# US 12,761,602 B2 · Air duct for an electrophotographic image forming device

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- Number: US 12,761,602 B2
- Document ID: US12761602B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 19/036,189
- Filed: 2025-01-24
- Published: 2025-07-24
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2024-01-24
- Assignees: Lexmark International, Inc.
- Applicants: Lexmark International, Inc.
- Inventors: Brian Lester Boettcher; Richard Louis Goin; Tyler William Harvey; Matthew David Heid; William Victor Stieben; Aaron Jeremy McNely
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761602B2

## CPC

- G03G 21/206: {Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone}
- G03G 15/0875: {cartridges having a box like shape}
- G03G 15/0886: {by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An imaging system according to one example embodiment includes a rotatable photoconductive drum having an outer surface. A rotatable developer roll has an outer surface in contact with the outer surface of the photoconductive drum for supplying toner to the outer surface of the photoconductive drum. A rotatable charge roll has an outer surface in contact with the outer surface of the photoconductive drum for electrically charging the outer surface of the photoconductive drum. An air duct has at least one outlet positioned to direct forced air flowing through the air duct to at least one of the outer surface of the charge roll and the outer surface of the photoconductive drum for indirectly cooling the developer roll without directing forced air from the air duct directly onto the outer surface of the developer roll.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging system, comprising:
a rotatable photoconductive drum having an outer surface;
a rotatable developer roll having an outer surface in contact with the outer surface of the photoconductive drum for supplying toner to the outer surface of the photoconductive drum;
a rotatable charge roll having an outer surface in contact with the outer surface of the photoconductive drum for electrically charging the outer surface of the photoconductive drum; and
an air duct having at least one outlet positioned to direct forced air flowing through the air duct to the outer surface of the charge roll for indirectly cooling the developer roll without directing forced air from the air duct directly onto the outer surface of the developer roll.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising an end seal having a curved rotary seal portion in contact with the outer surface of the developer roll near an axial end of the developer roll.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising an imaging basket removably installable in an image forming device and having a positioning slot configured to receive a replaceable developer unit that includes the developer roll, wherein the air duct is positioned on the imaging basket.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet includes a first outlet positioned to direct forced air flowing through the air duct to the outer surface of the charge roll and a second outlet positioned to direct forced air flowing through the air duct to the outer surface of the photoconductive drum.

### Claim 5

An imaging system, comprising:
a rotatable photoconductive drum having an outer surface;
a rotatable developer roll having an outer surface in contact with the outer surface of the photoconductive drum for supplying toner to the outer surface of the photoconductive drum;
a rotatable charge roll having an outer surface in contact with the outer surface of the photoconductive drum for electrically charging the outer surface of the photoconductive drum;
an end seal having a curved rotary seal portion in contact with the outer surface of the developer roll near an axial end of the developer roll; and
an air duct having at least one outlet positioned to direct forced air flowing through the air duct to the charge roll facilitating a transfer of heat generated by friction between the developer roll and the end seal away from the developer roll.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The imaging system of claim 5, wherein the air duct does not direct forced air directly onto the outer surface of the developer roll.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The imaging system of claim 5, further comprising an imaging basket removably installable in an image forming device and having a positioning slot configured to receive a replaceable developer unit that includes the developer roll, wherein the air duct is positioned on the imaging basket.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The imaging system of claim 5, wherein the at least one outlet includes a first outlet positioned to direct forced air flowing through the air duct to the charge roll and a second outlet positioned to direct forced air flowing through the air duct to the photoconductive drum.