Patents Assigned to Lexmark International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9989917
    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 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Jeremy Keith Payne, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 9984820
    Abstract: A Z-directed capacitor according to one embodiment includes a body having top, bottom and side surfaces, a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into a mounting hole in a printed circuit board, and a plurality of stacked support members. Each support member includes an annular plate mounted on a surface thereof. A first conductive side channel and a second conductive side channel are formed in the side surface and extend along a top-to-bottom dimension of the body. A first set of the annular plates electrically contact the first conductive side channel but not the second conductive side channel and a second set of the annular plates electrically contact the second conductive side channel but not the first conductive side channel. A third conductive side channel is formed in the side surface, extends along the top-to-bottom dimension of the body and is electrically separated from the annular plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Bryan Hardin, John Thomas Fessler, Paul Kevin Hall, Robert Aaron Oglesbee
  • Patent number: 9983541
    Abstract: A replaceable imaging basket for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a frame having a positioning slot that is open at a top of the frame for receiving a replaceable unit. An electrical connector is positioned on an inner side of the frame adjacent to the positioning slot. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact on a front of the electrical connector that faces the positioning slot. The electrical connector includes a pair of outer guides and a pair of inner guides on opposite sides of the electrical contact. The inner guides are spaced inward from the outer guides. A top portion of a front surface of each of the outer guides tapers rearward away from the positioning slot as they extend upward. A top portion of a rear surface of each of the inner guides tapers forward toward the positioning slot as they extend upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Amann, Gregory Alan Cavill, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, James Richard Leemhuis, Darren Wayne Tosh, David Francis Carter
  • Patent number: 9983508
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a toner cartridge having an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for transferring toner from a reservoir to a developer unit. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force from an actuation feature of an image forming device. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port to engage a shutter on an inlet port of the developer unit. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface protrudes from the front of the housing to engage the shutter of the developer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Andrew Buchanan, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 9983506
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes 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 are detectable by a magnetic sensor when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. A polarity of the first magnet is oriented opposite a polarity of the second magnet relative to the shaft. 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: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Michael Craig Leemhuis, Robert Watson McAlpine
  • Patent number: 9977376
    Abstract: A method for controlling transfer of black color toned images during simplex printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: William Paul Cook
  • Patent number: 9971295
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a toner cartridge having a housing that includes a toner reservoir. An electrical connector 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. The electrical connector and the electrical contact of the toner cartridge move upward toward the top of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the retracted position to the operative position. The electrical contact of the toner cartridge is positioned within a pocket of the electrical connector. The pocket includes an opening that faces upward when the electrical connector is in the operative position permitting the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device to enter the pocket from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 9964891
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an image forming apparatus according to one example embodiment includes a housing and at least one transmissive member positioned on an exterior of the housing. The at least one transmissive member is arranged to receive optical energy from the image forming apparatus and has a transmissivity for modifying an amount of the optical energy that leaves the at least one transmissive member relative to an amount of the optical energy received by the at least one transmissive member. The at least one transmissive member indicates information relating to a characteristic of the replaceable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Douglas Anderson, Christopher Michael Nelson, Brian Keith Owens, Adam Randal Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 9959493
    Abstract: Methods for authenticating printer supply items using revocation lists are disclosed. Revocation lists are updated using DNSSEC to communicate between a printer and a DNS name server. A first domain name is created containing a request for a challenge to an authentication module and sent to the DNS name server. A second domain name is created containing a response to the challenge and sent to the DNS name server. The DNS name server indicates success or failure, which is used to authenticate the printer supply item. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark international Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Adkins, James Ronald Booth, Matthew David Clarke, Graydon Randall Dodson, Joshua Scott Potter
  • Patent number: 9933727
    Abstract: A toner container includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An inlet port is formed on the housing and in fluid communication with the reservoir for receiving toner. A first shutter member and a second shutter member is positioned about the inlet port and are each pivotable between a closed position and an open position. When the first and second shutter members are in the closed positions, respective free ends thereof seal against each other and respective first face portions of the first and second shutter members seal against a perimeter of the inlet port such that the first and second shutter members block the inlet port. When the first and second shutter members are in the open positions, the first and second shutter members are pivoted away from the inlet port unblocking the inlet port. The first and second shutter members are biased toward the closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen Alan Reidhaar
  • Patent number: 9927762
    Abstract: In an imaging device having a photoconductive drum and a lubricant applicator brush, methods and apparatus teach application of the lubricant to the drum at a transfer nip and removing undeveloped toner particles. A first voltage is applied to the drum while the brush receives a voltage that switches more positive and more negative than the first voltage. It attracts to the brush from the drum negatively and positively charged toner. Embodiments contemplate amounts of voltages and frequencies of switching. An elongate rod contacts the brush downstream of the transfer nip to flicker off the toner particles from the brush. The rod can also have voltages applied and switched greater than and lesser than the voltages of the applicator brush to facilitate toner removal. A cleaning blade downstream of the transfer nip scrapes clean a surface of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J Dixon, Pramod K Sharma, Alan S Campbell
  • Patent number: 9929864
    Abstract: A rotating magnetic physical unclonable function (PUF) is disclosed. Rotating the PUF enables robust low cost PUF readers. PUF may be incorporated into a user-replaceable supply item for an imaging device. A PUF reader may be incorporated into an imaging device to read the PUF. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Ronald Booth, Roger Steven Cannon, Gary Allen Denton, James Paul Drummond, Kelly Ann Killeen
  • Patent number: 9927763
    Abstract: An imaging device with a two door interlock system for detecting a positional state of orthogonally mounted first and second access doors of the imaging device. The two door interlock system includes a mounting assembly rotatably mounted to a frame of the imaging device and movable by the first access door between a first position and a second position, and an actuator projecting from an inner surface of the second access door, and a sensor positioned on the mounting assembly and providing an output signal that changes between a first state and a second state. The output signal being in the first state when both of the first and second access doors are in their respective closed positions and in the second state when at least one of the first and second access doors are in their respective open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Edwin Domhoff, Paul Douglas Horrall, Alan T. Pullins
  • Patent number: 9927765
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device includes a replaceable unit that has a reservoir for holding toner. A circuit board is mounted within a pocket on a first side of a housing of the replaceable unit. The pocket has an opening facing a front of the housing to permit an electrical connector of the image forming device to enter the pocket and mate with the circuit board when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. A first guide wall and a second guide wall are each positioned outside the pocket on the first side of the housing closer to the front of the housing than the opening. Inclined surfaces of the first and second guide walls are angled to move the electrical connector of the image forming device toward the circuit board during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Amann, James Anthany Carter, II, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, Matthew Jeremy Litman, Matthew Lee Rogers, Keith Seaman
  • Patent number: 9927727
    Abstract: A method to make an improved organic photoconductor drum of an electrophotographic image forming device is provided. The improved organic photoconductor drum is prepared using a curable composition including a 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: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Weimei Luo, David Glenn Black, Mark Thomas Bellino
  • Patent number: 9921522
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a toner cartridge having a housing that defines a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on the front of the housing near a first side. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir includes a main interface gear exposed on the front of the housing near the top of the second side. A rearward facing opening is exposed at the rear of the housing near the first side of the housing for receiving a first engagement feature in an image forming device. A forward facing opening is exposed at the front of the housing near the first side of the housing for receiving a second engagement feature in the image forming device. The forward facing opening overlaps with the rearward facing in a side-to-side dimension of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjer Albaran Acosta, James Anthany Carter, II, Gary Neal Hackney, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, James Richard Leemhuis, Keith Seaman, Bryan Christopher Scharf, Matthew Lee Rogers, Christohper Gene Vowels, Jason Hale, Mark William Amann, Benjamin Keith Newman, Harald Portig, Rodney Evan Sproul
  • Patent number: 9922276
    Abstract: Component circuitry for a replaceable printer component, including a dynamic address generator which selectively generates component addresses, wherein substantially immediately following an event, the component circuitry performs in succession a plurality of sets of operations, each set of operations including receiving an address change request from a master and generating a new component address by the dynamic address generator in response, a last one of the new component addresses generated being available as the component address for the component circuitry in one or more subsequent communications with the master.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary Nathan Fister, Gregory Scott Woods
  • Patent number: 9921540
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device includes a replaceable unit that has a housing having an internal reservoir for storing toner. A circuit board retainer is positioned on an exterior surface of the housing. The retainer includes a top having an undersurface having first and second supports extending away from the undersurface of the top toward a bottom of the retainer. A mounting platform is positioned on the undersurface of the top intermediate the first and second supports and spaced apart from the bottom of the retainer. A circuit board is mounted on the mounting platform. The top and the first and second supports form an opening at the front of the retainer sized to receive an electrical connector of the image forming device for mating with the circuit board when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Amann, James Anthany Carter, II, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, Matthew Jeremy Litman, Matthew Lee Rogers, Keith Seaman
  • Patent number: 9917699
    Abstract: A physical unclonable function (PUF) imaged through two faces is disclosed. The PUF is difficult to counterfeit because the view through both faces must be duplicated for a successful counterfeit. PUF may be incorporated into a user-replaceable supply item for an imaging device. A PUF reader may be incorporated into an imaging device to read the PUF. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Ronald Booth, Roger Steven Cannon, Gary Allen Denton, James Paul Drummond, Kelly Ann Killeen
  • Patent number: 9915894
    Abstract: An electrographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes toner cartridge having a housing that includes 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: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuestro Bayubay, Salvador Capurihan Bonanciar, Brian Scott Carpenter, Donato Austria Marmol, Robert Watson McAlpine, Katrina Rosit Lactuan