Lexmark International, Inc.

John Andrew Buchanan

Randal Scott Williamson

Gregory Alan Cavill

Matthew Lee Rogers

Benjamin Keith Newman

James Anthany Carter, Ii

Mark Duane Foster

Tyler Frederick Williams

Michael Craig Leemhuis

Keith Seaman

Christopher Gene Vowels

James Richard Leemhuis

Philip Scot Carter

Jason Paul Hale

Jarrett Clark Gayne

Franklin Joseph Palumbo

John William Kietzman

Tom E Stickler

Nicholas Fenley Gibson

Matthew Thomas Kerley

David Clay Blaine

Jonathan David Kelley

Thomas Wilbur Blanck

Chris Anthony Burdette

Darrell Stephen Rulon

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a front, rear, first side, second side, top and bottom forming a toner reservoir. An outlet port is positioned on the front of the housing proximate the first side for transferring toner out of the reservoir. A drive gear is positioned on the front of the housing and has a center proximate the second side for receiving rotational power. A cavity is formed in the bottom of the housing. A latch catch is positioned in the cavity on an inner side of the front of the housing for receiving a latch for securing the toner cartridge in an image forming device. The latch catch is positioned closer to the bottom of the housing than the outlet port and the drive gear and between the center of the drive gear and the outlet port in the side-to-side direction.

Toner cartridge having loading and latching features

An image forming device includes a toner cartridge having an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for transferring toner from a reservoir to a developer unit. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force from an actuation feature of an image forming device. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port to engage a shutter on an inlet port of the developer unit. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface protrudes from the front of the housing to engage the shutter of the developer unit.

Image forming device having a replaceable toner cartridge that includes an engagement member for actuating a shutter

A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force in a frontward direction of the housing at the rear of the housing. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface moves in the frontward direction and protrudes from the front of the housing with at least a portion of the front of the second engagement surface unobstructed.

Toner cartridge having a movable engagement member that protrudes from a front of the toner cartridge for acutating a shutter

Toner cartridge having an engagement member for actuating a shutter

Laser printer toner cartridge

A carriage assembly for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of cradles mounted on a base. Each cradle has a cartridge storage area sized to receive and hold a corresponding toner cartridge. Each of the cradles is independently pivotable between a loading position for loading and unloading the toner cartridge into and out of the cradle and an operating position for operating the toner cartridge in the image forming device. Each of the cradles is biased toward the loading position. A latch assembly is configured to retain the cradles holding the corresponding toner cartridges in the operating position. The latch assembly has user-actuated engagement features for individually releasing the cradles from the operating position to the loading position for unloading the corresponding toner cartridge.

Carriage assembly for toner cartridge loading and latching

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for transferring toner from a reservoir to a developer unit. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force from an actuation feature of an image forming device. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port to engage a shutter on an inlet port of the developer unit. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface protrudes from the front of the housing to engage the shutter of the developer unit.

Toner cartridge having a shutter with bypassing actuation

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

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 for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear positioned between a first side and a second side of the housing. The housing has an elongated shape extending from the first side to the second side. The housing defines a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port on the front of the housing is in fluid communication with the reservoir. A port surface surrounding the exit port is positioned to seal against a corresponding surface when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The port surface is angled upward with respect to the bottom of the housing and faces generally downward.

Toner cartridge having an angled exit port surface

A toner system according to one example includes a developer unit and a toner cartridge. The developer unit includes a toner reservoir, an inlet port and a shutter. The toner cartridge includes a toner reservoir, an outlet port and an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned to receive an actuation force from a feature of an image forming device. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the outlet port to engage the shutter of the developer unit. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position when the toner cartridge is mated with the developer unit, the second engagement surface protrudes from the front of the toner cartridge and opens the shutter of the developer unit.

Toner system for an image forming device including a toner cartridge having a shutter with bypassing actuation

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Paris, KY, United States of America

John Andrew Buchanan