container. Such a substantially rigid support is disclosed in Re No. 36,920, the scope of which is incorporated herewith by reference. The support


100


can be provided with a groove


100


A for receiving the band


6


, possibly in its shape after bending.




As the film


2


is pressed between a face of the toner cartridge and a face of a support bearing the magnetic roller, the lower groove


7


I and/or the upper groove


7


S can be provided with cuts


90


extending through the thickness of the film so as to reduce the final tearing force.




The central strip


51


can be provided with code or coding area


51


A (such as a colour line, colour zone, such as a green line, green points, etc) adjacent to the end


9


of the central strip


51


. When the central strip is removed (torn out), the user can easily determined whether the strip has been sufficiently been torn out by controlling whether at least part of the coding system


51


A has been torn out. If the central strip


51


is not properly torn out, the coding system or colour


51


A is not present on the torn strip, whereby the user knows that the formed opening in the seal of the toner cartridge is not correct for making correct printing or copying.





FIG. 5

is an exploded view of the sealing member of FIG.


1


.




In the embodiment of

FIG. 6

, the sealing member is similar to that of

FIG. 1

, except that the sealing member is made in a two layered material, a base layer


20


with a preferred tearing direction X (in the form of fibres extending parallel to the direction X and welded together) and a covering layer


21


increasing the mechanical properties of the base layer in a direction inclined with respect to the preferred tearing direction of the base layer, said covering layer having fibres extending in a direction H perpendicular to the direction X. Two substantially parallel grooves


7


I,


7


S are formed in the film


2


, said grooves


7


I,


7


S having a depth sufficient for extending completely through the thickness of the covering layer


21


and partly through the base layer


20


. The covering layer is for example a fibre containing layer, a fibre mat layer, a web, a paper web, an anti adhesion layer comprising fibres, an anti friction layer comprising fibres, a layer having a preferred tearing direction perpendicular to the tearing direction of the base layer


20


.

FIG. 27

is an enlarged view of a portion of the sealing portion, said view showing a portion of the groove


7


S extending through the layer


21


and partly in the base layer


20


, as well as the position of the fibres (welded together) of the layer


21


, with respect to the fibres (welded together) of the layer


20


. The two layers


20


,


21


are for example welded or laminated together.




It has to be noted that the covering layer can possibly be treated for increasing the cohesion of the film or a portion thereof and/or for increasing the tearing resistance of said part in a direction parallel to the preferred tearing direction of the film before the treatment. Such treatment is for example a heat treatment, a treatment ensuring a partial fusion of the strip


51


, such as an ultrasonic heating treatment ensuring the melting of the strip


51


or successive portions of said strip.




For example, the grooves


7


I,


7


S can also be formed in the film by means of two cutting elements (such as flanges) attached to a bearer, such as a roller, said bearer or roller being heated before application of the roller on a face of the film so as to form two parallel grooves


7


I,


7


S. Due to the heating of the bearer or roller, the face of the central strip


51


in contact with the bearer or roller is partly fused, whereby increasing the tearing resistance of the central strip in a direction parallel to the preferred tearing direction. Said heat treatment is preferably also made at least partly for the pulling means


6


.




The bearer is for example provided or associated with a heating element or heater, preferably an electrical heating element.




The bearer or roller is for example heated at a temperature higher than the softening temperature of the material of the film, advantageously between the softening point and a temperature at most 50° C. higher than the fusing temperature. Most preferably, the heat treatment is made at a temperature of about the fusing temperature, for example just below the fusing temperature.




The correct movement of the bearer with respect to the film can be ensured by one or more guiding means, such rail(s), etc. In this case, the bearer is advantageously provided with carrying means, such as outer rods guided by the guiding means or rails.





FIG. 25

shows on an enlarged scale the influence of the heat treatment on the base layer


20


intended to be directed towards the toner holder or in the sealing film


5


. The strip


51


is heat treated whereby the strip portion


51


as such can no more be considered as having the preferred tearing direction X. In the embodiment of

FIG. 1

, such a heat treatment is preferably executed before the placement of the band


6


, and more preferably just before or substantially during the placement of the band


6


.





FIG. 10

shows an embodiment of a sealing film


2


similar to the film


2


of FIG.


1


. The central portion


51


of the film


2


(near its end


10


) is attached to a pulling strip


6


comprising fibres extending in the pulling direction P. The pulling strip is connected by one or more welding, such as two parallel welding lines


61


,


62


distant from each other. The welding lines


61


,


62


have advantageously a width WLD greater than the width of the strip


51


and greater than the width of the pulling means


6


.




The cuts


8


for lowering the initial tearing force have a length sufficient for extending through the welding lines


61


,


62


. The cuts


8


are formed after the welding lines


61


,


62


and after placement of the adhesive means


3


for attaching the seal film on a toner holder.




In this embodiment, the welding of the end of the pulling means


6


is made on a face of the film (near the end


10


) intended to be directed towards the toner holder TN. (see

FIG. 12

) As it can be seen the portion of the pulling means adjacent to the


10


is bent so that the pulling means extends over a face of the sealing film


2


. The bending is advantageously such that in sealed position, one welding line


61


is in contact with the toner holder TN, while the other welding line


62


extends above plane P of the sealing film.




The use of welding lines distant from each other is advantageous as it facilitates the bending of the strip end


10


.




The welding can be made by any welding processes, such as heat welding, wave welding, IR welding, ultra sound welding, etc.




Welding is preferred. However, it is obvious that instead of welding, the pulling means van be attached to the central strip


51


by other means such hot melt means, glue, adhesive, self adhesive, curing means, etc.





FIG. 13

is a view of an embodiment similar to the embodiment of

FIG. 10

, except that the pulling means


6


is attached on the face of the film


2


not intended to be directed towards the toner holder.




The pulling strip


6


is welded to the end


10


of the central portion


51


by one welding line


61


(more welding lines are possible, if required). The strip


6


has a welded end provided with two separated legs


63


,


64


which are welded to the portion


51


. Cuts


8


have a sufficient length so as to extend through the welding line


61


.




As the pulling means of this embodiment has not to be bent, it is possible to use more rigid pulling means, such as semi rigid pulling means, etc. If required, however, the pulling means can be a flexible strip.





FIG. 15

is a view of an embodiment similar to that shown in

FIG. 1

, except that, in the sealed position of the film (before its open tearing), the portion of the pulling means


6


which is bent and the portion of the central strip


51


near the end


10


are provided with means for increasing the tearing resistance in a direction parallel to the preferred tearing direction X. Such means are for example welding lines


65


,


66


perpendicular to the direction X. The cuts


8


extend within the welding lines


65


,


66


perpendicular to the direction X. The welding lines


65


,


66


form a reinforcement of the pulling means


6


near the end


10


, as well as at the end


10


of the central strip


51


to be torn out. In this embodiment, the band


6


does not extend in the portion of the strip to be torn with reduced width.





FIG. 17

is a view of an embodiment similar to the embodiment of

FIG. 1

, except that a tape strip


120


is applied on the end portion


10


of the central portion


51


and on the part of the pulling means


6


adjacent to the end


10


. Said tape strip


120


forms a reinforcement at the level of the bending portion of the pulling means


6


, before the open tearing operation. (see FIG.


18


). The tape strip extends on the face not intended to be directed towards the toner holder TN, the grooves


7


I,


7


S being located on the other face.





FIG. 20

is a view of an embodiment similar to that shown in

FIG. 19

, except that the tape strip


120


is at least partly located along the face intended to be directed towards the toner holder TN.




In the embodiments of

FIGS. 21 and 23

, the sealing film


2


similar to that shown in

FIG. 1

, is provided with an protrusion part


130


of the central strip


51


. Said protrusion is attached to the pulling means


6


with a welding, by an adhesive, etc.




In the embodiment of

FIG. 25

, which is similar to the embodiment of

FIG. 10

, the pulling means


6


has a portion


69


with a larger width, said portion being welded (for example by ultrasonic welding) to the film


2


(welding lines


61


,


62


). The cuts


8


extends through the portion


69


.




In the embodiment of the preceding figures, the surface cut lines or grooves


7


I,


7


S can be each replaced (partly or completely) by a series of adjacent surface cuts or grooves or recesses spaced from each other with a distance of less than 2 mm, such as less than 1 mm, such as 500 μm, 250 μm, 125 μm (for example with a distance lower to or equal to the thickness of the film).




The embodiment of the preceding figures can be provided with surface cut lines


7


having a variable depth D, for example a depth varying between 10 and 95% of the thickness of the film.




If required, the lateral edges


67


,


68


of the pulling means


6


can be reinforced, for example by means of a heating step, such as a welding step or a burning step. This enables to give more rigidity to the pulling means, whereby avoiding any risk that the pulling means does not remain in correct place in the toner cartridge due to movement, such as its transport.




For simplifying the placement of a seal of the invention, the sealing member as disclosed in the drawings can be provided with a support means, such as a cardboard support means.





FIGS. 28 and 30

are figures of embodiments of sealing member similar to that shown in FIG.


1


. The reference numerals of said

FIGS. 28 and 30

designate similar or identical means, parts or portions as disclosed for the embodiment of FIG.


1


.




In the embodiment of

FIG. 28

, the preferred tearing direction X of the sealing film


2


is perpendicular to the tearing direction H of the central portion


51


. The sealing film


2


is formed by a base layer


20


(similar to that shown in

FIG. 27

) in the form of fibres F


12


extending parallel to the direction X. The pulling strip


6


comprising a portion


6


A covering the central portion


51


to be torn (defined between the grooves


7


I,


7


S) and a portion


6


B forming an extension of the central portion


51


is made of fibres F


16


attached together as disclosed in the embodiment of FIG.


6


. The fibres F


16


of the pulling means are parallel to each other and extend in a direction forming an angle of about 15° with respect to the tearing direction H.




The embodiment of

FIG. 30

is similar to the embodiment of

FIG. 28

, except that the preferred tearing direction X of the sealing film


2


forms an angle of about 45° with respect to the tearing direction H (the fibres F


12


parallel to each other extending in a direction forming an angle of 45° with respect to the tearing direction H). The pulling strip


6


comprising a portion


6


A covering the central portion


51


to be torn (defined between the grooves


7


I,


7


S) and a portion


6


B forming an extension of the central portion


51


is made of fibres F


16


attached together as disclosed in the embodiment of FIG.


6


. The fibres F


16


of the pulling means are parallel the other and extend in a direction forming an angle of about 15° with respect to the tearing direction H.




The embodiment of

FIG. 30

is similar to the embodiment of

FIG. 28

, except that the preferred tearing direction X of the sealing film


2


forms an angle of about 45° with respect to the tearing direction H (the fibres F


12


parallel to each other extending in a direction forming an angle of 45° with respect to the tearing direction H). The pulling strip


6


comprising a portion


6


A covering the central portion


51


to be torn (defined between the grooves


7


I,


7


S) and a portion


6


B forming an extension of the central portion


51


is made of fibres F


16


attached together as disclosed in the embodiment of FIG.


6


. The fibres F


16


of the pulling means are parallel to each other and extend in a direction forming an angle of about 15° with respect to the tearing direction H. An angle of 30° is thus formed between the direction of the fibres F


12


and the direction of the fibres F


16


.





FIG. 32

shows a toner container TN in a possible working position, the open O of which (shown in dotted lines) is sealed with a sealing member


1


similar to that FIG.


6


. The central portion


51


of the sealing member extends between a lower horizontal line or groove


7


I (shown in dashed line) and an upper line or groove


7


S (shown in dashed line). The upper line or groove


7


S has an inclined portion


7


SA so as to reduce the width of the central portion


51


at the end


9


. The upper line is located at a level higher than the lower line


7


I.



Claims
  • 1. Sealing member for toner cartridge, said sealing member comprising a sealing film having a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out between a first end and a second end, said longitudinal portion extending between a first line and a second line and being adapted to be torn along a tearing direction between the first end and the second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm, whereby said layer is connected to a pulling means, said pulling means comprising at least a layer comprising fibres extending in a direction forming an angle comprised between −60° and +60° with respect to the tearing direction of the longitudinal portion to be torn.
  • 2. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the pulling means comprises at least a layer comprising fibres extending in a direction forming an angle comprised between −45° and +45° with respect to the tearing direction.
  • 3. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the fibres of the layer of the pulling means are substantially parallel to each other.
  • 4. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending at least partly on the longitudinal portion to be torn out.
  • 5. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending on the longitudinal portion to be torn out from the first end up to about the second end.
  • 6. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the sealing film has a first face intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge and a second face opposite to said first face, and in which the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending on the second face of the sealing film.
  • 7. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending on the longitudinal portion to be torn from its first end up to its second end, said portion of the layer of the pulling means being attached to the longitudinal portion to be torn between said first and second lines of the longitudinal portion.
  • 8. The sealing member of claim 7, in which the portion of the layer of the pulling means is at least connected to the portion to be torn out adjacent to the first line and to the second line of the portion to be torn out.
  • 9. The sealing member of claim 1, in which at least the portion of the pulling means intended to extend at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out from its first end up to its second end.
  • 10. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out is associated to a pulling means having a portion intended to extend at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of said portion, whereby at least the portion of the pulling means intended to be bent before the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion, andin which at least the portion of the pulling means intended to be bent so that the pulling means extends at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out from its first end up to its second end.
  • 11. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the pulling means is made in a material having a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a rupture of the pulling means during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion from its first end up to its second end.
  • 12. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the layer of the sealing film is associated with a means for lowering the initial tearing force.
  • 13. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out is associated to a pulling means having a portion intended to extend at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of said portion, andin which at least the portion of the pulling means adjacent to the first end of the longitudinal portion to be torn out has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during at least the tearing of the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out.
  • 14. The sealing member of claim 1, in which at least one connecting means links the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out with the pulling means, whereby said connecting means has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion from its first end up to its second end.
  • 15. The sealing member of claim 14, in which said connecting means is selected from the group consisting of welding means, gluing means, clipping means, and mixtures thereof.
  • 16. The sealing member of claim 1, in which the sealing film has a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out between a first end and a second end with a variable width, said longitudinal portion extending between the first line and the second line and to being adapted to be torn between the first end and the second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm, said layer being provided with a means reducing the width of the portion adjacent to the second end of the longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of said second end.
  • 17. The sealing member of claim 16, in which the longitudinal portion extends between a first upper line and a second lower line, whereby when the toner cartridge is placed in a copier, laser printer, fax machine or printer, the second lower line is substantially horizontal and extends at a level lower than the level at which the first upper line extends, andin which the first upper line is associated to a means intended for reducing the width of the portion adjacent to the second end of the longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of said second end.
  • 18. A sealing member for toner cartridge, said sealing member comprising a sealing film having a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out between a first end and a second end, said longitudinal portion extending between a first line and a second line and being adapted to be torn along a tearing direction between the first end and the second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a sealing layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm, whereby said layer is connected to a pulling means, said pulling means comprising at least a pulling layer comprising fibres extending in a direction forming an angle comprised between −60° and +60° with respect to the tearing direction of the longitudinal portion to be torn, in which the sealing layer has:a first longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the first line, and a second longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the second line, whereby said longitudinal surface elements extend in a direction comprised between 5° and 175° with respect to the preferred substantially linear tearing direction.
  • 19. The sealing member of the claim 18, in which the preferred substantially linear tearing direction of the sealing layer forms an angle comprised between −30° and +30° with respect to the direction of the fibres of the layer of the pulling means which extend in a direction forming an angle comprised between −60° and +60° with respect to the tearing direction of the longitudinal portion to be torn.
  • 20. The sealing member of claim 18, in which the surface elements are located on a face of the film intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge.
  • 21. The sealing member of claim 18, in which the elements are located on a face of the film not intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge.
  • 22. The sealing member of claim 18, in which said longitudinal surface elements extend only partially into the thickness of the sealing layer so as to not transverse the sealing layer.
  • 23. The sealing member of claim 18, in which the longitudinal surface elements form an angle between 45° and 135° with respect to the preferred substantially linear direction.
  • 24. The sealing member of claim 18, in which the longitudinal surface elements form an angle of about 90° with respect to the preferred substantially linear direction of the sealing layer.
  • 25. The sealing member of claim 18, in which the longitudinal surface elements are associated with a means for lowering the initial tearing force.
  • 26. A toner holder selected from the group consisting of toner container and toner cartridge, said holder being provided with a sealing member for closing an opening of the toner holder, said sealing member comprising a sealing film having a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out between the first end and the second end, said longitudinal portion extending between a first line and a second line and being adapted to be torn along a tearing direction between a first end and a second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm, whereby said layer is connected to a pulling means, said pulling means comprising at least a layer comprising fibres extending in a direction forming an angle comprised between −60° and +60° with respect to the tearing direction of the longitudinal portion to be torn.
  • 27. The toner holder of claim 26, in which the sealing member has a pulling means comprising at least a layer comprising fibres extending in a direction forming an angle comprised between −45° and +45° with respect to the tearing direction.
  • 28. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which the fibres of the layer of the pulling means are substantially parallel to each other.
  • 29. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending at least partly on the longitudinal portion to be torn out.
  • 30. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending on the longitudinal portion to be torn out from the first end up to about the second end.
  • 31. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which the sealing film has a first face intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge and a second face opposite to said first face, and in which the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending on the second face of the sealing film.
  • 32. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which the layer of the pulling means has a portion extending on the longitudinal portion to be torn from its first end up to its second end, said portion of the layer of the pulling means being attached to the longitudinal portion to be torn between said first and second lines of the longitudinal portion.
  • 33. The toner holder of claim 32 with a sealing member in which the portion of the layer of the pulling means is at least connected to the portion to be torn out adjacent to the first line and to the second line of the portion to be torn out.
  • 34. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which at least the portion of the pulling means intended to extend at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out from its first end up to its second end.
  • 35. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out is associated to a pulling means having a portion intended to extend at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of said portion, whereby at least the portion of the pulling means intended to be bent before the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion, andin which at least the portion of the pulling means intended to be bent so that the pulling means extends at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out from its first end up to its second end.
  • 36. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which the pulling means is made in a material having a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a rupture of the pulling means during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion from its first end up to its second end.
  • 37. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which the layer of the sealing film is associated with a means for lowering the initial tearing force.
  • 38. The toner holder of claim 26 with a member film in which the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out is associated to a pulling means having a portion intended to extend at least partly over one face of the film before the tearing of said portion, andin which at least the portion of the pulling means adjacent to the first end of the longitudinal portion to be torn out has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during at least the tearing of the first end of the substantially longitudinal portion of the film to be torn out.
  • 39. The toner holder of claim 26 with a sealing member in which at least one connecting means links the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out with the pulling means, whereby said connecting means has a sufficient tearing resistance for preventing a separation between the pulling means and the substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of the substantially longitudinal portion from its first end up to its second end.
  • 40. The toner holder of claim 39 with a sealing member in which said connecting means is selected from the group consisting of welding means, gluing means, clipping means, and mixtures thereof.
  • 41. The toner holder of claim 26, in which the sealing member has a sealing film having a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out between the first end and the second end with a variable width, said longitudinal portion extending between the first line and the a second line and to being adapted to be torn between the first end and the second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm and with at least one preferred substantially linear tearing direction, said layer being provided with a means reducing the width of the portion adjacent to the second end of the longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of said second end.
  • 42. The toner holder of claim 41 with a sealing member in which the longitudinal portion of the sealing film extends between a first upper line and a second lower line, whereby when the toner cartridge is placed in a copier, laser printer, fax machine or printer, the second lower line is substantially horizontal and extends at a level lower than the level at which the first upper line extends, andin which the first upper line is associated to a means intended for reducing the width of the portion adjacent to the second end of the longitudinal portion to be torn out during the tearing of said second end.
  • 43. A toner holder selected from the group consisting of toner container and toner cartridge, said holder being provided with a sealing member with a sealing film for closing an opening of the toner holder, said sealing film having a substantially longitudinal portion to be torn out between a first end and a second end, said longitudinal portion extending between the first line and the second line and being adapted to be torn along a tearing direction between a first end and a second end, wherein said sealing film comprises a sealing layer with a thickness comprised between 20 μm and 1 mm and with at least one referred substantially linear tearing direction, whereby said sealing layer is connected to a pulling means, said pulling means comprising at least a layer comprising fibres extending in a direction forming an angle comprised between −60° and +60° with respect to the tearing direction of the longitudinal portion to be torn, in which the sealing layer has:a first longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the first line, and a second longitudinal surface element selected from the group consisting of cuts, grooves, recesses and combinations thereof and extending along the second line, whereby said longitudinal surface elements extend in a direction comprised between 5° and 175° with respect to the preferred substantially linear tearing direction.
  • 44. The toner holder of the claim 43 with a sealing member in which the preferred substantially linear tearing direction of the sealing layer forms an angle comprised between −30° and +30° with respect to the direction of the fibres of the layer of the pulling means which extend in a direction forming an angle comprised between −60° and +60° with respect to the tearing direction of the longitudinal portion to be torn.
  • 45. The toner holder of the claim 43 with a sealing member in which the surface elements are located on a face of the sealing film intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge.
  • 46. The toner holder of the claim 43 with a sealing member in which the elements are located on a face of the sealing film not intended to be directed towards the toner cartridge.
  • 47. The toner holder of the claim 43 with a sealing member in which said longitudinal surface elements extend only partially into the thickness of the sealing layer so as to not transverse the sealing layer.
  • 48. The toner holder of the claim 43 with a sealing member in which the longitudinal surface elements form an angle between 45° and 135° with respect to the preferred substantially linear direction.
  • 49. The toner holder of the claim 43 with a sealing member in which the longitudinal surface elements form an angle of about 90° with respect to the preferred substantially linear direction of the sealing layer.
  • 50. The toner holder of the claim 43 with a sealing member in which the longitudinal surface elements are associated with a means for lowering the initial tearing force.
Parent Case Info

The present application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/071,254, filed on Feb. 8, 2002, in the name of Jan De Kesel and of U.S. Ser. No. 10/108,273 filed on Mar. 26, 2002 in the name of Jan De KESEL and Alexander Van Betsbrugge. The content of this application is incorporated in the present specification by reference.

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Number Name Date Kind
5110646 Prestel et al. May 1992 A
5523828 DeKesel Jun 1996 A
5826140 Zona et al. Oct 1998 A
RE36920 DeKesel Oct 2000 E
6157796 Fujiwara Dec 2000 A
6501924 Nagashima Dec 2002 B2
6539187 De Kesel Mar 2003 B2
6552780 Michlin et al. Apr 2003 B1
20020106214 Nagashima et al. Aug 2002 A1
20030152399 De Kesel et al. Aug 2003 A1
20030223770 DeKesel et al. Dec 2003 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (8)
Number Date Country
0 788 033 Aug 2001 EP
01161274 Jun 1989 JP
01310372 Dec 1989 JP
02028673 Jan 1990 JP
04006046 Jan 1992 JP
05-289513 Nov 1993 JP
2000-056552 Feb 2000 JP
2002040780 Feb 2002 JP
Continuation in Parts (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 10/071254 Feb 2002 US
Child 10/375936 US
Parent 10/108273 Mar 2002 US
Child 10/071254 US