Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Katun Corporation

General Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.

Terry Dean Erickson

John N Lees

Joseph A Amberg

Terry B Berglin

Russell Stacy-Ryan

Nicholas Cook

Mike Robertson

Jens Mogard

Michael Robertson

Thomas Scott Breidenbach

John L Cicha

Daniel E Meyer

Gregory A Reed

Andrew J Dahl

Charles E Sizer

Ryan Bayliss

Sevugan Palaniappan

Ronald W Swank

Yi-Chia Wu

Paul C Sundby

David J Hansen

Terrence E Manley

Walt Monpetit

Terrence F Manley

Joseph Allen Amberg

A toner cartridge includes a cartridge body having a dispensing port. An interface mechanism is coupled with the cartridge body. The interface mechanism includes at least one detent movably coupled with the cartridge body. The at least one detent includes a retaining surface, a shuttle surface and a bias element coupled with the detent. At least one detent guide is coupled with the cartridge body, and the at least one detent guide includes a guide channel aligned with the retaining surface. The cartridge body is configured for installation in an image forming apparatus between intermediate and fully installed configurations. In the intermediate installed configuration a feature of the image forming apparatus is within the guide channel and the shuttle surface depresses the detent. In the fully installed configuration the bias element deploys the retaining surface into intercepting alignment with the feature.

Toner cartridge interface mechanism and methods for same

A chip module for a toner cartridge includes a substrate having a top surface, a memory disposed on the substrate, transmission terminals electrically connected with the memory, and a ground terminal. Each transmission terminal has two legs disposed on the substrate, and a bridge connected between the two legs and located at a distance above the top surface of the substrate. The ground terminal is disposed on the substrate and located between the transmission terminals. The ground terminal is a lamellar-shaped piece and nonparallel to the top surface of the substrate. The chip module is firmly mounted to the toner cartridge and positively aligned and contacted with a reading head of an electronic image-forming apparatus.

Chip module for toner cartridge

A cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a container configured for storing a volume of particulate image forming material and a dispensing port in communication with the container. The dispensing port includes a perimeter lip extending around a delivery passage. A dispensing spindle is rotatable relative to at least the dispensing port. The dispensing spindle includes a spindle core a plurality of arms extending from the spindle core. Each of the arms includes a sweeping face configured to sweep across the perimeter lip to convey a quantity of the particulate image forming material to the dispensing port.

Spindle dispensing toner cartridge

Toner container memory chip

Toner container

A form, fill and seal packaging machine is configured to mold a closure directly onto a carton. The machine includes a carton erection station to receive and erect a carton and a direct injection molding station. The molding station has an internal mold tool for receipt of the carton, and an external mold tool set. The internal tool and external tool set are configured to receive and secure a portion of the carton therebetween and define a mold cavity with the portion of the carton disposed therein. The external mold tool set defines an opening for receiving a polymer injection system to inject polymer into the mold cavity. A closure is directly molded in place on the carton, with the polymer encapsulating the inner peripheral edge of the carton opening that is disposed within the mold cavity. The packaging machine also includes a filling station for filling the carton and a sealing station for forming a seal on the carton.

Molding unit for forming direct injection molded closures

A transfer unit is configured for use with a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The transfer unit receives a partially erected carton from a first station in a tubular form, conveys the carton to a second station, and conveys the carton from the second station to a third station. The transfer unit includes a hub defining a longitudinal hub axis and configured for rotational movement about the hub axis. A plurality of car pairs are mounted to the hub for longitudinal movement along the hub. Each of the car pairs includes first and second cars, each of which has first and second mandrels mounted thereto. The mandrels are configured to receive a partially erected carton. Each mandrel has a mandrel axis and is rotational about its respective axis. The mandrel axes are perpendicular and tangential to the hub axis. A drive longitudinally moving the car pairs along the hub and rotationally moves the mandrels about their respective mandrel axes, about 90 degrees, between an untwisted position and a twisted position.

Carton transfer unit

A form, fill and seal packaging machine for forming, filling and sealing a carton, molds a closure directly onto the carton. The machine includes a carton erection station adapted to receive a carton in a generally flat form and to erect the flat form carton into a tubular form defining an internal carton region. A direct injection molding station has an internal mold tool and an external mold tool. The internal mold tool is configured for receipt within the internal carton region and the internal mold tool and the external mold tool are configured to receive and clamp the carton therebetween. The direct injection molding station further includes a polymer injection system for injecting polymer from a location external of the carton to the internal mold tool. The closure is directly molded in place on the carton. A mold tool set, a method for carrying out the molding and a closure molded thereby are also disclosed.

Apparatus for direct injection molded closure

Direct injection molding station for use on a molded closure

Direct injection molded closure and method therefor

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Terry Dean Erickson