Toner container including a rotatable magnet having a varying orientation relative to a pivot axis
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsMICHAEL CRAIG LEEMHUIS, GARY ALLEN DENTON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. An extension from the rotatable shaft is rotatable with the rotatable shaft around the axis of rotation. The extension is pivotable independent of the rotatable shaft about a pivot axis that is spaced radially from the axis of rotation. A magnet is positioned at the pivot axis of the extension and is pivotable with the extension such that an orientation of the magnet varies relative to the pivot axis as the extension pivots about the pivot axis.
Claims16
A toner container, comprising:
- a housing having a reservoir for storing toner;
- a rotatable shaft positioned within the reservoir and having an axis of rotation;
- an extension from the rotatable shaft that is rotatable with the rotatable shaft around the axis of rotation, the extension is pivotable independent of the rotatable shaft about a pivot axis that is spaced radially from the axis of rotation;
- and
- a magnet positioned at the pivot axis of the extension and pivotable with the extension such that an orientation of the magnet varies relative to the pivot axis as the extension pivots about the pivot axis,
- wherein the magnet is magnetized along an axis of the magnet that is parallel to the extension.
A toner container, comprising:
- a housing having a reservoir for storing toner;
- a rotatable shaft positioned within the reservoir and having an axis of rotation;
- a paddle connected to the rotatable shaft and rotatable with the rotatable shaft around the axis of rotation, the paddle is pivotable independent of the rotatable shaft about a pivot axis that is spaced a fixed radial distance from the axis of rotation;
- and
- a magnet positioned at the pivot axis of the paddle and pivotable with the paddle such that an orientation of the magnet varies relative to the pivot axis as the paddle pivots about the pivot axis,
- wherein the magnet is magnetized along an axis of the magnet that is parallel to the paddle.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.