The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1994
Wallace K Johnson, Boise, ID (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A liquid toner cartridge is provided with internal rotary agitation. The cartridge employs a magnetically-coupled drive, which requires no seals, to provide power to an internal pump and agitation system. The magnetically-coupled drive shaft falls in line with the pump and agitation device. Venting is through a single liquid supply/return line. When the line empties between pumping cycles, the cartridge can vent to the atmosphere. During pumping, a flexible tank, external to the liquid toner cartridge, partially collapses, but returns to original shape when toner has returned at the end of each development cycle. At this point, the supply/return line is again opened to the atmosphere for venting. This action always maintains space for the rotary agitation system.