Extended-life toner cartridge for a laser printer
AssigneeClarity Imaging Technologies, Inc.
InventorLionel C. Bessette
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An extended life-toner cartridge provides a set of required agitator paddle movement signals that fall within the expected parameters of the print engine controller—not-withstanding a higher toner level that would normally alter the paddle movement signals beyond acceptable timing ranges. The cartridge includes a toner tank agitator paddle assembly with a paddle movement reporting mechanism that particularly compensates for the larger volume of toner in the tank. In addition, the toner tank can include an enlarged tank extension for increasing reservoir capacity.
Claims6
An extended-life toner cartridge adapted to operate within a print engine having a controller that requires a predetermined set of timing signals related to movement of an agitator paddle through a toner tank toner supply in a direction of rotation, the toner tank supply having a first maximum level, the cartridge comprising:
- an agitator paddle rotationally fixed to an encoder wheel, the encoder wheel including a plurality of slots constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of time-variable pulses as each of the slots passes, in response to rotation of the agitator paddle, through a sensor;
- and
- wherein each of the slots is constructed and arranged so that the time variable pulses define the predetermined set of timing signals for the controller in a toner tank in which the toner tank supply has a second maximum level greater than the first maximum level.
A method for adapting a toner cartridge to operate within a print engine having a controller that requires a predetermined set of timing signals related to movement of an agitator paddle through a toner tank toner supply in a direction of rotation, the toner tank supply having a first maximum level, the method comprising:
- providing an agitator paddle rotationally fixed to an encoder wheel,
- providing, with a plurality of slots on the encoder wheel a plurality of time-variable pulses as each of the slots passes, in response to rotation of the agitator paddle, through a sensor;
- and
- positioning the slots so as to define, with the time variable pulses, a predetermined set of timing signals for the controller, in which the toner tank supply has a second maximum level greater than the first maximum level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.