Structure preventing the use of an unauthorized circuit board

• US 7,113,710 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cartridge Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Cartridge Corporation Of America Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Brase, Sandra L.
• Application Number:
  US11/279,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20060153599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 165 Days
• Field of Search: 399/24, 399/25, 399/27, 399/107, 399/109, 399/111, 399/123, 399/119, 399/120, 399/262
• US Class Current: 399/24
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• 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 15/0877 Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
• 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 21/1652 Electrical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1878 Electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1896 mechanical or optical identification means, e.g. protrusions, bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0697 being an electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0852 reciprocating
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1815 for cleaning or developing but not being a process cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1823 Cartridges having electronically readable memory

Abstract

A toner cartridge prevents piggybacking of an unauthorized circuit board over an authorized circuit board. The body of the cartridge includes a flat mounting surface adapted to receive a first circuit board formed in a vertical wall of the waste bin. An upper blocking member extends from a point just above the flat mounting surface to a lower surface of the planar wing. An optional lower blocking member extends from a point just below the flat mounting surface to a preselected point at a still further lower elevation. The upper and lower blocking members obstruct the placing of an unauthorized circuit board over an authorized circuit board.

Claims

1. A toner cartridge adapted to fit within a toner cartridge-receiving cavity of a printer, comprising:

a waste bin;

a flat mounting surface adapted to receive a first circuit board; and

a blocking structure that prevents placement of a replacement circuit board into overlying relation to said first circuit board.

2. The toner cartridge of claim 1 wherein the flat mounting surface is formed in a vertical wall of said waste bin.

3. The toner cartridge of claim 1 wherein the blocking structure comprises an upper blocking member extending from a point just above said flat mounting surface to a preselected point at a higher elevation;

whereby said upper blocking member obstructs the placing of a replacement circuit board over said first circuit board.

4. The toner cartridge of claim 1 wherein the blocking structure comprises a lower blocking member extending from a point just below said flat mounting surface to a preselected point at a lower elevation;

whereby said lower blocking member obstructs the placing of a replacement circuit board over said first circuit board.

5. The toner cartridge of claim 1 wherein said flat mounting surface comprises:

an elevated surface adapted to receive a first circuit board; and

a recessed surface adapted to receive a second circuit board having a size that is smaller than said first circuit board.

6. The toner cartridge of claim 5 wherein said structure prevents placement of a replacement circuit board into overlying relation to said second circuit board.

7. The toner cartridge of claim 1 wherein the flat mounting surface has an upper extent terminating at a point substantially related to the first circuit board;

whereby no physical structure extends vertically from the flat mounting surface to which a circuit board can be mounted.

8. A toner cartridge adapted to fit within a toner cartridge-receiving cavity of a printer, comprising:

a waste bin;

a planar wing formed in a sidewall of said waste bin;

the planar wing formed on an outboard side of its associated sidewall;

a flat mounting surface adapted to receive a first circuit board formed in a wall of said waste bin; and

an upper blocking member that prevents placement of a replacement circuit board into overlying relation to said first circuit board.

9. The toner cartridge of claim 8 wherein said flat mounting surface comprises:

an elevated surface adapted to receive a first circuit board; and

a recessed surface adapted to receive a second circuit board having a size that is smaller than said first circuit board.

10. The toner cartridge of claim 9 wherein said upper blocking member prevents placement of a replacement circuit board into overlying relation to said second circuit board.

11. The toner cartridge of claim 8 wherein said upper blocking member extends from a point just above said flat mounting surface to a lower surface of said planar wing and whereby said upper blocking member obstructs the placing of a second circuit board over said first circuit board.

12. The toner cartridge of claim 8 further comprising a lower blocking member that prevents the placement of a replacement circuit board into overlying relation to said first circuit board.

13. The toner cartridge of claim 12 wherein said lower blocking member extends from a point just below said flat mounting surface to a preselected point at a lower elevation and whereby said lower arcuate blocking member obstructs the placing of a replacement circuit board over said first circuit board.

14. The toner cartridge of claim 8 wherein the flat mounting surface is formed in a vertical wall of said waste bin.

15. The toner cartridge of claim 8 wherein the flat mounting surface has an upper extent terminating at a point substantially related to the first circuit board;

whereby no physical structure extends vertically from the flat mounting surface to which a circuit board can be mounted.

16. A toner cartridge adapted to fit within a toner cartridge-receiving cavity of a printer, comprising:

a waste bin;

a flat mounting surface formed in a vertical wall of said waste bin, said flat mounting surface further comprising;

said flat mounting surface having an upper extent terminating at a point substantially related to the first circuit board; and

whereby no physical structure extends vertically from the flat mounting surface to which a circuit board can be mounted;

a planar wing formed in a sidewall of said waste bin;

the planar wing formed on an outboard side of its associated sidewall;

an upper blocking member extending from a point just above said flat mounting surface to a lower surface of said planar wing; and

whereby said upper blocking member obstructs the placing of a replacement circuit board over said first circuit board.