Abstract: A modular mounting for a computer motherboard. An outer cabinet is designed to provide a protective enclosure for electrical components, and designed to permit throughhole drilling to facilitate mounting on a wall while avoiding disturbance of contents to be mounted within the outer cabinet. A subpanel plate is designed to detachably and securely attach a computer motherboard and cage assembly, and designed to removably mount the motherboard and cage assembly within the outer cabinet as a modular component, mounting of the motherboard and cage assembly being independent of power supply and nonvolatile storage. An inner cage is designed to protectably mount and enclose a computer motherboard and heat sink, and mount to the subpanel plate. A multipole switch may have a set of contacts for each conductor of a network cable entering the outer cabinet, one throw of the switch connecting all conductors of the cable, another throw of the switch disconnecting all contacts of the cable.

Abstract: A modular mounting for a computer motherboard. An outer cabinet is designed to provide a protective enclosure for electrical components, and designed to permit throughhole drilling to facilitate mounting on a wall while avoiding disturbance of contents to be mounted within the outer cabinet. A subpanel plate is designed to detachably and securely attach a computer motherboard and cage assembly, and designed to removably mount the motherboard and cage assembly within the outer cabinet as a modular component, mounting of the motherboard and cage assembly being independent of power supply and nonvolatile storage. An inner cage is designed to protectably mount and enclose a computer motherboard and heat sink, and mount to the subpanel plate. A multipole switch may have a set of contacts for each conductor of a network cable entering the outer cabinet, one throw of the switch connecting all conductors of the cable, another throw of the switch disconnecting all contacts of the cable.

Abstract: A modular mounting for a computer motherboard. An outer cabinet is designed to provide a protective enclosure for electrical components, and designed to permit throughhole drilling to facilitate mounting on a wall while avoiding disturbance of contents to be mounted within the outer cabinet. A subpanel plate is designed to detachably and securely attach a computer motherboard and cage assembly, and designed to removably mount the motherboard and cage assembly within the outer cabinet as a modular component, mounting of the motherboard and cage assembly being independent of power supply and nonvolatile storage. An inner cage is designed to protectably mount and enclose a computer motherboard and heat sink, and mount to the subpanel plate. A multipole switch may have a set of contacts for each conductor of a network cable entering the outer cabinet, one throw of the switch connecting all conductors of the cable, another throw of the switch disconnecting all contacts of the cable.

Abstract: A modular mounting for a computer motherboard. An outer cabinet is designed to provide a protective enclosure for electrical components, and designed to permit throughhole drilling to facilitate mounting on a wall while avoiding disturbance of contents to be mounted within the outer cabinet. A subpanel plate is designed to detachably and securely attach a computer motherboard and cage assembly, and designed to removably mount the motherboard and cage assembly within the outer cabinet as a modular component, mounting of the motherboard and cage assembly being independent of power supply and nonvolatile storage. An inner cage is designed to protectably mount and enclose a computer motherboard and heat sink, and mount to the subpanel plate. A multipole switch may have a set of contacts for each conductor of a network cable entering the outer cabinet, one throw of the switch connecting all conductors of the cable, another throw of the switch disconnecting all contacts of the cable.

Abstract: The present application is directed to devices and methods for moving media sheets within an image forming device. In one embodiment, the device includes a support floor to support the media sheet. Wear members may be positioned across a width of the support floor and include a height to extend outward from the floor. Further, support members may be positioned across the floor and have a height to also extend outward from the floor. The wear members and the support members support the media sheet as it moves along the media path. The heights of the wear members and the support members are such to prevent the media sheet from buckling being a certain amount and preventing media jams.

Abstract: An image forming device with one or more door assemblies that engage locking mechanisms to secure a module in an operating position. The module may be coupled to one of the one or more door assemblies. A first locking mechanism may secure the module to the image forming device body when a first door assembly is closed. A second locking mechanism may secure the module to the body with a greater securing force than the first locking mechanism to secure the module to the body. The second locking mechanism may be engaged upon closing a second door assembly. Separate biasing members may be used to apply the securing forces. The locking mechanisms may comprise four-bar or over-center mechanisms to apply the securing forces.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device to move waste toner within an image forming device. In one embodiment, waste toner is formed during the image formation process. The waste toner is captured and moved through a first conduit. The conduit includes an outlet for passing the waste toner to a second conduit. The door is positionable between an open orientation to allow the waste toner to discharge into the second conduit, and a closed orientation. The second conduit includes an inlet for receiving the waste toner. The interface between the first and second conduits allows for the door to move between the open and closed orientations. The interface also greatly reduces or prevents the waste toner from leaking as it passes from the first conduit into the second conduit.

Abstract: Devices and methods for directing a media sheet along a media path within an image forming apparatus. The media path comprises rollers that form a media nip, one or more deflectors, and a transport belt. The media nip conveys the media sheet along the media path into one or more deflectors. The one or more deflectors are positioned between the nip and the transport belt. The one or more deflectors control the angle of the media sheet as it approaches the transport belt and facilitates attachment of the media sheet to the transport belt. The transport belt then moves the media sheet past one or more image forming units and receives a toner image.

Abstract: An image forming device having a body that receives a removable media input tray. The media input tray comprises a manual feed section and an input tray section each for feeding a media sheet to an aligner nip. The manual feed section includes a channel through which a user slides a media sheet into a main media path. The input tray section includes a space for holding a stack of media sheets that are individually picked and moved into the main media path.

Abstract: An image forming device determines a plurality of conditions in the device. In one embodiment, a signal source positioned downstream from a media input tray emits a signal. The signal reflects off of a reflective member and is received by a detector. Based on the amounts of the signal detected by the detector, a controller can determine a media input tray condition and a media sheet condition.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus containing a plurality of rollers disposed with generally parallel axes, a retraction plate containing a plurality of rotational couplings is movable between engaged and retracted positions. Each rotational coupling is operative to transmit a rotary force to each cartridge when the retraction plate is in the engaged position. The couplings move laterally in an axial direction of the rollers as the retraction plate moves between the engaged and retracted positions, in response to an applied force. In one embodiment, the retraction plate is rotated about a pivot point to move the couplings between engaged and retracted positions. In another embodiment, the retraction plate is translated laterally in the axial direction of the couplings.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises a drive roller having a textured finish with a plurality of microscopic protrusions and a plurality of microscopic depressions; the drive roller comprising a shaft and a surface coating on the shaft; a flexible belt having a first hardness driven by the drive roller, the belt moving at least one of a toner image or a recording media having a toner image thereon; with the surface coating comprising a base compound and plurality of grit particles having a second hardness which is higher than the first hardness. The grit coating may advantageously have a thickness of not more than about 50 microns. The grit particles may comprise one or more ceramics, or one or more polymer compounds, or other materials. The drive roller advantageously has a coefficient of static friction of at least 0.5 with the belt.

Abstract: A door assembly movably positioned to a body of an image forming device. The door assembly includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame is movably attached to the body, and the second frame is movably attached to the first frame. The movable connections between the frames and the main body cause accurate locating of a photoconductive member mounted on the door assembly within the body. In one embodiment, a contour surface within the body contacts the second frame to locate the second frame within the body. Methods of moving the door assembly are also disclosed including moving the door assembly from an open orientation that is spaced from the body, to a closed orientation that is in proximity to the body. The movement of the door assembly causes interaction between the frames and the body to accurately locate the second frame.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a subunit movable between closed and open positions, the nip between media alignment rollers is opened automatically when the subunit is opened. A drive roller and a backup roller are disposed in a housing, wherein the bearing holding the backup roller is segmented. A rear segment is disposed on a flexible arm, and is biased towards the front segment, biasing the backup roller to contact the drive roller to form a nip for bump alignment of media sheets. A bell crank engages a rotary member or rotary member frame mounted on the subunit when the subunit is closed. When the subunit is opened, the bell crank disengages the member, pivoting a link member having a cam surface and engaging the cam surface against a cam follower surface on the housing, forcing the backup roller to a position spaced apart from the drive roller.

Abstract: An image forming device having a main body and a movable subunit. The subunit is movable between a first orientation and a second orientation. A developer member is positioned within the main body, and a photoconductive member is positioned on the subunit. In the first orientation, the developer member and photoconductive member are spaced apart. In the second orientation, the photoconductive member is positioned either in contact with or closely located to the developer member. Image formation occurs when the subunit is in the second orientation as toner is transferred from the developer member to the photoconductive member. Methods of using the image forming device include positioning the developer member in the main body and the photoconductive member on the subunit, and moving the subunit from a first orientation to a second orientation such that image formation can occur.

Abstract: A device and method for moving media sheets within an image forming apparatus. The device includes a motor; a pick mechanism operatively connected to the motor, a first gear set having a first ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the pick mechanism, a feed nip operatively connected to the motor to receive the media sheet and forward the media sheet along a media path, and a second gear set having a second gear ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the feed nip. The motor may operate at a constant speed and drive the pick mechanism at a first speed and the feed nip at a second speed. The first and second speeds may be the same, or the speeds may be different.

Abstract: A removable media tray for an image forming apparatus includes a housing, an exit port in the housing, a primary media stack, and a multi-purpose tray (MPT) input. Within the tray are first and second pick mechanisms operative to select a media sheet from the primary stack or MPT stack, respectively, and move the media sheet to the image forming apparatus through the exit port. A motor is disposed within the tray housing, and first and second drive assemblies operatively connect the motor to the first and second pick mechanisms, respectively. The motor drives the first pick mechanism forward by rotating in one direction, and drives the second pick mechanism forward by rotating in the opposite direction. A media sensor in the exit port senses media sheets from a variety of sources, including the primary media stack, the MPT stack, a duplex return path, or a large-capacity media sheet supply.

Abstract: An inkjet printer for printing on a print medium having an obverse side and a reverse side, including a rotating intermediate transfer member for receiving a print image and transferring the print image to the obverse side of the print medium and a rotating drag force applicator located proximate to and defining a nip with the intermediate transfer member, the drag force applicator being configured for applying a drag force to the reverse side of the print medium in the nip.