Patents by Inventor Brian Scott Carpenter

Brian Scott Carpenter 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).

  • Patent number: 9477176
    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: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    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: 9477178
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a toner cartridge removably installable in the image forming device. The toner cartridge has a reservoir for storing toner and an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge has a shutter that is movable between a closed position blocking the outlet port and an open position unblocking the outlet port. A sensor is positioned to detect whether the shutter is in the closed position or the open position when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuestro Bayubay, Salvador Capurihan Bonanciar, Brian Scott Carpenter, Donato Austria Marmol, Robert Watson McAlpine
  • Publication number: 20160299456
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device includes a toner channel having an outlet port positioned on a housing that includes a flexible member that allows the housing and the outlet port to move within the image forming device. A shutter is positioned on the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. A replaceable unit includes a toner reservoir and an inlet port. The inlet port is formed on an extension from the replaceable unit. Upon insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device, the extension is closely and matably received by the housing and the outlet port aligns with the inlet port permitting toner transfer from the toner channel to the replaceable unit. Insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device causes the shutter to open and removal of the replaceable unit from the image forming device causes the shutter to close.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: James Daniel Anderson, JR., Charles Alan Bast, Brian Scott Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20160299466
    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 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: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: BRIAN SCOTT CARPENTER, ROBERT WATSON MCALPINE
  • Patent number: 9436126
    Abstract: A developer unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a roll mounted thereon that is configured to supply toner from a reservoir in the housing to a photoconductive drum. The housing extends along an axial dimension of the roll from a front end to a rear end of the housing. A toner inlet port is in fluid communication with the reservoir and formed in an extension from the top of the housing near the front end of the housing. A ramp is positioned on the top of the front end of the housing. The ramp is positioned in front of the extension and vertically below the toner inlet port and is aligned in a side-to-side dimension of the housing with the toner inlet port. The ramp includes an inclined surface that inclines upward as the inclined surface extends rearward relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Daniel Anderson, Jr., Charles Alan Bast, Brian Scott Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20160246248
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a housing having 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. A projection is positioned on an exterior of the top of the housing. The projection is aligned with a point in a path of movement of the magnet in the reservoir. The projection 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: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventor: BRIAN SCOTT CARPENTER
  • Patent number: 9417661
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing and a display module. The display module can include a protective top glass cover that is bonded to a plastic display frame and surrounded by a seal frame. The display module can also include a display panel and its associated circuitry suspended from the display frame below the protective glass cover. The display module is coupled to the single piece housing using mounting clips in a manner that allows the display module to move relative to the single piece housing during an impact event. The plastic display frame can include inserts that provide structural support near openings in the single piece housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Joshua D. Banko, Jonathan Ternus, Matthew B. Morris, Peter M. Thompson, Kevin Gibbs, Timothy G. Van Vorhis, Martin B. Adamcyk, Arthur J. Lucchesi, Brian Scott Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9417600
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a housing having 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. A projection is positioned on an exterior of the top of the housing. The projection is aligned with a point in a path of movement of the magnet in the reservoir. The projection 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: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Scott Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9389582
    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 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: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Robert Watson McAlpine
  • Patent number: 9360797
    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: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    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: 9335656
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a replaceable unit having a reservoir for storing toner and a rotatable shaft positioned within the reservoir. The replaceable unit has a first magnet and a second magnet connected to the shaft and rotatable around an axis of rotation of the shaft in response to rotation of 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. A sensor is positioned to sense the first magnet and the second magnet at a point in their rotational paths. A processor is in electronic communication with the sensor and configured to determine an angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet and to adjust an estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir based on the determined angular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Robert Watson McAlpine, Jason Carl True
  • Patent number: 9291989
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a housing having 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: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Scott Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20160077466
    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: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Robert Watson McAlpine, Michael Craig Leemhuis
  • Patent number: 9280084
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a replaceable unit having a toner reservoir, a rotatable shaft positioned within the reservoir and a magnet in the reservoir movable in response to rotation of the shaft. A magnetic sensor is supported by a housing that is mounted to a stationary frame of the image forming device. The housing is movable relative to the stationary frame between an operating position of the magnetic sensor and a home position. In the operating position, the magnetic sensor is positioned to sense the magnet during rotation of the shaft. In the home position, the housing is positioned in a path of insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device and the replaceable unit contacts and moves the housing from the home position to the operating position during installation of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Scott Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20150346681
    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 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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Robert Watson McAlpine
  • Publication number: 20150346632
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a replaceable unit having a reservoir for storing toner and a rotatable shaft positioned within the reservoir. The replaceable unit has a first magnet and a second magnet connected to the shaft and rotatable around an axis of rotation of the shaft in response to rotation of 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. A sensor is positioned to sense the first magnet and the second magnet at a point in their rotational paths. A processor is in electronic communication with the sensor and configured to determine an angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet and to adjust an estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir based on the determined angular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Robert Watson McAlpine, Jason Carl True
  • Publication number: 20150169004
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing and a display module. The display module can include a protective top glass cover that is bonded to a plastic display frame and surrounded by a seal frame. The display module can also include a display panel and its associated circuitry suspended from the display frame below the protective glass cover. The display module is coupled to the single piece housing using mounting clips in a manner that allows the display module to move relative to the single piece housing during an impact event. The plastic display frame can include inserts that provide structural support near openings in the single piece housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Joshua D. Banko, Jonathan Ternus, Matthew B. Morris, Peter M. Thompson, Kevin Gibbs, Timothy G. Van Vorhis, Martin B. Adamcyk, Arthur J. Lucchesi, Brian Scott Carpenter