Venting plug in toner cartridge
DC CAFC
First Claim
1. A toner cartridge subject to increases in pressure in internal regions containing toner during operation,said cartridge having an opening in the side of said cartridge and a removable plug which fits in and closes said opening in said cartridge,said plug having openings into said cartridge communicating with a labyrinth of chambers reached by staggered paths,said labyrinth communicating with holes in said plug leading to the outside of said cartridge,and a filter located in said plug between said openings into said cartridge and the outside of said cartridge which blocks toner from passing through said holes leading to the outside.
2 Assignments
Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hopper plug (143) vents out air pressure build-up which cause toner leaks. One side of the plug has a series of entrance openings (491) which communicate with the inside of the hopper (61). Air, potentially containing some toner particles, passes through those openings and enters a first chamber (507). The first chamber has exit holes (499) which do not face the entrance openings. Air passing through the exit holes of the first chamber enters a second chamber (509). The second chamber has exit holes (495) which are at the opposite end and do not face the entrance openings. Third chamber (511) of this labyrinth faces a mat toner filter (501) which leads to exit holes (503).
34 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A toner cartridge subject to increases in pressure in internal regions containing toner during operation,
said cartridge having an opening in the side of said cartridge and a removable plug which fits in and closes said opening in said cartridge, said plug having openings into said cartridge communicating with a labyrinth of chambers reached by staggered paths, said labyrinth communicating with holes in said plug leading to the outside of said cartridge, and a filter located in said plug between said openings into said cartridge and the outside of said cartridge which blocks toner from passing through said holes leading to the outside.
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9. A venting plug for an electrophotographic toner cartridge comprising
a first chamber having openings on the outside of said plug for insertion into an electrophotographic cartridge, a second chamber having openings, said openings of said second chamber communicating with said first chamber and not facing said openings for insertion into an electrophotographic cartridge, a third chamber having first openings communicating with said second chamber, said first openings of said third chamber not facing said openings of said second chamber, said third chamber also having second openings located generally on the opposite side of said plug from said openings for inserting into an electrophotographic cartridge, and a filter located in said plug between said openings for insertion into an electrophotographic cartridge and the outside of said plug which blocks toner from passing through said second chamber.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeLexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
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Original AssigneeLexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
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InventorsWard, Earl Dawson II, Coffey, Johnnie A., Strean, Robert Flynt, Curry, Steven Alan
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Primary Examiner(s)Grimley, Arthur T.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Chen, Sophia S.
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Application NumberUS08/770,329Time in Patent Office522 DaysField of Search399/103, 399/106, 399/98, 399/93, 55/385.4, 55/441, 222/180.09, 222/DIG. 1, 220/253, 220/254, 220/371US Class Current399/106CPC Class CodesG03G 15/0855 the concentration being mea...G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying ...G03G 15/0872 the developer cartridges be...G03G 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. s...G03G 15/0898 for preventing toner scatte...G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge
