Shutter for a toner cartridge for use with an image forming device
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorJedediah Taylor Dawson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present application is directed to cartridges for use with an image forming device. The cartridge includes a body with an interior reservoir sized to contain toner, and an outlet to move the toner to the image forming device. A shutter is rotatably connected to the body and movable between a closed orientation to prevent toner from passing from the cartridge and into the image forming device, and an open orientation to allow toner to pass. A biasing mechanism is operatively connected to the shutter and the body of the cartridge. The biasing mechanism urges the shutter towards one of the open and closed orientations.
Claims20
A toner cartridge for use with an image forming device comprising:
- a body forming an enclosed reservoir to contain toner and an outlet in communication with the reservoir, the outlet including a substantially cylindrical first wall with a first opening extending through the first wall;
- a cylindrical shutter sized to fit within the outlet, the shutter including a substantially cylindrical second wall and a second opening extending through the second wall;
- and
- a biasing mechanism attached to the body and the shutter to rotate the shutter relative to the body, the biasing mechanism rotating the shutter between a first orientation with the second wall aligned with the first opening to prevent toner from moving through the outlet and a second orientation with the second opening aligned with the first opening to allow toner to move through the outlet.
A toner cartridge for use with an image forming device comprising:
- a body forming an enclosed reservoir to contain toner and an outlet in communication with the reservoir;
- a shutter movable between a closed orientation to prevent toner from moving through the outlet and an open orientation to allow toner to move through the outlet;
- and
- a biasing mechanism including a first attachment point to the body and a second attachment point to the shutter, the biasing mechanism adapted to rotate the shutter through an intermediate orientation between the open and closed orientations, the first and second attachment points being in closest proximity at the intermediate orientation;
- the biasing mechanism urging the shutter away from the intermediate orientation and towards one of the open and closed orientations.
A toner cartridge for use with an image forming device comprising:
- a body forming an enclosed reservoir to contain toner and an outlet in communication with the reservoir, the outlet including a substantially cylindrical first wall with a first opening extending through the first wall;
- a shutter sized to fit within the outlet, the shutter including a substantially cylindrical second wall and a second opening extending through the second wall, the shutter rotatable between a closed orientation to prevent toner from moving through the outlet, an open orientation to allow toner to move through the outlet, and a third orientation between the open and closed orientations;
- the shutter adapted to receive a first rotational force to move from the closed orientation to the third orientation and a second force to move from beyond the third orientation to the open orientation.
A toner cartridge for use with an image forming device comprising:
- a body forming an enclosed reservoir to contain toner and an outlet in communication with the reservoir, the outlet including a substantially cylindrical first wall with a first opening extending through the first wall;
- a shutter sized to fit within the outlet, the shutter including a substantially cylindrical second wall and a second opening extending through the second wall, the shutter rotatable between a closed orientation to prevent toner from moving through the outlet, an open orientation to allow toner to move through the outlet, and an intermediate orientation between the open and closed orientations;
- and
- a biasing mechanism operatively attached to the shutter and the body to rotate the shutter relative to the body, the biasing mechanism urging the shutter away from the intermediate orientation and towards one of the open and closed orientations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.