Systems and methods for implementing a resealable self-aligning magnetic seal in an image forming device

摘要

A system and method are provided employing an improved re-sealable self-aligning sliding magnetic seal system comprising two cooperating parts. A first of two cooperating parts of the magnetic toner seal is configured with a foam base or support component attached to one material transport component. The foam base or support component has a thin flexible magnet layer formed or fixed on top of a portion that faces another material transport component in operation. A second of two cooperating parts of the magnetic toner seal may is configured as a corresponding thin flexible magnet layer attached directly to the another material transport component. The thin flexible magnet layers are cut so that the magnetic poles line up when the material transport components to which the two cooperating parts are attached are aligned. The disclosed configuration support making the two cooperating parts of the toner seal generally self-aligning.

主权项

1. A sealing element, comprising:
a first sealing component attached to a first cooperating component surrounding a material passage opening in the first cooperating component, the first sealing component comprising a first magnetic layer; and a second sealing component attached to a second cooperating component surrounding a material passage opening in the second cooperating component, the second sealing component comprising a second magnetic layer, the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer each comprising a plurality of magnetic poles that are aligned to form a magnetically sealed material passage in a form of a conduit between the material passage opening of the first cooperating component and the material passage opening of the second cooperating component.