Method and devices for remanufacturing printer cartridges
AssigneeFuture Graphics Imaging Corporation
InventorsDenny Holmes, Tigran Ohanyan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices for remanufacturing printer cartridges are provided where the printer cartridges comprise a photoconductive drum, the photoconductive drum comprises a drum gear end, and the drum gear end of the photoconductive drum is configured to be attached to a laser printer via a rotational force transmitting assembly. In an embodiment, the method comprises removing the rotational force transmitting assembly from the photoconductive drum, providing a replacement photoconductive drum, and attaching the rotational force transmitting assembly to the replacement photoconductive drum.
Claims20
A method of replacing a photoconductive drum of a printer cartridge, the photoconductive drum configured to be attached to a laser printer via a rotational force transmitting assembly, the photoconductive drum comprising a drum gear end and a drum flange positioned at the drum gear end, the rotational force transmitting assembly comprising a drum gear coupling member attached to the drum flange, the rotational force transmitting assembly further comprising a drive shaft attached to the drum gear coupling member, the method comprising:
- cutting the drum flange;
- and,
- removing the drum gear coupling member from the drum flange.
A method for remanufacturing a printer cartridge, the printer cartridge comprising a photoconductive drum, the photoconductive drum comprising a drum gear end, the drum gear end of the photoconductive drum configured to be attached to a laser printer via a rotational force transmitting assembly, the drum gear end comprising a drum flange, the rotational force transmitting assembly being attached to the drum flange, the method comprising:
- removing the rotational force transmitting assembly from the photoconductive drum;
- providing a replacement photoconductive drum;
- and,
- attaching the rotational force transmitting assembly to the replacement photoconductive drum,
- wherein the replacement photoconductive drum comprises a replacement drum flange, the rotational force transmitting assembly comprises a drum gear coupling member and a drive shaft attached to the drum gear end coupling member, the replacement drum flange defining a recess configured to accommodate the drum gear end coupling member.
A method of replacing a photoconductive drum of a printer cartridge, the photoconductive drum configured to be attached to a laser printer via a rotational force transmitting assembly, the photoconductive drum comprising a drum gear end and a drum flange positioned at the drum gear end, the rotational force transmitting assembly comprising a drum gear coupling member attached to the drum flange, the rotational force transmitting assembly further comprising a drive shaft attached to the drum gear coupling member, the method comprising:
- providing a tool having an elongated body with a first bent end having a C-shaped claw portion, a second elongated end, and a press part having an opening, the press part being attached to the elongated body;
- coupling the C-shaped claw portion to the rotational force transmitting assembly;
- removing the rotational force transmitting assembly from the photoconductive drum by rotating the tool and pulling out the rotational force transmitting assembly from the photoconductive drum;
- inserting the removed rotational force transmitting assembly into the opening of the press part;
- and,
- attaching the removed rotational force transmitting assembly into a replacement photoconductive drum.
A device for removing a rotational force transmitting assembly of a photoconductive drum of a printer cartridge, the rotational force transmitting assembly comprising a drum gear coupling member configured to attach to a drum flange, the drum gear coupling member having a predetermined diameter, the device comprising:
- a hole saw comprising a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body having an internal diameter that is greater than the diameter of the drum gear coupling member, the cylindrical body having a height that allows at least a portion of the cylindrical body to penetrate through the drum flange.
A device for removing a rotational force transmitting assembly of a photoconductive drum, the device comprising:
- a clamp configured to grasp the rotational force transmitting assembly;
- a driving assembly attached to the clamp, the driving assembly configured to move the clamp, wherein the rotational force transmitting assembly is removed from the photoconductive drum by the movement of the clamp.
A device for replacing a photoconductive drum of a printer cartridge, the photoconductive drum configured to be attached to a laser printer via a rotational force transmitting assembly, the photoconductive drum comprising a drum gear end and a drum flange positioned at the drum gear end, the device comprising:
- a tool having an elongated body with a first bent end having a C-shaped claw portion for engagement with the rotational force transmitting assembly in order to remove the rotational force transmitting assembly from the photoconductive drum, the elongated body further having a second elongated end;
- and,
- a press part attached to the elongated body, wherein the press part has an opening for engagement with the rotational force transmitting assembly in order to attach the rotational force transmitting assembly to a replacement photoconductive drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.