Patents by Inventor Michael Alan Gist
Michael Alan Gist 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).
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Patent number: 9857755Abstract: A photoconductor unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing and a photoconductive drum rotatably mounted on the housing. An engagement member is positioned to receive an actuation force from an actuator of the image forming device. Upon receiving the actuation force, the engagement member shifts the photoconductive drum in an axial direction relative to an axis of rotation of the photoconductive drum.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Michael Alan Gist, Daniel Lee Thomas
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Publication number: 20170343951Abstract: A photoconductor unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing and a photoconductive drum rotatably mounted on the housing. An engagement member is positioned to receive an actuation force from an actuator of the image forming device. Upon receiving the actuation force, the engagement member shifts the photoconductive drum in an axial direction relative to an axis of rotation of the photoconductive drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2016Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: MICHAEL ALAN GIST, DANIEL LEE THOMAS
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Patent number: 9740157Abstract: A photoconductor unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing and a photoconductive drum rotatably mounted on the housing. The photoconductive drum includes a drive coupler that is positioned to mate with a corresponding drive coupler of the image forming device to receive rotational and axial force therefrom for rotating and axially biasing the photoconductive drum when the photoconductor unit is installed in the image forming device. A wear member is positioned to receive frictional contact from a portion of the photoconductive drum in a direction of the axial bias on the photoconductive drum such that as the photoconductive drum rotates, the frictional contact on the wear member gradually wears away the wear member in the direction of the axial bias on the photoconductive drum thereby gradually shifting the photoconductive drum axially in the direction of the axial bias.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Alan Cavill, Michael Alan Gist, Christopher Hayden Noffsinger, Matthew Russell Smither, Daniel Lee Thomas
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Patent number: 9703234Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable drive shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A partition is mounted on the drive shaft and axially movable along the drive shaft when the drive shaft rotates. The partition divides the reservoir into a first compartment for storing fresh toner and a second compartment for storing waste toner. An expandable agitator is positioned within the second compartment and rotatable with the drive shaft. When the drive shaft rotates and the partition moves along the drive shaft expanding a volume of the second compartment, the agitator expands along a length of the drive shaft and rotates with the drive shaft for agitating waste toner in the second compartment.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Ligia Aura Bejat, Michael Alan Gist, Prabuddha Jyotindra Mehta, Eric Carl Stelter, David Anthony Schneider, Kelly Marie Wright
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Publication number: 20170176887Abstract: A toner cartridge 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 a threaded portion. A thread follower mounted on the threaded portion of the shaft moves axially along the threaded portion of the shaft when the shaft rotates. A magnet is movable with the thread follower axially along the shaft for detecting an axial position of the thread follower along the shaft by magnetic sensors when the toner cartridge is installed in the electrophotographic image forming device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: LIGIA AURA BEJAT, MICHAEL ALAN GIST, MICHAEL CRAIG LEEMHUIS, PRABUDDHA JYOTINDRA MEHTA, ERIC CARL STELTER, DEVON JEAN VACCARO STRAIN
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Publication number: 20170176889Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable drive shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A partition is mounted on the drive shaft and axially movable along the drive shaft when the drive shaft rotates. The partition divides the reservoir into a first compartment for storing fresh toner and a second compartment for storing waste toner. An expandable agitator is positioned within the second compartment and rotatable with the drive shaft. When the drive shaft rotates and the partition moves along the drive shaft expanding a volume of the second compartment, the agitator expands along a length of the drive shaft and rotates with the drive shaft for agitating waste toner in the second compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: LIGIA AURA BEJAT, MICHAEL ALAN GIST, PRABUDDHA JYOTINDRA MEHTA, ERIC CARL STELTER, DAVID ANTHONY SCHNEIDER, KELLY MARIE WRIGHT
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Patent number: 9632477Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging system according to one example embodiment includes a toner cartridge including a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A shaft is rotatably positioned within the reservoir and includes a threaded portion. A partition mounted on the threaded portion of the shaft moves axially along the threaded portion when the shaft rotates. The partition divides the reservoir into a first toner compartment and a second toner compartment. A sensing arrangement monitors an axial position of the partition along the shaft. The sensing arrangement includes a plurality of sensors arranged at predetermined axial locations relative to the shaft and a sensed member connected to the partition. The plurality of sensors are positioned to detect an axial position of the sensed member relative to the shaft for determining the axial position of the partition along the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Ligia Aura Bejat, Michael Alan Gist, Michael Craig Leemhuis, Prabuddha Jyotindra Mehta, Eric Carl Stelter
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Patent number: 9454125Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir, an exit for exiting toner and an entry port for receiving waste toner. A partition divides the reservoir into a first compartment for storing fresh toner and a second compartment for storing waste toner. The first compartment is in fluid communication with the exit. The partition is movable within the reservoir between a first position and a second position. The entry port is in fluid communication with the first compartment when the partition is in the first position such that waste toner received through the entry port is deposited into the first compartment. The entry port is in fluid communication with the second compartment but closed off from the first compartment when the partition is in the second position such that waste toner received through the entry port is deposited into the second compartment.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Ligia Aura Bejat, Michael Alan Gist, Michael Craig Leemhuis, Prabuddha Jyotindra Mehta, Eric Carl Stelter, David Anthony Schneider, Kelly Marie Wright
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Patent number: 8348273Abstract: A roll assembly, including a frame; a first component mounted to the frame and having a shaft, the shaft; a second component rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed in proximity with the first component, wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is translatable relative to the other; and a plurality of separator devices mounted on ends of the shaft of one of the first and second component.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jarrett Clark Gayne, Michael Alan Gist
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Publication number: 20120248693Abstract: A roll assembly, including a frame; a first component mounted to the frame and having a shaft, the shaft; a second component rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed in proximity with the first component, wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is translatable relative to the other; and a plurality of separator devices mounted on ends of the shaft of one of the first and second component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: Jarrett Clark Gayne, Michael Alan Gist
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Patent number: 8210530Abstract: A roll assembly, including a frame; a first component mounted to the frame and having a shaft, the shaft; a second component rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed in proximity with the first component, wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is translatable relative to the other; and at least two separator devices mounted on ends of the shaft of one of the first and second component when in a first rotational position separate the first component and second component. Each separator device includes an aperture for mounting on a clutch that is mounted on the shaft of the first component and rotation of the second component in the first direction disengages the separation devices allowing the first and second components to touch and the separation devices to move to a second rotational position and rotation of the shaft in the first direction engages the clutch to rotate the separation devices back to the first rotational position.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jarrett Clark Gayne, Michael Alan Gist