Two part cartridges with force biasing by printer

DC CAFC

US 7,305,204 B2
Filed: 09/26/2006
Issued: 12/04/2007
Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
Status: Expired due to Term

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1. A toner container for use in combination with a photoconductive unit in an image forming apparatus, the toner container comprising:

a housing including first, second, and third sides, the first side extending between the second and third sides;

a reservoir within the housing that is sized to contain toner;

a developer member rotatably mounted to the housing to receive the toner from the reservoir, the developer member positioned to extend outward from the first side of the housing;

first and second guide members each extending outward from the second side of the housing, the second side being adjacent to the first side; and

a third guide member extending outward from a third side of the housing, the third side being adjacent to the first side;

the reservoir being inlet-free and including an outlet, the developer member being positioned within the outlet.

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Abstract

A two part cartridge having a photoconductor part (1) and a toner part (5) having no force biasing element on either part. The two parts fit together so that a developer roller (7) in the toner part contacts a photoconductor drum (3) in the other part. When the two parts are installed in a printer the cover (50), when closed, brings a spring (62) into contact with one side of the toner part while the frame (F) of the printer blocks movement away from the cover. An advantage of the two part cartridge is that the toner part can be replaced without replacing the photoconductor part. Members on the cartridge for force biasing are avoided and the need for training or skill to latch the parts together is avoided.

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20 Claims

1. A toner container for use in combination with a photoconductive unit in an image forming apparatus, the toner container comprising:
- a housing including first, second, and third sides, the first side extending between the second and third sides;
  
  a reservoir within the housing that is sized to contain toner;
  
  a developer member rotatably mounted to the housing to receive the toner from the reservoir, the developer member positioned to extend outward from the first side of the housing;
  
  first and second guide members each extending outward from the second side of the housing, the second side being adjacent to the first side; and
  
  a third guide member extending outward from a third side of the housing, the third side being adjacent to the first side;
  
  the reservoir being inlet-free and including an outlet, the developer member being positioned within the outlet.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- - 2. The toner container of claim 1, wherein the second and third sides of the housing are substantially perpendicular to the developer member.
  - 3. The toner container of claim 1, wherein the second and third sides are substantially parallel.
  - 4. The toner container of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a bottom side that attaches to the first, second, and third sides, wherein one of the first and second guide members and the third guide member are positioned farther from the bottom side than the developer member is positioned from the bottom side.
  - 5. The toner container of claim 1, wherein the first and second guide members extend outward beyond the second side farther than the developer member.
  - 6. The toner container of claim 5, wherein the first side is positioned at ends of the second and third sides.

7. A toner container for use in combination with a photoconductive unit in an image forming apparatus, the toner container comprising:
- a toner reservoir positioned within a housing;
  
  a developer roller extending outward from a first side of the housing and being in communication with the toner reservoir to receive toner, the developer roller being substantially cylindrical;
  
  first and second elongated guide members each extending outward from a second side of the housing, the first and second guide members being aligned substantially parallel with the developer roller; and
  
  a third elongated guide member extending outward from a third side of the housing and being substantially parallel with the developer roller;
  
  the reservoir being inlet-free and including an outlet, the developer member being positioned within the outlet.
- View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- - 8. The toner container of claim 7, further comprising a handle extending outward from a fourth side of the housing, the handle being extending from a substantially opposite side of the housing from the developer roller.
  - 9. The toner container of claim 7, further comprising a coupling extending outward from the third side of the housing to engage with the photoconductive unit.
  - 10. The toner container of claim 7, wherein the first and third guide members are distanced a substantially equal distance from the developer roller.
  - 11. The toner container of claim 10, wherein the second guide member is positioned in closer proximity to a bottom of the housing than the first and third guide members are positioned from the bottom of the housing.
  - 12. The toner container of claim 7, wherein the second and third sides of the housing are substantially perpendicular to the developer member.
  - 13. The toner container of claim 7, wherein the first and second guide members extend outward beyond the second side farther than the developer member, and the third guide member extends outward beyond the third side farther than the developer member.

14. A toner container for use in combination with a photoconductive unit in an image forming apparatus, the toner container comprising:
- a housing including a first side adjacent to second and third lateral sides;
  
  a reservoir within the housing that is sized to contain toner;
  
  a developer member rotatably mounted to the housing to receive the toner from the reservoir, the developer member positioned to extend outward from the first side of the housing;
  
  first and second guide members each extending outward from the second side of the housing;
  
  a coupling extending outward from the third side of the housing; and
  
  a third guide member extending outward from the third side of the housing, the third guide member extending outward a greater distance than the coupling.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 15. The toner container of claim 14, wherein the first, second, and third guide members each include an elongated shape that is each aligned substantially parallel with the developer member.
  - 16. The toner container of claim 14, wherein the housing further includes a bottom, the coupling being positioned in closer proximity to the bottom than the third guide member is positioned from the bottom.
  - 17. The toner container of claim 16, wherein the first and third guide members are each positioned a substantially equal distance from the bottom.
  - 18. The toner container of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of gears extending outward from the third side of the housing.
  - 19. The toner container of claim 14, further comprising a handle that extends outward from the housing, the handle being positioned on an opposite side of the housing from the developer member.
  - 20. The toner container of claim 14, wherein the second guide member is positioned a greater distance from the developer member than the first and third guide members are positioned from the developer member.

Specification

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
Original Assignee
Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
Inventors
Foster, Mark Duane, Carter, Philip Scot, Fain, Julia L.
Primary Examiner(s)
Gray; David M.
Assistant Examiner(s)
Walsh; Ryan D.

Application Number

US11/535,096
Publication Number

US 20070019986A1
Time in Patent Office

434 Days
Field of Search

399/107, 399111-114, 399/116, 399/117
US Class Current

399/113
CPC Class Codes

G03G 21/1821   means for connecting the di...

G03G 2221/1853   having a submodular arrange...

G03G 2221/1861   Rotational subunit connection

Two part cartridges with force biasing by printer

First Claim

4 Assignments

Litigations

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

27 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

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Two part cartridges with force biasing by printer

First Claim

4 Assignments

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Litigations

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

27 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

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Use Cases

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