Electrical contact device for developer roller of toner cartridge

An improved contact device for reliably providing a bias voltage to a developer roller of a toner hopper assembly, said improved contact device comprising:

• a conductive cylindrical member for electrically connecting the developer roller with an electrical contact on the toner hopper assembly;
• said conductive cylindrical member including a large diameter portion sized to snugly fit within a hollow end portion of the developer roller and a small diameter portion sized to extend through an opening in an alignment piece on the toner cartridge assembly for connection with the electrical contact;
• and
• a spring for completing the connection between said small diameter portion of said conductive cylindrical member and the electrical contact on the toner cartridge assembly.

An improved contact device for reliably providing a bias voltage to a developer roller of a toner hopper assembly, said improved contact device comprising:

• a conductive cylindrical member for electrically connecting the developer roller with an electrical contact on the toner hopper assembly;
• said conductive cylindrical member including an interior, a first end, and a second end;
• said cylindrical member including a region in said interior adjacent said first end of said cylindrical member with an inside diameter sized to slide over the electrical contacton on the toner hopper assembly;
• wherein the developer roller has a magnetic core and said device includes a region in said interior adjacent said second end of said cylindrical member with an inside diameter sized to fit around the magnetic core.

An improved toner cartridge comprising:

• a toner hopper;
• a rotatable developer roller supported by said toner hopper;
• said developer roller comprising a cylindrical member including a hollow end portion;
• said end portion of said developer roller including an inner surface;
• an electrical contact supported on said toner hopper adjacent said end portion of said developer roller;
• a conductive cylindrical member disposed within said end portion of said developer roller;
• said conductive cylindrical member including an outer diameter sized to snugly fit within said developer roller and contact said inner surface of said developer roller;
• said conductive cylindrical member contacting said electrical contact and forming an electrical connection between said developer roller and said electrical contact;
• said conductive cylindrical member including an interior, a first end, and a second end;
• and
• said interior of said conductive cylindrical member including a region adjacent said first end with an inside diameter sized to fit over the electrical contact on the toner hopper assembly.

An improved toner cartridge comprising:

• a toner hopper;
• a rotatable developer roller supported by said toner hopper;
• said developer roller comprising a cylindrical member including a hollow end portion
• said end portion of said developer roller including an inner surface;
• an electrical contact supported on said toner hopper adjacent said end potion of said developer roller;
• a conductive cylindrical member disposed within said end portion of said developer roller;
• said conductive cylindrical member contacting said electrical contact and forming an electrical connection between said developer roller and said electrical contact;
• said conductive cylindrical member including an interior, a first end, and a second end;
• said conductive cylindrical member including a region in said interior adjacent said first end of said cylindrical member having an inner surface in snug contact with an outer peripheral surface of said electrical contact;
• said developer roller including a magnetic core;
• said conductive cylindrical member including a region in said interior adjacent said second end of said cylindrical member surrounding said magnetic core.

An improved toner cartridge comprising:

• a toner hopper;
• a rotatable developer roller supported by said toner hopper;
• said developer roller comprising a cylindrical member including a hollow end portion;
• said end portion of said developer roller including an outer surface and an inner surface;
• an electrical contact supported on said toner hopper adjacent said end portion of said developer roller;
• a conductive cylindrical member disposed within said end portion of said developer roller;
• said conductive cylindrical member contacting said electrical contact and forming an electrical connection between said developer roller and said electrical contact;
• said conductive cylindrical member including a large diameter portion in snug contact with said inner surface of said end portion;
• said conductive cylindrical member including a small diameter portion electrically connected with said electrical contact and sized to extend through an opening in an alignment piece on said toner cartridge assembly;
• said developer roller including a magnetic core;
• and
• said large diameter portion of said conductive cylindrical member including an inside diameter sized to fit around the magnetic core.

An improved toner cartridge comprising:

• a toner hopper;
• a rotatable developer roller supported by said toner hopper;
• said developer roller comprising a cylindrical member including a hollow end portion;
• said end portion of said developer roller including an outer surface and an inner surface;
• an electrical contact supported on said toner hopper adjacent said end portion of said developer roller;
• a conductive cylindrical member disposed within said end portion of said developer roller;
• said conductive cylindrical member contacting said electrical contact and forming an electrical connection between said developer roller and said electrical contact;
• said conductive cylindrical member including a large diameter portion in snug contact with said inner surface of said end portion;
• said conductive cylindrical member including a small diameter portion electrically connected with said electrical contact and sized to extend through an opening in an alignment piece on said toner cartridge assembly;
• and
• a spring connecting said small diameter portion of said conductive cylindrical member and said electrical contact.