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:
Aug. 20, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 04, 2009
Electronic locking system to secure consumable item in an image forming device and a method therefor
Daniel Paul Cahill, Verona, KY (US);
Chad Michael Plening, Lexington, KY (US);
Louann Behymer Samuels, Georgetown, KY (US);
Thomas Campbell Wade, Lexington, KY (US);
Curtis Duane Woodson, Georgetown, KY (US);
Daniel Paul Cahill, Verona, KY (US);
Chad Michael Plening, Lexington, KY (US);
Louann Behymer Samuels, Georgetown, KY (US);
Thomas Campbell Wade, Lexington, KY (US);
Curtis Duane Woodson, Georgetown, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
An electronic locking system to secure consumable items in an image forming device and a method therefore. In one embodiment of the invention, an electronic locking system to secure media sheets includes a media tray to hold media sheets, a tray receiving member for receiving the media tray, and a controller. The tray receiving member includes a drive device and a plunger. The plunger is moved by the drive device between a locked and an unlocked position. The controller is configured to control the drive device to move the plunger to engage a portion of the media tray in the locked position and to move the plunger to disengage from the portion of the media tray in the unlocked position. The electronic locking system, incorporating the controller, provides an effective and efficient way to lock/unlock the media tray and eliminates the use of mechanical keys.