Lexmark International, Inc.

Derek Masami Inouye

Edward Lynn Triplett

Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges

Brian Allen Blair

Dustin Daniel Fichter

Michael James Shanor

Donn Duane Bryant

Lenci Robert Kappes

Christopher Lee Baker

William Paul Cook

Kevin Dean Schoedinger

Paul Douglas Horrall

Larry Steven Foster

Benjamin Alan Askren

Tom E Stickler

Stacey Vaughan Mitchell

Delbert Lester Elliott

Brian Reed Spencer

Matthew Christopher Coriale

Philip David Jones

Gary Michael Tylicki

John Randolph McIntyre

Terry Lee Parker

Christopher Alan Sanders

Michelle Elizabeth Beck

A bump alignment assembly using at least two input media feeds for use in an imaging device. Two spaced apart media guides form a tunnel-shaped bubble chamber about a media path. Two media feed roll pairs are positioned adjacent to the entrance of the bubble chamber. The width of the entrance to the bubble chamber is equal to or greater than the separation of the feed nips of the two media feed roll pairs allowing two or more media paths to be accommodated without the use of media path extensions. A bump alignment roll pair is adjacent the exit of the bubble chamber. Entry, exit and biasing surface features of the media guides provide for buckling and bubble formation of media being fed into the bubble chamber.

Dual input bump alignment assembly for an imaging device

A reusable and resettable separator for use with electrophotographic components of an imaging device. The separator is installed with the imaging device and includes a spring-biased lift rail and release linkage and is used to move either a developer unit or a photoconductive drum unit between an operative position where a developer roll and a photoconductive drum form a contact nip and a separated position where the two rolls are separated. The separator is initially set using the lift rail to place two rolls in the separated position with the release linkage engaging the lift rail to hold this position. Opening of an access door engages a one-way release arm actuating the release linkage allowing the lift rail to translate moving the two rolls to the operative position. When reshipment of the imaging device is needed, the separator can manually reset placing the two rolls back in the separated position.

Resettable separator for electrophotographic components

A detachable reversible pick mechanism for a media input tray. The pick mechanism comprises a reversible drive transmission having a drive shaft gear operatively connected to a pick axle gear, the drive shaft gear slidably engageable onto a cantilevered drive shaft extending from a housing, a pick axle having a pick wheel at each end, the pick axle operatively connected to the pick axle gear; and a transmission housing consisting of a top, a bottom, and a side surface defining a cavity therein for containing the reversible drive transmission, an opening in a front portion and in a rear portion of the transmission housing through which the pick axle and drive shaft, respectively, pass, the front portion dimensioned so that the pick wheels each extend beyond the top and the bottom of the front portion, and a releasable latch mounted on the side surface for rotatably engaging a free end of the cantilevered drive shaft to axially position the pick mechanism on the drive shaft, the latch allowing a user to readily dismount the pick mechanism for service or replacement.

Detachable reversible pick mechanism for feeding media from a media tray of an image forming device

A method for indexing a lift plate in an image forming device according to one exemplary embodiment includes driving a motor in a first direction to drive a pick mechanism for feeding media from a stack of media sheets on a raisable lift plate such that as media is fed the height of the pick mechanism decreases. When the height of the pick mechanism falls below a predetermined level, the motor is driven a predetermined amount of rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction to raise the lift plate in order to raise the pick mechanism to a desired pick height.

Method and apparatus for adjusting media positioning and indexing using an encoder in an image forming device

A system for feeding and separating media in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a pick mechanism having at least one rotatable pick roller for feeding a topmost media sheet from a stack of media sheets in a media storage location in a media process direction from an initial pick position into a media feed path. The system further includes at least one rotatable separator roller positioned opposite and spaced away from the at least one pick roller downstream from the initial pick position. The separator roller forms an open nip with the at least one pick roller. The at least one separator roller is rotatable counter to the media process direction for separating the topmost media sheet from an adjacent media sheet and returning the adjacent media sheet to a separation point upstream from the at least one separator roller.

System for feeding and separating media in an image forming device

A removable media input tray assembly comprising a housing for receiving a removable media input tray. One or more housing assemblies stackable beneath an image forming device. The assembly having a substantially continuous media reference surface extending the height of a media feed path formed by two vertically aligned plates, one plate mounted on the removable media input tray and the other mounted on the housing and extending into the removable media input tray when installed in the housing, the arrangement of plates minimizing any gaps in the media reference surface within the assembly and adjacent assemblies and the image forming device.

Continuous media edge reference surface for a removable media input tray assembly of an image forming device

A system for positioning and feeding media in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a raisable lift plate having a top surface for receiving a stack of media sheets and a pick mechanism for feeding the media sheets into a media feed path. The system further includes a drive transmission having a single input, a first output connected to the pick mechanism for driving the pick mechanism, a second output connected to the lift plate for raising the lift plate, a first clutched gear connected to the first output of the drive transmission, and a second clutched gear connected to the first clutched gear and the second output of the drive transmission. The second clutched gear has an engagement opposite the first clutched gear. A single motor is connected to the input of the drive transmission for raising the lift plate and driving the pick mechanism.

Raisable lift plate system for positioning and feeding media in an image forming device

A pick mechanism according to one exemplary embodiment includes transmission housing and a drive transmission engageable with a drive shaft for receiving rotational force from the drive shaft. A pick axle has at least one pick wheel mounted thereon and is operatively connected to the drive transmission for rotating the at least one pick wheel. A first stop extends from the transmission housing for limiting the rotation of the pick mechanism about the drive shaft. A method for feeding compressible media according to one embodiment includes rotating a pick mechanism downward about a drive shaft, limiting the downward rotation of the pick mechanism to convert the pick mechanism from a compliant element to a non-compliant element, and feeding a first compressible media from a top surface of a lift plate in a media process direction with the non-compliant pick mechanism.

Method for feeding compressible media in an image forming device

A method for positioning and feeding media into a media feed path according to one embodiment includes moving a first media sheet from the top of a stack of media sheets in a media storage location in a media process direction from an initial pick position into a media feed path leaving a second media sheet at the top of the stack of media sheets. In the media storage location, the second media sheet is moved opposite the media process direction away from an entrance to the media feed path until a leading edge of the second media sheet reaches a known predetermined position in the media storage location. After the leading edge of the second media sheet reaches the known predetermined position, the second media sheet is moved in the media process direction from the stack of media sheets into the media feed path.

Method for positioning and feeding media into a media feed path of an image forming device

A method for determining the amount of media sheets in a media tray in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes raising a lift plate supporting a stack of media sheets toward a pick mechanism for feeding the media sheets by rotation of a motor in a first direction. An amount of rotation of the motor in the first direction is determined. An indication of an amount of media sheets remaining in the media tray is provided based on the determined amount of rotation of the motor in the first direction.

Method for determining the amount of media sheets in a media tray in an image forming device

Apparatus for feeding compressible media in an image forming device with rotation limiting stop

Embodiments for a toner auger for use in an image forming device. The image forming device includes a channel through which toner is moved. The auger is positioned within the channel and has an axis of rotation and at least one offset section extending radially outward from the axis of rotation. The offset section forms a sweep envelope that extends outward from the axis of rotation. The auger may be positioned within the channel for the offset to contact the channel. Contact may cause a vibratory force that prevents the toner from clogging and bridging within the channel.

Auger for use within an image forming device

An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner system that collects waste toner in a waste toner container. An amount of waste toner collected in the container is increased by using a driven toner distributing member that distributes accumulated toner within the container. The waste toner system may detect the accumulation of waste toner by monitoring a drive control circuit while the toner distributing member is being driven. For example, the system may detect excess accumulation by comparing the monitored values of a frequency control signal with one or more reference values corresponding to nominal accumulation conditions. An extension may be employed whereby movement of the toner distributing member creates interference between the toner distributing member and the container when the toner distributing member reaches a predetermined position. The interference may be detectable from the drive control circuit as an indication of a full condition.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Derek Masami Inouye