TONER IMAGE REPRODUCTION MACHINE INCLUDING A BALL VALVE DEVICE HAVING A PRESSURE RELEASE ASSEMBLY

A ball valve device for filling pressurized hoppers includes (a) a valve housing having a wall defining a chamber, a first port and a second port; (b) a valve ball rotatable within the chamber and including a through-bore for material flow from a refill container through the second port into the hopper, the valve ball having a horizontal, first hopper sealing position for pressure sealing the second port, and a vertical, second hopper opening position for opening the second port to the through-bore; and (c) a pressure release assembly including (i) a pressure release port formed through the valve housing wall and spaced from the first port and the second port; and (ii) a pressure release and particle catch assembly connected externally to the pressure release port for receiving pressure and remnant carrier particles from the refill container, thereby allowing safe release of pressure from the through-bore and from the refill container following refilling of the pressurized hopper.