Lexmark International, Inc.

Edward Lynn Triplett

Brian Allen Blair

Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges

Dustin Daniel Fichter

Jeremy Keith Payne

Emily Stefano Adams

Derek Masami Inouye

Brian Lee Hawes

Brian Lester Boettcher

Jason Lee Rowe

David Erwin Rennick

Jason Paul Hale

Matthew Lee Rogers

Kevin Dean Schoedinger

Larry Steven Foster

Kyle Bradley Martin

Brittany Nicole Sexton

Glen Alan Reidhaar

Daniel Lee Carter

Niko Jay Murrell

Brian Scott Carpenter

William Paul Cook

Stacey Vaughan Mitchell

Michael James Shanor

Todd Allison Quinn

Gary Michael Tylicki

Kristi Ann Kappes

James Daniel Anderson, Jr

James Richard Leemhuis

Harald Portig

Benjamin Alan Askren

Edward Alan Rush

Kerry Leland Embry

Donald Eugene Proffitt

Daniel Lee Thomas

Neilson Gutay Navarrete

Richard Gordon Boyatt, Iii

Gregory Daniel Creteau

Brian Reed Spencer

Robert Galon Newman

Douglas Andagan Baena, Jr

Karen Elaine Ballman

Patrick Wayne Carr, Jr

Daniel Joshua Smith

Clark Edward Jarnagin

Evan Tyler Caldwell

Thomas Eugene Pangburn

Gregory Alan Cavill

Robert Watson McAlpine

Donn Duane Bryant

Hrishikesh Pramod Gogate

Daniel Paul Cahill

Scott Allan Kendall

Edward Lawrence Kiely

Richard A Seman

Lenci Robert Kappes

Darren Wayne Tosh

Meneleo De Castro Cedeno

Terry Lee Parker

Lowell Thomas Siders

Christopher Lee Baker

Masahito Cho

Kimberely Aubrey Thuringer

Moneleo De Castro Cedeno

Toner container

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

An assembly for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a toner container removably installable in the image forming device and a latch movable between a latching position restraining the toner container along a longitudinal dimension of the toner container and an unlatching position freeing the toner container to move along the longitudinal dimension of the toner container. A latch actuator has a user engagement surface that is movable along the longitudinal dimension of the toner container between a home position and an actuating position. Pushing the user engagement surface moves the latch actuator from the home position toward the actuating position causing the latch actuator to move the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position to free the toner container for removal from the image forming device.

Latching assembly for a toner container

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.

Toner cartridge having positioning features

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 container for use with a developer unit of an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a body having a front that leads during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device and a rear that trails during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device. An outlet port is positioned on a bottom of the body and adjacent to the front of the body for exiting toner from the toner container. An engagement surface is positioned at the bottom of the body and adjacent to the front of the body for contacting and pushing open a developer shutter of an inlet port of the developer unit in a direction of insertion of the toner container into the image forming device during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device.

Toner container having a toner port shutter interface

A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an electrical contact positioned on a first side of a housing of the replaceable unit for contacting an electrical contact in the image forming device. A guide on the first side of the housing is positioned closer to a front of the housing than the electrical contact and leads rearward toward the electrical contact. The guide includes an inside surface that faces inward sideways toward a second side of the housing. At least a portion of the inside surface is angled inward sideways from front to rear permitting contact between the inside surface and an electrical connector in the image forming device to draw the electrical connector in the image forming device inward sideways relative to the replaceable unit during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.

Replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device having positioning features for electrical contacts

Printer

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Edward Lynn Triplett