Genicom Corp.

American Safety Razor

Printronix, Inc.

Edward D Furrow

Paul W Snyder

Jeffrey W Wonderley

David Stowers

Vytas A Kavolius

Leon C Johenning, Ii

Joseph E White

Gerald A Bradfield

Gerald S Cox

Razor tray

Shaving razor tray

A motion detector comprising a rotator member having at least one radially positioned member and being mounted for rotation from at least a first position to at least a second position; a detector member, preferably a Hall Effect sensor; and a magnet producing a magnetic field; wherein, the radially positioned member is characterized by altering the magnetic flux of the magnetic field when it moves into and out of proximity to the magnet; and wherein the detector member detects the alteration of the magnetic flux. The motion detector is preferably used to detect the speed, type, position, presence, and absence of a printer ribbon cartridge.

Printer ribbon motion detection system

The ribbon cartridge includes a re-inker assembly having a pair of idler rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the print ribbon is advanced. The idler rollers have teeth intermeshing one with the other and with the print ribbon therebetween such that the idler rollers are positively driven when the ribbon is advanced. One of the idler rollers lies in contact with a re-inker roller or wick for transferring ink from the re-inker roller or wick to the print ribbon as the ribbon passes through the nip of the idler rollers.

Print ribbon cartridge with re-inker assembly

Electrostatographic cartridges having a cartridge base, a toner hopper having a toner fill hole attached to the cartridge base, and a gear housing assembly which blocks access to the toner fill hole and which includes an interior gear housing component integral with the cartridge base are remanufactured by severing the interior gear housing component and then reattaching it to the cartridge base through the exterior gear housing component. Specifically, the one-piece interior gear housing component is severed so that it can be removed thereby providing unobstructed access to the original toner fill hole. Most preferably, the interior part of the gear housing is cut at a five degree angle relative to the cartridge base. The angular cut thereby ensures that the attachment bosses on the cartridge base which serve to couple the base to the toner cartridge cover are not damaged to an extent that would defeat their coupling function. Paired reattachment holes are formed in the interior and exterior gear housing components to allow them to be reattached to one another via screw and nut assemblies extending therethrough. The reattached interior and exterior gear housing components may then be connected to the cartridge base by screws supplied originally with the cartridge by original equipment manufacturer (OEM). In such a manner, fresh toner may be introduced into the toner hopper in a convenient fashion during the remanufacturing operation.

Reconditioning of electrostatographic cartridges

A printer cartridge includes exit and entrance arms for receiving and exiting ribbon from the cartridge in response to a drive mechanism whereby the ribbon passes from the exit arm to an entrance arm past a printhead. An oscillator is coupled to the ribbon drive mechanism and includes a cam carried by the cartridge engaging a cam lever pivotally carried by the cartridge. The lever bears against a printer support when the cartridge is disposed in the printer. When the drive mechanism advances the ribbon, the oscillator is also driven to pivot the cartridge about a longitudinal axis, thereby gradually locating upper and lower portions of the ribbon in registration with the printhead as the ribbon advances.

Oscillatory ribbon cartridge for a printer

The ribbon cartridge includes a storage chamber for the print ribbon, openings through its top and bottom walls adjacent the storage chamber, and a stripper for maintaining the ribbon in the storage chamber likewise adjacent the openings. A ribbon drive mechanism is mounted on the printer deck and includes a drive gear, and an idler gear mounted on a pivoted lever, also pivotally carrying a cam. The lever is pivotable between positions opening and closing the rollers. A stripper actuating member is movable in response to rotation of the cam and displaces the stripper, when the cartridge is disposed on the printer, toward and away from the drive mechanism. The cam also enables opening and closing movement of the rollers to disengage and engage the ribbon, respectively.

Ribbon cartridge and printer drive system for the ribbon

A ribbon movement controlling cartridge includes a smudge guard/ribbon guide which contains exposed ribbon in a fixed stationary position during cartridge transportation and storage. When the guide is engaged with a printhead, it releases ribbon passage therethrough and acts as a smudge guard/ribbon guide during normal cartridge usage. A Mobius loop forming structure (along a first path for fabric ribbons) includes a central aperture therethrough so as to alternately permit direct non-inverting ribbon passage through the same structure along a second path intersecting the first path, for carbon film-type ribbons. A limited usage metering and self-stopping mechanism insures against over-extended usage of the cartridge. A unique key locking tab arrangement permits a proper cartridge to be positively engaged with a printer while also permitting easy disengagement for cartridge removal and replacement.

Growing community of inventors

Waynesboro, VA, United States of America

Edward D Furrow