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:
Jan. 11, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1998
James E Zenk, St. Paul, MN (US);
Randy A Bierwerth, Oakdale, MN (US);
John D Watson, Centerville, MN (US);
Bruce W Carlson, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Brett R Johnson, St. Paul, MN (US);
Imation Corp., Oakdale, MN (US);
Abstract
A cartridge device for packaging an endless, organic photoreceptor belt of an electrophotographic printer. The cartridge device is a closed loop support structure manufactured of a resilient material around which the endless belt extends. The resilient support structure has a belt loading configuration, that substantially duplicates the configuration of the endless belt when the belt is mounted onto support rollers of the electrophotographic printer. By replicating the configuration of the support rollers, loading of the belt onto the rollers is facilitated using the cartridge device. The resilient support structure also has a compact configuration that requires less volume than the belt loading configuration. The compact configuration of the cartridge device minimizes shipping volume and storage space requirements for replacement photoreceptor belts. In both the belt loading configuration and the compact configuration, the cartridge device substantially protects the photoreceptor belt from inadvertent damage that would adversely affect the image reproduction quality of the replacement belt.