Patents by Inventor Keith Seaman

Keith Seaman 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: 10048623
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A portion of a main interface gear for providing rotational power to a toner delivery system is exposed on the front of the housing near a top of a second side of the housing and engagable with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device. A projection projects from the front of the housing and is spaced from the exit port toward the first side of the housing. The projection extends further forward than a frontmost portion of the exit port. A front of the projection is unobstructed for engaging a shutter on a developer unit when the toner cartridge is inserted into the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 14, 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
  • Publication number: 20180164717
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A portion of a main interface gear for providing rotational power to a toner delivery system is exposed on the front of the housing near a top of a second side of the housing and engagable with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device. A projection projects from the front of the housing and is spaced from the exit port toward the first side of the housing. The projection extends further forward than a frontmost portion of the exit port. A front of the projection is unobstructed for engaging a shutter on a developer unit when the toner cartridge is inserted into the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    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: 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: 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: 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: 9836018
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes an electrical contact positioned 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 electrical contact. A first guide wall and a second guide wall are each positioned outside the pocket on the first side, in front of the opening. The first and second guide walls each include an inclined surface that inclines outward from the first side of the housing in a direction from the front to a rear of the housing 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: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Amann, James Anthany Carter, II, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, Matthew Jeremy Litman, Matthew Lee Rogers, Keith Seaman
  • Publication number: 20170308033
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes an electrical contact positioned 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 electrical contact. A first guide wall and a second guide wall are each positioned outside the pocket on the first side, in front of the opening. The first and second guide walls each include an inclined surface that inclines outward from the first side of the housing in a direction from the front to a rear of the housing 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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: MARK AMANN, JAMES ANTHANY CARTER, II, KATRINA ROSIT LACTUAN, MATTHEW JEREMY LITMAN, MATTHEW LEE ROGERS, KEITH SEAMAN
  • Publication number: 20170308032
    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 to forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: MARK AMANN, JAMES ANTHANY CARTER, II, KATRINA ROSIT LACTUAN, MATTHEW JEREMY LITMAN, MATTHEW LEE ROGERS, KEITH SEAMAN
  • Publication number: 20170285517
    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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: MARK AMANN, JAMES ANTHANY CARTER, II, KATRINA ROSIT LACTUAN, MATTHEW JEREMY LITMAN, MATTHEW LEE ROGERS, KEITH SEAMAN
  • Publication number: 20170219961
    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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    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: 9715209
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a housing having a toner reservoir and a circuit board retainer removably mounted on an exterior surface of a first side of the housing. The retainer includes a circuit board mounted on a mounting platform. The circuit board is spaced from the exterior surface of the first side of the housing forming a pocket between the circuit board and the exterior surface of the first side of the housing. The retainer includes an opening facing toward the front of the housing into the pocket formed between the circuit board and the exterior surface of the first side of the housing for receiving an electrical connector of the image forming device that mates with the electrical contacts of the circuit board when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Amann, James Anthany Carter, II, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, Matthew Jeremy Litman, Matthew Lee Rogers, Keith Seaman
  • Patent number: 9658590
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing defining a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A first alignment guide is positioned on the first side of the housing and a second alignment guide positioned on the second side of the housing. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir out of the exit port includes a main interface gear. A portion of the main interface gear is exposed on the front of the housing at a second side of the housing above the second alignment guide. A connector on the first side of the housing has a forward facing opening positioned above the first alignment guide. Electrical contacts are positioned within the connector and are accessible through the forward facing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    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
  • Publication number: 20170075295
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing defining a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A first alignment guide is positioned on the first side of the housing and a second alignment guide positioned on the second side of the housing. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir out of the exit port includes a main interface gear. A portion of the main interface gear is exposed on the front of the housing at a second side of the housing above the second alignment guide. A connector on the first side of the housing has a forward facing opening positioned above the first alignment guide. Electrical contacts are positioned within the connector and are accessible through the forward facing opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    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: 9541860
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes 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: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    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, Christopher Gene Vowels, Jason Hale, Mark William Amann, Benjamin Keith Newman, Harald Portig, Rodney Evan Sproul
  • Publication number: 20160334755
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a housing having a toner reservoir and a circuit board retainer removably mounted on an exterior surface of a first side of the housing. The retainer includes a circuit board mounted on a mounting platform. The circuit board is spaced from the exterior surface of the first side of the housing forming a pocket between the circuit board and the exterior surface of the first side of the housing. The retainer includes an opening facing toward the front of the housing into the pocket formed between the circuit board and the exterior surface of the first side of the housing for receiving an electrical connector of the image forming device that mates with the electrical contacts of the circuit board when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: MARK AMANN, JAMES ANTHANY CARTER, II, KATRINA ROSIT LACTUAN, MATTHEW JEREMY LITMAN, MATTHEW LEE ROGERS, KEITH SEAMAN
  • Patent number: 9429899
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a circuit board 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. A first guide wall and a second guide wall are each positioned outside the pocket on the first side closer to the front than the opening. The first and second guide walls each include an inclined surface that inclines outward from the first side of the housing in a direction from the front to a rear of the housing 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: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Amann, James Anthany Carter, II, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, Matthew Jeremy Litman, Matthew Lee Rogers, Keith Seaman
  • Patent number: 9417603
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. The housing has an exit port on a front of the housing in fluid communication with the reservoir. A first leg and a second leg each project from a bottom of the housing and extend primarily along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. A first alignment guide is positioned on a first side of the housing and a second alignment guide is positioned on a second side of the housing. Each alignment guide extends primarily along the front-to-rear dimension of the housing. The first alignment guide includes a pair of rounded contact points and the second alignment guide includes a rounded contact point. The rounded contact points of the first and second alignment control the vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    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, Christopher Gene Vowels, Jason Hale
  • Publication number: 20160195833
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes 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: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    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, CHRISTOPHER GENE VOWELS, JASON HALE, MARK WILLIAM AMANN, BENJAMIN KEITH NEWMAN, HARALD PORTIG, RODNEY EVAN SPROUL
  • Patent number: 9323178
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A portion of a main interface gear for providing rotational power to a toner delivery system is exposed on the front of the housing near a top of a second side of the housing and engagable with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device. A projection extends forward from the housing further forward than a frontmost portion of the exit port and is spaced from the exit port toward the first side of the housing. A front of the projection is unobstructed for engaging a developer unit when the toner cartridge is inserted into the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    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, Christopher Gene Vowels, Jason Hale, Mark William Amann, Benjamin Keith Newman, Harald Portig, Rodney Evan Sproul
  • Patent number: 9298130
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A portion of a main interface gear for providing rotational power to a toner delivery system is exposed on the front of the housing near a top of a second side of the housing and engagable with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device. A projection extends forward from the housing further forward than a frontmost portion of the exit port and is spaced from the exit port toward the first side of the housing. A front of the projection is unobstructed for engaging a developer unit when the toner cartridge is inserted into the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    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, Christopher Gene Vowels, Jason Hale, Mark William Amann, Benjamin Keith Newman, Harald Portig, Rodney Evan Sproul