Encoded wheel for a toner cartridge

• US 6,295,422 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Newman, Benjamin Keith, Ward, Earl Dawson II, Curry, Steven Alan, Wright, Phillip Byron
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAINGER, QUANA MASHELL
• Application Number:
  US09/557,096
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 399/12, 399/13, 399/24, 399/25, 399/27, 156/108, 156/DIG.5
• US Class Current: 399/12
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0822 Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0856 Detection or control means for the developer level
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0858 the level being measured by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0889 for agitation or stirring
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0896 Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1896 mechanical or optical identification means, e.g. protrusions, bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1838 Autosetting of process parameters

Abstract

An encoded wheel for a toner cartridge including a plate having preprogrammed indicia positioned at locations defined in relation to a clock face, the preprogrammed indicia including a start indicia positioned between about a 5:00 o'"'"'clock position and a 6:00 o'"'"'clock position, a stop indicia positioned at about a 9:00 o'"'"'clock position, at least one preselected cartridge characteristic indicia positioned between the start indicia and the stop indicia, and at least one measurement indicia located between about 200 degrees and about 230 degrees from said 6:00 o'"'"'clock position.

Claims

1. An encoded wheel for a toner cartridge comprising a plate having preprogrammed indicia positioned at locations defined in relation to a clock face, said preprogrammed indicia including a start indicia positioned between about a 5:

00 o'"'"'clock position and a 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a stop indicia positioned at about a 9;

00 o'"'"'clock position, at least one preselected cartridge characteristic indicia positioned between said start indicia and said stop indicia, and at least one measurement indicia located between about 200 degrees and about 230 degrees from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position.

2. The encoded wheel of claim 1, wherein each said indicia comprises a slot.

3. An encoded wheel for a toner cartridge comprising a plate having preprogrammed indicia positioned at locations defined in relation to a clock face, said preprogrammed indicia including a first slot positioned between about a 5:

00 o'"'"'clock position and a 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a second slot positioned at about a 9;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a third slot positioned between said first slot and said second slot, and each of a fourth slot, a fifth slot and a sixth slot sequentially located in a clockwise direction between about 200 degrees and about 230 degrees from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position, and wherein no further slot is located between said second slot and said fourth slot and no further slot is located between said sixth slot and said first slot.

4. A toner cartridge comprising a rotatable wheel having preprogrammed indicia positioned at locations defined in relation to a clock face, said preprogrammed indicia including a first slot positioned between about a 5:

00 o'"'"'clock position and a 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a second slot positioned at about a 9;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a third slot positioned between said first slot and said second slot, and each of a fourth slot, a fifth slot and a sixth slot sequentially located in a clockwise direction between about 200 degrees and about 230 degrees from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position, and wherein no further slot is located between said second slot and said fourth slot and no further slot is located between said sixth slot and said first slot.

5. The toner cartridge of claim 4, wherein said third slot is one of a plurality of slots located between said first slot and said second slot.

6. An encoded device for a toner cartridge comprising a plate having preprogrammed indicia positioned at locations defined in relation to a clock face, said preprogrammed indicia including a start indicia positioned between about a 5:

00 o'"'"'clock position and a 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a stop indicia positioned at about a 9;

00 o'"'"'clock position, at least one preselected cartridge characteristic indicia positioned between said start indicia and said stop indicia, and at least one measurement indicia located between about 200 degrees and about 230 degrees from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position.

7. The encoded device of claim 6, wherein each said indicia comprises a slot.

8. The encoded device of claim 6, wherein said at least one preselected cartridge characteristic indicia comprises a plurality of cartridge characteristic indicia positioned between said start indicia and said stop indicia.

9. The encoded device of claim 6, wherein said at least one measurement indicia comprises a plurality of measurement indicia located between about 200 degrees and about 230 degrees in a clockwise direction from said 6:

00 o'"'"'clock position.

10. The encoded device of claim 9, wherein said plurality of measurement indicia comprises a first slot having a first trailing edge, a second slot having a second trailing edge and a third slot having a third trailing edge, wherein said first trailing edge is located at about 200 degrees in a clockwise direction from said 6:

00 o'"'"'clock position, said second trailing edge is located at about 215 degrees in a clockwise direction from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position and said third trailing edge is located at about 230 degrees in a clockwise direction from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position.

11. The encoded device of claim 10, wherein no further indicia is located between aid stop indicia and said first slot in said clockwise direction.

12. The encoded device of claim 10, wherein no further indicia is located between said third slot and said start indicia in said clockwise direction.

13. The encoded device of claim 6, wherein said plate comprises a circular disk.

14. The encoded device of claim 6, wherein said toner cartridge includes a sump for carrying a supply of toner and an agitator rotatably mounted in said sump, said agitator having a first end and a second end, said plate being coupled to said first end of said agitator.

15. An encoded device for a toner cartridge comprising a plate having preprogrammed indicia positioned at locations defined in relation to a clock face, said preprogrammed indicia including a first slot positioned between about a 5:

00 o'"'"'clock position and a 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a second slot positioned at about a 9;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a third slot positioned between said first slot and said second slot, and each of a fourth slot, a fifth slot and a sixth slot sequentially located in a clockwise direction between about 200 degrees of about 230 degrees from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position.

16. The encoded device of claim 15, wherein no further slot is located between said second slot and said fourth slot and no further slot is located between said sixth slot and said first slot.

17. The encoded device of claim 15, wherein said toner cartridge includes a sump for carrying a supply of toner and an agitator rotatably mounted in said sump, said agitator having a first rotating end and a second rotating end, said plate being adapted for coupling to said first rotating end of said agitator.

18. An encoded device comprising a rotatable wheel having indicia positioned at locations defined in relation to a clock face, said indicia including a first slot positioned between about a 5:

00 o'"'"'clock position and a 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a second slot positioned at about a 9;

00 o'"'"'clock position, a third slot positioned between said first slot and said second slot, and each of a fourth slot, a fifth slot and a sixth slot sequentially located in a clockwise direction between about 200 degrees and about 230 degrees from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position.

19. The encoded device of claim 18, wherein no further slot is located between said second slot and said fourth slot and no further slot is located between said sixth slot and said first slot.

20. An encoded device of claim 18, wherein said third slot is one of a plurality of slots located between said first slot and said second slot.

21. The encoded wheel of claim 18 wherein, said rotatable wheel is adapted for coupling to a first end of an agitator, said agitator being rotatably mounted in a sump for carrying a supply of toner.

22. An encoded device comprising a disk having a plurality of indicia located near a circumferential perimeter of said disk, said plurality of indicia including a first preselected cartridge characteristic indicia having a first extent, a second indicia having a second extent larger than said first extent, and a third indicia having a third extent larger than said second extent.

23. The encoded device of claim 22, wherein said indicia is positioned in relation to a clock face between about a 5:

00 o'"'"'clock position and a 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position and said second indicia is positioned at about a 9;

00 o'"'"'clock position, and said first preselected cartridge characteristic being position between said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position and said 9;

00 o'"'"'clock position.

24. The encoded device of claim 22, wherein said plurality of indicia further includes at least one measurement indicia located between about 200 degrees and about 230 degrees in a clockwise direction from a 6:

00 o'"'"'clock position.

25. The encoded device of claim 24, wherein said at least one measurement indicia comprises a first slot having a first trailing edge, a second slot having a second trailing edge and a third slot having a third trailing edge, wherein said first trailing edge is located at about 200 degrees in a clockwise direction from said 6:

00 o'"'"'clock position, and second trailing edge is located at about 215 degrees in a clockwise direction from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position and said third trailing edge is located at about 230 degrees in a clockwise direction from said 6;

00 o'"'"'clock position.