Lexmark International, Inc.

Benjamin Keith Newman

James Anthany Carter, Ii

Matthew Lee Rogers

Christopher Gene Vowels

Gary Neal Hackney

Keith Seaman

Gregory Alan Cavill

James Richard Leemhuis

Katrina Rosit Lactuan

Bryan Christopher Scharf

Harald Portig

Jason Paul Hale

Steven Alan Curry

Mark William Amann

Earl Dawson Ward, Ii

Phillip Byron Wright

John Andrew Buchanan

Rodney Evan Sproul

Benjer Albaran Acosta

Raymond Jay Barry

Brian Lester Boettcher

Joshua Carl Poterjoy

Philip Scot Carter

Jonathan David Kelley

Leighton De Leon Venezuela

Bryan Joseph Wiemers

Gregory Lawrence Ream

Jason Carl True

Matthew Thomas Kerley

Christohper Gene Vowels

Michael Craig Leemhuis

David Lee Merrifield

Jarrett Clark Gayne

James J Molloy

William Keith Richardson

Chris Anthony Burdette

Richard Winston Thomas

Keisha Josephine Thomas

Rebecca J Perkins

Jason Hale

James Anthany Carter

Kevin Dean Schoedinger

Paul Douglas Horrall

Daniel Lee Carter

Larry Steven Foster

John Wayne Gassett

Johnnie A Coffey

Christopher Dane Jones

Alan Stirling Campbell

Gary Scott Overall

John William Kietzman

Franklin Joseph Palumbo

Mark Duane Foster

Thomas Campbell Wade

Cyrus Bradford Clarke

Steven L Applegate

Tom E Stickler

Nicholas Fenley Gibson

Robert Leonard Burdick

Matthew David Heid

Michael David Lattuca

Timothy P Craig

Todd Lucas Janes

Brian Reed Spencer

Stephen Andrew Brown

David Clay Blaine

Robert Flynt Strean

Matthew Russell Smither

Brad Edward Mattingly

Tyler Frederick Williams

Donald Thomas Kral

Richard Alden Ramsdell

Lowell Thomas Siders

Thomas Gregrory Survant

Gregrory Lawrence Ream

Jerry Wayne Calia

Darrell Stephen Rulon

Gregory Allan Cavill

William Dudley Freeman

Ii Carter James Anthony

Raymond James Barry

James Anthony Ii Carter

Brad Edward Mattingley

James Richard Leemhius

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A portion of a main interface gear for providing rotational power to a toner delivery system is exposed on the front of the housing near a top of a second side of the housing and engagable with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device. A projection projects from the front of the housing and is spaced from the exit port toward the first side of the housing. The projection extends further forward than a frontmost portion of the exit port. A front of the projection is unobstructed for engaging a shutter on a developer unit when the toner cartridge is inserted into the image forming device.

Toner cartridge for use in an image forming device

An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a toner cartridge having a housing that defines a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on the front of the housing near a first side. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir includes a main interface gear exposed on the front of the housing near the top of the second side. A rearward facing opening is exposed at the rear of the housing near the first side of the housing for receiving a first engagement feature in an image forming device. A forward facing opening is exposed at the front of the housing near the first side of the housing for receiving a second engagement feature in the image forming device. The forward facing opening overlaps with the rearward facing in a side-to-side dimension of the housing.

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing defining a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A first alignment guide is positioned on the first side of the housing and a second alignment guide positioned on the second side of the housing. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir out of the exit port includes a main interface gear. A portion of the main interface gear is exposed on the front of the housing at a second side of the housing above the second alignment guide. A connector on the first side of the housing has a forward facing opening positioned above the first alignment guide. Electrical contacts are positioned within the connector and are accessible through the forward facing opening.

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing that defines a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on the front of the housing near a first side. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir includes a main interface gear exposed on the front of the housing near the top of the second side. A rearward facing opening is exposed at the rear of the housing near the first side of the housing for receiving a first engagement feature in an image forming device. A forward facing opening is exposed at the front of the housing near the first side of the housing for receiving a second engagement feature in the image forming device. The forward facing opening overlaps with the rearward facing in a side-to-side dimension of the housing.

A removable unit for an electrophotographic imaging device includes a housing having an opening, a rotatable roll disposed near the opening and adjacent to a bottom of the housing and a blade assembly coupled to the housing. The blade assembly includes a support bracket secured to a wall defining at least a part of the opening of the housing, and a blade member coupled to the support bracket and being positioned in the removable unit so that a distal end portion of the blade member engages with the rotatable roll. The housing, the blade assembly, and a portion of a surface of the rotatable roll define a substantially sealed enclosure for containing toner therein.

Developer unit architecture for an imaging device

A toner container including a first electrode disposed within the toner container, a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and disposed within the toner container, and a sense electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The sense electrode and the first electrode form a first capacitor having a first capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween. The sense electrode and the second electrode form a second capacitor having a second capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween.

Capacitive toner level sensor

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A portion of a main interface gear for providing rotational power to a toner delivery system is exposed on the front of the housing near a top of a second side of the housing and engagable with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device. A projection extends forward from the housing further forward than a frontmost portion of the exit port and is spaced from the exit port toward the first side of the housing. A front of the projection is unobstructed for engaging a developer unit when the toner cartridge is inserted into the image forming device.

A toner cartridge for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. The housing has an exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir. A shutter is positioned at the exit port that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The shutter is biased toward the closed position. A linkage is operatively connected to the shutter to open the shutter upon being actuated by a first engagement feature in the image forming device. An interlock is operatively engaged with the linkage and biased toward a locked position preventing the linkage from opening the shutter. The interlock is movable to an unlocked position that is disengaged with the linkage when the interlock is actuated by a second engagement feature in the image forming device permitting the linkage to open the shutter.

Toner cartridge having shutter lock mechanism

An example toner cartridge includes a reservoir for containing toner and an exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir. A shutter is positioned at the exit port and movable between an open position and a closed position. A first linkage member is operatively connected to the shutter to open the shutter upon being actuated by a first engagement feature. A second linkage member is pivotally attached to a side wall of the housing and biased toward a home position. A third linkage member is movable with the second linkage member. When the second linkage member is in the home position, the third linkage member is in a blocking position preventing the first linkage member from opening the shutter. When the second linkage member pivots away from the home position, the third linkage member moves to a non-blocking position permitting the first linkage member to open the shutter.

Toner cartridge having a shutter lock mechanism

A doctor blade assembly for the developer unit of an electrophotographic imaging system. The doctor blade assembly includes a blade member having a first longitudinal edge for contacting a developer roll of an imaging system; a bracket member operatively connected to the blade member; and at least one bias member having a first end portion along a first longitudinal end portion of the bracket member and a second end portion contacting a distal portion of the blade member so as to present a force thereon. The force presented by the bias member serves as a counterforce to at least partly offset a force presented on the doctor blade and developer roll by a seal member of the developer unit.

Bias member for the doctor blade of the developer unit in an imaging Device

An shutter having an overmolded seal for use in controlling the flow of toner through a port in a toner containing supply items for an imaging apparatus. In one form the shutter is overmolded with a seal comprised of a sleeve and one or more integrally molded angled endless ribs projecting outwardly from the sleeve. With the shutter installed in the supply item, the ribs deflect creating an sealing interface with the housing of the supply item to prevent toner leakage between the shutter and the housing of the supply item.

Overmolded shutter for use in toner containing supply items of an imaging apparatus

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing that defines a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on the front of the housing near a first side. A shutter positioned at the exit port is movable between an open position and a closed position. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir includes a main interface gear exposed on the front of the housing near the top of the second side. A rearward facing opening is positioned near the first side of the housing for receiving a first engagement feature in an image forming device for opening and closing the shutter. A forward facing slot is positioned near the first side of the housing for receiving a second engagement feature in the image forming device for locking and unlocking the shutter.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Benjamin Keith Newman