Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Clasp – clip – support-clamp – or required component thereof – Having gripping member formed from – biased by – or mounted on...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2001-06-05
Sakran, Victor N. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
Having gripping member formed from, biased by, or mounted on...
C024S459000, C024S547000, C024S545000, C399S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240605
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
Many imaging devices such as copiers, laser printers, facsimile machines use toner cartridges. The toner cartridge contains many of the moving parts of the machine and contains a finite supply of toner. The original equipment manufacturers intended for the consumer to use the toner cartridge until the initial toner supply is exhausted, and then replace it with a new laser toner cartridge. By placing many of the moving parts in the toner cartridge and making the toner cartridge disposable, the OEM reduced the amount of repair work required on the printers, copiers, or facsimile machines.
The used toner cartridge has many components that may be reused. An industry known as the remanufacturing industry has arisen to take advantage of this fact. Remanufacturers take used toner cartridges, clean them, repair damaged components, replace worn out components, and add new toner. Remanufacturers frequently saw apart a portion of the toner cartridge, called the toner hopper subassembly. The toner hopper subassembly is separated into the developer roller housing, and the toner hopper. As explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,068 to Raymond Baley, the separation is done in order to achieve a surface on which a seal may be placed over the toner hopper. By separating the toner hopper from the developer roller housing, remanufacturers duplicate the condition the cartridge was in when it was new. The original equipment manufacturer takes a toner hopper, section seals it, and the ultrasonically welds it to a developer roller housing. After remanufacturers place a seal over the toner hopper discharge opening they then reattach the toner hopper to the developer roller housing. This reattachment may be done by gluing the two sections together as disclosed in Baley. More often, remanufacturers use a rail system to mechanically compress the developer roller housing against the toner hopper. By using a clamping rail, instead of a glue, a remanufacturer may simply and easily separate the cartridge on its next remanufacturing cycle by simply removing the rails and separating the developer roller housing from the toner hopper. No sawing is required on the second cycle if a reusable rail system is used.
Original equipment manufacturers are using thinner and thinner plastic for the toner hopper and developer roller housing. The tier plastic used means that the plastic bends and flexes more easily. The original equipment manufacturer relies on the ultrasonic welding process to impart rigidity to the developer roller housing and to the toner hopper.
In the clip and rail system used by remanufacturers, this extra reinforcing is not available. As a result, the magnetic developer roller housing will bow sometimes inward and sometimes outward relative to its position when new. Either position may lead to print defects when the cartridge is installed. This invention is designed to work with the clip and rails systems to prevent these problems by holding the clamped toner hopper aligned with the developer roller housing.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A reinforcing clip for toner cartridges of this invention has a first engaging end that engages the developer roller housing and a second engaging end that engages the toner hopper, and a connector connecting the first engaging end to the second engaging end. The connector has a reference surface. When the reinforcing clip is installed, the first end is in contact with the toner hopper, the second end is in contact with the developer roller housing and the reference surface is in contact with the seam between the toner hopper and developer roller housing. The reinforcing clip is of a sufficiently stiff material to hold the developer roller housing in proper alignment with the toner hopper. The reinforcing clip may take a variety of shapes to engage the developer roller housing and toner hopper. A developer roller link may be attached to the developer roller housing or a toner hopper link may be added to the toner hopper to facilitate attachment of the reinforcing clip.
REFERENCES:
patent: 809049 (1906-01-01), Gillett
patent: 1681925 (1928-08-01), Anderson
patent: 4605978 (1986-08-01), Zeavin
patent: 5799712 (1998-09-01), Kelly et al.
patent: 5937238 (1999-08-01), Tremblay et al.
patent: 5941434 (1999-08-01), Green
patent: 5979025 (1999-11-01), Horng
patent: 6014534 (2000-01-01), Goebel et al.
patent: 6079084 (2000-06-01), Gwynn
patent: 0655633 (1929-04-01), None
London William L.
Stevens Jerry
London William
Sakran Victor N.
Static Control Components, Inc.
LandOfFree
Reinforcing clip for laser toner cartridges does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Reinforcing clip for laser toner cartridges, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Reinforcing clip for laser toner cartridges will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2475227