Ergonomic toner cartridge

• US 7,257,356 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• 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:
  US11/532,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20070014592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 399/25, 399/27, 399/107, 399/111, 399/119, 399/120, 399/262
• US Class Current: 399/262
• 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 with a handle formed centrally in a trailing end of the cartridge. The handle is dished to comfortably accept a hand and is adapted such that a user will recognize that said handle is dedicated to receiving the user'"'"'s hand. The cartridge is therefore installed and removed without binding since the user'"'"'s hand is centered as a result of the placement of the user'"'"'s hand in said handle.

Claims

1. A removable toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus comprising:

a wastebin;

a hopper;

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

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

a microswitch actuating tab formed on a wall of said wastebin;

a hopper torque tab receptacle adapted to receive a hopper torque tab formed in said hopper thereby limiting lateral movement between said hopper and said wastebin when a lateral force is applied to said hopper; and

a handle in the center of an end of the cartridge;

said handle adapted to direct a user'"'"'s hand to the center of the cartridge when inserting or removing said cartridge from the cartridge receiving cavity of a printer.

2. The toner cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an arch extending transversely across said waste bin'"'"'s trailing end;

said arch rising to a height sufficient to accommodate a user'"'"'s fingers when said user'"'"'s thumb is positioned on said handle.

3. A removable toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus comprising:

a wastebin;

a hopper;

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

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

a microswitch actuating tab formed on a wall of said wastebin;

a hopper torque tab receptacle adapted to receive a hopper torque tab formed in said hopper thereby limiting lateral movement between said hopper and said wastebin when a lateral force is applied to said hopper;

a handle in the center of an end of the cartridge;

said handle adapted to direct a user'"'"'s hand to the center of the cartridge when inserting or removing said cartridge from the cartridge receiving cavity of a printer; and

an arch extending transversely across said waste bin'"'"'s trailing end;

said arch rising to a height sufficient to accommodate a user'"'"'s fingers when said user'"'"'s thumb is positioned on said handle.