Patents by Inventor Elizabeth A. SWANSON

Elizabeth A. SWANSON has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Magnetic coupling structure for an image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11927909
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development cartridge having a developing roller. A coupler for the image forming apparatus includes a shaft and a coupling structure to rotate the developing roller. The coupling structure is disposed at an end part of the shaft, is movable along an axial direction of the shaft and coupleable with another coupling structure of a print engine of the image forming apparatus. The coupling structure includes a body, a magnet disposed in the body to cause the coupling structure to be attracted to the another coupling structure so that the coupling structure is aligned with the another coupling structure, and a plurality of protrusions which protrude from the body in the axial direction to engage with the another coupling structure, the plurality of protrusions having at least one side with an inclined face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Swanson, Gabriel S. McDaniel, Jeffrey H. Luke
  • MAGNETIC COUPLING STRUCTURE FOR AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20230324844
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development cartridge having a developing roller. A coupler for the image forming apparatus includes a shaft and a coupling structure to rotate the developing roller. The coupling structure is disposed at an end part of the shaft, is movable along an axial direction of the shaft and coupleable with another coupling structure of a print engine of the image forming apparatus. The coupling structure includes a body, a magnet disposed in the body to cause the coupling structure to be attracted to the another coupling structure so that the coupling structure is aligned with the another coupling structure, and a plurality of protrusions which protrude from the body in the axial direction to engage with the another coupling structure, the plurality of protrusions having at least one side with an inclined face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. SWANSON, Gabriel S. MCDANIEL, Jeffrey H. LUKE