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US 7,352,976 B2Granted
Imaging cartridge status indicator
OwnerDebbie A. Balch, Santiago Rodriguezinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An imaging cartridge includes a housing having a reservoir for holding a supply of imaging material. The housing can be inserted into an imaging device and includes an indicator window. A status indicator contained within the housing is configured to be made visible through the indicator window following a triggering event.
Claims15
An imaging cartridge, comprising:
- a housing having a reservoir for holding a supply of imaging material, the housing insertable into an imaging device;
- an indicator window;
- and
- a status indicator contained within the housing and configured to be made visible, from within the housing, through the indicator window following a triggering event;
- wherein the status indicator is a status indicator selected from a group consisting of:
- a status indicator that, prior to the triggering event, is blocked from being visible though the indicator window by the imaging material, the triggering event including consumption of at least a substantial amount of the imaging material to reveal the status indicator:
- a status indicator integrated into a paddle, wherein the imaging material is toner and the cartridge comprises a toner agitator that includes the paddle;
- and
- a resilient body configured to be held by the imaging material in a flexed position outside the view of the indicator window and released into view of the indicator window once at least a substantial portion of the imaging material has been consumed.
6 more elements
An imaging cartridge, comprising:
- a housing having a reservoir for holding a supply of imaging material, the housing insertable into an imaging device;
- an indicator window;
- and
- a plurality of status indicators contained within the housing wherein each status indicator is configured to be made visible, from within the housing, through the indicator window following a corresponding triggering event;
- wherein the status indicators are status indicators selected from a group consisting of:
- status indicators that, prior to the triggering event, are blocked from being visible though the indicator window by the imaging material, the triggering event including consumption of at least a substantial amount of the imaging material to reveal the status indicators;
- status indicators integrated into a paddle, wherein the imaging material is toner and the cartridge comprises a toner agitator that includes the paddle;
- and
- resilient bodies configured to be held by the imaging material in a flexed position outside the view of the indicator window and released into view of the indicator window once at least a substantial portion of the imaging material has been consumed.
6 more elements
An imaging cartridge, comprising:
- a housing having a means for supplying imaging material, the housing insertable into an imaging device;
- an indicator window;
- and
- a means for revealing a status indicator, from within the housing, through the indicator window following a triggering event;
- wherein the status indicator is a status indicator selected from a group consisting of:
- a status indicator that, prior to the triggering event, is blocked from being visible though the indicator window by the imaging material, the triggering event including consumption of at least a substantial amount of the imaging material to reveal the status indicator;
- a status indicator integrated into a paddle, wherein the imaging material is toner and the cartridge comprises a toner agitator that includes the paddle;
- and
- a resilient body configured to be held by the imaging material in a flexed position outside the view of the indicator window and released into view of the indicator window once at least a substantial portion of the imaging material has been consumed.
6 more elements
A method for indicating the status of an imaging cartridge, comprising:
- providing within a housing, an indicator window and a reservoir for supplying imaging material, the housing being insertable in to an imaging device;
- the imaging device consuming the imaging material;
- and
- revealing a status indicator, from within the housing, through the indicator window following a triggering event;
- wherein the status indicator is a status indicator selected from a group consisting of:
- a status indicator that, prior to the triggering event, is blocked from being visible though the indicator window by the imaging material, the triggering event including consumption of at least a substantial amount of the imaging material to reveal the status indicator;
- a status indicator integrated into a paddle, wherein the imaging material is toner and the cartridge comprises a toner agitator that includes the paddle;
- and
- a resilient body configured to be held by the imaging material in a flexed position outside the view of the indicator window and released into view of the indicator window once at least a substantial portion of the imaging material has been consumed.
6 more elements
A status indicator system for an imaging cartridge having a reservoir supplying imaging material, comprising:
- an indicator window;
- and
- a status indicator contained within the reservoir and configured to be made visible, from within the reservoir, through the indicator window following a triggering event;
- wherein the status indicator is a status indicator selected from a group consisting of:
- a status indicator that, prior to the triggering event, is blocked from being visible though the indicator window by the imaging material, the triggering event including consumption of at least a substantial amount of the imaging material to reveal the status indicator;
- a status indicator integrated into a paddle, wherein the imaging material is toner and the cartridge comprises a toner agitator that includes the paddle;
- and
- a resilient body configured to be held by the imaging material in a flexed position outside the view of the indicator window and released into view of the indicator window once at least a substantial portion of the imaging material has been consumed.
5 more elements
The system of claim imaging 13, wherein the paddle is rotatable in a first direction and a second direction, wherein rotation in the first direction agitates the toner and rotation in the second direction positions the status indicator within view of the indicator window.
A status indicator system for an imaging cartridge having a reservoir supplying imaging material, comprising:
- an indicator window;
- and
- a plurality of status indicators contained within the reservoir, each status indicator being configured to be made visible, from within the reservoir, through the indicator window following a corresponding triggering event;
- wherein the status indicators are status indicators selected from a group consisting of:
- status indicators that, prior to the triggering event, are blocked from being visible though the indicator window by the imaging material, the triggering event including consumption of at least a substantial amount of the imaging material to reveal the status indicators;
- status indicators integrated into a paddle, wherein the imaging material is toner and the cartridge comprises a toner agitator that includes the paddle;
- and
- resilient bodies configured to be held by the imaging material in a flexed position outside the view of the indicator window and released into view of the indicator window once at least a substantial portion of the imaging material has been consumed.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.