Xerox Corporation

Michele Kayla Mae Durham

Robert Carl Tidrick

Heinz Erwin Grellmann

A package suitable for containing marking material used in a printing machine. The package includes a package surface adapted to engage one or more surfaces of the printing machine and a material identifier mechanism for verifying the marking material. The package may also include a material pouch, which is adapted to contain the marking material, joined with or formed in the package surface. Alternatively, the package may include a carrier adapted to engage one or more surfaces of the printing machine and a material pouch joined with the carrier. Other aspects include a method of remanufacturing a package suitable for containing marking material used in a printing machine.

Collapsible packaging system

A method is provided for supplying marking material. A package containing the marking material and having an information-bearing tag is fed into a housing of a printing machine along a path including a package inlet. The tag is read to verify the marking material contained in the package. The package is then opened at least partially within the housing to expel the marking material from the package. Objects being marked move relative to the printing machine along a different path not including the package inlet. A method also is provided for verifying the contents of a collapsible marking material package. The package is fed into the housing of the printing machine, and an information-bearing tag on the package is read. If incorrect material has been inserted, the package then is rejected and ejected from the housing before it has been collapsed.

A printing machine including a material supply module adapted to expel a marking material contained in a collapsible package having an information-bearing tag. The material supply module includes a reader for obtaining information from the information-bearing tag, a package opening actuator configured to cause the collapsible package to open, and at least one hopper for receiving the marking material. The printing machine also includes a marking device module configured to receive the marking material from the at least one hopper. Other aspects are a method of supplying marking material and a method of verifying the contents of a marking material package.

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Tualatin, OR, United States of America

Michele Kayla Mae Durham