Patents Assigned to Lexmark International, Inc.
  • End seal assembly for an undercut developer roll
    Patent number: 10365586
    Abstract: A developer unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a developer roll rotatably mounted on a housing. The developer roll includes a roll body cylindrically disposed around a shaft and forming an outer circumferential surface of the developer roll. An axial end of the roll body includes an undercut forming a hollow region in the axial end of the roll body. An elastomeric end seal has a curved rotary seal portion that is sandwiched between a portion of the housing and the outer circumferential surface of the developer roll at the axial end of the developer roll. An interference between the curved rotary seal portion of the end seal and the outer circumferential surface of the developer roll decreases along an axial dimension of the developer roll in a direction from an axially outboard edge of the end seal toward an axially inboard edge of the end seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Louis Goin, Donald Wayne Stafford
  • System and methods for locating an asset in an environment
    Patent number: 10349501
    Abstract: A system for locating an asset in an environment with a plurality of lighting fixtures forming a network of sensors within the environment for detecting assets in the environment. Each lighting fixture includes a transceiver for receiving from an external device identifier information associated with the asset to be tracked and for receiving an acknowledgement from the asset when the asset responds to a query message from the lighting fixture. The identifier information is communicated over the network from one lightning fixture to another until a last lighting fixture receives the acknowledgement from the asset. A first lighting fixture that first receives the identifier information from the external device to the last lighting fixture that received the acknowledgement from the asset are illuminated such that a path of light is formed from a location of the external device to the asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darliza Canonigo Dar Juan, Brennan Eul Inobio Mercado
  • Toner level detection measuring a radius of a rotatable magnet
    Patent number: 10345736
    Abstract: A toner level detection assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a rotatable shaft is positioned within a toner reservoir. A magnet is connected to the shaft and is rotatable with the shaft around an axis of rotation of the shaft. The magnet is pivotable independent of the shaft about a pivot axis that is spaced radially from the axis of rotation such that a radial distance of the magnet from the axis of rotation varies as the magnet pivots about the pivot axis. A first magnetic sensor is positioned to sense the magnet within a first range of radial distances from the axis of rotation. A second magnetic sensor is positioned to sense the magnet within a second range of radial distances from the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Craig Leemhuis
  • System and methods for adjusting toner density in an imaging device
    Patent number: 10338496
    Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging device having a method of printing which includes determining whether a duty cycle state in the imaging device has changed; selecting one of a full toner density calibration and a partial toner density calibration based on the determining; performing the one of the full toner density calibration and the partial toner density calibration; identifying a toner density to be applied during printing as a result of the performing; developing a toned image having a toner density equal to the toner density identified; and printing the toned image on a media sheet, wherein the full toner density calibration is skipped upon at least a determination that the duty cycle state has remained the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Anthony Able, Michael Brian Bacelieri, Andrew Gil Montaño Desabelle, Gary Scott Overall, Marvin Aliviado Rodriguez, Albert Ocianas Villanueva
  • Redundant electrical contact between a fastener and a component
    Patent number: 10338518
    Abstract: An assembly according to one example embodiment includes an electrically conductive fastener that includes a head and a shank. The shank extends from an undersurface of the head along a longitudinal axis of the fastener to a distal end of the fastener. A fastening hole is formed by an electrically nonconductive material. At least a portion of the shank of the fastener is installed in the fastening hole. An electrically conductive component is held between the undersurface of the head of the fastener and a surface surrounding an entrance to the fastening hole. An electrically conductive flange extends from the component and contacts an outer portion of the head of the fastener such that an electrical path is formed between the fastener and the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Cavill, Christopher Elliot Lingle, Philip John Male, David Lee Merrifield
  • Method to make a photoconductor having an overcoat with tetrafunctional radical polymerizable charge transport molecule
    Patent number: 10331051
    Abstract: A charge transport molecule containing four radical polymerizable functional groups used in an overcoat for an organic photoconductor drum of an electrophotographic image forming device is provided. The charge transport molecule containing four radical polymerizable functional groups of the general structure exemplified below: where R1 and R2 contain a spacer group and a radical polymerizable functional group, R3 and R4 are selected from the group consisting of a radical polymerizable functional group, a non-radical polymerizable functional group, and one each of a radical polymerizable functional group and a non-radial polymerizable functional group, and R5 and R6 contain a spacer group and a radical polymerizable functional group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Weimei Luo, David Glenn Black, Mark Thomas Bellino
  • Door sequencing device for an imaging device
    Patent number: 10331075
    Abstract: An imaging device or other device having a sequencing device to ensure a proper closing sequence of two mating doors. The sequencing device includes a door stop, a link, and a hinge. The hinge and door stop are pivotally connected to a side panel of a frame. The hinge, link, and door stop are pivotally connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Ryan Keniston, Jimmy Zamora Lucas
  • Organic photoconductor drum having an overcoat containing nano metal oxide particles and method to make the same
    Patent number: 10317810
    Abstract: An improved organic photoconductor drum having a protective overcoat layer and method to make the same is provided. The protective overcoat layer is prepared from a curable composition including nano metal oxide particles sized less than 400 nm in combination with an urethane acrylate resin having at least 6 functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Weimei Luo, Mark Thomas Bellino
  • Method for identifying a malfunctioning RFID tag on a media sheet using an imaging device
    Patent number: 10321012
    Abstract: A method for identifying and marking malfunctioning RFID tags on a RFID media sheet using an imaging device having a printer system and a RFID reader programmer. The method detects an unprogrammed RFID tag on the RFID media sheet, performs a write test on the detected RFID tag; determines whether the write test is successful; when the write test is unsuccessful, sends the RFID media sheet to the print engine and prints a bad tag identifier on one of the RFID media sheet and the detected RFID tag; when the write test has been successful, performs a read test on the detected RFID tag and determines whether the read test is successful, when the read test is unsuccessful, sends the RFID media sheet to the print engine and prints the bad tag identifier on one of the RFID media sheet and the detected RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Delbert Lester Eiiliott, Donnie Eugene Proffitt, Mark Stephen Underwood
  • Fuser assembly having nip reduction force for imaging device
    Patent number: 10310421
    Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a heated member and backup member forming a fusing nip. A nip loading spring biases into contact the backup member and the heated member. A bellcrank contacts the nip loading spring such that upon opening of an access door of the imaging device, the bellcrank acts on the nip loading spring to reduce a force between the backup member and the heated member but keeping in contact the backup member and the heated member. The bellcrank typifies a wire or other flexible lever. A cam pivots as the access door opens and engages the wire to compress the nip loading spring during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffery James Buchanan
  • System and methods for reducing component wear in an imaging device
    Patent number: 10310790
    Abstract: An imaging system including a method for reducing component wear in an imaging device which includes receiving a print job in the imaging device, generating an image for each page of the print job, printing each image, determining whether an image generation during at least one of the receiving, the generating, and the printing is slow, and upon a positive determination, disabling one or more functions in the imaging device to adjust a default printing performance of the imaging device, wherein the one or more functions include an advanced start function and a smart-run out function stored in a memory of the imaging device for achieving the default printing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: William Paul Cook
  • Image forming device having a replaceable unit that includes magnets of varying angular offset for toner level sensing
    Patent number: 10303111
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a replaceable unit including a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet and a second magnet are connected to the shaft and rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet pass near at least a portion of an inner wall of the housing forming the reservoir during rotation of the first and second magnets. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet varies depending on an amount of toner in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Robert Watson McAlpine
  • Method for curing an overcoat in a photoconductor used in an electrophotographic imaging device
    Patent number: 10289013
    Abstract: A method of curing a protective overcoat layer on the outermost portion of an organic photoconductor drum using dual curing process is provided. The first curing step applies either ionizing irradiation, such as with an electron beam or by gamma rays or applies non-ionizing irradiation such as ultraviolet light to the overcoated photoconductor drum. A mask or shield is sized to be placed over the print area of the initially cured photoconductor drum, thereby exposing the outermost edges of the photoconductor drum. The outer edges of the masked photoconductor drum is then exposed to a second curing step using non-ionizing irradiation such as ultraviolet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Weimei Luo, Mark Thomas Bellino, Rudolph Wayne Hrobsky
  • Method to make a photoconductor drum having an overcoat using a dual curing process
    Patent number: 10289014
    Abstract: A method of preparing an organic photoconductor drum having a protective overcoat on its outermost surface is provided. In an example embodiment, a photoconductor drum having an electrically conductive substrate, a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and an outermost protective overcoat layer is provided. The photoconductor drum is cured using a two-step process. The first curing step applies either ionizing irradiation, such as with an electron beam or by gamma rays or applies non-ionizing irradiation such as ultraviolet light to the photoconductor drum. A mask is sized and placed over the print area of the initially cured photoconductor drum, thereby exposing the outermost edges of the photoconductor drum. The outer edges of the masked photoconductor drum is then exposed to a second curing step using ultraviolet light irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Weimei Luo, Mark Thomas Bellino, Rudolph Wayne Hrobsky
  • Toner level sensing for a replaceable unit of an image forming device
    Patent number: 10289024
    Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner remaining in a reservoir of a replaceable unit for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes receiving by processing circuitry pulses from a magnetic sensor. Each pulse is indicative that the magnetic sensor detected a magnet on a moving paddle positioned in the reservoir. The processing circuitry counts the number of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor. Upon receiving a request from a controller of the image forming device, the processing circuitry sends to the controller of the image forming device the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor and resets the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Craig Leemhuis, Jeffrey Allen Abler, Charles Alan Bast, Todd Alan Dutton, David Anthony Schneider
  • System and method for price verification in a retail environment
    Patent number: 10282721
    Abstract: A system for verifying a price associated with an item in a retail environment includes a price tag having an optical member that includes an optical characteristic that modifies an amount of optical energy that leaves the optical member relative to an amount of optical energy received by the optical member, and a price tag holder including an optical sensor having an emitter and a detector. The emitter is positioned to emit optical energy onto the optical member and the detector is positioned to receive optical energy leaving the optical member. A computing device in operable communication with the optical sensor is operative to determine whether the price tag is accurate based upon a comparison between the amount of optical energy received by the detector and the amount of optical energy emitted by the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: John Douglas Anderson, Christopher Michael Nelson, Adam Randal Wiedemann
  • Fuser installation in an imaging device
    Patent number: 10281851
    Abstract: An imaging device has a drive gear assembly which operatively engages with a backup roll gear of a fuser assembly when the fuser assembly is inserted into the imaging device. Such engagement causes the drive gear assembly to rotate, and in turn rotates a drive motor coupled to the drive gear assembly. The drive motor includes Hall Effect sensors associated with a sensor arrangement that senses rotation of the motor. During rotation of the drive motor, sensor signals are transmitted to a controller of the imaging device, the controller counting rising and falling signal edges of the received sensor signals. Based on the number of rising and falling signal edges, a message is sent to a user of the imaging device whether or not the installation of the fuser assembly was successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Carter, Mark Stephen Malone, Brian Anthony Reichert
  • Collimation assembly for an imaging device
    Patent number: 10274724
    Abstract: A collimation assembly includes a body, at least four light sources, and at least four collimation lenses. The body has inner surfaces that define at least four hollow portions extending through the body between opposed first and second sides thereof, each hollow portion having opposed first and second openings at the first and second sides of the body, respectively. Each light source is disposed at the first opening of one of the at least four hollow portions and controllable to emit a light beam therethrough. Each collimation lens is disposed at the second opening of one of the at least four hollow portions to receive the light beam emitted by the light source disposed at the first opening and diverge the light beam as the light beam passes through the collimation lens. The at least four light sources and the at least four collimation lenses are supported by the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Fei Chen, Randall Lee Hudson, Christopher Dane Jones, Jason Lee Rowe
  • Toner cartridge
    Patent number: D852880
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Daniel Anderson, Jr., Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Jeremy Keith Payne, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Toner cartridge
    Patent number: D854078
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Daniel Anderson, Jr., Brian Scott Carpenter, Masahito Cho, Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Robert Watson McAlpine, Jeremy Keith Payne, Thomas Eugene Pangburn, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edward Lynn Triplett