Removable toner cartridge universal adapter

• US 7,136,608 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Imaging Cartridge LLC
• Original Assignee: Cartridge Corporation Of America Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Brase, Sandra L.
• Application Number:
  US10/742,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 399/109, 399/120, 399/360, 399/113, 399/119, 399/123, 399/262, 399/358
• US Class Current: 399/109
• 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 universal adapter for a toner cartridge enables a single toner cartridge to be used with printers made by different manufacturers and differing printer models made by a common manufacturer. The toner cartridge includes a waste bin having a leading end that is sculpted to mate with the cartridge-receiving cavities of a large number of printers. Additional improvements include an improved planar having a common thickness along its extent, the elimination of a pivotal motion between the waste bin and the hopper, an enhanced interconnection between the waste bin and the hopper, improved ergonomics along a trailing edge of the waste bin to facilitate its handling, a structure that prevents mounting of a circuit board over a host circuit board, reduced friction media guide ribs, an improved circuit board mounting pad, and a microswitch actuating tab that functions even in a printer with worn hinges and latches.

Claims

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

a waste bin;

a hopper connected; and

said waste bin having a leading end having a plurality of recesses integrally formed therewith to mate with the cartridge receiving cavity of a plurality of printer families;

whereby said toner cartridge fits differing printer models distributed by differing manufacturers.

2. The toner cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

said leading end of said waste bin having a hollow structure defined by a vertical leading wall,

a pair of upstanding sidewalls, a horizontal, flat top wall, a bottom wall, and an open trailing end in open communication with said hopper; and

said vertical leading wall having a transverse extent less than a transverse extent of said open trailing end;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a toner cartridge-receiving cavity having a relatively wide opening that tapers down to a relatively narrow opening.

3. The toner cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

said leading end of said waste bin having a first outboard end, a second outboard end, a first half and a second half;

a plurality of recesses formed in said leading end;

each recess of said plurality of recesses being formed in said leading end at a preselected location that accommodates a protrusion formed in a plurality of printer models;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

4. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a first outboard recess formed in said first outboard end of said leading end;

a first leading end recess positioned in the middle of said first half of said leading end;

a second leading end recess positioned in the middle of said leading end;

a third leading end recess positioned in the middle of said second half of said leading end; and

a second outboard recess formed in said second outboard end of said leading end;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having at least one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

5. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a first outboard recess formed in said first outboard end of said leading end;

an elongate recess formed in said leading end of said waste bin;

said elongate recess being centered with respect to said leading end; and

a second outboard recess formed in said second outboard end of said leading end;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

6. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

an elongate step formed in said leading end of said waste bin;

said elongate step extending the entire extent of said leading end;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

7. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a first elongate recess extending from said first outboard end of said leading end to a point about half-way along the extent of said leading end of said waste bin; and

a second recess extending from said second outboard end of said leading end to a point about half-way along the extent of the second half of said leading end of said waste bin;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

8. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a first outboard recess;

a first leading end recess positioned in the middle of said first half of said leading end;

a second leading end recess positioned in the middle of said leading end; and

a second outboard recess that extends from said second outboard end of said leading end to a point about mid-length of said second half of said leading end;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

9. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a first outboard recess formed in said first outboard end of said leading end;

a first leading end recess that occupies almost all of said first half of said leading end from a mid-point of said leading end to a point near said first outboard recess;

a second leading end recess positioned in the middle of said second half of said leading end; and

a second outboard recess formed in said second outboard end of said leading end;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

10. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a first outboard recess formed in said first outboard end of said leading end;

a second outboard recess formed in said second outboard end of said leading end;

a first leading end recess formed in the middle of said first half of said leading end;

a second leading end recess that occupies said second half of said leading end, extending from about the mid-point of said second half to a point near second outboard recess;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

11. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a first outboard recess that extends from a first outboard end of said leading end of the waste bin to a point about mid-length of the first half of said leading end;

a first leading end recess formed in the middle of said leading end;

a second leading end recess positioned in the middle of said second half of said leading end; and

a second outboard recess formed in said second outboard end of said leading end whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

12. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a first recess that extends from said first outboard end of said leading end of said waste bin to a point about mid-length of the first half of said leading end; and

a second recess that extends from said second outboard end of said leading end to a point about mid-length of said leading end of said waste bin;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

13. The toner cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a first leading end recess that extends from a first outboard end of said leading end to a point near the middle of the first half of said leading end;

a second leading end recess positioned at the middle of said leading end; and

a third leading end recess extending from said second outboard end of said leading end to a point near said middle of the second half of said leading end;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having no protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity;

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having one protrusion formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity; and

whereby said leading end mates with a printer having a plurality of protrusions formed in said toner cartridge-receiving cavity.

14. The toner cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a hopper torque tab receptacle formed in said waste bin;

said hopper tab receptacle adapted to vertically receive a hopper torque tab formed in said hopper when said waste bin is connected to said hopper;

whereby said hopper is keyed to said to waste bin when said hopper torque tab is received within said hopper torque tab receptacle, thereby preventing lateral movement between said hopper and said waste bin when a driving force is applied to said hopper.

15. The toner cartridge of claim 14, further comprising:

said hopper torque tab receptacle having a radius formed in its peripheral edges to facilitate entry of said hopper torque tab into said hopper torque tab receptacle.

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

a waste bin positioned at a leading end of said toner cartridge having a first half, a second half, a first outboard end and a second outboard end;

a plurality of recesses integrally formed in said leading end for accommodating at least one protrusion formed in a plurality of printer models further comprising a first outboard recess formed in the first outboard end of the leading end and a second outboard recess formed in the second outboard end of the leading end.

17. The toner cartridge of claim 16 further comprising:

a first leading end recess positioned in the middle of the first half of the leading end;

a second leading end recess positioned in the middle of said leading end; and

third leading end recess positioned in the middle of the second half of the leading end.

18. The toner cartridge of claim 16 further comprising an elongate recess formed in said leading end of the waste bin.

19. The toner cartridge of claim 18 wherein the elongate recess is substantially centered with respect to the leading end.

20. The toner cartridge of claim 18 wherein the elongate recess extends to a point at least in the middle of the first half of the leading end.

21. The toner cartridge of claim 18 wherein the elongate recess extends to a point at least in the middle of the second half of the leading end.

22. The toner cartridge of claim 16 wherein at least one outboard recess extends to a point at least in the middle of the leading end.

23. The toner cartridge of claim 16 wherein at least one outboard recess extends to a point at least in the middle of the corresponding half of the leading end.

24. The toner cartridge of claim 16 further comprising:

a first leading end recess positioned in the first half of the leading end;

a second leading end recess positioned in the second half of the leading end.

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

a waste bin positioned at a leading end of said toner cartridge having a first half, a second half, a first outboard end and a second outboard end;

a plurality of recesses integrally formed in said leading end for accommodating at least one protrusion formed in a plurality of printer models; and

a vertical leading wall extending from at least one outboard end to a point at least in the middle of the corresponding half of the leading end.

26. The toner cartridge of claim 25 wherein the vertical leading wall extends the transverse extent of the leading end.

27. The toner cartridge of claim 26 wherein the elongate recess is substantially centered with respect to the leading end.

28. The toner cartridge of claim 26 wherein the elongate recess extends to a point at least in the middle of the first half of the leading end.

29. The toner cartridge of claim 25 further comprising an elongate recess formed in said leading end of the waste bin.

30. The toner cartridge of claim 29 wherein the elongate recess extends to a point at least in the middle of the second half of the leading end.

31. The toner cartridge of claim 25 wherein at least one outboard recess extends to a point at least in the middle of the leading end.

32. The toner cartridge of claim 25 wherein at least one outboard recess extends to a point at least in the middle of the corresponding half of the leading end.

33. The toner cartridge of claim 25 further comprising:

a first leading end recess positioned in the first half of the leading end;

a second leading end recess positioned in the second half of the leading end.