Electrophotography – Machine operation – Electrical connection
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-12
2003-09-02
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Machine operation
Electrical connection
C399S103000, C399S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06615006
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the original parent Application, claims were obtained on the arbor press with extender, including methods. This Application will focus on the improved image forming apparatus, toner cartridge that fits into an image forming apparatus, contact device and methods also described in the Application. The reason all devices and methods were entered in the same Application is because originally the Arbor Press, Extender and Methods were invented for the purpose of press-fitting the original electrobushing's contact device embodiment of this invention. However, it was found that the Arbor Press, extender and methods embodiments are pioneer patent in many industries without limit and inventor did not want to limit it to the imaging industry as it has usefulness in so many industries. This continuation-in-part, however, concerns the improved laser printer, copier machine, facsimile machine, toner cartridges used therein, image forming apparatus, contact devices, scraper device, endseals, magnetic seals, spacers that set the space between the developer roller and the photoreceptor, other contacts and methods thereof. It should be pointed out here that this patent discloses new and improved devices that have a specific function, but also function in the electrical chain of components supplying the bias voltage to a developer roller, including but not limited to a bushing that aligns the developer roller end bushing for truer rotation, a developer roller scraper device used to scrape toner near the endfelts to minimize or prevent leakage, a developer roller endseal, a developer roller magnetic seal, a device for controlling the space between a developer roller and a photoreceptor, and a device for controlling the position of the developer roller's drive gear.
This invention relates to solving problems in Xerography and more specifically in the toner cartridge remanufacturing industry. This includes copiers, laser printers, facsimile machines, microfiche machines and sublimation toner imaging devices all which will be referred to as imaging machines. This invention also relates to the industrial machinery industry.
CANON has designed an all-in-one cartridge as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,744, issued Dec. 4, 1990 and assigned to CANON. Several companies have used these cartridges in laser printers, copy machines and facsimile machines, each with the varying printer engines and a different nameplate. Originally, these cartridges were designed to be “disposable”. However, after the first all-in-one toner cartridge was introduced, it did not take long before laser cartridge remanufacturers such as inventors began remanufacturing these cartridges. These “disposable” cartridges were designed to function for only one cartridge cycle without remanufacturing for higher profits. The remanufacturers had found certain components that needed replacement on a regular basis. In 1990, the first aftermarket photoreceptor drum became available for use in remanufacturing the all-in-one cartridge of the “SX” engine variety, the most popular printer cartridge from around 1987 through 1993. When the long-life photoreceptor drum became available, the entire remanufacturing industry gained strength and credibility as a huge growth surge began that still continues. In October 1993, HEWLETT-PACKARD, the largest seller of this printer engine using the all-in-one cartridge, entered the cartridge remanufacturing industry with the “OPTIVA” cartridge, further increasing the size as well as credibility of this relatively new industry although this OPTIVA program was eventually discontinued. However, this relatively new industry grew from the all-in-one cartridge shortly after its debut in 1985. Before the introduction of the long-life drum, sometimes called the “superdrum” or “duradrum”, the SX cartridge would last for around three cartridge remanufacturing cycles at best, since the actual useful life of the OEM drum was three cycles. However, the long-life drums got their names from the fact that they were designed to last for many remanufacturing cycles or recharges as they are sometimes called. Typically, the early versions of the long life drum lasted for ten or more such cycles, unlike the typical OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) drum. With the additional developments of drum coatings, originally designed for OEM drums, the long-life drum may last for many additional cycles. Some coatings, in theory, were designed to be dissolved and removed from over the drum surface every 1-3 cycles, so the drum life of the long-life drum may be much longer than both the original design life of the OEM drum and the aftermarket drum.
However, with photoreceptor drums lasting for many cycles, other components of the cartridge have a tendency to require greater durability or design life. Also, as the success of the cartridges has been positive, the demand is for cartridges with longer cycles, so component improvements are significant. Therefore, avoiding natural problems with prevention means must also be implemented for cartridges of longer life both in longer cycle times and greater number of cycles. One good example is the electrical contact used in many developer rollers of toner cartridge assemblies. The advancements in technology of the laser printers and toner cartridges may be applied in other parts of the imaging industry including copy machines, facsimile machines, all-in-one machines, multi-function machines, microfiche machines, sublimation printers (for t-shirt iron-ons, mugs and other printing and copying where the final output winds up transferred from the page), and for many applications in the imaging industry.
Inventor was awarded U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,634,175 and 5,648,838, pioneer patents for electrical contacts for developer roller assemblies. Much of what is manufactured today uses things from that patent. To properly install an electrical contact from the above patents in the most robust way, one would want to press-fit the contact into the inner wall of the developer roller. It sounds simple. However, you can not just get an arbor press and press fit the contacts because arbor presses have a very short maximum press-fit height. Most arbor presses look alike, just that some are bigger and more powerful than the others, among the most common arbor presses. However, a ½ ton arbor press has a 4 inch height and a one ton press is not much higher, a two ton press is not much higher and even a 5 ton arbor press typically is not very high. To press-fit contacts into developer rollers, most developer rollers are over ten inches long and even an expensive 5 ton arbor press, much greater in weight and power than necessary, is not long enough to press-fit all sizes of developer rollers. In another example, the WX (5Si) developer roller is over 18 inches long and would not even fit in a 5 ton arbor press in the typical case. To solve this problem, inventor has developed an arbor press extender device to lengthen the maximum press length that an arbor press may press. Thus, with this invention, even a small ½ ton arbor press may be used for press-fitting an electrical contact on a long developer roller sleeve. With the extender device of this invention, there is no limit in the maximum allowable press length that may be pressed with an arbor press, and thus, a small ½ ton arbor press with the extender device of this invention may press a part of a greater length than a large 5 ton arbor press without the extender device of this invention which saves a lot of money.
An electrobushing will be introduced that is a bushing for truing rotational motion of a developer roller while at the same time acting as an electrically contacting device. This simplifies number of parts and makes a stronger connection and thus may obsolete the use of spring with contact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is object of this invention to show an improved image forming system including but not limited to an improved laser printer, copy machine, facsimile machine or microfiche mac
Michlin Steven Bruce
Whittern Charles Harold
Chen Sophia S.
Michlin Steven Bruce
LandOfFree
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