Patents by Inventor James Richard Leemhuis

James Richard Leemhuis 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).

  • Publication number: 20210263464
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: JAMES RICHARD LEEMHUIS, KYLE BRADLEY MARTIN
  • Patent number: 11036177
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Richard Leemhuis, Kyle Bradley Martin
  • Publication number: 20210157264
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example includes first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the toner cartridge, respectively, for positioning the toner cartridge. The first and second alignment guides define a pivot axis about which the toner cartridge is pivotable relative to an imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit. An engagement member is positioned on a rear of the toner cartridge for receiving a bias force for biasing the toner cartridge about the pivot axis when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit. The engagement member is positioned next to the bottom of the housing. The engagement member includes an angled contact surface that faces upward and rearward for contacting a corresponding hold-down on the imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: BRIAN SCOTT CARPENTER, GREGORY ALAN CAVILL, JAMES RICHARD LEEMHUIS, JEFFREY LAWRENCE TONGES
  • Patent number: 10942486
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example includes first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the toner cartridge, respectively, for positioning the toner cartridge. The first and second alignment guides define a pivot axis about which the toner cartridge is pivotable relative to an imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit. An engagement member is positioned on a rear of the toner cartridge for receiving a bias force for biasing the toner cartridge about the pivot axis when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit. The engagement member is positioned next to the bottom of the housing. The engagement member includes an angled contact surface that faces upward and rearward for contacting a corresponding hold-down on the imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Gregory Alan Cavill, James Richard Leemhuis, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges
  • Publication number: 20210003962
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example includes first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the toner cartridge, respectively, for positioning the toner cartridge. The first and second alignment guides define a pivot axis about which the toner cartridge is pivotable relative to an imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit. An engagement member is positioned on a rear of the toner cartridge for receiving a bias force for biasing the toner cartridge about the pivot axis when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit. The engagement member is positioned next to the bottom of the housing. The engagement member includes an angled contact surface that faces upward and rearward for contacting a corresponding hold-down on the imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: BRIAN SCOTT CARPENTER, GREGORY ALAN CAVILL, JAMES RICHARD LEEMHUIS, JEFFREY LAWRENCE TONGES
  • Publication number: 20200371469
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device and a magnetic sensor electrically connected to the electrical contact. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves from a retracted position to an operative position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the magnetic sensor moves from a misaligned position to an aligned position with a point in a path of movement of a magnet for sensing a magnetic field of the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: JAMES RICHARD LEEMHUIS, RANDAL SCOTT WILLIAMSON
  • Publication number: 20200356044
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: JAMES RICHARD LEEMHUIS, KYLE BRADLEY MARTIN
  • Patent number: 10809661
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example includes first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the toner cartridge, respectively, for positioning the toner cartridge. The first and second alignment guides define a pivot axis about which the toner cartridge is pivotable relative to an imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit. An engagement member is positioned on a rear of the toner cartridge for receiving a bias force for biasing the toner cartridge about the pivot axis when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit. The engagement member is positioned next to the bottom of the housing. The engagement member includes an angled contact surface that faces upward and rearward for contacting a corresponding hold-down on the imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Gregory Alan Cavill, James Richard Leemhuis, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges
  • Patent number: 10775737
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device and a magnetic sensor electrically connected to the electrical contact. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves from a retracted position to an operative position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the magnetic sensor moves from a misaligned position to an aligned position with a point in a path of movement of a magnet for sensing a magnetic field of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Richard Leemhuis, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 10761476
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: James Richard Leemhuis, Kyle Bradley Martin
  • Patent number: 10725424
    Abstract: An assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a toner cartridge and an imaging unit. Contact between first and second guide posts of the toner cartridge and first and second alignment guides of the imaging unit define a pivot axis about which the toner cartridge is pivotable relative to the imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit. Contact between an engagement member of the toner cartridge and a hold-down of the imaging unit biases the toner cartridge about the pivot axis relative to the imaging unit and biases a developer roll of the toner cartridge against a photoconductive drum of the imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Gregory Alan Cavill, James Richard Leemhuis, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges
  • Patent number: 10698363
    Abstract: An imaging unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a rotatable photoconductive drum. A frame at a rear of the housing is positioned to matably receive a toner cartridge and is open to a portion of an outer surface of the photoconductive drum. An electrical contact is positioned along a first side wall of the frame for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device and is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. The electrical contact of the imaging unit faces upward and is unobstructed from above. A cam surface is positioned along an inner side of the first side wall of the frame for contacting an electrical connector of the toner cartridge and moving the electrical connector of the toner cartridge from a retracted position to an operative position upon mating of the toner cartridge with the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, James Richard Leemhuis
  • Patent number: 10649399
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device and a magnetic sensor electrically connected to the electrical contact. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves from a retracted position to an operative position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the magnetic sensor moves from a misaligned position to an aligned position with a point in a path of movement of a magnet for sensing a magnetic field of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Lexmark Internatioanl, Inc.
    Inventors: James Richard Leemhuis, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 10649389
    Abstract: An assembly for an image forming device includes a first replaceable unit and a second replaceable unit matable with the first replaceable unit. One of the first and second replaceable units includes a reservoir for storing toner and the other of the first and second replaceable units is configured to receive toner from the one of the first and second replaceable units. An electrical connector on the first replaceable unit is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector on the first replaceable unit includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device when the electrical connector is in the operative position. A cam on the second replaceable unit is positioned to engage the electrical connector and to cause the electrical connector to move from the retracted position to the operative position when the first and second replaceable units mate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Gregory Alan Cavill, James Richard Leemhuis
  • Patent number: 10444661
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. A resiliently deflectable cam is positioned on an exterior portion of the housing to contact a media feed roll assembly when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device for biasing the media feed roll assembly into contact with a corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device to form a media feed nip in the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Cavill, Jason Paul Hale, James Richard Leemhuis, David Lee Merrifield, Matthew Lee Rogers, Daniel Lee Thomas, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 10401785
    Abstract: A replaceable imaging unit according to one example embodiment includes a photoconductor unit positioned at the front of a housing of the imaging unit. First and second alignment guides extend outward at the same height from first and second sides of the housing, respectively, on the photoconductor unit and run parallel to each other along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Each of the first and second alignment guides includes a front contact member at a front end thereof and a rear contact member at a rear end thereof. The front contact members are positioned further outward sideways than the rear contact members. Bottom surfaces of the front and rear contact members are unobstructed to permit the bottom surfaces of the front and rear contact members to sit on top of corresponding guide rails in the image forming device to control a vertical position of the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Jason Paul Hale, James Richard Leemhuis, Matthew Lee Rogers, Daniel Joshua Smith, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Publication number: 20190121256
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. A resiliently deflectable cam is positioned on an exterior portion of the housing to contact a media feed roll assembly when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device for biasing the media feed roll assembly into contact with a corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device to form a media feed nip in the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: GREGORY ALAN CAVILL, JASON PAUL HALE, JAMES RICHARD LEEMHUIS, DAVID LEE MERRIFIELD, MATTHEW LEE ROGERS, DANIEL LEE THOMAS, RANDAL SCOTT WILLIAMSON
  • Publication number: 20190121277
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A rotatable media feed roll is mounted on the housing and is positioned to engage a corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device for forming a media feed nip with the corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: GREGORY ALAN CAVILL, JASON PAUL HALE, JAMES RICHARD LEEMHUIS, DAVID LEE MERRIFIELD, MATTHEW LEE ROGERS, DANIEL LEE THOMAS, EDWARD LYNN TRIPLETT, RANDAL SCOTT WILLIAMSON
  • Publication number: 20190101862
    Abstract: A replaceable imaging unit according to one example embodiment includes a photoconductor unit positioned at the front of a housing of the imaging unit. First and second alignment guides extend outward at the same height from first and second sides of the housing, respectively, on the photoconductor unit and run parallel to each other along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Each of the first and second alignment guides includes a front contact member at a front end thereof and a rear contact member at a rear end thereof. The front contact members are positioned further outward sideways than the rear contact members. Bottom surfaces of the front and rear contact members are unobstructed to permit the bottom surfaces of the front and rear contact members to sit on top of corresponding guide rails in the image forming device to control a vertical position of the imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: BRIAN SCOTT CARPENTER, JASON PAUL HALE, JAMES RICHARD LEEMHUIS, MATTHEW LEE ROGERS, DANIEL JOSHUA SMITH, EDWARD LYNN TRIPLETT
  • Patent number: 10185247
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. A rotatable media feed roll is positioned on an exterior portion of the housing to engage a corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device for forming a media feed nip with the corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Paul Hale, James Richard Leemhuis, David Lee Merrifield, Matthew Lee Rogers, Daniel Lee Thomas, Randal Scott Williamson