Overmolded shutter for use in toner containing supply items of an imaging apparatus
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsJohn Andrew Buchanan, James Anthany Carter, II, Benjamin Keith Newman, Matthew Lee Rogers, Christopher Gene Vowels
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An shutter having an overmolded seal for use in controlling the flow of toner through a port in a toner containing supply items for an imaging apparatus. In one form the shutter is overmolded with a seal comprised of a sleeve and one or more integrally molded angled endless ribs projecting outwardly from the sleeve. With the shutter installed in the supply item, the ribs deflect creating an sealing interface with the housing of the supply item to prevent toner leakage between the shutter and the housing of the supply item.
Claims22
A shutter for mounting in a housing of a supply item for an imaging apparatus, the shutter, when installed, being rotatable between a first position and a second position for closing and opening a port within the housing through which toner can flow, the shutter comprising:
- a body including a cylindrical hollow portion, the hollow portion sized to be received within a corresponding opening in the housing adjacent the port, the hollow portion having a first opening and a second opening forming a channel therebetween for carrying toner wherein, when the shutter is in the first position, the first and second openings are not in fluid communication with the port and, when the shutter in the second position, one of the first and the second openings is in fluid communication with the port allowing for toner to pass through the port;
- and
- a seal overmolded onto the exterior of the body, the seal comprising:
- a sleeve molded around the exterior of the body and positioned upstream of the one of the first and second openings that is in fluid communication with the port;
- and
- an endless rib molded on the sleeve, extending outwardly at an acute angle from the sleeve and having a height that is greater than a height of a gap formed between the body and the corresponding opening in the housing when the shutter is installed in the housing,
- wherein, when the shutter is installed in opening in the housing, the endless rib deflects forming a sealing interface with the housing.
A shutter for mounting in a housing of a supply item for an imaging apparatus, the shutter, when installed, being rotatable between a first position and a second position for closing and opening a port within the housing through which toner can flow, the shutter comprising:
- a body including a cylindrical hollow portion, the hollow portion sized to be received within a corresponding opening in the housing, the hollow portion having a first opening and a second opening forming a channel therebetween for carrying toner, wherein, when the shutter is in the first position, one of the first and second openings are closed by the housing and, when the shutter in the second position, one of the first and the second openings is in fluid communication with the port allowing toner to pass into the port;
- and
- a seal overmolded onto the exterior of the body, the seal comprising:
- a sleeve molded around the exterior of the body having an opening therethrough aligned with one of the first and second openings that is in fluid communication with the port;
- and
- a pair of endless ribs molded on the surface of the sleeve, the pair of endless ribs extending outwardly from the sleeve at an acute angle and axially positioned about the one of the first and second openings that is in fluid communication with the port,
- wherein, when the shutter is installed in the corresponding opening in the housing, the pair of endless ribs deflect forming a sealing interface with a surface of the corresponding opening.
A shutter rotatably mountable in a housing of an imaging apparatus, the shutter rotatable between a first position and a second position for closing and opening a port within the housing through which toner can flow, the shutter comprising:
- a body including a cylindrical hollow portion, the hollow portion sized to be received within a corresponding opening in the housing, a wall of the hollow portion having a first opening and a second opening connected by a channel therethrough for allowing the toner to flow between the first and second openings and the port when the shutter is in the second position with the second opening being immediately adjacent to the port, a portion of the outer surface of the hollow portion having scoring thereon;
- and
- a seal formed of an elastomeric material overmolded onto the portion of the outer surface having the scoring, the seal comprising:
- a sleeve having an opening therethrough aligned with second opening in the wall of the hollow portion;
- a pair of endless ribs molded on the surface of the sleeve, the pair of endless ribs extending outwardly from the sleeve and axially positioned about of the second opening, one of the pair of endless ribs being positioned upstream of the one of the first and second openings that is in fluid communication with the port and the other one of the pair of endless ribs is positioned downstream of the one of the first and second openings;
- and
- a pair of spaced transverse ribs molded on the surface of the sleeve, the pair of transverse ribs extending outwardly from the sleeve at an acute angle and having the ends thereof joined to the pair of the endless ribs and surrounding the second opening, the pair of transverse ribs and the pair of endless ribs having a height that is greater than a clearance between the hollow portion of the body and the corresponding opening in the housing,
- wherein, when the shutter is installed in the housing, the pair of endless ribs and pair of transverse ribs deflect forming a sealing interface at their respective tips with the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.