Refilled toner cartridge having increased yield

• US 9,104,174 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apex Semiconductor Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Static Control Components Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Burchette, Lynton R
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMITT, BENJAMIN R
• Application Number:
  US13/538,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20140003836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 399/109, 399/120, 399/360
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0868 Toner cartridges fulfilling a continuous function within the electrographic apparatus during the use of the supplied developer material, e.g. toner discharge on demand, storing residual toner, acting as an active closure for the developer replenishing opening
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0894 Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/181 Manufacturing or assembling, recycling, reuse, transportation, packaging or storage
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1889 for auto-setting of process parameters, lifetime, usage
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00987 Remanufacturing, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the image forming apparatus

Abstract

Electronic systems, such as printing systems, often use components that have integral memory. The integral memory can be used to store information about the component. In some printing systems this memory includes a portion that stores a value indicative of a print yield. Disclosed is a method and system for allowing the memory to have data indicative of an increased print yield.

Claims

1. A toner cartridge for use in an image forming apparatus, the toner cartridge comprising:

a waste bin having a first toner capacity;

a hopper having a second toner capacity, wherein the hopper is initially loaded with an actual amount of toner having a toner coverage efficiency, and the actual amount of toner is greater than an amount of toner that the cartridge was originally loaded with; and

a cartridge chip including a memory for storing information indicative of an amount of toner loaded in the hopper, wherein the second toner capacity is greater than the first toner capacity and the hopper is loaded with the actual amount of toner based upon the first toner capacity of the waste bin and the toner coverage efficiency, wherein the actual amount of toner having the toner coverage efficiency results in an amount of waste toner that will not overfill the waste bin.

2. The toner cartridge of claim 1 wherein the toner cartridge is a refilled toner cartridge.

3. The toner cartridge of claim 2 wherein the memory stores information indicative of the actual amount of toner loaded in the cartridge.

4. The toner cartridge of claim 2 wherein the toner cartridge is refilled to a maximum amount of toner determined by the first toner capacity of the waste bin and the toner coverage efficiency.

5. The toner cartridge of claim 2 wherein the toner cartridge is refilled with the actual amount of toner that is greater than 75% of the second toner capacity of the hopper.

6. The toner cartridge of claim 2 wherein the toner cartridge is refilled with the actual amount of toner that is greater than 85% of the second toner capacity of the hopper.

7. The toner cartridge of claim 2 wherein the waste bin is modified to increase the first toner capacity.

8. The toner cartridge of claim 2 wherein the waste bin is replaced by a replacement waste bin, wherein the replacement waste bin has a larger toner capacity than the waste bin.