Copier and printer toner hopper sealing device

Abstract

A toner hopper seal-insert and slide-seal to provide for the shipping and transporting of a refilled toner cartridge. The seal-insert is comprised of two slotted rectangular strips or pieces of material. A middle piece or layer of a resilient two-sided foam tape is sandwiched between the two slotted pieces, holding them together such that their slots align. The tape is configured such that it also has a slot which is wider than the slots in the two outer pieces and open at one end, providing a channel for the slide-seal. The seal-insert is attached to the toner hopper of the toner cartridge, and the slide-seal is slid into or out of position in the seal-insert to seal or unseal the opening of the toner hopper, creating a reusable leakproof seal system. For ease of placing the seal-insert in the toner hopper, the ends of the outer pieces opposite the slot openings in the tape layer may be bent and fused together, then cut into a shape extending to a point. The slide-seal may be a magnetized flexible strip so it attracts toner and further improves the seal. It may also be provided with a handle for ease of operation. For toner hoppers with wider openings, the width of the seal-insert is increased but the slots remain the same size. The increased width of the seal-insert is furnished with a removable tool to keep the seal-insert rigid as it is placed into position on the toner hopper.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for providing means for re-sealing a toner hopper, which is a part of an expensive toner cartridge, used on a dry toner printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine in order that the hopper, filled with dry toner, can be shipped from one location to another, without spillage of the dry toner powder which behaves similar to a liquid.

It is customary for the manufacturer of a printer or copying machine, using dry toner, to fill the toner hopper with dry toner, and seal the top of the toner hopper with a plastic sheet, attached, and sealed on the sides of the hopper, and on each end of the hopper, just prior to assembling the toner hopper with the other components of a toner cartridge unit. When the toner cartridge is received at the using location, the seal is removed from the toner hopper section of the cartridge, and the printer or copier is ready for use, with the toner exposed to the roller feed device for making copies.

Recent developments in the dry toner imaging industry have lead to the use of "throw-away" type toner cartridges, whereby the user of the copier or printer must buy a new, filled, toner cartridge from the manufacturer, when the original toner hopper in the toner cartridge is depleted of toner. This method of throw-away toner cartridges is very expensive to the user of the copier or printer as a new cartridge is required each time the toner in the toner cartridge's toner hopper is depleted. The toner is expensive enough, but to add the expense of a new cartridge, with its toner dispensing means, adds a substantial amount of cost to the replacement procedure.

It has been customary in the past to throw away these very expensive, empty toner cartridges, and replace them with new, filled, and sealed factory toner cartridges. The manufacturers seal the toner hopper components in these new toner cartridges at their manufacturing location, and there is no leakage of the toner during shipment. This type of operation, using expensive throw-away cartridges, has therefore, led to the need for a method and apparatus for re-filling, re-sealing, shipping, and re-using these toner cartridges, with the obvious savings of the cost of the new toner cartridge, in addition to the benefits of avoiding disposal and environmental problems.

No prior art is available for comparison to this invention, although the inventor is aware of several products, which have tried to solve the problem and several references are cited, which tend to outline the problem of dry toner use in these dry toner printers and copiers, and, it is obvious to a prior user of these printers and copiers that any leakage of this dry toner from the toner cartridge unit is a major cleaning problem at best, and may cause severe soiling damage to the surrounding environment, in the normal accident, as well as damage to the equipment.

One such product for re-sealing the dry toner hopper when refilling uses a plastic sheet, which slides into the slot in the toner hopper section of the toner cartridge, created when the original seal is removed.

Another product for re-sealing the dry toner in the re-filled hopper uses a plastic sheet with a magnetic coating, to try to keep the dry toner from spilling during shipment to the user. Still others try to duplicate the factory method which may require disassembly and modification of the toner hopper and thorough cleaning of the seal-grooves.

Most of the prior products, designed for this purpose of sealing the dry toner hopper for shipment, have a major problem in their design. This problem centers around the long slots along the longitudinal sides of the dry toner hopper. These slots are not sealed along this longitudinal axis, after the original seal is removed, and have irregular openings along their longitudinal axis. Now, the prior products, being of a fixed thickness, slide into the uneven slot, to fill parts of the distance of the slot, leaving minute openings along the longitudinal axis of the toner hopper, with the resulting leakage of the dry toner during shipment, causing major problems to the shipper and the receiver of the re-filled dry toner hoppers.

Another problem involves some toner hoppers that have a very narrow slot constriction that the toner seal, wider than the slot, must pull through. It is very cumbersome to seal such a toner hopper with a narrow slot constriction because the seal's width must pull through the constriction.

Another problem involves seal re-usability. Of the prior art, those seal systems that are re-usable tend to leak. However, those that do not leak are not re-usable.

Those seal systems that use a form of sticky back tape alone as the seal, have four general problems. First, these seals may tear. Second, they may stick to toner in the slot causing them to unstick therefore, not forming a perfect seal. Prevention of this unsticking requires an excessive mount of extra labor in cleaning toner from the seal-grooves. Third, these seal systems do not consistently seal well. A fourth problem involves foam-tearing. Many such seals that are leakproof tear the sealing foam in the hopper, if not from pulling the seal, whereby the sticky tape tears the foam, then the sealing foam tears from use of the common metallic insertion tool on each usage cycle. Once this foam partially tears out, the hopper will then leak, causing the problem the seal was supposed to prevent.

Another problem with prior art is that those seals that are leakproof tend to take a long time to insert, unlike a slide-seal. Those contemporary seals that are slide-seals, of prior art, tend to leak.

An invention was disclosed to solve these problems in application Ser. No. 845,722, filed Mar. 4, 1992 by this applicant. Three thin, fiat, plastic or steel rectangles were made to form a seal-insert. Two were identical rectangles with a longitudinal centerline slot cut out for the purpose of allowing toner to fall through. These two rectangles sandwiched the third rectangle between them. The third rectangle had a similar slot but which was open at one end. These three rectangles were pressed firmly together and sealed together to form a one-piece seal-insert unit with an open longitudinal centerline slot. The middle rectangle's open-ended slot allowed a slide-seal to be inserted and removed. The seal-insert was intended for permanent insertion into a toner hopper. When the slide-seal, consisting of a stiff strip, slid into the slot of the middle rectangle, a seal was achieved so that toner powder could not leak out and the toner hopper could be shipped from one location to another.

The present invention is a further improvement on that disclosed seal-insert and slide-seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for re-sealing re-filled dry toner hoppers, which are usually components of toner cartridges, in a manner to allow for the shipping of these re-filled dry toner cartridges from one location to another, without spillage of the dry toner from the re-filled dry toner hopper, using a permanent seal-insert which acts as a holder for the slide-seal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reuable sealing apparatus which is very quick and easy to insert into the slot. A grooved seal-insert is permanently affixed to the toner hopper which then allows a slide-seal to slide in and out of the seal-insert.

In carrying out this invention in the illustrative embodiment thereof, a seal-insert is created. Two thin, flat, plastic or steel rectangular pieces are joined together by a foam-type two-sided tape. The two pieces have longitudinal centerline dots which are aligned when the pieces are joined together. The tape is sandwiched between the two pieces and is arranged in a configuration such that a slot is formed which is wider and longer than the slots in the two outer pieces and is open at one end. This provides a one-piece seal-insert unit. The seal-insert is intended for permanent insertion into a toner-hopper. When the slide-seal, consisting of a stiff strip, slides into the slot formed by the tape, a perfect seal is achieved so that no toner powder will leak out and the toner hopper may be shipped from one location to another.

When the slide-seal is pulled out of its slot, toner may fall through the slot into the top portion of the toner hopper. After toner is completely expended from the toner hopper, when the toner hopper is re-used, the slide-seal may quickly and easily be inserted in the groove of the permanent seal-insert again and again, many times.

The purpose of installing the permanent slotted seal-insert is to modify the hopper so as to to allow a quick to install, reusable slide-seal to seal the unit.

By use of the foam-type two-sided tape, and because the outer pieces are very thin plastic or metal, the seal becomes compressible and expandable. When the seal-insert is placed in the hopper grooves, it will expand or compress to seal the hopper-grooves, even with an uneven surface of the grooves and clumps of toner stuck in the grooves, providing an improved seal. The flexibility makes it easier to place the seal-insert in the grooves. Additionally, by using the foam-type two-sided tape, the assembly of the seal-insert itself is simplified, eliminating the need for caulks, glues, or dissolving chemicals to fuse the pieces together. It is also inexpensive.

Copending application Ser. No. 07/850,930 filed Mar. 13, 1992, discloses another reusable seal, but it does not have a slot for a removable slide-seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention, together with other objects, features, aspects, and advantages thereof, will be more clearly understood from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a conventional dry toner hopper with hopper grooves, showing the opening where toner falls through in the toner hopper.

FIG. 2 is a top view of another variety of conventional toner hopper without hopper-grooves showing the area toner falls through, the narrow constriction in the toner hopper, and the typical attach-area available to attach the seal-insert.

FIG. 3 is an isometric drawing showing the two outer pieces and the inner layer of tape of the seal-insert unit of this invention.

FIG. 4 shows the slide-seal strip that fits into the slot of the seal-insert unit of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows the end view of the seal-insert unit with its slot opening.

FIG. 6 shows the seal-insert and depicts how the slide-seal strip fits into the slot.

FIG. 7 is a top, cross-section view of the opening and seal attach-area perimeter of the toner hopper.

FIG. 8 is an illustration showing the end of the seal-insert and slide-seal adjacent the bracket of the toner hopper.

FIG. 9 shows a modified version of the tape layer of the seal-insert.

FIG. 10 shows a seal-insert with fused together ends and shaped for ease of installment.

FIG. 11 shows the slide-seal strip with a handle.

FIG. 12 shows the seal-insert with the slots in a different position.

FIG. 13 shows a seal-insert with an increased width and a tool for keeping the seal-insert rigid.

FIG. 14 shows a seal-insert with a device for fixing the width of the slot.

FIG. 15 shows a seal-insert with another type of device for fixing the width of the slot.

by utilizing a brace, or installation support means, to maintain the width of the slot 13. The brace can also be referred to as a reinforcing member, a splint, or a stabilizer. The brace comprises a A small piece of material 29 which is attached across the width of an outer piece of the seal-insert 10. The material 29 sets the proper width of the slot 13 and prevents the slot 13 from spreading or pinching. There could be one or more of these cross pieces as shown in FIG. 16. The material 29 could be a piece of two-sided tape or a small piece of plastic chemically bonded, taped, or glued to an outer piece of the seal-insert 10.

In FIG. 15, the cross-piece is shown as a rectangular slot-setter tab 30 with two-sided tape 31 on one end. The cross-piece is used as a slot setter. It keeps the slot 13 from spreading or pinching while the seal-insert 10 is being fixed on the toner hopper 6. The slot-setter 30 is then removed by pulling on the un-taped end of the slot-setter 30. The slot setter 30 may be used with the seal-insert 10 of this invention or with other types of slotted seals used in toner cartridge assemblies, such as those disclosed in the background of this invention. It can be made out of plastic, metal, cardboard, etc. The rectangular shape is not important. It can be made in other variations, so long as it sets the slot 13 and is removable after installation of the seal-insert 10 or other variation of a slotted installable piece.

Accordingly, a very unique, convenient method and system is provided for re-filling, and re-sealing, the toner hopper for shipping, and re using it, rather than having to purchase a new, expensive toner cartridge each time the toner hopper is empty.

Since minor changes and modifications varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be understood by those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the specific examples chosen for purposes of illustration, and includes all changes and modifications which do not constitute a departure from the true spirit and scope of this invention as claimed in the following claims and reasonable equivalents to the claimed elements.

Claims

1. A sealing means for sealing a toner hopper used in printer, copying machine or facsimile machine toner cartridges, in order that used toner cartridges can be refilled with toner, sealed, and transported with little possibility of spilling any of the toner from the toner hopper, said toner hopper having an opening through which toner flows, said sealing means comprising a seal-insert and slide-seal, wherein said seal-insert comprises outer pieces fastened into one component by a layer of resilient two-sided foam-type tape such that said outer pieces sandwich said tape between them, said outer pieces having corresponding slots and said tape having a slot wider than said slots in said outer pieces and being open at one end, said slots in said outer pieces and said slot in said tape being aligned such that a passage is formed through said seal-insert, said slide-seal comprising a strip of material that may be slid through the open end of said slot in said tape, blocking said passage in said seal-insert, so that when said seal-insert is attached to the toner hopper over said toner hopper opening, said slide-seal would provide a reusable seal blocking or allowing toner flow through said toner hopper opening and through said seal-insert passage.

2. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said outer pieces of said seal-insert are made of plastic material.

3. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said outer pieces of said seal-insert are made of cardboard.

4. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said outer pieces of said seal-insert are made of steel material.

5. A sealing means as in claim 1 wherein said slide-seal is made of plastic material.

6. The sealing means of claim 5 wherein said plastic is polycarbonate material.

7. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said slide-seal is made of steel material.

8. A sealing means as in claim 1 wherein there are two of said outer pieces of said seal-insert.

9. A sealing means as in claim 8 wherein said two outer pieces of said seal-insert are rectangular and said slots are longitudinally located on said pieces.

10. A sealing means as in claim 9 wherein said outer pieces each have a length and a centerline extending along said length, and said slots of said outer pieces extend along the centerlines of said pieces.

11. A sealing means as in claim 1 wherein said toner hopper has a constriction at one end, said constriction being narrower than said opening in said toner hopper, and wherein said slide-seal and said slots in said seal-insert pieces and said slot in said tape are sized such that said slide-seal is narrow enough to slide through said constriction but wide enough to block said passage formed by said slots in said seal-insert pieces.

12. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein the layer of resilient two-sided foam-type tape is die cut to form a rectangular u-shaped layer.

13. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein the layer of resilient two-sided foam-type tape is comprised of three separate lengths of tape including a cross-piece and two legs longer than said cross-piece, said tape layer having two ends, whereby wherein the cross-piece is at the end of the tape layer opposite the end of the tape layer with the open end of said slot in said tape.

14. The sealing means of claim 13 wherein said outer pieces each have outside edges along their longitudinal lengths, said cross-piece extending to said outside edges when said layer of resilient two sided foam-type tape is sandwiched between said outer pieces.

15. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein the layer of tape and the outer pieces each have perimeter lengths and widths, and the perimeter length and width of said layer of resilient two-sided foam-type tape are smaller than the perimeter length and width of said outer pieces whereby the outer pieces overlap said resilient two-sided foam-type tape layer.

16. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said outer pieces of said seal-insert have ends opposite the open end of said slot in said layer of tape, said outer piece ends being bent and bonded together.

17. The seating means of claim 16 wherein said bent and bonded together ends of said outer pieces are cut to a shape extending to a point.

18. The sealing means of claim 16 wherein said bent and bonded together ends of said outer pieces are fused together by a dissolving chemical.

19. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said seal-insert has an end containing said open end of said slot in said tape, said seal-insert end having an underside, said underside having a piece of two-sided tape stuck to it, whereby wherein said underside of said seal-insert end may be attached to said toner hopper.

20. The sealing means of claim 19 wherein said underside of said seal-insert end has a piece of foam adhered to it adjacent said two-sided piece of tape, whereby wherein said piece of foam may press said seal-insert against said opening of said toner hopper at said seal-insert end, improving said seal.

21. The sealing means of claim 20 wherein one of said outer pieces is longer than the other of said outer pieces, such that the longer outer piece extends over said open end of said slot in said tape and acts as a guide for ease of placement of said slide-seal into position in said seal-insert.

22. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein one of said outer pieces is longer than the other of said outer pieces, such that the longer outer piece extends over said open end of said slot in said tape and acts as a guide for ease of placement of said slide-seal into position in said seal-insert.

23. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said slide-seal is a magnetized strip, whereby it which attracts toner.

24. The sealing means of claim 23 wherein said magnetized strip is made of flexible plastic.

25. The sealing means of claim 24 wherein said slide-seal has a handle at one end.

26. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said slide-seal has a handle at one end.

27. The sealing means of claim 26 wherein said handle is plastic and flat.

28. The sealing means of claim 27 wherein said handle is bonded to said slide-seal with a solvent.

29. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said seal-insert has two edges which extend along said slots in said outer pieces and said tape, whereby wherein said slots are located closer to one of said edges than to the other.

30. A sealing means for sealing a toner hopper used in printing, copying or facsimile machine toner cartridges, in order that used toner cartridges can be refilled with toner, sealed, and transported with little possibility of spilling any of the toner from the toner hopper, said toner hopper having an opening through which toner flows, said sealing means comprising a seal-insert and slide-seal, wherein said seal-insert comprises outer pieces fastened into one component by a first layer of resilient two-sided tape such that said outer pieces sandwich said first layer of tape between them, said outer pieces having corresponding slots and said first layer of tape having a slot wider than said slots in said outer pieces and being open at one end, said slots in said outer pieces and said slot in said first layer of tape being aligned such that a passage is formed through said seal-insert, said slide-seal comprising a strip of material that may be slid through the open end of said slot in said first layer of tape, blocking said passage in said seal-insert, so that when said seal-insert is attached to the toner hopper over said toner hopper opening, said slide-seal would provide a reusable seal blocking or allowing toner flow through said toner hopper opening and through said seal-insert passage, and said outer pieces have increased width so said sealing means can be used in a toner hopper having a wider opening, said increased width of said outer pieces being without slots but also including a second sandwiched layer of resilient two-sided tape forming an open-ended inner slot.

31. The sealing means of claim 30 wherein said increased width of said outer pieces includes a removable tool for insertion into said open ended inner slot, whereby wherein said tool keeps said seal-insert rigid for easier attachment of said seal-insert to said toner hopper over said wider opening.

32. The sealing means of claim 31 wherein said tool is a flat strip of plastic.

33. The sealing means of claim 1 wherein said slots of said outer pieces have a width, and a small piece of material is attached to one of said outer pieces across the width of the slot in said one of said outer pieces, whereby wherein the width of the slot in said one of said outer pieces is fixed and cannot spread or pinch.

34. The sealing means of claim 33 wherein said small piece of material is a rectangular piece of plastic with two-sided tape on one end, whereby wherein said piece of material may be easily removed from said one of said outer pieces after said seal-insert is attached to said toner hopper and said slot width is fixed.

35. The sealing means of claim 30 wherein said first layer of resilient two-sided tape fixes a foam material between said outer pieces.

36. The sealing means of claim 30 wherein said first and said second layers of resilient two sided tape comprises comprise layers of cloth type two sided tape.

37. The sealing means of claim 30 wherein said first and said second layers of resilient two-sided tape comprises a layer of comprise fiberglass-type two-sided tape.

38. A slot width setting means for use with a seal-insert and sealing means for sealing a toner hopper used in printing, copying and facsimile machines, said seal-insert comprising a slotted member, said slot width setting means comprising a small piece of plastic with two-sided tape on one end, whereby wherein said small piece of plastic is applied to said seal-insert over the slot while said seal-insert is attached to said toner hopper. 39. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip;

said sealing assembly including first and second longitudinal side members defining a longitudinal slot in said elongated strip between said first and said second longitudinal side members;

a brace joined to said sealing assembly;

and said brace extending across said longitudinal slot. 40. The device set forth in claim 39 wherein said brace is disposed perpendicular to said longitudinal slot. 41. The device set forth in claim 39 wherein said brace is disposed non-perpendicular to said longitudinal slot. 42. The device set forth in claim 39 wherein said brace is rigid. 43. The device set forth in claim 39 wherein said sealing assembly includes a back surface; and

said brace is disposed on said back surface of said sealing assembly.

44. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front surface to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back surface;

a brace removably adhered to said back surface of said sealing assembly. 45. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front surface to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back surface;

a cardboard brace removably adhered to said back surface of said sealing assembly. 46. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front surface to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back surface;

a metal brace removably adhered to said back surface of said sealing

assembly. 47. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front surface to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back surface;

a plastic brace removably adhered to said back surface of said sealing assembly. 48. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip including first and second longitudinal side members;

said longitudinal side members defining a longitudinal slot in said elongated strip between said first and second longitudinal side members;

said longitudinal slot including a width; and

a brace joined to said first and said second longitudinal side members and dividing said longitudinal slot into first and second slot sections.

49. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip including a front surface to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back surface;

a brace comprising an elongated member disposed lengthwise along said elongated strip, said brace joined to said back surface of said elongated strip. 50. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front surface to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back surface;

a brace permanently joined to said back surface of said sealing assembly.

51. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front surface to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back surface;

a brace removably joined to said back surface of said sealing assembly. 52. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly including a front surface and a back surface;

a cardboard brace removably adhered to said back surface of said sealing assembly;

said brace comprising support means which supports said device while said device is being positioned after which said brace is removed to leave said device in place; and

two-sided tape attached to said front surface of said sealing assembly for allowing said sealing assembly to be positioned adhesively on the toner

hopper. 53. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly including a front surface and a back surface;

a cardboard brace removably adhered to said back surface of said sealing assembly;

said brace comprising support means which supports said device while said device is being positioned after which said brace is removed to leave said device in place; and

glue attached to said front surface of said sealing assembly for allowing said sealing assembly to be positioned adhesively on the toner hopper.

54. The sealing assembly as set forth in either of claims 39 or 49 wherein said brace comprises a plurality of cross-pieces. 55. The device set forth in either of claims 39, 48, or 49 wherein said brace is permanently attached to said sealing assembly. 56. The device set forth in either of claims 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50 or 51 wherein

said sealing assembly including glue on said front surface for allowing said sealing assembly to be positioned adhesively on the toner hopper. 57. The device set forth in either of claims 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, or 51 wherein

said sealing assembly includes two-sided tape on said front surface for allowing said sealing assembly to be positioned adhesively on the toner

hopper. 58. The device set forth in either of claims 44, 45, 46, 51, or 53 wherein said brace includes a front surface;

said brace is adhered to said back surface of said sealing assembly with glue. 59. The device set forth in either of claims 44, 45, 46 51, or 53 wherein said brace includes a front surface;

said brace includes two-sided tape on said front surface of said brace; and

said brace is adhered to said back surface of said sealing assembly with said two-sided tape. 60. The device set forth in either of claims 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, or 51 wherein said back comprises support means which supports said device while it is being positioned after which said brace is removed to leave the device in place.

61. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridge, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front side to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back side;

a rigid brace removably adhered to said back side of said sealing assembly. 62. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly linked on two opposite faces to a first glue layer, said first glue layer being intended to contact the toner hopper and being suitable to place correctly said sealing assembly on the toner hopper while a second glue layer linked to a substantially rigid brace exerts a gluing force between said brace and said sealing assembly so that after placing said sealing assembly upon the toner hopper, said brace can be

removed without damaging said sealing assembly. 63. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip;

said sealing assembly including first and second longitudinal side members defining a longitudinal slot in said elongated strip between said first and said second longitudinal side members;

a support joined to said sealing assembly;

and said support extending across said longitudinal slot. 64. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridge, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front side to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back side;

a support removably adhered to said back side of said sealing assembly.

65. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip;

said sealing assembly including first and second longitudinal side members defining a longitudinal slot in said elongated strip between said first and said second longitudinal side members;

a cardboard support joined to said sealing assembly;

and said cardboard support extending across said longitudinal slot. 66. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridge, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front side to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back side;

a cardboard support removably adhered to said back side of said sealing

assembly. 67. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip;

said sealing assembly including first and second longitudinal side members defining a longitudinal slot in said elongated strip between said first and second longitudinal side members;

a reinforcing member joined to said sealing assembly;

and said reinforcing member extending across said longitudinal slot. 68. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridge, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front side to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back side;

a reinforcing member removably adhered to said back side of said sealing

assembly. 69. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip;

said sealing assembly including first and second longitudinal side members defining a longitudinal slot in said elongated strip between said first and said second longitudinal side members;

a setting device joined to said sealing assembly;

and said setting device extending across said longitudinal slot. 70. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridge, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front side to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back side;

a setting device removably adhered to said back side of said sealing

assembly. 71. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip;

said sealing assembly including first and second longitudinal side members defining a longitudinal slot in said elongated strip between said first and said second longitudinal side members;

an installation support joined to said sealing assembly;

and said installation support extending across said longitudinal slot. 72. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridge, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front side to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back side;

an installation support removably adhered to said back side of said sealing

assembly. 73. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip;

said sealing assembly including first and second longitudinal side members defining a longitudinal slot in said elongated strip between said first and said second longitudinal side members;

a splint joined to said sealing assembly;

and said splint extending across said longitudinal slot. 74. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridge, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front side to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back side;

a splint removably adhered to said back side of said sealing assembly.

75. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridges, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly comprising an elongated strip;

said sealing assembly including first and second longitudinal side members defining a longitudinal slot in said elongated strip between said first and said second longitudinal side members;

a stabilizer joined to said sealing assembly;

and said stabilizer extending across said longitudinal slot. 76. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridge, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly;

said sealing assembly including a front side to be later joined to the toner hopper and a back side;

a stabilizer removably adhered to said back side of said sealing assembly.

77. An improved device for sealing a toner passage in a toner hopper of a type used in printer, copying machine, or facsimile machine toner cartridge, said device comprising:

a sealing assembly; and

a brace removably adhered to said sealing assembly;

said brace including a front surface;

said front surface of said brace including a first region with adhesive thereon;

said front surface of said brace including a second region with no adhesive thereon wherein the second region with no adhesive makes it easier to

remove the brace from said sealing assembly. 78. The device set forth in either claims 39 or 48, wherein said sealing assembly includes a front surface; and

said sealing assembly including glue on said front surface for allowing said sealing assembly to be positioned adhesively on the toner hopper. 79. The device set forth in either of claims 39 or 48 wherein said sealing assembly includes a front surface; and

said sealing assembly including two-sided tape on said front surface for allowing said sealing assembly to be positioned adhesively on the toner hopper. 80. The device set forth in claim 48 wherein said sealing assembly includes a back surface and said brace includes a front surface;

said brace is adhered to said back surface of said sealing assembly with glue. 81. The device set forth in claim 48, wherein said sealing assembly includes a back surface and said brace includes a front surface;

said brace includes two-sided tape on said front surface; and

said brace is adhered to said back surface of said sealing assembly with said two-sided tape.