Air Duct and Toner Cartridge Using Same
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsStephen Andrew Brown, Jarrett Clark Gayne, Nicholas Fenley Gibson, Asmund Vego
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cartridge for containing toner material used in an image-forming device according to one example embodiment includes a developer roll, two J-seals that provide interfaces with the developer roll at the ends thereof, and an air duct that conducts airflow across the interfaces to cool the developer roll and seals. The air duct is an unitary structure including an elongated hollow body and a pair of nozzles in fluid communication with the hollow body. One of the nozzles is disposed at a distal end of the developer roll near one J-seal, and the other of the nozzles is disposed at a proximal end of the developer roll near the second J-seal.
Claims17
-20. (canceled)
An air duct in a cartridge for containing toner material, a developer roll, and a seal providing an interface with the developer roll, the air duct comprising:
- a unitary structure insertably positionable within a housing of the cartridge and formed from:
- an elongated hollow body;
- and
- a nozzle affixed to the elongated hollow body and positionable at the interface, the interior of the elongated hollow body being in fluid communication with the nozzle and having an inlet for receiving an air flow from an air blower.
A cartridge for containing toner material used in an image forming device comprising:
- a developer roll;
- a seal providing an interface with the developer roll and the toner material;
- and
- an air duct in the cartridge for conducting airflow from an air blower across the interface to cool the developer roll and seal, the air duct comprising:
- a unitary structure insertably positionable within a housing of the cartridge and formed from:
- an elongated hollow body having a neck portion in fluid communication with the air blower;
- and
- a nozzle affixed to the elongated hollow body and in fluid communication with the interior of the elongated hollow body, the nozzle being disposed at the interface.
A cartridge for containing toner material used in an image forming device comprising:
- a developer roll;
- a pair of seals providing a pair of interfaces with the developer roll and said toner;
- and
- an air duct in the cartridge for conducting airflow from an air blower across the pair of interfaces to cool the developer roll and the pair of seals, the air duct comprising:
- a unitary structure insertably positionable within a housing of the cartridge and formed from:
- an elongated hollow body having an inlet in fluid communication with the blower;
- and
- a pair of nozzles affixed to the elongated hollow body and in fluid communication with the interior of the elongated hollow body, one of the nozzles being disposed at one of the pair of interfaces and the other of the nozzles being disposed at the other of the pair of interfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.