Lexmark International, Inc.

Brian Lester Boettcher

Mark William Amann

Emily Stefano Adams

James Anthany Carter, Ii

David Lee Merrifield

Brian Lee Hawes

Edward Lynn Triplett

Patrick Lawrence Ransom

Darin Michael Gettelfinger

Joshua Carl Poterjoy

Michael David Maul

Benjamin Charles Devore

Gregory Alan Cavill

Paul Douglas Horrall

Jeffrey Alan Abler

Jennifer Marie Murphy

Brittany Nicole Sexton

Matthew Lee Rogers

James Richard Leemhuis

Benjamin Keith Newman

Katrina Rosit Lactuan

Keith Seaman

Gary Neal Hackney

Christopher Gene Vowels

Bryan Christopher Scharf

Glen Alan Reidhaar

Jay Scott Siekmann

Tristan Santos Dalay

Jonathan David Kelley

Bryan Joseph Wiemers

Leighton De Leon Venezuela

Brian Allen Blair

Donn Duane Bryant

Jie Chen

Geoffrey Kirk Carlson

Kevin Agnissey

James Anthany Carter Ii

Michael Craig Leemhuis

Brian Scott Carpenter

Alan Stirling Campbell

Kerry Leland Embry

Mark Duane Foster

Bartley Charles Gould, Ii

Michael James Shanor

Eugene David Allen

Christopher Kent Washing

Christopher David Strack

Robert Galon Newman

Ahren Michael Hoy

Trey Dustin Gilliam

Shaun Singh Greywall

Evan Tyler Caldwell

Gregory Allan Cavill

Jose Paul Sacoto Aguilar

Mark William Amman

Ii James Anthany Carter

A toner container for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a body having a reservoir for holding toner. The toner container includes an electrical connector having an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. The electrical connector is positioned in one of a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the body corresponding to at least one of a toner color and a toner type of the toner container for limiting installation of the toner container to one of a plurality of toner container receptacles in the image forming device corresponding to at least one of the toner color and the toner type of the toner container.

Toner container having electrical connectors of different positions

A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of electrical contacts for contacting corresponding electrical contacts in an image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. The electrical contacts of the toner container are accessible from below at the bottom of the body by the corresponding electrical contacts in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. The electrical contacts of the toner container are spaced from each other along a horizontal dimension that is orthogonal to a vertical dimension of the toner container. A nominal position of the horizontal dimension along which the electrical contacts are spaced from each other is angled relative to a front-to-rear dimension of the toner container and a side-to-side dimension of the toner container.

Toner container having an angled electrical connector

Toner container

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing and a second latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. Contact surfaces on top portions of the first and second latch-receiving shelves are positioned to contact corresponding first and second latches in an image forming device. The contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than a first rotational axis of a first drive coupler of the toner cartridge and higher than a second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than at least a portion of a first electrical contact of the toner cartridge and higher than at least a portion of a second electrical contact of the toner cartridge.

Toner cartridge having positioning features

A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a pivotable handle. The handle includes a front segment extending along a front of a body of the toner container when the handle is in a first position for contacting a corresponding pry surface in an image forming device when the handle moves from the first position to a second position. The handle includes a rear segment extending along a rear of the body when the handle is in the first position permitting a user to actuate the rear segment to move the handle from the first position to the second position. The handle includes a first side segment extending along the first side of the body and a second side segment extending along the second side of the body. The first and second side segments connect the front segment and the rear segment.

Toner container handle

A toner container for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a body having a reservoir for holding toner, a toner port on the body in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a shutter translatable along a first dimension between a closed position blocking the toner port and an open position unblocking the toner port. A lock is translatable along a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension between a locked position blocking the shutter from moving from the closed position to the open position and an unlocked position unblocking the shutter permitting the shutter to move from the closed position to the open position.

Toner container having a shutter lock mechanism

An assembly for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a first electrical connector positioned on and movable relative to a frame of the image forming device. A replaceable unit is removably installable in the image forming device. The replaceable unit includes a second electrical connector that is matable with the first electrical connector. The second electrical connector is positioned on a leading end of the replaceable unit along a direction of insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device. The replaceable unit includes an alignment guide on the leading end of the replaceable unit. The alignment guide of the replaceable unit is positioned to contact the first electrical connector and move the first electrical connector into alignment with the second electrical connector of the replaceable unit during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.

Positioning features for electrical contacts of toner containers

A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a latch catch projecting upward on a top of a body of the toner container. The latch catch is spaced from a second longitudinal end of the body and positioned closer to the second longitudinal end of the body than to a first longitudinal end of the body. The latch catch includes a first contact surface that faces toward the second longitudinal end of the body for contacting a first corresponding surface of a latch in an image forming device to restrain the toner container along a longitudinal dimension of the toner container in a direction from the first longitudinal end of the body toward the second longitudinal end of the body when the toner container is in an installed position in the image forming device.

Toner container latching

A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a drive coupler and an electrical contact positioned on a first longitudinal end thereof. A first guide post and a second guide post project outward along a longitudinal dimension of the toner container from the first longitudinal end of the body. The first guide post is spaced toward a first side of the body from the drive coupler, and the second guide post is spaced toward a second side of the body from the drive coupler. The first guide post and the second guide post overlap with the drive coupler along a vertical dimension of the toner container such that an imaginary horizontal plane intersects the first and second guide posts and the drive coupler. Bottom surfaces of the first and second guide posts may be positioned lower in the vertical dimension than a rotational axis of the drive coupler.

A toner container according to one example embodiment includes an alignment guide for contacting an electrical connector of an image forming device during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device to move the electrical connector of the image forming device relative to the toner container during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device with the first end of the body leading in order to align the electrical connector of the image forming device with an electrical contact of the toner container.

Toner container having positioning features for electrical contacts

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than the second electrical contact. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned higher than a first rotational axis of the first drive coupler. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than a second rotational axis of the second drive coupler and the second electrical contact is positioned lower than the second rotational axis.

Toner cartridge electrical contacts

Growing community of inventors

Versailles, KY, United States of America

Brian Lester Boettcher