Lexmark International, Inc.

Other

Lenmark International, Inc.

Tom E Stickler

Jason Paul Hale

Matthew Lee Rogers

Michael Craig Leemhuis

William Paul Cook

Larry Steven Foster

Benjamin Alan Askren

Donn Duane Bryant

David Clay Blaine

David Francis Carter

Frank J Palumbo

Benjamin Keith Newman

Michael David Maul

Jarrett Clark Gayne

John Andrew Buchanan

David Erwin Rennick

Franklin Joseph Palumbo

John William Kietzman

Mark Duane Foster

Derek Masami Inouye

Peter Alden Bayerle

Alexander D Meade

Steven Wayne Parish

Claudia Alexandra Marin

Donald Thomas Kral

Liqun Larry Wang

Kurt Matthew Korfhage

Michael Lewis Pawley

Kenneth Daniel Seevers

James Caro Lurton

Martin Joseph Zutt, Jr

Alexander Douglas Meade

A photoconductive drum may be located and supported in an image forming apparatus via bushings at each end of a drum axle. The bushings may be produced from a single die cavity and may include orientation features which may be employed to key the bushings with a housing, such as a toner cartridge cleaner housing.

Drum support bushing with orienting features

An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner system that collects waste toner in a waste toner container. An amount of waste toner collected in the container is increased by using a driven toner distributing member that distributes accumulated toner within the container. The waste toner system may detect the accumulation of waste toner by monitoring a drive control circuit while the toner distributing member is being driven. For example, the system may detect excess accumulation by comparing the monitored values of a frequency control signal with one or more reference values corresponding to nominal accumulation conditions. An extension may be employed whereby movement of the toner distributing member creates interference between the toner distributing member and the container when the toner distributing member reaches a predetermined position. The interference may be detectable from the drive control circuit as an indication of a full condition.

Method and apparatus to control waste toner collection in an image forming apparatus

Photoconductor unit

A helical auger member for transporting toner in an image forming apparatus. The auger member may be implemented as part of a waste toner removal system for removing toner from a photoconductive member of a toner cartridge. Toner that is removed by a cleaner member is transported through a cleaner housing with a helical member, such as a coil wire, having a pitch to outer diameter ratio from about 1.5 to 2.5.

Auger for use in an image forming device

A waste toner removal system for an image forming device. The invention includes a mechanism for removing the waste toner from the cartridge and transporting it through a toner chute to a waste toner tank. One or more actuators within the device allow for the connection between the various elements to seal the waste toner path and prevent toner leakage. Methods of moving waste toner are also disclosed that include moving the waste toner through the cartridge and into a waste toner chute. The waste toner is moved through the chute and into a waste toner tank where it may be removed from the device.

Waste toner system for an image forming device

An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner system that collects waste toner in a waste toner container. An amount of waste toner collected in the container is increased by using a motor-driven toner distributing member that distributes accumulated toner within the container. The waste toner system may detect the accumulation of waste toner by monitoring a motor control circuit while the toner distributing member is being driven. For example, the system may detect excess accumulation by comparing the monitored values of a speed control signal with one or more reference values corresponding to nominal accumulation conditions. Whether or not the motor is speed controlled, the apparatus may use a shared motor that drives one or more image forming process members and the toner distributing member. A drive arrangement may be used to selectively drive the toner distributing member based on motor direction to avoid interfering with image forming operations.

A bracket to mount a charge roller and a blade against a photoconductive drum within an image forming apparatus. Bracket may include a pair of guides that extend outward to receive the ends of the charge roller. A biasing device may be positioned to bias the charge roller against the photoconductive drum. The guides may include an opening sized to allow the charge roller to move and maintain contact with the photoconductive drum. A mounting surface may be positioned on the bracket for receiving adhesive to mount the blade. In one embodiment, the bracket is constructed of an electrically conductive material such that a charge introduced to the bracket is delivered to the charge roller.

Multi-function cleaner blade assembly

An end seal for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus uses an array of ridges (or grooves) to urge toner inwardly so as to help prevent toner escape. The end seal works in conjunction with a cleaning blade. The end seal includes a blade pocket for mating with the end portions of the cleaning blade and a middle portion having an array of ridges thereon. The ridges are angled inward to urge any toner trapped therebetween inward away from the end seals, where the toner can be directed to a waste reservoir in a normal fashion. This &ldquo;snowplowing&rdquo; action of the ridges helps prevent outward migration of toner, thereby minimizing toner escape. The end seal may be composed of two or more layers of differing materials. There may be an end seal at each end of the cleaner blade.

Dynamic end seal for image forming apparatus

A bracket to mount a charge roller and a blade against a photoconductive drum within an image forming apparatus. Bracket may include a pair of guides that extend outward to receive the ends of the charge roller. A biasing device may be positioned to bias the charge roller against the photoconductive drum. The guides may include an opening sized to allow the charge roller to move and maintain contact with the photoconductive drum. A mounting surface may be positioned on the bracket for receiving adhesive to mount the blade. In one embodiment, the bracket is constructed of a molded thermoplastic polymer.

An article used to seal the interface between the developer roll, doctor blade and developer housing in a laser printer toner cartridge is described. The sealing member described in the present application performs static sealing between the components while the cartridge is idle and performs dynamic sealing while the toner cartridge is used for printing, keeping the sealing surfaces free from toner by actively pushing the toner back into the developer sump. The seal has a rotary seal portion which seals between the frame of the cartridge and the developer roll, and a blade seal portion which seals between the frame of the cartridge and the doctor blade. The rotary seal portion is biased toward the surface of the developer roll and incorporates, on its face adjacent to the developer roll, ridges which act to push the toner away from the edge of the developer roll in use. The blade seal portion is biased toward the doctor blade.

Dynamic end-seal for toner development unit

Toner cartridge for printer

A toner cartridge for an electrostatic printer or copier includes an electrophotographic drum, a toner container, a fixed electrode for receiving a developing bias voltage, and a developer roller for supplying the toner to an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic drum. A drive hub is press fit into an end of the developer roller. The drive hub has a unitary nonconducting plastic body, with a plug portion for elastically and slidably press-contacting the end of the developer roller, an elongated axle portion with an uninterrupted bearing surface, a shoulder portion for supporting a spring, and a longitudinal passage running through the axle and shoulder portions. A wire is disposed in the passage and makes an electrical connection with the spring and the developer roller.

Toner cartridge with conductive drive hub

A supply cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a charge roller, a developer roller, and a supply of toner, is inserted into a conventional electrophotographic (EP) machine in operative association with the gear train for such machine. One end of a shaft passing through one end cap of the photosensitive drum is inserted into a receptacle in the EP machine. The free end of a drive transmitting member on the opposite end of the drum engages the drive train, and is driven by the gear train. The drive transmitting member is an integral part of a molded end cap inserted into the open end of the photosensitive drum. The drive transmitting member may assume diverse forms. The upper surface of the drive transmitting member may be triangular in shape, while the base may be circular or triangular; tapered sidewalls extend between the upper surface and the base, and the area of the upper surface exceeds the area of the base to maximize contact with the drive train. The drive transmitting member may assume the form of three, or more, spaced fingers, which approximate the apices of a triangle. The upper surface and the base of the drive transmitting member are in straight line alignment to facilitate molding procedures while maintaining tight tolerances.

Driving mechanism for photosensitive image bearing drum in

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Tom E Stickler