Abstract: A sealing member for an image forming device as well as an apparatus and method of locating components within a printing device. The image forming device may include laser printers, ink-jet printers, copiers, faxes, all-in-one devices or multifunctional devices.

Abstract: A bi-polar plate is provided for a fuel cell stack. The bi-polar plate has improved surface wettability. The bi-polar plate includes a body including at least approximately ninety percent by weight of a metal and defining at least one flow channel. At least about 0.05 percent and up to 100 percent by weight of silicon is disposed on a surface of the at least one flow channel to form a high energy surface to form a high energy surface for the bi-polar plate. This can be achieved by adding from 0.5 to 10 weight % silicon to the steel. The percent of silicon is pre-determined based on a desired wettability of the high energy surface of the at least one flow channel.

Abstract: A magnetic filter device capable of separating contaminant material from a working fluid. The device includes an inlet to allow fluid to flow into the device and an outlet to allow fluid to flow out of the device. The filter further includes an elongate magnetic core comprising at least four columns of magnets. At least two magnetic columns include a north polarity extending over the length of the columns and at least two columns have a south polarity extending substantially the length of the columns. The four columns are positioned lengthways around a central longitudinal axis of the core in alternating north and south polarity thereby generating a magnetic field of alternating high and low field intensity in the region around the magnetic core exterior.

Abstract: Fuel cells are provided that are at least partially resistant to corrosion, including the use of components that are comprised of materials that are at least partially resistant to corrosion. The fuel cells include subgasket materials and designs, involving geometric arrangements of the subgasket that reduce oxygen permeation from, the cathode to the anode side of the membranes and/or hydrogen permeation from the anode to the cathode side of the membranes. In addition to using protonically non-conductive subgasket materials with lower oxygen and/or hydrogen permeabilities, versus ionomeric subgaskets which are protonically conducting and have high O2 permeation rates, the elimination of the microporous layer (e.g., coated onto the diffusion medium) directly beneath the permeable subgasket materials will also reduce production of corrosive species. The elimination of direct contact between the bipolar plate material surface and PFSA ionomer membrane material also prevents corrosion to the metal bipolar plates.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a hydrophilic electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and a method of making, and system for using, the hydrophilic electrically conductive fluid distribution plate. In at least one embodiment, the plate comprises a plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, and a composite conductive coating having a water contact angle of less than 40° adhered to the plate body. In at least one embodiment, the composite coating comprises a polymeric conductive layer adhered to the plate body having an exterior surface, and a particulate carbon layer adhered to the exterior surface of the polymeric conductive layer.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and a method of making, and system for using, the electrically conductive fluid distribution plate. In at least one embodiment, the plate comprises a plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, and a polymeric porous conductive layer proximate the plate body, with the porous conductive layer having a porosity sufficient to result in a water contact angle of the surface of less than 40°.

Abstract: A flow field plate for a fuel cell that includes an outer layer of a metal oxide or other material that makes the plate hydrophilic. The particular metal oxide and the thickness of the metal oxide layer are selected so that hydrofluoric acid generated by the fuel cell continuously etches away the layer at a predetermined rate so that a surface of the layer is free of contaminants over the entire life of the fuel cell. If the fuel cell does not employ a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane, then a separate hydrofluoric acid source can be provided that injects a low level solution of hydrofluoric acid into one or both of the reactant gas streams.

Abstract: A flow field plate for a fuel cell that includes a metal oxide coating that makes the plate hydrophilic. In one embodiment, the metal oxide coating is a thin film to maintain the conductive properties of the flow field plate. The metal oxide can be combined with a conductive oxide. According to another embodiment, the metal oxide coating is deposited as islands on the flow field plate so that the flow field plate is exposed between the islands. According to another embodiment, lands between the flow channels are polished to remove the metal oxide layer and expose the flow field plate. According to another embodiment, the flow field plate is blasted with alumina so that embedded alumina particles and the roughened surface of the plate provide the hydrophilicity.

Abstract: An apparatus for air conditioning the interior of a structure is shown which can be run entirely off a DC power source, such as a storage battery. A shell and tube heat exchanger is combined with a mechanical refrigeration system to provide a wet shell side and a dry tube side of the apparatus. In the operation of the air conditioner, a mass of distributed water is established on the wet shell side, and a flow of ambient air is passed through the wet shell side to form a resulting stream of moist air. A flow of ambient air is passed through the dry tube side and a resulting stream of dry cooled air is recovered. The streams of most and cooled air can either be combined or routed separately depending primarily upon the humidity of the surrounding environment to be cooled.

Abstract: An improved bipolar plate stainless steel alloy comprises, in weight percent, about 20% to about 30% chromium, about 10% to about 25% nickel, about 1% to about 9 % molybdenum, and up to about 4% copper, where the weight percentage of chromium plus nickel plus molybdenum is greater than about 51 percent. The weight percentage of chromium plus molybdenum may be greater than about 1.66 times the weight percentage of nickel. In addition, the ratio of chromium equivalents to nickel equivalents may be greater than about 1.66.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of efficiently manufacturing fuel cells having coated bipolar plates. The present invention contemplates the laser welding together of individual plates already having a coating thereon to form the bipolar plates that are used in a fuel cell. The laser welding of the coated plates together does not result in sensitization of the plates to a magnitude sufficient to cause an undesirable level of corrosion resistance. This result is achieved regardless of the presence of the organic coating in the region of the plates being welded and regardless of the ablating of the organic coating by the laser beam.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) having an integrated strain gage. In one embodiment, a PCB includes a component footprint suitable for mounting an electronic component. A strain gage is integrated into the PCB in a location under the component footprint. The strain gage includes at least one electrical conductor that is accessible for resistance measurements.

Abstract: In a two piece toner cartridge assembly, as typically used in a computer and/or facsimile printing device, comprising separable photoconductor and developer units a unique coupling device is provided whereby the cartridge assembly may be removed from the printing device without the photoconductor unit separating from the developer unit for paper jam clearance or unit replacement. However, if desired the developer unit may be separately removed from the printing device for servicing or replacement without removal of the photoconductor unit.

Abstract: Gear (52) and resin body (2) supported on shaft (1) and between frame members (14a) and (14b) are protected from contacting a frame member. Frame (14a) has a partial hole (22) with an opening (24) and a cavity (26), which is open at the hole (22) and on the side toward the opening (24). A bearing (18) has a inner body (30) which internally is partially circular with diameter substantially the same as opening (22). The outer portion of body (30) forms an outwardly extending nub (34). Wall (36) extends across body (30). The part (38) of bearing 18 opposite body 30 has an extended part (38a) to serve as an electrical contact. A shaft end (5a) past a circular ledge (3a) is supported by bearing (18). The nub (34) fits in the cavity (26) and the wall (36) defines the proper position of rotation of the bearing. This protects gear (52) from being dislodged from its position on shaft (1).

Abstract: Gear (52) and resin body (2) supported on shaft (1) and between frame members (14a) and (14b) are protected from contacting a frame member. Frame (14a) has a partial hole (22) with an opening (24) and a cavity (26), which is open at the hole (22) and on the side toward the opening (24). A bearing (18) has a inner body (30) which internally is partially circular with diameter substantially the same as opening (22). The outer portion of body (30) forms an outwardly extending nub (34). Wall (36) extends across body (30). The part (38) of bearing 18 opposite body 30 has an extended part (38a) to serve as an electrical contact. A shaft end (Sa) past a circular ledge (3a) is supported by bearing (18). The nub (34) fits in the cavity (26) and the wall (36) defines the proper position of rotation of the bearing. This protects gear (52) from being dislodged from its position on shaft (1).

Abstract: In a two piece toner cartridge assembly, as typically used in a computer and/or facsimile printing device, comprising separable photoconductor and developer units a unique coupling device is provided whereby the cartridge assembly may be removed from the printing device without the photoconductor unit separating from the developer unit for paper jam clearance or unit replacement. However, if desired the developer unit may be separately removed from the printing device for servicing or replacement without removal of the photoconductor unit.

Abstract: Toner usage is measured with good accuracy. Printing tends to darken with the depletion of toner from a source. A toner cartridge employed in a printer (70) has the capability at the cartridge of determining the amount toner used. In an embodiment this is by a torsion spring (60) drive to a toner paddle (3). At turn-on and cover open, the amount of toner is measured at the cartridge (80). That is stored in NVRAM (78) when it is very different from the current amount stored in NVRAM. At certain amount levels observed at the cartridge the amount in NVRAM is revised to the new amount. Between those levels the amount of toner used is tracked by counting pels (94). Use amounts are converted to operating factors in a table (100), and the operating factors are applied to the printer to keep the darkness of printing more constant. Writing to NVRAM is minimized.

Abstract: Toner hopper (1) of a printer (70) has a stirring paddle (3) with an encoder wheel (30, 50) mounted on paddle shaft (5). The drive connection to paddle (3) is through a torsion spring (60). Data processing apparatus determines paddle acceleration or deceleration (90, 94, 98, 102) and executes a table look-up to determine scaled amounts of subsequent movement (92, 96, 100, 104). Steady state movement is a unitary (unscaled) amount (106). These amounts are totaled (93) and used to define yield at the torsion spring, which corresponds to amount of toner in the hopper. This eliminates hardware in previous embodiments at the drive motor to signal actual rotation of the drive motor.

Abstract: Toner exhaustion is sensed in cartridge (1) having a toner chamber (3), a rotation paddle (7) extending across the long dimension. Chamber (3) has a transparent window (21) at its bottom and a reflective surface (23) in chamber (3), also at the bottom. An optical emitter and receiver (31) periodically senses for returned light, which indicates toner low. Paddle (7) carries a wiper to clean window and reflective surface. This provides improved accuracy by a cost-effective system.

Abstract: An article used to seal the interface between the developer roll, doctor blade and developer housing in a laser printer toner cartridge is described. The sealing member described in the present application performs static sealing between the components while the cartridge is idle and performs dynamic sealing while the toner cartridge is used for printing, keeping the sealing surfaces free from toner by actively pushing the toner back into the developer sump. The seal has a rotary seal portion which seals between the frame of the cartridge and the developer roll, and a blade seal portion which seals between the frame of the cartridge and the doctor blade. The rotary seal portion is biased toward the surface of the developer roll and incorporates, on its face adjacent to the developer roll, ridges which act to push the toner away from the edge of the developer roll in use. The blade seal portion is biased toward the doctor blade.