Patents Assigned to Lexmark International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10274876
    Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface being opposite the first surface on the substrate, a first resistive trace and a second resistive trace, the first and second resistive traces being disposed adjacent each other along the first surface of the substrate in a length-wise direction thereof. A resistance of the first resistive trace is less than a resistance of the second resistive trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jichang Cao, Alexander Johannes Geyling, Russell Edward Lucas
  • Patent number: 10264158
    Abstract: A method for retiring a RFID copy sheet using an imaging device having a scanner system and a printer system, each system having a RFID reader programmer. The RFID copy sheet to be retired is scanned using one of the RFID reader programmers. After determining that the user is authorized to retire the RFID copy sheet, the RFID copy sheet is rescanned by a RFID reader programmer and its associated RFID tag is reprogrammed to indicate that the RFID copy sheet is retired. Document control of the retired RFID copy sheet may also be provided using a document lifecycle database that is updated with the retired status of the RFID copy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert McAlister Whitesell, Brandon Christopher Reynolds, Donnie Eugene Proffitt, Jeremy Keith Payne
  • Patent number: 10248048
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device includes a replaceable unit having a housing that includes a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear positioned between a first side and a second side of the housing. The housing has a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A magnet in the reservoir is movable in response to rotation of the shaft. An engagement member is positioned on an exterior of the top of the housing. The engagement member is aligned with a point in a path of movement of the magnet in the reservoir. The engagement member has a front surface that is unobstructed to contact and push a housing in the image forming device supporting a magnetic sensor to an operating position of the magnetic sensor during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Brian Scott Carpenter
  • Patent number: 10248062
    Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging device having a method of printing which includes setting a default toner density for printing; developing a first toned image having the default toner density; printing the first toned image on a first page of a print job; and before printing a second page of a print job, determining whether a duty cycle state of a photoconductive member in the imaging device has changed, and upon a positive determination, developing a second toned image having a toner density derived from the default toner density and printing the second toned image on the second page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Anthony Able, Michael Brian Bacalieri, Andrew Gil MontaƱo Desabelle, Gary Scott Overall, Marvin Aliviado Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10228636
    Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner and a drive shaft positioned in the reservoir. The drive shaft is rotatable about a rotational axis in an operative rotational direction. A toner agitator extends from the drive shaft in the reservoir. The toner agitator is rotatable around the rotational axis of the drive shaft as the drive shaft rotates. The toner agitator folds relative to the drive shaft counter to the operative rotational direction if resistance to rotation of the toner agitator provided by toner in the reservoir exceeds a threshold amount. The toner agitator is biased relative to the drive shaft in the operative rotational direction. A radial length of the toner agitator decreases when the toner agitator folds relative to the drive shaft counter to the operative rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Craig Leemhuis
  • Patent number: 10222738
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an electrical contact positioned on a first side of a housing of the replaceable unit for contacting an electrical contact in the image forming device. A guide on the first side of the housing is positioned closer to a front of the housing than the electrical contact and leads rearward toward the electrical contact. The guide includes an inside surface that faces inward sideways toward a second side of the housing. At least a portion of the inside surface is angled inward sideways from front to rear permitting contact between the inside surface and an electrical connector in the image forming device to draw the electrical connector in the image forming device inward sideways relative to the replaceable unit during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Keith Payne, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 10223716
    Abstract: A method of charging a customer for using a software program product that processes one or more documents that includes receiving, by a tracking server from at least one client application, information relating to a processing of a document using the software program product; determining if the information indicates a successful processing of the document; and upon positive determination, charging the customer with an amount for the successful processing of the document using the software program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Sterling Anson Moore, Norman Erik Stang
  • Patent number: 10222740
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a housing having first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the housing, respectively, and that run along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Third and fourth alignment guides extend outward from the first side of the housing. The third alignment guide is spaced toward the front of the housing from the fourth alignment guide. Bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are unobstructed to sit on top of a corresponding guide surface in an image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device. The bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are aligned with each other in a vertical dimension of the housing and are positioned higher than the first and second alignment guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Jeremy Keith Payne, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 10216141
    Abstract: An imaging device having a fuser and print engine architecture that enables complete interchangeability between fuser types with a common print engine. The imaging device has a frame configured to separately receive a first fuser assembly of a first fuser type and a second fuser assembly of a second fuser type different from the first fuser type. The first fuser assembly includes a first fuser frame having a first datum tab. The second fuser assembly includes a second fuser frame having a second datum tab. The frame of the imaging device has a datum aperture that is sized to receive the first datum tab that when inserted into the datum aperture, causes the first fuser assembly to be positioned at a first operative position, and the second datum tab that when inserted into the datum aperture, causes the second fuser assembly to be positioned at a second operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Karen Elaine Ballman, Patrick Wayne Carr, Jr., Gregory Daniel Creteau, Clark Edward Jarnagin, Donald Eugene Proffitt, Edward Alan Rush, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 10212300
    Abstract: Magnetic keys having a plurality of magnetic plates are disclosed. The location and orientation of the magnetic plates are controlled to generate magnetic fields that are of sufficient strength to be reliably read and sufficient complexity to be difficult to counterfeit. The magnetic keys are located on imaging-device supply items along with non-volatile memory devices containing measurements of the magnetic fields that are digitally signed. These supply items are difficult to counterfeit. Other devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Steven Cannon, Gary Allen Denton, Graydon Randall Dodson, Keith Bryan Hardin
  • Patent number: 10203628
    Abstract: A toner agitator assembly according to one example embodiment includes a shaft rotatable about a rotational axis. A wiper extends outward from the shaft and is rotatable with the shaft. The wiper is composed of a flexible film material. The wiper includes at least two fingers formed in a distal end of the wiper relative to the shaft. The fingers are individually deflectable counter to an operative rotational direction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 10197964
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An electrical connector mounted on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. In the retracted position, the electrical connector is tucked into a portion of the housing. In the operative position, the electrical connector is exposed to permit the electrical contact to contact the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. A linkage is operatively connected to the electrical connector and includes an engagement surface accessible on an exterior of the housing to receive an actuation force. Movement of the linkage moves the electrical connector between the retracted position and the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 10197938
    Abstract: An imaging device has a photoconductive drum with a surface that is charged and selectively discharged to create a latent electrostatic image of an image to-be-printed for attracting toner for transfer to a media. A memory of the imaging device stores energy density values for use by the laser beam that can be accessed by a controller according to a predetermined number of media imaged by the photoconductive drum. During imaging, the controller controls the laser beam based on the stored energy density values. The energy density of the laser beam is increased or decreased when the laser beam is scanned along the photoconductive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Wesley Brown, Mark Edwin Kirtley Lund, Steven Alan Seng
  • Patent number: 10197944
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An outlet port faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A linkage is positioned on the first side of the housing and has an engagement surface that is accessible at the rear of the housing. A projection is positioned on the first side of the housing and is movable between a first position and a second position. The projection is operatively connected to the linkage such that the projection moves upward from the first position to the second position when the engagement surface receives a forward force that is toward the front of the housing. The projection extends outward sideways from the first side when the projection is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuestro Bayubay, Salvador Capurihan Bonanciar, Brian Scott Carpenter, Donato Austria Marmol, Robert Watson McAlpine, Katrina Rosit Lactuan
  • Patent number: 10185285
    Abstract: A common media redrive system for use with either a hot roll fuser assembly and a belt roll fuser assembly installed an imaging device. The redrive systems includes an access door movable between a raised closed and a lowered open position. The access door has a media path channel and a deflector mounted over the channel. The deflector has a pivotable gate and includes upper and lower media guide members forming a media entrance and two exits for directing a media sheet from the fuser assembly exits to an output area and duplex path portion, respectively, via the gate and the first and second exits, respectively. A pair of media exit guide portions cantilever from the rear portion of the fuser assembly. The lower media guide members includes a pair of cutouts that receive the pair of media exit guide portions when the access door is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Elaine Ballman, Gregory Daniel Creteau, Donald Eugene Proffitt, II
  • Patent number: D841730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Daniel Anderson, Jr., Masahito Cho, Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Robert Watson McAlpine, Jeremy Keith Payne, Matthew Lee Rogers
  • Patent number: D842864
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Ruel Gutierrez Novabos, Shane Daffodil Lorio Alfaro, Alexander Campos Gocotano
  • Patent number: D842865
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Ruel Gutierrez Novabos, Shane Daffodil Lorio Alfaro, Alexander Campos Gocotano
  • Patent number: D844050
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Karl Michael Rodrigo Dela Cruz, Alexander Campos Gocotano, Scott Allan Kendall, Neilson Gutay Navarrete, Charles Ruel Gutierrez Novabos
  • Patent number: D844051
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Karl Michael Rodrigo Dela Cruz, Alexander Campos Gocotano, Scott Allan Kendall, Neilson Gutay Navarrete, Charles Ruel Gutierrez Novabos