Other

Steven Bruce Michlin

Jeffrey Byron Anderson

John P Wagnon

Dana K Lewis

Dick D Irwin

Michael F Gaylord

Herbert J Mader

Randall Felix Sell

Randall F Sell

Steven R Dixon

Charles Harold Whittern

Jeffrey B Graber

A type 2 IP-5000 toner cartridge is converted to a type 1 HP-5000 toner cartridge. The device and method are utilized by placing a repair contact over-plate over a double-spring contact subassembly to make a flat surface for the coil-spring contactor to engage while it rotates so that there will be electrical communication between the double-spring contact subassembly, the repair contact over-plate, the coil-spring contactor, the flange and the developer roller. The repair contact over-plate has at least two attachment-alignment holes used to lock into posts of the gear housing. Various forms of locking, removable locking or non-locking may be implemented into the repair contact over-plate. Installation of the repair contact over-plate may be facilitated by using a tool. The tool may consist of one plate, bar or flat srewdriver with at least one attachment-alignment hole to press the repair contact over-plate over the posts.

Electrical contact adapter and toner cartridge using electrical contact adapter and method

An improved seal-insert and seal for a toner hopper as used in toner cartridge assemblies for printers, copiers and facsimile machines. In one embodiment, the seal has two slotted, rectangular outer pieces joined together with slot alignment and joined by an inner layer of two-sided tape. The two-sided tape is made with a long u-shape which does not interfere with the slots in the outer pieces. The open end of the u-shaped tape configuration allows a seal to be inserted or removed from between the outer pieces to close or open the slots. The seal-insert is applied over the passage from the toner hopper. The outer pieces are made from an antistatic and/or a conductive material, such as an aluminum laminate or plastic imprefnated with conductive particles. Alternately, the outer pieces may be made from plastic covered with an antistatic and/or conductive spray or coating. In another embodiment, a tear-seal is made from antistatic and/or conductive material, and is provided with a tear-guide secured to and under the tear-sheet. The tear-guide has a width smaller than the tear-sheet and slightly smaller than the slot of the seal-insert. When the tear-guide is pulled by the enduser, the tear-guide will rip the tear-sheet in a straight line, providing an opening with an even width that will not block toner flow.

Tear-strip seal and tear-seal assembly using a pre-cut tear initialization and a toner hopper, toner cartridge and image forming apparatus using same and method of manufacturing same seal, toner hopper and toner cartridge assembly

A device and method is shown that enables any strip or modular shipping seal-assembly to be ergonomically installed in a user-friendly way by leaving a handle protruding from the strip-assembly or seal-assembly for easy separation of the release liner when installing the strip-assembly or seal-assembly. Also, seal-assemblies may be manufactured and installed where there is a page consisting of the same material that the seal-insert is made of and the seal-inserts are die-cut into the page. Since the seal-insert perimeter is formed with a kiss-cut to the bottom release liner, the seal-assembly can be built-into a page. Then when it is time for the seal-assembly installer to install the seal-assembly, he simply pulls on the seal-assembly and the seal-assembly lifts right off of the page, ready to install, adhesive exposed because lifting it off the page separated the seal-assembly from the bottom release liner layer of the page. This invention has applications that can be used in many industries and is not limited to the imaging industry.

Pressure-sensitive seal assemblies and strip assemblies using kiss-cuts, adhesive-masking, multiple seal-assembly pages and multiple strip-assembly pages

A shipping seal assembly uses adhesive masking to reduce the magnitude of the pulling force required to pull the pull-strip component of a tear-seal assembly to tear the seal assembly. The very release liner, an ingredient of some adhesive tapes, already removably adhered to the tape as purchased is used to mask the adhesive at the initial tearing and/or final tearing area, or any other location where the magnitude of the pulling force is to be reduced. Precision adhesive masking is accomplished during the same die-cutting process of forming a seal-insert component of the seal assembly, and thus does not require an extra step, but rather uses a die that does both functions of cutting a seal-insert component and kiss-cut-forming an adhesive mask, all in one die-cut step. These seal assembly improvements are implemented in the overall manufacture of a toner hopper, toner cartridge and/or used in an image forming apparatus.

Toner cartridge, image forming apparatus and tear-seal device and method of manufacturing utilizing a release-liner that is kiss-cut to cause adhesive-masking

An image forming apparatus, toner cartridge assembly and toner hopper having a seal-insert and tear-style seal-assembly in the toner hopper as used in toner cartridge assemblies for dry toner style printers, copiers and facsimile machines. The seal-assembly may have a short grip portion where the seal installation personnel may pull on both the short grip portion and the pull-strip simultaneously to control and guide the seal-assembly into position in the toner hopper with ease. Methods to install and manufacture are also included.

Flexible tear-seal, seal material and method for toner hopper compartment

An image forming apparatus or toner cartridge component thereof uses a bias voltage contact device that fits into an electrobushing which transmits the electrical contact has been invented. Thus, now a bushing can also act as an electrical contact and thereby a spring is not a requirement. The cylindrical bias voltage contact fits into a developer roller and has a smaller portion that is also cylindrical and fits into an electrobushing. The electrobushing is contacted electrically to the power supply of the image forming apparatus. The cylindrical bias voltage contact may have a cylindrical portion that fits into the developer roller by press fit with the new feature where the cylindrical portion has more than one diameter for obtaining a better press fit.

Toner cartridge, contact device and method for developer roller and toner cartridge used therein

Electrical contact devices for supplying a bias voltage to a developer roller and a primary charge roller of a toner cartridge used in an image forming system. The electricity may be communicated through electrical contact devices with or without modular inserts, using spring wires, flat springs, coil springs, unicorn springs, endfelt seals that also act as bias voltage contacts, magnetic seals that also act as bias voltage contacts, insulator spacers that also act as bias voltage contacts, scraper devices that also act as bias voltage contacts, and two legged spring contacts. Also, improved endfelts may be made using a combination of foam that has been flocked or with a surface of fibers that simulates a velvet surface and even a conductive flocking where the endfelt seal may act both as a seal and also an electrical contact. Also, magnetic seals which are hard and previously spaced a fixed distance from the developer roller may be flocked to allow the developer roller to come closer where the flock surface will act softly to protect the surface of the developer roller. Also, the developer roller may be directly flocked near the ends, where the endfelts would set the spacing between the developer roller and the photoreceptor, instead of using prior art insulator spacers or insulator bushings to set the spacing therebetween.

Electrical contact device for a developer roller

A toner cartridge of a laser printer, copier or facsimile machine has various strips in it for various functions. Among the strips are recovery blades, spreader blades, wiper blades, certain shipping seals, doctor blades and other miscellaneous strips. A device and method is shown that enables any strip or modular shipping seal to be ergonomically installed in a user friendly way by leaving a strip of protective liner protruding from the strip for easy removal. Also, a device and method for attachment of strips is shown that utilizes a positioning tab stiffener device for user friendly easy insertion of the strip into a toner cartridge, laser printer, copy cartridge or facsimile machine. After the positioning tab is used to install the strip, the positioning tab stiffener device is removed from the strip assembly. By using preferential 2-sided tapes or transfer tapes that are removable on one surface, the positioning device tab may be removed easier. The positioning device tab device may even stick out on one edge with no adhesive on sticking out portion where this portion that sticks out is easier to remove. Furthermore, a pickup magnetic strip as is used adjacent recovery blades may be made in blocks or groupings for user friendly removal of protective liner for easier installation.

Disposable strip holder installation device and placement holding device and method for copiers, laser printers, fax machines and for toner cartridges used therein and may be used in other industries

An improved seal-insert and seal for a toner hopper as used in toner cartridge assemblies for printers, copiers and facsimile machines. In one embodiment, the seal has two slotted, rectangular outer pieces joined together with slot alignment and joined by an inner layer of two-sided tape. The two-sided tape is made with a long u-shape which does not interfere with the slots in the outer pieces. The open end of the u-shaped tape configuration allows a seal to be inserted or removed from between the outer pieces to close or open the slots. The seal-insert is applied over the passage from the toner hopper. The outer pieces are made from an antistatic and/or a conductive material, such as an aluminum laminate or plastic impregnated with conductive particles. Alternately, the outer pieces may be made from plastic covered with an antistatic and/or conductive spray or coating. In another embodiment, a tear-seal is made from antistatic and/or conductive material, and is provided with a tear-guide secured to and under the tear-sheet. The tear-guide has a width smaller than the tear-sheet and slightly smaller than the slot of the seal-insert. When the tear-guide is pulled by the enduser, the tear-guide will rip the tear-sheet in a straight line, providing an opening with an even width that will not block toner flow.

Flexible tear-seal; seal material and method for toner hopper compartment

A toner cartridge of a laser printer, copier or facsimile machine has various strips in it for various functions. Among the strips are recovery blades, spreader blades, wiper blades, certain shipping seals, doctor blades and other miscleaneous strips. A device and method is shown that enables any strip or modular shipping seal to be ergonomically installed in a userfriendly way by leaving a strip of protective liner protruding from the strip for easy removal. Also, a device and method for attachment of strips is shown that utilizes a positioning tab stiffener device for userfriendly easy insertion of the strip into a toner cartridge, laser printer, copy cartridge or facsimile machine. After the positioning tab is used to install the strip, the positioning tab stiffener device is removed from the strip assembly. By using preferential 2-sided tapes or transfer tapes that are removable on one surface, the positioning device tab may be removed easier. The positioning device tab device may even stick out on one edge with no adhesive on sticking out portion where this portion that sticks out is easier to remove. Furthermore, a pickup magnetic strip as is used adjacent recovery blades may be made in blocks or groupings for userfriendly removal of protective liner for easier installation.

Disposable strip holder installation device and placement holding device and method for copiers, laser printers, fax machines and for toner cartridges used therein

Fixtures and subfixtures may be used to hold the component being pressed for greater precision. Quick connect fixtures and subfixtures may be used in the press to save time and labor of the changeover process by using couplings and nipples attached to the fixtures and subfixtures not unlike the couplings and nipples used for quick connection and release of air compressor hoses and hydraulic line hoses.

Arbor press extender device and method

An easily removable and reusable improved holding pin device and method for securing together the sections of a toner cartridge assembly for use in imaging machines. The holding pin comprises a shank with a tapered head structured to allow easy gripping of the holding pin by pulling tools by using the taper which forms a recess in the head so the head will abut for easy grabbing with a conventional pulling tool for easy removal. The gripping parts of a tool may extend through this recess space to grip or otherwise contact the head of the holding pin, allowing the holding pin to be pulled from the assembly without damage to the holding pin or cartridge assembly. In another embodiment of the holding pin there is a first portion of the head that is tapered and a second portion of the head that is not tapered so that the tapered portion forms a recess so the second portion is easy to grab and is also set in precise position so as not to stick out too far. In another embodiment of the holding pin there are three portions. The first portion is greater in diameter than bore and the shank to set the position, a second portion is smaller in diameter than the first portion to abut the third portion which is larger in diameter than the second portion so the holding pin is easy to grip for removal and the first and second portions recess the third portion for easy grabbing for removal with conventional pulling tools. Also a tool has been developed for holding pin removal for difficult to remove holding pins that must be pushed out from the inside toward the outside. The tool has a handle and a base. The base may be perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the handle and have two ends that are like hammerheads and a press-fit pin is positioned at each end and is used to remove the difficult to remove holding pins by pounding the holding-pins out. When pounding out holding pins, the laser light slot may be used as a guide for straight and consistent holding pin removal. Also, when pounding out holding pins, the wiper blade metal frame corner crevice may be used as a guide for straight and consistent and flawless holding pin removal.

Toner cartridge tool for holding pin removal and improved holding pin

A toner cartridge of a laser printer, copier or facsimile machine has various strips in it for various functions. Among the strips are recovery blades, spreader blades, wiper blades, certain shipping seals, doctor blades and other miscleaneous strips. A device and method is shown that enables any strip or modular shipping seal to be ergonomically installed in a userfriendly way by leaving a strip of protective liner protruding from the strip for easy removal. Also, a device and method for attachment of strips is shown that utilizes a positioning tab stiffener device for userfriendly easy insertion of said strip into a toner cartridge, laser printer, copy cartridge or facsimile machine. After the positioning tab is used to install the strip, the positioning tab stiffener device is removed from the strip assembly. By using preferential 2-sided tapes or transfer tapes that are removable on one surface, the positioning device tab may be removed easier. The positioning device tab device may even stick out on one edge with no adhesive on sticking out portion where this portion that sticks out is easier to remove. Furthermore., a pickup magnetic strip as is used adjacent recovery blades may be made in blocks or groupings for userfriendly removal of protective liner for easier installation.

Growing community of inventors

West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Steven Bruce Michlin