Cap assembly and lock for aqueous ammonia container

摘要

A cap assembly is provided for use with a container for storing and supplying aqueous ammonia to a diazo type copying machine. The cap assembly comprises a closure member mounted on the container and a key device associated with free ends of an ammonia feed tube and a drain tube connecting the container to a developer system of the copying machine. The closure member includes a feed outlet to permit ammonia flow from the container to the feed tube and a drain outlet to permit ammonia flow from the drain tube to the container. The closure member also includes a seal adapted for selective actuation by the key device between a first position for closing the feed and the drain outlets to prevent ammonia flow and a second position for opening the outlets to permit ammonia flow. The key device is releasably retained by the closure member when the seal is in the second position and is released from the closure member when the seal is in the first position, to thereby prevent escape of ammonia fumes from the container to the ambient atmosphere during replacement of an empty container with a container providing a fresh supply of ammonia. The key device also includes a lock actuable between a locked position to prevent movement of the key device and actuation of the seal between the first and the second positions, and an unlocked position to permit movement of the key device.