Simple reliable counter assembly of reduced parts for a toner cartridge
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsJoseph J. Marotta, Bruce C. Reynolds
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A counter assembly which can be used in a toner cartridge has a generally circular rotatable actuator member fixedly mounted on one end of a shaft having a screw thread on its surface, a magnet made of a molded compliant magnetic material mounted on the screw thread surface of the shaft adjacent to the actuator member. The magnet is secured against rotational movement but is permitted longitudinal movement along the screw thread surface of the shaft. The actuator member is rotated in a direction to transport the magnet along the screw thread surface of the shaft away from the actuator.
Claims18
A counter assembly comprising a generally circular rotatable actuator member fixedly mounted on one end of a shaft having a screw thread on its surface, a magnet made of a molded compliant magnetic material mounted on said screw thread surface of said shaft adjacent to said actuator member, means to secure said magnet against rotational movement and permit longitudinal movement along the screw thread surface of said shaft, means to rotate said actuator member in a direction to transport said magnet along said screw thread surface of said shaft away from said actuator and wherein the pitch of the screw thread and the direction of rotation of said shaft are selected so that on rotation of said shaft the screw thread surface on said shaft creates a second screw thread in said magnet which tends to drive said magnet away from said actuator.
A toner cartridge comprising a generally circular elongated tube, a rotatable toner agitator extending the length of said tube, a toner dispensing opening in said tube and a counter assembly mounted on one end of said tube said counter assembly comprising a generally circular rotatable actuator member fixedly mounted on one end of a shaft having a screw thread on its surface, a magnet made of a molded compliant magnetic material mounted on said screw thread surface of said shaft adjacent to said actuator member, means to secure said magnet against rotational movement and permit longitudinal movement along the screw thread surface of said shaft, means to rotate said actuator member in a direction to transport said magnet along said screw thread surface of said shaft away from said actuator and wherein the pitch of the screw thread and the direction of rotation of said shaft are selected so that on rotation of said shaft the screw thread surface on said shaft creates a second screw thread in said magnet which tends to drive said magnet away from said actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.