Method and system for identifying the type of toner print cartridges loaded into electrophotographic printers

Abstract

A method and system for indicating the type of toner print cartridge which has been loaded into an electrophotographic printer. These include the mounting of a toner-type-indicative conductive strip on the outside surface of a toner print cartridge and then mating this conductive strip with a pair of electrical contacts within the printer housing when a lid or cover carrying the toner print cartridge is closed into the printer housing. Go or no go closed loop control and switching circuitry is connected between the pair of electrical contacts and a formatter within the printer to thereby instruct the printer either to print, or not to print, respectively, depending upon the presence or absence of the conductive strip on the outside surface of the toner print cartridge. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an extended board connect stage is provided with an electronic (digital) two-position switch which is selectively addressable by a custom personality cartridge. This operation switches the voltage level on a toner cartridge sense line into and out of electrical connection with a formatter of the printer to thereby indicate to the user the type of print cartridge which has been loaded into the printer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.