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:
Mar. 22, 2011
Filed:
Sep. 18, 2007
Peter Brown Pickett, Lexington, KY (US);
Jason Martin, Winchester, KY (US);
Frank Hughes, Paris, KY (US);
Hrishikesh Pramod Gogate, Lexington, KY (US);
Peter Brown Pickett, Lexington, KY (US);
Jason Martin, Winchester, KY (US);
Frank Hughes, Paris, KY (US);
Hrishikesh Pramod Gogate, Lexington, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
The present application is directed to devices and methods for removing toner from a belt within an image forming apparatus. In one embodiment, the device includes a housing that forms an enclosed interior space. The housing may include an inlet that leads into the interior space. A blade may be positioned in proximity to the inlet to remove the toner from the belt and direct it into the inlet. An auger may be rotationally positioned within the interior space to move the toner along a longitudinal width of the device. An agitating member may be rotationally positioned within the interior space to move the toner from the inlet towards the auger. The agitating member may include a flexible arm that contacts against at least one of the blade and the auger during rotation.